Arya and Gendry made their way out of the kitchens.
Snow was starting to fall out on the yard, where livestock were kept in roofed pens. Goats, cattle, sheep, chicken and a bunch of other animals Arya didn't recognized. Even they are getting ready for the winter, she thought.
They walked silently toward the front of the Inn since it's where they tied the horses. Before they got there, they heard screaming, cheering, and the sound of swords clashing in battle, which Arya didn't understand.
Arya was about to run towards the sound of carnage, but Gendry grabbed her wrist.
"It's not safe." Gendry said. "The last thing you wanna happen is get recognize."
Instead of going to the horses, Arya and Gendry hid behind a bush peeping over the occurrence in front of the Inn.
Several men were pulling Brienne of Tarth and the squire, Podrick Payne who were tied in ropes and dragged out of the Inn. Then more men came out of the building. Men she recognized: Tom of Sevenstreams, the singer with the woodharp; Harwin, one of her father's household guards; Anguy, the archer and; Edric Dayne, the heir to Starfall in Dorne. In other words, more members of the Brotherhood.
Arya's eyes widened. "Is that the Brotherhood?" She asked Gendry. "How did they get here before we did?"
"The Brotherhood had scouting parties in almost each town." Gendry explained. "Tom O' Sevens and Anguy led the party from Saltpans, and Edric Dayne and Harwin near Lord Harroway's Town. They're probably here to regroup."
Arya frowned. "I thought you said he went back to Dorne."
Gendry scowled. "I don't know." He sighed in frustration. "Why don't you ask him that?"
Arya had always known that Gendry disliked Edric Dayne, but she didn't know why. She was going to ask him about that, but decided against it. They continued to observe behind the bushes.
"—grace, King Jon will have your heads for this!" Brienne said.
Ned Dayne held out Brienne's sword from its sheath and examined it. "Valyrian steel." He said, then poked the pommel. "With a golden lion hilt."
"Cut the crap," Tom O'Sevens said, plucking on his woodharp. "You work for the Lannisters."
"I don't work for the Lannisters." Brienne corrected. "I'm in service to Lady Sansa Stark. The Lady of Winterfell and Princess in the North."
Arya raised an eyebrow at the mention of her sister and brother.
Tom O' Sevens shook his head in disbelief. "You ain't a northerner. Yet, you were seen travelling on foot with the Kingslayer from Riverrun during the War of Five Kings. Why is that?" He asked.
"Lady Catelyn Stark commanded me to return the Kingslayer to the capital in exchange for the release of her daughters, Sansa and Arya Stark." Brienne explained.
At the mention of her name, out of the corner of her eye, she caught Gendry glancing at her. The men exchanged uncertain looks.
"Is that why you're here in the Riverlands, then?" Harwin asked. "To find the younger Stark girl?"
"I was sent by Lady Sansa to deliver a message to Brynden Tully to Riverrun."
"The Blackfish is dead." Harwin said. "Doesn't matter anymore."
Beside her, Gendry gripped her hand. "We need to get out of here, now." He said, pulling her to follow him.
But Arya remained watching.
"Arya," Gendry called.
Arya remembered getting away from Brienne after she defeated the Hound almost to death. She didn't know her true intentions, back then, which was to find her and Sansa and take them to safety, wherever safety was. Until now. Everything Brienne had just said were all true. And with her training in Braavos, she could always tell if people were lying, and Brienne isn't.
An honorable woman, Arya thought. She doesn't deserve to be tossed around by the Brotherhood.
Suddenly, Gendry pushed her to the dirt. "Get down!" He said, as an arrow flew past their heads and onto a tree trunk.
"What's lurking behind the bushes?" Anguy, the archer called out.
Gendry cursed. "Anguy, he could always tell." He put down the sack of raw meat and turned to her. "Stay here, I'll—"
"What?" Arya exclaimed. "Have you lost your mind? You can't—"
"Stay here." Gendry interrupted, gripping her shoulders. "Stay hidden and be quiet. I'll try to reason with these men."
Arya nodded reluctantly, then Gendry stepped out into the open. She crouched down and peeked out the bushes again.
The members of the Brotherhood had their weapons drawn.
"It's alright." Gendry said, loud enough for everyone to hear as he walked towards them. "It's just me." He held up his hands in surrender.
"Gendry?" Ned called, putting down his sword. "What are you doing here?" He asked. "I thought you were back in Hollow Hill."
"I should ask you the same, Lord Dayne." Gendry scowled.
Brienne frowned at Gendry. "My Lord?" She called.
Gendry glanced around him, then realized Brienne was talking to him. "Me? I'm no Lord, I'm a smith." He said.
"We're not playing games with you, boy." Tom spoke up. "What are you doing here?"
"It's…sort of a long story." Gendry said. "And you won't believe it."
Arya sighed in annoyance. Gendry's giving them ridiculous replies, which of course, draws out more suspicion. Without warning, she stepped out into the open and pushed down the hood of her cloak.
"Alright, boys," Arya spoke up walking towards them. "That's enough games. I've had it with this. Just release them already."
Gendry turned to her and his eyes widened. "What are you—" He started to say. "I told you to stay hidden."
"What do you think I'm doing?" Arya pointed out. "I'm saving you."
When the Brotherhood got a good look at her, they all gasped.
"Lady Stark." Harwin addressed loudly, then bowed.
Everyone turned their eyes at her. Even the people in the Inn peeked out to catch a glimpse of Arya.
"Princess," Brienne bowed, Podrick did the same.
"Arya?" Ned Dayne said, dumbfounded. He glanced at Gendry, then back at her. "What are you doing with him?" He asked.
"Gendry's taking me back to Winterfell." Arya said. "Now, do I have to repeat myself?" She motioned her head towards Brienne and Podrick. "Release them."
Tom O'Sevens pushed past Ned. "I'm afraid that's not going to happen, little lady." He said.
"Show some respect, harpstring." Brienne spoke up. "You're talking to a princess."
Tom O'Sevens turned to Brienne. "Aye, she might be." He said. "But this ain't the North."
"They've done you no harm, Tom." Gendry brought up. "Why capture them?" She asked.
"They are paid for by the Lannisters." Tom O'Sevens said. "That's why we can't release them."
"I already told you, we don't work for the Lannisters." Brienne explained. "I am in service to the Lady of Winterfell."
Ned was considering it, then turned to the singer with the woodharp. "Tom, cut their binds and—" He started to say.
"Oh, no!" Tom said. "Just because you're some Lord in Dorne and an anointed knight doesn't mean I have to follow everything you said, boy."
"Lord Beric made him the leader of your scout party." Harwin reminded Tom. "Of course, you had to follow what he says."
"Come now, Harwin." Tom said. "You knew he always had soft spot for girls." He gestured at Arya's direction. "Especially her."
"She's a princess." Ned reminded him. "She ordered for their release."
"Trust me, Tom." Gendry said. "Just release them."
"And you can all be on your way and forget this ever happened." Arya added.
"Really now?" Tom O'Sevens chuckled. "What are you going to about it, little lady?"
Arya smiled mischievously. "I'm glad you asked."
Right on cue, Nymeria emerged from the woods and ran towards them. The direwolf stood in front of Arya, growling with its sharp fangs flaunted.
Everyone else was surprised, only Arya and Gendry remained calm. Even the men from the Brotherhood forgot they had weapons.
"Nymeria, heel." Arya said calmly.
The direwolf barred its fangs and stopped growling. It went to stand beside Arya, and the wolf let her caress her hide.
"You—" Tom seemed at a loss for words. "That's a wolf…" He faltered.
Several wolves came out from the woods, about a dozen of them. They surrounded the men from the Brotherhood, growling and showing off their sharp fangs.
"Release them." Arya said again. "Unless you want these wolves to rip you apart. And I have to tell you, they hadn't eaten yet."
"It's her!" Arya heard someone yell from inside the Inn. "The ghost of Lyanna Stark! With the pack of wolves!"
"So, it's true." Ned said, clearly trying hard to stand his ground from all the wolves surrounding them. "We've been hearing about a ghost leading the wolf pack."
Arya shrugged. "Do I look like I'm a ghost?" She said. "One night, you're just out in the woods and suddenly people percept that you're a ghost of your late aunt."
"I've seen your aunt, princess." Harwin pointed out. "Lyanna Stark. And you looked just like her."
Arya snorted. "So, I've been told. But I'm not Lyanna, I'm Arya Stark, of Winterfell." Arya said, loud enough for everyone to hear. "Now, release them."
Ned nodded at Harwin and he pulled a knife from his belt and cut Brienne and Podrick's restraints.
Arya turned to Tom O'Sevens, who was clearly terrified of the surrounding wolves. "I warned you." She said. "But you still made me do it."
"Forgive me, princess." Tom whimpered. "Please…don't feed me to the wolves."
"What? No." Arya said, frowning. "I'm not feeding you to the wolves. You really think I'm that heartless"
"Just don't go it again." Gendry advised.
"I won't." Tom promised. "You…you have my word, princess."
"One more thing, Tom," Arya said. "Don't call me princess." She glanced at Nymeria. The direwolf barked once and the other wolves went back to the woods.
. . .
The Brotherhood went inside the Inn to take refuge from what had just happened with the wolves, since she had just revealed herself as the alpha of the wolf pack. The Ghost of Lyanna Stark, they called her. Arya snickered when she first heard it.
While Arya was untying the ropes of her horse, Brienne carefully approached her, aware that Nymeria stood beside her.
"Why did you save us?" She asked.
"You said you're in service to my sister, Sansa." Arya recalled. "Someone has to save you or they would've hanged you for carrying that sword."
"They can try." She said. "They haven't seen me fight."
"Anyone who could beat the Hound in a swordfight is a real protector." Arya said. "I'd follow you anywhere."
"Perhaps you'd follow me to Winterfell, then." Brienne said. "Lady Sansa said that I might run into you again. His grace, King Jon would be very happy to see you."
Arya smiled. "I haven't seen them in a long time." She admitted, then sighed. "But no, I won't be going home just yet."
Brienne's eyes widened. "I beg your pardon?" She asked, as if she'd misheard. "Arya, didn't you hear what I just—"
"When you get to Winterfell," Arya interrupted. "Tell my brother and sister that I'm alive and well, and that I will be going home soon."
"Soon?" Brienne repeated. "What are you going to do?" She asked.
"The Riverlands will be in peril in the coming winter with the Freys ruling," She said. "And they have my uncle Edmure in the dungeons beneath the Twins."
"You're going to get him out?" Brienne guessed. "How are you going to do that?"
"I don't know." She admitted. "But from what I've heard, the Tullys still have few loyal bannermen."
"I'll come with you, then." Brienne offered.
Arya shook her head. "No, you and your squire need to return to Winterfell. Tell Jon and Sansa that you found me and that I'm doing something here in the Riverlands."
"Are you sure about this?" She asked.
Arya nodded. "I'm sure."
Brienne sighed, then nodded. "I'll do as you said, princess."
"Don't call me princess." Arya corrected, then smiled. "Safe travels."
