Arya

The wolf tested the frozen river with a tentative paw as Arya watched the beast. She missed Nymeria, but she enjoyed her own name sakes presence. The wolf pushed harder on the ice, and it began to crack. The dire wolf kept pushing against it, until the ice had broken about the size of Arya's palm. The wolf dipped her head and started to drink the cold water, as Arya smiled at her. She heard a noise and they both turned, Arya gripping her newly returned sword. She didn't loosen her grip as she recognise the stunted form of Tyrion. Her brother in law! Seven hells… The wolf recognised the intruder and kept drinking.

"Oh, you're a great help," Arya said, rolling her eyes. She'd been sitting on the snowy river bank, but seeing Tyrion, she stood. "What do you want?" she asked when he was in ear shot.

"To talk to you," Tyrion said.

"I don't like you," Arya said bluntly.

"No, I see that," Tyrion replied. "The wolf doesn't like me either."

"Smart animal," Arya replied.

He sighed, and sat down, leaving Arya standing. After a moment she felt too awkward and sat down too. "Why don't you like me? I don't believe I've done anything to offend you."

"You've done nothing?" she questioned in disbelief. "Your family ordered the Frey's to murder my family. My brother, my mother, my father. They're all dead because of you. Murdered. You forced yourself on my sister, into a marriage she didn't want. You probably raped her for all I know," she added bitterly.

"My family and yours have a bad history," Tyrion said. "I'm not going to argue that. I am going to defend myself and my honour. I have never mistreated Sansa. Ask her. I've treated her with nothing but kindness and affection. Neither of us wanted to be married. I was forced by familial obligation, she had no other choice." He coughed uncomfortably. "I do not have to defend myself to you, but I feel like your opinion matters. And if you end up hating me, I'd like it to be for something I've done. I did not rape Sansa. I have never raped any woman and I did not start with my wife." He paused before continuing, but then realised that Arya wasn't a child any longer. "Any time I've gone to her bed, it's because she invited me."

"I can't believe that," Arya said, looking at her hands. "You're…"

"A dwarf," Tyrion finished. "Yes, I know. Trust me, some days I can hardly believe how Sansa feels about me."

"Even if that's true, you still killed my parents," Arya said. She couldn't let go of her hatred that easily.

"My family did," he said. "I had no knowledge of it until after it had happened. But yes, my father did arrange to have your mother and brother killed. Is that my fault? I wanted Robb dead at the time. But I would not have done it at a wedding feast. There are some standards even I have. And I wouldn't have harmed your mother. That was callous and cruel."

"You wanted my brother dead," Arya said sadly.

"Of course I did. He was winning the war. Never lost a battle and I was on his opposing side. Now, I have a son named Robb. Funny how things can change in a few short years."

"He's called Robb?" Arya hadn't known that, and it surprised her. Calling his first born son, his heir, after the young wolf.

"Yes. Robb and Maeri." He smiled at the thought of his children and Arya felt surprised. The man in front of her wasn't the man she'd hated from afar. He actually seemed like he cared. "I'll tell you what I told Sansa when we married. It could always be worse. She could have married Joffrey instead." Arya smiled at that. That would have been worse.

"I don't want to like you," she admitted.

"Oh good," Tyrion said. "I'm making an impression then." Arya smiled at him. "I believe it may come down to me to arrange a marriage for you," he added, changing the subject. The smile slipped from her face.

"I don't want to marry anyone," she said. "No one at all."

"No?"

"No!"

"Okay then," Tyrion said. "I can put it off for a couple of years. You might have to one day you know."

"Maybe I'll disgrace myself and get with child from a random man I'll meet at the market?" she suggested. "Then no Lord will want me."

"I wouldn't," Tyrion advised. "Once you've done that, proven fertile, you'll attract a less decent sort of Lord. One who wouldn't treat you so well."

"You have a point," she said. "Don't make me marry someone."

"I can't promise never to do that," Tyrion said. "But not for a few years. After all, families need ties, don't they? You might actually want to marry someday."

She groaned and rolled her eyes, making Tyrion laugh. "It'll all be okay in the end," he assured her. "And we're no longer at war, so we have all the time in the world."

Just the epilogue left to go. Thank you so much for reading and reviewing.