Chapter 4

Revelations

*Last time*

Once I was collected I made it back to the camp and stole some fresh clothes that hadn't been put away yet that would fit me.

With that set I made my way looking for Arya.

*Now*

I hurriedly made my way through the camp before coming to the tent of the king where I noticed a great many people gathering inside. Slipping into the back I listened to try to figure out what was going on.

"You let that little girl disarm you?" the King said with disdain towards his son and then turned back to Lord Stark. "See to it that your daughter is disciplined. I'll do the same with my son."

"Gladly, your Grace." Lord Stark replied gathering up his girls to lead them out.

"And what of the direwolf? What of the beast that savaged your son?" the Queen demanded.

"I'd forgot the damned wolf." The king muttered.

"We found no trace of the direwolf, your Grace." said someone within the crowd.

"So be it." Said the King.

"There is another wolf." The Queen said maliciously.

"As you will." The King said.

"You can't mean it!" Lord Stark thundered back.

"A direwolf's no pet. Get her a dog. She'll be happier for it." The King stated authoritatively.

I had heard enough, I hadn't considered what would happen to Lady because of what I did. I swiftly fled the tent and ran towards the Stark's area looking for Lady

Reaching the Stark campsite he noticed that Lady was chained to a post and was being guarded by two guards. Looking around to make sure no one was paying attention to the area. I focused on two rocks that I saw behind them. Quickly I used my power and raised them up and bashed the two guards heads once, twice, three times to make sure they stayed unconscious.

Moving forward I found the key on one of the guards and freed Lady. Holding my hand out I let Lady catch my scent. Lady looked up at me confused, but I just made a follow me motion and led her swiftly away from camp.

Once far enough away I focused on taking my wolf form, and after another five uncomfortable minutes I was a wolf again.

"How?" Lady asked, confused at how I could do that.

"Arcania." I stated. Understanding showed in her eyes as she remembered the conversation I had had with my siblings about the Goddess after she had visited me and explaining that our jobs was to protect our humans, which we would have done anyway.

"Why did you take me away from my Sansa." Lady asked.

"The prince attacked my Arya, so I made him regret it. Now we are not welcome." I responded.

Lady whimpered and true pain showed in her eyes that she was being separated from her Sansa.

"We will stay for a few nights, but then you must return to Winterfell and help protect the others. I will stay in my two-legged form to continue to protect them. I will try and get her to come see you one more time before you leave." I said soothingly.

Lady still looked sad but licked my face appreciatively for what I was trying to do for her. We then headed out and found some low shrubs and laid down for the night, uncaring of the brouhaha that was happening back at the camp.

# # # # # #

The next morning we stalked toward the camp and stayed in wait as they got up and started heading out to continue down the Kings Road. The entire day we stalked the caravan as they moved until the party stopped for the day.

Leaving Lady at a cave we had found near the camp I transformed again and then made my way into the camp. Searching through the entire camp I was unable to see them so I looked for their tents.

I found Arya's tent, making sure no one saw me and then I slipped inside to find my Arya crying into her bed. Knowing I couldn't approach her as I longed to do or she would freak out, I knelt down with my head bowed.

"My Lady" I stated.

Arya bolted up immediately looking shocked and angry, and started wiping furiously at her face.

"Who are you? How did you get in here?" Arya demanded quickly, pulling out needle from her bedside and pointing it at me.

Keeping my head down I stated. "I come bearing news of the wolves." Arya sucked in her breath hoping I wasn't there to tell her Rickard was dead. "They are safe and nearby."

Arya let out a choked sob as relief flooded into her. "Where is he, can I see him?"

With that I lifted my head and stared directly into her blue eyes with my vivid green eyes as we had done so often during the time we had spent together. Arya paused for a couple seconds in shock as she stared deeply into my eyes trying to make sure that I was who I said I was. Finding what she was looking for she launched herself at me and wrapped her arms around me as I reciprocated the action.

"How?" Arya asked holding me tight, afraid this might all just be a dream and that I would disappear.

I held her just as tightly loving finally being able to hug her. "You didn't really think I would let you go just because some stupid little ponce was having a tantrum. Arcania has smiled down on us and this is just another blessing. The Old Gods will not allow the last leading noble family that still follows them to come to harm without something to help them."

After a while Arya slowly relaxed her grip on me and leaned back to get a better look at me. I allowed her time to process the information and examine my new appearance. "I think I liked it better when you were a wolf. You were less handsome and more cute and fluffy."

"W-w-what!" I stammered only half flustered and the other half grateful she had accepted the new me so quickly. Arya giggled at the expression on my face before she straightened back up.

"You said both, so I take it you were the one to free Lady?" Arya inquired.

I nodded, "She is waiting to see Sansa one last time before she heads back to Winterfell where she will be safe. I plan to slip into the caravan and attempt to insert myself amongst the staff."

Arya nodded and sat down on the bed. "Are you able to change back?"

"Yes but it takes a few minutes and is slightly uncomfortable as you can imagine, when one changes their entire physical appearance." I replied.

"There was a huge fuss last night when the guards were found. They are still unconscious and no one knows exactly what happened to them, but seeing as just about all the Stark Household was accounted for when it happened people seem to think a thief decided to make off with the wolf. Sansa was both happy and distraught, because while Lady isn't dead, she doesn't know where she is."

"I need you to go find Sansa and bring her to the edge of the woods, tell her the one that is keeping Lady safe wishes to see her." I explained to her.

Arya nodded, gave me one last hug and then slipped out of her tent to go and fetch her sister. I waited for a bit before slipping out of her tent once the coast was clear and headed towards the edge of the camp to wait for them.

# # # # # #

Twenty minutes later they both showed up wearing dark clothes so that they could move undetected. Arya and Sansa's eyes kept sweeping the area looking for me. You could see the hope and worry clearly on Sansa's face, along with a slight redness to her eyes that showed that she had been crying.

Stepping out from behind a tree I whistled softly to get their attention and they hurried over to me.

"Who are you? Where is Lady? Is she hurt? Is she safe? How do we know that we can trust you? What's your name?" Sansa asked in rapid succession not even taking a breath in between each question.

I smirked, "My name is Harry, my lady, and Lady is just fine. I have her hiding in a cave about two minutes' walk from here. I thought you would want to see her before we sent her back to Winterfell where she will be safe."

"Well get on with it what are we waiting for." Sansa demanded and started shoving me to get me to go faster. Arya snickered at the unladylike fashion her sister was acting in her concern for Lady.

I led them to the cave where Lady was and once we were close enough I whistled to let her know we were coming. Lady came out of the cave and dashed to Sansa who also ran towards Lady and wrapped her arms around the wolf while Lady nuzzled and licked her face. Tears of joy start streaming down her face as continued to hold Lady and tell her how much she loved her.

I coughed to get her attention and both looked up at me. "It's not safe for Lady too stay to close to the caravan and once you reach the city it will be impossible to hide her. It will be best if you sent her back to Winterfell with a message for your mother explaining to her why she was sent back."

"Does she have to go right away?" Sansa asked, her lip wobbling and fresh tears threatening to be unleashed from her eyes.

"You can stay with her for a little longer but she must be gone soon, we are only two days away from the edge of the forest and she will be no longer able to hide. Plus if you keep skipping off it will be considered odd behavior and you might be followed, which would again put her at risk." I stated in a kind voice to explain why it had to be this way.

Sansa lowered her head in acceptance so I backed away to give them some privacy. Arya did likewise and whispered. "Harry?"

"It was a name that I vaguely remember and it seemed as good as any. You may still call me Rickard. Now that I have regained my human form I don't plan to let you out of my sight for long." I replied.

"Back?" Arya questioned.

"Before your father found me I used to live with my human aunt and uncle and to put it kindly they didn't like or want me. Apparently Arcania heard my prayers to be taken to a family that would love and care for me and changed me into a wolf and placed me with my new brothers and sister just as they were born. I was found shortly after that and you know what has happened since then." I explained.

Arya looked over at me like she wanted to envelop me in another hug, but didn't want her sister to berate her about touching strangers. I smiled at her in understanding. We found a spot to sit and while keeping an eye on Sansa and Lady I explained the vision I had gotten from the Goddess Arcania explaining everything to me.

"Will I be able to do magic like you can?" Arya asked with an equal mixture of hope and glee in her voice.

"I'm not sure, but it never hurts to try." I said warmly back to her.

# # # # # #

Sansa and Arya left after an hour where Sansa quickly penned a note to her mother explaining why Lady had returned. She gave it to me and I left with Lady going a ways away from the camp. I then attached the letter to Lady's collar, and said my own goodbyes.

With that we split ways, Lady back to Winterfell and myself back to the camp to find where exactly I could find a place for myself.

AN: Here is the next chapter, from here on there will have more of a divergence from the canon storyline seeing as Harry's actions have officially disrupted more than just one person's life.

FYI updates will be sporadic at best depending on how much time I will be able to allot to writing seeing as school has started up once again. On a side note I plan to try and get my other story up and running also if any are interested in HP/OP

As always keep reviewing, next stop Kings Landing.