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Stitches
After Arya misses dinner, Catelyn finds her in the chamber where the girls used to practice needlework with Septa Mordane.
Her daughter huddles up in her chair, clearly in a rotten mood.
Catelyn sits down next to her and picks up the embroidery hoop Arya must have thrown aside. She wants to offer some comforting words… And a glance at the stitches tells her that this will be rather easy, actually.
"Arya. The last ones are quite good."
She grimaces. "Jon made it."
Catelyn's jaw drops. "What the seven hells would compel Jon to do embroidery?"
Arya sighs. "They were arguing. Sansa and him. I am to blame, because I was saying that I want… never mind."
Catelyn does not agree with that statement, but she decides to wait for the end of the story.
"Sansa said some activities were made for boys and some made for girls, and as Jon does not sew, girls should not fight. Jon replied that it wasn't a rule but a custom and everything is a question of practice. Sansa challenged him then, telling him if it is true, Jon should prove his point by with sitting with us to embroider. So he did."
"Well, I presume proving Sansa wrong was a good motivation for him," Catelyn notes.
"Yes. But if I make pretty or, at least, proper stitches, that just would prove Sansa right. Not that my stitches would ever be proper. Even Jon can do better than me."
Catelyn looks down at the hoop again. Undoubtedly, he can do better than Arya. She tries her best not to smile. Will he boast with that to Robb?
Fortunately, it seems like Arya is lost in her thoughts. Then, she takes a long, heavy breath.
"Mother, I want to learn swordplay and how to draw a bow."
She is so determined, so frightened, waiting her answer.
'Never mind,' she said.
But it does.
"All right."
Arya's face lights up. She barely dares to believe what she has just heard.
"Would you allow it?" she asks in an eager tone.
Catelyn shrugs, slightly. "Swords and bows fit in boys' hands. Generally. But Jon said it well, it's not a rule."
She has heard the tales about Lady Lyanna who had a great talent for the sword and the bow, moreover, the spear. Surely Arya has also heard them. And there are the Bear Island's warrior ladies.
"On the other hand, he was wrong. Because women's activities are not simply a custom but a tradition, and have their importance. Sitting in chambers like this, embroidering and talking with other ladies are a part of the game."
Arya scowls. "What game?"
"A game every highborn participates in, whether they know it or not, whether they want it or not. Hunts and tourneys and carousals are where men can make deals and alliances. We can do it with needles in our hands. It doesn't matter if you are good or terrible at it, Arya. But you have to learn."
"Using a needle or playing this game?"
"Both."
"But I can learn to fight, as well."
Catelyn nods. "As I said."
Arya nods too, very seriously. "We made a deal, mother."
"In a sewing chamber," Catelyn points out.
Arya stares at her for a moment, and then, she finally laughs.
