The week after her eight nameday. The three-eyed-raven told her that it was time for Arya to leave her home.
"It's time for you to spread your wings and fly, child." He had told her. "However, before you go to Braavos and join the order of the Faceless Men, I believe there is something you need to learn first… In the vaults beneath the Citadel, there are certain books that you must need steal…a blood-soaked tome sometimes called Blood and Fire or sometimes The Death of Dragons…and another book, an important corpus about dragons, which was written by Septon Barth and had eluded the Blessed Baelor. The book is called the Dragons, Wyrms, and Wyverns: Their Unnatural History'."
"Why do I need to steal these books?" She asked, frowning.
"Because, dear child, it is for you to understand the history and the different kinds of dragons that exists in this world…one kind of dragon is a beast as most have known it to be, and the other kind…dragons who wore the skin of man."
.
It took nearly another week for Arya to prepare for her journey going to Old Town. She had taken some of Benjen's clothes, gathered the money she had saved and then took some from Brandon's stash, where Arya intend to place the coins into the hidden pockets she had sewn in her traveling clothes. Other than that, she stole some supplies from Maester Walys such as healing salves, clean dressings and some vials of poisons. She also rummaged through the kitchens for some food that would last long during her journey down South. Despite how well-prepared she was, Bloodraven had promised to do more for her. The three-eyed-raven promised to guide her throughout her travel to the Citadel.
Bloodraven had said that he would use ravens to scout for Arya and warn her of possible threats down the road, if there were any, and then help her hunt for food when needed. A convenient thing for Arya to consider, but she knew that she should not depend on him. Having to do so would simply make her rely on the three-eyed-raven too much and would give him cause to ask more from her, which she did not want to. She would scout ahead, deal with the possible thieves on the road, and hunt her food on her own. Nonetheless, this doesn't necessarily mean that she would not take advantage of the Bloodraven's suggestion when the need arise.
Two weeks after her eight nameday, she was ready to leave. Early in the day, Arya had gone out riding in the Wolfswood, where two castle guards had followed her. They had been watering the horses in a stream when she had let out one of the guard's horse loose with the intention of using the fine courser by the time she leave Winterfell. The castle guard had failed to get back his horse from the Wolfswood like the three-eyed-raven had forseen and now Arya must find that horse and use it for her travel. It was the easiest way than taking one horse from the stables and riding it through the gates, where everyone would inevitably see her leaving.
Then, that very night Arya set her entire plan in motion. When she was certain that everyone was most likely asleep, Arya hastily cut off her hair close to her skull, don on Benjen's clothes and fur-lined cloak, and then hid Domeric's dagger on her left boot and Brandon's hunting knife on her right.
The three-eyed-raven had also told her to leave a letter to her family before she would leave Winterfell, lest they would think that someone had kidnapped her. Arya did and left the letter on her bed.
It was the hour of the wolf when Arya snuck down her room. As quite as a shadowcat, she stuck to the shadows and moved with nigh a sound like she had been trained in the House of Black and White. She followed the three-eyed-raven's advice to go out the servant's entrance way and towards the First Keep, where she had discovered a secret passage in an old map of Winterfell that she had taken from the Maester's Tower. The passage was close to the Hunter's Gate, which would lead straight to the Wolfswood.
A half crescent moon hanged high in the skies, as sharp as a scythe while the clouds drifted slowly above her, and most often than not, the clouds concealed the moon and its soft glow.
It was an ideal night to run away.
With her pack secured behind her back, Arya was out and running through the open fields outside the Hunter's Gate. She was still sprinting through the fields when she heard the loud caws of ravens above her. When she looked up, she saw five of them sweeping over her. Arya knew that Bloodraven must have warg into one of them so she followed after the birds.
Arya had assumed that she would have to go further into the Wolfswood to get the horse. Thus, it was such a relief to her when she saw the horse grazing on the grass in the open field. She approached the horse carefully while the ravens circled and cawed over head, silently telling Arya to take the horse and go.
She did.
The horse was not a skittish mount, she knew, and so when Arya drew near to it with food in hand, the horse was prepared for her. After giving the horse some horse feed, Arya slowly climbed on top of the saddle and led the horse away from her home.
Arya didn't look back. She kept her heart tightly shut to any regrets that would besiege her the moment she left Winterfell. She understood that leaving her home would mean saving everyone on it. Therefore, she didn't let herself feel anything at all as she rode away. She knew that those kind of emotions would only hinder her from following through her plans if she allowed those emotions to overwhelm her.
She planned to reach the Neck in a matter of two days, which meant no sleep for her. However, she had no reason to worry about getting lost, not when she saw the ravens flying ahead of her. Arya was grateful to have a guide who had the foresight to see the dangers that she would encounter, but she knew that she should never get used to it, lest her sharp instinct to detect the threats around her would become blunted.
.
Arya didn't sleep, not even a blink. She had eaten sparingly from the food that she had brought and she was becoming saddle-sore. Yet Arya endured even when she had traveled with little rest.
She knew by then that she was somewhere in the Neck when she encountered trees that were half-drowned and covered in fungus, and beneath the water, the quicksand that would drown anyone who attempted to walk the waters. The only way out of the North was passing through the kingsroad in the Neck; a narrow causeway, which was the only safe route to travel through the swamps.
Arya had no choice but to travel down the kingsroad or she would drown in the swamps if she threaded into a different route; routes like the narrow trails between the bogs and wet roads through the reeds that only boats could follow.
Within a day, Arya could see the formidable ruins of Moat Cailin ahead of her and knew that she was almost close to leaving the North. However, she was a bit anxious of being discovered. Still, she led her horse onwards.
As her horse neared Moat Cailin, she could sense unseen eyes falling upon her and instantly knew that she was being watched by the so-called crannogmen of the Neck. She hoped the crannogman truly had no way of receiving ravens in their floating castles or they would soon discover who Arya was as she passed the half-sunk fortress. They would surely question her, a young child traveling by herself, even when she had disguised herself as a boy.
Despite her mounting trepidation, Arya successfully past Moat Cailin that had served as an effective natural choke point to protect the North from any southron invasions. She let out a sigh of relief as no one stopped her while she led her horse further past the ancient stronghold.
By the time she reached Greywater Watch, she was beyond exhausted. She was almost falling asleep on top of her horse after traveling for nearly three days without ravens had lasted longer than Arya did even when the birds have constantly kept a careful look out ahead and behind her.
She nearly fell of horse as she nodded off, but a loud caw from the ravens saved her from completely slipping off her courser. Arya glanced at the ravens and saw them switch direction. Too tired to protest, she followed after the birds in half-curiosity. The birds led her towards the swampy area where she soon discovered the reason for the birds' deviation.
Arya tensed as she saw a boy rowing a decrepit boat between the bogs. A boy who was no older than her with dark hair and moss green eyes and wearing muddy brown clothes. The boy immediately caught sight of her and greeted her with a wide smile.
"Good morning, traveler." the boy called, rowing his boat towards her.
"Good morning," She replied, watching the boy warily. She should leave before the boy could get a better look at her. For certain, she would be recognized with her long face and the grey eyes of a Stark. By now, her family must have sent ravens to the entire North in their desperate attempt to search for her and she didn't trust anyone who would be able to identify her.
"Are you lost?" the boy asked.
"No," came her brisk response, tagging her horse's reins with the intention of leaving there at once, but the ravens cawed once more, circling above her and then at the boy.
The boy noticed the ravens flying over him and he frowned.
"Are these your ravens?"
"They're not mine," She said, knowing that the three-eyed-raven wasn't own by anyone, especially not her, and even the Bloodraven's allegiance to her was questionable at best.
The boy's boat finally reached her and she decided to see who this strange boy was. There must be a reason the three-eyed-raven seemed to favor this meeting.
"Oh, I thought they were yours. They seemed to be following you around." The boy commented as he climbed out of his boat and walked towards her.
In response, Arya simply shrugged and lied, "The ravens go wherever they want to go. Though it seems that they have taken to following me and asking me for more corn."
"Perhaps the ravens are sent by the Old Gods to guide you in your journey." The boy suggested.
She didn't disagree and said instead "Perhaps..."
There was a moment of silence as the two regarded each other.
"My name is Howland Reed of Greywater Watch," the boy introduced himself after a moment of deliberation. "And you are?"
"Aryan," was her answer, scrutinizing the boy closely.
In this time, her name was Lyanna Stark, and the only one who called her Arya was Domeric Bolton, even her little brother Benjen did not know that. So she didn't see why she can't use her true name - or close to it - in this life.
Moreover, she was surprised to meet Howland Reed so early in this time. From what she learned from her brother Bran, Howland Reed had met Lyanna Stark during the Tourney at Harrenhall. However, considering that she was truly leaving her home and would thus be making great changes in the past, this must be the result of her interference. Mayhap the Old Gods was simply accelerating the process of Arya meeting Howland Reed, and mayhap even some other people too.
"It's nice to meet you, Aryan." Howland replied.
Arya's answer, however, was one of silence.
"I was about to settle to my humble abode and break my fast when I saw you." The boy said, moving to the boat to take out his three-pronged frog spear and a net full of fishes and –
Are those frogs? Arya thought in interest, watching the little green things wriggle in the net alongside the fishes.
"Will you want to share a meal with me?" the boy offered.
She hesitated. She knew that Howland Reed had been a loyal bannermen to House Stark in her first life. He had been there when her Lord father had gone to the Red Mountains of Dorne to get Lyanna Stark. Thus, Arya knew she could trust the boy. And if this was what the three-eyed-raven wanted her to do, then she didn't see the reason of declining the boy's offer.
"I haven't eaten a frog before," she informed him, "But I am incline to try, only if it's properly cooked."
Howland Reed just smiled and said, "Frog meat taste like chicken, but if you add a bit of spice and lemon on it, the meat would taste delicious. But I don't have spice and lemon with me, so we'll have to contend with what we have."
"It doesn't matter." she replied, "I'm rather curious in how the frog meat will taste like, so I will eat it, however you prefer to prepare it."
Howland nodded his head.
"If you will follow me, Aryan." Howland said, "I'll show you the little house that I built out of reeds. It's where I usually stay when I'm not with my family."
"You have a house of your own? But aren't you too young?" Arya said as she climbed off her horse to walked beside the boy. "And won't your family be concern if you are by yourself?"
"No, in Greywater Watch. We crannogmen mature faster than any Northern or Southron children." Howland Reed responded, "We have been taught to survive on our own since the day we walk. We've been trained to start our fire, hunt our food, make our own weapons and our own protective armor, and even concoct our own poison to coat our arrowheads and blades… Heart, Hearth and Harvest is the word of my House. My father and mother taught me everything they know to help me survive in the Neck. And they had no reason to worry about me, not when many of the crannogmen are scattered about the Neck to watch out for those who threatens the North. I often encounter others from Greywater Watch when I'm moving through the bogs. Them and their floating houses."
Arya wasn't really surprise to hear this. Bran had told her about Meera and Jojen Reed, who had been tasked by Howland Reed to help Bran go beyond the Wall. Bran had said that he wouldn't have survive on his own without Meera's and Jojen's help; Meera, with her hunting skills, and Jojen with his words of wisdom and his gift of foresight.
She didn't say anything after that, but followed after the boy as he led her through the reeds.
.
"I hope this doesn't sound so intrusive, but may I know the reason you are traveling on your own?" Howland Reed asked later on as they sat before the spitfire inside his little house built out of reeds.
Arya's interest on the boy had grown exponentially when he showed her his collection of poisons and the weapons he had crafted by his own hand.
Howland Reed was every bit as resourceful and Arya had every intention to take some of his resources with her when she would leave his place.
"I'm not really alone. The Gods are with me. You said as much." She said in jest, taking a chunk out of her frog and chewing while juices leaked out from the corners of her mouth. "And I'm traveling because I got separated from my brothers. So I'm out looking for them now."
The lie came so easily that Arya didn't even blink as she said it.
"How did you get separated from them?"
"One of my brother gave me away to be adopted to some rich merchant in White Harbor." She replied, "And he left me there with the hopes of giving me a far better future."
"And your other brother?"
Jon, Arya thought sadly.
"My other brother is out there somewhere." She said, pausing to stare at the fire before her. "I don't know what happened to him, but I know he would want the same for me, for me to live a better life than we had before."
"I'm sorry for asking, Aryan." Howland said, noting the melancholy in her grey eyes. "Now, I've made you sad."
"No, I'm alright. You needn't worry." She responded, giving him a strained smile. "Anyway, since you ask a question. I have one of my own..."
"Yes?"
"Are you open to selling some of your things to me?" She asked. "Because I'm sorely in need of something to defend myself if I travel on my own."
"You won't need to buy anything from me. Just ask and I will give you what you need." The boy said, smiling at her.
"Are you certain?" She said in surprise. "But we barely know each other."
"I've shared my hearth and meal with you, so I consider you as a friend Aryan." The boy replied, "Ask and it will be given to you."
"You are quite something, aren't you?" She murmured. "I never known anyone to be so magnanimous to a passing stranger."
"You are no longer a stranger to me, Aryan." The boy responded, blushing. "Like I said, I consider you a friend."
"If you say so, Howland." Arya said in amusement. "Since you insist upon it, then I can't very well decline your generosity."
.
In the end, Arya asked for most of Howland's stash of poisons. He explained to her the different reactions the poisons were to the human body. Apart from those, she had also wanted the odd-looking weapon which Howland introduced as a blowpipe. The blowpipe was simple weapon consisting of a narrow, long tube for firing light projectiles or darts. The weapon was used by inserting the projectile, such as seeds or darts, inside the pipe and using the force of one's breath to give the projectile momentum. It was Howland who said that it was an effective weapon to fire at a human target while hiding from afar. One of the most well-known guerilla tactic used by the crannogmen that withstood for thousands of years. Howland Reed had also suggested that Arya could dip the darts with poison to get a far better result at either paralyzing her enemy or killing them slowly and excruciatingly.
Arya finally understood the reason the three-eyed-raven had wanted her to meet Howland Reed. The poison and the blowpipe would certainly become of use to her for assassination, if she had need to kill people out right.
As she continued with her journey, Arya silently wondered who else she was going to meet on her way to Old Town.
Author's Note: Ok, here's to another boring and short chapter. A meeting between Arya and Howland Reed. Thank you so much for reviewing, following and favoriting! I'm trying to update as fast as I can, it means having to write only short chapters. I'm sorry for it. Please check out the Aesthetics that I made for this chapter.