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The dawn came slowly for Arya.
She'd sat for hours staring into the flames remembering the last time she'd been heading north to go home.
They'd never made it this close to Winterfell, but there had been a few nights like this. Arya staring into the fire while Hot Pie and Gendry slept beside her.
Thinking of Gendry brought a small smile to her face and an ache began to blossom in the chest.
She looked down at her sleeping son. At his sleeping son. A look of peace on his face. He was the double of his father and anyone who knew Gendry would have no doubt that Eddard was his son, with the mop of dark hair on his head and the ocean deep blue eyes.
Watching her son sleep reminded Arya of the rare occasions, as children, when she'd woken before him. There had been times when her fingers had itched to trace the lines of his jaw and follow the contours of his muscles. She understood now that what she'd felt back then had been the first blossomings of love. And she swore to herself under the light of the moon that if he was living and she saw him again it would be the first thing she said to him.
There was, however, one thing really concerning her. If Gendry was alive, how would she explain Eddard? How could she explain their son? After all, the night Eddard was conceived Arya was wearing the face of another.
Her musings were interrupted by the cracking of branches in the wood behind her. Slowly Arya stood her hand resting on needle's pommel. Turning, she saw the massive direwolf walk slowly into the clearing.
"Nymeria," Arya sighed.
The wolf continued to walk slowly towards her, sniffing the air in front of its nose. Arya styed as still as she could, allowing the large wolf time.
Before she had time to even realise what was happening, Arya was on her back. The wolf's front paws pinning her shoulders to the floor. For a split second Arya felt fear, but suddenly she felt a rough tongue slid up her face.
Arya began laughing and crying at the same time. It had been many years since she'd felt such unbridled joy and it felt as if the world had been lifted from her shoulders.
The sound of Arya's laughter had woken Jeor and Eddard. It was a strange sight that met them.
"Lady Arya?" Jeor said hesitantly.
Arya pushed the direwolf from her and got to her feet trying to steady her breathing, with a huge smile on her face and tears rolling down her cheeks.
"Eddard, Jeor, meet Nymeria. Nymeria, these two are pack and pack is to be protected," Arya said.
Nymeria took a long sniff of the air in front of her, committing the scents to memory. She was obviously happy with the statement for she circled Arya and then lay herself down in front of the fire.
Arya prepared the meal with which they would break their fast and then sat down next to Eddard to eat.
"I've been thinking, that it might be best if the two of you were to lodge in Wintertown tonight, instead of coming with me straight to Winterfell," Arya said.
"Why?" asked Jeor.
"I don't know what I'll find when I get there," she began, "I'm worried about being in a situation that could put you both at risk." She looked down at her son. "I won't put you at risk, do you understand. You are the most important thing in my life."
Eddard nodded.
"I'll keep him safe," Jeor said.
"I'll have Nymeria stay close to you. She won't be able to show herself for risk of exposing who you are. But she'll be there should you need her."
Arya donned the face again, and then allowed Nymeria to sniff her scent, waiting for the wolf to recognise it as Arya's despite the change of appearance. They then cleaned up their camp, mounted their horses and set off on the last leg of their journey north.
They made much better time than Arya had thought, arriving in Wintertown a good couple of hours before nightfall. She got them settled into one of the better inns and then headed towards Winterfell.
She removed her disguise just before she crested the hill. As she reached the top, she caught sight of the home she hadn't seen since her childhood. When she was young the place had seemed huge. Now, as a woman grown, it didn't seem so big.
She dismounted and made her way to the main gate where two guards were stood close to a fire barrel.
"Eh, yup," said one of the guards. "Where you goin'?"
"In there," Arya replied. "I live here."
"Fuck off," he said.
"I'm Arya Stark. This is my home."
The guards laughed.
"Arya Stark's dead," said the second guard.
Arya thought for a moment. "Send for Maester Luwin or Ser Rodrick. They'll tell you who I am."
"There's no Rodrick here," the second guard said.
"Maester's name Wolken," the first guard added.
"Go ask Jon Snow the, the King in the North. He's my brother."
The first guard, who was fat and bearded, gave a smirk. "He's a thousand miles away."
"Look." The younger of the guards said, "it's cold, and we're busy, so, ya know, bust fuck off."
"Mmmm," the other one agreed.
"If Jon's gone, who's in charge of Winterfell?" Arya questioned.
The guards both rolled their eyes at her.
"The Lady of Winterfell. Lady Stark."
"Which Lady Stark?"
"You tell us. You're the one impersonating her sister," the fat one said, sounding as if he was starting to get annoyed.
Sansa, Arya said to herself. I thought she was dead.
"Tell Sansa her sister's home."
The fat guard was getting increasingly frustrated. "Lady Sansa is to busy to waste her breath on you, just like us. So, for the last time, fuck off!" He went to strike Arya but she had seen it coming and was easily able to dodge the blow.
"I'm getting into this castle one way or another. If I'm not who I say I am I wont last long, but if I am and Sansa finds out you turned me away…" she let her words trail off and gave the two guards time to think about what she'd just said.
She could see the cogs turning in their heads as they realised that they could be in trouble either way, and discussed quietly between them what they were going to do.
Finally, the older one said, "Follow me. I'll take you to Lady Sansa. If, however, she does not believe who you are, you will be punished."
"I would expect nothing less," Arya stated matter of factly.
She followed the guards through the courtyard towards the main hall. They were about halfway across when Arya heard something behind her.
She turned to see what it was and saw a young man sat in a chair that had wheels.
"Hello, Arya," he said.
"Bran?"
"I'm glad you're home," he said. He didn't sound glad, there was no emotion in his voice. "Where have you left my nephew?"
"I… I… What?" Arya stammered.
Bran looked at the guards, "You may leave us. You have done your job, but this is Lady Arya Stark, and I wish to speak to my sister alone."
"Yes, My Lord," they said in unison. And bowing their heads they left.
"Come, my sister. We have much that needs to be discussed," Bran said. "Let us go to the Godswood, where only the old ones can hear."
Arya had forgotten how beautiful and peaceful the Godswood was. The heart tree sitting large and proud in its centre. Sudden images of her father flooded her mind and a smile spread across her face.
"I always picture father here," Bran told her.
Arya looked at her younger brother. "What did you mean when you asked about your nephew?"
"I know all about your son, Arya. I may look like Brandon Stark but I have become so much more, I am now the Three Eyed Raven. I have the memories of every person to have ever lived. I watched you as you stood in the square before our father's execution. I saw you serve Tywin Lannister at Harrenhall before you escaped. I saw you arrive at The Twins just after the Red Wedding and I saw you leave for Braavos."
"How… how is this possible?" Arya asked.
"I don't know exactly. I believe it has something to do with how strong the blood of the first men runs through a Stark's veins. When I… fell, something was triggered which allowed the transformation to start."
"I don't understand any of this," Arya said.
"I still have a lot to learn, but this is not why I asked to talk to you out here. Bad things are happening, and I think we're going to need your help before the end. Jon has gone to ask the Dragon Queen for help. She will say yes, this I have seen, but on the condition that he bends the knee and gives up his crown. The north will not be happy, but we do need her help. The world will be lost if she doesn't bring her armies and her dragons. She will also bring the allies she has already made from Westeros, the Iron Born, The Tyrell's and all their banners, and Lord Baratheon and his banners from the Stormlands."
"What do we do then?" Arya asked, "Why do you need me?"
"That is unclear at the moment. But as more information is revealed, the way forward becomes more obvious. In the meantime, I think you should go and see Sansa, and then you need to introduce us both to our nephew."
