Reunion

Chapter One- Her older brother

The freezing winds hit Winterfell with it's cruel irritation, as any day in the frozen north of Westeros. The entire city was icy and dim, not a sound. A ghost town beside some lone banner men at their posts. Meanwhile everyone else was retained in Winterfell and asleep. They held their blankets swimming through their dreams, all except for one Arya Stark.

She laid in her outsized bed, with several covers keeping her warm and toasty. Hours came and passed in a mist, still not being able to sleep. Turning and tossing over in her large bed, unable to get a drop of the slumber she needed. Permanently she had some trouble finding sleep. Just when that moment of sweet slumber arose, it would fade away. Unable to take it any longer, she moved the sheets over. With a huff she sat up.

Her feet touched the cold wooden floor causing her to freeze to the bone. Tip toeing her way to the door, she slipped out into the hallway not creating any sound, less than a mouse. Walking out into the desolate hall, eyes darted in the darkness. Walking further down the hall she heard the sound of someone outside hitting steel.

Following the noise she traveled over to the window, looking out into the courtyard to find her brother. Out in the courtyard, by his lonesome Jon stood. He erected himself in the middle of the courtyard swinging his sword, hitting a straw mannequin with powerful strikes. Working with a sweat, unable to stop.

The yard was desolate and barren, no one expect for Jon. Beaming she watched her brother whip his sword around in the cold air and mud, bringing it up above his head until he slashed at the mannequin. The crashes carried over the air. As she saw his cold breath in the air. Watching for a time she admired his spirit, always trying harder and training. He always thought of his drills, never a beat, never a miss.

Although his swordsmanship was improved, seeing him alone caused her to feel sadness course. Jon was continuously cheerful with her, but anywhere else he carried different emotions. With her the smile he wore made a sun over the horizon, but alone she found him in a gloom.

Another slash carried to her. Leaning closer she saw him clearly. She loved her brother more than anyone in her family, he was unlike any of the rest. Not like anyone, permanently treating her with brotherly respect and love. A respect no one provided her but him.

With a smile she remained up in the window for an hour. How she wished she could fight with a sword like him. But she was a lady of Winterfell, and had tedious chores that made her fall asleep of boredom. Severely she sought to run out there, clutch a sword and train with her brother. To wear a smile and charge over a hill, a horse under her and a weapon grasped in her hand. But in the end, she dreaded the very thought of getting caught. Or worse, her brother receiving trouble. The urge was so great, but she shook it from her mind and leaned back away from the window. Leaning away from a life with a weapon and a different path.

Alone in shadows, she walked back to her room and laid down in her soft bed thinking of Jon and his training. The very last thought was his last swing into the mannequin, then sleep found her.

The Next Day-

She awoke to bright sunlight shining into her room, cascading over her face. With a annoyed huff she opened her eyes. First, the smell of fresh bread just cooked down in the kitchen reached her. With a smile upon her face, sensing that delicious aroma she stood up and grabbed her dress. It wasn't approximately what she enjoyed wearing, she would much rather wear something comfortable, but she was a lady of Winterfell. It was something she knew so well, being told so many times it caused her ears to bleed. Getting dressed she exited her room. She knew where she was headed, it wasn't the food but straight to her brother's room. Leaving her room she entered the hallway to the noise of countless people loading cattle and wagons, all up for the day. Closing the distance towards her brother's room, which wasn't far.

Nearing his room, she heard someone talking sternly in Jon's room. As she listened carefully she could her mother saying something, but couldn't make it out. Approaching, the sound of what she assumed was her mother tread towards the door and quickly rounded the corner out of sight. Her mother strode in the other direction. Once out of sight, she rounded the corner and quickly into her brother's room without a sound. Inside she found Jon upon his bed looking down at the floor. A look of sorrow and pain etched on his face. She hated seeing him like this. Always she would find him alone and full of gloom.

"Jon?" she asked quietly as a whisper. He looked up and over, seeing his sister, standing there. Instantly his expression altered to a large bright grin. More than cheerful to see his sister he loved.

"What are you doing here, Arya?" He asked, with a bright smile, opening his arms. Without hesitation Arya ran up to him opening her arms, wrapping them tightly around him, never wanting to let go. Loving being in his arms, the safest arms she could find in her life. Always in high spirits with him, like nothing could happen with him by her side. Gazing up she saw his bright smile, yet still thought of her mother.

"What was mom telling you?" She asked, staring at him. Jon simply smiled like nothing was wrong.

"Oh, nothing… What about you, Arya?" He asked. She looked down at the floor with a look of sadness.

"What is it?" She gazed the room, trying to find her thoughts, until her eyes landed on him. The young man who wanted nothing but to leave and join the watch.

"Are you still planning to join the watch?" She asked. His once smile faded away with a look of gloom.

"I've already decided." He stated.

"But your family is here, your home is here… And I'm here." She declared while looking at him with grief in her voice. Jon gazed over her, seeing the frown.

"Don't worry, you can come and visit me." He tried to salvage that smile he knew.

"I don't want to visit you." She looked up at him. "I don't want to see the seven hundred foot wall. It's been there for thousands of years and it will remain. What's so great about a stupid wall? When I want you to stay here, and never leave." She declared unable to comprehend why he would want to depart.

"I am no lord, Arya. One day when were older and grayer, Robb will become a lord of Winterfell. One day, you will travel far from here and marry some lord of another house." She stood there thinking life is unfair.

"I don't. I, I won't. I want to go with you." She said, hopefully.

"To the night's watch? It's only for men." He said causing Arya to frown.

"It's not fair then."

"Come on, it will be alright. And besides you will meet some beautiful prince who will wisp yourself off your feet." Jon said with a smile. Arya scowled as she furrowed her brow with anger.

"Shut up." She told as Jon smiled. The thoughts of the wall remained.

"What if I never see you again?"

"You know me, nothing can hurt your big brother." He stated snobbish as he walked over to her. With his hands, he grabbed her lifting her up to the air, she began giggling as he spun her around in the air. "You know. Nothing can hurt me." The two could forget about everything around them and just be themselves together. That was truly the aspect Arya loved about Jon, she could always be herself with him. After a moment he gently set her down. As he brought back to the bed and sat her down.

"Yeah right. You'll probably get a cut and run the other way." She mocked to a laugh from Jon.

"I will always find a way to live… Now go on. You don't want them looking for you. The septa will have a word to say." She hopped off the bed and left his room with one last look at him. Out of the room her thoughts were filled with sorrow that her brother was leaving and heading north. Her feet took her further down the hall, without looking in her mind, she heard her sister. Looking up she found that bright auburn hair.

"Arya where have you been. I've looked and looked." Her sister asked, out of breath, resting her hands on her knees. To her she wasted an hour, looking for her.

"Talking with our brother, Jon." She answered swiftly with anger.

"Our half-brother." She stated in a moment. Before Arya could argue Sansa continued. "We need to get back now. The septa has been looking for you." Arya frowned and knew she had a long day ahead of her.

Later In Night-

Arya laid in her bed, again she was having difficulty falling asleep. Knowing at this moment Jon remained ready in the chilling wind, slashing his sword, training. She couldn't help it and stood up getting dressed and left her room. In a moment, hearing the familiar sound of Jon in the courtyard.

He was there, swiping his sword through the air. With the sight she traveled down to the courtyard, resting a meter away from him. The moon illuminated her face as she moved in the mud.

Jon deep in thought with a final crash of his weapon, heard her coming and stopped. Looking back, he found his little sister standing there in the cold and mud. At the very instant, panic ran through his mind.

"What are you doing out here? If someone catches you." He said nervously as he quickly moved to her, his head darting for anyone.

"I wanted to come here and be with you." She replied, honestly.

"You need to go back." He said urgently walking closer to her.

"Why?"

"You know why." He replied.

"No one's going to catch me. You know the guards, they are all thick in the head." She told with a confidence only Jon knew her to have. Standing proudly, Jon couldn't help but smile.

"Your to confident for your own good." He said more relaxed, standing back. "So, what are you doing out here? Out here at the dead of night? When you should be asleep." he asked.

"I was wondering,-" Her eyes met the mud while she dwindled her thumbs. "-If you would train me with a sword?" She asked looking at the mud and dwindling her thumbs.

"Teach you?" he asked, shocked.

She stepped forward. "Come on, Jon, you need someone to spar with. And I can be a splendid enemy. You can be the best teacher." She pleaded to her brother. He knew he couldn't say no. He turned around and closed the distance between to the armory setting his steel sword down. He walked over and grabbed a wooden sword in each hand. With them in his hands he walked over to his little sister with the weapons. Her entire face lit up and she beamed with the weapons.

"Alright, but no one can know. Not father, or mother or Robb." Jon declared.

"Or Sansa." they said together, laughing. She grinned and ran up to him wrapping her arms around him.

She let go standing before her brother. He turned the sword and handed the hilt to Arya. She wrapped her hand around the wooden sword, her body gaining goosebumps. Without a moment of hesitation she lunged forward with the wooden weapon. Jon simply darted out of the way. Arya swiped at his mid-section and he would block occasionally. With a final swipe his sword collided with hers and it went flying. Resting into the mud, several feet away.

"Put all your body and force into it. And don't forget your enemy's skill." He told and she nodded with glee. He journeyed over to the sword, picking it up and handing it to his sister. She grabbed it, holding it firmly in her fingers and without a word charged at her brother.

The two went at for hours, Jon giving her tips. Arya listening eagerly and happy to be with him. After much time the two breathing heavily, sweat running down their backs. And with a final spar they came to a halt to Arya's gloom.

"I want to keep going. We can train all day, every day." Arya stated with mud all over her as her brother made a face.

"We can train tomorrow, we can't get caught this late at night." He responded as well with mud covering him.

"So, you will keep training with me?" she asked favorably with a smile and he returned it with a smile of his own.

"We need to stay far out of sight. Just the two of us, not a single guard can catch a glimpse. Ok." He said. Arya nodded with a smile yet unable to stand, she ran up and wrapped her arms around him one last time before bed. Letting go she looked up seeing his beam, then ran back to her room. With so much delight she couldn't contain, the only thing to look forward to, was training with Jon.

Thanks for reading and hope you enjoyed it.