~:Back With Old Friends:~

The heavy wooden door creaked on it's frozen iron hinges as Arya pushed it open before stepping inside the Inn of the Kneeling Man. She could feel the heat of the crackling log fire on her face as she entered and gently kicked off the snow from the bottom of her fur lined leather boots. It felt strange to be back here once again, but nice to feel warmth again.

Arya lowered her fur lined hood and shook her long brown hair briefly as she removed her leather gloves and then smiled over at Hot Pie who was sat behind the wooden counter. He looked half asleep and half bored. Glancing over to her he smiled back at her as he stood.

"Can I get you anything miss?" He asked as Arya started to walk over to the fireplace. "I recommend the stew. Rabbit, potato, carrot and onion. Made it myelf." He continued, following her over to the fireplace, a few steps behind. "Just one Silver Stag with some hard bread, I made that myself too."

Arya turned to face Hot Pie, knowing he didn't recognize her as Catelyn Rivers as she had never been her in front of Hot Pie before. He hadn't changed at all since she had seen him last. A little fatter perhaps, but only a little. "Sounds good. How much for a warm room and a comfy bed?" She asked, wanting to play with him a little before revealing her true identity to him. It had been many moons since she had seen him last and she realized how much she had missed him.

Hot Pie rolled his eyes back to look up at the beamed cieling as he thought for a moment with a blank expression on his round face. "Three Silver Stags for our best room or you can have a smaller room for two?" He replied as he looked her over, he clearly found her attractive.

Arya knew that Hot Pie didn't really know how much the rooms were and that he was probably guessing, but she didn't mind. "I'll take your best room." Arya replied as she reached into her leather pouch to pull out four Silver Stags, handing them to him. "Three for the room and one for the stew." She smiled sweetly at him to make him blush slightly. Somehow she held back a giggle as she came up with a mischievous idea.

As Hot Pie went to the kitchen to fetch her stew she sat by the stone hearth, warming herself by the crackling log fire. The inn was empty apart from herself and an elderly man who was sat in the corner over a bowl of hot stew and hard bread. His long grey hair covered his face mostly, but judging by his grubby clothes he was perhaps a farmer or laborer of some kind.

Arya wasn't surprised that the inn was so quiet. On her journey from the Eyrie she hadn't seen anyone else travelling. The truth was she hadn't expected to see many travellers high up in the mountains, but thought there might have been more signs of life in the Riverlands where the winter weather wasn't as harsh.

Feeling a little warmer Arya removed her thick hooded cape as she sat closer to the stone hearth to warm herself more, holdning her open palms to the fire to warm her hands and fingers which tingled slightly. The heat slowly spread through her body, closing her eyes as she enjoyed feeling the sensation.

After a few moments Hot Pie brought over her stew, placing it on the nearest wooden table to the fireplace. But, he forgot the hard bread so quickly returned to the kitchen to fetch some before sitting behind the counter again, watching her and admiring her from a safe distance.

Arya gladly ate her stew, filling her near empty stomach. It smelled so good and tasted even better as all of Hot Pie's food did, much better than the fruits, cheese and hard bread she had lived on since leaving the Gates of the Moon a few days earlier. Sansa had pleaded with her to take more food and supplies, but Arya wanted to travel light so refused. Maybe Sansa was right, this time!

Hot Pie really did have a knack for cooking and she felt so much better for a hot meal inside of her. After wiping her bowl clean with the hard bread Arya called Hot Pie over, asking him to show her to her room.

"Yes of course miss." He said as he picked up her wooden plate and bowl to tidy up after her. After placing the plate and bowl on the counter he led her up some wooden stairs and down a narrow hallway to a door which he unlocked with a brass key.

Arya followed Hot Pie inside and looked around her room for the night. It wasn't a big room as he had said, but it was nicer then the room she had stayed in the last time she stayed there. The bed was larger and had finer quality furs and sheets. The drapes that covered the window were thicker and the rugs that covered the floor weren't threadbare.

Arya then sat on the bed and patted the space next to her wanting to tease him. "Sit, i want to talk." Arya smiled over at him, teasing him. She could see the nervous look on his round face, but somehow held back a giggle.

"I...I shouldn't miss, I have work to do." Hot Pie replied as his round cheeks flushed a pale pink, he was clearly very nervous.

Arya could tell that he wanted to sit by her really and was just making excuses. "Just for a little while." She smiled and patted the bed again. "I insist."

Hot Pie nervously walked over and shyly sat beside her, where she had patted a few moments before. "So umm, why are you here? Where are you from?" He asked, doing his job and asking questions of travellers for the Brotherhood. It was part of his job to find out about the various travellers that stayed at the inn.

"My name is Catelyn Rivers, I'm going to visit a an old relative of mine." She replied almost instantly. It wasn't really a lie as she was going to see her Great Uncle, the Blackfish Bryndon Tully. Arya gently caressed Hot Pie's round cheek "Now close your eyes for me."

Hot Pie's blush deepened feeling her hand as he closed his eyes, preparing for a kiss.

Arya had no doubt that it would have been his first and started to feel a little guilty about what she was about to do, but it was too late to turn back on her plan now. She closed her own eyes and thought of her real face, her Stark grey eyes and her tangled brown hair. She then slowly pulled her left hand down over Katelyn River's face to return to her own before pinching Hot Pie's nose and then twisting both of his ears.

Hot Pie quickly opened his eyes and frowned when he saw who it was. "Arya!" He complained as he swatted her away. "That hurts."

"I missed you Hot Pie." Arya giggled at his reaction and hugged him briefly. "I'm sorry."

Hot Pie laughed and hugged her back, forgiving her for the trick she had played on him. "Are you here for the Brotherhood again?" He asked as he released the hug. He was clearly as pleased to see her again as she was him.

"Yes. I need to talk with the Blackfish." Arya replied as she tugged off her leather boots, placing them under the bed. Are the Brotherhood still hiding out at Hollow Hill?"

"Yes." Hot Pie replied with a nod before telling her what he knew, which wasn't much more than she already knew. He handed her the brass key then stood to walk over to the door and opened it slightly before turning to face her. "And one last thing."

"Yes?" She replied, looking over at her old friend.

"Gendry is there too. He's a blacksmith for the Brotherhood now. I'm sure he'll be pleased to see you again." He smiled as he turned and stepped through the door.

"Thank you Hot Pie" Arya said as she walked over to softly peck his round cheek, making him blush bright red and smile brightly. It wasn't the kiss that he was expecting from Catelyn Rivers, but she knew it meant a lot to him and had made his day. It also made her feel a little less guilty about teasing him.

Arya closed the door and locked it after Hot Pie had left to return to his chores. She couldn't help but smile as she thought of seeing Gendry again. She couldn't wait to see him, she had missed him and often wondered what had become of him after the Red Woman had taken him away. He had always been kind to her and had kept her secret about being a girl and a highborn lady. She also found him so annoying at times when he insisted on calling her m'lady even though she had told him not to call her that many times.

Feeling tired Arya stripped down to her small clothes and got into bed, appreciating it's comfort and warmth after spending a few nights sleeping outside in the cold. She soon fell asleep as she was more tired than she had realized.

Breath steamed from her black nose as she exhaled, the air was crisp and cold. Looking up the black sky glistened as she sniffed deeply for a scent. He stomach ached slightly from hunger, so tonight she would hunt.

The snow cruched under her paws as she made her way through the forest, with only the slightest of slits from the glowing white orb high above there were plenty of long dark shadows to hide in, making her prowl easier than when the orb was full.

Catching a faint scent she sniffed deeper, taking the frozen air deep into her lungs before following it, staying low and moving slowly and slightly as the scent grew stronger, leading her to hole in the frozen ground.

The hole was too small for her to go down so she started to dig, scratching and clawing at the frozen earth with her paws, deeper and deeper until she came to her prize. Some manged to flee into the darkness, but three grey hares was a sweet meal, though not very filling.

The next morning Arya woke early and sat up on her bed, wrapping the furs around herself to keep warm. Thinking back to her wolf dream she could almost taste the blood in her mouth, it felt so real. And just like Nymeria she felt hungry too so quickly dressed before heading down to get something to break her fast. It wasn't a long or difficult journey to Hollow Hill, but it would be cold so she wanted something warm and filling inside of her before setting off.

Noticing her sit by the log fire, Hot Pie walked over to sit by her with two bowls of steaming hot porridge. "I'm coming with you, to Hollow Hill." He told her quietly before scooping up some of his porridge into his mouth.

Arya wasn't sure why he was trying to be discreet as the inn was empty apart from them, but played along with him anyway. "Are you allowed?" Arya asked quietly before doing the same. It tasted good and wasn't lumpy like the porridge she had always made for herself in the House of Black and White.

"Things have been very quiet lately with winter coming and I'll be back by nightfall." He replied as they continued to eat, washing the porridge down with some hot tea. "It'll be good to see Gendry again." He continued with a smile.

Arya smiled back and nodded in agreement with him. It would be nice for all three of them to be together again, even if it was only for a day.

Once Hot Pie had finished his morning chores they set off for Hollow Hill. Arya helped him to sweep the old rushes away and lay some fresh. She even fetched some logs for the fire so that they could be finished quicker and be away sooner.

By the time they had set off snow was falling lightly from a greying sky, but there was very little breeze. It felt so calm and peaceful just like the summer snows back in Winterfell except it was much colder. Arya pulled up her hood and hoped the snow wouldn't start falling any heavier until they reached the safety of Hollow Hill. The entrance to the hideout was difficult to find even during daylight and Arya knew that it would be near impossible to find during a snow storm.

Arya listened as Hot Pie told her of his time spent at the Inn of the Kneeling Man. She was pleased that he had found some happiness and safety. He wasn't brave and he couldn't fight, but he was a really good cook. 'Maybe he can come and work in the kitchens at Winterfell when we take it back, then I can eat wolf bread every day!' Arya thought to herself with a smile.

Hot Pie suddenly froze and stopped talking, snapping Arya out of her thoughts as she instinctively drew Needle from her belt. She looked at Hot Pie, he was clearly terrifed as he slowly backed away and pointed to where Nymeria had appeared from the trees.

"Nymeria!" Arya smiled, releasing Needle and walking over to her loyal direwolf to scratch behind her ears, just how she liked. "It's ok Hot Pie, this is my direwolf." Arya said as she looked over to him, trying to reassure him that he was safe. "She won't bite...unless I tell her." She giggled softly.

Later that morning they reached Hollow Hill and met up with the Brotherhood Without Banners. Some of them knew Hot Pie and some of them recognized Arya and Nymeria. Looking around Arya could see that Anguy wasn't there. She knew that he was probably away on a scouting mission so decided to look around to find Gendry instead.

Arya was impressed by how much more organized the brotherhood seemed to be and how much better equipped they were than the last time that she was there. Under her mother, Lady Stoneheart, they were a just a small band with little and poor equipment, now they were a small force to be reckoned with with proper arms and steel and a real purpose now that the Blackfish was leading them.

It was then that she saw Gendry who was there talking to a man over a bastard sword by a makeshift forge. Arya had never seen the man before, he was tall and lean and his chain armor had seen better days. His pale blue jerkin was faded and needed a clean, but Arya didn't doubt that he had seen a few battles and was probably considered a valuable member of the brotherhood.

Meanwhile Hot Pie had gone over to the fire where something was cooking and had started talking with another man that she did not recognise. They looked to be exchanging cooking tips the way they pointed and talked over the cooking pot. She couldn't help but smile at his enthusiasm.

Feeling mischievous, Arya changed her face to Catelyn Rivers again and waited patiently for the man to leave Gendry before walking over and asking him to inspect Needle. "I think it needs sharpening, only I'm not very good with a whet stone." She said to him as she offered Needle, somehow keeping a straight face.

"Let me see." Gendry replied as he took Needle from her. He inspected it for a few moments, running his rough fingers carefully along the thin blade. "It seems fine to me." He said as he looked at her suspiciously. "Where did you get this from?" He asked. "I used to know a girl who had a sword just like this."

Arya gently chewed her lower lip for a moment and briefly considered keeping the ruse going before pulling her hand down over her face, changing it back to her own. "Hello Gendry" She said, smiling up at him.

Gendry looked at her in shear disbelief for a few moments. He simply couldn't believe what he had just seen and who was now standing before him. "Arya? How did you?" He said trying to find the words for how he felt.

Arya giggled and hugged him. "I'll tell you everything I promise." She said, smiling up at him. She was so pleased to see him again, it had been so long.

Gendry smiled down at her before releasing the hug. "You've grown m'lady." He said, trying not to laugh and raisning an eyebrow. "But only a little!"

That comment earned him a shove in the chest, making him laugh. He was much bigger and stronger than her though so it barely moved him.

"I see you're still very ladylike too." He continued, earning him another shove.

"Or are you still pretending to be a boy?" He winked playfully at her, continuing to tease her.

That comment earned him a sharp kick to the shin, making him whince and rub where she had kicked. "And you're still really annoying!" Arya replied sharply with a frown on her face.

As they sat by the fire to catch up, Arya asked Gendry what had happened to him after the Red Woman had taken him away. She was curious about what he had been up to all this time and why the Red Woman had taken him away.

Gendry told her that he had found out from the Red Woman that he was one of King Robert's bastards. "That's why the Gold Cloaks came after us that night. That's why the Red Woman and Stannis wanted me." He said before telling her how Ser Davos had set him free and that he had found his way back to the Brotherhood to smith for them, like they had asked him to before he was taken.

Arya then told Gendry about her travels with the Hound and her time spent in Braavos, training to become a Faceless Lady. She even showed him Jayne Snow's face to his amazement.

Gendry sat and rubbed his now bruised shin as he listened to her, making her feel a little guilty.

"Does it hurt? I'm sorry." Arya gently chewed her lower lip as she looked at the red lump that was forming on his shin.

"I'll live m'lady." He smiled as he stood, offering her his hand and pulling her to his feet. He was so strong. "Come." Gendry then took her and Nymeria to meet the Blackfish, Brydon Tully.

The Blackfish was a big man, taller than her father though not quite as big as the Hound. He may have been her mother's uncle but they shared little similarities in their appearance. His black leather armour seemed to have scales like a fish, faded and worn with age. The Tully sigil on his chest was also black and faded like his name.

"M'lord..." Gendry said as they approached.

The Blackfish looked down at Arya and then at Nymeria for a moment, knowing a direwolf when he saw one. He then looked over to Gendry. "Leave us." He replied. "I know who this is."

Gendry dipped his head in a bow and left, returning to his work.

"Wild hair, grey eyes. You have your father's look." The Blackfish said in a gruff tone as he gently held he chin to inspect her face. His hand felt rough and cold against her soft, warm skin. "He was a good man your father, honorable. Your brother Robb too." He continued as he lead her out to her mother's grave, under a tree and overlooking the river which was mostly frozen over. "Don't you worry, Walder Frey will pay for what he did." He continued as he knelt to tidy some fallen brown leaves from the grave. "I know what happened to Cat and I know what she did for you. She must have loved you very much."

Arya couldn't help but smile at his comment about her appearance and also knelt by her mothers grave to help him remove some of the fallen leaves. She was a Stark of Winterell and proud of it. She would avenge her mother and her brother and help to take back Winterfell, but only if she could convince the Blackfish of Mathis's plan.

"So, why are you here Arya? What do you want?" The Blackfish asked, looking into her eyes.

He may have been old but Arya could still see a fierceness in him. The same fierceness her mother had when she was alive.

After talking for a little while and discussing some of Mathis's plan about retaking Riverrun with him they headed back inside and out of the snow which had started to fall heavier. Arya appreciated the warmth from the fire, as did Nymeria who lay on her side next to it to warm her stomach. It made Arya smile to see Hot Pie and Gendry laughing and joking together.

Arya could tell that the Blackfish wasn't too keen to hand over Walder Frey after they had retaken Riverrun Castle. She too wished that they could kill him for what he had done, but they needed to trade him for the Great Jon to help reunite the north and to take back Winterfell from the Bolton's.

"So you want me to take back Riverrun Castle and then hand Lord Walder over to the Frey's? Are you mad girl?" He looked down at her as though she really was mad.

"We need the Great Jon to help reunite the north and to take back Winterfell from the Bolton's. They have to pay for betraying Robb." She explained, knowing that Lord Walder would get what he deserved in the end.

"Walder Frey must pay for what he has done too. It's his fault that your mother is dead." The Blackfish insisted. "I won't hear of it."

"Lord Walder will pay, just not yet." She smiled up knowingly at him, further explaining Mathis's plan to him.

"Fine." He reluctantly agreed with a sigh. "But I'll need time to prepare and call in as many men as I can. We'll only have one shot at this."

"Yes." Arya agreed, knowing that they had time as it would take the Knights of the Vale time to ride to the Twins and for word to reach Riverrun, giving the Blackfish plenty of time to prepare for the assault on Riverrrun Castle.

After Leaving the Blackfish to his thoughts Arya then saw another familiar face. Bryndon the little beggar boy she had helped in Riverrun. He had grown a little and was eight or nine years old now. He looked much healthier and happier than when she had found him begging on the streets.

She knew that Bryndon wouldn't recognize her with her real face, so she quickly changed to Jayne Snow's face, a face he would know before walking over to speak to him. He recognized her straight away and hugged her which she thought was nice and happily hugged him back.

"I want to show you something but I don't want you to be afraid." She told him as she knelt to his level, mussing his hair just as Jon used to muss her hair when she was a little girl in Winterfell.

I'm not afraid of anything!" He replied enthusiastically, posing playfully with a wooden training sword in his grubby little hand.

Arya couldn't help but giggle slightly at his enthusiasm and thought he looked cute. She couldn't help but wonder if this was how the people of Winterfell used to see her when she used to run around with stick swords and play at fighting. "Close you eyes and don't open them again until I tell you to, ok?" She told him, placing her hands on his little shoulders.

He seemed a little confused but nodded and closed his eyes. "Ok, I promise." He replied, closing his eyes tightly for a moment before opening his left eye slightly.

"No peeking!" Arya grinned, poking his nose as she could see that he was trying to peek, just like she would have done at his age.

"Aww ok." He grumbled playfully and closed his eyes properly this time and kept them closed.

Arya pictured her real face and slowly pulled her left hand down over her face to change back from Jayne Snow to her own face. "You can open them now." She said with a playful giggle.

Bryndon opened his eyes and stared at Arya for a moment, he was clearly confused. He could see that she wore the same clothes as Jayne Snow and her hair was in the same style except it was now brown instead of blonde.

"This is my real face and my real name is Arya Stark." She smiled at him, placing her hands on his little shoulders again to reassure him.

Brydon smiled as he realised that she was telling the truth and that she really was the same person. Her voice was the same. "That's amazing! Are you magic? Are you a wizard or something?" He asked her as he stared at her face.

"No, nothing like that." She giggled at his questions. "It's a long story." She continued as she sat in front of him. "So, how have you been?" She asked him, keen to know what he had been up to since she had seen him last.

At first he had helped out at the Inn of the Kneeling Man, washing pots, scrubbing floors and fetching logs for the fire before moving to Hollow Hill where he helped out wherever he could. He was good at gathering fruits and berries and was learning how to shoot a bow and swing a sword. Arya felt so proud of him and pleased that he had found some happiness.

Arya was ken to rest up and regain her strength after all the time she had spent journeying since leaving Braavos. It would fee; nice to stay in one place, for a while at least. In the morning she practiced her Water Dance. Gendry often watched her along with Anguy when he was there. They were both impressed by her speed and skill.

In the evenings she often sat and talked with Gendry who still insisted on calling her M'lady, despite her telling him not to. It didn't annoy her as much as it used to and she couldn't stay mad at him anyway. He knew it too.

At night when she lay by the fire to sleep she wondered how her sister was and how Syrio and Ser Jorah were, and if they made it to the Twins safely. She thought of Bran and Rickon too. And then her thoughts turned to Jon. She was looking forward to seeing him the most of all, hugging him and showing him her Water Dance with Needle. She hoped he would be proud of her. It had been so long since they had seen each other, she missed him so much.

Nymeria came and went as she pleased, though Arya didn't have any more wolf dreams despite hoping that she would.

Three weeks passed as Hollow Hill gradually filled with men preparing for the coming battle at Riverrun Castle before Anguy finally rushed in to the cave one morning. "It's time!"

Extra Content - Tyrion

As he stood on deck with a goblet of Dornish Red, Tyrion looked back at the Great Pyramid as they sailed away from Meereen and out into Dragon's Bay, starting the long journey back to Westeros and King's Landing where Cersei awaited.

Queen Cersei now that she sat the Iron Throne. Varys had received word from one of his little birds only a few days before they had set sail of the events that had unfolded a few weeks past in King's Landing. The explosion of wildfire that had killed so many at the Great Sept of Balor.

They had all agreed that now was the time to strike before Cersei could organise her men, now was the time for Daenerys Targaryen to take the Iron Throne and unite the Seven Kingdoms before the coming war with the White Walkers.

Tyrion knew with eight thousand Unsullied and three grown dragons nothing could stand in Daenerys' way, he only hoped Arya had been successful in uniting the north. The conquest of Westeros needed to swift.

After his older brother Jaime had freed him and he had made his escape, Tyrion thought he would never see Westeros again. He couldn't help but smile at the thought of seeing his beloved sister again and to see the look on her face.

The word frm Varys was that Cersei had put a bounty on TYrion's head, doing everything she could to find him and kill him. She wouldn't have to search much longer though, for now he was going to search her out and if he had his way, he was going to be the one to drive a dagger though her heart.