A Clash of Kings-Chapter 26

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Arya VI
A Clash of Kings chapter
AClashOfKings.jpg
POV Arya
Place The Riverlands on the way to Harrenhal - Harrenhal
Page 304 UK HC (Other versions)
Chapter chronology (All)
Arya V
Tyrion VI  ← Arya VI →  Daenerys II

Arya VII

It is eight days before they leave the village. On each of the days one of them is tortured by the Tickler for information about where valuables and food is hidden (with little result) and the whereabouts of Lord Beric Dondarrion (for no information). Finally they are marched to Harrenhal to serve under Tywin Lannister. Arya, after complaining about being assigned to the kitchen, is assigned to the understeward in the Wailing Tower, Weese.

Synopsis

Arya watched the Mountain came into the store house every morning and pick a child, a woman or a man from to be interrogated by an ordinary looking man in plain garb named the Tickler. Chiswyck, who Arya had tried to bite and who had then smashed her in the head with his mailed fist, had told them “Tickler makes them howl so hard they piss themselves.” The questions are always where are the valuables hidden, where is Lord Beric Dondarrion, and who had aided him. They found a few valuables from the interrogations, but not consistent information about Beric Dondarrion. The Mountain watched, with some of his men sometimes helping the Tickler. Nobody survived the Tickler past evening fall, and afterwards the bodies being hung beyond the fires for the wolves. None of they were safe: a girl that had been sharing a soldier’s bed every night, the daughter of a woman that freely told all she knew, a man claiming his son was with the Gold Cloaks and he was all for Joffrey.

Arya is more afraid than she ever has been, and keeps reminding herself “Fear cuts deeper than swords.” Arya knows she is no Water Dancer, and Syrio Forel would have never let them knock him down, take his sword, or just watch as Lommy Greenhands was killed. She felt like a lamb and hated the villagers for being sheep. She finally had to pee in front of others since there was no privacy, and Hot Pie had gaped, but nobody else even looked. The Lannisters had taken everything from her: father, friends, home, hope, courage, her sword Needle, broken her wooden sword, and even the secrete she was a girl. She however learned fast from a broken lip to hold her tongue, but others did not; Rafford had killed a boy that had been screaming for his father, and then the mother when she started screaming. Arya could see no purpose in being brave; she watched them die and did nothing.

Most of the men that were not very old or very young had been killed. Gendry had been spared because he claimed to have made his helmet, and blacksmiths were too valuable to kill.

After eight days they started their march to Harrenhal to serve Tywin Lannister even though they are traitors and rebels. An old woman states they were no traitors, only that Lord Beric and Thoros of Myr hand come and taken what they wanted. Another states they did not kill anyone, and at least gave script for what they took (but they cannot eat script). An old man states that if the old king would not have stood for this, and when questioned by Arya, she learns he means King Aerys II Targaryen, not King Robert Baratheon. The Mountain also brings pigs, chickens, a cow, and wagons of salt fish. The Mountain’s men have horses, but the captives have to walk, and are killed if they cannot keep up or flee. Along the way she sees a balding man named Polliver with her sword Needle; Arya thinks that it is good they took the sword away because she would have tried to stab Ser Gregor, and been killed. She learned all the Lannister men: Shitmouth with the foul tongue would give her extra bread if asked, but jolly old Chiswyck or Rafford would give her a slap. Dunsen had taken Gendry’s helmet. She started her list, and every night would say Ser Gregor, Dunsen, Polliver (for Needle), Chiswyck, Raff the Sweetling (for killing Lommy), the Tickler, the Hound (for killing Mycah), Ser Amory Lorch (for killing Yoren), Ser Ilyn Payne, Ser Meryn Trant (for killing Syrio), and King Joffrey Baratheon and Queen Cersei (for killing Eddard Stark, Tommad, Desmond and the rest).

As they approach Harrenhal, Arya thinks about the stories from Old Nan that Harren Hoare had built the castle with mortar mixed with human blood, and how King Aegon had roasted Harren and his sons within. She thinks it cannot be far when she first see the castle, but they had to march that day and most of the next. When they reached the castle the stench from the overflowing latrines and the flies were horrible, and the gatehouse was as large as Winterfell’s Great Keep. Hot Pie did not want to go in because of the ghosts, but went in when given the other choice of joining the ghosts.

After they were all stripped and scrubbed, each of the captives is brought before Goodwife Amabel and Goodwife Harra. When it is Arya’s turn she gives her name first she thinks of, Weasel. Goodwife Harra examines her calluses on her hands from training with Needle, and assumes it is from churning butter; that she was a farmer’s girl. Arya is told her that she now has a chance to improve her station in life working in the kitchens. When Arya exclaims she would prefer tending horses, and gets a slap that breaks her lip and is told that there are grooms and squires for that duty; the kitchens are snug and clean and there is always a warm place to sleep and plenty to eat. She is told she is not a cleaver girl and gets assigned to Weese, the understeward in the Wailing Tower.

There are six of them sent to Weese and he tells them that the Lannisters are generous to those that serve, which is more than any of they deserve. If they work hard they might rise as high as him, but he can smell disobedience, and only wants to smell fear.


References and Notes