The chill in the air was felt by everyone but as it was just another part of life that everyone endured. For Lord Eddard Stark the chill of a different kind made itself known to his spine. This chill was very familiar to him as it had been with him for just over 2 years and 6 months. The chill was him failing to keep his promise to his sister as Arya Snow ran away because of his lie. Looking back upon the memories he knew he messed up maybe if had told his wife the truth she would have been the mother that he wanted her to be to Arya. He knew building Arya's final resting place was a mistake as she held no fear of the crypts. Arya finding it was only a matter of time and time ran out that one miserable day. The day when she made the impulsive choice to run away and vanish.

The very next day he regretted their fight and called for a search of the all the roads heading out of Winterfell. After a month of searching and no results Catelyn finally convinced him that she simply didn't want to be found by him. That is when the tears came out of his eyes and even though she felt Arya was a mistake she crossed the floor and shared his grief as she felt that the blame was partly hers. An idea he let her believe out of spite. He knew it was wrong, but he couldn't bring himself to tell her the truth.

Before he was forced from his bed he fell back into the memories that he had of her. The first one was not a happy one and to this day it still angered him. He was in council with Maester Luwin and Ser Rodrick concerning the rumors of Mance Raider. They were worried about what would happen if the wildlings got past the Night's Watch. Maester Luwin was doing his best to stop Ser Rodrick from convincing Ned to gather the bannermen. When a soft knock came from behind the door.

"Who is it?!" Ser Rodrick called out.

"It's Arya, Ser. Is father in there?" Her voice sounded weak as if she feared that Catelyn was also in the room. It was no secret the the relationship between Catelyn and Arya was difficult and according to some it just wasn't there at all thanks to Catelyn's pride. Ned found his mood improved at her arrival and his voice reflected his love for his false daughter.

"I am here Arya. You can enter."

With that she opened the door and all three men looked at the seven year old girl who was dressed in breeches and a tunic. Her hair was a mess and her face had traces of dirt meant that she must have been sparring with Robb again. Those two always got along as sure as if Arya had been born a boy. She looked very shy and so unlike the Arya that possessed a fire in her. He wondered if Catelyn had broke up the sparring match telling Robb that it unbecoming of a Stark to strike a girl and telling Arya off. Whatever it was it clearly upset her.

"Arya come here."

She crossed the room with a slight limp and hopped on to his lap. Ned looked down her and he saw much of his sister in her face but her face also held a mixture of confusion and traces of fear. Her grey eyes looked up at him and he could see that she was unsure if she should speak. Ned spoke to try and calm her worries so she could confess her troubles.

"What's wrong Arya?"

"Father, what's a bastard?"

The air in the room changed almost instantly at the question. Ser Rodrick looked slightly ashamed as he knew that the word would be all that anyone outside of Winterfell see her as and not the fearless warrior and intelligent woman that he knew she would become one day. Maester Luwin did feel sad, but he did a better job at hiding it as he expected this would come up one day and he had an answer ready for her.

"Arya, a bastard is someone that is born to people that are not married."

"Like me?"

"Yes that is why your name is Snow."

Maester Luwin felt satisfied that he had handled the very difficult situation and expected Arya would learn to live with that word in time. However his satisfaction was short lived as Arya asked a question that he would never had guessed would come out of her mouth and again the air in the room changed.

"Am I better off dead Luwin?"

Her question shook everyone in the room to their core, but given her true identity it made Ned think. The obvious threat was the king, but there was no telling how many houses would want the daughter of Rhaegar Targaryen and Lyanna Stark dead. Why one child true name could start a war was beyond him, but he knew it would happen. Robbert's rage would be too great if he found out that Lyanna gave Rhaegar a child and because of his promise he was honor bound to keep Arya out of Robberts hand's. He shut down the thought as it was a horrible thought to have. He finally spoke with a trembling voice and those grey eyes looked up at him which made it harder to keep his voice steady.

"No, course not Arya. Why would you think such a thing?"

"Septa Minerva told Sansa that all bastards are mistakes and they would be better off dead."

Maester Luwin's blood boiled at the words Arya had spoken and knowing that she isn't the type to speak false. He quickly stood from his chair and left to speak to the Septa about this as even though she was entitled to her opinion, Sansa was only four and should not be learning such things. Ser Rodrick left as well feeling that this conversation was better held in private between a father and his daughter.

"Arya, I won't ever lie to you. I know you know this so I feel that it's only fair to tell you that people will often judge you as my mistake and that will color their opinions of you. But to me, you will always be my little girl and no matter what anyone else says."

With that said Arya hopped down off of his leg and spun on her good leg. Her fire return brighter than ever and made a declaration as though the word Bastard was some great beast that she was determined to hunt down.

"I am Arya Snow, the Wolf of Winterfell. Any who call me a Bastard shall meet my fist."

Tear threatened to fall from his eyes as he could see Lyanna's spirit had found her daughter. With her words hanging in the air, she turned and strode out as if she was going to make sure that Wolf of Winterfell was going to be the only words she held after her name.

The next memory is far happier as one year prior Catelyn's refusal teach Arya anything came to a head when she bleed. Maester Luwin did a good job handling the situation even in spite of Lord Stark's unexpected and loud arrival in her room, but Luwin said that the gaps in her knowledge of the woman's body had to be addressed and that it would be better if it came from a woman. He wanted to ask Catelyn to be one to explain it, but it would never happen because Catelyn was too proud and Arya had learned stay out of Catelyn's sight. So he called on the aid of a woman whose house was disrespected by her nephew, but she and her daughters were loyal and be a welcome sight to Arya. Maege Mormont arrived a few moons after he sent the raven and left with Arya.

The shouts of a riders approaching the gate during nightfall saw him and Robb rise from their beds and hurry to the courtyard as House Bolton was growing more bold lately, but no one expected them to be this bold. By the time he and robb got to the courtyard the horse was coming through the castle entrance. Ned couldn't help but feel that his men had betrayed them and let the unknown persons through. It wasn't until he hear her voice that he understood why the gates opened.

"Sorry for the lateness of my arrival Lord Father. I thought for sure I would arrive sooner."

"Arya?"

Robb was the first to speak her name and he stepped towards her to embrace his sister. Unfortunately for him Arya had different plan as she used the shaft of her spear to knock his feet out from under him. This caused the guardsmen to try hard to suppress their laughter as it reminded everyone that Robb had a ways to go before he could match Arya with a spear. It was little show like this that had endeared both her and Robb in the hearts of their people. After she was finished showing off her dominance over her brother she helped him up. Both of them were laughing when the embraced for real this time.

After they embraced ended she turned to Ned and knelt before him as she laid her spear on the ground. This show of submission was just a play to appease Lady Stark as she was watching from their balcony. Arya spoke with a playfulness in her voice but her word choice was a wise one with the Lady of the house watching.

"Lord Father, I humbly ask permission to return to your side here in Winterfell."

"Rise Arya."

A command came from his mouth. A command she followed it and stood before Lord Stark with spear in her hand. There was no doubt in his mind that she was unknowingly walking her mother's path. He knew the outcome of that path and he would do better by her mother's memory. He stepped forward and wrapped his arms around her. At first she was surprised as it had been a while since she felt his arms around her, but then she embedded her spear in the ground and returned his embrace with as much force. That is when he gave her his answer.

"Never speak those words again Arya. Winterfell will always welcome you."

That is when the Bran and Jon came running out to greet their sister after her year long absence. It was official the Wolf of Winterfell has returned to her den. Even though it was late in the night the boys want to throw her a feast, but Arya mockingly scolded Bran and Jon for being awake this late and rushed them to bed. The feast on the following midday was large and loud with life as they welcomed back their Wolf. The only who was not smiling was the Lady of the House.

The movement next to woke him from his memories as his wife started to stir from her slumber. Ned decided that he had used up enough recalling the one who he forever failed and swung his legs off his bed. He was about to stand when Catelyn's voice called to him.

"You were thinking about her, weren't you?"

He clearly heard the anger in her voice that wasn't even hidden and this made the anger in him rise. He asked her and begged her to be a mother to Arya, but she wouldn't do it out of pride. Apparently Tully's only see ones with Tully blood as family and he was grateful that his definition of family was broader than that. If she had a child with another man he was sure that he would kill the man and be upset that she broke her vows, but he would never treat that child with the disdain that Catelyn showed Arya. Did that make him the better person in the eyes of the old gods. He didn't know, but he knows that Lyanna would no doubt would make sure the Catelyn's life was hell if she was alive. He could almost hear the cold rage of his sister bearing down on his wife. The thought made him smile and finally he gave his wife the answer.

"I was. She is my blood."

"She's was your blood, then she ran off and probably got herself killed by some drunkard in a tavern."

"You seem to forget her skill with a spear was unrivaled thanks to the Mormonts and Ser Rodrick. She will return one day and Winterfell's gates will open for her."

"She was only fourteen Ned and that is even overlooking the fact she was a girl. Fighting is for boys and the gentle arts is the way of women."

Knowing that this argument will go in circles he decided to drop it and let her win. He finally stood up and went to get dressed. As hard as the topic of Arya was on him and Catelyn, he was sure that it was the hardest on Sansa. Seeing and be taught by her mother and Septa Mordane all while her elder sister dominate their brothers in fighting ability. The difference between them couldn't be more defined. People would follow Sansa because her name is Stark and people would follow Arya because she would bleed for them. The thought made him slightly angry that Sansa didn't even want to learn how to defend herself. She said that her husband would protect her. He was considering marrying to a lord's son of Dorne. Maybe the Dayne family would take her under their banner. He decided to write them later in the day. He left Catelyn to get ready away from his sight and went down to eat with his remaining children before seeing to his duties as Lord of Winterfell.