~:Return To Westeros:~

Arya eagerly set about packing her things for the journey ahead, but it wasn't as easy as she thought it was going to be. She knew that she would never return to the House of Black and White so at first she packed as many things as she could until there was no room left. Eventually she realized that she would have to leave some things behind as she would have to travel a lot once she had returned to Westeros. Carrying too much would only slow her down, wasting time that she didn't have.

A smile appeared on Arya's face as she remembered Septa Mordane's reaction to how she had packed her things back in Winterfell for the journey to King's Landing, where she had just thrown her things into her wooden trunk. "What's the point in folding them nicely, there only going to get messed up anyway!" She had told her old Septa who made her repack everything much to Arya's annoyance.

Now that winter had finally come Arya also knew that she had to dress correctly if she was to stay warm and not freeze to death. After making her way to one of the locked rooms of the House of Black and White and using her iron coin to unlock the black and white door she picked out the thickest jerkin and pants that she could find. They looked a little big for her but she knew wolf pelt when she saw it and knew how warm it would be. They were dull grey in color with long sleeves and the jerkin had a fur lined hood. They were thicker and felt heavier than anything she had ever worn before, but Arya didn't mind so long as they would keep her warm.

She also picked out some thick grey wool socks and some soft brown leather boots which reached almost to her knees. The boots were lined with fur and should serve to keep her feet and lower legs dry and warm for which Arya was glad because her feet were always the first thing to get cold.

Arya continued to search through the clothes until she eventually found a thick hooded fur cape which was supposed to have been black but had faded to a dark grey with age. It fell to her ankles and felt really warm as she wrapped it around her small frame. With a little more searching she also found some soft brown leather gloves which were also lined with fur.

After returning to her chamber she changed into her new clothes and looked at her reflection in her silvered looking glass. Arya thought that she must look like a Wildling, though she had never seen one for real. She had read about Wildlings, heard stories about them from Old Nan and seen pictures of them in books back at Winterfell. Arya thought that she looked quite similar to them with her tangled hair and being wrapped up in thick mismatched furs of grey, brown and faded black. She only hoped that nobody mistook her for a Wildling back in Westeros and tried to attack her, though she felt confident in her abilities to fend them off after her training with Syrio.

Arya closed her eyes picturing Jayne Snow's in her mind for a few moments. She saw Jayne's blonde hair and blue eyes, her fuller face and her dimpled chin. After slowly pulling her left hand down over her face Arya opened her eyes to see Jayne Snow looking back at her in the reflection. Sansa would know this face, but so would the Frey's.

Closing her eyes again Arya pictured Catelyn Rivers thin face, boney cheeks, long brown hair and brown eyes. After pulling her left hand slowly down over her face she opened her eyes again to see Catelyn looking back at her in the reflection. Arya studied her new face for a few moments trying to remember every detail like Jaqen had instructed her to do with Jayne Snow's face when she had first learnt to change her face many moons ago.

Satisfied with her new clothes Arya changed back into her usual clothes before changing her face back to her own with grey Stark eyes and tangled brown hair. She then went to the treasury, using her iron coin to open the locked black and white door to get some Westerosi coins for the journey ahead. She had no idea how much she would need so she just took a handful each of Golden Dragons, Silver Stags and Copper Stars, filling her brown leather purse so much that the strings barely closed it.

Arya then went to say goodbye to Master Garavel. As usual the old potion master was sat in his chamber reading and pondering over a thick tome, it's pages yellowed with age. "A Study of Westerosi Cave Fungus by Maester Payne." He said as he closed the book to look at her. "Fascinating subject, though a little long winded for my taste." He continued as he stood.

"I just came to say goodbye and...to thank you for everything." Arya said as her voice broke a little, chewing her lower lip as she suddenly felt a big lump in her throat. She would miss Master Garavel even though she didn't feel as close to him as Syrio or Jaqen. He had taught her so much since she had first arrived at the House of Black and White and had always been patient with her and helped her with her studies and healed the wounds she had collected from training. She almost thought of him like a grand sire because of his age. She had never known any of her true grand sires and thought this must be what one was like.

"I knew this time would come." He said as he walked over to hold her hands with his own, smiling as he placed a small white box into her hand. "A gift."

Arya smiled back at him before looking down to inspect the little white box. It was made from the wood of a weirwood tree and looked quite old. Spinning it around she could see that it had a beautiful black pattern that flowed seemlessly all around it. Opening the lid she saw that it was lined with tortoise shell and inside it had a few dried red leaves which were small with jagged edges. Arya didn't recognize them and sniffed at them, the strong scent made the insides of her nose tingle slightly. "What are they?" She asked, looking up at him.

"Leaves from the Fire Pepper plant. A rare plant found in the deep jungles of Sothoryos. When used to make tea these leaves will keep you warm even on the coldest of nights. But do not eat them no matter how hungry you get. They burn so hot it is said they can burn a hole in even the thickest of mammoth stomachs."

"Thank you." She closed the lid of the little white box and slipped it into her pocket, smiling at him. She knew that they would be useful for what lay ahead.

Arya searched everywhere for Syrio, desperately trying to find him. She searched the House of Black and White from top to bottom but her dancing master was nowhere to be found. 'I can't leave without saying goodbye, I just can't' She thought to herself as she searched for him in the kitchen for a second time. "Where are you?" She said out loud, feeling a little frustrated.

After searching each chamber for a third time Arya reluctantly gave up. She picked up the things that she had packed from her chamber, closing the door behind her and left the House of Black and White for the final time, not knowing if she would ever see Syrio again. Looking over her slender shoulder at the House of Black and White she felt a tear drip down her left cheek before heading down the cobbled stone steps for the last time and into Braavos.

The walk to the Purple Harbor didn't take long, though Arya got lots of strange and sometimes frightened looks from most people as they saw Nymeria following close behind her. Far larger than a normal wolf, Nymeria almost stood as tall as Arya and she did look quite intimidating to those that didn't know her. Nymeria didn't seem to bother that she was getting so much attention though and Arya didn't really care what the people thought, she knew that she would never return to Braavos.

They walked the length of the Purple Harbor and back but there was no sign of the Salt Bitch anywhere. There were tall ships, long ships and fine cargo ships but no sign of the ragged, weather worn Salt Bitch anywhere. Maybe Captain Forel was away, trading at another port or maybe they had been told to move to the Ragman's Harbor which was used by the poorer merchants and their smaller ships. That would be more fitting for a battered old ship like the Salt Bitch.

Arya was about to give up and leave to head over to the Ragman's Harbor when she heard Syrio's voice call out to her.

"Arya child where are you going?"

Arya quickly spun around and smiled up at her dancing master. "Syrio, what are you doing here? I couldn't find you anywhere, I was looking everywhere for you." She frowned a little before continuing. "I didn't want to leave without saying goodbye."

"Just so, but a girl need not feel troubled. I, Syrio Forel will be coming with you to Westeros. A girl has not yet completed her training!" He said as he placed a gloved hand on her slender shoulder to give it a reassuring squeeze. "If a girl is to become a true Water Dancer she needs more training, yes?"

Arya smiled and gave him a little hug. She was glad that Syrio was to come with her and continue with her training. She had learnt so much but she knew that she still had a lot to learn. She also knew that her mission would be much easier with Syrio at her side. As far as she was concerned he was the greatest swordsman in the world! "I'm glad you're coming with me." She said, smiling up at him.

"Come, perhaps a girl will show me Winterfell some day?" He replied as he released the hug and started walking, taking her to the Salt Bitch which was almost unrecognisable from when Arya had last seen it. It had new white sails. The weather worn wooden deck had been replaced by fresh, strong wood, the broken glass in the captains cabin replaced by new. There were new ropes, new brass lanterns, even a new anchor. It had been cleaned from top to bottom and scrubbed and painted all over. It almost looked like a new ship.

"Welcome aboard Sweet Amba" Captain Forel boomed as he saw Arya looking around. She remembered that it was the name Captain Forel had chosen for his ship. "A fine name for a fine vessel yes?" He said proudly in the booming voice of his.

Arya smiled and nodded in agreement as she looked up at him. "It is captain." She replied, glad to see her old friend happy and smiling again.

"We will sail as soon as you are ready. Is there anything you wish to do before we leave?" He asked.

Arya looked back into Braavos to see the Iron Bank and the Sealord's Palace before looking up at him and shaking her head. "I'm ready to leave, there's nothing here for me now."She replied. Her focus now was to look forward, not back. Her future lay in Westeros.

"Just so." He replied before heading over to talk with Darion and make preparations for the journey ahead.

Syrio woke her before the sun had rose the next morning for more training. Her breath steamed from her nose in the cold morning air. First he had her running around the ship until she was nice and warm. Then she started from the bow and ran to the main mast, climbed up to the crows nest and back down again before running to the stern of the ship where he waited for her with two wooden training swords. After a few minutes of swordplay he made her run to the main mast and climb up to the crows nest again and then back down to run to the bow of the ship for more swordplay. Three times they repeated this.

Next she shadowed Syrio and copyied his movements, watching, learning and watching some more as he did his water dance. She studied and remembered every step, every stroke, running through them in her mind as she practised alongside him. Knowing what lay ahead she felt more determined than ever. She would not fail, she could not fail.

"A girl is still too slow, she must become as quick as a snake." Syrio said as he watched her chasing a chicken around the deck. It was so fast and could change direction much faster than she could, but she didn't give up. 'As quick as a snake, as swift as a deer' She thought to herself over and over until she eventually cornered the chicken, grabbing it and holding above her head.

After a brief rest and drink of water they sparred with blunted steel swords on the open deck. Syrio swung left and then swung right but Arya saw it coming and easily ducked out of the way. 'As light as a feather' She thought to herself, standing on the balls of her feet, readying herself for the next attack. Left and right and left again.

"Remember girl, the true seeing is in the eyes!" Syrio told her before feigning right and swinging left, left, right and then left again.

Arya dodged them all before returning with a left of her own and easily dodging a right and ducking under another left.

"Ah, just so." Syrio said, clearly impressed by her progress before he swung at her again, right, left, right.

Speed, speed, speed and more speed. Left and right, right and left, faster and faster their blunted training swords clashed. Soon the ringing of steel sung as one continuous song across the deck instead of single clashes as their blades became a blur.

In the evening she was allowed to rest so Arya decided to spend some time with Mikel and Stevan, hoping to get to know them better. Most evenings she watched them play Chevasse and learnt from them. Sometimes they would let her play too, though she still lost each game as they were far more experienced players than her. Darion and Garo also watched them play, speaking in a tongue she did not recognise, though she knew that it was probably a tongue they spoke in Sothoryos.

Up in the crow's nest Arya look upon Westeros for the first time in many moons. She was keeping watch with Ser Jorah who was returning to Westeros for the first time since his exile. Although it wasn't Arya's first return to Westeros, the last time she was only there to do a mission. This time she was returning for good. This time she meant to return home.

"It feels strange to be back. I always knew that I would return some day, but never thought it would be side by side with a Stark." He told her deep in thought.

As they looked on they could see that Westeros was white with a thick blanket of snow. The shallow water was frozen over with a thick sheet of ice, forcing them to anchor south of Maidenpool and stopping any further progress. Captain Forel wasn't willing to risk his new ship and crew but Arya didn't complain, she knew that he was right. He had done so much for her already and she couldn't ask more of him.

Snow was falling steadily from the grey sky and the wind was bitterly cold. Arya had never felt cold like it before. She didn't dare think of how cold it would be high in the Eyrie.

Once they had safely anchored Arya collected her things from her cabin before going to say goodbye to Garo, Mikel and Stevan. She fought back the tears as she said goodbye to Captain Forel before Darion rowed her, Syrio, Nymeria and Ser Jorah to shore in the small boat.

"I guess this is goodbye." He said as lifted Arya out of the small boat and placed her down on the frozen bank of the river so that she didn't have to get her feet wet. He had lifted her with such ease it made her feel even smaller than she was.

Arya had a huge lump in her throat as she nodded back to him, trying her best to fight back the tears that had started to well up in her grey Stark eyes. "I guess so." She replied softly, finding it hard to speak. She had grown to love Darion almost like a big brother and would miss him dearly.

"My little Arya, I shall miss you." He smiled down at her, flashing his square white teeth.

If anybody else had called her little Arya would have been annoyed, but not Darion. She smiled up at him and hugged him tight. "I'll miss you too Darion. Take care of yourself and Captain Forel for me won't you?" She fought hard to hold back the tears as one trickled down her left cheek, then her right. After everything that had happened since leaving Winterfell Arya had truly learnt what a true friend was. She had also grown to hate goodbyes.

Darion hugged her back for a few moments before gently wiping away her tears and returning to the small boat. "I will." He replied as he pushed the small boat off the frozen bank with the wooden oars to start rowing back to Sweet Amba, smiling brightly at her. "And you take care of yourself little wolf. Maybe we shall see each other again some day?"

Arya smiled hoping that they would meet again as she turned to watch Nymeria run off into the woods. She wasn't concerned though as she knew that Nymeria needed to feed and stretch her legs after being holed up in a ship for so long. Sometimes she forgot that Nymeria was still a wild animal and needed her freedom. She wanted to hunt and to explore and be like a normal wolf.

Ser Jorah looked at Syrio and Arya as he pulled his hood up over his head. "We should try to reach Maidenpool by nightfall." He suggested as he turned to walk along the riverbank.

"I agree." Syrio nodded as he started to walk alongside Ser Jorah.

"Me too." Arya added as she walked behind them, hoping that she wouldn't have to spend the night out in the wild. The fresh snow crunched under her feet to leave deep footprints and her nose soon reddened from the icy wind that blew. Luckily it wasn't a strong wind so her wolf furs kept her nice and warm.

As the sun was turning orange and setting behind the mountains that loomed up ahead they finally reached Maidenpool. The sigil of House Tarly, a red huntsman on a green background was draped either side of the battered Fool's Gate which was still being rebuilt after it's sacking during the War of the Five Kings. The walls also looked to be damaged in places and were lightly manned by guards with House Tarly jerkins and shields. Arya knew from her lessons with Maester Luwin that House Mooton should have been the lords of Maidenpool. All that must have changed during the war.

As they walked through the crumbling Fool's Gate they witnessed more scars from the war. Some of the houses were charred black from fire, their windows smashed and their wooden doors beaten down. Some houses were even burnt to the ground to leave nothing but a pile of charred timber. Others had been destroyed or damaged beyond repair, each had been picked clean by looters. Even a few shops and inns had been plundered for gold or wine and anything of value.

Further in the destuction had stopped or maybe the shops and houses had been rebuilt after the war. A few beggars lined the streets holding out their dirty hands for coin or food. It saddened Arya to see a girl of Sansa's age sat in the gutter holding a small child in her arms and wearing nothing but dirty grey rags so Arya handed her a few copper stars from her pouch.

"Seven blessings on you." The beggar girl said gratefully as she accepted the coins, smiling up at Arya.

After a little while they eventually found a suitable inn and paid for two rooms with a few of the silver stags that Arya had taken from the treasury in the House of Black and White. Arya had a room her own, while Ser Jorah and Syrio shared. They were small rooms but they were clean and the beds comfortable with fresh sheets and furs.

After they had left their belongings locked safely in their rooms Ser Jorah tried to find out any information he could from some drunk locals as Syrio and Arya ate a hot meal that consisted of chicken, potato, carrot and pea broth with some crusty hard bread. It was filling and warming, but the bread wasn't as good as Hot Pie's wolf bread. The inn was getting busier and Arya was hopeful that Ser Jorah would be able to find out some information that may help them.

At first light, after a good sleep they dressed warmly. Arya felt quite snuggly in her wolf pelt jerkin and pants, fur lined hooded cape, gloves and boots. After breaking her fast with a hot meal of bacon, eggs, sausages and hot tea she felt ready for anything. Even the coldest wind wouldn't make her shiver now, or so she thought.

They set off for the Eyrie and the Bloody Gate, eventually following the High Road where Nymeria rejoined them a few hours later. Arya knew that her direwolf had fed from her slightly swollen stomach and traces of blood on her fur around her mouth.

They knew that it would be tough in the thick snow and Ser Jorah wanted to make the most of the short daylight, making them press on without much of a break. The nights were long and cold now, the days were short. Luckily the weather was clear, the sky a brilliant blue with no clouds in sight, though it was icy cold. Nymeria often went and came back before wandering off again but Arya wasn't worried. There was nothing large enough to hurt a direwolf in the Vale of Arryn and only a fool would dare attack a direwolf, especially one of Nymeria's size.

Nobody spoke much as they walked through the thick snow, listening to it as it crunched beneath their feet. If it was because nobody had anything to say or simply to save energy Arya could not say. Occasionally Arya stopped to push some freshly fallen snow into her drinking skin, knowing that it would eventually melt as she placed it under her cape to warm it so that she would have clean water to drink.

Progress was slower and more difficult than they had hoped for and as the sun started to set behind the mountainsn they knew that they had to start looking for somewhere suitable to set up camp for the night. It would have to be a large enough shelter for the three of them, four if Nymeria returned. It would also have to keep out the freezing wind that had started to pick up. At least it wasn't snowing, Arya was thankful for that at least.

They had hoped to reach a long abandoned mine to take shelter in there for the night, but Ser Jorah told them that they would not reach it by nightfall. Arya knew that it was dangerous enough to travel these roads by day, by night it could be fatal. It was going to be a cold night but what choice did they have.

As they looked around for a suitable camp Arya decided to follow Nymeria who seemed to have spotted something. "Where are yoiu going?" She asked her loyal direwolf as she was lead over to a frozen waterfall which had an entrance to a cave hidden behind it. "Over here." She shouted to Ser Jorah and Syrio, knowing that she had found their shelter for the night thanks to Nymeria.

Looking further inside they found what remained of an abandoned camp of some sort, used by bandits or smugglers or possibly one of the many hill tribes that lived in the Vale. After clearing a space in a circular side chamber Ser Jorah lit a small fire in the center of it, knowing that the walls would help to reflect the heat once the fire was going properly. They all broke up wooden barrels and anything else that would burn and piled it nearby before nuturing the fire into life.

They soon settled down for the night around the fire to keep warm. Arya watched as Nymeria left to go hunting before falling asleep after a long and tiring day.

Sniffing into the cold night air she picked up the scent of manflesh, though it wasn't a scent that she was familiar with. Her eyes trailed down to the fresh footprints in the deep snow, sniffing at them as she followed them by the frozen stream, hard with thick ice.

She stopped and pricked up her ears as she heard something move in front of her. Crouching low she slowly crept forward, her belly dragging on the snow beneath her. Four men dressed in thick furs and leather, carrying axes and crude wooden shields.

She crept closer, staying low and quiet in the long dark shadows as she watched them enter a cave that was tucked behind a frozen waterfall, her breath steaming from her mouth into the cold night air.

Arya woke as she was nudged and opened her eyes to see Ser Jorah putting his finger to his lips to signal that she should be quiet. She soon realized what was going on from her dream and reached for Needle. As she got to her feet to stand between Ser Jorah and Syrio four men entered the chamber. They were dressed in thick furs and leathers, carrying crude looking axes and beaten wooden shields.

The largest of the men, who Arya figured was their leader raised his axe as he spoke. "Trespassers..."

He was about to say more when a deep growl came from the shadows behind the four men. Arya watched as Nymeria suddenly took down the leader, grabbing him by his left leg and knocking him of his feet. Arya heard a snap as the powerful direwolf crushed his lower leg in her powerful jaws. He screamed in agony but not for long as his throat was ripped out.

The other three men panicked from the sight of the huge direwolf and tried to flee but Nymeria moved swiftly and blocked their path. Wasting no time Arya stepped forward to take one of them out with Needle but was pushed aside by Ser Jorah who had soon killed the man she went for. She watched on as Syrio gracefully took out the other two. His speed and skill was incredible. Arya hoped that she would be as skillful as him one day.

Bonus Content - Jon

A loud knock awoke him from his slumber. Jon hadn't slept much since the events at Hardhome, it still haunted his dreams. So much death. How could the Night's Watch possibly stop the White Walkers?

"Lord Commander, a rider came in the night." The young steward boy said as he entered and held out a rolled up piece of parchment in his grubby hand.

Jon slowly sat up from the warmth of his bed and squinted over at the boy before rubbing the sleep from his eyes. Nodding at the boy he held out his hand to accept the message. "Leave me." He commanded as he inspected to wax seal to see the flayed man of House Bolton.

Jon had known who it was from even before he had seen the wax seal. He had received many messages from Ramsey Bolton over the last few moons and he was starting to grow tired of them. They were a distraction that he really didn't need. He had enough troubles of his own without this.

Keeping the peace between the wildlings that had been allowed past the Wall had been difficult. Most of them had manned several of the long abandoned castles along the Wall, but Jon knew that it was a fragile peace. A fragile peace that was only lasting because of the imminent threat of the White Walkers. The wildlings feared them just as much as his brothers of the Night's Watch.

They had to hold the Wall at all costs, even if it meant siding with their old enemy. At first many of the Night's Watch had not agreed with letting the wildlings through, but after the massacre that had happened at Hardhome that resistance had mostly disappeared. The White Walkers and their army of undead were the real enemy, not the wildlings. They had to join forces or they would both be destroyed along with the rest of the Seven Kingdom's. What other choice did they have?

'Lord Commander,

Your false king and ally, Stannis Baratheon lies dead. His flayed corpse has made a fine addition to the gates of Winterfell. Maybe you should come and visit so you can see for yourself?

I'm sure your beloved little sister will be pleased to see you again too. She keeps my bed so warm in these long cold nights like a good little whore. The things I do to her make her beg and scream.

Maybe I'll put a son inside her? But when my son is born I'll have no further use for your little whore sister will I? Maybe she can decorate the gates of Winterfell too?

Ramsey Bolton, trueborn son of Roose Bolton, Lord of Winterfell and Warden of the North'

Jon stood and pulled some of his black furs around him before walking over to the log fire which warmed his chamber and tossed the parchment onto it, watching as burnt away to ash.

He felt so much anger towards the Bolton's. They had betrayed Robb. They had taken his former home. True he wasn't a Stark, but he still shared their blood. For the briefest of moments Jon wished he had accepted the offer Stannis had made him, to destroy the Bolton's and become the Lord of Winterfell, but now Stannis lay dead.

Jon also knew that Ramsey Bolton wasn't really married to his little sister and that she was safe, though he didn't know where. The raven he had received from Sam many moons ago had told him so.

Jon couldn't help but think of the poor girl who was married to Ramsey in Arya's place. He wondered who she really was before his thoughts changed to how he would feel if it really was Arya in her place. His little tomboy sister with her tangled hair and grubby little face and cute smile.

It had been so long since Jon had heard anything of Arya or Sam, he missed them both so much. 'Where are you Sam?' He thought to himself as he closed his as eyes and knelt in front of the log fire, feeling the warmth against his face. 'Where are you little sister?'