Chapter 30. Queen of the North

Before traveling south to deal with Stannis Baratheon Arya returned to Winterfell to set a few things in order. She held court for the first time and announced to her subjects that she was to marry Gendry after Stannis was dealt with. She also named Edwin as a Prince of the North and gave him the Twins as his estate to rule when he was old enough. She gave Sandor the Iron Isles to rule as Lord of. Sador changed his last name to Cragore and took the Cracken as his sigil.

"You seem sad." Edwin said as they sat in the study doing his lessons.

She sighed, "I am! You always here the romantic tales of being a warrior, but no one ever says in those stories the hardships of taking life." Arya got up and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Stay a child as long as possible! Don't be in a rush to grow up. It will come to you. Love, gold, sex, and even death. Allow life to unfold on its own. Don't go seeking it out."

"But you said that life sometimes comes looking for us."

"It does-so the lesson is... Be a child as long as possible, but when life comes knocking... Be ready to face it!"

"How will I know?"

She smiles and kisses his forehead, "You will know! That's all for the night. Off to bed with you!"

The next day Arya knighted Gendry and gave him his family name Baratheon. He was now Robert Baratheon. When he married Arya he would take her family name Stark. Afterwards she met with Bryden, Robin, Edwyn, and all her commanders and advisors for the march south. They discussed food, supplies, weapons, and medicine. They also talked about troop movements in the south.

"We don't want Stannis marching no further than the twins. Lets keep him in the riverlands." Edwyn says speaking up.

"We control the Iron Isles now. Why not send a large force and flank him?" Robin asks.

"Because we don't want Stannis to know that Balish is defeated. And when Daenarys lands in Storm's End we want Stannis' eyes facing north." Arya looks at everyone as they nod in agreement. "Now I want to be ready to march in the next two days."

"We'll be ready!" Lord Karstark says in confidence.

Arya is in her room as she and Gendry agreed not to sleep in the same bed again until they married. It also kept the whispers and rumors from flying. She was about top climb into bed when a knock came at the door. Her hand maid opened it, exchanged words with another woman and closed it. She handed Arya a letter. She broke the seal and read it.

"Wake the lords!" They came to the grand hall yawning, "Apologies my lords, but I have received word from the Lord of Whispers. He says that Daeanrys Targaryen has landed in Storm's End.

The next day Arya was on her horse with Gendry, Sandor, Robin, Bryden, and Edwen at her side. Together they watched as the army marched before them towards the south.