She had to walk, her mind was too busy figuring out what the Kingslayer had told her. Making plans, scheming, and just trying to work ahead. She would have to keep him with her for now, she had made a promise after all. A sacred vow. Ned Stark's daughter still had honour even if she was a completely different person now.
She found a horse in the stable at the back of the inn and saddled it, making way for her to escape. She needed to get away from that room. To feel the fresh air whip against her face. The rush of adrenaline as you race across country. It had been too long since she had last rode, most probably with the Hound before she left for Braavos.
She let the horse carry her further and further away, racing along roads and through trees. Her thoughts raced quicker than the horse. She didn't know where she was going but anywhere was better than that inn, where the smug Jaime Lannister was lying in her bed. It probably wasn't her smartest idea, as she had no idea the way back, but fuck it life's an adventure.
She slowed her horse to a walk as they entered the midst of a forest; mangled trees with gnarled roots jutted out perilously, in hope of catching an unexpected rider and throwing them from their mount. The trees began to open into a clearing, with foot worn mud and threadbare grass. This was where Arya left her burrowed mare, tied to a tree.
She began to walk dusk slowly turning to night, becoming darker and darker. When she felt like she had walked enough she fell to her knees clutching her sides and screamed, a heart wrenching noise that shocked even herself, filled with pain and all her pent up rage she'd been suppressing for so long. She had to get it out of her system, that Lannister was insufferable and now she had to spend more time than was necessary with him. She thought the Hound was bad enough, the shit, but now she had to spend time with the bastard Kingslayer.
When she finally felt calm enough not to break anything she started walking aimlessly again, she didn't even know the way back to her horse. The branches overhead blocked her view of the stars but dappled moonlight lit her way, carrying he through the eerie forest. The ground crunched beneath her feet as a frost settled, freezing life underfoot. Winter is coming. This was how it was supposed to be, she was a Stark, she thrived in the harsh cold climate.
Wolves howled in the distance and a grin brightened Arya's face. It was like being home, back in Winterfell, when the snow had melted but there was still a harsh bite to the air, playing with the direwolves, training them to obey.
Septa Mordane was looking for her, again. She had stormed out of her lesson after Sansa and Jeyne were laughing at her for her stitches and teasing her about being Arya Horseface. If she had simply ran off like usual she would be in a lot less trouble, that was a usual occurrence; but this time she had threw her needles at Sansa in hope that they would stab her and yelled at the Septa telling her how stupid she was. Father really wouldn't be happy with her this time, he'd warned her only the other day that she was not to run off from her lessons. Mother wouldn't be too happy either Sansa would definitely tell on her. She was such a good girl, well that was what the septa said. Stupid Sansa.
She was running through the castle, she needed to get to Jon he'd understand, but if she headed straight for the training yard they would find her and take her back to her father. She wasn't ready to face his wrath just yet, she would have to confuse the guards, lead them away and sneak off to find Jon. She just hoped Jory wasn't on duty, he always found her. Otherwise she was good at sneaking, especially when it involved getting out of trouble.
She wished she could climb like Bran but the last time she had tried with him she had fell and broken her arm. She hadn't tried again after that, six weeks of not being able to play outside was incredibly dull. It was lucky that it was her right arm that was injured so she could continue to play when her lady mother and septa were out of sight.
She had found herself in a dark corridor on the other side of the castle, it was silent, with no sign of anyone following her. She headed back the way she came, creeping down the stairs and making her way outside. Not paying attention to her surroundings she slammed into a hard body and fell onto the floor in a heap. Jory was looking down at her grinning, "I found you Arya Underfoot." Her heart was pounding in her chest and she slipped through his legs as he made a grab for her. It was for that very reason that the guards had given her that nickname.
She climbed out a window running along the battlements. Don't look down. Don't look down. Don't look down. She kept repeating those words to herself, it wasn't that she was afraid of heights it was more that she didn't want to lose concentration and slip. She ran along the rooftop until she reached the ledge overlooking the training yard.
Watching Jon and Robb practising with wooden swords made her wish she was born a boy. How she wished she could be training out there with them instead of being locked in that tower with her sister, being taught how to be a lady. She was no lady so why did she have to act like one. She had the wolf's blood as her father liked to say.
Jon was beating Robb finding every opening and attacking rigorously to break his guard. She whistled, twice like a barn owl and once like a screech owl. This was her and Jon's signal, they had been doing it since Arya could remember and still no one had caught on. She wanted his attention, he would help her hide from her septa, as long as he was away from Robb.
Jon heard her and looked around to try and find her, this momentary distraction was enough for Robb to advance and make a well aimed hit. Jon received a hard hit to his stomach knocking the breath out of him, and he crumpled to the floor clutching his bruised middle. When he looked up from his spot on the floor his eyes met Arya's and she laughed climbing down from her hiding position.
Jon left Robb saying he needed to rest for a bit then hunted Arya down around the back of the yard. They both grinned when they saw each other and she ran to him wrapping her small arms around his waist.
"I'm sorry you lost." she said quietly kissing him where she thought he was hit. He ruffled her hair but waved her apologies aside knowing that she was seeking him out for something. Her face quickly turned serious, "We need to get out of here."
His eyebrows furrowed and she could tell he knew what she had done. He always could. "Arya father's not going to be happy" he scolded.
"I know." she sighed, "But help me Jon, please."
"Fine." He always gave in to her, she was his one weakness, his favourite sibling, and he hers.
They found Their wolves in the kennels waiting patiently for them to return, Ghost and Nymeria were always together like Arya and Jon. Everyone always said the Stark children chose their pets appropriately and it was true. They snuck off down to the Godswood the wolves racing ahead to hunt whilst the pair sat by the hot springs chatting and joking, flicking water at the other's japes. The ground was hard and cold but the water warm and inviting.
The sound of the wolves howling echoed around them and in that moment everything felt right. Arya could almost forget that she was in trouble.
It was beginning to get dark and they had missed dinner, her stomach grumbled miserably but she wasn't ready to return back to the castle just yet. Jon, precious Jon didn't say a word, he must have been as hungry as her yet he remained quiet waiting for her instructions.
The air was starting to turn cold, icy blasts picking up. She shivered in her thin dress, she wasn't prepared for sitting outside, leaving her cloak inside in her quick escape for freedom. She was almost tempted to swim in the hot springs only she would probably be colder when she climbed out. Jon, on noticing her shivering pulled her in close to his side and lay down wrapping his thick fur lined cloak around them both. Letting the thick mist of the springs steam submerge them in a shield of warmth they began to warm up. He unfastened his cloak and pulled it up over their heads so they were veiled in darkness; she was tucked into his side, a hand wrapped around her waist and his warm breath against her face. He kissed her forehead, these tender moments were what she loved and remembered most about her brother.
She could sense the wolves returning, hear their panting breaths, then feel as Nymeria sat next to her, nuzzling the cloak where Arya face was. She giggled and peered out through the cloak to see Ghost lying behind Jon and Nymeria trying to lick her face. She laughed hugging around her wolf's neck and kissing her nose. The shared heat from the wolves were keeping their bodies warm in the harsh climate and they were beginning to fall asleep when their lord father found them. He cleared his throat and tapped his foot impatiently,
"What do you two think you're doing? I hope you don't plan on staying out here all night."
"I'm sorry father." Arya begged tears filling her eyes as she clutched Jon's hand, "I'll apologise to Sansa and Septa Mordane. Jon didn't do anything I swear, punish me not him." the words tumbled out of her mouth in a rush.
Her father just sighed and picked her up, wrapping her in his cloak before helping Jon to his feet and placing a hand on his shoulder. They returned back to the castle the wolves trailing behind.
Arya seemed to blink out of her reverie and there standing before her was a giant wolf. Nymeria? Was she still dreaming? The wolf nuzzled her hand and sat in front of her, dark gold eyes staring intently at her. The wolf nuzzled her hand waiting for a response. Arya couldn't believe her eyes, she hadn't seen her pet in so long. She knew she should be cautious as direwolves weren't know for being friendly but she flung her arms around the wolves neck in a hurry to greet her old friend,
"Nymeria, I'm so sorry, I only did what I had to. The queen would have skinned you. I've missed you, please don't leave me ever again. I love you." her fingers curled in the thick fur and she kissed the wolf on the nose.
Sitting on the floor in front of Nymeria, she let the wolf curl around her, enveloping her in a warm blanket of fur whilst licking Arya's face. She was overjoyed to have her back and thought it would make her journey a lot more enjoyable being able to threaten the Kingslayer with being mauled alive. She decided that she should probably make her way back as it could take her a while to figure out the way she came.
She practically skipped back to her horse, Nymeria leading the way. She was tired and exhausted her lack of sleep catching up with her, yet she was excited to show Jaime Nymeria; she might chew his other hand off if she was lucky or at least scare him. Their journey will be so much more interesting now. As they got closer the horse could smell Nymeria's scent and began to panic, tugging at the tree it was tied to and braying nervously. Telling Nymeria to stay put she tried to calm the horse and persuade it not to bolt. she stroked her fingers through the thick brown mane muttering calming words. It took a while of coaxing but eventually the horse submitted, weary but not likely to toss Arya if Nymeria came close.
The sun was up and people were moving around outside the inn, it must be long past breakfast she thought. When she went up to her room Jaime was awake and lounging on the bed.
"I was wondering if you would come back." he didn't even glance in her direction. "Any chance you brought breakfast in bed, I'm famished. I wanted to wait for you before I broke my fast." this time he looked at her, a grin plastered across his smug face. Then he took in her appearance, "You look like you've been dragged through a hedge backwards, what happened?" he generally sounded concerned for her well being, but she ignored his worry.
"Nothing." she growled, "Nice face, Kingslayer." she said changing the subject and looking at the deep purple bruise that flowered across his left cheekbone, dark and swollen around his eye fading to a pink towards his jaw.
"Yes." he ground his teeth, "Thank you for that."
"You're welcome," she smiled shrugging nonchalantly, "black eyes suit you. Now come on get up I have a friend I need you to meet." she pulled at his arm a malicious smile on her face as she tried to drag Jaime out of bed.