Arya
After finally recovering after a three-day long headache, Arya was up and about and staying away from alcohol as much as she could. She had been upset at herself for missing Jon's departure. And since Brienne left with him, she was stuck being trained with Podrick. Though with his skill, it was more like she was training him. He was better than most, but not enough to last long against her.
She grew tired of everyone still treating her like a lady. But luckily for her, the Lannister Imp took notice and would invite her to the council meetings whenever they were held. Today however, she didn't even need the invitation since Podrick was nowhere to be found. She heard whispers about him possessing a magic appendage and that some women wooed him to Winter Town.
In the Great Hall, Arya joined Sansa and Rickon with Tyrion, Varys, Lord Royce, and Lord Reed. Queen Daenerys had been keeping to herself with her translator Missandei ever since Jon had left.
After many arguments between Lord Royce and Tyrion for the past few days, the strategies for the war with the White Walkers could finally continue. They all stood around a table in the center of the room with a map of Westeros spread out and many tokens representing the many forces of the realms were laid out in various regions. Arya stood at the southern side of the map while everyone else took to the west and east side.
"As it stands," Lord Royce said, "There is just over four thousand men stationed at the Wall. The majority of them are stationed at Eastwatch-by-the-sea and the Torches. Combined with the Knights of the Vale, the Wildlings, and the Northerners, our numbers are just over fifty thousand."
"That's about thirty thousand short of half of the Night Kings army." Rickon informed. "But the Queen's armies are going to fight with us."
Sansa shook her head, doubting their chances. "We can't put our faith in the Dothraki and Unsullied armies alone. We need the guarantee of more men who can get here now." Sansa's gaze fell to the Riverlands. "Didn't our Uncle Edmure take control of the Twins?"
"He did, my lady," Varys informed. "with all of the Freys dead, their soldiers were in disarray and without hope of survival unless they submitted to the other lords of the Riverlands. However, even with the Riverlands under control, your Uncle has refused to meet with us and has declared neutrality in the conflict with Cersei."
"That cunt," Arya spat, "he's always been an idiot when it comes to war." During her travels, she learned how his desire for glory cost Robb the Mountain and an advance in the war.
"My lady, he does not do this by his free will." Varys folded his arms into his robes. "There six thousand of the Lannister forces assisting the Riverlands in rebuilding the destruction of their realm. However, my little birds have sung songs to me about your uncle's wife being held captive and their son being one order away from an opened throat."
"How many men do the Riverlands have to offer?" Arya asked to Lord Royce.
"If they can all be rallied then ten thousand, maybe more."
"And if the threat against our cousin and aunt was gone, would Edmure be able to give us his support?"
Lord Royce cleared his throat, as if trying to keep an open mind. "Possibly. If you could somehow prevent open conflict between the Lannisters and the Riverlands."
That would be no problem for Arya. "Lord Varys," she asked, "do your little birds know who the Lannister men answer to in the Riverlands?"
"They follow the orders of a commander named Kamren Lefford, nephew to Lord Leo Lefford. He's the one who holds the dagger to your cousin's throat, waiting to cut it."
"Perfect." Arya said, content with the information.
"My lady I must warn you though, if the commander should be killed, his troops are ordered to sack the Riverlands and put as many as they can to the sword."
"Don't worry, no one will kill Commander Lefford." Arya contained a smirk she was tempted to wear, but it would have disappeared anyway because of the objections.
"You're not going to the Riverlands." Sansa ordered. "Your place is here until the wars are over."
Arya looked at Sansa, trying to remain calm. "My place is where I choose it to be, and I choose to be in the Riverlands to help our family."
"Forgive me my lady," Lord Royce interjected, "but you must understand our doubt. How on earth do you expect to go to the Riverlands and secure your uncle's loyalty without risking the lives of his wife and son?"
"Nobody will know I was even there to begin with. Just like nobody knows who killed the Freys."
There was a satisfying silence for a moment before Varys broke it. "I heard rumors of a girl who wore the face of Lord Walder the night the Freys were wiped out. When they were done choking on wine and their own blood, Walder's new wife found herself next to this girl."
All eyes fell on Arya and she liked it. "The poor Lord of the Twins died days earlier. His throat was cut after eating a pie made from his sons." Arya looked back at Sansa again. "I'm going back to the Riverlands, and I'm helping our family." Arya's words were absolute, and Sansa knew that there were no objections that could stop her.
"My lady," Lord Reed said, "I can gather some of the crannogmen to assist you in your task."
"I won't need help, not in the Riverlands anyway."
"My lady?" Lord Reed inquired, looking confused with everyone else.
Arya walked over to the Stormlands. "What's the situation in the Stormlands? With the Baratheon's dead, I imagine things are hectic."
"When Stannis Baratheon died," Varys said, "the lords of the Stormlands became into disarray with their liege lord gone. Most of their army was spent in the War of the Five Kings."
"And what have they done to choose new leadership?"
"Even though it's been nearly two years, the Storm Lords still haven't chosen a reigning house to govern over them. Some are claiming rule by right of Baratheon blood but it is far too thin to have any weight."
"Then it's a good thing we have their rightful lord with us." said Tyrion.
Arya tensed a little when she realized who. She wanted to curse at these lords for creating another piece for their game. But for now, she would have patience and listen.
"My lord," Lord Royce said, "You cannot expect the boy to become a lord. He knows nothing about being one and he is only a smith."
"Indeed, he is," Tyrion agreed,b"ut he is also the last living child of Robert Baratheon and the last potential heir to Storm's End and the Stormlands. We are in a state of peril and need all the help we can get. We shouldn't let things such as birth and status get in the way of achieving such."
"But he is practically a commoner," Lord Reed agreed, "many would seize an opportunity to manipulate him than to teach him how to rule."
"I know, which is why he'll be taught by someone who he trusts."
"Who?" Rickon asked.
"Ser Davos Seaworth." Tyrion said. "He was the Hand to Stannis Baratheon for more than just his wit and smuggling, and when Gendry was to be sacrificed he freed him instead. Stannis trusted him enough to come with him to the North. I don't think Gendryl have doubts if he is mentored by him."
"You speak as if Ser Davos has already agreed to do it." Lord Royce reminded.
"He will, he has to if we are to gain more allies. And when he does, we may even win the war against Cersei without having to spill blood." Tyrion gestured to the map of Westeros. "Every one of the Kingdoms except the Crownlands and the Westerlands will have declared against Cersei. Even with the Golden Company, she'll have absolutely no chance. If she doesn't answer to our warnings, we can cut off every available resource to her and let the people of King's Landing revolt against her. She'll have no choice but to surrender."
"Yes… this could work." Lord Royce said as he studied the map.
"So, it's decided then," Tyrion declared. "Lady Arya Stark will ride south to the Riverlands to deal with the problems there, and when she's done… what will you do when you're done?" Tyrion didn't look confused, only perplexed that he didn't get all of the facts before he spoke.
"I'll send a raven before my uncle sends one." Arya told them. "Hopefully, Jon and the others will be back by then. When that happens, send an envoy of men with Gendry and Ser Davos. We'll head for the Stormlands afterwards."
"Excellent," Tyrion said. "Now there's only one thing that remains."
"What's that?" Sansa asked.
"Convincing Gendry to become a lord. Unfortunately, the people he trusts most are not. At least, all except for one." He looked over to Arya as did everyone else.
Arya shook her head at them. "No, if you want him to enter the game of politics and thrones then do it yourself."
"He trusts you the most," said Tyrion, "anyone else would be wasting his time. My family murdered his, his family helped murder the Queen's, he doesn't know your sister or your brothers. Right now, you are the only chance we have to gain a powerful ally and a trumping position against Cersei, the woman you hate more than most."
Dammit, why did he always have to make a good point?
"Arya," Sansa said, "at least just speak to him about, please?"
She scowled at all of them as they looked at her with pleading eyes. "Fine."
The fires of Gendry's forge where unlike any Arya had seen. The flames burned brighter and the heat felt hotter. She couldn't understand how he could stay in such a place for so long, even if it was outside in the cold.
He was almost done finishing his first set four Valyrian blades. He only had to treat them with heat and then quench the steel in the dragon blood. While he waited, he was working on an exquisite steel half gauntlet. He was peening the fittings when as Arya told him about Tyrion's proposal. When she finished, he only seemed to laugh at her.
"They are being serious!" Arya exclaimed.
"I know they are," He told her, "that's why I'm laughing. They're so desperate for power they come to a bastard smith."
She leaned back on the workbench he was at. "Batards can have more worth than most. My brother proved that when he became King in the North"
"Cept he was never a bastard, was he?"
"That doesn't matter. He believed it and so did everyone else. It still counts. Besides, you'll be given your family's name."
"And what a name it is. I know a little bit of history, you know. Baratheons have King's blood yet look how far they fell. My father was a drunken fool, one of my uncles tried to kill me and the brother he killed was a flower."
"Flower?" Arya had never heard the term before.
"Renly liked men, didn't he?"
"From what I heard he bedded with Loras Tyrell."
"Then he's a flower. And what am I? A bastard smith. Such a great and mighty house I come from. Well, maybe it's time for someone else to rule them then."
She wasn't trying to persuade him of course, but she understood Jon's desire for such back before he left for the Night's Watch. She figured Gendry would have jumped at the opportunity. "You're being an arse about this."
"And I have the right to." He finished the fitting and began to polish the steel with a cloth. "Do you remember that talk we had in the cave before I was taken?"
"Yes, you said you were tired of serving others. And here you are, serving my brother by forging for him."
"It's Valyrian steel. I'm not passing up an opportunity like this. Besides, your brother said I could leave anytime I wanted."
"He did?" Arya had no idea why Jon would let him. They needed Gendry and yet he had an offer that suited him.
"Yeah, he did. He said he would contact a smith in Volantis to work with the steel if I didn't want to. But I told him that I would on the condition he pay me for my services."
"So that's it then? You're no better than the Brotherhood."
He stopped polishing the armor and looked up at her, angry. "They sold me to a witch for gold. I'm doing it for something better."
"What, a castle made of Valyrian steel?"
"Not a castle, just someplace to call home." Arya did not expect that. "I want to settle down somewhere. Start my own forge, have a family."
"You could do that as Lord of the Stormlands if you wanted to."
"But I don't want to. People think that they serve the lords who rule them when it's actually the other way around. The lords have to take care of their people, tend to their needs, answer to the other lords, it's all just a big circle."
"You'd have people to help you with that, a maester, a master at arms, advisors," she paused before continuing, "a wife."
Gendry just shook his head before resuming his work. "You don't understand. You're a highborn who grew up in a castle while I grew up in the streets. Most people I knew never dreamed about being knights, living in castles, or getting rich. I just wanted something simple and I still do."
Arya felt near defeated, but she wouldn't give up easily. "At least think it over until Jon gets back."
Gendry didn't answer, instead he set the gauntlet down and checked on the blades. "They're ready for the quench." He grabbed a pair of tongs and grabbed hold of the tang of one of the blades. "You'll want to move," he said as he nodded his head at the tank that contained the dragon blood. Arya moved out of the way as Gendry lifted the blade out of the furnace and over to the blood. The instant the dull red metal touched the blood, it burst into flames as it sunk deeper.
After a moment, Gendry pulled the blade out and the color changed to a dark black tint. But as the steam danced on the metal, Gendry looked concerned. There was a sudden noise coming from the blade that sounded like a loud crack.
"What happened?" Arya asked, growing curious.
"I'm not sure. This didn't happen the first time. But I have a feeling." Gendry picked up a nearby hammer as he lay the tip of the blade on the face of his anvil. Still holding the tang, he raised the hammer and swung down hard on the steel. When the hammer struck the metal, the blade shattered like glass.
Arya jumped back, startled by the shattering steel. "Why did it do that?"
"I'm not sure. I forged it just like I did your brother's." Gendry looked back at the furnace and grabbed hold of another blade. He repeating the quenching process, but when the blade was removed from the blood, it made the same noise and was just as brittle as the first one when he hit it. "What in seven hells?"
"Maybe it's the blood," Arya suggested. "Maybe it can only do one sword at a time."
Gendry still looked puzzled. "Maybe. I only did what that Night's Watch fellow told me he learned about it. I'll try emptying out the used blood of the tank and refilling it."
As Gendry set down his tools, he noticed Arya wasn't saying anything to him which looked like it bothered him. He looked up at her, waiting for something. "I have to go now Gendry," she finally told him.
"You're making it sound as if you're leaving Winterfell right now."
"Not now, tonight." She said, making Gendry frown.
"Then why are you wasting your time with me? Go enjoy your moments with your family."
She grew agitated with him again, just as she did in the cave the Brotherhood kept them in. "You could be my family too." She reminded as walked away from him after that, leaving him to his steel.
As she crossed over the courtyard, she tried to contemplate the argument. She wasn't trying to persuade him and neither did she want him to accept the position so he could be pulled into the game. But the way he was acting, for once it was like he was snobbish highborn.
"Arya," Daenerys said.
Arya stopped and saw Queen Daenerys with her translator walking nearby. "Your Grace," she bowed. She was glad that at least she respected her wish to not be called a lady.
"Is everything alright? You looked rather angry at something."
"Someone." Arya rolled her eyes earning a smile from Daenerys.
"Would you care to walk with me? I don't believe we've had a propertalk since becoming sisters."
"Of course. I wouldn't mind it all. Where are you headed?"
"To see my children."
Arya's stoic mask cracked a little with a bit of excitement when she heard that. She never got to see the full grown dragons up close and as chance would have it, she was about to.
She followed next to Daenerys as her translator remained at the castle.
"Tyrion's told me that you plan to go to the Riverlands." Daenerys said.
"I am. I'll be leaving tonight."
"By yourself, taking on an entire army, no less."
"Not an army, just the snake in charge."
"I have no doubt in your skills given how little I know of them. I've learned that the usually the mysterious ones are the most fruitful in their endeavours." Daenerys stopped walking and turned to Arya, giving her a similar look that Sansa would when she was concerned. "However, you should be wary of your yourself. Jon has told me that you are indeed a great fighter than almost everyone here. You take pride in yourself and your skills, don't let that turn into arrogance. It nearly brought me down in Essos."
Arya wanted to shrugg her off just as she did everyone. They kept treating her like a little girl who didn't know any better and it was becoming too irritating. "I've brought down an entire House in a few days of work. This will be easier."
"I've known men who spoke those familiar words before. Some of them proved their quality while the rest of them died."
The way she spoke was like she was telling of both fools and friends. But it was clear that she was worried about Jon and the rest who left for the Wall. It was sometimes hard to understand Daenerys attitude. She presented herself like a Queen and yet was very human both in court and out.
They both continued walking onward. "Desperate times call for desperate measures. We both have seen parts of the world that others would never dream of or imagine. The only way to believe Jon's world is to see it ourselves."
"Does that mean you don't believe him?" Daenerys asked.
"I never said that. I believe him because he's my brother and I know he wouldn't lie to me of all people."
"He did say that you were the closest to him growing up."
Arya reminisced on the memories when they were all children. The days when they were all together. "He was the only one who tried to understand me. I feel like he's still the only one who does."
Daenerys grew a bit silent afterwards, pondering Arya's words. "I envy you. To have him in your life when you needed him the most. The only I had was my brother. He was vile man, but he used to be kind. But those days have long since past." They finally reached the nesting grounds of the dragons and it was truly a sight to behold.
Arya lost all of her stature and stoic form when she came so close with the Queen's dragons. The big green one lifted its head up first when it noticed the Queen approaching and the other two did the same.
The big black and red one came forward and met Daenerys who casually caressed his snout with her hands like the dragon was a tame animal.
Daenerys looked back to Arya who was well enough away. "Would you like to touch him?"
The only answer she gave was an excited smirk she didn't try to hide as she strode forward and reached her hand out. The dragon growled so low it was like thunder. His size gave a much more imposing presence like the Mountain himself but far more dangerous.
She touched the dragon's scales and could feel the vibrations of its growling. "What's his name?"
"Drogon. The other two are Viserion and Rhaegal."
It was amazing. She had touched Jon's dragons and been marveled at them but this was on another level. The other two dragons watched with narrowed eyes. In a way it really did feel like they were children, jealous of all the attention their brother was getting.
"Come," Daenerys took Arya's hand and lead her to the side of Dragon's neck.
Arya's excited grew too much that it became fear. "What?"
"Join me for a ride." Daenerys said with a hint of sarcasm nor exaggeration.
"A ride? I don't think…" She didn't care about the dangers at all in the moment. She did as Daenerys did and climbed up the side of Drogon and sat herself down as best she could. "Where do I grab?" She asked, looking for something to hang onto.
"Wherever you can!" Daenerys called back at her as she gripped two of Drogon's spikes. Arya panicked and wrapped her arms around Daenerys just before Drogon spread his enormous wings and punched off of the ground.
She let out a small scream of excitement and hugged onto Daenerys tighter as they took to the skies. The two other dragons flew after them as Drogon glided over the snowy landscapes below.
Daenerys almost laughed as they banked over the castle and were in full view of Winterfell's inhabitants.
The wind stung Arya's eyes as she looked down to the courtyards and saw many watchers, including Rickon and Sansa.
Drogon flew higher up and the view was greater than any watch tower could ever hope to reach. If they got high enough, maybe even Castle Cerwyn would come into sight.
Just being able to fly in the skies felt incredibly powerful. It made Arya feel like she was one of the Targaryen warrior princesses she loved as a child. No, it made her feel more than that, like a dragon herself. "This is amazing!" She yelled out as loud as she could, earning a laugh from Daenerys.
"Hold on!" Daenerys called out.
Arya wrapped her arms around her as they dove down at incredible speed. They were going straight for a grouping of trees and pulled up just before hitting them. The winds following after Drogon sweep the snow off the branches and the ground into a giant puff of clouds that dispersed as Viserion and Rhaegal came from behind.
A dragon's screeching came from the north and Ygris and Lyarras came into view. The two of Jon's dragons flew over Drogon and followed after him once they noticed Arya on his back. Given how smaller they were, however, they fell behind much so.
"Should we go back?" Daenerys asked.
"Just a bit longer!" Arya pleaded. She didn't want this moment to end just yet.
For the rest of the day, Arya couldn't think of anything else except for how spectacular the ride was. If only she had a dragon of her own. Maybe ygris or Lyarras would let her be their rider one day. There have been those without Targaryen blood who tamed dragons after all.
Arya was eating her supper with Sansa and her brothers in the Great Hall with everyone else. Gendry decided to sit in a corner of the room, obviously upset at her and at his failed attempts in the forge. He changed the blood, but the effect was the same. In the end, he let the dragon fire that lit his forge die out and consulted with Sam the rest of the day. Word got out and people began to doubt his skill as a blacksmith.
At the High Table, Arya dipped her spoon into her rabbit stew, still steaming from the freshness. As she blew on her spoonful, cooling it off, Sansa seemed now was the time to talk. "Arya, how did it feel?"
"Incredible." She immediately replied. "I don't care how lady like you are, you need to try it at least once. It's so… incredible."
Sansa smiled lightly but she didn't seem amazed. "I'll ask Jon for that honor. He always struck me as a tame person and what I saw today was rather wild."
It was a vague description compared to how it actually was, but it fit Arya's personality perfectly.
"Arya, I implore you to reconsider going south. We've never fared well going south"
"Implore? If you're too much of a lady to say 'beg,' then don't 'implore' at all." She said to her sister as she ate her soup.
"Arya!" Sansa almost, slammed her fist on the table, but stop and recollected herself. "Why are you being so stubborn?"
"Because I'm sick of diplomacy and debating. I need a good fight. It's the only thing that gets something done these days." Arya continued eating her soup but Sansa just kept staring at her, not believing she was being serious.
Sansa stood up from her seat and left the table, confusing Arya. "What'd I say?" Sansa ignored her and left the Great Hall.
"Are you as empty as Bran is?" Rickon asked, his mouth full of bread he was eating.
"What do you mean?"
Rickon dropped his bread on his plate and swallowed his food. "Before you returned to Winterfell, everyone here thought you were either dead or missing. You can imagine the concern we have if that were to happen again."
"I can take care of myself. I'm not a lady of the court, I'm a fighter, the best damn one here."
"You're still our sister you idiot! Do you think we're only allowed to worry about everyone else but you?" Rickon looked frustrated, clenching his fists on the table. "Go apologize to her."
Arya scoffed at him. "You can't be serious."
"Get out of your seat and go apologize to her."
Arya couldn't help but laugh at him. The next thing she knew, Rickon had jumped out of his seat and tackled her to the ground. His attempt to wrestle at her was pointless even though he was bigger than her. She maneuvered herself on top of him and pressed his face to the floor, pinning him down.
After a few moments to calm down, Arya let go of Rickon and stood up to let him get off the ground. He refused to look at her as he started to tear up. She left him to weep made her way out of the Great Hall, ignoring the staring that followed her.
She found herself outside in the courtyard, enjoying the time alone. She walked passed Gendry's forge and saw a pile of shattered steel on a table. All of it was the attempted Valyrian steel, broken like pieces of glass. She approached it and gently sifted through the pieces, looking for any that had the rippled pattern. In the pile, she found a piece that was a shape that interested her. She held it firmly in her hand as left the forge.
As she made her way back inside, she could hear someone sobbing on the battlements. She looked at the source and saw Sansa. Arya kept silent as she walked up beside her sister. Sansa finally noticed and wiped her tears away. She stared out to the fields of Winterfell, not saying anything to Arya.
"I don't want you to worry about me," Arya spoke softly, "but I do want you to hope I come back."
"You're my only sister, it's going to be impossible for me not to worry." Sansa's voice croaked, still not recovered from her sadness. She turned her head to Arya, looking afraid.
Arya just gave her a comforting smile. "In winter we must protect ourselves, look after one another." Those words were spoken to her when she thought she absolutely hated Sansa. Now she spoke them to her knowing she felt the complete opposite now.
Sansa broke through her fear and showed some joy with a smile. "Father," she stated. "When the snows fall and the white winds blow, the lone wolf dies, but the pack survives." Sansa's smile faded at the memory of their father.
"I miss him." Arya said, starting to feel sorrowful too.
"Me too." There was a small silence between them as they just gazed out to the North. "I can't handle another goodbye."
"Then don't say it, otherwise we might not see each other again." Arya revealed the piece of steel she picked out from the pile, showing it to Sansa. "When I get back, this will be something beautiful to remind you of a promise."
"What promise?"
"I will always come home." Sansa couldn't help but hug her. When they first reunited, Arya didn't have that much feelings towards Sansa, but now she gave her a real hug.
An hour passed and Arya was already on horse riding to the hills bordering Winterfell. She had all she needed. Her faces, Needle, the Valyrian steel dagger, and food. The only thing she was missing was some company. She stopped her horse for a moment and looked back to the castle, wondering if Sansa was still on the battlements, watching. "Goodbye Sansa."
