| Arya VIII | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A Clash of Kings chapter | ||||||
 | ||||||
| POV | Arya Stark | |||||
| Place | Harrenhal | |||||
| Page | 400 UK HC (Other versions) | |||||
| Chapter chronology (All) | ||||||
|
Arya VII ↑ | ||||||
| ||||||
|
↓ Arya IX | ||||||
Tywin Lannister's host is leaving Harrenhal. Arya Stark has been kept busy delivering messages for Weese, and she wants to find Jaqen H'ghar before he leaves. She finally finds Jaqen and gives him Weese's name. As Arya watches Tywin lead his host out of the castle, she realizes that she has been targeting the wrong people, people who really do not matter. She goes in search of Jaqen, but finds Weese's dead body first.
Synopsis
[edit]
Harrenhal is in an uproar with preparations for the departure of Tywin Lannister's host. Ser Addam Marbrand was the first to depart, a day before the rest. Weese calls Addam a great horseman and sword fighter, and Tywin's most daring commander. Arya hopes Addam and all his men die. She is sure that they are going to fight Robb Stark, and wonders what Robb has accomplished.
Arya has been kept busy running messages from dawn to dust. She has even delivered messages beyond the wall, and considered running away except that Weese told her he would deliver her to Vargo Hoat; maybe if Weese were dead. Weese does not know Arya can read, so he never seals his messages. That day, she delivers a message demanding payment for a debt to a knight who cannot read. The knight tries to hit her after she reads it to him, so Arya takes a silver-banded drinking horn from him and flees, giving it to Weese. For this Arya is promised the reward of sharing a crisp capon with Weese that night. As she runs errands, Arya searches for Jaqen H'ghar to give him another name before he leaves. She finally asks a gate guard and is told that Ser Amory Lorch is to be castellan of Harrenhal, so Jaqen will not be leaving. The Brave Companions will also be left to do foraging. Unfortunately, Ser Gregor Clegane will be leaving to command Tywin's van in battle, putting him, Dunsen, Polliver, and Rafford beyond reach.
Weese gives Arya a message for Lucan that Ser Lyonel, who is to ride with Kevan Lannister, needs a new sword. When she reaches the armory she spies Gendry and asks him which one of the men is Lucan, he tells her that Hot Pie asked him if he heard her scream Winterfell when they were fighting on the wall. Arya immediately claims she did not and Gendry tells her she did, but that he told Hot Pie he needs to clean out his ears because she yelled Go to hell!, and Arya should tell the same story. She does not want Hot Pie to know who she really is, and thinks maybe she should give Jaqen his name. Gendry gets Lucan, who pulls down a longsword and gives it to Arya with the message that it is too good for such an oaf. Arya claims she will pass on the message, but will not because Weese would beat her bloody. The longsword feels good in Arya's hand, although a lot heavier than Needle, and she thinks that although she may not be a water dancer she is not a mouse either. Arya considers using the note to get a horse, pretending she is doing it for Lyonel since the stableboys are not able to read.
Arya is trying to decide whether to take the chance when she overhears some archers talk. One says that Robb brought giants from the north, another that Starks are more like wolves than men, and then one states that Robb is scared to attack Harrenhal, and would piss in his pants if he knew they were coming. One man comments that maybe they are the ones that should run. She thinks that yes, they should run or her brother will kill them. She is interrupted by Weese, who has come up in front of her and she did not see him. He complains that Arya took long enough, and snatches the sword from her, slapping her with the back of his hand and telling her next time she will be faster. Arya was a wolf and suddenly is not. He asks her if she wants another slap, and tells her he wants none of her insolent looks, and to tell Tuffleberry he has barrels for him but he needs to send lads to fetch them. He then warns her to run if she wants to eat tonight, and not to get lost again or she will be beat bloody.
Halfway to the brewhouse, Arya runs into Rorge and three other of Amory's men. He calls her "Yoren's little cunt" and recalls that he promised to fuck her with her stick, saying she is no longer so brave now that he is not wearing chains. When Arya tells him she is looking for Jaqen, she can see something in his eyes, possibly fear. He tells her he is in the bathhouse and to get out of his way. In the bathhouse, Arya tries to sneak up on Jaqen, but he knows she is there, telling her the scuff of leather on stone is as loud as warhorns to a man with open ears, and clever girls go barefoot. She is upset that he heard her, and whispers Weese's name in his ear. He states that a man will attend him at his leisure.
Arya gives Tuffleberry the message and he curses, saying his lads are busy and that he will have those barrels within an hour, or Lord Tywin will hear of it. Weese is not happy about this message, but finds six men.
Supper is a thin stew, and Weese shares his capon with a woman who has been sleeping with him. When he sees Arya staring, he reminds her he told her what would happen if he caught her staring. He slaps and shoves her, and Arya's dress catches on a loose nail and rips. Weese commands her to fix that before she sleeps.
Arya is kicked awake in the morning by Weese, who tells them that the work will not get easier now that Tywin's host is gone. Later, Arya watches as Tywin and Kevan pass, followed by their great lords and captains. Last comes Gregor Clegane, with Polliver beside him wearing Gendry's helmet. Suddenly Arya realizes she was stupid and that neither Chiswyck nor Weese mattered. Why did she not say Lord Tywin? She hurries to find Jaqen to tell him.
Arya hears a shriek of pain, and finds a dozen people looking at the body of Weese with his ugly spotted dog on his chest. Every so often the dog rips a mouthful of flesh off his face. One man exclaims that he had that bitch since it was a pup, and it must be Harren's ghost. When Arya lifts her gaze, she sees Jaqen on the battlements, who casually lays two fingers across his cheek.
Character list
[edit]|
Appearing: |
Mentioned: |
Mentions
[edit]References and Notes
[edit]- Summary and analyses of the chapter in the course of a 10th reread.
- Review and summary by Leigh Butler.