Lord Tywin dismissed the girl and was going to send her on his way when Baelish asked her to stop and asked Tywin to indulge him. Baelish stared at Arya and the girl stared back.

"Well Baelish, I do not have all day!" Tywin snapped. "What business must my cup bearer be here for?" Tywin did not like the way the whoremaster was eyeing his girl.

Littlefinger being no fool wanted to ingratiate himself with Tywin Lannister and the opportunity fell into his lap in the form of Ary Stark. "On the request of your son Tyrion, I met with Catelyn Stark to talk about her daughters. I did not realize that I did not have to do this. You have taken care of the matter yourself."

Tywin irritated by the turn of the conversation. "What are you talking about? I have done nothing concerning the Stark daughters."

"Well, I just assumed that you knew we had the lovely Sansa but Arya; the younger girl; has been missing since the fall of the House Stark at Keep of the Hand. Did the Queen not warn you?"

"WHAT?!" roared Tywin. "Why am I just finding out about this now? Has Cersei sent out people looking for the girl? I cannot exchange Jaime for just any girl. What was Cersei thinking? Cersei told me the child was wild, uncontrollable and stupid. I assumed Cersei had her in shackles locked in a room somewhere." Arya looked at the man she did not like but had come to respect and was appalled at how he thought her.

"Most likely, Queen Cersei was not thinking my lord. Who knows what is in a woman's heart or head? Cersei hates that the girl; Arya; is spirited and had a fight with Joffrey. Arya bested him physically. She also looks like a young Lyanna. King Robert kept looking at the girl and talking how she would look like a daughter he and Lyanna would have had. Arya Stark is a thorn in the queen's side, my lord. "

Tywin snapped, "So Cersei leaves the girl; to have Gods know what done to her? My daughter is jealous of a girl of 10 name days? If the Stark girl is dead or cannot be found; what will we do? I cannot trade Jaime for only one girl. How will we explain that? Curse Cersei! We will have to send search parties out and…

"Well, my lord, it so happens I do know where Arya can be found. " Peter paused for effect after interrupting Tywin. "It so happens that this girl; directly before you, your cup bearer; is the one and only Arya Stark." Peter voice was smug.

Arya stood statue still but leveled the Master of Coin with a deadly stare and added his name to her list. The man looked at her cold death stare and laughed…More fool him.

Then Tywin stared stunned at Arya and she stared back, afraid at first but it was instantly replaced by a look of defiance. The faceoff between the two is epic and Arya does not blink at Tywin's assessing stare.

Tywin moved from his chair in a flash, his gaze fierce, "You lied to me girl!"

Arya met his ferocity with her own, "I lied because you killed my father!"

Tywin reached out and swiftly grasped her defiantly raised chin, "You said your father died of too much honor…Well played, girl. Well played, indeed."

Tywin turned his head noticing that Baelish was still there. "You will be well rewarded for informing me."

Petyr nodded with slight bow. "It was the least I could do my lord. After-all, when I learned of Ned Stark's plan, I informed to Queen Cersei of Ned's intentions."

Arya her chin still in Tywin's grasp turned a dagger stare on the Maester of Coin.

Tywin seeing her hate and no longer wishing Petyr's presence roared, "GET OUT!"

Petyr smiled bowed and made for the door. Arya seething growled, "Littlefinger!"

He turned an amused at being called this nickname to his face, "YES, Lady Stark?"

"When you soon die, know that it will really be me killing you!" Arya said in clear sure voice.

Petyr Baelish laughed at her but her cold even stare stops his amusement. He shrugged at Tywin who is measuring Arya's venom with a critical stare.

Littlefinger bowed to them, "Good day to you both."

Tywin waved him off as he would a mild disturbance; a fly; already forgotten. The Lion is more interested in the little Wolf that is before him.

Only when the door closed with a firm click and they hear Petyr's footsteps fading does Tywin speak. He moves to grasp her face with both hands. "So girl, your father died of too much honor? You are a smart girl. A very smart girl and I want you to know that I admire intelligence and cunning. I will NOT stand for is more of your lies! Understood?" He moved back to tower over Arya. She nodded yes and Tywin pointed to a chair he pulled out for her. "SIT!"

Arya sat in the chair that Tywin pointed toward. Tywin stood over her ominously looking down on her with narrow eyes. "I did not kill your father, girl. I would never have killed Ned Stark. To kill him makes enemies in our North and made him a martyr for the North and the truth. It was a stupid battle move. My grandson was raised to have more hair then sense."

Arya agreed with the old Lion. Joffrey certainly does have more hair then sense. She could not exactly tell Tywin that because she did not know what he planned to do with her. Grasping her chin again, Tywin asked, "What shall I do with you? "

Arya did not answer him. "I shall have to make over rooms for you here. Since it seems my daughter cannot keep you, I shall make you my treasured guest. I will later deal with Cersei's lies to me. She is a brash power hungry wench and most likely did not wish to look bad in my eyes. Tell me girl, why did YOU continue to lie to me?"

Arya shrugged, saying nothing, and did not meet his eyes. Tywin's eyes narrowed and he said without anger, "You are around those two older boys quite a bit, the fat one and the blacksmith." Tywin nodded yes when she looked into his face. "If you choose to lie to me again, if you do not please me, I will turn those lads over to Ser Gregor and his men and make you watch what is done to them."

Arya swallowed hard and looked at him in horror. Tywin nodded and barked, "Answer my question, girl!"

Arya began to talk. "I lied; at first; because I thought you'd kill me too. Until I was here for a few days, I thought Joffrey killed Sansa and my father."

"The other girl? The red head Joffrey was to wed? Why by the Seven would I kill her?"

"Because she was father's daughter. I saw her fall down after father was beheaded. I was there but Yoren got me away. I saw her fall and thought Ilyn Payne killed her too.

"

Tywin sighed and sat facing her. "Then you get taken away and made march with prisoners headed to the Wall. Then they get taken over by Gregor's men who torture and rape prisoners for sport." He paused with a sigh, "Yes. You were right to hide." Pausing he continued, "You hid as a boy, you lied about whom you were and you hoped to go North. Where did you plan to go?"

"Yoren was taking me to Winterfell but I wanted to go north to the Wall." Arya said coldly.

Amused grimace that she'd come to realize passed for Tywin's smile. "Did you plan to become a Brother? They don't take females."

Arya snorted, "Then they are stupid!"

Tywin poured himself a strong drink and her one of watered apple wine. "Come my girl, tell me why the Wall?"

"To go to my Uncle Benjen and my brother, Jon. I'd be protected by them and the Brotherhood. "Arya spoke up convinced she could have been taken in.

Tywin leaned back in his chair, "The Brotherhood takes no part in the rest of Westeros

"Winterfell and the Starks have always helped them. They would owe more loyalty to the House Stark then the King."

"Smart and wise my girl. You are smart and wise," Tywin paused to sip his drink, "I will set up rooms for you and guards for you too. You will not be so free to move about the grounds."

Arya said bleakly, "I am your prisoner."

Tywin patted her head, "A treasured guest, my girl. Do you know what people do with treasure?"

"Guard it." Arya ground out through clenched teeth.

Lips stretching into a grimace smile, "We keep it safe, child. We keep it safe."

"Will you trade me for the Kingslayer?"

Cold tones in the old lions voice, "I never liked that term for my son."

Shrug, "He killed the Dragon King by stabbing him in the back. Where was the honor in that?"

"The King was crazy. He killed your family. Your uncle and grandfather died by the mad king's hand."

"So the Dragon King was put down like a mongrel dog?"

The old Lion raised a brow, "You should watch that tongue of yours girl."

Arya gave him a look that was anything but meek. Tywin eyed her carefully,

"I must think what to do with you."

"Trade me for Ser Jamie. Mother and Robb would agree to that."

"It would not put me at advantage, my girl. You have seen my battle plans, and you know my way to thinking. Know your opponent, my girl. That is more than half the battle."

Arya kept silent but thought, Robb did not know this old lion, yet Robb won battles.

"So Arya Stark of Winterfell, What should I do with you? I certainly could not send you to Cersei and Joffrey."

"They'd kill me." Arya said firmly.

"You do not seem afraid?"

"My time with your men has shown me that there are worse things than time on the road has shown me all men can die. Anyone can die if there is enough hate. Kill me and give Robb more reason and men for battle. Kill me and Jon might come off the Wall with men. I would be the battle cry of all Northmen. They will call you a baby killer as well as a Kingslayer."

Tywin's fist clenched and Arya made to tense for a blow but Tywin knew the truth when he heard it. He growled, "If I can't wipe your kind out I shall BREED it out. Joffrey can still wed Sansa but I shall wed you to a Southern man."

Arya defiantly choked out, "If you wed me to him. I will kill him and run off at my first opportunity."

"The Wall does not take women. Where will you go?"

"The Free Cities or I shall go to live with the Wildings beyond the Wall."

"Then I shall have to wed you to a man that could control you and be able to handle your spirit." Tywin said with pride. Arya snorted in an unladylike fashion and Tywin again found pride in this child. "Gods! You do challenge a man. How did your father control you?"

"Love." Was her automatic answer. "We loved each other."

"Is the young wolf; your brother; Robb like you?"

"No! He is nicer. He is more …proper. He is proper and gentlemanly. If I was your opponent, I would have went for your throat and not stopped. "

It was Tywin's turn to snort. "Are you sure you are not a Lannister? You are more like me then you know."

"I am Ned Stark's daughter, Arya. I am of the North and Winter is coming."

"You speak so passionately of where you are from and who you are. For women they become their husband's place and stay where they are put."

"I shall always be Arya Stark of Winterfell. It does not matter if I marry because I am my own."

"Do you not want a throne, my girl?"

"NO!" she was appalled, "Married to Joffrey? I'd rather be dead! Being dead would be easier than being his queen."

Tywin was surprised, "You really don't want the throne."

"NO! Thrones are uncomfortable places. You always have to wonder whom to trust. That must be a sad life. I'd rather be free."

"Women are seldom free child." Tywin raised a brow and looked at Arya. He thought, 'I would like this child to be my own girl. By all the Gods, she has guts and spirit for miles.

"No they are brought to market like horses and sold like whores." Grim tones

"Whores?" Tywin asked stunned, "Why do you say that?"

"It is the truth! Women are traded like that. Can they better our house? Can they make us an alliance? Can they bring us power or money? What do you tell your daughters? All you have to do is let this stranger under your skirts so we can join our houses for a Western Alliance? I'd rather be a knight and fight for what I get and glory of battle."

"There is little glory in battle, my girl. Did your father never tell you that?"

"No. He told me I'd marry a great lord of my choice and rule his castle."

"Your mother and brother Robb have already betrothed you to a Bolton. He use to be called the Bolton Bastard. Ramsay is his name and from what I hear, you would pray for a clean death. What he does to women is ghastly indeed. Your spirit and strength deserve better. "He touched her cheek and Arya went as still as stone.

"They cannot have promised me to a stranger. Father promised that would never happen to me."

"Your brother needed passage over a bridge. He needed an alliance with the Freys. You were supposed to wed a Frey. You and the Young Wolf but Robb broke his part and the Freys owed Roose Bolton money. Roose wanted an alliance with the Starks. They chose to do it through you. "

"But they… can't."

"They did at least where you are concerned. Your brother and mother promised you would. Robb broke his part and married a girl other than a Frey. A girl named Jeyne Westerling a camp follower or some sort. He married her to save her name.

If you were my daughter, I'd have pledged you to far better then Ramsay Bolton. Plus the man is unfortunate looking."

"It can't be true?!" Arya half questioned

"Would you like to ask them? I can send a raven." Tywin offered

Arya shook her head no. She believed him and went cold around the heart. She felt like she'd throw up a little— a lot.

"I know, my girl. I feel the same way. Who would marry a girl like you to a man whose favorite sport is torture?" He patted her hand. "A child I loved, a sister I loved, I would never allow him to be near enough to touch the hem of your sleeve."

All he was saying made Arya's head swim and her stomach roll. "Will you excuse me, my lord? I need some air."

"I am sorry, my girl. You cannot leave. "Tywin moved to the door to talk to a guard, "Rongus! I will need some maids and 2 or more guards. Get me men you can trust. I will need men who aren't idiots or rapists." Tywin moved back to Arya. "We shall get you a decent room for you and a gown or two."

Arya sat stunned, trying to catch her breath, and drank deep of her watered wine. "May I please talk to my friends one last time, my lord?"

"I am sorry, child. They cannot be the friends of Tywin Lannister's treasured guest."

Arya thought she would cry. She thought she would vomit. Arya Stark heard the steel doors of a cage snap shut. She was a wolf trapped.