ARYA

Arya was hoping that Jojen or Meera could help her figure out how to get out of marrying Elmar Frey.

"But you haven't even met him yet," Bran pointed out. "You might like him."

"I won't like him," Arya insisted, "not enough to bed him and have his babies."

"You won't be married until you are older," Jojen said, "you might feel differently by then."

"And if I don't?" Arya asked hotly, "maybe I could join Jon at the Night's Watch."

"Girls can't join the Night's Watch," Bran said, stating the obvious.

"I passed as a boy before," Arya said. "For over a month, while we were traveling, no one except Yoren knew who I was, or even that I was a girl. Well," she added reluctantly, "everyone except Yoren and Gendry. But I fooled everyone else!"

"That's because you haven't flowered yet," Jojen said. "When you do, it'll be far harder to disguise you as a boy. And you'll be living at one of the castles inside in winter, not outside in summer where you can make water hidden behind a bush."

"Jon will help me," Arya said, stubborn.

"First of all, you don't know that," Jojen said patiently. "Jon is a sworn brother of the Night's Watch. It is his duty to uphold their laws. Even if he were willing to disguise you, he'd be bringing dishonor on himself."

"And," Bran added, "Remember the stories Old Nan told us about Brave Danny Flint? She pretended to be a boy so she could join the Night's Watch, and she ended up being raped and murdered at the Nightfort."

"Many men join the Night's Watch to escape punishment for rape and murder and other crimes," Meera said. "What do you think they would do if they found out that you're a girl?"

Arya's plan had been dashed. But she had other ideas. "Once I'm good enough with a sword, I can run away from Winterfell and become a sellsword or a sworn sword. I'd be able to defend myself and earn my keep at the same time. I hear Dorne has lots of women warriors. Maybe I'll go there."

They all looked skeptical. "You don't know if Robb and your mother will let you continue training," Jojen said, logical as ever. "And you may have to marry Elmar before you're good enough to be a sellsword or sworn sword. And how are you going to get all the way to Dorne on your own?"

Arya was persistent. "What if he doesn't want to marry me?"

"Of course he'll want to marry you," Jojen said, "you're the sister of his king."

"What if I make him hate me?" she asked

"Then he'll just treat you badly after you've married him," Meera said.

Arya thought about something she'd heard whispered about. "What if I lose my maidenhead to someone else before he can marry me?"

Everyone looked aghast and Bran said, "Arya!"

"Then you and your whole family would be shamed, including your brother the king," Jojen said. "And when a king is shamed, his whole rule is undermined. And Elmar might decide to marry you anyway."

At that final straw, Arya stomped her foot and screamed.