31. ARYA I

Finally she was here at the gates of Winterfell, a place she thought, she will never see again. Her eyes almost teared though nothing makes her cry now, not after all she have been through.

A smug guard stopped her "Where are you going?"

"In there, I live here"

"Fuck off"

"I am Arya Stark, this is my home"

The guards seemed suspecting and mocking, surely she look nothing like the "princess" she supposed to be. After the massacre in kings landing, after all the gore she witnessed, she fled the city with the terrified masses but soon enough, she left them to hide for quite some time. When her injuries were fully healed, she decided to leave all the pain and misery and return home to Jon but to her greatest surprise as she approached the north, she heard of Robb resurrection as people called it!

Was he ever dead? She killed the Freys, baked them in a pie and fed them to their lord father. She even poisoned the rest of the clan. And now he wasn't dead! Well she couldn't care less. They deserved every bit. They all did

Joffrey, Cersei, The Mountain, The Hound, Ilyn Payne, Meryn Trant, Amory Lorch, The Tickler, Rafford, Polliver, Weese, Cheswyck, Dunsen

Valar margulis

Her daily prayer, her list and they are all dead now!

After a lot of laughs from the guards and a lot of threats from her, the smug guard took her to a "Ser Gendry" who was the captain of the guards now and he in turn took her to the "Throne room"! So many changes, it's not like old rustic Winterfell, it's more sophisticated and cold.

And then she saw him, Robb, dear old Robb with a crown on his head! He saw her and descended the two steps podium in a hurry and took her in his arms, that's when she heard the voice of her mother, crying and hugging them both, kissing her hands and face and for the first time in years, her tears fell freely on her face.

The hall was in uproar, so many people speaking, asking, congratulating, she didn't even know them, her eyes was for her mother and brother only. In no time they took her to Sansa and Bran. Sansa was the same old proper Sansa, a little sadder but the same beautiful lady she was if not prettier. Only Bran was nothing like old Bran. Much larger and quieter in big wooden wheelchair. She doubted he was even happy to see her but Sansa told her later that was the new Bran and nothing personal!

"But why are you wearing like men Arya?" Sansa asked in wonder

"I disguised as a boy for a while, it was safer on the roads. Where is Jon?"

Her mother said rather hastily "You will see him, let's take you now to clean, eat and rest"

"I want to see Jon first, mother"

"We will send for him, come dear"

"Where is he?"

But they dragged her to change and rest, however people kept coming to see her. Alys Karstark came to check on her, she learned she was the new queen. This was all so new!

How was Jon the king and now Robb?

They tried to coax her to wear a dress but when she refused, they got her a decent boy clothes and a clean mail, brought her a hot meal, kidney pies, lemon cakes and wine but when she was about to protest again asking about Jon, she heard a soft knock on the open door and it was him, he smiled brilliantly at her, took her up in his arms, twirl her and laughed happily "Gods Arya, this is the best thing happened in ages"

Her mother glared at them and left the room abruptly and Jon seemed embarrassed "Maybe I should leave you with Lady Stark for now and catch up later, I just had to see you" this was so familiar, same young Jon but with a beard and hair knot

"You two are still like old days?"

Jon smiled a little and said "Somethings never die"

"But you freed Winterfell and defeated the others?"

"Aye, but that is old news now"

She still don't understand but he cut her thoughts "I am married now and expecting a child soon"

"What?"

She couldn't believe it, her eyes widened in surprise, that was the least expected for Jon but she was so happy for him, she wanted to know every detail

"Her name is Lyanna Waters, you knew her by the way"

That didn't ring a bell, she didn't remember anyone with that name, her brows knotted in deep thought

"She was Lyanna Baratheon then, the princess"

"What? Why would you do that? Cersei's daughter? Seven hells, have you gone mad?"

"Hey hey, she is kind and nothing like her mother. Anyway it was the king's order!"

"What king?"

"Robb, of course silly"

Before she opened her mouth, he interrupted "I have to go now, your mother will kill me if I took you more than that from her. Let's talk later, I want to hear about every minute of the last years and You must see how big Ghost is now, I couldn't get him here. We will wait for you, I have so much to tell you, Come and meet Lya at our room, it's the same old room at the tower. Bye now brat" he kissed her and ruffled her hair affectionately

Something struck her as odd in all this, as her family status and titles changed in this new world, Jon alone seemed the same old one with his old name and room!

Her mother kept to her side for the rest of the day and gods, she needed that. She needed to feel safe in her mother arms again. She will enjoy that now and tomorrow she will know her answers

The next few days, she understood more and more what had happened and how the things are going in Winterfell now

During the queen visit, she was introduced to a very pretty girl with short dark hair. She was smiling brilliantly to her. When she knew that she was Cersei's daughter she sneered at her "I was going to kill your mother but the dragon queen beat me to it!" and the smile was wiped off the pretty face. So this was Jon's wife!

She decided to sneak from the loving hands of her mother and go see for herself. As she was passing the yard, a strong voice called "Arya, Arya, Milady"

It was Gendry, broader, stronger but same old Gendry. She ran and jumped at him almost knocking him from his feat

"Gods, how I miss you, what are you doing here?"

"I live here now, I am the blacksmith in Winterfell…..Milady"

"Shut up, you know I am no Lady"

"Right, you are a princess!" with a hint of smile on his dear face

She pushed him in what she considered a friendly way and he considered quite harsh and they both laughed together. "I wanted to come and see you from the first day but they didn't allow me" he smiled awkwardly at her

"Fuck them!"

"Come, I want to see Jon, my brother, you know him?" she put her arm in his, he was still too tall for her but they were a perfect match

"Of course, we fought side by side"

"Just like our fathers!"

Upon approaching the room in the tower, they heard raised voices, she looked to him in wonder but he smiled and whispered "They are always like this!" and added fondly

"You might think they don't bear each other but just wait till one of them is in a trouble!"

She whispered back "And why are you so happy about it, she is Cersei's daughter!"

"She is my sister!"

"nahhh"

They were close enough now to recognize the words, the door was ajar and she put her finger to her mouth to shush him

"But this is not right!"

"shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh"

From inside Lya was shouting in anger "What's wrong with your family?How can they all be so mean?"

Jon was trying to sooth her but he was hardly hiding his laughter "I swear she is sweet, you will love her once you know her better"

Lya scoffed at that "What part of killing list you don't get? I must be on this list, she kept saying Cersei's daughter Cersei's daughter, she will kill me, I know it"

"Come on, she doesn't reach your shoulder!"

And that was when Arya attacked Jon playfully but Lya was horrified and grabbed the metal direwolf head of the bed poster with the good intention of smashing Arya's head. If it wasn't for Jon noticing, shielding Arya and grabbing Lya's hand, only gods would know what could have happened

"Lya!" he said blaming her

"What? She was attacking you!"

They all laughed at that except for Lya who folded her arms in front of her and stayed silent. She must have thought she was rescuing Jon from a ruthless killer!

Ghost approached Arya, circling her and sniffing her. Then he finally reached his verdict and started licking her in such an adorable way. Arya patted him and put their faces together for a while but she was thinking of Nymeria and wished she was safe somehow even if she couldn't see her again then she sighed and turned to Lya

"You know, I should try you for attacking a royal princess" Arya said in mock warning only Lya didn't get

"I was only defending my husband" She said with a pout

"She is the most loving wife!" and he and Gendry laughed at that while Lya just shoved him mildly

"Stop it Jon" she reproached then changed her tone to a nice polite courteous one while addressing Arya "I am sorry my princess. I wasn't aware of your way of joking together, please accept my sincere apologies" following her apology with a perfect courtesy

"Oh Jon, she is so prim and proper!"

"You have no idea!" another shove stopped him and made him laugh

The next hours were spent in laughter, teasing and smiles. Old memories were remembered and new stories were told as if they were rediscovering themselves again. She found this was the most enjoyable time she had since she returned home. Only with Jon, Gendry and dear Ghost even if it included Cersei's daughter!