This is a story that popped in my head right after I'd seen The Hobbit in January. I originally wrote it down in Finnish but since I like to practise my English skills, I've started to translate it to English. I'm bloody slow at translating, so don't expect any regular updates (especially since I haven't finished with Far Longer Than Forever - and to be honest I haven't even finished writing this one in Finnish quite yet, I'm in chapter 17).
This is a crossover of The Hobbit, A Song of Ice and Fire and also Percy Jackson and the Olympians, but PJatO will only be present through one character, so the main fandoms used are The Hobbit and ASOIAF. And while were at it, this story takes place about a year after Battle of Five Armies (I deliberately ignore Tolkien's ending because I love Fíli and Kíli), shortly before the events of a Game of Thrones and around the same time as The Battle of the Labyrinth. So it's bound to be AU for The Hobbit and ASOIAF, not so much of PJatO (you'll see in chapter two why).
And this will be very slowly developing Bagginshield, just to warn you. (Because there is no such thing as too much Bagginshield!) But the pairing will not be the main thing for great many chapters. This fic is more about adventure, friendship and loyalty.
Please enjoy!
Chapter one
Where Unexpected Guests Arrive to Winterfell
~..~
It was snowing in Winterfell. Arya Stark was hiding behind a barrel and waited until her brother Robb came out of the stables. Arya threw a snowball she'd just made straight at her brother's shoulder. Robb looked at it, grinned and bent over to roll a couple of snowballs himself. Arya wouldn't get out of this so easily. With an experienced manner Robb threw a ball behind the barrel.
"You missed!" scoffed Arya, but not for long, for when she stuck her head up from the protection of the barrel, the next snowball hit her straight to her face.
"Revenge!" laughed Robb and threw another snowball. Arya laughed as well and soon the siblings were in a full snowball fight. At some point Jon came to help Arya and together they ran their elder brother down.
"Do you give up?" asked Jon when Robb's clothes started to be extremely wet.
"I give, I give!" Robb shouted and laughed. "How dare you go against your own brother!"
"I dare because I can't leave a young maid in distress", Jon joked.
Robb wiped the melted snow off his face and shivered a little. On her behalf, Arya was so tired that her legs gave in and she fell on the ground, panting.
"Well, it really hasn't snowed in ages", stated Jon. "That's quite fanny, we're still quite up in the North."
"Oh, I am so thankful that I don't have to be at the Wall right now", sighed Robb. "There must be a thousand degrees cold and six feet tall piles of snow. Right, let's go inside to dry up before any of us catches cold."
The brothers helped to get Arya up and together they started to walk towards the bathrooms. They weren't able to take many steps when they heard knocking from the gate of Winterfell. The siblings looked at each other. Winterfell wasn't expecting guests, not at that moment. As much as the warm bathrooms tempted him, Robb had to stay to meet the visitors, since their lord father, Lord Eddard Stark, wasn't present. Robb ordered the gates to be opened. The visitors were absolutely unexpected, and none of the three siblings could hide their astonishment when they saw them.
The guests were Dwarves.
The oldest of the Dwarves was clearly the most prestigious. His hair and beard were black and he was dressed in all black, except for a silvery belt, where hung a silvery sword. The two younger dwarves looked like each other well enough, so they must have been brothers, even though the other had blond hair and beard and the other was a brunet. They were dressed in dark green, brown and dark blue. None of them looked like the only dwarf to whom the house of Stark was used to, meaning Tyrion Lannister, but they clearly were Dwarves. All of them were shorter than Robb and Jon by several inches, but they did top Arya in height.
"Fíli and Kíli, at your service!" said the younger Dwarves in unison and bowed.
"Robb, of House Stark, pleased to meet you", answered Robb after recovering from the slight shock. "May I inquire your business here?"
"We are looking for three members to our company", said the oldest Dwarf. "My name is Thorin Oakenshield."
Robb bowed and Jon and Arya followed the example. Eddard Stark had taught his children by experience that they were to be polite to all the visitors. Bowing wasn't always necessary, but Robb, Jon and Arya saw that Thorin was a very important person, and as such they were to bow to him.
"Please come in, I'll see that my father will meet you", said Robb and beckoned the dwarves to enter the castle's yard. "Oh, before I forget, these are my sister Arya and my brother Jon."
Jon pointed out that Robb wasn't referring to him as "half-brother". It felt nice compared to Sansa who always made clear that Jon wasn't her flesh-and-blood brother. On the other hand Robb and especially Arya had always treated him as though he were their real brother, much for Lady Catelyn's nuisance.
Robb sent Arya to find Lord Eddard. Arya grimaced because she would've wanted to stay and get to know the visitors better, but she did obey her brother. Luckily her father wasn't far off. He was in the assembly hall discussing with Jory Cassel and Vayon Poole. Arya slammed the door open. She had run the whole way to get back as soon as possible.
"Arya!" shouted Ned. "What is it? Good gods, you are all wet!"
"Father", panted Arya. "Guests. At yard. Now. Hurry!"
And Ned Stark practically flew from the room. He told Jory and Vayon to come with him, and Arya to go change her clothes. Arya left with them anyway, even though she was bothered by her wet clothes. She wanted to see her father's face. At some point Nymeria joined her. The direwolf nibbled Arya's fingers a couple of times and licked her whole hand. Arya smiled and sank her hand into Nymeria's soft fur.
Ned's face truly was worth seeing when he met Thorin, Fíli and Kíli. It was exactly seeing that face why Arya hadn't said who the guests were. Her happiness was short-lived when she found out that the dwarves had already told her brothers the further meaning of their visit. Arya found it extremely unfair. She grimaced at Robb (and Jon, though he had done nothing) in irritation. It was their fault that she had missed all the details.
When the Dwarves had told on what business they were there, Ned ordered Jory to tell the kitchen staff to prepare more food for dinner. Ned preferred negotiating over dinner because it was the easiest place to keep the guests happy. Especially Fíli and Kíli didn't seem to mind a good meal. None of them seemed to mind that they had to leave their weapons in the entry way.
Ned introduced the dwarves to the rest of his family. Catelyn welcomed them quite warmly, taking that she usually was wary of visitors, Sansa was looking at them with a suspicious gleam in her blue eyes and Bran and Rickon were peeking behind their mother shyly. The atmosphere became more relaxed when Robb, Jon and Arya returned after washing up and changing into dry clothes.
"So, to what purpose do you need three members to your company?" asked Ned from Thorin when they had started the dinner.
"A map, very important to us Dwarves, has been stolen from us", Thorin told him. "It wasn't until a few months back when we got to know that it can be searched and found only a company that consists of three Dwarves of House Durin (meaning my nephews and me), three of the race of Men, a Hobbit, a wizard and a half-blood, whatever that means. And these humans must come from outside Middle-Earth, Mahal knows why."
"Oh, right", said Ned, pondering the words. "I can very well suggest –"
Ned's answer was covered with laughter as Arya and Jon laughed at something Fíli and Kíli had told them. Arya laughed so much that she nearly fell off her chair. Thorin glared at his sister's-sons to make them fall silent, and Ned did the same to his children.
"So, I can very well suggest some people of my household to join you", Ned cleared his answer. "We have many good soldiers here."
"Father, I and Jon would like to go", announced Robb. "It would be an honour to help."
"Robb…" Catelyn began with pained voice, but Ned gestured her to remain silent for a moment.
"My son, it can be very dangerous", he said. "You are my heir. There is no way I can ever let you go on that journey."
"I can go on Robb's behalf!" Arya exclaimed.
"No, you can't", snapped Sansa. "You are a girl."
"What of it?" Arya demanded. "Girls may just as well go on adventures!"
Catelyn sighed deeply. "Arya, on this matter your sister is right. You are a lady and thus you are to remain home."
"But that's not fair!"
Ned silenced his daughter with a strict glance. Arya stared at her meal, eyes in tears. Nobody ever took her with them when it was about an adventure. The reason was always her gender. It was the most ridiculous excuse since the Targaryen reign! Jon tried to console her, but a try was all he could manage. Arya had decided to mope the rest of the evening, and she was good at moping.
Catelyn glanced at her husband. "Jon can go, I don't have anything against it, but Robb, you cannot. You are the heir of Winterfell."
"And Bran is the next in line if I happen to fall", said Robb. "Father, Mother, I want to go."
"And I wish to stand by my brother's side", added Jon.
Ned Stark let out a deep sight. He did not want either of his sons to go and possibly meet their makers, at least not whilst Bran and Rickon were still so young. On the other hand they both were volunteers, and nobody in Westeros had a habit to deny giving volunteer help to those who were in need of it.
"Very well", said Ned finally. "Master Oakenshield, here are two members to your company."
"Brilliant!" Kíli exclaimed. "This is going to be fun!"
"Kíli!" said Thorin sharply. "This will not be a picnic. Although we are not reclaiming Erebor again, it does not mean to take this mission lightly."
Kíli looked down in embarrassment. Fíli patted his shoulder and said that uncle would relent soon.
"It is settled then", said Thorin to Ned. "We shall leave as soon as Robb and Jon have done their preparations."
Arya got up from the table and ran to her room without waiting for being excused. She did not want to see Robb and Jon leave, not when she couldn't go with them. She slammed the door shut and curled on her bed. Nymeria pressed herself to her side, warm and soft as always. This time the warmth of the direwolf just didn't console her at all. Arya felt envious towards the boys. The lads always got to have fun and she had to, as a girl, grow numb while cross-stitching. Had anyone ever even come up with something duller than cross-stitches?
"Nymeria, the world is the most unfair place", whispered Arya to her direwolf. Nymeria pressed her muzzle against Arya's arm and licked it gently.
Suddenly someone knocked the door.
"Arya, open up!" shouted Jon. "Come on, open! I've got something for you."
Arya rose up reluctantly and opened the door for Jon and Ghost. Bloody lucky wolf, of course he'd get to share in an adventure, Arya thought bitterly. Then she started to pay attention on a longish package in Jon's hands. Jon gave it to his sister and asked her to open it immediately.
"We don't have much time", said Jon. "I have to been at the yard very soon."
Arya tore up the wrapping and her mouth fell open from both happiness and surprise. There was a sword in the package. It was small and light when Arya tried, so in other words it was just fine for her.
"I asked the smith to forge it earlier today", Jon told Arya. "I thought of giving it to you on your name day but I realized that you needed it now."
"Sansa is going to freak if she ever finds out", giggled Arya. "It's wonderful!"
"Learn to use it whenever you have time. Talking about time, it's time for me to go."
"Wait! Does it have a name?" asked Arya. "The best swords always have names."
"Of course it has", grinned Jon. "It's your favourite item."
Arya stared at her brother for a while before she understood what he was chasing.
"Needle!"
Jon hugged Arya and ruffled her hair before running to the yard Ghost behind him. Robb, Thorin, Kíli and Fíli were ready to go already.
"I suppose Arya's not coming to say goodbye", Robb stated as Jon arrived without their younger sister.
"No", answered Jon. "She's too crushed. Well, shall we?"
Robb and Jon said goodbye to their parents and siblings (though Jon only said it to Ned, Bran and Rickon because he knew that Lady Catelyn and Sansa weren't too fond of him) and Thorin promised to bring the boys back in as good health as it was possible. Ned said that he would understand if it weren't possible. "This is their choice, and if the gods decide that their time has come, there is nothing anyone can do about it."
"Don't worry, Father, I shall look after Jon", Robb promised.
"Oh really", said Ned. "Then who will look after you?"
"Jon", answered Robb and made Fíli and Kíli laugh.
"Right", Ned sighed. "Jon, promise me that you will not pick up a fight with anyone, not even if you were provoked a lot."
"I shall do my best", said Jon and bowed to his father. Ned smiled and patted the shoulder of his bastard son.
"You will be fine", he said, but most likely he tried to assure himself of the matter rather than boost his sons' confidence.
Jon and Robb said goodbye once more and then left for the journey with the dwarves. Jon had a nasty feeling that this would be the last time he'd see Winterfell like he knew it. What a foolish thought, of course he and Robb would return to Winterfell looking just like this. The roofs would be covered with snow and the whole castle would be just as cosy as ever. They could travel to the world's end for all Jon knew but Winterfell would always be their home. They would return home eventually. Father would meet them with warmth and love, Lady Catelyn would dote on Robb, Sansa would roll her eyes at the whole business, and Bran and Rickon would be swarming around them, wanting to know everything of the adventure. And Arya… yes, Arya would probably still be bitter that she wasn't allowed to join them. Jon sighed deeply, took one last glance of Winterfell and then left it behind him.
Arya had watched the departure of her brothers from the window. In her anger she had already impaled a pillow with Needle. Mother and septa Mordane would let her hear of it. Arya took a breath and thought. The family and the servants would most likely return to their duties and daily missions. That meant that Arya had to carry out her plan soon or she would get caught. She had changed her dress to clothes which would cause her mother and Sansa a heart failure were they to see them: a long fur cloak on the top of a waistcoat, linen shirt and trousers. She had also changed her regular shoes to firm travel boots. Arya had stuck Needle to her belt and hidden it under her cloak.
"Nymeria, remember to be very silent", Arya told her direwolf who seemed to understand what her mistress wanted her to do. She shut her mouth and got down from the bed silently like a shadow. Arya smiled at her before digging some parchment, ink and a quill from her drawer. She had a message to her family, one she couldn't orally deliver. Arya wrote more quickly than ever, and it could be spotted of the quantity of ink spots. She left the letter on her bed, took her backpack, opened the door of her room and sneaked out with Nymeria. The hardest part would be to sneak out of the gates but with any luck nobody would be there to see her…
Oh, and before I forget, please inform me if any of the characters start to go OoC and tell me how to fix it.
And I do not own anything you can recognize to be the property of J. R. R. Tolkien, George R. R. Martin or Rick Riordan. I'm merely playing with their lovely characters.