The world was earth and fur and grass, the gentle sounds of the cool stream running close by, the birds in the trees… A man with a cart full of turnips passed quickly on the king's road, his horse skittish, the pack was upwind and the horse had caught their scent… but the pack took no interest.
Nymeria checked on wolf and dog and hound alike. This wolf was pregnant… her mate killed by hunters… that dog had belonged to a farmer who had starved it and beaten it often, the farmer and his sheep all dead now… this one had been a pet, until it had stopped being a puppy and its owner had gotten bored with it… Nymeria had found the owner and claimed the new pup which had replaced it as well… as for the owner… those five had been caged most of their life… those pups had lost their mother… this hound had been cast out after it had lost an eye and part of its face saving it's owners daughter from being raped…it seemed that Nymeria was collecting waifs and strays and broken things… teaching them to be strong.
Arya knew that she was warging Nymeria… but what was interesting was that Nymeria seemed to be able to warg her pack! Arya could feel their minds, could see through their eyes and smell through their noses… it started with one or two, but slowly Arya was able to increase the number of animals that she could see through… in time she was able to share the senses of ten or twelve animals at once. Nymeria was stronger… and it was almost as if Nymeria was teaching her… a day and a night passed… Nymeria was able to control three or four hunts at once, Arya's mind going along for the ride, Arya started giving the animals names.
One-eye had a very good nose, he was good at finding nests of rabbits… black-ears was good at catching fish… tiny, a small lap dog that had no place in the wild, had a knack for finding duck and chicken eggs…
One of the wolves noticed bandits sneaking up on a camp of traders, they took out the bandits and left the traders be… dragging the bandits bodies back to the pack… the traders were none the wiser, their guards drunk and asleep at the fire… Arya tried not to gag as Nymeria gorged herself on man-flesh… Another morning came, Arya felt the cool water of the stream as Nymeria drank, she tasted it's sweetness and looked down at Nymeria's reflection… suddenly she knew that she needed to get back… she had other pack that needed her.
~~/~~
Arya woke up slowly, she could feel the bed, the room, but she could still smell pack… Grey Wind! She went to move and found that Robb's direwolf was lying across her legs, she opened her eyes and saw Robb asleep on a chair beside her bed. She tried to say his name but ended up coughing instead, Robb was awake and at her side quickly, pressing a cup of water to her lips.
"Easy," He whispered. "Easy, you've been asleep for a couple of days… you gave us quite a scare."
Arya nodded. "I need to pee." She muttered and pushed herself from the bed, her legs didn't want to hold her up at first, Robb caught her as she lost her balance and she lent on him as he led her towards a privy. Not long after Arya had returned to her room there was a light knock on the door.
Robb opened the door and Arya saw a man no older than 25yrs old dressed in Maester's robes, the man was slight of build with dark brown hair and kind hazel eyes, despite his youth his Maester's chain had a fair number of links and she noticed that he had not just one but two links of Valyrian steel. Maester Luwin had told her that only one Maester in a hundred had a Valyrian steel link on their chain, it was a sign that they had studied the higher mysteries… yet this young Maester had two links; one round, like Maester Luwin's. the other elongated with a small blue sapphire set into it.
"I'm Maester Pylos, it is good to see you awake." He said in a gentle voice.
Arya nodded and continued to look at his chain. "Three copper links, that's history, yes?"
"Yes." Maester Pylos replied with a smile.
Arya continued to access the chain, thankful that Maester Luwin had always indulged her curiosity. "Four silver links, you're good at medicine… pale steel, you've studied smithing, and I notice that one of your Valyrian links is connected to a pale steel link, also it has a Sapphire set into it. Sapphires represent the preservation of honour and truth, yes?"
"So some say." Maester Pylos replied. "Few outside of our order pay too much attention to the composition of a Maester's chain."
Arya nodded. "Blacksmiths pay attention to Maester chains, Mikken taught me that. Add that to the copper link on the other side and one might think you've tried to puzzle out the secrets of forging new Valyrian steel."
"Arya!" Robb exclaimed. "Don't be rude."
Pylos shook his head. "Your sister is actually correct." He returned his attention to Arya. "Who is Mikken?"
"Mikken is the head blacksmith at Winterfell." Arya replied. "He sups at our father's table at least once a moon when our father is in residence."
"I see." Pylos replied. "You have a sharp mind and a keen eye, now, let's see how you are physically."
Robb left Arya with the Maester, the tests were annoying, she had to follow his finger with her eyes and stick out her tongue, she had to watch a candle while he brought it close to one eye and then the other, he felt around her neck for lumps and checked her pulse, after about thirty minutes of poking and prodding he declared her well.
"Now," he said taking a step backwards. "Care to tell me what happened?"
Arya hesitated. "You've studied the higher mysteries, what do you know of wargs?"
"Well in theory -" Pylos started to reply.
"No theory." Arya interrupted. "I'm a warg, but I have nobody to teach me. I got stuck in Nymeria for a couple of days, now, what do you know about wargs?"
"Not enough to help you." Pylos replied quietly, he seemed to accept what she had just told him as fact. "But I will see what I can learn."
"Have you ever heard of a warg's diarwolf being able to warg lesser wolves or dogs?" Arya asked.
"No, I haven't." Pylos answered, again he seemed to believe her, or at least believe that she believed what she was telling him.
"I think Nymeria can." Arya said quietly. "I think there is some part of me in her, and some part of her in me."
Pylos nodded. "Well that might explain the howling… although your family seem to consider it quite normal that you howl in your sleep, there are some very unique books here, I will see what I can find." He replied quietly, he bowed and went to leave but he paused at the doorway. "Your brother is a warg too, yes?"
"All my brothers are wargs." Arya replied.
"And your sister?" Pylos asked.
Arya frowned. "I think so, I don't think she's realised yet, but I think she has to be."
Pylos nodded and left, leaving her to get dressed. Arya was just exiting her room to search out some breakfast when she saw Shireen coming down the hallway, at the sight of her Shireen burst into a run and the smaller girl threw her arms around Arya in a hug.
"You're okay!" Shireen exclaimed. "Everybody's been so worried about you, especially Gendry!"
Arya pulled back from Shireen and laughed. "More worried than my father and brother?" She asked jokingly.
Shireen nodded fervently. "But don't tell him I told you, he'll get embarrassed."
"I tell you what, I'll make you a deal." Arya replied. "I won't tell him you told me, but in return I need you to look after him for me once I'm gone, if you're worried send me a raven, I'll come if I can."
Shireen nodded. "Deal." She replied, she grabbed Arya's hand and started pulling her along the hallway. "Let's go have breakfast."
~~/~~
Ned had decided to extend their say at Dragonstone by a couple of weeks to make sure that Arya was in full health before they set sail. Arya had missed Rhaella's funeral, but Gendry took her down to the tomb to pay her respects. Dragonstone had a large Sept and the old crypts of House Targaryen were below it, Arya found the place fascinating. She had always been taught that Valyrians burnt their dead, yet the crypts at the great Sept in Kings Landing, and the crypts here, proved that to be a lie. However there were far fewer crypts than Arya had expected.
When she asked the Septon about it he told her that they had burnt most of their dead, but they didn't burn dragon riders, or kings. Arya thought it fitting that after everything Rhaella had suffered in life she had been given the same level of respect in death as a dragon rider.
Arya spent some of her time with Shireen and Opal, but she also spent time training with Galan and Derren, she had told Galan of her conversation with Tyrion while they were on the boat. Gendry spent much of his time with Davos, Ned, and Robb, he had never been taught how to run a castle, or mine Dragon glass, and he needed all of the help he could get.
Maester Pylos seemed a good fit, and he often joined them for the evening meal. Arya was proud to notice that Gendry always gave Galan and Derren a seat at the table, and that he had kept up with having a different servant sit and talk with them each night. Shireen seemed happier as well. But Gendry still looked like he wasn't sleeping properly.
On the fourth day after Arya had woken up from her extended warg she asked Gendry over breakfast if he could spend the morning helping her with something. He agreed, and then spent the rest of the meal trying to find out what he had agreed to, but she wouldn't tell him.
After breakfast she asked him to take her to the royal wing, he smiled, assuming that she wanted to know what her key unlocked, but instead she directed him to the rooms that she knew he was sleeping in. Gendry could do nothing but follow her as she looked through the rooms.
"You're still sleeping on the recliner, no wonder you're not sleeping well." Arya muttered. "It's time we made this room yours."
She attacked the bedroom first, having the bed stripped and the room cleaned, she went to the wardrobe and found it full of male clothing. She sorted the clothing into three piles, often making Gendry try things on. Anything with dragons on it she put in one pile, anything she thought Gendry wouldn't wear, or that wouldn't fit him, she put into another pile, and anything she thought suitable for him she put in a third pile.
There were no weapons on the walls and the heavy tapestries were soothing scenes, this was the room of a poet, not a fighter, next she went through the draws, her fingers stumbled upon a letter with the dried petals of a blue winter rose inside, she opened the letter hesitantly and read it. The letter was from Lyanna to Rhaegar.
"What have you found?" Gendry asked.
Arya hesitated then passed him the letter. "I believe this was Rhaegar's room." She said quietly.
Gendry read the letter in silence then passed it back to her. "Your father needs to see this." He said quietly.
Arya nodded. "Gendry… if I told you a secret that could get my whole family killed you would keep it, wouldn't you?"
"Arya… you know I would! We're pack." Gendry replied with that half smile of his.
Arya nodded and sat down on the edge of the bed. "Shut the door." She said quietly.
Gendry did as she asked and then walked over towards her. "Arya?"
Arya picked up one of the petals carefully and looked at it. "Lyanna had a son." She whispered. "Father hid him, to protect him from King Robert."
"Is he still alive?" Gendry asked, sitting down on the bed beside her. Arya nodded. "You don't have to tell me who he is." Gendry said quietly. "But anything I find I'll put aside for him." He gestured to the pile of clothes with dragons embroidered on them. "I'll put those aside too, I'll keep your cousin's secret, but the day may come when your cousin doesn't have to hide… or can't hide… I…" Gendry shook his head and stood up. He walked to the window and looked out. Arya didn't think he was going to talk again but after a while he did. "If the day comes where I have to choose between Renly and House Stark I choose House Stark."
"Gendry?" Arya questioned.
He turned around to look at her. "It's an easy choice… But we need to tread carefully, we need the Tyrell's right now. My father put the realm over six and a half million in debt ,and Joffrey pushed it beyond seven million. The Lannister's have wiped the three million plus that we owe them, but we're still in debt to House Tyrell, The Church, and the Iron Bank. And we need the Tyrell crops if we are going to survive winter. You need to understand what you're deciding if you want your cousin on the throne, but if the time comes, I'm on your side. I believe you have House Velaryon as well."
"Are you sure?" Arya asked, standing.
Gendry nodded. "Yes, go home, see your father crowned, do whatever else you need to do… then, if your cousin is a good man, come back. Sit on the small council and be your cousin's spy, build support. If Daenerys decides to cross the narrow sea with her dragons we may have no choice but to reveal your cousin's claim to disprove hers… and we have a dragon…"
"My cousin is a good man." Arya said quietly, she crossed the few steps between them and hugged him. "Thank you." She whispered.
"Gods." Gendry muttered as he pulled away from the hug. "What have you gotten me into, Arya Stark? I wasn't taught how to play the game of thrones."
"No, but you're learning quickly." Arya replied, she frowned. "You're not fond of House Tyrell, are you?"
"No." Gendry replied.
"Why." Arya asked.
Gendry looked down, he looked so sad and Arya thought she could see the beginning of a tear in his eye. "I'll tell you one day." He said quietly. "When you're older."
Arya nodded, they went back to sorting the room in silence, once the bedroom was sorted they moved onto the main room, when they got to the office Gendry took one look at the piles of papers and books and closed the door again.
"I think we've done enough." He said quietly. "Are you hungry?"
Arya laughed. "I'm always hungry." She replied.
Gendry nodded. "Let's go get some food."
Arya shook her head and gestured towards the small table. "Let's send for some food and have it brought here, you need to make this space your own."
Gendry agreed. They sat and talked for a while, once the food and drink had been brought in, and the servants were gone, Gendry pulled out his dragon egg. "I wonder why Shireen's egg hatched and mine didn't." He muttered as he turned it in his hands.
Arya shrugged. "Maybe she needed hers to hatch? Maybe you weren't ready for yours to hatch yet?"
"Do you really think I can hatch a dragon?" Gendry asked, the doubt and lack of self-confidence clear in his voice.
Arya shrugged. She reached out and Gendry handed the egg to her, she turned it over carefully in her hands, tracing a line of white, then a line of midnight blue… a line of silver. She again marvelled at its beauty, and at how warm it felt. "Do you want it to hatch?" She asked.
"Maybe." Gendry replied. "The idea kind of scares me, but if I can hatch it…" He shook his head.
Arya lifted the egg up and placed a gentle kiss on it. She stood up and walked over to Gendry, placing the egg in his hands. "Feel how warm it is." She said gently. "It's alive, it's just waiting for you to be ready."
"He." Gendry said softly.
Arya smiled. "Your dragon is a he?"
Gendry frowned and shook his head. "I don't know why I said that."
"You said it because it's true, you've been having dragon dreams, haven't you?" Gendry nodded. Arya place her hand on top of Gendry's on the egg. "You can feel him, can't you?"
"Yes." Gendry replied. "But I don't know how to make him hatch."
"The knowing comes last." Arya replied, remembering what Syrio had taught her about seeing. "Don't think, look at it, but don't think." She lent in closer. "The heart lies and the head plays tricks with us, but the eyes see true." She whispered into his ear. "Look with your eyes. Hear with your ears… Feel with your skin. Then comes the thinking, afterward, and in that way knowing the truth."
Slowly she lifted her hand away and took a step backwards, she quietly moved back to her seat and watched as Gendry studied the egg. He stroked the shell gently, all of his attention on the egg. After a few minutes Arya decided to break the silence by asking Gendry a question. "What's his name?" She asked.
"Dragonsteel." Gendry answered without hesitation. No sooner had he said the word than the shell began to crack.
Arya watched in wonder as the dragon slowly chipped away at the shell with its egg tooth, she wanted to move closer but she knew that she would be taking something precious away from Gendry if she did. It took over twenty minutes for the baby dragon to slowly hatch. Arya watched as Gendry stroked it's snout in wonder once it's head was finally free, he stroked Dragonsteel's head and helped pull the loose bits of shell free, slowly its shoulders were free.
Its colouring matched that of its egg, the eyes were a dark grey shot with flecks of white and blue. Its head was more elongated and less rounded than Opal's and it shimmered like metal. Slowly it crawled out of its shell and cuddled into the crook of Gendry's arm as Gendry picked loose bits of shell away. It was larger than Opal and its tail had small spikes, where Opal's tail was smooth. It seemed tired after the effort of hatching.
Gendry picked up a pear and bit a small piece off of it, he plucked the piece of pear out of his mouth and hand feed the baby dragon, Dragonsteel ate the white flesh, but not the skin. Gendry bit off another small piece and feed it again. Arya was mesmerised.
"Arya, can you cut me a small piece of cheese?" Gendry asked quietly.
Arya nodded, she cut a small slice then cut it into smaller pieces again, she watched as Gendry feed two small pieces of cheese to Dragonsteel. The baby dragon stretched and extended his wings for the first time, causing Arya to gasp, the patternation of his wings was incredible. After maybe an hour Gendry stood up and walked over to Arya, placing the baby dragon in her hands.
"Here, hold him for a while."
Arya shook her head. "Gendry… I..."
"He already knows you." Gendry replied quietly. "You're in my dragon dreams."
Dragonsteel sniffed her then curled up in her lap and fell asleep. He stayed there quite contently as they finished up their lunch.
"I think you're trapped." Gendry muttered.
Arya smiled and gently stroked Dragonsteel's head. "Yeah." She agreed.
"Mind keeping him safe while I sort out a cage for him?" Gendry asked.
"No, not at all." Arya replied.
Gendry wasn't gone long, they set the cage up in the bedroom. They put one of Gendry's tunics in the cage, some more fruit and cheese, and some water. Dragonsteel woke up as Gendry carried him to the cage, but he didn't seem to mind. Arya and Gendry sat and watched him sleep for a while, like a couple of proud parents watching a new-born babe.
"Thank you." Gendry whispered as they walked out of the room.
"For what?" Arya asked frowning. "I didn't do anything."
Gendry just shook his head. "You did everything." He replied.
~~/~~
Part 32:The royal apartments spanned four levels and made up part of one of the great stone dragons that wrapped around one of the stone towers, it was a feat of masonry, but it also lent itself to some very oddly shaped rooms. Nobody could find a key that would open the highest level or lowest levels and Gendry insisted that getting the doors open was beyond his skills… the way he said it suggested that the doors were more than just locked.
Looking up from the outside of the tower the highest level of the royal apartments should be the smallest level, but in some ways the outside of the tower and the inside didn't seem to match up and Arya suspected that the solidary door led to more than just one level of rooms, possibly even encompassing the entire head of the stone dragon. There appeared to be no internal access to that part of the keep from any part of the tower… but then again, this was a tower built for dragon riders, maybe there was no internal access?
The next level down was the level that Gendry had given her a key to, and judging by the outside of the tower it couldn't be that many rooms. The next level down, the level that Gendry's rooms were in was at least twice as large and appeared to be the only level that had been occupied in the last century. Arya had convinced Shireen to consider moving out of her grim prison of a room to one of the brighter rooms there, Shireen hadn't decided yet, but the two girls had explored some of the rooms, with Dragonsteel and Opal's help, and Shireen did agree that it would be easier to protect the baby dragons if they were together.
The dragons would benefit from more time together as well. They wanted to keep the dragons secret for as long as possible, but every time Shireen smuggled Opal across the keep in her skirts there was a risk of discovery. Arya had no idea what secrets the lowest of the four levels held but it looked as if it was quite a large level too.
Arya stood in Aegon's garden, looking up at the tower and contemplating what must be inside. She absently rubbed her fingers along the key. The simplest answer was to go and have a look, but something held her back. Part of it was that she liked having a secret, if she went and looked now, with Robb, her Father, and Theon here then everybody would soon know about the key. They would start to read all sorts of hidden meanings into it, they didn't understand.
It wasn't about her, or Gendry, it was about surviving the winter… none of them truly understood. None of them knew what the other self's memories did to her, not even Gendry, but he knew better than most. She hadn't told him everything, she couldn't, she had told him many terrible things, but she would never tell him about what had finally been his doom in the other life…
The Night King laughed as Gendry's hammer shattered in his hands, the sound was like a howling of winds, the Night King put his hand around Gendry's throat, slowly crushing the windpipe, and Arya screamed. Suddenly uncle Benjen came out of nowhere… Cold-Hands the wildlings called him now… Benjen road straight into them and the Night King lost his grip on Gendry. Gendry managed to scramble away as the night King attacked Benjen. But the skin around Gendry's neck was discoloured and he was struggling to breath… Uncle Benjen was out matched, it had been suicide to try and save Gendry, as the Night King cut Benjen down Benjen's eyes met Arya's and he manged to utter three words. "Arya… Dragon glass… Weirwood!"
It was enough, Bran had told her how the Children had stopped uncle Benjen from turning, she raced towards Gendry. "I'll save you." She promised. By the time Sandor Clegane and her got Gendry to the Weirwood the blue of his eyes was already changing.
"Ar..ya." He whispered, his damaged throat scarcely able to form the word.
"I'll save you." Arya whispered. The shard of Dragon glass bit into her shaking hand and drew blood as she raised it up to his exposed chest. She paused for a moment as their eyes met, tears spilling down her face. "I can't lose you again." She whispered, his hand reached up and stroked her cheek and he held her gaze as she used all of her strength to push the shard into his heart. He gasped a shaky breath and his arms wrapped around her. He lent his forehead against hers and she could almost feel his pain… she could feel his pain…
She collapsed against him, her bloody hands resting on his chest as his heart stopped beating and the heat began to slowly seep out of him. His arms wrapped around her and held her tight, the change was slow, Sandor stood over them, sword drawn, ready to take down one or both of them if required… she could feel his pain…
It had worked, Gendry was caught somewhere between the living and the dead, but the Night King didn't hold sway over him. She thought nothing of how her blood had spilled over the shard as she positioned it over his heart – she should have… in the back of her mind she could feel his pain…
Arya let her hand fall away from the key and turned her back on the tower. Silent tears streamed down her face and she had to reach her hand out in front of her to find her way as she walked. She and Shireen had been playing with the dragons earlier in the day and she had let her hair out as Dragonsteel was fascinated by it. Her fingers brushing against the dark bark of these strange trees, trees that smelt like pine, but weren't. These trees that were as dark as Ironwoods… she felt a hand reach out to grab her hair and turned… but all that stood there was a cranberry bush, the white flowers and blood-red berries vibrant against the lush green leaves. This was one of the sweeter varieties.
She untangled her hair from the bush and wiped her tears from her eyes, a bunch of berries dislodging as she did so, she caught the berries instinctively and decided to go see if they were something that Dragonsteel would like. It still amazed her how much both dragons enjoyed eating fruit. She absently popped a berry into her mouth as she walked… she had never tasted cranberries like the ones found in this garden.
~~/~~
She was standing outside of the door again, Dragonsteel was across her shoulders, her hair loose to conceal him in the unlikely event that a servant crossed her path. The servant's never came here unless requested. Slowly she placed her candle on the floor and removed the keys from around her neck, she placed the key in the lock and turned it. The lock turned easily, she placed her hand on the dragon bone door handle and the door, although heavy, swung inwards with ease.
The air smelt musty and there was a layer of dust everywhere, yet she could see that somebody had been in there recently. There was fresh oil and wicks in the lamps and fresh candles in a basket by the door with a small note sitting neatly on top of them. Arya picked up the note and read it.
It took you long enough.
- Gendry.
Arya couldn't help but smirk. She closed the door carefully behind her and stretched up on her tiptoes to light a couple of the lamps. This hallway was at least as ornate as the hall to the wing below, and the carved dragons seemed to dance in the flicker of her low light, she could have lit more lamps but it felt wrong to waste the oil… they would need every drop come winter. With only one end of the hall lit Arya gained a greater appreciation for the design of the hall, the dragons weren't just decoration, they were strategically placed to reflect and magnify the lamplight.
Dragonsteel seemed as fascinated as Arya was. He hadn't quite learnt to fly yet but he was getting the hang of gliding, he launched himself off of Arya's shoulder and flapped his wings a few times, getting a good ten to fifteen paces away from her before hitting the ground… Arya wasn't looking forward to the day when he discovered windows. He chirped and clicked at her as he excitedly ran back to her, only to climb up her and launch off again. Arya laughed and let him do it a few more times before picking him up and looking into the rooms, she held him in her right hand and kept a firm grip on one of his feet so he couldn't suddenly leap away from her and put himself into unexpected danger.
All of the rooms were interesting, but Arya was trying not to look too deeply at this stage. She knew that the rooms closest to the stairs would be lesser rooms, possibly once assigned to personal guards, there were rich tapestries and hooks on the walls were weapons must have once hung, but the weapons themselves seemed to have gone. The furniture was amazingly intricate, the fourth room that Arya entered took her breath away. There was a war hammer mounted on the wall, the shaft carved from black dragon bone… the head Valyrian steel. She had to stand on a chair to get it down.
In the next room she found 3 dragon bone longbows, like the ones that the Dothraki were fabled to use. She pulled two of them down, but she couldn't carry the bows, the hammer, and control Dragonsteel all at once. She took Dragonsteel back to Gendry's rooms and the safety of his cage. She went back for the hammer first, it was heavy and she struggled to carry it, even in both hands, she put the war hammer on the table in Gendry's main room and went back for the bows. She knew that there was still much to explore but she was too eager to try out one of the bows, she put out the lamps and grabbed the note that Gendry had left her, carefully locking the door behind her. It took her a while to find quill and ink, on the back of Gendry's note she wrote her own.
Found this.
- Arya.
She checked on Dragonsteel one last time before picking up the two bows and going in search of Derren.
~~/~~
Part 33:They were fortunate on the voyage from Dragonstone to White Habor, the weather was fair and they made good speed. It was the first time that Arya had ever been to White Harbor, the only actual city in the North, and even though it was small by southern standards it was still busy enough. It was very quiet compared to the ports of Braavos. White Harbor was the seat of House Manderly and from both a tactical and a financial position it made them one of the most powerful houses in the North.
Father had sent a raven ahead and they were greeted by a guard of twenty men with freshly polished armour and shields, all bearing the white and green of their house. They were led by an extremely tall and broad man in silver armour, engraved as if to look like flowing seaweed. He wore a fantastical helm, moulded to look like the head of the Merling King. When he removed his helm Arya caught a quick glimpse of green beads on his wrist, she immediately recognised the charm as being both similar, and different, to her own.
The charm was the last thing that Arya expected to see on a member of House Manderly, the family was old and originally from the Reach, much further south, where the Faith of the Seven had total dominance. Hundreds of years ago the Andals and their Faith Militant had aggressively spread the faith of the Seven, burning Weirwoods and decimating entire family's for clinging to the Old Gods, they had been successful everywhere but the North. The Manderly's were one of the few Northern family's that followed the Seven and Lord Wyman even claimed the honorary title of 'Shield of the Faith' although it was unknown whether the title was recognised by the High Septon and the Most Devout. House Manderly was also the only family who held claim to the title 'Knight of the Order of the Green Hand' who had survived.
Arya's head was full of questions that she could not ask and she searched the man's face for answers. His beard and eyes were both grey and his eyes were keenly observant, she was sure that he noticed the glimmer of recognition in her eyes and the slight furrowing of her brow. She allowed her right sleeve to ride up for just a second, allowing a momentary glimpse of her charm, and she was sure that he gave her the subtlest of nods before bowing deeply and introducing himself as Ser Marlon Manderly, the commander of the White Garrison at New Castle. He apologised that his Uncle was not there to greet them personally, stating that Lord Wyman had been too immense to right a horse for many years now.
"To be lean is a fine enough thing in Summer, but nobody wants to be the runt of the litter when winter comes." Ned Stark replied diplomatically. He gestured for Ser Marlon to stand.
Marlon smiled at his reply. "Speaking of runts, what is this?" He asked, taking a step towards Arya as he spoke.
Sandor Clegane took a step in front of Arya and placed his and on the hilt of his sword. "Is that how you greet a princess?" He asked in a low growl. Everybody froze.
"Sandor, stand down, we are guests here. I am sure Ser Marlon meant no offence." Arya ordered, the last thing she needed was for him to be picking a fight. She stood tall and straight, as she imagined Queen Nymeria would have done. Sandor gave another low growl and then returned to her side, his hand still lingering near the hilt of his sword. "I said, stand down. Move your hand away from your sword." She chided, Sandor reluctantly obeyed.
"So the rumours are true, the Hound is in Princess Arya's service." Marlon muttered.
Arya moved quickly but her father was quicker, his hand catching her sword arm. "Sandor Clegane no longer goes by that name, and Arya has vowed never to tolerate anybody using it. I suggest you retract your words before I retract my hand." Ned Stark said firmly.
Ser Marlon's gaze moved from Ned to Arya then back again. "A wild wolf, I see, and brave." He turned his gaze to Sandor. "Sandor Clegane, I apologise, we hear so much fiction from the docks that it is difficult to decipher fact. It is good to know that Princess Arya has such a loyal man in her service, and to be reminded that Stark's are true to their word."
Ned retracted his hand and Arya allowed her arm to fall away from her sword, she held herself still as Marlon looked her up and down. She was suddenly glad that she had taken Sandor's advice and polished her armour and boots until they shone. She had also taken the lessons learnt from Margery and done her hair into elaborate braids. She had a dragon bone bow and a quiver of arrows on her back, Needle on her right hip and the Valyrian dagger on her left hip. She was slowly starting to look like the warrior princess that she had always wanted to be.
She must have held up to inspection as Ser Marlon finally gave a slow nod and then returned his attention towards her father. "You don't breed them weak at Winterfell, do you?"
"Weak has never been a family trait, however Arya should have used her words, not reached for her blade." Ned replied.
"Nonsense." Marlon disagreed. "I would have done no less. A woman has to fight twice as hard as a man to win respect, and they have to do so in half the time." He turned his attention back to Arya. "Princess Arya, allow me to make you a promise, should anybody refer to your man as the Hound in my presence they will find my blade at their throat."
Arya considered his words. "I'll hold you to that promise." She replied.
"Truly a Stark." Marlon muttered. "Now, enough talk, you must all be hungry and longing for baths, we have horses waiting."
~~/~~
Ser Marlon's comment about Lord Wyman being too fat to ride a horse turned out not to be an exaggeration, the man was huge, and tall with it. His sons, Wylis and Wendel, weren't slim either. Wendel, the youngest son, was the smaller of the three, but still immense. All three men sported large extravagant moustaches. The two brothers were very different in demeanour Wylis was quiet and formal, almost sombre, whereas Wendel was loud and boisterous. Wylis had two daughters, Wynafryd and Wylla. Wynafryd was the older and had dark hair, Wylla had blonde hair, which she dyed green, both girls had their hair bound with pearls. Both girls were older than Arya and it was entertaining to watch them both dismiss Theon's blatant advances, although Wynafryd did seem to have an eye for Robb.
They only stayed one night, there were no boats to take them up the White Knife so they were given supplies and horses before being sent on their way, the Manderly's had promised to follow, stating that as Lord Wyman was too fat to ride a horse they would come when a boat allowed. Even Lord Wyman seemed surprised at the lack of boats, stating it unusual for this time of year. Ned Stark had offered to wait and to travel by boat with them but they had insisted that it was not right to delay him.
~~/~~
The first three days on the road were uneventful, apart from Theon ribbing Robb that Wynafryd seemed to fancy herself a future queen. Robb had always been strongly aware that his station as heir to Winterfell meant he had to second guess any woman's intent, but Theon seemed happy to drive home the point that it would be ten times worse now. It was understandable that Theon was jealous, but he really did push things too far.
About mid-morning on the fourth day the conversation between Robb and Theon flared into a full out argument, harsh truths were spoken and Theon rode on ahead in a sulk, father sent five guards after him. About an hour later they heard yelling and Theon was riding back fast and alone. Arya pulled her attention away from the fishing boats that she had been watching across the river at Theon's approach, he looked frantic and she suddenly realised that there was blood on him.
"Bandits!" Theon yelled. "They took us by surprise!"
Everybody was suddenly on alert. Father rode forward and started talking with Theon in a low voice, then he started barking orders, they would use the river to their advantage, guards lined up between the Starks and the trees and they rode in a tight formation. Arya glanced back at the fishing boats, they were crossing the centre of the river now… why were they crossing the centre of the river? Suddenly she noticed a couple of the fishermen drawing bows! She managed to yell a warning just as the arrows started flying.
Sandor Clegane pulled her from her horse and used himself as a shield, pulling down the simple helm which had replaced the Hound helm he used to wear. Robb and Father were slower, they tried to use their horses as shields but an arrow had caught Father in the right arm on the way down, his sword arm. Suddenly they were surrounded, and their attackers weren't fighting like bandits… they were fighting like soldiers!
"You need me." The other self whispered as Arya drew Needle.
"Yes." Arya replied
It was different this time, ever since that day at the Weirwood it had been as if Arya had been split in half, she had believed that to choose a different path she had to separate herself from the older self and the things that the other her had done. She had tried to deny the rage and anger inside of her, she had built a mental wall between the current her and the older self, and this had put her in conflict. It was like living under siege in your own mind. The older self was always there, and had forced herself through on a few occasions but Arya had always driven her back, this time Arya was opening the door and inviting her in.
Instead of hiding from her darkness Arya embraced it, in return the older self assisted instead of trying to take control. Suddenly all the knowledge, all of the training, from the House of Black and White was hers. Her body still had a lot to learn, but her mind knew what to do. The rage burnt for a moment and then turned cold. These were enemies attacking her pack, they would be destroyed, it wasn't personal because they were unimportant. They were nothing, no one, and soon they would be dead. Somewhere south of the Neck Nymeria and her pack howled…
Arya let everything slip away until only three things remained, her pack, the enemy, and her. She flowed like water through the enemy, they were not accustomed to fighting somebody so small and she used that to her advantage. She ducked under blows and between legs, she sidestepped, and even cartwheeled over a dead horse, she turned and twisted, parried and thrusted… suddenly she found herself inside the tree line with no enemies near her. She sheathed her sword and drew her bow, using the trees as cover she started picking off the archers. Once that threat was eliminated she put her bow away and re-joined the fray.
Robb and Theon had three guards with them and there was a guard with father and Sandor, but the rest were dead. Between father's limp and the arrow still sticking out of his sword arm he was slowly getting overwhelmed. There were five attackers on them and eight on Robb and Theon, but Robb had Grey Wind, Arya chose to help father. She took out one man from behind and Sandor took out another, that left three. The guard, Arya didn't know his name, missed his mark, the enemy cut him down and his name no longer mattered.
The other two attackers were rounding on father and Arya and Sandor had dead bodies in the way, but Sandor had long arms, he reached out and managed to get one of the attackers with a lunging shot, standing on a dead man's chest as he went. The sound of the ribs cracking should have been sickening, but in Arya's current head space it meant nothing. The other attacker lunged at father and he stumbled, catching a blow in the side, the sword bit deep into skin and armour alike and for a moment the sigil on the hilt seemed to fill Arya's vison. A flayed man, these were Bolton men!
Father fell down to one knee as Arya advanced, she wasn't sure when she had switched from Needle to the dagger, as the man reached up he exposed a gap in his torn armour near where the kidneys would be and Arya slipped the blade in. He screamed and dropped his sword, he turned and grabbed hold of Arya as she withdrew the blade. Farther managed to slam Ice up into him with both hands and he screamed no more.
Arya turned her gaze towards Robb and Theon as Grey Wind ripped out a man's throat, they were down to one guard now, and four attackers. She turned to Sandor. "Help them." He nodded. She turned towards the fallen horses and started searching through the packs for something to press against the wound. She didn't know who the shirt belonged to as she pressed it against father's side and she didn't care.
~~/~~
Part 34:Sandor pushed an un-stoppered pouch of wine into Ned's hands muttering "Drink, I ain't no Maester, this is gonna hurt." Father nodded and took a long drink before passing the bottle back. Sandor took a long swig himself before shifting his gaze to Arya. "I'm going to need the help of your small hands, Princess, you're going to need to hold the wound together while I sew it."
Arya nodded. "As long as you're not asking me to sew, the last thing Father needs is crocked stitches." She moved back and let Sander pull the shirt away from the wound. Sandor poured some wine over the gash and then moved Arya's hands where he wanted them and started stitching whilst Robb, Theon and Grey Wind stood guard.
"We need to get to the other side of the river." Ned muttered between grimaces. "Robb, are any of the boats reachable?"
"One's trapped in the reeds." Robb muttered. He sheathed his sword and waded knee deep into the muddy river after it, dragging it to shore. He frowned at the three dead bodies in it then glanced at Arya. "Nice shots, little sister."
"I'd like those arrows back." Arya muttered. "And theirs, we should break the bows and take the swords, no need to make it easy for the Bolton's."
"Bolton's?" Robb muttered in surprise.
Arya gestured with an elbow to one of the fallen swords. "See for yourself."
Robb's frown deepened as he and Theon started taking a better look at the dead men. Finding more and more flayed man sigil's on armour and weapons alike. "Why?" Robb muttered.
Theon gave that cynical laugh of his. "Roose wants to be King." He muttered. "Better question is how."
"Better question is how many men does he have at Winterfell." Ned muttered.
"We'll get there soon eno-" Robb started to say but Ned cut him off.
"No, Winterfell isn't an option, not until we know what we're facing. We can't go back to White Harbor either, Roose's spies would see us. We need to cross the river and head south-west across the farm land to Moat Cail – Augh, Gods that hurts!" he drew a sharp breath as Sandor poured more wine over the wound and rearranged Arya's hands.
"You need to drink and shut up." Sandor muttered pushing the wine back into his hands. "Besides, Moat Cailin is abandoned, and even if it wasn't you couldn't trust who you would find there. Bad plan."
"You don't know the North." Ned muttered. "The Crannogmen have never failed me."
"And House Manderly?" Sandor pushed.
"House Manderly are true… their Maester however… Wyman doesn't trust him." Father replied.
"Why?" It was Robb that asked this time.
Ned gave a bitter laugh. "He's from Lannisport, Wyman doesn't believe he stopped being a Lannister when he took his Maester's vows."
"Lord Manderly sounds like a smart man." Sandor replied. "That's the best I can do."
Arya watched as Robb and Theon helped father into the boat. Robb and Sandor took him across the river while Theon and Arya started sorting the gear, Grey Wind keeping watch.
~~/~~
The first few huts were empty, it looked as if people had left in a hurry, but as they searched for supplies they soon found the bodies. They found a bull in one of the fields, one of the few animals that hadn't been butchered and left to rot, but the three arrows sticking out of him suggested it hadn't been for lack of trying. The animal was angry and wild, but they needed a way to carry Father, Arya decided that it would be a chance to practice skin-changing.
She thought of Nymeria and how it felt when she warged into her, and suddenly she was running with the pack, they were heading north, coming to help. She came back to herself and found that she was clutching at the fence in front of her. She thought of the bull in front of her, of the curve of his horns… she thought of Gendry's helm, stupid bull… she brought her mind back to the task at hand and closed her eyes. Suddenly she could feel the bull, feel his rage, his pain. He wanted the arrows out, silently she promised him that she would do that if he helped her. Slowly he started walking across the paddock towards them.
She waited until he was right in front of her to reach out her hand. He let her stroke his head, she kept the fence between them as he moved so that she could get to the arrows. She let him know that it was going to hurt, she stroked his muscled back gently and then inspected the first arrow. Everybody watched in shock as he let her remove the arrows. Once she was done she jumped the fence and started patting him, hugging him, talking to him in a gentle voice. As to what he understood she would never really know, but within the hour they had father and half of their gear on his back and he was letting Arya lead him across the field.
They travelled mostly at night and hid during the day, they avoided farm houses and cottages and didn't light any fires. Father's condition deteriorated but they couldn't take the risk. The towers of Moat Cailin had been visible for two days when Nymeria lead three Crannogmen to them. All Crannogmen were short and these three were no exception. They were lean, dressed in greens and browns, all three had round leather shields. The one on the right had a frogspear and the one on the left had a trident, the one in the middle had a simple spear and a sword, all three had bronze knives on their belts. The one in the middle had a lizard-lion belt buckle and green eyes.
"Howland." Father muttered, trying to push himself into a sitting position.
"My Lord." Howland Reed replied, he gestured to Nymeria. "Knew this one and her strange pack could only mean one thing, whom are we at war with this time?"
"Bolton's." Ned replied with a scowl.
Howland nodded. "Let's get you to camp and let the healers take a look at you. We can talk once you've eaten."
Nymeria pushed past them and approached Arya, they stood facing each other for a few moments and then Arya hugged her wolf-sister tightly. "Thank you." She whispered.
~~/~~
Part 35:Arya sighed and ran her fingers through Nymeria's fur, the direwolf was almost as large as a horse now, bigger than Grey Wind. Arya moved into a more comfortable position and caught Robb's gaze across the fire, he gave her the slightest of nods as he moved closer to Grey Wind. There had been no conversation, but both knew what needed to happen, they needed to know what was waiting for them at Winterfell.
Arya closed her eyes and thought of the feel of Nymeria's fur, the scent of her, it was easier with the direwolf curled up beside her. Arya reached out with her mind, she thought of Grey Wind and Rob across the fire, she thought of home, of the great Weirwood… she thought of the black pool, the water always cold even on the warmest of days, the death unknown. She thought of Lady, the smallest of the direwolves, and then she thought of Sansa.
Sansa was in her night dress, she looked dazed and confused as she walked barefoot across the gods-wood. "Arya, what the… Robb!" Sansa rushed to Robb and hugged him. "What's going on, how? What am I doing here, and when did you get home?"
Robb gave Sansa a gentle smile. "Magic, sweet sister."
"But how?" Sansa asked.
"It's something to do with our connection to the direwolves -" Arya started to explain but Sansa cut her off.
"Shut up, horse-face, I was talking to Robb." Sansa snapped.
"Sansa, it's Arya's magic, we might all be able to work out how to do it in time but she learned it first."
Sansa looked at Robb then looked at Arya in shock. "Arya has magic?" Robb nodded. Sansa rolled her eyes. "Well that explains a lot, I always knew there was something wrong with her."
"Sansa…" Robb sighed.
Arya just shrugged and pretended that she didn't care. "It's okay, Robb, I'll keep the link going, you talk to her." Arya sat on the fallen tree trunk that Farther always sat on and gazed into the surface of the black pool.
Robb was far more patient with Sansa than Arya could have been, for the first ten minutes all Sansa wanted to talk about was confirming that she was now a princess, Robb let her chatter and talk for a while, then he asked after mother and how things were at home. The more Sansa spoke the more she confirmed what a fool she was, Arya was quite disappointed to discover however that Mother had been taken in by Roose's deception as well.
Bran had snuck off with Hodor and the wildling Osha, which Arya had known he had to do, but Roose had convinced Mother that he had been taken by force. Sansa talked about how generous and kind Roose was for using his own men to bolster the guard at Winterfell, about how he had given her four personal guards of her own, some of his best men. One of them was even a knight… and wasn't that fitting for a princess?
Sansa talked about how Lady and Shaggy Dog had been misbehaving lately and they had started keeping the direwolves in the kennels, Robb tried to convince her to keep Lady by her side and Shaggy Dog with Rickon, but she wouldn't hear it. From the sounds of it Mother had handed complete control of Winterfell over to Roose without even the slightest of hesitation.
And the more Sansa talked about how she was being treated like a proper princess the more Arya thought of Old Nan's stories. About how the princesses of the Warg King and the Marsh King had been married into House Stark when they had been defeated, they may or may not have been treated well, but the marriages were by force. Arya though of how Argella Durrandon was delivered to Orys Baratheon, naked and bound, after Orys's defeat of the last Storm King, Argilac the Arrogant. Of course Roose was treating Sansa well, she was the key to the north, the more submissive he could keep her the better. And this time around Roose didn't have a Frey wife, he wouldn't give Sansa to Ramsay, he'd keep her for himself… which meant that if he caught Arya… oh gods!
Once Robb was finished talking to Sansa he hugged her tightly and said goodbye, Sansa walked away without even a word to Arya. Robb came and sat beside Arya and they talked about what Sansa had told him. Arya explained to Robb that Bran had to find the Children of the Forest and that Jojen and Meera Reed would help him. She carefully omitted the fact that the Children were on the other side of the Wall.
It seemed that they had both reached the same conclusions about what Roose was up to. But they had very different ideas about what to do about it. The argument started in the dream plane of the gods-wood, but Arya angrily walking away caused both of them to wake up mid argument.
Arya blinked and took in her surroundings but she wasn't backing down. "I am not running and hiding whilst you fight for our home!" She yelled at Robb.
"Damn it, Arya, he already has Sansa, if he gets his hands on you…"
Arya pushed herself to her feet. "I know exactly what will happen to me if Roose Bolton takes me prisoner." She yelled. "I know better than you do! He'll force me to marry Ramsay, whom he will legitimise, and then Ramsay will proceed to rape me, and cut me, and keep me locked in a room until either he kills me or I kill him!"
Robb was also standing now. "That's why we need to hide you before we take back Winterfell!" He yelled back.
"I'm not hiding!"
Robb rounded the fire until he was in front of her. "Arya, please." Arya suddenly realised that there were tears in his eyes. "Let the Crannogmen take you back to Greywater Watch, let me protect you, I'll get our home back."
"And if you can't?" Arya asked.
"Then get them to sneak you back to Dragonstone and raise an army, use your skills to make a deal with the King beyond the Wall through Jon, attack from the south and the north at once and destroy them! But in that plan Mother, Sansa, and Rickon all die! Let me try to do it my way first!"
The whole camp was watching them now. And, as much as Arya hated to admit it, Robb had a point. But he was overlooking one thing, Roose still had the Dreadfort, he could have an army there for all they knew. "Okay." She agreed. "I'll let you take back Winterfell without me."
"I have your word?" Robb asked.
"Yes." She agreed. 'But I haven't given my word that I will go to Greywater Watch.' She thought.
~~/~~
"You're up to something." Sandor said quietly as they watched Robb, Theon and Howland leave with an army of Crannogmen.
"What makes you say that?" Arya asked as innocently as she could. They were far enough from the two dozen or so Crannogmen who had been left behind not to be heard but she still kept her voice low.
Sandor gave her a look that was something between amusement and frustration. "You're accepting this far too easily, which either means that I've over estimated you, or that you have no intent to go to Greywater Watch."
"Father is very sick." Arya replied.
"Yes, he is, and they will take him back to Greywater Watch and try and get him well, but that bull and that direwolf haven't moved more than ten feet from you since last night, which means they are better informed than I am. Could you have warned me that you were a damn greenseer before I swore to you?" Sandor kept his voice low to make sure that he wasn't overheard, but the edge of frustration was still clear.
Arya sighed. "Would you have believed me?"
Sandor shrugged and then shook his head. "Probably not, but you could have warned me all the same. Are you going to let me in on the plan?"
"Not yet." Arya replied. "They need a head start, besides, we're not going to Winterfell."
"Okay, where are we going?" Sandor asked, keeping his voice low.
"We're going to take the Dreadfort while Roose is distracted." Arya replied calmly.
Sandor sucked in a sharp breath of air. "You really are insane." He whispered quietly.
"Maybe." Arya agreed. "You don't have to come with me, you can always stay with the Crannogmen and guard Father."
"Like hells." Sandor muttered. "You think I'm missing out on a fight like that?" He frowned for a moment, seeming to consider their options. "Your brother took most of the horses."
"We don't need horses." Arya replied calmly. "You're going to be riding the bull."
"I… what?!" Sandor replied louder than Arya would have liked.
"He has lost his herd, they tried to kill him too but he was too strong. He is angry and he wants revenge, I promised him that you would help him get it, he'll let you ride him." She replied calmly.
"So, you'll be riding that damn direwolf?" Sandor replied.
Arya nodded. "Yes."
"Gods, win or lose, this is going to be interesting. Does the bull have a name?"
Arya smiled, the part of her that remembered the other life remembered the big black horse that Sandor had acquired after escaping from the brotherhood. She looked at the bull, and decided that the name was equally appropriate here. "How about Stranger?"
Sandor looked at her, shook his head then walked over to the bull. "Okay, Stranger, let's talk. It's time to lay down some ground rules… If you are going to be my mount then you are only my mount. You will not let anybody else ride you, if anybody else tries to take you I expect you to bite off their face… and their fingers… and stab them with those horns of yours."
Arya sat back and watched as Sandor kept talking to the bull. Nymeria nudged her then looked at
Tiny, the small lap dog that would never be able to keep up. "Yes, I know." Arya said quietly. "We'll have to send him with Father." She picked up the small dog and walked over to where Ned was resting. "A friend to keep you company." She said putting the little dog down beside him.
Father frowned. "I never did understand little dogs." He muttered quietly.
"Me neither." Arya agreed. "But his owner got bored with him and abandoned him, Nymeria saved him, maybe Jyana Reed could give him a home?"
Father nodded and stroked the little dog. "Maybe you can ask her when we get there?"
Arya sat down beside her father and nodded. "Maybe." She agreed. She sat and talked with him until he grew tired. She wanted him to get better, but in her heart she knew that he was dying. The only reason that they were taking him to Greywater Watch was so that if Robb did fail Roose couldn't confirm when Father was dead. The Crannogmen would hide his body long enough to buy Arya some time.
~~/~~