Arya Stark

"Today, we will be working on something that you for once you will enjoy."Septa Mordane drowned, her robes sweeping across the room. "Your cousin Sansa has already gone for her morning tea with her lady Mother but I saved my best lesson for you. The bedding."

Lady Arya Stark groaned and smacked in her head to the table. Arya kept her back firmly up against the wall sighing quietly. She hadn't minded sitting behind Sansa and all of her little friends, and now everything about Arya made Sansa want to sneer. Just another week until she leaves and never come back, her mind said. Sansa was betrothed to The Crown Prince. Aegon was perfect for her cousin, a pretty knight who cared very little for anything but glory at a tournament and the attention of a lady. Sansa didn't care that her marriage was to take place on the exact day of the death of her Uncle- Arya's father. She closed her eyes at the memory of the last time she had seen her father. Unfortunately, she was stuck waiting for all of the men to ride off for the rebellion against the throne. The Iron Islands had risen up and her father, Ser Eddard Stark and Uncle, Lord Paramount Brandon Stark third of his Name and Warden of the North had been called to take passage to the northern Isles. She had waited for three hours till the last men including her father had trotted by. She had ran towards him and he had laughed. She was young, no older than seven. She cried and cried pleading that he stayed but as always he told her in a very serious manner that it was his duty to serve and that he must follow the King's will. He had ridden off out of the gates of Winterfell and she had never seen him again. Cut down by Balon Greyjoy. He had been in single combat with one of the man's younger brothers and just as he had been about to make the killing blow Balon stabbed him in the back

'It will hurt more than anything else in your life,' The Septa announced dramatically. ' When a man takes you to bed it is his right by the seven to do. Your lord husband will need to be satisfied and you must do your duty. Otherwise he may shame you just as some lords do and bring Mistresses to court. It is the sign of a weak wife and usually their is something wrong on the women's part.'

Arya began doodling on her page, giving the woman her none of her attention.

Her Uncle had taken her and her brother Bran in after her father had died. Her mother was remarried after to a lord in the reach. Arya no longer remembered her face. She sent a letter once a year on her name day. When she was younger she would write every week but now she rarely responded to them. She knew that she had two younger brothers but she didn't care to know their names.

'Arya! Pay attention you may be needing this sooner than you think. Your lord Uncle has informed me that he will soon find you a husband,' Septa Mordane explained. That caught her attention. She dreaded the thought of marring. She knew her husband would probably be far older and more of a strategic match. Her Uncle had never seen her as more than a breeding mare that he had the luck of being able to sell off.

"The reason that we are talking about the bedding is that.. After Sansa is wed to the Prince, you will wed." For the first time in her life Arya saw pity for her in Septa Mordane's eyes. The old women knew that she would never truly be able to take the role of a Lady. Though as a women that was the only role that she could have. A page ran into the study and went to Septa Mordane's ear. He whispered something and her ear and her eyes widened. She turned to Arya and rushed her out toward the great hall,

Something about the way that Mordane brushed aside her own lesson, or maybe the way her eyes looked pityingly alerted Arya to the gravity of the situation. Her heart seemed to plummet to the bottom of the stomach the way a stone would in the dungeon and she gathered her things, not even bothering to say goodbye before rushing out of the room. She had expected someone to be in the corridor, but the hallway was empty. Throwing the needle and thread in a nearby bin, she shoved everything else in a nearby page's and sprinted down the corridor, keeping her mind off of the impending situation with her Uncle, it has to be something about the engagement, but maybe it could be my horse is sick. Maybe I am doing badly with the maester... What if Bran got hurt while squiring in the Riverlands. I just want to run away from all of this...

She almost missed the door her mind was so wrapped up in her thoughts. As she walked into the solar, she found the her entire extended family. Robb, Sansa her Aunt and even young Rickon sat upon his mother's lap. After several seconds of her holding her breath and her Uncle just sitting there in silence examining her, she couldn't take it anymore.

'Is it Bran?'

She realized that she was being rude to her Lord Uncle who looked a bit taken aback, but her Aunt Catelyn was looking at her with pity, her Aunt usually never sparred her a glance but it seemed that now she deserved pity.

'I apologise, My Lord.' She replied calmly. 'I just wish to know the reason that I have been summoned?'

Brandon looked at her with a passive expression. " My dear Niece, I have brought you her to inform you that a betrothal has been made between you and Lord Jon Arryn' Sansa and Robb gasped. Arya felt a weakness in her knees. Jon Arryn was fifty seven years old and was the Lord of the Vale.

"Surely you could find someone who is not old enough to be her own Grandfather? Father you can arrange a marriage for Sansa to a prince but all you could find for Arya is some far off Lord who is an decrepit wretch?" Robb said looking at his father with slight distrust. Brandon sighed, "Sansa is known for her virtues Robb. She is courteous and kind and is known to help the poor. Arya is the daughter of second son with no lands or money. The fact that Lord Arryn has accepted this offer is more than we could have ever hoped for."

Her father had once promised her she would never have to marry if she did not want to. Arya felt that if he were not dead he would make well on his promise.

" Sansa is to be married in a week. That is when you shall leave for the Eyrie." Brandon did not betray any feelings. She knew what was coming but had to ask anyway.

"I don't understand Uncle?" She said with a puzzled brow. "Was I not to stay until my fourteenth name day?

"I made it clear that the sooner the better. Arryn is an old man who can't wait a year." Arya felt such anger toward her Uncle. She would never see her home again because of him. She would live a life forced to bed a sick old man.

"Who will go with me to the Vale?" She would remain composed. Her Uncle did not approve of tantrums. She was not a little girl. She was a woman grown. Even though they would force her to leave she would not do them the dignity of crying in front of them. She was a wolf of Winterfell, more so than the rest of her family.

"You shall be given a staff to take care of you. Your Aunt found handmaidens for you and you will have three sworn shields that will serve as your protection. As for family… Sansa will accompany you halfway there but then you will take the high road to the Eyrie. Alone. Your brother Bran will be waiting for you there. He has said that he will now be the spire of Lord Jon. You both should be very grateful that he is being so accommodating."

"Alright Uncle I will of course respect your will." She said with a calm voice void of any feeling. Her Uncle hated any displays of childish emotions as he called them.

"Alas you will. It was good of us to take you in after your mother turned tail and ran back to Brightwater. I won't be hearing complaining about how I never did anything for you girl," Brandon then stood up. "Cheer up, the Vale is one of the most beautiful places. You will be the lady of the Vale. Not a small kingdom you know?"

As she saw it as a means to her end more than anything else when she walked into the hallway she whispered, "I'm your brother's daughter and you would send me to the end of the world. Away from my home, to the castle of an old lecher who probably has fantasies of young girls."

ASASASAS

She spent the rest of the week making arrangements to leave her home. They would travel from Winterfell to the eyrie. She had chosen a foreign woman named Shae mostly to piss off Sansa and her mother. They had said it was not proper for an Easterner to be the head handmaiden of a women from a great house. Brandon wouldn't be travelling with them; it would only be Sansa, a group of Stark men and her. She only cried when Maester Ludwin hugged her the night before her cousins wedding and the two days before she would be leaving the North for good. He had been the only friend she knew. "You'll do well My Lady. You'll be the lady of the Eyrie. You'll have your own castle. Cheer up girl."

'The wedding will be in an hour,' Her Aunt Catelyn said. She looked towards her niece, a small smile forming on her face.

It seemed as if Arya was ignoring her Aunt. Watching the guests come in, the dark-haired girl looked out the window. She could see the King. His silver hair perfect along with his golden crown. He was older but still quite Handsome. His Wife the Queen was being escorted by her younger brother. The Tyrells were nearby as well. Viserys stood alongside his wife Margaery. Her aunt could sense that she would get nothing from the girl and left the room.

'You need to put this dress on.' Shae opened the closet door beside her. She pulled a southern grey dress that would look beautiful on anyone but her.

'Yes,' Arya muttered, 'It's charming.'

Shae sighed, 'You may not want this but it will turn out to be the right decision in the end. You will never have to worry about becoming an old maid. It's not ideal but you must understand that Jon Arryn will not live forever. He may not even live till you reach twenty.'

Arya turned around. Her expression was plain, but tense. She felt hollow inside. Her entire existence altered. She looked over to the side table. On it was a box with her name on it. She opened the box to reveal the traditional necklace that had a falcon on it. Shae took it from her hands and laced it around her neck.

'From your husband to be. Not quite sure why he was so willing to give you all of this but you're lucky.'

Arya nervously smoothed her dress down for the fourth time that day. Shae and her Aunt had warned her not to ruin the dress, but Arya kept worrying about all of it. So far this isn't a complete disaster, she thought, checking the golden watch on her wrist. She knew that all of the guest would be aware of her soon to be marriage. She walked down the corridor that led to Sansa's door. She as her cousin would be expected to be there. She knocked.

'Come in,' Sansa called softly.

To her cousin's surprise, Sansa was already in her wedding dress, looking perfectly composed. She looked around and to her. 'Can you help me with my hair? I can't quite seem to do it up.'

"I hope that you are happy on this day?' Arya asked hesitantly, doing as she was bid. She could care less but Sansa seemed so enamored that she had almost no time to even glance at Arya. Usually she would subject her to hateful glances.

'I am happy,' Sansa frowned slightly. 'I really love him. Is that odd? I have only spoken to him twice. But he is so handsome and sweet.'

'Oh darling,' Her mother encompassed her in her arms. 'This boy will love you till his dying breath. True love is the love you hold for him. I just know that you will have a love story that will be remembered forever!'

Why is it that I never get what I want? Arya asked herself. Can't for once I just be happy...Is that too much to ask? They sit here and talk about love and handsome men and I prepare to leave my home forever.

'You know it will be so horrible for me once you are gone,' Her mother smiled sadly. She wished that she could have something more to say but all she could do was hug her daughter. 'Just remember that I will always love you. I expect letter's every week!"

Her mother finished with Sansa's hair and led her out of the room. Arya was alone again.

"I expected to find you sulking somewhere." She turned to see Bran grinning in the door way with his arms crossed. She tackled him in a hug messing up both of their robes. Her twin had been gone for four whole years. He was much taller with short hair and a smug grin on his face, he now sported muscles and what looked like the beginnings of a beard. His grin vaporized when he asked, "Arya are you okay? When I heard I came as fast as I could. They wanted me to go straight to the Vale but I knew that it would be better for me to come to you."

'It's funny,' Arya said. 'I thought that I would be so angry, what with the sudden marriage but I guess that I just feel numb to it all...'

'You're the most wonderful girl I've ever met,' Brandon started. "I promise you that I won't leave your side again. We can make a home together in the Eyrie. Forget Jon Arryn. Forget Uncle and the rest. We'll win in the end.'

'Will we,' Arya just looked frightened.

She looked beautiful in a an elegant, grey dress, her hair intricately wrapped in multiple buns that was the fashion nowadays. She walked into the great hall down the pews with her brother escorting her. As a member of the bride's family she was supposed to be seated in the front, She was seated in the second row beside Mace Tyrell. The pudgy balding man smiled up at her. She returned it with less emotion.

"Ah my dear are you Arya Stark?"

'Right here,' the girl replied, holding out her hand. He kissed it and moved so that Arya and Bran could sit. She began to chat idly while eying the room around her. The north had never before seen so many nobles. It was truly a royal wedding. It seemed that the room was chaos. The talking seemed to dominate all other noise.

'Arya,' Bran said teasingly, "do you believe that it will be the day that Sansa finally trips.'

'It's such a shame that she is to be married,' Arya put on a look of dismay. 'It would be so horrid for her. She might be scarred for life.'

'I can't wait,' Bran grinned signaling across from his sister. 'Sorry Sansa.'

'I know that if she marries this boy now we never talk to or even see her again,' Arya said genuinely.

'I just hope she will be happy,' Bran replied matter-of-factly. He then turned to his sister with a grin on his face, "Was that realistic? I'm practicing for after the wedding."

'Oh yes' Arya said with a grin. It was well known that when their cousin turned up she would most definitely be complaining and upset that no one had wished her a happy marriage. Sansa had made their lives a living hell when they were younger. Saying how they were burden's on her father and mother and that Arya would have to be sold to a butcher for meat as no one else would want her.

She heard, rather than saw, Cersei Baratheon arrive with her son and husband in tow. She was everything that was expected. The recently widowed Lady of Storm's End looked the part in her black The anger exclamations could be heard from the top of the castle as she engaged Sansa in a conversation the younger woman really didn't want to have. When Catelyn arrived, her daughter looked relieved.

'It seems that it is time. We all have to enter the grand hall."

Catelyn Stark placed her hand over her husband Brandon's hands. . Unlike most of the arranged marriages, Cat had always enjoyed a close relationship with her husband. She was very much in love with him. He turned and smiled at her with adoration in his eyes.

The scene was picturesque. The bride was at the entrance of the hall as trumpets played. She looked out to see at least two hundred people seated. At the front was a large altar. In front of it was a Septon. Sansa then saw who her husband. Her prince, Aegon Targaryen. He was tall with short silver hair. His eyes were a breath taking violet. He smiled at her. Once she had gotten herself to the front of the altar she took a deep breath. Her eyes began to water as the official began to speak the words. Sansa could not believe that she would be given this honor.

'You may now say your vows,' The man declared, The septon then commanded "Look upon each other and say the words,", at which the bride and groom recited their vows, both of them speaking simultaneously. They began listing off the names of each of the Seven, in whose sight they are wedding. "Father, Smith, Warrior, Mother, Maiden, Crone, Stranger..." The Prince then turned to Sansa and said, "I am hers and she is mine. From this day, until the end of my days," whist Sansa said it again at the same time,"I am his and he is mine. From this day, until the end of my days."

They sealed their vows with a kiss and the room roared with applause. Arya turned towards her brother with a grim expression, "I want to leave."

"Well," Bran huffed, "I guess we can go to the feast early though-"

"I need to leave the North now." Bran looked at her with a quizzical expression. She began to cry. Nobody seemed to notice as the couple paraded down the hall. "I cannot travel with fucking Sansa and her awfully happy husband. She won't stop reminding me that I will never be happy."

Bran nodded and they got up. He went to his Uncle who still seemed to be cheering. Arya looked on with her eyes filled with tears. She could see her uncle looking slightly upset but as usual he nodded and imminently seemed to forget about what had upset him. Sansa was talking to Catelyn and seemed upset.

"Mother I don't want to go. I'll miss you and father and Robb; we were supposed always be there for each other but we may never-." She stopped with tears in her eyes. She was to be the wife of Crown Prince, tears would not befit her now. She heard tales of the Red keep, the men said it was a hot, ruthless place. She looked at the crown prince and she supposed he was quite a catch. She was overwhelmed, it was incredible. She would be Queen one day. Sansa looked over to see her two cousin's leaving the room. Arya looked back at Sansa with a vacant expression on her face.