Tywinn Lannister arrived with all the pomp and circumstance as was befitting the hand of the king. He led an envoy of Lannister men all clad in crimson and gold. The entire household waited at the gates to greet him, including Jaime and Arya.

Tywin dismounted his horse and marched over to greet his son. "It is good to see that the castle is still standing and everything has been kept in order under your lordship."

"Thank you." Jaime managed to say. It was the closest thing to praise he was going to get from his father.

"And this must be your new bride." Tywin turned to see the young woman who stood next to his son. He hadn't really looked at her face until this moment. "You!" Tywin said to Arya, then went silent regarding her with cold disbelief for half a minute. "I knew you were no common serving girl but I must admit that was quite a good performance you put in."

"As you say m'lord." Arya said and to Jaime's utter surprise, his father actually laughed.

"Come, let's go inside, there are wedding plans to be made." Tywin said, leading the way back into the castle.

It was then that Jaime noticed for the first time that Arya was wearing a dress. A nice dress of gray silk with gold trim. Her hair had been styled in the northern fashion and she was also wearing her sword but in spite of the sword she looked every inch a lady. She hadn't once worn a dress since the day she arrived and he hadn't asked her to wear one for his father's arrival, though he had considered it. After everything she'd said about his needing to stand up to his father, was she trying to impress Tywin Lannister?

Wedding plans were made quickly and efficiently as was Tywin's way. The feast and guests and seating were all decided on and the date was set for three days away.

'Now that this business is concluded, I will retire to my old bedchamber." Tywin told them. "It has been a long journey."

"What's with the dress?" Jaime asked after his father was gone.

"What's that supposed to mean?" She retorted, hurt in her eyes.

"You said you didn't want to be forced into being a lady and now that my father has arrived, you're suddenly wearing a dress and a necklace." He said noticing the silver chain with a direwolf pendant for the first time.

Her hand went to her neck and fingered the wolf pendant. "I didn't expect you'd disapprove." She said coldly.

"I don't. Not if it's what you really wanted. And I don't think it is."

"You're just jealous because your father was happier to see me than he was you."

The words stung but he knew them to be true. "Apparently he was. You lied about your identity and he thinks it's a joke. How did you manage to bewitch my father like that?"

"I didn't do anything. I was just being myself." She protested.

"Like you are right now?"

"I didn't dress like this for him you idiot!" She started to yell then took a breath to calm herself. "I did it for you."

"Arya, I already told you that I won't try to change you. I already think you pretty so I don't see why…"

"If I had greeted your father wearing my breeches and riding boots and stained tunic, with sword on my hip and my hair flying wild he probably would have reacted in much the same way. Then later he would have taken you aside and given you a lecture about the need to get your wife under control and not allow her to shame house Lannister. Am I right?" She said.

"Probably." Jaime admitted.

"Well I can't let him do that to you. Not after what you did for me."

Jaime swallowed, touched by her words. "Thank you."

They both sat there in a comfortable silence for a little while longer.

"I don't suppose I can spar while he's here or I'll have wasted my efforts with the dress." Arya broke the silence jokingly.

"Not in the practice yard, but I know of another place... meet me in my solar after dinner and I'll take you there." Jaime offered.

Arya smiled. "I'll be there."