Arya was hopping up and down as soon as she was dressed. She decided to have a talk with her new brother, Yoren. She had to make sure he felt at home at Storm's End and, more importantly, she had to make sure Robert's words did not matter in any way. Maybe she'll try to bring her yougest brother with her, she nedded every support she could get...
And Yoren came from the mysterious West ! She hoped he could tell her what it was like, maybe he could tell her things about her namesake, the legendary Dawn Bringer ! At these thoughts, she felt her heart fill with energy.
Now, the crucial question, where was he ? She had to think about her itinerary, to make sure she avoid Septa Lulla and her horrendous sewing lessons. She thought about it for a while and decided to beging her quest at the forge since she heard from the servants that Yoren's master was a smith... She kept a low profile and hugged the walls. She took the stairs that led to the back of the castle where she knew the forge was. From times to times, she would go there with Father. Even is she hated the loud noises of the forge, she was very impressed by the capacity of the blacksmiths to make a weapon or a piece of armor from a piece of metal.
She noticed Yoren's master -she forgot his name- this man was quite tall, less then Father, of course, but still taller than the vast mojority of the men she knew. He was trying to carry wood for the forge's fire but a smaller silhouette appeared and took a good half of it and went back in the forge. Yoren's here, thanks the gods !
« -Excuse me, em... sir. May I borrow you Yoren for a couple of hours ? I need to talk to him. »
Her brother's master had been so focused on his task that he didn't heard her and jumped out of his skin !
« -Of course you can, my Lady. It's good for the lad have a talk with you. Wait here, I'll fetch him. » She did as she was told, wich didn't happen very often, from the loud cacophony of the forge, she heard « -Yoren, come here boy ! The little Lady's here, she wants to speak with you ! »
A few minutes later, her brother joined her outside of the forge. He had quickly washed the soot from his face, arms and hands. His face showed only wariness as he spoke to her « -I wish you a good morning, my Lady. My master told me you wanted a word with me ? » He even bowed lightly but the rigidity of the motion showed he didn't do it very often.
Arya was a bit hurted, hasn't she been clear yesterday ? He was her brother, her equal. Maybe Robert's words did arm him after all... « -Yoren please, no fancy titles when you're with me. We're siblings, remember ? No need to be so formal ! » She took his hand in hers and squezed it softly. But Yoren took back his hand and lowered his head. « -I don't think it would be a good thing with you to spend time with me, my Lady. Think about what your lady mother would say about that. »
He was already going back to the forge ! He wasn't even going to listen to what she had to say ! She hated when boys did that ! Just because she was a girl, it was exepected of her to always listen to what her lady mother said ! She was exepected to obey men would could boss her around. But Arya was no quiet and obedient girl !
« -Now, you're going to listen to me, stupid ! I don't care about what Mother says, I care about what Father says and he accepted you in our family. He said you were his son and my brother, so be it. So now, you'll follow me and talk with me. Am I understood ? » At the end of her sentence, she was screaming top of her lungs.
He looked at her, motionless, completely shocked and his mouth was even slightly opened. But her sceams roused Septa Lulla who was looking for her young missing pupil. Arya reconized her determined steps, took Yoren's hand and began to run as fast as she could. It took them ten minutes at least to get out of the castle, sometimes running, some other hiding. They ended their escape at the Godwoods, hidden behind the heart-tree. They kept silent several minutes and the noise made by Septa Lalle eventually faded. Arya stopped holding her breath and felt Yoren do the same, they both raised their heads at the same time. Their eyes met and they began to laugh so much they cried.
It took several minutes for them to calm down a little, « -Don't you think she'll return soon ? » He was worried, clearly. « -No, she won't. She afraid be the heart-tree, she's a very pious Septa and she thinks her Seven Gods are the only true ones... She may despite the Old gods but she still fear them so we're in a safe place here ! » « Good », he nooded reassured.
They spent the next minutes in a comfortable silence, recovering from their unplanned escape from the castle. « -So, sister, what do you want to tell me so bad ? » His face showed curiosity but she could tell he didn't entirely opened himself to her... She'll blame Robert for his awful welcome when she'll have the time ! But he called her « sister », that was a progress.
« -Well, I wanted to make sure you knew you were welcomed here, that you're part of our family. » When he heard that words, Yoren shruged and sighed. But before he could manage an answer, she spoke again. « -I know Robert's words armed you, I can see that. But I'm not Robert. I know what family is. Did Father told you my name ? Since we didn't have the occasion to be properly introduced. » Her brother shook his head, still curious.
« -My name is Arya. Father named you after your mother. He wanted me to have strengh, determination, cleverness and to know the importance of family. He told me he couldn't think of anyone embodying these qualities better than Arya of House Stark, the Dawn Bringer. This night, when he explained me all of this, he also told me about his feelings towards your mother. He still love her, you know. He didn't tell but it was plain as day when he talked about her. At first, I felt he betrayed our family but, when I looked at him, talking about your mother, I saw that the melancholy which always was in his eyes had disappear. He looked more alive than ever. »
She waited for her brother to say someting, anyting but he kept silent. When she turned towards him, she saw tears running down his face. When she hugged him, he began to sob softly. Between his sobs, he managed to say some words. « He did this, he named you Arya... Gods be good, he still loves Mother. I always wondered if... if my father loved my mother, if he forgot about her. »
« -Well, now you have your answer, brother. Our father loves your mother still, and now you're under the same roof as him everyday, there's no way he'll forget her. »
She kept her face hidden in his neck, still hugging him. Even if she had accepted her father feelings for the Dawn Bringer months ago, it was still difficult to her to think about it. As if he was feeling her distress, her brother forced her to look at him in the eye and told her : « My mother is a Stark, her mother was a Tully. The words of House Tully are 'Family, duty, honor'. Mother also told me a Stark saying her father told her when she was a child 'When the snow falls and the white winds blow, the lone dies but the pack survives'. It means you must stick with your family, with your pack in order to survive. It's what I always did and it's what I'll always do. You're pack sister, I'll always be there when you need me, ever. »
She was so moved by his words that she couldn't come with some of her own. He told her they were pack, and she knew that people with Stark blood didn't say that unless they mean it. She was part of his pack, she felt dizzy.
She looked at her brother, trying to make him understand how she felt with her eyes but the only emotion she saw on Yoren's face was embarrasement. « I know I'm not good with words, I rather actions. » He clearly wanted to add something but he couldn't, crushed by his shyness.
« -You're not bad with words, I rather think you have a way with them. I'm honored to be part of your pack you know. Honored and proud. » He gave her a little smile « I know I'm still very young but I'm almost two-and-ten. I can protect you if need be, Mother taught me sword fitghting since I was able to walk. »
At these words, Arya removed herself from their embrace. « You know sword fitghting ? Braavosi style ? » Her voice was filled with awe and pressure. She almost wanted to shake him so he would answer quicker. « Yes, I do. Mother taught me water dancing since it's her own fighting style. Why are you so curious about it ? »
« -Well, Father promised me months ago that he would find me a Braavosi master-at-arms to teach me Braavosi fencing but he couldn't find anyone who suits... Do you think you could teach me ? » Even if she was asking an open question, the answer she hoped for what written all over her face. Her brother seemed surprised at first then thought about it.
« -I never taught anyone, I'm not sure I'm capable of it. And even if I am, I warn you, I'll be merciless. Every hurt is a lesson and you're gonna learn a lot. Are you sure you want to do this ? » His voice was serious.
« -Of course I'm sure. I don't want my security to depend on some knight. I want to be able to defend myself and my family. Plus, I love to fight, I feel so alive when I do it... I feel the beat of my heart, the blood flowing through my veins, the air in my lungs... »
« Alright, I'll try to teach you water dancing. I'll do my best. But I guess wh'll have to talk about that to Father and to your mother. » She was so happy that she hugged him again with so much strengh it was hard for him to breathe ! « -Thank you so much, you'll make one of my dreams come true ! But come one, follow me ! You have to meet someone who'll be interessed in your teaching too ! » She grabed his hand and dragged him with her, towards the castle. He accepted to teach her water dancing ! She could barely believe her luck... She'll think about what her father and especially her mother would tell about hat...
« -Who ? You're sure we can go back to the castle ? Your Septa will not find us ? » He was clearly worried, he wanted to keep a low profile since he hasn't been here for long. « -No, she won't. I know a safe itinary to lead us our destination. »
« -Wich is ? » His tone was curious, he had no idea about the mysterious person's identity or their dsetination, obsiously.
« -We are going to the library where our youngest brother is taught by Maester Brumi at this hour. He's already in awe with you, you'll just have to say 'hi' for him to love you, you'll see ! » After that they kept silence to not draw unwanted attention toward them.
Somewhere over the Narrow Sea
She missed Yoren dearly. She missed rare smiles and laugh, so much alike his father's. She missed his watchful eyes and his cleverness. God, she missed her son. She wanted to hug him, to hold him against her so she could feel his warmth, his breathing. Who would have thought that Arya Stark, one of the entire world's best assassins would ever feel like that.
She missed the flesh of her flesh, she hoped he was safe under his father's roof. Gendry always was a good man with a strong moral compass, he'll take care of Yoren. And would he fail, she gave instructions to Privan to lead her son to Winterfell. She knew Sansa would protect their pack, no matter the price.
She was at Lys, waiting for a ship to Ashai. She had to kill the Faceless Men before they kill her. And to do so, she knew she needed allies. And she had some. Allies who worshipped her as Rhollor's chosen world savior. She needed the help of the Red Priests.