In which our little wolf gets to know that some things are just meant to happen
*Unknown*
It was the sound that caught her ears first. The sound of the wind was passing by. It was subtle like a breeze. Almost calming even. But then it was replaced with another, much gentler sound. Arya knows that song all too well that resonates through her ears, further calming her from the inside and out. The familiar melody hummed with every part of her as it was calling her.
It was the lullaby that Daenerys always sings to her in those nights, Arya was sure of it. The melody swims through her body like a wakeful dream, the tones relaxing, enabling the song to call to her entire being. Daenerys voice has always had this effect on her and each time the older girl sang the lullaby Arya had never felt any better than she was at the moment.
Now, the familiar divine feelings are washing over her as Arya settles in further in the comfort. She wills her eyes to open and slowly they did. The calming sound sounded louder and clearer somehow as her eyes adjusted to see what, or rather who's in front of her. She feels a smile beginning to form at the corner of her mouth as her gaze finds her favourite violet eyes staring back at her. Daenerys is adorning her beautiful smile that never fails to amaze Arya as the older girl continued humming the melody.
Arya closed her eyes again in content, basking in the wonderful moment. But, then in an abrupt moment, the wind blew harder as if a storm was about to commence. Daenerys voice flew away with it and when Arya opens her eyes again, the older girl was nowhere to be seen.
The young girl sits up with a start. Looking left and right, she founds not a single trace of the dragon queen anywhere. She wakes up from the bed she had lain in, walking towards the opened door at the end of the room. The wind is still whistling behind her strangely as if it was guiding her somehow.
When she steps outside, a figure was already waiting there for her. Her father looks at her with a rare smile that he always wore for her, before he turns and walks down the hallway. She follows without thinking twice, his back in front of her. He looks over his shoulder for a moment, checking if she was there before he takes a right turn along the path.
As Arya calmly goes after him, she expects to find her father waits on the other side only to find her dear brother, Jon in his stead instead. Jon stares at her with those familiar glints in his eyes that Arya usually finds him whenever he's interacting with her. Before she can say anything to address him, he walks further away along the hallways as he intentionally brings her along too.
He enters an archway that leads to another space and then similar to her father, disappeared into thin air. Arya doesn't have time to ponder over it as Sansa waits at the other end with a pleased expression on her features. She tilts her head slightly as she gestured for Arya to follow her.
Silently, the young girl does as she was instructed and finds herself walking out a door and into an open field. The wind grows more prominent now that she was outside. Though, she doesn't feel the slightest cold that it should have caused. Even the sun shines bright up in the blue sky and oddly she didn't feel its heat either. In fact, she didn't feel anything at all.
Sansa was nowhere to be seen as the young girl looks around the vast fields of greenery. But, as she walks further, she founds her mother waiting at the end of the pathway, a small smile playing on her lips. She wanted to call out, but her mother already had her back against her, as she walks ahead instead. Arya had nothing left to do but to pursue her mother from behind.
She comes to a stop at a meadow where there are tall grasses and flowers, rustling gently in the breeze. Her mother was long gone now as she steps in through the meadow. Slowly, Arya walks along it and then felt another presence beside her. She looks to her side to find Robb alongside her. He grinned, before taking the lead and walks ahead.
He proceeds to take her further until they come out of the meadow. The young girl had anticipated Robb out in the open vast again. Yet, it was Rickon now that is waiting for her and surrounding them are the tallest of pine trees. The young boy looked up at her and smiled from ear to ear as he gestured for Arya to follow him. He turns around without another glance and dashes forward with a bounce in his steps.
Arya follows her little brother without second thoughts. It brought her to another clearing though this time there is no open field, meadow or pine trees. There is only one small river across her and at the river bank there sit her brother, Bran. She walks closer to where he is and lands herself at his side, her feet dipping the flowing stream of water as it runs through her toes. She closed her eyes as she felt the coolness of the water and the sound of it running along the rocks and stream as they bring her close to serenity.
"Is this what it feels like to be dead?" She wondered aloud, still closing her eyes.
"No, it's not."
She pries her eyes open then, tilting her head to the side to find her brother. "How do you know? You're not dead."
Bran shot her an amused look. "So do you."
"How do you know that I'm not dead?" she asked accusingly.
"I just do."
Silence wraps them further as Arya decides to let the topic go. She kicks her feet against the running stream absentmindedly making small splashes around her. "Is this real?" she asked.
"No," Bran answered short.
Arya stops. "Am I real?"
"Yes."
She looks at her brother again. "Are you real?"
"Yes."
"What does that mean, Bran?"
The young man turns his attention to the girl then. "What do you remember?" he asked instead.
Arya looks ahead then, a crease on her brows adorning her features as she tries to recall the last thing on her mind. "I don't know."
"Think Arya… Think hard. It's important that you do or else I can do nothing about it."
The frown on her face deepens as she stared back at him in silence, doing as she was told. "I remembered how I feel." She offered finally. Bran encouraged her further with a nod. "I was happy and then I was not…and now I just am."
His blue eyes shifted with sadness at the words and Arya doesn't understand why. "I'm sorry, Arya." He suddenly said. She can almost feel his regret in his words.
"What for?" she asked, curiously.
Bran looks away as he gathers his thought. A moment passed before he spoke again. "For the horrible things that happened to you, to us…to everyone." He finished with a faraway look as if there is something else that gnawed in his mind.
The cool wind breeze through them at the exact moment and Arya can't help but feel lost in the tranquillity. She stares ahead as she let herself further lost in the calmness. But it was short-lived, and she was brought out of her reverie when Bran speaks up again.
"You have to go now." He said.
Arya looks back at him. "Where would I go?"
"Home…for now."
She doesn't have anything to say to that and so, she only nods in acceptance. Little by little her brother's face disappears and then his body before everything else around her did the same. Before she can barely blink, she finds herself in another whole of darkness again.
~~~
*Year 298 After Conquest (AC) - Old Past*
Someone was with her. She can feel the warm hand caressing her forehead. Arya wills her eyes to open and her father's face greets her in return. His ashen dark orbs are staring back at her, finally noticing that she was awake.
"Father." She called. Her voice came out barely as a whisper.
But Ned heard it regardless. He bends down, settling further by the bed she lay in.
"My sweet child." He whispered back, smiling softly as he continues caressing her. Arya can't help but lean into his touch. "I've been looking everywhere for you… You can't go and wander off on your own again, not in your condition right now… Do you understand?" he asked, waiting expectantly.
The young girl blinks a few times as she lets the words sink in and notice how worried her father looked. She glanced around the bed she lay in and then around the room. This is not her room, she noted tiredly. Nonetheless, it was still familiar since she had been in here before. She glanced to the opened window across the room where she remembered seeing the silver-haired queen stood by it just a while ago or was it a long time ago? She wasn't sure.
"I'm waiting for her to come, Father… She'll be here soon, I think." She finally said, hesitating at the last part. Daenerys will come. She must.
A soft sigh escaped Ned. He looks around contemplating on what to do. A moment passed before he finally made his mind. The young girl already had her eyes closed again. He puts his hand on her forehead only to find it was still burning up, worse even. "I'm taking you to your room, alright?" he said, gently.
Arya tried to protest but she only managed a whimper coming out. Before she can form any coherent words, her father had lifted her into his arms, carrying her away from the room and the Guest Tower. She was too tired to say anything and the comforting warmth around her body had cocooned her into oblivion well before she was aware of it.
When Arya awoke for the second time, the worn-out-ness instantly washed over her. She felt tired both physically and mentally. Though she wanted her body to move around, to do something other than just lying in bed and breathing yet her mind would not agree to it. And so, she gives in to restless sleep yet again.
Though it was short-lived as she felt someone faintly calling to her and then her cheeks are touched by something warm. Absentmindedly, she pried her eyes open. The lights around her were in a dim setting, which she was thankful for as her eyes quickly able to adjust to her surroundings.
The face of Maester Luwin comes into her view first. He looks down at her expectantly. "How do you feel, little lady?" he asked.
A slight frown automatically graced her features as she heard the name. "I'm not little."
The old maester repressed a smile at that as he turned to his side where both her father and mother are. "It seems the worse of it has passed m'lord… m'lady. She should be in her best condition within a couple of days or so."
Ned sighed with relief at the same time Catelyn spoke. "Thank the Gods."
Arya closed her eyes, trying to gather her thoughts. But, everything seems to be muddled inside her mind. "Are you real?" she asked, and immediately regrets asking as everyone look down to her with a changed expression.
Ned moves to take a seat by her side then. "Of course we are, Arya. Why would you think otherwise?" his fingers lightly caress her cheek.
The young girl was silent for a while as she tried to push the horrendous happenings further down her mind. She closed her eyes tight willing them to go away before addressing her father. "There are these horrible images inside my head… and I don't know– I don't know if it's real or not." She explained, opening her eyes again.
His dark grey orbs soften considerably. "Everything will be alright, my child. Rest now… I'll be here when you wake up." He leans in and kissed the top of her forehead.
Arya decides to believe in his words and does as she was told. Before long, the darkness greets her like an old friend.
*
True to his words, her father was there when Arya awoke sometime later. He greets her with that familiar rare smile he always reserved for her. She can't help but return it back, trying to embed the wonderful image in her memory forever at the same time.
"How do you feel, my child?" he bends towards her, reaching for her forehead. It didn't burn up but it doesn't hurt to make sure.
"Hungry." Arya finds herself said. Her stomach rumbles softly in agreement.
Ned chuckles lightly. "I'll get you something to eat." He planted a kiss on the girl's forehead in assurance before making his leave.
Arya sighed in content at the warmth of the furs wrapping her body as she watched her father steps outside the room. She decides to give in to the comfortable refugee for a little while longer and drift off. It must have been for quite some time as she flutters her eyes open only to find her mother was at her bedside instead of her father.
Catelyn looks up from her knitting when she heard a rustle of movement. Smiling, she strides closer to the girl in bed, reaching for her forehead as a force of habit for these past few days. It was as the Maester said. The worse of the fever is gone now.
"I heard that you're hungry?" Catelyn asked then.
Gingerly, Arya pushed herself to a sitting position as she regards her mother. "Where's Father?"
"Your Father has some matters to tend to… He'll be back in a while." The older woman assured. "I brought some of your favourite foods. But, if you have no appetite, have the porridge at least." She moves for the tray located at the bedside table and placed it in front of the girl. "Will you eat now?"
Arya swallowed a lump dryly as her stomach rumbled at the small feast before her, announcing its hunger. "Thank you, mother." She smiled and without another word began eating.
For a moment only the clatter of utensils against the plate occupies the room. Her mother seems content on watching her eat and tending to her needs silently, offering a cup of water when she almost choked on a dry piece of bread. Arya was surprised that the older woman didn't even chide her for the lack of manner. She shrugs the thought away as she takes the last spoonful of the porridge and down her water dry. Wiping her mouth clean with a napkin, she leans back with a full belly and sighed in content. Her eyes almost instantly become heavy-lidded.
Gods, why am I so tired? She thought strangely.
"Lay back... You'll get better with more rest." Catelyn suggested, taking away the tray with empty plates before tucking in the girl.
"I just ate, Mother… I can't sleep right after a meal, you always told me that." Arya protest though she makes no move to tuck herself out from the comfort of the furs.
Catelyn repressed a smile at the comment. "I'm finally giving you a leeway to go against my word and yet you tried to challenge that as well." She chided good-naturedly, mostly to herself.
Arya can't help the tugging at the corner of her mouth as she closed her eyes, settling further into the warm quilt. She felt her mother's kiss on her forehead whispering soothing words before the sleep took over her yet again.
*
It was the sound of birds chirping that woke Arya up. The weariness that she felt is almost gone now and overall, she felt better than the last time she remembered. Swinging her feet over the bed, she stands up bare feet on the floor and strides across her room to open the windows wide. The sun's light poured inside the room almost instantly. For a while, she just stood there and breathes in the outside air. No thoughts inside her head clouding her whatsoever.
Her moment was interrupted however when a creak echoes through the room. She looks over her shoulder to find the door being opened and then a young man enters.
"Feeling better now, little sister?" Jon asked with a soft smile.
Arya felt her body tense as she tries to make sense of his presence. She blinks away the confusion as she gathers herself. "I– I think so…yes."
Jon doesn't seem to take notice of her stuttering as anything else when he comes in further to where she was. There was something in his hands and before Arya realized what it was, he already spoke.
"Look what I have for you…" his smile grew as he presented a direwolf pup to her. "We found this little pup on our way back home a few days ago. There were six of them. All of your siblings got one… I got one too." He explained and waits expectantly for Arya to take the pup.
But, the young girl only stared down at the direwolf with furrowed brows, trying to make sense of what's happening. "Nymeria." She breathed out.
"So, is that what you want to call her?" he asked lightly.
The walls inside her head slowly crumble and the clouds in her mind seep in like a thunderstorm. She shakes her head in denial. "No… This– This cannot be happening… No-"
"Arya, what's wrong?" Jon moves closer to the young girl then, concern plastered on his features.
But, Arya paid no attention to it as she staggers backwards, keeping her distance. The images that she wanted to keep secured away tumbling apart to the front of her mind now. Those horrible images that happened to her Father, her Mother, her brothers, Jon, Robb, Bran and Rickon and her sister, Sansa. And then, there's a silver-haired woman that assault her mind too. Daenerys. She remembered all of them now.
Her hands reached for her head as if it was about to explode. She whimpered in silent prayer for whatever the hell it is to stop. But, it seems that it had fallen into deaf ears as her head keeps throbbing with the same intensity if not more.
Jon grabs her shoulders then, making her look at him. "Are you hurting again?"
The young girl shakes her head. "No…no… You're supposed to be at The Wall." She blurts out instead. He was, wasn't he? She remembered saying goodbye to him at the courtyard.
He released his hold then, looking forlorn suddenly. "How do you know that? I was going to tell you once Father approved of it."
"No, listen to me, Jon… This is not supposed to happen. We've been through this before… Nymeria is supposed to be a fully grown direwolf by now not a pup." She desperately said, glancing at the little direwolf that Jon had put on her bed.
Jon opens his mouth to say something but stops short as he stared back at her with a frown. "What?"
Arya closed her eyes in frustration. She cursed loudly under her breath and ignored the reprimand from her brother as she moves to the corner of her room to find a mirror inside her drawers. Finally took hold of the mirror, she braced herself and put it in front of her face.
Her world stops spinning and she feels lightheaded due to the lack of air as her breath stopped at the reflection of her younger self staring back at her instead of her older one. Slowly, she puts away the mirror and looks down to her hands. They were indeed smaller, fitting of her younger self. Absentmindedly, she unties the lace of her front shirt in search of the scarring above her chest. But, there was nothing there. No hideous scarring of the letter 'Q' of her former master. Only skin.
She heard Jon calling for her, demanding to know what's going on. But, how can she tell him when she has not the slightest clue on what's happening herself. Perhaps she has finally gone mad this time. Really, truly insane. Perhaps everything that happened was all in her minds. A dream or a nightmare. She always has them both.
But, Daenerys can't possibly be someone that Arya made up. She clearly remembered the warm touch of the older girl each time they were together and that feeling and that memory was not a dream. And her family's deaths were certainly not something that she would ever make up.
A shake from Jon snaps her from her reverie. She looks up at the much younger Jon standing in front of her. "I need to see Father. Where is he?"
Jon stared back at her silently, contemplating what to say. And Arya loses her patience then. "Where is he, Jon?!" she shouts, her voice echoes around the room making the young man flinched.
"In his study? I think…" he finally said.
Without waiting for another second, she grabs her fur robe and wears it over her sleepwear. Jon was mumbling something from behind her as she walks out of the room. But, Arya paid it no heed. Her steps long and hurried as her mind tumbled over the information that she should tell her father, not even caring that she had no shoes on.
*
The throbbing inside her head didn't go away as she walks along the hallways. It did however worsen but she ignores it and forces the pain away. There are far important matters that need to be addressed here and she will not let a mere headache gets in her way. Arya didn't even bother to knock as she opens the door and let herself inside her father's study, panting.
Ned looks up from his reading as soon as the door was opened none too quietly. "Arya, what are you doing up and about?" he asked with a frown, closing the book as he regards the girl in question.
"I have to talk to you."
He looks over her shoulder as Jon enters the room too, exchanging a look that he can't quite pinpoint. Standing up, he moves to the young girl then. "You still need plenty of rest, Arya. You can talk to me once you're better." He offered.
"No, Father. I need to talk to you now." She stressed in the last part.
Sighing, her father nods, albeit reluctantly. Arya swallowed a lump dryly as she contemplates on what to say and where to start.
She balled her fist, gathering her courage only to deflate at the last minute. "I– I don't know how to explain this." She blurts out in frustration. Where the fuck should she starts with.
Her father's future execution? Her family's future deaths? Her time travel? Even in her own mind, she sounded bonkers. So, how can she possibly convince them; convince her father what was going to happen? She didn't realize that the silence had stretched on for a while now, having the heated debate inside her mind.
Ned and Jon exchange a look silently between them before the older man gave a nod to dismiss Jon. Reluctantly, the younger man turns around and walks out of the room, closing the door behind him and leaving the two behind.
Ned guides the girl to take a seat as he did the same in front of her. He noticed the lack of footwear on her person but decides to let it go as he addressed the more important matter. "Now, you said you have something to tell me?" He encouraged, holding both her small hands into his in assurance.
The young girl takes a deep breath to calm down as she finally decides on what to tell him. She looks into his eyes, unwavering. "What I'm about to say will sound unbelievable, absurd and far-fetched…but I need you to trust me, father, because it will happen exactly as it is." She starts.
Ned's frown only deepens, but he nods nonetheless urging her to continue.
"When King Robert comes to Winterfell, he will ask you to be his Hand… You have to decline the position or you will die." She continues.
"How did you know about the King coming to Winterfell? Jon told you that?" he asked instead.
"No, Jon didn't tell me anything… Didn't you hear what I just said? You will die if you accept the King's offer, Father. You cannot be his Hand." She explains desperately.
"And how do you know this?" he asked trying to understand.
She clenched her jaw tight. "I– I just do, alright? You have to trust me. Please, Father." She pleads eagerly. Telling him about the time travel would make her seems even less credible, so Arya keeps it shut, for now.
His ashen grey orbs staring back to hers, searching and studying. But, then he looks away, gathering his thought in silence. A moment passed before he lets out another sigh and addressed his youngest daughter again. "Let's say what you said is true…the King is already on his way to Winterfell as we speak and you're asking me to dismiss a royal decree? What do you think the King will say if I decline the position he offered after he had personally travelled here for a month? And without a good enough reason at that."
"I don't care if he travelled a year to Winterfell. You cannot be his Hand. And your death is not a good enough reason for you?" Her voice grew louder as she feels her body heats up. She ignores the drowsiness that seeps slowly into her being as she regards the man in front of her in agitation.
"You're putting me in a hard spot, my child… You wake up one day and start throwing punches out of the blue to your brother, Robb, leaving him bloodied… And then you wandered off to the Guest Tower in the middle of the night. I had men searching your whereabouts up until Winter Town… Do you know how worried I was? Thinking all the worse that could have happened to you. And now this– What do you want me to make out of this?" he finished tiredly. The fight already left his body.
"I'm not crazy." Her lips tremble as the words left. Her eyes clouded with unshed tears, frustrated at what's happening.
Ned reached forward, caressing her cheeks with both his hands. "I'm not saying that you are, Arya."
"But, you're thinking of it."
He hesitates at that and that is all it takes for her heart to shatter into millions of pieces at the silent confirmation.
"You're unwell… You need a lot of rest and I promise you'll feel better soon enough." He finally said.
She pulls his hands off of her face and stands up, making the chair screech loudly. "What I need is for you to trust me. You will die if you go to King's Landing! You cannot go there!"
Her chest heaves as if she's run a mile. Her skin feels clammy and her father seated in front of her has suddenly becomes doubled. Arya winced in pain at the sudden ache between her temples and tried to ease the pain by grabbing a part of her hair. But, it was to no success as whatever it is, is still picking apart her brain from the inside. She doesn't even realize her legs had given out and is now kneeling on the floor. Her hands still on her head before it too touches the ground.
The tears spilt at the side of her face as she closed her eyes tight, willing the pain to go away. Her father was calling to her desperately but she was too preoccupied with her silent torture to offer an answer. Faintly, she feels her body being lifted up and taken away before the pain overwhelms her completely.
*
The headache would come and go after that. Maester Luwin and her father had been constantly in and out of her room, taking note on her well-being. Her Father never spoke of what happened in his study and Arya was too tired to broach the topic again. She can't think of what her next course of action should be with the pounding inside her head announcing its presence every now and then, demanding her attention.
And when the rare occurrence that her mind would be cleared, it was always during the dead of the night where no one was around and she was left to her solitude in her room. Though, there was no peace in the shadows and the dark corners. She knew that. Because now, the ghost of her past– no, the future? She can't even describe her phantom without biting her own tongue in frustration.
But, above all, one thing she does know is that she had gone back to the very beginning. Her family was still alive and well and so does a certain silver-haired woman. Daenerys is still safe somewhere across the narrow sea. The dragon queen is not dead yet as of this moment. And Arya can actually do something to prevent that horrible feast from happening. She will make sure of it, one way or another. It was with that thought that she was able to lie back in bed and take her rest for a couple more hours before the sun greets the world again. Promising to herself that she will make it better this time around for everyone. She has to.
It was later that morning when her mother comes in and dressed her for the day. The older woman would sit and watch Arya break her fast and then leaves the girl to rest soon after. By midday, Maester Luwin and her Father would come and inquire of her health. It has become their routine as much as hers now. And each time, she asked the Maester why her head was hurting, he always said the same;
"I found no physical cause that could explain why your head hurts as such, m'lady… Perhaps, with more rest, it will all go away soon. I'm sorry I couldn't be of much help."
Despite that the information was not much use to her, Arya appreciates the honesty regardless. She didn't venture out to the outside world, keeping herself locked inside her room most of the days. None of her siblings came to visit her during those days. She doesn't know whether to be bothered by that or not.
Perhaps her father had instructed them not to disturb her for her own good. Or perhaps they are just afraid of her now. She knows Robb probably would be after getting beaten up without warning. Arya wanted to apologize for leaving bruises on his face but she doesn't know if she can confront him without snapping at him for the things that he had done another lifetime ago.
The only one who constantly visits her each day was Jon. He would bring Nymeria and Ghost to her room and while the direwolves are playing with themselves, he would talk to her how his days would go and how everyone was faring. She was grateful for the distraction and for a while, she could imagine that all is well in the world.
But when one day, Jon told her that King Robert will be arriving probably on the next day, her body went stiff as a board. And then the pounding inside her head starts to double. Something must have shown on her face because Jon immediately took notice of her trouble. She can't even stop him when he all but ran out of the room, no doubt getting Father and Maester Luwin.
She curled herself on the bed, her knees touching her head as she fights the pain away. But, then someone was there by her side, urging her to drink from a vial and the excruciating ache was gone as soon as it appeared and so does her consciousness.
Feeling tired and annoyed was becoming a part of her now, the cause of having to wake up from the drowsiness and the disoriented after she had an episode. It was always the same when her headache becomes too much for her to bear. They would give her some kind of concoction and it would knock her out cold. Not that she was ungrateful, but the aftermath left her wanting to rip apart the next living thing that comes upon her.
When the day that King Robert and his entourage finally arrived, naturally her father had decided not to include her at the courtyard as they welcome the royal escort. The buzz of the crowds sounded loud as the wind carries it through her opened windows. She couldn't see them now, but as she stared at the blank wall of her room, there they were. Clear as day.
Cersei Lannister. Jamie Lannister. Joffrey.
All the cunts that really matter are here again in her home. Perhaps she should kill all of them at once, this time. One stab to the heart is all it takes. She can sneak into their room while they're sleeping.
No. They're still Father's guest…and I should honour guest's right as father would have.
Alright fine, she's not going to kill them. And besides, she had learned from the last timeline that another reckless action would definitely do her and everyone else no good. The last thing she wants is to start another war and cause hundreds of lives to be taken away. She will not have those blood on her hands again.
The same thoughts occupying her mind for the remaining days. She still doesn't know how to stop her father's leaving for King's Landing and the time was definitely not on her side. She doesn't know how much longer she has left and all those thinking don't seem to do her good.
Truth be told, she was tempted to just leave things as it was. They would travel as planned and when the threat finally comes, she can save her Father herself. And Sansa too. She knows she can. She wasn't a child anymore even though her appearance stated otherwise. It was the best plan that she could come up with for the time being.
A loud creak interrupts her train of thoughts then. She looks up from her bed to find Jon smiling as he walks in with Nymeria and Ghost by his sides.
"I can hear your thoughts out in the hallways, little sister." He greets as he takes his usual seat by the bed. "What are you planning now?" he asked with his brow raised.
"I was planning on how to save our family from extinction… I got a whole lot of time in my sleeves apparently. Or maybe not? I'm not quite sure on that part yet." She said back with a straight face.
Jon's face was a sight to see as he regards her with a frown and his mouth opens and closes a few times like a fish as he tries to form a reply. At his struggling, Arya can't help the tugging at the corner of her lips to break free. He glared at her good-naturedly before finally let out a smile too.
"Everyone thinks I've gone bonkers now, haven't they?" she suddenly asked. The smile on her face is gone.
He regards her in all seriousness then. "No one thinks that." he trails, reaching for her hands. His dark grey eyes stared intently on hers. "You're not crazy… Stubborn, hot-headed, and wild, yes…but you're definitely not crazy, little sister."
Arya rolled her eyes at that. "Great to know then."
Jon only grinned, unperturbed. "How do you feel of going out today? The King has gone out for a hunt. Father and Robb went along and so do most of the King's men. You can take a walk outside without interruption." He offered.
Her body stiffed at his words. "What did you just say?" she asked even though she heard him perfectly.
"I said that the King has gone out– What are you doing, Arya?" he asked when the girl is already up and fetching her shoes and robe.
"I have to go to Bran." She mumbles under her breath, grunting as she pulls the shoes on her feet. How can she miss the most important detail of all? She completely forgot about Bran and his fall. If she didn't stop it from happening, she could never forgive herself. "I'll see you around, Jon." she dismissed him and all but ran out of her room.
Nymeria was at her side almost instantly, running with her too. She quickens her steps, praying that she wasn't too late to save her brother from being crippled. Turning to a corner, she finally arrived at the Broken Tower. She ignored the sweat forming on her forehead and the laboured breaths from all the running. Looking up, she sees Bran already halfway to the opened window of the single room at the top. She cursed under her breath at what will be waiting for him there.
"Bran! Stop!" she shouts through her lungs.
It caught his attention as the young boy stops and looks down. He blinks a few times at her sudden appearance but then shrugs it off. "Hey, Arya… Are you feeling better now?" he asked back from the top. His grips are strong on the crooked wall.
Arya ignored the question. "Bran, I need you to come down."
Bran frowns. "Alright… I'll meet you on the other side then."
"No!"
He stops moving at the desperate shout.
"No, Bran! Come down now! I need you to come down now!"
His frowns deepen as he looks down to his sister's desperate face and across the open windows. He just needs to pass the wooden ledge of the stone and then a few more steps to get to his next conquest. He decides then. "It'll be just a while, Arya. I'll see you on the other side."
"No, Bran!!" But, Bran ignores her as he moves and continues his climbing.
Without thinking she jumps onto the ledge at the bottom of the tower and pushed herself upward before latching to the walls and begins climbing after him. All the while, she cursed Bran and her dress and the tower and the two people that are inside it at the moment. All of these wouldn't have happened if the two could find someplace else to fuck.
Using all of her four limbs to her advantage and her experience from the past years, she was climbing at a faster rate than Bran was. "Brandon Stark!! Stop right there, or I'll fucking kill you myself… I swear to Gods!"
He stops immediately and looks over his shoulder. "What in seven hells, Arya? I told you I'll meet you on the other side." He chastised. Surprised evident on his face at her appearance.
Arya used the opportunity to close their gap then. She stops when they're finally within arm's reach of each other. The window was still far as she looks over his shoulder. But, she doesn't want to wait any longer. The occupants inside could have peered out to investigate the commotion at any moment. "We need to climb down now," she ordered firmly.
When Bran only looks at her silently contemplating what to do, she hissed the words. "Now, Bran."
He gave her a glare, annoyed at being told what to do before finally relented. "Fine."
The young girl released a breath she doesn't know she held as her brother started climbing down the other way as she did the same. Bran was about to reach for another crooked stone for his grip but his foot suddenly lost its footing and he gasps as he lost control of his body. It all happened so fast and on instinct Arya reached for him, pushing him onto the wall again as he secured another grip, successfully – that she didn't even realized that her own balance has been compromised.
Bran tried to reach for her then, but his fingers end up only grazing hers until they were completely gone. Her body was falling away from him and his shocked face becomes further and further away. She was aware of what's happening as she went downward at a speed that constricted her throat, she could hardly draw breath. But, strangely, time seems to slow down at the same time as the world rushed by in a blur. In the seconds it took her to reach the ground, Arya knew it was going to hurt.