5. A family of wolves.

Catelyn.

She stifled a cry as her uncle pulled out the arrow from her back and tried not to shout when he helped her up. When they reached the door, they were disappointed to find it was still locked.

Her uncle told her to step aside and he motioned to the wolves. There seemed to be a silent understanding between them. Both wolves charged the door a few times until it started to budge. There was a crack on the wood and one of the hinges became lose. Her uncle finished the job with is own sword and they soon found themselves back inside the building.

The wolves sprinted inside and she tried to keep up with them, but the pain in her back was slowing her down. Her uncle helped her up and urged her to move forward. He then lifted her in his arms.

"No" she said. "I'm slowing you down. I'm fine. Leave me here. Just go. I'll catch up. Go!"

She saw her uncle run and disappear into the hallway together with the wolves. Gathering strength, she leaned against the wall for support and started limping towards the main hall. The sounds that greeted her ears as she walked forwards were scaring her. First it was shouting and cursing. Then she heard loud growls and cheering. She heard cries of pain and the unmistakable clanging of swords.

When she finally made it to the ballroom, the first thing she did was strain her eyes to find her son. And there he was, oblivious to the two arrows sticking through his back and the bleeding on one of his legs, standing proud holding a sword to Lord Walder's throat.

Her son's men had obviously been caught unawares and were losing the fight. But the tide had turned when the two wolves arrived. The torn bodies on the floor and the look of pure fear on the remaining Frey men spoke of the carnage that had just taken place.

Slowly the fighting came to a stop. Lord Walder ordered his men to lower their weapons and they surrendered. She was surprised to see Lord Bolton's body on the floor and some of his men also putting up their hands. Had they been part of the plot as well?

The traitors had stopped fighting. But all these men fighting alongside her son, whom she knew and had come to trust with her life, refused to accept their surrender so easily. The betrayal had cut deep in her son and his men. She could see it in their eyes: no turncoat was going to come out of this stunt alive.

Nymeria came to stand close to her and she gently caressed its back with her blood-stained hand. She walked over to her son but a lone figure that appeared at the door caught her attention.

"Mother!"

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Arya

She ran as fast she could. It was a trap and she knew it. Her mother and brother were inside. She had to get to them. But how could she?

The gates to the castle were closed. She couldn't just ring the bell or climb the walls. Fortunately she didn't have to. She found a group of soldiers just outside the gates bearing a banner with a roaring giant. Umber! she thought. Those are Robb's men.

She approached them quietly and observed them for a minute. They had, apparently, been left outside before the celebration started and were making their way in somewhat late.

"Stop!" she called them.

The men looked at her and laughed. "What do you want boy?"

"I'm not a boy. I'm your king's sister!"

"No you're not. She's been married to the Imp. You may be as tall as him, but you're not the Imp either"

"I'm Arya Stark. Lord Eddard's younger daughter."

"What do you want?"

"Are you going in?"

"Ha! You're no Stark. You're just a filthy boy who wants to sneak into a party he was not invited to" they laughed.

"No! Listen to me! That's no party! My brother and his men were betrayed. They're being killed. Help me! Help them! Please!" she was almost in tears by now. She hadn't come so far to be stopped now.

The men started to listen to her and to play closer attention to the sounds coming from the other side of the wall. Loud cries and the sounds of fighting seemed to make them change their mind.

"My brother is in the hall inside. His wolf is fighting with him, but we need to help. Please!"

The soldiers approached the gates and after a few words and a not so peaceful exchange with the guards, they were able to push the door open. The sight that greeted them was not a pretty one. Skirmishes and fights all over the place. Tents were on fire, bodies were strewn across the ground.

But Arya had no time to stay and fight. She had to get to her family. She could feel the rage cursing through her veins. She could still taste the blood. She reveled in the feeling of ripped flesh quenching her hunger. She fed off the fear the men irradiated and she only stopped when her brother told her to and she felt a comforting hand on her back.

Arya ran as fast as her feet would let her. Ignoring the bodies and the mess all around her, she quickly crossed the yard and made it inside. She followed the sounds until she came to a big doorway. Pausing at the entrance she took in the scene before her. It was the exact same image she could see in her mind. In the sea of people in front of her, she tried to find her mother and brother and locked eyes with them.

"Mother!"