Just a quick update after a week of silence (a bout of flu, my 26th birthday, Inuyasha: The Final Act and Beyond Sing the Woods all conspired to my absence). Enjoy.

ARYA

There was a marked change in Sansa's behaviour in the morning. Bran had mentioned he had taken her to the sept last night and Arya knew very well that praying had a soothing effect on people, regardless of the deity they were praying to. And it seemed to have helped Sansa, considering her much more determined demeanour.

"I need to ask you something," was the first thing Sansa had told her after having Arya called into her room. "I would like to talk to..." there she paused before finishing, "my husband and I think it would be best if we met in a less intimate place than our own room. And since I do not remember just how much has changed after the rebuilding, I do not know where we could talk freely and without, well, the reminders that he would recall and I would not."

Arya regarded her sister for a moment as she tried to think about the request. Sansa seemed to have chosen to approach this as a negotiation of sorts, seeking a neutral ground for the first meeting and Arya almost shouted with joy because this was their Sansa coming through. Arya had been surprised by Sansa's political skill when they had first met after their years apart but she had gotten used to it ever since then.

"The godswood," she said at last. "Neither of you ever spent a lot of time in there for some reason. Besides, the fresh air might do you good," she added as she looked at Sansa critically.

"I am a bit pale still," Sansa agreed as she stood up from the bed and went for the wardrobe to pick a dress to wear. "And since when are you interested in other people's appearances?"

"Since I had to learn how to change mine," Arya replied before changing the subject. "A raven came today from Daenerys. She sends her best wishes and promises to visit as soon as you feel up for visitors. And Aegon sends his regards, too."

"Aegon?" Sansa asked. "You mean the King?"

"Yes, why?"

"You call him by his first name?" Sansa sounded scandalized and Arya laughed.

"Sansa, a couple of years ago he asked me to marry him and I broke his nose for that. I think after such a thing I can call him whatever I want," Arya knew she shouldn't find Sansa's expression so amusing but it couldn't be helped.

"You broke his nose?" Sansa dropped a purple cotton dress much better suited for warmer climates. "You actually hit the King for proposing to you?"

"It was a bad time for me," Arya shrugged, not wishing to dwell on the identity crisis she had gone through five years ago. "I did apologize to him and he is quite happy with his wife, so no harm done."

Sansa frowned in disapproval but dropped the subject. She held up a dress of dark grey wool with green embroidery on the sleeves and neckline.

"What do you think?" she asked almost shyly and Arya suppressed a laugh, remembering one memorable dinner when Sansa put on that particular dress. The neckline that was usually modest had gotten quite revealing with Sansa's breasts increasing in size due to her second pregnancy and Clegane had spent the majority of time glaring at any man whose gaze had lingered longer than he had deemed acceptable.

"No, Clegane hates that one," was all she said and Sansa put the dress back before pulling another one of a similar cut but all in green and Arya nodded. The dress looked new and was warm enough to be worn outside. Figuring Sansa could handle dressing on her own, Arya stood up.

"I'll send Clegane to the godswood, then. Was there anything else?"

"No," Sansa smiled at her, for a moment looking like everything was alright. "Thank you."

"Think nothing of it," Arya mumbled, almost embarrassed by Sansa's warm words and she quickly made her escape. Being thanked for such a small thing didn't sit well with Arya. Jon had told her to stop blaming herself but Arya wouldn't do it until Sansa was back to normal or as close to it as was possible. And if Clegane could help with that, then Arya was going to make sure he would. If anyone wanted Sansa back to what she had been before more than Arya herself, it was him. And that made them allies again, no matter how much Arya disliked the thought.