The unburnt and those that do burn… (Arya Stark)

I think that by the title of the chapter everyone understood that this chapter will be more focused on Arya's storyline.(And the Hound)

Notes.

Arya doesn't arrive at the Red Wedding, she joins her family a bit later because they already left the Twins.

She did not see her father's execution because Joffrey told everyone he executed Ned Stark in the black cells.

(Arya)

Walder Frey was dead.

Yet she still found herself thinking of the old cunt.

She wished he would suffer more before his death. She wished she could have killed him herself. Because she would have given him a slow and painful death.

But her father was here, and he was the one to execute the traitor.

Her father was the only reason she still hadn't run away from the Riverlands. If he hadn't appeared just in time to stop her from running away, she would have never learned of his presence. She didn't even know that he was alive.

But while she was once again arguing with her mother, her father entered the tent with the Dragon Queen by his side. And suddenly everything changed.

Now after the traitor was executed, her father was alive, her brother was alive, and her mother was alive, she had no good reason to run away. But she still felt odd amongst her family.

She missed them all. She truly did. But they still treated her as they did back in Winterfell.

Her father was busy all day long, her mother followed Robb everywhere, and Robb was either training or discussing battle plans. Once again she felt like the forgotten Stark.

In Winterfell everyone only paid attention to Sansa. But now that Sansa was not here, they still ignored her. They kept telling her that she was a child, and a child had no place in the middle of a war.

And she understood why. At least part of her understood that the entire North was at stake here, alongside their family.

But the other part of her kept telling her that this wasn't right.

She was the only one who has met Tywin Lannister. She had read his battle plans. She had seen how he works, how he commands, and how he plans his battles. She has seen his advisors. However when she tried telling her family something, they ignored her.

They tried to push her into dresses, give her flowers and embroidery. As though a dress and some flowers could make her forget everything that she has been through in the past couple of years. As though after killing so many, some thread and needles could stop her killer instincts.

She has noticed how her brother looks at her. As though she is some wild animal that might lash out at any moment. As though she has to be tamed. She has even heard him talk with his wife about how she looks like a killer, and how her eyes are full of anger.

The problem wasn't that she was forced to grow up and forget all about toys and stories. The problem was that they didn't wish to see her for who she really was, and tried to bring back the old Arya. but when they found out that the old Arya was gone they began ignoring her, they were unable to deal with the person she has become.

So she spent most of her days with Gendry. He worked with the other smiths fixing any weapons that were given to him. They became closer over the time they spent together. He felt more like family to her than her own brother, as much as she hated to admit it to herself.

The Hound became another constant presence in her life. He trained her with a sword, and let her beat up stupid squires. He bagan tolerating her company when she stopped talking so much. He wasn't afraid of pointing out her brother's stupidity and didn't care about the stupid lords.

Her mother said he was a bad influence. So she pointed out to her mother that without the Hound she would most likely be dead.

Now as she readied herself for dinner, and cleaned her face from the mud, she found herself thinking about her father.

When he showed up with the Dragon Queen she hadn't thought much about it. She thanked Daenerys for returning him to his family. But she still wondered what made her father work with the Queen. She was a Targaryen and he fought hard to rid their family of the Iron throne.

As the days went on, she realised that the Queen was not at all like the Mad King she read about as a child. Daenerys was not mad. At least Arya hoped she wasn't.

And after watching the Queen command her people and plan battles, she understood why people followed her and believed her to be a good Queen. They feared her Dragons, and respected her. Her people chose her to lead them.

Nevertheless, Arya couldn't understand why her father spent all his time by her side. When she asked him, he said that he was her advisor. But having spent years in the company of good liars, she realized that her father wasn't telling her the truth. Or at least not the full truth.

Once she was dressed, she hid a small dagger underneath her skirts, and two small knives in her sleeves. Now if anyone attacked her, she would have the possibility to kill them.

Walking through the Castle of Riverrun, she pushed all thoughts of her family and the Dragon Queen away from her head. Instead she focused on the list. She found it calming, to plan their deaths, and think of how much pain they would feel before she would finally slit their throats.

Once Robb asked her about the list and what it was. So she told him of how she began the list and how she was planning on killing each and every one of them. And that she wouldn't stop until they all paid for harming her family and friends. The tales she told were not pretty. Her mind was filled with blood and screams.

To that, Robb told her of how that was not honorable. Mentioned that she shouldn't think of revenge so much. And even asked her why she could wish so much pain upon someone.

Luckily the Hound was sitting nearby at that time and he answered the question for her.

"She's a killer. Just like you, your father, me, and everyone else fighting this bloody war."

After that, her brother seemed to distance himself even more. And she could see the denial in his eyes. She could see that Robb would never accept that she has killed people and that she wished to kill more.

Walking into the room reserved for her family to dine privately she sat at her own spot and began eating. She was the last one to arrive, and didn't meet anyone's eyes, knowing that the only thing she would see in their eyes was either disappointment or embarrassment.

Suddenly all whispers stopped when Robb cleared his throat and spoke.

"Arya?"

She immediately realized that he was unsure, if not afraid, of what he was about to say.

She lifted her eyes to her brother, who clearly had fear in his eyes.

Fear of how she would react to what he was about to say.

"Yes, dear brother?"

Robb exchanged glances with both of their parents before continuing.

"I talked with mother and father, and we decided that you, mother, and Talisa will stay here in Riverrun when we head south."

Luckily Arya expected this.

"No."

Her father was the one to speak this time.

"Arya, this is not up for discussion."

Arya didn't bother looking in his direction. She kept staring at Robb.

"Of course, because women shouldn't be fighting a war."

Robb huffed.

"Arya, it's not about this…"

"Of course it is! Because that is what you have been telling me since I arrived."

Her mother smiled sweetly.

"We worry for your safety."

Arya nodded.

"If you don't think women should be fighting, then perhaps you should tell that to Maege and Dacey Mormont. We'll see how they react. They'll beat you blue and black."

Her father let out a heavy breath.

"As robb said, it's not because you are a girl. But because you are a child."

Arya snorted.

"Oh yes… a child that has killed more than some men."

Catelyn stood up.

"That's enough Arya! I'll hear no more of this! You will stay here with me and Talisa."

Arya stood up and stared at her mother.

"If you make me stay here then I'll run away to Braavos."

The room froze.

She bit her lip. She had not planned on telling them about Braavos and the faceless men. And the fact that she was invited to train with them.

Robb looked at their parents, clearly not expecting this turn of events. The fool thought a glare from their mother could cower her.

Her father stood up.

"What do you mean by that?"

Arya shrugged.

"Does it matter? If you do not take me with you, I'll go to Braavos. I'll be far away from Westeros politics and this war for an ugly piece of metal. I'll run away, even if it means leaving my family."

She would take Gendry with her. He was as much her family as the Starks.

Her father let out a heavy breath.

"And what would you do in Braavos? There would be nowhere for you to go."

Arya dug her hand into a hidden pocket in her cloak and took out the coin 'No one' had given her. She held it, so her family could see.

"Valar Morghulis."

While Robb and her parents looked in confusion, Talisa recognized the phrase. In Volantis there were some faceless men, and she has seen a couple before coming to Westeros.

"Where did you hear that?"

Robb looked to his wife in confusion.

"What does that mean Talisa?"

"It means: All men must die…"

Talisa stood up and walked up to her.

"Where did you get the coin?"

Arya smiled.

"It was a faceless man. He gave me the coin and offered me to come to Braavos to learn his ways. I declined, but he said that if I ever changed my mind, all I had to do was find a ship headed to Braavos and say Volar Morghulis."

She saw her mother collapse into her chair.

Yes… She supposed that reaction was expected. The news that she has met a faceless man was definitely not well taken. She felt bad for her mother, but she was tired of being treated like a fragile little lady.

Robb looked at her with a weird look, a mix of confusion, fear, and exasperation.

Meanwhile her father looked at her with sad eyes.

Well at least it wasn't disappointment.

Her father closed his eyes for a second and ran a hand through his hair.

"Gods… you never choose to do anything the easy way?"

Arya put away the coin.

"My life stopped being easy when you were arrested for treason."

Her father walked around the table and hugged her. And she returned the hug.

She has missed her father. She had thought him dead. She changed and became cold, but beside her father she once again felt safe and almost happy.

"Please don't leave me here. I don't ask to be out in the battlefield. But please don't make me stay here father."

Her father pulled away.

"Why do you wish to go with us?"

She looked at the ground for a second.

Why? Good question.

She wanted to see her enemies dead. She wanted them punished for hurting her family.

In Harrenhal she almost killed Tywin. If only she gave Jaqen H'ghar Tywin's name, but then she gave him other names and lost her chance to see him dead.

At first she didn't have much of a desire to kill him. He treated her fairly when she was his cupbearer. But then she learned that it was he who planned the Red Wedding.

And then she promised herself that she would kill him herself.

Or she would die trying.

"I wish to be there when Tywin Lannister dies."