In which our little wolf starts piecing up the pieces.

*Year 298 After Conquest (AC) - Old Past*

The burden of knowing what lies ahead was wearing Arya out. It was less than a moon away before the royal visit and before everything went to hell for her family. She tried to deny the fact that she had gone back in time and settles on her having a nightmare or a vision instead. But, every day went by only strengthens her belief that she was indeed traveling back through time. Even though her body was of a small child, her mind was not. The experience she had had through the years in the run had matured her. Her body even remembered the sparring and fighting techniques from the famous Braavosi Water Dance to the Faceless Man, which she hasn't learn yet in this time. Though her strength was shrinking, due to her smaller frame, she still knows how to be deadly enough, and for that she was thankful.

Sleep has not come by easy after learning the truth. Her dark circle under her eyes worsening every day. But she couldn't care less about it. Not when the knowledge of the future is within her grasp. Just thinking about the fate of her family makes her want to run and tell them what is going to happen. But, she knows better. They would have locked her up in a tower and claimed that she had gone mental if she ever did that. So, she kept her silence albeit with much difficulty.

She has to be smart, of that she was certain. But, how? She wasn't quite sure yet. The only thing that was important for her was saving her family. So, she will set her eyes on that particular goal.

That is why, she was here in her father's and mother's chamber, watching silently in the corner of the room as they lie in their bed peacefully not knowing their daughter had come by to check on them every night. Where in truth, she had checked in every room of her siblings too. It calms her to know that they were safe.

Arya let out a small sigh as she looks upon their sleeping faces. They look so calm and peaceful. If only they knew what was coming.

She strides off towards the door, leaving them behind with not a single sound and merging as one with the shadow.

A few corner and stairs later, she was back in her own room. The dark greets her and she welcomes it. Taking a sit on her bed, she ponders silently on how to change the fate of her loved ones until the light takes turn and greets her.

*

The dreaded day finally arrives and Arya cannot help but being restless. She had taken refuge in the Godswood with Nymeria, to practice or rather sharpen her sword techniques when everyone was busy attending to their last preparation before the royal escort came.

She remembered how eager she was at that time. Admiring the knights. The Hound particularly stood up to her the most.

It was not because of him that the feeling of anger and resentment was radiating from her body at this very moment. But the fact of one evil and manipulated woman among them. The Queen.

Cersei Lannister's face was haunting her since last night and she feels agitated to know that she was still alive at this time and was making her way to her sacred home.

She thrust the wooden sword forward with a grunt, picturing the queen was at the end of the sword. It should be piercing right through her gut now. But, somehow her image was still looking down at Arya with an annoying smirk, mocking the younger girl.

Arya tightens her grip on the blade before putting another hand on the handle.How dare she!

With another grunt, she brings the wooden blade upwards, cutting her from gut to throat. She spins to gain enough momentum before slicing the blade along the damn woman's neck. Her head separated and rolling down the ground to her feet. Arya smiles with satisfaction at her imaginary victim. That's where you should be.

Nymeria let out a sound as she tilts her head to the side, as if judging her master's weird behavior. But, Arya was too distracted to notice. The direwolf stands up in an instant looking pass her, acknowledging another presence besides them.

"Seven Hells!" a voice startles Arya from her trance. She turns around to find Jon walking towards her and Nymeria. "Remind me not to get into your bad side, little sister." He continues.

"I will." She replies with a chuckle not before studying his clean look. He wears shorter hair with no stubbles on his face. It makes him look younger. Jon let out a slight smile at her remark.

"Where did you learn that? I've never seen that moves before." He asked. Arya shrugged, masking her face into indifference.

"No where…" She answered, cursing inwardly because she was not careful enough of her surroundings. No one was supposed to know she was this good yet. "I'm just playing around." She said again. Jon raised one of his eyebrow, studying her.

"Well, this won't do. You're sweaty and all. Go freshens yourself before the King arrives." He said with a disapproving look. Arya nearly roll her eyes at him.

"You're worse than mother."

"No, I'm not."

Arya cross her arms and looks up at her half-brother with a raised brow, mimicking him.

"Fine, don't freshen yourself then, I mean who cares if the youngest daughter of Lord Eddard Stark was disheveled in welcoming the guests. It'll only be the King of Westeros anyway." He said calmly. Arya finally roll her eyes at that, and let out a sigh as she tossed the blade to Jon, where he easily caught it. A slight smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.

"As you wish…now if you will excuse me. I have to go and make myself pretty again. Come, girl." she said as she walks, Nymeria trailing besides her. "Though I doubt I can be as pretty as you." She continues with a grin, finally walking pass him. Jon glares at his little sister good naturedly, with her loyal companion hot on her trails.

*

They were standing in a line waiting for the King to finally arrives. Just as before, Arya joins her family and stood where she should be. Her posture and expression calm. But her inside was a turmoil. She was afraid she was unable to control herself when facing the one that she had killed before and will gladly kill again for the second time.

Maybe I should kill The Queen and be done with all of this. But, can it guarantee my family's life?

Her thought was short lived as the sound of horses and carriages enters her ears. And soon after, the royal escort came riding in through the Winterfell gates. The horses came riding in first and along them were The King and his soldiers. She noticed a golden hair boy riding along among them and instantly regret noticing him. It was Joffrey and he was still an eyesore even before it all began.

Arya then trailed over the carriages that came in soon after. So caught up in her own little bubble, she didn't even pay any attention to The King as her father greets his old friend.

When Cersei Lannister finally emerged from one of the carriage, Arya held her breath, her knuckles white from clutching her fist so hard. It was a surprise that she was still standing at her place and not throwing actual daggers at the dreadful woman and his son.

She studies The Queen as she smiles and hold out her hand to her father.

Gods, how fake can she be? Anyone with at least one eye can see how she loathes everyone besides herself.

Her trains of hatred were suddenly put in a halt when the said person turns her attention at her. Arya was startled for a second when she was being caught staring, but her cold mask was on within seconds and she held her gaze. Steel grey eyes boring into emerald green ones.

Cersei raise an eyebrow, judging the smaller woman and Arya scowl in return. The older woman frown, not expecting such malice behavior from her subject.

Arya would have smirk at that, but a nudge against her ribs stops her. She looks to her right, glaring at Bran.

"Ouch, that hurts!" she hissed, rubbing her side. Bran gave her an alarming look, not believing her sister's illogical behavior.

"What?" She asked, frowning now. Bran tilts his head, pointing ahead of her.

Arya finally looked away, at the intended direction only to find that Robert Baratheon, was staring down at her silently, along with everyone else presents. The silence creeps in and every seconds pass in awkward as they stared at the little girl.

Arya cuss under her breath, forgetting the King of Westeros. "I'm sorry… Did you say something?" she finally asked, breaking the silence while trying to look as innocent as possible. Robert chuckled.

"I did. Three times in fact." The King trailed. "I asked what your name is, girl." He continues, a slight frown across his face.

"My name's Arya… Your Grace." She added the last part quickly when Robert stared at her with confusion and something else that Arya cannot decides.

He nods, studying the little girl one last time before moving on to Bran.

*

The feast later that night was an actual pain in the ass for Arya. She literally had to sit still through the whole night with drunk men on her left and right. The King was no exception.

She can't believe how that man came upon the throne in the first place. She bet he can't even lift his famous Warhammer now without knocking himself out. The thought of that drunkard ruling over the seven kingdoms was appalling. And her father will be serving him as The Hand.

She will not let that happen, one way or another.

As Arya raised her goblet and swallow the ale, her eyes wander at her sister. Sansa was drooling with much obvious at the little shit, Joffrey. And her mother was doing her best to entertain the damn Queen.

The laughing and chattering noises were becoming too much for her to bear. With a grunt, Arya finally stands up and stride out the dining hall.

With every steps she takes, the chaos subsides and she started to regain her sanity again. She didn't realize where her feet have taken her. The sight of a familiar kennel greets her and Nymeria came running out. She stops short when the rope that binds her hinder its movement and she waited for her master to close in instead.

"Hey, girl. What have you been up to?" Arya asked, crouching and reaching her hands onto Nymeria. The beast nuzzles closer and rest on Arya's lap as she caresses her.

A smile naturally forms on her lips as her companion move to lick her face clean. The smell of raw meat was accompanying the after effect.

"I reckon you had your dinner already then..." Arya trailed. Nymeria let out a bark at that. "Good, at least one of us still hasn't lose her appetite." she continues with a grin.

Another bark was heard soon after and Arya shifts her attention on the direction of where the sound was coming. Greywind was standing at the entry door of the kennel, acknowledging the young girl. Then, Summer and Ghost emerged doing the same. Lady was relaxing just inside the corner, tending to her furs, ignoring everyone while Shaggydog was nowhere to be seen. Greywind barks again at her and Arya cannot help grinning.

"It's just me… Robb and Bran are still in the feast." she said as a matter of fact. "I don't know where Jon is." she finished, staring at Ghost.

The direwolves simultaneously turns around to their home as they heard the disappointing answer, ignoring her completely. Arya chuckled. "Well, nice to meet you lot too."

She shifts her attention back at Nymeria, caressing her at her favorite spot just behind her ears.

A chill run down her spine and her senses were on high alert almost instantly as she heard the sound of footsteps slowly moving towards her from behind. But the steps were uneven, almost like the person was about to fall. Probably one of the men from the feast that has too much to drink, she concludes. And choose to ignore the presence as it bears no threat at all.

"Cute dog. Is it yours?"

Arya stiffened as the familiar voice rings through her ears. All the memories of being the man's hostage came to light. She slowly stands up and turns around, facing him. "She's a direwolf." She said back, looking up at him.

The Hound seems taller now or maybe because she was shorter this time. He chuckled, lifting his cup over his mouth. "Little girl shouldn't play with beast like that." He commented, pointing down at Nymeria.

"I couldn't agree more." She replies, grinning as she released the rope that holds the beast. Nymeria instantly was at The Hound's feet, growling and baring her teeth. Even though she was still a pup, she looks quite intimidating. The Hound startled and spilling his drink was a proof of that.

"Nymeria…be nice." Arya calls to her. "Come on, let's go for a walk." She finished, walking ahead and pass the scarred man. The beast instantly relaxed and follow her master, leaving behind a dumbfounded man.

*

The day Arya fear is finally here. The King was out with his father and brother along with a few more men for a hunt. They would not be back in some time. She remembers how her brother's fate was molded on this very day. She bounds to not let anything happen to Bran.

So here she was, running towards the broken tower. She arrives just in time to catch Bran on the opposite direction of her. Arya hastens her steps. "Bran!" she called. Bran came running towards her.

"Want to race up this tower, Arya?" he asked, excitement plastered on his face. Arya smiled.

"Maybe later… mother's been searching for you." She replied. His smile gone, replaced by a frown instead.

"What for?"

"I don't know… maybe you should ask her and not me?"

"Fine." Bran said with a sigh. He was about to leave when his eyes darts towards his sister again. "Hey, aren't those mine?" he asked, pointing at Arya's choice of attire.

"Yes, of course. Who else would I borrow these breeches and tunic from." Arya replied as a matter of fact. Bran rolls his eyes at that before storming off with Summer hot on his trails.

Arya let out a sigh. "Do you think this is going to be enough?" she asked looking down. Nymeria tilt her head to the side, staring back at the girl. "Should we follow him?" she asked again earning a bark from her counterpart.

Arya sighed again, letting her eyes wander over the abandoned tower. Maybe she ought to take a look, just to be sure.

"Stay." She orders. Nymeria whimpers uncomfortably as Arya walks towards the tower but do as she was told.

As silent as a shadow, she climbed the stairs of the broken tower until there were no more steps to go. A wooden door greets her and she pushed it slowly.

She heard more that she can see of what's coming from the inside room. There was more than one person inside, she was sure of that and they were making unusual sounds. She pushed the door further, revealing almost the entire room.

What she saw shocked her and she can't seem to do anything but stare wide eyes at the two blond. The Queen and her twin brother were riding each other's off with pleasure.

Arya would have gag at the scene unfolding in front of her but two pair of eyes were staring back at her, acknowledging her presence and she wasted no more time fleeing the scene. She didn't look back as she runs as fast as the wind until she reaches into the Godswood. She lands herself unceremoniously on the ground as she tried to catch up her breath. Nymeria join her soon after. Arya chuckled humorlessly at the direwolf while the scene from the tower replaying inside her mind.

"It wasn't an accident, Nymeria." She trails, clenching her jaw tightly. "The more reason why I should kill them."