"You," Ned said, kissing her lightly on the brow, "will marry a king and rule his castle, and your sons will be knights and princes and lords and, yes, perhaps even a High Septon."
She remembered when her father had said that to her, all those years ago in Kings Landing. Now, she stood in front of his statue in the crypts of Winterfell with the Winter Crown upon her head.
She had gone from being Arya Stark to almost being no one and now she was Queen in the North.
"You were right father, I did become Queen...but not by marriage to any King. I've become Queen to your people, my people, the North.
I remember all your lessons, 'don't ask your men to die for a stranger', 'the man who passes the sentence must swing the sword' and that always, always 'winter is coming'."
Arya placed the winter roses she had collected in front of his statue and smiled .
" I understand now why you smiled so rarely . When one is a leader, there is little to smile about. Your family and children included the entirety of the North. Like you I wake with worry and go to sleep worried about my family. But we grow stronger Father, with each passing day, the North grows stronger. I will continue to make us strong until our enemies tremble to even look upon us. I promise you this...the North will remain and so will the Starks."
She turned and walked out of the crypts into the light of the day, heading towards the throne room where she knew Sansa awaited her, along with the problems of ruling. Bran, she knew would appear later towards the day as was his custom. For now, she knew he would find solace in the godswood.
Seated upon the throne with Nymeria at her side Arya looked at Sansa as she read a raven received that very morning from White Harbour. Lord Manderly informed them that his emissaries has set sail a week ago, to Essos.
" I still do not understand why you want to establish relations with the Free Cities, we have enough on our plate as it is." Sansa said as she folded the missive from White Harbour.
"I know we have plenty to do in the North Sansa, but a long time ago someone once told me that sometimes in order to win, one must change the rules of the game. I imagine the Sealord of Braavos will look favourably upon the hand of friendship the North extends to it", Arya replied.
Sansa smirked, "He'll know we want something from them."
"Ofcourse we want something from them, that is how kingdoms survive do they not Lady Hand?"
"Ofcourse, Your Grace."
"You like to annoy me don't you? Braavos is a great mercantile power in Essos and it's military strength is famed. They will not be a burden to us, besides Braavos is referred to as the Bastard child of the Freedold and..."
"And you've always been fond of Bastards." Sansa finished for her.
Arya grinned, "You're finally beginning to understand me sister. However, apart from my fondness for bastards, Braavos like the North guards it's independence fiercely. Let us hope that we can build a lasting alliance based upon these similarities."
"What of the South and Kings Landing? Don't you think that our cousin and his Queen might be interested in this new strategy of yours?"
"We need concern ourselves only with the opinion of our people. As for the South, I promised them our allegiance, not our sovereignty. The way the North rules itself is only our affair."
"Arya..." Sansa started but Arya cut her of asking about the Lords who wanted a word with their Queen.
"Lords Glover and Umber will be here shortly." Sansa replied resignedly.
"And where is Lord Davos this fine morning?" Arya inquired.
"Where you sent him Your Grace, to House Flint of the mountains to hear of raids they have suffered."
"Good. Is there any other immediate concern?" Arya inquired
" A raven from Kings Landing, bearing the Targaryen Sigil."
" I need to meet some of our people, the blacksmith included...the letter can wait." Arya replied walking towards the door.
"The Lords..."
"Will not be kept waiting, unlike me. I'll be back before then." Arya answered without looking back.