It had been a long time since she had last been in the Riverland's. Nearing four years in fact.

The last time she had been in this accursed Kingdom she had been attacked by Gold Cloaks, got split off and her plan of getting home ruined by the shits, been a hostage to Tywin, been a hostage to the Hound, and to top it all off she had seen Robb's body being paraded out of the Twins with Grey Wind's head sewn on to where his own should be. It was an image she had desperately wanted to forget but no matter how hard she tried she could not do so. Therefore, she had made it her mission to enact revenge, and what better opportunity would she get to use her newfound skills?

When she had first landed back on the shores of Westeros, fear had overtaken her. Constantly looking over her shoulder in case another Faceless Man was sent after her once she had killed the Waif. Not trusting Jaqen's words that as she had beaten one of their own, she would not be hunted as long as the secret was never revealed. She had docked in Maidenpool and spent a few days there carefully listening in to the numerous conversations there was to try and figure out what was happening here now. Grunting in annoyance that whatever was happening was being kept on the hush or no one was aware.

Damned the Lords for their stupid game.

That was all they saw it as. Something which bothered Arya greatly. Only seeing everyone as pawns to be moved so someone could get what they wanted. Her father wanted nothing to do with it and had foolishly believed he wouldn't be roped into the web of deceit that was spinning around every person. Something which had allowed the Lannister cunt to order his beheading. She remembered that moment often. Staring on as she watched him confess to lies for a reason she knew nought, watching Sansa sitting prettily beside her betrothed and the Lion Queen like butter wouldn't melt. To the order being given and Yoren yanking her down and forcing her head into his chest so she would not see.

But she had heard it. The sound of Ice being removed from its scabbard, the clean whistle it made as Valyrian steel cut through the air, to the sickening thud of what could only be her father's head falling. To Sansa's screaming, to the crowd cheering like it was the best entertainment they had ever come across. Anger burning deep within. At least Joffrey was dead. When she had heard this she had jumped in joy and groaned in annoyance that someone had crossed a name of her list off for her. However, the Frey's were hers.

She had put on the face of Carra, a kitchen wench who had been tasked to ensure food and wine flowed freely in the halls. Walder Frey very much looking like an overgrown rat and his sons not much different. Perhaps a handful were easy on the eye but Arya would never pay them any attention. Listening to the man ranting on how everyone mocked him from the Tully's to the Stark's to the Arryn's. Something which was stopped when none other than the Kingslayer putting him down a peg. As much as she hated to admit it, she had to fight back a laugh as she heard this.

Remembering the joy that had radiated through her as she had carved Lothar and Black Walder apart like the sacks of meat they were. Drinking in their screams like it was water after not drinking for days. Carra disposing of the bodies apart from some meat she had carved from the bones and walking into the kitchen to prepare the weasels meal for the night. The smell was vile, the scent of human flesh. Anticipation overruled her disgust though, and the pure look of disgust on the man's face when she revealed what he had just eaten before revealing herself and slicing Needle across his throat.

From there, Carra's face had come off and placed in her bag she had hidden in a small cave nearby. Instead putting on Walder Frey's face and calling for a feast of celebration that Riverrun was now back in their House's hands. All sons, grandsons, and great-grandsons had appeared. Drinking their fill and eating so much a part of her believed they would pop like bubbles. Then the first cough happened, having to hide her smile as the weasels young wife stood behind her with her head down. One falling, then a second, then a third. Until the floor was littered red with blood from coughing it up and bodies of the entirety of House Frey. Turning to the man's wife who was terrified as she pulled the face off.

"When people ask what happened, tell them the North remembers. Tell them winter came for House Frey."

And then she had walked outside to the barracks to steal a horse. A dappled grey mare, before riding south. One enemy down, a few more to go. Her next port of call being Cersei Lannister. At first, Arya had taken the Kings Road, something she stopped after a few hours because the second word did get out about what she had done, people would come after her. Instead pulling the reins and remaining relatively close to the road but not close enough that it was too noticeable. Which led to now. She'd rode through a few villages and a couple of towns, passing by a few holdfasts along the way.

"Through hands of gold- "

She snapped her head around at this. Stopping her mare which padded the ground with her hooves but didn't whinny. Trying to pinpoint where the voice was coming from. It took a few moments but soon she realised it had come from the left. Steering the mare to trot over as curiosity overcame her. She'd not met someone that wasn't in a town or village yet, and perhaps she could ask them what was happening. At least, until she rode up to the clearing and she saw cloaks of Lannister red. Anger boiling deep within her once again.

"That's a pretty song, not one I've heard before."

"That's because it's a new one. Are you hungry? We have rabbit."

Before the words even sunk in she had retorted back but the man who had asked simply stating as it was a cold day it was going to be a cold night. Now that she thought on it, it was cold. Abnormally cold for the Riverland's from what she remembered. To the point she could see her breath every time she exhaled. Then she realised something. If anyone would know what was going on, it was these men. Swinging her leg to jump from her mare and tethering the reins to a nearby tree so she wouldn't run off to sit down beside them. All looking to her with curiosity.

"Where abouts south are you heading?"

"Kings Landing."

"You poor girl."

What did he mean by that? Storing that away in her mind. If a Lannister man was saying that, what in all the hells was happening in the capital?

"Can't be that bad, can it?"

"Depends on what you consider bad. Whole place is covered in shit and bodies and smoke and blood. If that's what tickles your fancy, then it's the place for you."

The words were spoken so casually, and she scanned his face for any trace of a lie. Finding none and a pit formed inside her at this. She remembered the capital. The stench of shit was terrible even in the Red Keep but outside was even worse. Missing the crispness of fresh northern air. A part of her wanted to ride north but that was something she couldn't do. Not while the Bolton's held Winterfell. Once she was done south that was her next port of call. After that she didn't know, but it was something she had plenty of time to work out.

"My whole life I wanted to see the Red Keep, and the Dragonpit, and the Sept of Baelor. But no one is allowed in now. But from afar you can see it. The Red Keep standing all glorious at the top of the largest hill on the coast of the Blackwater. The ruin of what was the Dragonpit. Sept of Baelor though? Nothing. The place is still smoking even though it was blown to pieces months ago."

Arya's eyebrows raised a little at that. The Sept was gone. A small relief to her as the last time she had seen the Sept was when her father had been executed. But who had done it? It could have been anyone.

"What are you doing in the Riverland's?"

"We were sent to investigate what happened at the Twins. We were sent to keep peace."

She almost snorted at that. Peace was something a long way off and something she was never going to settle for. Not until everyone who had wronged her House was dead. The rabbit was removed from the stick above the open fire and was offered to her first, refusing it initially but the grumble her stomach made betrayed her. Hesitantly taking the meat which was spitting from how hot it was and the outside layer being all crisped up. When she bit into the leg, juices exploded on her tongue and she had to force herself not to moan as she had her fill with what she dared.

"My mother used to tell me something. If you are nice to strangers then strangers will be nice to you."

That was the opposite of what she was expecting, noticing now that neither were armed which had her sticking out even more. Not only was she the only girl, but she was also the only one with a weapon. Suddenly realising they could not harm her right now.

"You're a long way from home, aren't you? What kind of adventures have you had?"

"Endless, they'll be singing about us for a thousand years. When we left we couldn't wait to get away. Yet now that we're away we can't wait to get back. I want to go home and spent time with my dad on his boat fishing like we did when I was a boy. Hulin here's wife just had their first baby. He doesn't even know if it's a boy or a girl."

Sadness came over her for a minute at this. She could see it on the man's face. Something that sunk in more when he said he hoped it was a girl because at least then he would know the babe wouldn't grow up expecting to fight someone else's war. By now, a flagon was being passed around them all, taking a small sip of the wine as it was something she hadn't taken much of a fancy to. Much preferring a good northern ale.

"Why are you heading for Kings Landing anyway?"

She took another drink as she thought for a second on whether to be honest or not.

"I'm going to kill the Queen."

It went quiet for a few moments before all erupted in laughter. Clearly thinking it was a jape but if only they knew that was not the case and that she was wholly serious. She ended up staying with them for a few more hours until it was beginning to get dark. As she mounted her mare though, a thought overcame her. Not all Lannister men were bad, and she hoped Hulin got the chance to meet his newborn babe and Edric got to go out on a boat with his father again. Whilst it wasn't likely, there was nothing wrong with a little hope. From there, she had ridden south again, intending to find an inn to recuperate for a few days before making the final stretch of the journey. It took two days to find an inn which had a room. Handing over two silver stags and being shown to it.

It wasn't much. A chamber pot, a basin of water, and a bed that looked like it would collapse any second. Something which was confirmed as she lay down on it and immediately feeling hard wood against her back which was far from comfortable. But it was better than sleeping outside when it was raining like it currently was. Not wanting to risk getting ill and holding her back longer than she needed. The sooner Cersei was dead the sooner she could go after the Bolton's. From there, there would only be one name on her list. The Red Woman. Following Stannis Baratheon around like a lost puppy and taking Gendry from her which led to her being captured by the Hound. When she had decided to take his name off her list, she knew nought. She hated him, but she was glad for him. Without him Arya knew she would not be alive today. A bell ringing out from someone in the corridor stating the third meal was being served and she jumped at this, having not ate since the rabbit when she had left the Lannister men. She didn't recognise anyone, but despite this she stuck to the corner. Someone coming over asking if she would prefer mutton stew or a venison pie. Mouth-watering at the second as she hadn't eaten venison since she had left Kings Landing all those years prior.

"Cersei says her dragons are bigger than Aegon's."

"Like you believe that? Clearly she's trying to frighten us- "

"Arry?"

It took a moment but the second the name registered her head snapped around. She hadn't been called that in years, and the only people who did were all either dead or-

"Hot Pie? How? Sit down."

A strong feeling of joy overcame her at seeing his face. The very boy who had teased her relentlessly when he had believed she was a boy. Intending to join the Night's Watch himself. Only then realising exactly what inn she was in. This was where both she and Gendry split from him after he had been offered a job in the kitchens. A girl had long since forgotten childhood accomplices, but a girl was Arya Stark, and Arya Stark remembered him well. He smirked a little before sitting down opposite her and sliding her pie over. The scent coming from it had her mouth watering in a way it never had, spices wafting around she had dared not think of ever eating again. Taking her dagger and stabbing it to rip it in half and taking a big bite. Flaky and buttery pastry only accentuating the perfectly cooked meat.

"Hungry?"

"Starving."

He laughed a little at her remark.

"There's a secret to pies. Brown the butter before making the dough. Not many people will do so as it takes much more time but it's worth it."

"I didn't do that."

"Since when did you make pies?"

"I've only made one or two, I'm not a cook."

If only he knew what kind of pie she had baked. The look of horror on the weasels face dancing in her mind as he pulled the pastry back after realising his sons were the pie. By now, she had finished the first half. Licking her fingers and taking a big gulp of water that had been laid out before picking up the second half.

"I can't believe you're here; did you meet the big Lady?"

"What big Lady?"

"A Knight a think. She was looking for your sister but I told her about you, I think she went after you."

So it was Hot Pie who told Brienne of Tarth where she was.

"She found me, but I didn't go with her."

Once again, she locked her fingers, not even realising she had picked up the second half and devoured it until she looked down and noticed nothing was there. Stomach cramping over the amount she had eaten but right now, she did not care in the slightest. Hot Pie had a strange look on his face now, silently wondering what was on his mind.

"What happened to you, Arry?"

Arya went quiet at the question, him realising she did not want to talk. Asking if there was any ale to break the tension there was now in the room. Surprisingly, he reached over to the table beside them which was emptied not long before to grab a jug, pouring it into her cup and the sour yet subtle smell of ale filled her nostrils. Drinking it in one go which shocked the other much to her joy.

"Where are you heading?"

"Kings Landing."

"Why Kings Landing?"

She filled her cup again but this time took a small sip and sitting back and looking around her. Making sure that nobody was listening in on their conversation currently.

"I heard Cersei is Queen now."

"Aye, because she blew up the Great Sept and the King perished in an aftershock of the explosion. I would've liked to have seen it. Just imagine. Perfectly white seven towers just going boom. I can't believe someone would ever do so- "

"Cersei would. I did live with her for nearing a year so I know her best out of anyone in this inn probably. I'd imagine she's likely denying it but she's not subtle."

Or not as subtle as she believed she was. She might've only been eleven when she had met the Lion Queen, but even from a young age she was an excellent judge of character. Or according to her father and mother she was. It was the only thing her mother would gladly boast about in Winterfell.

"I'm surprised you're heading south. I thought you would've headed North to Winterfell."

"Why would I go there? The Bolton's have it."

"You haven't heard? The Bolton's are dead."

She choked on her ale at that, spluttering a little but managing to catch her breath, ignoring the worried looks cast her way in case she were choking. Eyes widened to a point they probably looked like they were bulging out of her head as she stared at Hot Pie awaiting on him elaborating.

"Your sister escaped and rode to the Wall to meet up with Jon Snow. They gathered and army together and rode down and won the battle. They're calling it the Battle of the Bastards. He's King in the North now."

Her heartbeat sped up as did her breathing, a ringing in her ears like someone had screamed loudly directly into them which cancelled out all sound. Sansa. Jon. House Bolton was dead. Winterfell was back in the Stark's hands. Jon was King in the North.

"You're lying."

The words left her even though she could tell he wasn't, not wanting to admit it aloud.

"Why would I lie to you? He's your brother right? The one who gave you your sword?"

With that, she stood up, chucking a silver stag on the table. Knowing now she could not stay the night. She wasn't alone. Her sister and her brother were in Winterfell. For how long had she had the wish to be back in her home and running around with her siblings playing come in my castle and tug rope and chasing one another through the crypts and the Godswood? A thought Arya had long put down to longing. But now? It wasn't just longing. She decided then. Cersei could wait. She would be heading for the Kings Road and riding hard for the North.

"I can't believe I ever thought you were a boy, you're pretty."

A tiny blush came onto her face at this but she schooled her expression not long after like she had been taught playing the Game of Faces.

"Come with me."

"Arry, I can't- "

"Yes you can. The Riverland's are not safe. If even a peep gets out that you know I'm alive they'll torture you like the Tickler did at Harrenhal- "

"I can't just leave the inn. I have a place to live and a job I love- "

"A place to live in the form of a bed harder than jagged rocks?"

He went quiet at this, knowing she'd made a good point.

"Come with me, Hot Pie. If what you say is true and my brother is King, he'll treat you like a friend. Imagine having a feather bed instead of a solid bed. With covers of the finest northern wool to keep you warm at night and a castle constantly kept warm from the pipes buried deep within the walls."

Arya could tell from his expression she had won him over even if he tried to hide it. Stating he would need a couple of hours to pack but she had the time. Walking over to the innkeeper and a sack of coins, stating to use it to find a new cook on short notice. Her teeth were bright red from the sour leaf she had been chewing which reminded her greatly of Yoren as he was always chewing on the stuff. Hot Pie emerging with a bag swung over his shoulder and jumping up behind her on her mare with a little difficulty, stating he had never ridden a horse before. Arms wrapping around her midsection to secure himself as she nudged her heel into the animal and rode towards the North.