Chapter 1 - Finding Home
Sitting on the edge of a cobblestone , Arya once again took in the present state of winterfell , all the years of damage and destruction bestowed on the one place she strived so hard to get back to ...her home, all those years yearning for home and now that she was here , it felt loath to admit it felt anything but .
The smell of burnt wood , blood , battle , grief and loss now haunted the walls where once it smelled of family and of love. Maybe she had assumed that everything will return to normal once she got back home , that she will be welcomed with her father's smile and mother's frown , of Robb's easy laugh and Bran's pouts. Even after seeing the gruesome fate her famile met with her own eyes , her mind had somehow seeked refuge from all horrorrs when she thought of Winterfell.
In ways coming back home made her realise that she never really grieved for her lost loved ones the way she should have , had she still been that girl who wore her heart on her sleeve, who loved and lost her family,she was no longer that girl.
Even after reclaiming her name and abandoning the order of the faceless men to become Arya Stark of Winterfell once again , she still felt the cold numbness of a killer where there once ran the fire of a she wolf. Maybe the order took more from her than a few years of service , maybe they took some part her memories, her feelings so even after being back she felt a part of her always missing . Even with Sansa and Bran so close , she felt a distance between them as if there still was a narrow sea seperating them.
But things would have to be a little different with Jon , she had forgotten all her life in westeros , given up on everyone , but not Jon. She could not begin to part with with his memories , his smile , the way he mussed up her hair , his last gift , his last hug ...they were imprinted on her mind and so ever since her return , she had hoped to see his face . Winterfell might be where she lived , but It was Jon who always felt like home , his memory that ignited her need to return even when being someone else and giving up on herself seemed a better idea than to return and face all the pain and loss she had endured this side of the narrow sea. If she could see Jon , and still not feel anything , then surely there was no hope for her , she would forever be the cold hearted killer with ice in her veins and blood on her hands .
"They're guards have spotted their party afar, they should arrive by noon" came a voice so grave and beautiful at the same time that it could only belong to her sister . Sansa , standing tall and looking every bit a lady of house stark in her long grey wool dress and fiery hair running down her shoulders like wildfire . There was no hint of smile on her face , she had grown too cautious and distrusting in their time apart . Where Sansa of the past would have fretted over her dress to greet their guests and impress them with her manners , the Lady Sansa of the present was worried over the guests that Jon will be bringing with him and politics that it would ensue. Arya might not have needed to delve into politics over the years , but she still retained some of the things she learned while serving Lord Tywin Lannister. She was aware a shrewd and cunning mind was more of a weapon than a longsword, and it filled her with pride that her sister had started weilding weapons of her own .
"Is she with them. The Queen?" Arya whispered , she had to know . The rumours regarding the bastard king selling the north to his silver queen were running around like a bad plague. Though Arya knew enough to never take stock of rumours, the smallfolk and the lords needed to respect their new king .
"They are a few women travelling with the party . Though a silver haired rider has been spotted . It could only be her. " Sansa seethed.
Arya just nodded and went to fetch Bran . The Targaryen queen was not her problem , if Jon choose to bend the knee to her , he would have a good reason for doing so. Jon was as honourable as her father , he would never forsake the north for a woman. Honour...that was the reason she only had half her family with her , she only hoped she had seen the last of starks being slaughtered over their could not help them being a little girl but now...she vowed to use her skills on anyone who even dared to threaten the last of her pack.
The party arrived earlier than expected . Maybe Jon was as eager to be home as she was to see her . Arya had been both excited and terrified all morning after receiving the news , she had not felt this much of anything since becoming no one.
She felt the same dread she felt before reaching the twins that day . Of finally reuniting with her family and at the same time wondering if something would go wrong , would he recognise her , would he sense how much she had changed? would he be disgusted? Jon might not know where she had been the past few years but there wasn't much she could ever hide from him.
The first thing she saw was the stark banner flying high and then she saw him . The same long face and brooding eyes , but the beard and his hair were diffrent , he looked like eyes were trained on her as he said something to the queen and then his horse was galloping ahead toward her . Her heart stopped beating and she felt as if her legs had turned to lead. She wanted to run to him , to cry but all she could do was watch as she dismounted a few steps from her and opened his arms . "Arya" ... that one word had never held so much emotion as he said her name with relief , disbeleif and a fondness that could only come from a big brother . It was that one word that washed away all her doubts about being cold and indifferent even to her favourite brother and once again filled her blood with the familiar fire as she ran and leapt up to his arms .
She was still incapable of producing a coherent words what with all the releif and happiness of findly finding her home , yes she had been in Winterfell for a while , but it was in this moment , in his arms that she finally felt coming back to where she belonged . Jon just spinned her around and hugged her so tight she felt the breath being knocked out of her . "I missed you , big brother" she croaked . Jon laughed "and I love you , more than words could possibly describe", wiping away the wetness of her cheeks and planting a kiss on her forhead .
"Jon" Bran said while being wheeled towards them by Sansa. "We need to talk , I have something to tell you " . "Offcourse" Jon said while getting her back to her feet and then hugging Bran fiercely "I cannot beleive you made it out alive from the north of the wall . You must tell me all that you learned . It might help us in the wars to come "
Jon then went over to Sansa and cracked a smile , "I knew there was no one better to take care of winterfell". Sansa just smiled and answered "Welcome back , your grace". Jon gave a slight frown , as if still not used to the title but before Jon could voice what was bothering him. Tyrion interrupted
"My Lord , now that you have had your moment , I think a few introductions are in order." , The imp came forward and bowed to Sansa ."Lady Sansa, It pleases me to see you safe once again in your home and amongst your family . I am here as a hand to queen Denerys , who rode here to help aid your house and your brother in the war against the Night King. In return of her help , your brother has promised the north's fealty to her ". It was a good move on his part to adress the rumours first hand in everyone's presence and also avoid any possibilty of Jon denying swearing alleigance to her , no doubt propmpted by Sansa calling Jon ,your grace . Arya had to marvel at the little man's quick thinking .
He motioned to a pretty girl with curly dark hair who then began reciting a bunch of titles that held no meaning to any northerner and made the queen look like a pompous monarch intersted in reciting her glory when there was a war on the brink and important matters to be discussed.
"Your Grace , we promise you our hospitality and our gratitude and nothing more for now . " Sansa stated defiantly and Arya wondered when exactly she developed such steel in her voice . She expected the worst , a fight , an argument as tension filled the air as the silver haired queen strode forward and met Sansa's gaze.
"That is all I require as of now , Lady Sansa . We have a war to win together , we can worry about allegiance after our victory . I do not expect the northern lords to hand over their freedom to a stranger , I plan on earning their trust. I will have what is mine in the end. " She said in a hushed but confident voice. Arya suspected she was not the kind of queen who had to yell in order to be heard , the quiet authority in her voice belied the soft beautiful exterior she presented. She may have toughened up and become lethal , but the women in front of her now were all warriors , albeit of diffrent kinds .It stuck her in that moment that Westeros was no longer ruled by men, the women had become much skilled players in the Game of thrones.
As they all decided to let the party rest and meet up for the feast , she purposely lagged behind to survey the rest of members of the party. She had felt eyes on her the moment she was free from Jon's embrace but could not satisfy her curosity out of deference to the queen . Her eyes immediately fell on the Hound and hers lips automatically muttred "seven hells " as she studied him , still brash and arrogant as ever . He stood next to a tall man with wild red hair like Sansa but his was wild and untamed , he had a big smirk on his face and was staring intently at a tall woman that could only be Brienne of tarth , afterall there weren't many women who could dwarf an entire riding party . On the opposite side stood an old man with white hair , Sir Davos he had introduced himself standing next to a man whose face was hooded , she was contemplating which side to join for conversation , when Jon appeared and loopped his arms with hers and leading her to the castle "I am not letting you out of my sight again Little Sister . We have a lot of catching up to do ".
As Arya was being led by her brother to the castle , she never saw that the pair of eyes she had felt on her were the very same blue eyes that shone with kindness , and concern , and mirth everytime she was near . The same blue eyes that lighted up while bantering with her , that were huge pools of sadness when he was being carted away from her . The same blue eyes that dreamed of her , that followed her every move since she came to view . The blue eyes she could not see because of a damn hood.