Arya has been hiding in King's Landing since her escape from the castle. She catches pigeons and trades them for soup in the Flea Bottom neighborhood of the city. She has checked the gates, but they are all guarded. All of her possessions have been stolen save for the clothes on her back, her wooden sword, and Needle. She goes to the docks one day and sees that the Wind Witch is still in port with Stark guardsmen on deck. She almost goes to them, but realizes at the last moment that none of the guards are her father's men, and it is a trap. As she returns to Flea Bottom from the docks, she hears a bell begin to ring. It is a summoning to the Great Sept, where Eddard is going to make an appearance.
Arya goes to the sept with the rest of the city. She climbs a statue and sees Eddard with the High Septon standing behind him. Many high lords are on the stand, including Joffrey and Cersei flanked by five Kingsguard including Sandor, Varys, Petyr, and Sansa. Eddard confesses to plotting to dethrone Joffrey and take the throne, and he proclaims Joffrey the true king. Joffrey then says that his mother wants Eddard to be allowed to join the Night's Watch, but he will take Eddard's head. Sansa screams, and Ser Ilyn comes forward to see it done with Ice as a man in black and red armor holds him down.1 Arya desperately tries to reach him, but the crowd is too thick. Suddenly, a man grabs her and a voice tells her not to look. When it is done, she looks up and sees that the man is Yoren. He drags her into an ally and pulls a knife.