Supper was a lively affair this evening, Arya noted. With her seated at the seat where her father used to sit. To her right sat Bran and Sansa was seated besides him. To her left sat Lord Glover who she noted was, being regaled by Greatjon Umber's bawdy tale. Lord Glover grew more embarrased by the minute she noted amusedly.
"Then the lass grabbed my..." Greatjon continued.
"That is quite enough Lord Umber, you seem to forget you're in the presence of ladies", Lord Glover interrupted looking vexed.
Greatjon stared at Lord Glover and then peered forward to look at Sansa. "Lady Sansa isn't close enough to be bothered" he boomed.
"I was also referring to our Queen"
Lord Umber's laughter boomed across the hall and he raised his ale mug stating, "Ah! our Queen isn't bothered by my colorful storytelling."
Before Lord Glover could respond, Arya cut in and asked when the Lords would be returning to their respective keeps.
Lord Glover answered his departure would take place on the morrow, whereas as expected Greatjon Umber asked if their Queen was tired of his presence already.
Arya smiled and replied in the negative. The lords soon took to bantering amongst themselves leaving Arya free to observe the surroundings around her. The ale flowed freely as it always did whenever Greatjon was around. When her gaze finally turned to her brother, she found him gazing at her with a smile on his face.
"Still looking for lurking dangers sister?" Bran inquired
"Starks are renowned for their bad luck brother", the sentence while said with a smile held memories of a dark past.
"Things are not as they were Arya"
"Our words say otherwise...winter is forever present is it not? Besides, a little vigilance never hurt anyone"
"You are a good leader for our people, Father would be proud. Also, you should remember my dear sister that your brother happens to be the Three Eyed Raven...The Starks may be renowned for their bad luck but they also endure", Bran stated seriously.
"I don't think I have it in me to endure anymore Bran. You, Sansa and Rickon are all that matter to me, my pack. I have to protect us at all costs"
"You do protect us Arya, you are too hard on yourself. What happened was meant to be...nothing would have prepared us for our roles in the Long Night otherwise. As for Rickon, he is only too happy to be trained at Bear Island. Betrothing him to Lady Lyanna was an insightful move. Not only are they happy together, but Bear Island has been honored for their loyalty in a befitting manner."
"I didn't do for alliances. Rickon was so young when he lost mother and father. He deserves to be happy and it seems his happiness was with Lady Lyanna. Truth be told, I couldn't be happier to have her as a good-sister."
"Sansa said something about a raven from Kings Landing", Bran asked and saw his sister's face closing up like a flower.
"I haven't read it yet" came the reply.
"Arya, how long will you avoid Jon? You realize that as Queen you can not hide from him?"
"I do not hide Bran. Jon made his choice when he left and his Dragon-Queen was only too eager to sweep him away"
"He is a Targaryen, Arya. That was hardly his choice." Bran pressed on, trying to draw on Arya to reveal the reason behind her anger with Jon, whom she had once favored above all else.
"He is a Targaryen and a Stark. Our people followed him even after his true parentage was revealed, but it seemed not enough for him...he should have at least..." Arya stopped mid-sentence. "It no longer matters Bran...as you said what is past is past. He is the King of six kingdoms, a Targaryen and our cousin. I want him to be happy, truly I do. But make no mistake, our pack does not include our cousin any longer."
"What happened that time when you went to Kings Landing after Jon's coronation Arya", Bran asked.
"Can you not see brother? Are you not the Three Eyed Raven?", Arya asked mockingly.
"No, I can't", Bran said looking perturbed. "I have tried to, but I can only ever see you travelling to Kings Landing or sailing back from White Harbour. It's almost like something blocks me from seeing what occurred"
"Everything happens for a reason Bran", Arya replied as she stood up from her seat. "I'll see you tomorrow brother" she whispered smilingly and kissed his forehead before leaving the hall.
Instead of heading towards her chambers Arya walked to the Godswood and sat leaning against the Weirwood tree. She could not remember how many a times she had seen her father lean against this very tree cleaning Ice, the great broadsword of House Stark. Once the long night was over Lady Brienne had returned her sword 'Oathkeeper' to House Stark stating that was where the sword truly belonged. As to 'Widow's Wail', Jamie Lannister had fought bravely with the sword in the Battle for Dawn. However, he had not survived to see the Night's King defeated and so Tyrion Lannister as a gesture of good faith had given the sword back to the Starks.
While Ice had been reforged and while great pains had been taken to return it to it's former look, the sword still looked different. Every time Arya sentenced someone to death, Ice was used to carry out the judgement and every time Arya looked at Ice she was reminded of how fickle life was and how quickly fate could change it's course.
She realized now that her father must have felt something similar to what she felt nowadays...after all after Robert's Rebellion only Uncle Benjen and her father remained of their family. Ned Stark had returned to Winterfell as it's Lord to take the mantle of responsibility that was never meant for him, while Uncle Benjen had joined the Night's Watch.
He must have heartbroken, Arya realized. Just as she was because she still woke sometimes with tears on her face, always the morning near Baelor's Statue would haunt her. Her life had truly ended that day, a part of her did die as they killed her father. Starks truly did not belong in the South she thought to herself, Grandfather and Uncle Brandon had proved this and so had her father.
'So did you' a voice whispered inside her head. She stood abruptly from her seat, unwilling to dwell on what had occurred when she had traveled South for Jon's coronation.
"Fear cuts deeper than swords" she said aloud and started to walk back and as she walked on her heart whispered 'so does betrayal'.