~*Apprentice*~
The next morning Arya woke early to hear the wind howling and the rain rattling against the small window of her chamber. The storm that had made her journey back to Braavos from King's Landing so miserable had started up again, or maybe it was a different storm Arya could not say. She rolled over and curled up under her thick grey blanket as she tried to keep warm, picturing Tywin Lannister's face as he lay dying thanks to her. 'He deserved it, it's his fault my family are dead'' She kept telling herself as she pictured his cold dead eyes.
She rolled over again and lit a few of her candles by her bed, staring into the flickering flames. 'He treated me kindly at Harrenhall though, at least I gave him a quick death.' She pictured his face again before sitting up, sitting cross legged with her thick grey blanket wrapped around her. She had wanted him dead so why was she thinking like this? 'He deserved to die, it was his fault, it was all his fault!' She shrugged off her thick grey blanket and quickly changed into her grey training breeches and shirt before pulling on her soft shoes.
She blew out her candles and quickly made her bed before pocketing her iron coin and making her way to the kitchen. The kitchen was one of the rooms that was usually locked at night but Arya opened it with her coin by placing it into the circular groove in the center of the door. "Valar dohaeris" She whispered. When she heard it click open she went inside, closing the door behind her, hearing it click again as it locked. She made her usual bowl of porridge and quickly ate it, making her feel warm and full and ready for her training.
She tidied up after herself before leaving the kitchen and headed over to the room with the maze. Arya checked that nobody was around and opened the locked black and white door with her coin by placing it into the circular groove in the center of the door. "Valar dohaeris" She whispered, hoping that she was doing it right. When the door clicked she pushed it open and went inside, closing it behind her and hearing it click again as it locked.
Arya was determined to beat the maze, or at least improve a little before her Water Dancing lesson with Syrio began at sunrise. She placed the iron coin into the top of the grey stone plinth as Jaqen had done, saying "Valar dohaeris" She closed her eyes as the room lit up with a bright light and the maze appeared in front of her, just as it had done before with Jaqen.
Arya approached the entrance to the maze and slowly sneaked inside. 'As quiet as a shadow' She kept a close lookout for pressure plates and owls and especially for the ravens. She hated the ravens! Three times she attempted the maze and three times she failed. All three times she was caught out by the ravens. "Girl, girl, girl." They screeched each time they saw her. She was really starting to dislike those ravens! She even thought about adding them to her list but decided against it as she didn't know their names. Maybe she would give them names and them add them..
Arya knew that the sun would be rising soon so she collected her iron coin from the grey stone plinth and left the maze room behind to head to the training yard at the back of the House of Black and White. She ran across the yard 'as fast as a snake' as the rain was quite heavy to wait patiently under the big tree, hoping to try and stay dry. She practiced balancing on one foot as she waited for Syrio to arrive but he did not come. 'Where is he?' She thought to herself as she stopped balancing and looked around impatiently. Syrio was never late and she knew that he wouldn't oversleep. 'Where could he be?'
She waited a little longer before deciding to go and search for him, she'd had enough of being dripped on sheltering underneath the tree. She eventually bumped into Syrio as she climbed one of the wooden staircase.
"Ah there she is, Syrio apologizes young one." He bowed his head slightly towards her, smiling as he raised his head back up to meet her eyes with his own.
Arya frowned a little "Where were you, I was worried...and I was getting wet in all that rain." She asked him before shaking her head, causing water to spray from her wet hair. She was quite wet and a little annoyed.
Syrio smiled as he placed his hand on her lower back and started to walk with her. "Just so, my apologies young one. Syrio was looking for your new master, he will teach you many things Syrio can not."
Arya soon forgave him and wondered who her new master was. She wondered what he was like and what he would teach her as Syrio led her into the dining hall and over to an old man that was sat in the corner reading an old tome. Arya had seen the old man around the House of Black and White a few times but had never spoken to him, neither did any of the others as far as she could tell. She always figured he was just there to clean and tidy up, or something like that.
"This is Master Garavel, he will be your master for the rest of the morning." Syrio said as he signalled towards the old man.
Arya looked at Master Garavel who looked back at her. He had a kindly face, thinning grey hair and fading blue eyes. He wore a robe similar to Master Paege except his robe was a faded grey and a little more worn. 'He must be five-and-sixty at least. He doesn't look much like a Water Dancer?' She thought to herself. "Hello ser, I'm Arya." She bowed her head slightly towards him to show him respect.
Master Garavel smiled and nodded back to her. "Sit child" He gestured to the wooden bench opposite him with a pale wrinkled hand.
Arya gently bit her lower lip, she wasn't a child anymore but compared to him she supposed she was. She sat and waited patiently for him to finish his cup of hot tea. At least she thought it was tea, though it had a strange smell and color to it.
"Come child, you have much to learn." Master Garavel said as he stood and walked slowly out of the dining hall.
Arya gently bit her lower lip again, chewing on it slightly as she followed him to a locked black and white door which stood opposite to the maze room. Arya didn't really know what to expect, but she was looking forward to learning some new things and getting to know her new master better.
"You know what to do I think?" He said as he gestured to the circular groove in the center of the black and white door with his pale wrinkled hand.
"Yes." She smiled and nodded, placing her iron coin carefully into the groove "Valar dohaeris." She whispered and the door clicked as it unlocked. Inside appeared to be some kind of laboratory. There were dusty shelves all the way up to the cieling filled with tomes, scrolls, jars and viles each filled with various colored liquids, roots and flowers amongst other things. On the far side of the laboratory there was a garden area with all kinds of strange plants and flowers growing. At the back of the room she could see a smaller darker room with all kinds of mushrooms and other toadstools growing.
Arya followed him into the laboratory and looked around as she tried to take it all in. "Are you going to teach me about poisons?" She asked him as she watched him sit at his old wooden desk.
Master Garavel nodded slowly. "Yes, I will teach you how to make poisons as well as healing poitions and salves."
Arya smiled happily, poisons would definitely come in handy, potions too.
"Sit and we shall begin." He continued before gesturing to the wooden chair next to him.
Arya sat as Master Garavel opened up a dusty old book and slid it in front of her. "We will start with something easy, a simple salve to help heal small cuts and scratches. It's useful to prevent infections too...handy for your cat scratches I think?" He leaned towards her slightly and winked at her.
"Yes." Arya smiled and then read the yellowed pages of the book carefully, she was determined to get this right and make a good first impression. "It sounds simple enough." She said after she had finished reading it, shrugging her slender shoulders.
"Just so. Follow the descriptions in the book and find the ingredients that you need from the garden over there." He smiled and gestured to the garden area on the far side of the laboratory. "You must learn to recognise what is helpful and what is harmful." He continued. "When you are alone and in the wild it can make the difference between life and death."
Arya listened intently to him and nodded before standing and walking over to the garden area to find the ingredients that she needed to make her salve. She decided to take the book with her to make sure she that picked the correct ingredients. It took her a while to find and then collect everything, but she eventually found everything that she was looking for and returned to Master Garavel for more instructions.
"Well done, you must learn and remember each plant and root, each flower and weed, each mushroom and toadstool, each insect and worm." Master Garavel told her. "With time and practice you will learn. Now, we must mix the ingredients that you have collected and create your salve." He smiled and led Arya over to another table which had all kinds of tubes and jars and bowls as well as an oil burner.
Master Garavel picked out a stone mortar and pestle and handed it to her. "Follow the book, it will show you how." He instructed her before stepping back to watch her, arms folded as she read the description and carefully followed the instructions.
Arya cut and ground and mixed her ingredients together into a fine paste before tipping it carefully into a small metal bowl and adding a little water. Next she heated it gently over the oil burner, stirring occasionally as the book instructed. Master Garavel watched on but she couldn't say if he was impressed or not. She hoped that he was. When her mixture matched the description in the book she switched off the oil burner to let her salve cool down.
"Very good, you're a fast learner and can pay attention to detail." Master Garavel said as he placed his pale wrinkled hand on her slender shoulder. "That is a fine salve you have made, I expect your cat scratches to be healed in no time." He winked at her again.
Arya smiled back feeling pleased with herself and her new salve.
While her salve cooled down Master Garavel led her over to the smaller dark room to show her the various mushrooms and toadstools, telling her each of their names. Some of them were fairly harmless, others were deadly. "Choosing the right poison is most important. Some kill instantly, some slowly. Some are painless while some cause great pain and suffering and can leave a man close to death for days before killing him. Some will paralyze or even drive a man insane." He explained before leading her back to her salve which had now cooled and thickened.
She picked up the metal bowl and carefully scooped her salve into a little wooden container. She then applied a small amount of it to the cat scratches on her hands. It stung a little but she didn't mind, it meant that her salve was working.
Old Nan once treated Arya's scraped knees after she fell over trying to keep up with Jon and Robb. She had told Arya that when the salve started to sting it meant that it was healing and that she should stop complaining. 'Little ladies shouldn't complain or chase after boys.' Arya couldn't help but smile.
"That is all for today, Master Syrio will continue with your Water Dancing this afternoon, he speaks very highly of you." Master Garavel bowed his head slightly to her.
Arya smiled and bowed her head in return. She really liked her new master and looked forward to her next lesson with him. She slipped the little wooden box that contained her salve into her pocket and headed to the dining hall for some lunch. She spotted her friend Robert and went to sit next to him.
"Hello Arry, how is your training going?" He asked before biting on his hard bread and tearing a piece off.
Arya smiled at him. "It's going great, Master Syrio says I show great promise." She kept her secrets safe as she had promised, knowing that he knew nothing of the faceless men or the truth about the House of Black and White. "How is your training going? Are you getting any better?"
Robert looked at her glumly and shook his head before replying. "I took a trial while you were away to see if I could become an apprentice to the guild, but I don't think I did too well, I was too nervous."
Arya knew that he might be made to drink and leave soon if he had failed his trial. She felt a little sad, she would miss Robert as he was the only one near to her own age in the House of Black and White and the only one she really spoke to other than Syrio, Jaqen and now Master Garavel. "Maybe you'll get another chance after you practice some more?" She lied, trying to make him feel better. But lying to him made her feel even worse.
After lunch she met up with Syrio in the training yard, luckily the rain had stopped by then, though the yard was still covered with large puddles. They practiced with weighted wooden training swords as usual to build up her strength, but Syrio could tell that Arya's heart wasn't really in it. "You are troubled?" Syrio said as he lowered his wooden sword, looking at her closely.
Arya looked at him frowning a little as she couldn't get the thought of her friend Robert out of her head. "My friend Robert failed his trial, they'll make him drink and leave won't they?" She asked, though she already knew the answer.
Syrio stepped forward and leaned down to look into her grey eyes. "Just so, he failed his trial and now he must leave us. But, Robert was a guest and knows no secrets so he won't drink or forget you. Fear not girl, he will still remember you and his time here."
A small smile appeared on Arya's face as she felt a little happier, reassured by his words. "So, only an apprentice like me is made to drink and forget?"
Syrio smiled back at her. "Just so."
Arya felt a little better now, even if Robert was made to leave he would still remember her as he didn't know any of the secrets of the House of Black and White or the faceless men. He wouldn't have to drink and forget.
Syrio trained Arya hard that afternoon. Water Dancing, balancing excercises and chasing cats, which was trickier than usual with the training yard being so wet after the storm that morning. Arya also added a few more scratches to her already impressive collection, but she wasn't worried now that she had her salve.
After her final meal of the day Arya decided to practice her archery with Robert in the training yard. She wasn't too bothered about improving her archery though, she just wanted to spend a little time with him one last time before he left.
Robert was much better than Arya at archery, but he had also trained a lot harder than her at it. "I have to see Master Paege on the morrow, he's going to tell me how my trial went." He told her as he handed her a small wooden toy horse and smiled glumly, trying to put on a brave face.
"What's this for?" Arya asked as she looked at her gift. She couldn't help but smile.
"I know I'll be asked to leave. Some of the others took trials and they all left, you must have noticed?" He replied.
"Yes, I have noticed." Arya nodded slowly before he continued. She had seen that there were fewer men around the House of Black and White since she had returned from King's Landing, only she thought that maybe they were away doing initiations of their own.
"But, it's ok, I get to go home and see my family again. Oh, and I want you to have that because you're the only one that I really considered as a friend since I got here."
Arya smiled at him but felt a little guilty. "Thank you, it's a mighty horse. But I...I don't have anything to give you in return though, I'm sorry."
Robert smiled at her shyly. "Maybe a kiss? Just a little one?"
A faint pink blush crept across Arya's cheeks. Nobody had ever asked her for a kiss before. All of the boys back in Winterfell preferred her pretty sister, but never her. They always teased her or called her Horseface or some other mean names.
"It's ok if you don't want to." Robert said after he noticed her blushing and seeing how embarrassed she was. He smiled and offered her his hand to shake instead.
Arya thought for a moment and then smiled before leaning in to peck his cheek. "I'll miss you Robert, take care."
Arya smiled at him and then quickly turned, walking away as tears started to well in her grey Stark eyes. She hated goodbyes, she'd had more than enough of those in her short life already! Arya couldn't let him see her cry though, she didn't want to look craven or for that to be his last memory of her. She held the wooden horse tight in her left hand as she went back to her chamber. She placed it on the small wooden table next to her bed and smiled as she looked at it and thought of him.
She would miss Robert but she knew this was the way things were in the House of Black and White, the way they had to be. Arya decided to have a hot bath after her hard training session to ease her aches and pains. She didn't ache as much as when she had first arrived at the House of Black and White so she knew that she was gradually getting stronger. After she had scrubbed herself pink and clean she went back to her chamber before getting into bed and falling asleep.
The smell of burnt man flesh was almost overpowering her senses. Burnt bodies lay piled up outside a recently burned down man cave. She would have to be extra cautious as her nose was almost useless because the smell was so strong. She lay low, hidden under the cover of some nearby trees and watched, listening for any sound. Sensing it was safe she stood and slowly ventured out towards destruction, slipping from shadow to shadow as she tried to remain slient and hidden.
There would be no free meal here, the bodies were charred, rotten or maggoty. She swiftly slipped back into the trees and bounded quickly away, upwind through the moonlit forest and away from the smell. She stopped briefly to look up at the starry night sky and sniffed deeply, hoping to pick up a new, fresher scent. Man flesh again, but not burnt or rotten this time, close too.
She walked silently between the trees, slipping from shadow to shadow as she always did before eventually coming to a tree with a dead man hanging by the neck from one of the thick lower branches. Crouching down she pricked her ears up and listened carefully, constantly looking around to make sure it was safe. The hanged man had a two identical man caves on his furs. She sniffed at his leg, and smelt that rot had already set in. She would not find food here either. It was then she caught another scent, a familiar scent...
Arya woke suddenly and sat up to see a dim orange glow through the wooden shutters that covered the small window in her chamber. She thought over the dream that she had just had for a few moments, trying to figure out what it meant. 'What was that scent?' She thought to herself as she settled back down to try and get some more sleep. She tossed and turned but it was no use, she couldn't drift off again. 'That scent...'
After an hour or so Arya decided to give up on getting any more sleep and got out of bed. She dressed in her usual grey training outfit, gave her hands and face a quick wash and quickly ran a brush through her tangled hair before heading down to the dining hall to break her fast. She looked around for a few moments but Robert wasn't there, 'He must have left already.' She had hoped that somehow he had passed his trial, but she knew deep in her heart that he had failed and that she would probably never see him again.
Arya continued with her new training routine for the next six moons. She never saw Jaqen and just assumed that he was away on some mission again. Each morning Master Garavel taught her all about potions, poisons and salves as well as teaching her to recognise various plants, flowers, mushrooms and toadstools. She also spent a lot of time reading books and making simple salves, potions and poisons under his watchful eye. She really enjoyed his lessons and learnt a lot from them.
Each afternoon Syrio continued to teach her more advanced Water Dancing techniques. He also made her practice her balancing through various excercises as well as chasing cats and chickens. The big grey cat still eluded her, though she did get close to catching it occasionally.
Each evening after the final meal she was allowed to train or rest as she wished. Sometimes she would attempt to complete the maze. She always failed but she felt that she was improving gradually. It was only the ravens that caught her out lately but she remained determined to beat them too. She hated them more each time they caught her out. 'Girl, girl, girl'
Sometimes Arya would practice her archery in the training yard and other times she would spend it reading or practicing with knives like Jaqen had shown her on their journey to Pentos.
Every third day she was still free to do as she liked. She spent these resting if she was tired from her training with Syrio or studying at her desk for her potions class with Master Garavel, trying to learn and remember what various plants looked like.
One day she decided to explore the House of Black and White and some of it's locked black and white doors. She knew that she still wasn't allowed down to the basement, but she inspected the locked door anyway. It looked like it would need two iron coins to open because it had two circular grooves in the door compared to the other locked black and white doors which only had one circular groove.
She moved on to the black and white door next to it and opened up a room filled with various chests and safes. It didn't look like a treasury and figured it must used to practice picking locks. Arya wasn't very good at it though so gave up after a few tries. 'Maybe Jaqen will show me how when he returns' She thought to herself as she left and heard the door lock behind her.
The next room she looked in was filled with various clothes and costumes. 'Maybe they're used for disguises?' She thought to herself as she looked through some of them. There were all kinds of pants and jackets and boots and hats to choose from. There were a few skirts and dresses too as well as gloves and belts. Arya held some of the dresses up to herself but most were too large, though she did find some that would fit.
Sometimes if the weather was nice she would venture out into Braavos. Arya was starting to learn her way around now and had even picked up a few words of Braavosi. She also went to the Purple Harbor occasionally to see if Sweet Lily was there but it never was. 'Maybe they're away with Jaqen on a mission?' She thought to herself as she looked out at the Titan looming in the distance, holding it's broken sword high into the air above the entrance to the harbor. 'Someday I'll climb you all the way to the top'
One evening however, Sweet Lily was in port so Arya walked up the boarding plank and on to the deck. Captain Forel spotted her and strolled over to greet her, hugging her so tight that he nearly squeezed the breath from her. "Arya, sweet girl it is so good to see you again. I'm afraid your friend has already left us. You can catch him if you hurry!"
She smiled up at him and nodded as he released his strong hug. "Thanks captain." She replied happily, before running all of the way back to the House of Black and White, hoping to catch up with Jaqen.
Arya ran 'as fast as a snake' through the busy harbor, dodging and weaving skillfully through the crowds. Past the market and temples, crossing the wooden bridges that crossed the many canals and running up the many cobbled steps towards the House of Black and White. She was breathing a little heavy and felt a little sweaty as she stopped for a quick breather near to the top.
"A girl is stronger, faster...this is good." She heard a familiar voice say.
"Jaqen." Arya smiled and turned to face him, she wouldd recognize his accent and calm tone anywhere. She was pleased to see him again and couldn't help but wonder where he had been all this time.
"A girl is ready, come." He turned and led her back to the House of Black and White.
"Ready for what? I don't undrstand?" She asked as they walked through the black and white door and into the gloomy temple. 'Is this another trial?' She thought as she walked alongside him, past the black pool.
"A girl is ready to change her face and become a faceless...lady!" He glanced at her before leading her over to the black and white basment door. He placed his iron coin into one of the circular slots in the door and signalled for her to do the same.
Arya looked back at him and nodded before placing her iron coin into the second slot next to his. The basement door clicked several times as it unlocked and Jaqen removed the two iron coins, handing Arya's back to her before heading inside.
Arya put her iron coin safely back into her pocket and followed Jaqen inside. She didn't know why, but she suddenly felt a little nervous and so she stuck close to Jaqen. She followed him down a long winding stone staircase which was lit by the occasional sconce. 'I wonder what's down here that's so secret?' It was her first time in the basement and she didn't really know what to expect as they descended. The stone steps went on and on for what seemed like an eternity and she knew that they were heading deep underground as the air started to feel cool and close. 'How deep does this place go?'
Eventually they stepped out into what looked like a huge dimly lit cave. To her amazement there was a huge white weirwood tree with it's sad face and deep red leaves. It was similar to the one in the Godswood back at Winterfell except this face didn't seem so scary. Maybe it was because she was a little older and braver now than she was back in Winterfell when she was still just a little girl. 'What a strange place'
Jaqen had gone on ahead while Arya stood and looked at the huge weirwood tree, so she rushed to catch up with him. He waited patiently for her by a small pool close to the weirwood tree. The pool looked to have a grey tint to it and had a little shrine around one side of it. In the center of the shrine there was a small statue which looked similar to The Stranger but different somehow.
Jaqen looked at her and pointed to a small black rug at the side of the pool. "First a girl must kneel."
Arya knelt on the worn rug by the side of the grey pool, before looking up at Jaqen, waiting for his next command.
"Good, now a girl needs a name" He continued.
"A girl has lots of names." She replied eagerly.
"No, a man will give a girl a new name...Petyr Baelish". He replied calmly.
Arya thought for a few moments before realising that she had been given a target, this was to be her trial. If she completed it successfully she would become a faceless lady, the first facless lady! "Petyr Baelish." She said confidently. She remembered Lord Baelish from King's Landing at the joust King Robert had held to mark her father becoming Hand Of The King. He had told her and Sansa about what happened to The Hound as a little boy. She thought of The Hound and missed him, just a little.
Jaqen then handed her a rough black cup which seemed to be made of stone, granite perhaps? "Now drink from the shrine and say the words Valar Morghulis."
Arya nodded and dipped the cup into the pool and drank. "Valar Morghulis." She said and then waited for a few moments before looking up at Jaqen. "Nothing's happened? I don't feel any different?"
"Not so." Jaqen's mouth turned up a little at the corners as he pointed to the pool. Arya looked down at her reflection, only it wasn't her reflection that looked back. The girl in the reflection had medium length blonde hair and blue eyes. Her face was slightly fuller than her own and she had a slight dimple in her chin. 'I did it' She thought as she touched her cheek with her free hand.
"A girl is worthy. Many try and many fail." Jaqen said as he placed a hand on her slender shoulder.
"And those who fail forget and leave this place?" She asked as she stood, placing the rough stone cup down next to the worn rug.
"Just so, though some are weak of heart or mind and lose more than just their memories." He replied as they walked towards the stone steps that led back up to the House of Black and White.
"You mean they die?" She asked, curious to know more.
"They lose their life and their face. Some of the faces that we use as faceless men are from someone that tried and failed to become one of us." He looked down at her as they started to climb. "You must remember your new face. Every scar, every spot, every wrinkle and learn to master it."
"I will." She said eagerly. "Can I learn more faces if I want?" She asked, curious to learn as much as she could. She wanted to learn many faces like Jaqen.
Jaqen nodded at her. "Yes, if you are deemed worthy. First you must master this one. Look into your silver looking glass each morning when you wake and each night before you sleep and and master your new face."
Arya stopped and looked up at him "How do I change back to my normal self?" She asked a little concerned. She had never been as pretty as her sister, but she liked her face and didn't want to lose it. It was her face, a Stark face and the face of a wolf.
"A girl must picture her own sweet face and wipe away the new one." He replied and signalled for her to try.
Arya closed her eyes and pictured her own face before slowly pulling her hand down over it, just like Jaqen had done when they went their seperate ways back in Westeros. She looked up at him, unsure if she had changed back.
"A girl is a fast learner." He replied cooly, giving her an approving nod.
"So if I want my new face I just think of that and do the same thing?" She asked.
Jaqen nodded "A girl must only change her face out of sight of our guests. A girl must always be herself in this house. A girl must keep her secrets." He raised his eyebrows slightly.
Arya nodded and followed him back up the stone steps and back into the House of Black and White. Jaqen then led her up to the library on the top floor to meet with Master Paege.
"You have a name Arya Of House Stark. Petyr Baelish must die so that your sister may rule the vale. Your sister must rule The Vale." Master Paege said to her after they had approached him.
'Sansa!?' Arya's heart skipped a beat, hearing that her sister was alive and in The Vale! "But why must Sansa rule, I don't understand? My Aunt Lysa rules in the Eyrie not Petyr Baelish!" She questioned, not understanding.
Master Paege slowly shook his head "Your Aunt Lysa is dead and Petyr Baelish rules in her stead. Your sister is acting as his bastard daughter, a girl by the name of Alayne Stone to protect her true identity."
Arya nodded slowly, knowing it was no use trying to ask more questions. 'My sister is alive!'
"You must change your face and your name, travel to the Eyrie and assassinate Petyr Baelish. You must make it look like an accident or a natural death. You must not reveal your sisters true identity to anyone and you must not reveal your true self to your sister!" Master Paege continued.
Arya's heart sank. Even though she used to constantly argue and fight with Sansa it would be nice to see her and talk with her again. Arya nodded slowly as she reluctantly agreed. "Ok, I promise."
"We believe that the lords of The Vale already know of your sister's true identity and will make her Lady Of the Vale over your sickly cousin Robin." Master Paege leaned down to Arya. "There is more. After Petyr Baelish lies dead you must track down and return here with your lost direwolf...Nymeria. Only then will you be one of us and all of our secrets will be yours to know. You have a week to prepare yourself before setting sail for Westeros." Master Paege then turned to sit at his wooden desk. "Good luck to you Arya Of House Stark. Return to us safe and well when you have completed the task set before you."
"I will." Arya replied as she bowed her head slightly towards him.
Jaqen led Arya back to her chamber and sat on her bed next to her. "A girl must plan and prepare and use all of her skills and use everything that she has learned if she is to succeed." He paused for a few moments before continuing. "A man cannot help you this time, a girl must travel alone." He then stood and slowly walked over to her door. "A man has heard that poison is a woman's weapon" He winked at her. "Give my regards to Captain Forel on your journey." He smiled at her and left, closing the door behind him.
Arya couldn't help but smile at his advice. She stood and looked into the silver looking glass that hung on her wall. She closed her eyes and pictured the new face that she was given in the basement moments earlier. Slowly she pulled her left hand down over her face. She opened her eyes to see the blonde haired, blue eyed girl with the dimpled chin looking back at her in the reflection. She smiled and studied her new face for a few minutes as Jaqen had instructed her to do before slowly pulling her left hand down over her face again and reverting back to her normal self.
Feeling pleased with herself she changed into her grey night clothes and got into bed, curling up under her thick grey blanket. She wanted to have an early start in the morning because she had a lot of planning to do before she would set sail in a week's time.
She lay on her side and started to think about her sister. She could still picture her face, her pale skin, her long red hair and her pretty eyes. Sansa had always been the pretty one taking after their lady mother while Arya took after their lord father. It had been so long since they last saw each other, Sansa probably thought that she was dead, but Arya hoped that she hadn't forgotten about her. Arya certainly hadn't forgotten Sansa.
She rolled over after a while and started to think of her lost direwolf Nymeria. Was that really Nymeria that she kept seeing in her dreams? Would Nymeria even recognize her anymore even if she could somehow track her down and find her again? It was Joffrey's fault that I had to throw stones and make Nymeria run away. But he's dead now along with Lord Tywin and The Mountain...Valar Morghulis.