It was an unusually slow day Arya noted as she stroked Nymeria's fur. None of the common-folk had any petitions, there were no lords to placate and Sansa had ridden out to meet a few families that had newly arrived at Winter town. Bran had no doubt taken to the Godswood and she had half a mind to go there herself.
Instead she went to her chambers and changed into her training garb and walked out to the bridge that connected the Great Keep to the Armory with Nymeria following her footsteps faithfully. Her direwolf no longer surprised the people of Winterfell, considering her size. However, none ventured too close even now.
Once in the Armory she chose a Braavosi-style training sword and walked out to where the Master at arms was training the new recruits along with the soldiers who had fought and lived through the long night.
Many of the young soldiers were reluctant to spar with their Queen, even for training. The other soldiers knew better. Arya and fought and defeated at least four seasoned warriors before the Maester Wolkan found her and informed her that Lord Davos had returned from his journey.
Lord Davos walked towards the Great Hall after having bathed and eaten. The Maester had informed him that Her Grace would meet with him in the Great Hall after he had made himself comfortable.
He smiled to himself as he walked. He was happy to report that the matter of the raids had been taken care of by House Flint of the mountains, with a little help from him. While there he had discovered the Northern Queen had been named after her great grandmother, Arya Flint who had married Rodrick Stark.
House Flint took great pride in the fact that the first Queen in the North was not only related to them by blood but also that she bore the name of one of their noble daughters. He learned Arya Flint had been an excellent rider and hunter, traits she had certainly passed to her great granddaughter.
"It was about time you returned Lord Davos", Arya said as soon as he entered the Great Hall.
"Your Grace" Lord Davos replied as he inclined his towards her, smiling as he did.
"What news of House Flint?"
"The raiders were vagrants Your Grace. Displaced and destitute, raiding only to survive"
"What has become of them?", Arya asked with worry in her voice. The Long Night's after-effects were still felt all around the North and its surrounding territories.
"House Flint took them in at put them to honest work, Your Grace. They understand only too well the ravages of war."
"I'm glad and I am thankful for the part you played in helping those people."
Lord Davos looked at her surprised. The Queen had a way of gleaning information without having said a word.
"I should be used to it by now, the Gods know", he chuckled. "Dare I ask how you knew whether I had any part in what transpired, my Queen?"
"I sent you there to take care of House Flint, Lord Davos. I knew you would not let me down. House Flint is important to me...it is my.."
" Great Grandmother's House?" Lord Davos completed.
"So you know now? I've often wondered why my father named me after my great grandmother? I'm told she was a strong woman", Arya said
"She was more than that Your Grace. I've been told she was an exceptional rider and hunter. She would have made a great warrior it seems"
"For all that the North creates strong women, it seems strange that we proclaimed none as Queen before me."
"Change is gradual", Lord Davis stated simply.
"And painful", Arya responded.
"Yes, Your Grace. But pain teaches us lessons and teaches them well. Before our journey South you were not ready to be proclaimed Queen. Yet you came back to Winterfell a changed person."
Arya turned away from the window and looked at Lord Davos.
Her grey eyes seemed to hold wisdom and age beyond her years, and pain someone as young as her shouldn't have been acquainted with.
"I never wanted to be Queen. I never even wanted to be a Lady. My life's dream was to roam free, to be a hero, to build castles and conquer the world. A child's dream. Yet my father encouraged my wildness, even though he knew better than most, that duty was the death of dreams.
More than any of the fabled heroes of the tales Old Nan talked of, he was my hero. Lord Eddard Stark, Lord of Winterfell and Warden of the North.
I wanted to be like him, honorable and loved."
"I never knew your father except by reputation my Queen. Though from what I've heard you are a lot like your father. You are loved and respected by your people. Like your father, you have maintained the honor of your House.", Lord Davos stated.
"I would give anything just to hear his voice once, you know, he was the reason I chose to take on the mantle of responsibility for the North, because I knew that I couldn't leave the North that he so loved, that I couldn't turn my back on the North or my family, because the pack had to survive.
The North had to survive. We had lost too much to give up."
Lord Davos said,"Stannis Baratheon thought Ned Stark's honour had gotten him killed. I think that Ned Stark must have been an extraordinary man to inspire such devotion and love long after he has gone."
Arya smiled and stated, "He was."