"She's not along though." One of the men said to me aloud as I got up on my horse, Arya on one side of me and James on the other. Our direwolves were at our sides, ready to run with us as I saw Gendry with Koda, standing next to me and my horse. He was going to hold Winterfell for us in case something else would happen and we would get in trouble. I trusted him with that, since I knew that Gendry was god enough to take care of the fortress. WE needed someone to stay behind in case of anything that were to happen.
"Who is she with?" I asked aloud to the man who was standing in front of me.
"We don't know Milday. But they are also with young Robin, the lord of the Vale and the son of Lady Arryn." He explained, having me look over to Arya. We now had to not only deal with Sansa but with our cousin now, whom I have never met as well as my Aunt. Should we trust the young cousin? I haven't heard anything bad about it, nothing ill of that sort, but I was more determined to find my sister and get her back in Winterfell before it was too late.
"Where were they?" I asked him aloud, moving my braided hair to the side.
"They were along the Kingsroad near Torrhen's Square, Milday." Her replied back to me.
"I know the place well, we can reach it in no time." James informed me aloud from my other side, having me look over to Arya and see her watch me for an order of some kind. I thought it would be the other way around since she was born and raised here, knowing how to be a leader. But I guess it belonged to me, being the eldest Stark child that was currently living.
"Gendry will stay here and watch Winterfell, whilst we are gone he is in command along with Brennon at Thedra Ascent." I said aloud, hearing the other people that were around stop talking to each other and I saw him all watch me for future orders, "James and Arya will be with me in case of anything going wrong. We will find Sansa Stark and bring her home." After I said that, though I was not expecting it, I heard cheering from the group around me. They really did think that I was a leader, that made no sense to me. Because when I looked at myself, I saw no leader. I only see a frightened girl who is trying to find her family,
"We can make time if we leave now, Milady." James informed me in a low tone, having me nod my head at him as he galloped over to the front of the open archway, three other men who were coming with us. Arya waited for me as I saw Gendry walk over to me, Koda going to his sister Astrid and staying together as I looked down at Gendry. I saw worry in his eyes, worry and fear that I may not come back. We had no clue who we were going to deal with, this man who was with both Robin and Sansa. I only hoped that I will not be harmed, but then again it was more about Sansa and if she was going to make it anywhere without that man.
"You have to go?" He asked me in a sheepish but low tone, since everyone else around us was backed off and getting things prepared for the things to come.
"She's my sister, Gendry." I explained to him in a prideful tone, "I have to protect her, even if it means I'll kill this man to get her back here to Winterfell, to our home."
"But you?" he asked me in a more sorrowful tone, having me feel pain that he was afraid for me. I saw him walk over to me some more, to the point that we were practically touching since I was on the horse and looking down at him. I grabbed his collar to his shirt, having him be pulled up to his tiptoes as I leaned down and kissed him. He was silent then as I kissed him square on the mouth, a kiss that was more to prove a point than anything. I felt a spark in that kiss, and for some reason I felt as though he was feeling the same way as well. When I pulled away, I only showed him a serious look to show that I was just as devoted to this relationship as he was. I was just as scared and worried that I wouldn't find him again than he was. We both were scared, but we both weren't afraid to fight for what we needed to fight for.
"Just come back to me." Gendry said to be in a determined tone of voice. I nodded my head, still holding onto him as I stared into his blue orbs.
"I won't leave this world without you, Gendry." I promised him giving him one last kiss before pulling away from him all the way and kicked the horse to follow James. Astrid left her brother's side, staying next to me as I looked behind me and saw Arya and Gendry talk to each other for a brief moment. I stopped my horse and watched, seeing Arya nod her head at him and Gendry look serious at her. They made a agreement on something, and as soon as Arya rode over to be next to me, we both galloped behind James and the other men and we were on our way to find Sansa. I felt the cool wind against my face as we rode through the snow and towards the area where they found Sansa and Robin with the mysterious man.
"What were you two talking about?" I asked her aloud as we galloped next to each other. I saw her look forward at the road in front of us, having a moment to herself before she answered me.
"He wanted to make sure that we were going to look out for each other." She explained to me, having me look over at her and see a solomn look on her face. She then looked over at me again, having me see her brown hair flying in font of her gray eyes and in the wind.
"Gendry doesn't want to loose his family." Arya said more in a soft tone, having me realize that when the three of us were together last, it was with the Brotherhood of Banners, who Arya wanted us to be a family but Gendry never saw it. All it took was for me to go missing, to show Gendry that he lost something so good in his life and that he didm see Arya and I as his family. I did too, and I still do.
"He's not going to." I replied back to her, then thinking of another memory that we both had back in the day of simple times and simpler thoughts, "What do we say to the God of Death?" Watching her from my horse, I saw her smirk, the same smirk that I would picture her wearing on her face when she would dive Needle into somebody's heart and killing them.
"Not today."
We rode on for a hour or two before we saw a group of knights riding in the Barrowland, a bit away from the Kingsroad. James knew of the sigma: A moon with the bird, that it was Arryn knights and that might be the men we were looking for. I had on a cloak to keep me warm, the hood over my hair and my mouth and nose was covered by some cloth that I fashioned to keep my identity a secret. Arya was wearing the same thing, though her cloak was smaller and fitting for her. The both were us were under cover.
I had my bow out in one hand, the arrow already in the bow and ready to ill back in case they were going to be too fast as James lead the way. We had some stark banners that were left over flying with us as we rode. But the closer we got, the more nervous I got. What if they wanted to fight, what if we were going to have to declare war then and there? All for Sansa and my cousin whom I have never met? I and to have faith that we were going to be fine where we were, that we were going to get out of this alive. I was not going to loose Sansa, not now.
WE approached the big group, the knights were in front of us as I saw three people, whom were not knights, behind them and one of them was in fact a Lady, since I saw her dress and she had a hood over her head and the cloak covering most of her face and body. The other two were males, one of them was in fact a young boy and the other was a older gentleman with his cloak but his hood down. He had a cunning look on his face, short hair that showed his dark but intriguing eyes. Astrid and Nymeria were at our sides, looking at the opposing group and having both of their ears back in defiance and threats.
"Who are you?" The knight from Arryn asked aloud in his demanding voice.
"We are looking for Sansa Stark." James said aloud, having me notice the girl in the cloak once more as we were facing each other with about 10 feet between each other. My hands were on my bow now near my hip, not making a move, not just yet.
"Lady Sansa is back at King's Landing. I am traveling with my niece and stepson." The older gentleman said aloud, his voice was both soothing and yet threatening. I watched him, thinking that something was wrong here in the first place.
"Who are they, father?" The young man asked aloud in wonder and with a hint of annoyance in his tone, "I thought we were going to tour the East like you said."
"I would like to know the same thing, since I see that these men are carrying the Stark banner, and I know for a fact that Winterfell as fallen." The older man said aloud in his cruel tone with a hint of confusion in his tone of voice.
"We are from Winterfell." James said aloud in his bold voice, having me watch the man look a bit scared from what he heard, "Winterfell is back to its former glory and we are looking for Sansa Stark. Both of her sisters are looking for her."
"Both of her sisters?" The man asked, riding up with his horse to be in the front of the group and having me see him more closely. I never saw him before, even his broach was new to me, but I paid no mind to him, not yet. For now, I wanted answers.
"She only has one sister, whom is dead." The man explained aloud to James, having me look over at Arya, whom was staring at the man with haunting and hurting eyes.
"Arya is alive and well, and she is waiting for her sister at Winterfell." James informed her once more, having me see the woman who was cloak move on her horse in hesitance and in worry. She was now worried about Arya, we hit a nerve with her and now she knows.
"If you know anything about the whereabouts about Sansa Stark, tell us now before we would have to use force." James explained to him in a calm tone, but the look on the man's face was now cruel and bold, as if he was no moved about anything James said.
"I doubt the fallen house of Stark will use any force against the Arryn House, or have you forgotten that we were once allies." The man said aloud, having me move my bow up and shoot past James, missing his shoulder and arm by mere inches, and then hitting the knight in front of the man in his neck. The knight grunted, blood spilt from his neck and he fell off his horse in a thump. The rest of the knights were about to draw when I drew another arrow and had it loaded, aiming at the man once more.
"We don't do well with threats." I said aloud in a low tone, having me see the cloaked woman move in a jolt on her horse, but I still didn't see her face. The man eyed the fallen and now dead knight, and the rest of the knights were hesitant, with their hands on their handles of the swords. Are men were the doing the same, waiting for the first move as the man's eyes went over to me. He was trying to read me, since I just killed one of his men within seconds.
"Who is it that I am threatening, if I may ask?" he asked me aloud in wonder. I then threw off my hood and pulled the cloak down from my face and eyes, showing my whole face now in the cool wind of the East. His face was now grave, which meant one thing: he knew who I was.
"So…it is true. You are truly alive." He said aloud to me as I stared at him cold in the face. Arya moved behind me with her horse, still in disguise and not being seen as she was keeping her head down. I may be a Stark, but Arya was much more of a threat than I was.
"And you know who I am, which can only mean one thing: you have known about me." I said back to him in my bold tone, seeing him eye me with his small smile on his face.
"That I do, Nora Stark. So you have come to find your sister and reclaim the North I take it?" He asked me aloud in a amused tone.
"You hold your tongue: she's the heir of Winterfell." James said in his cold tone, having me see Arya eye me from the corner of my eye and then the hands on the cloak woman tighten on her reigns.
"It's a sad affair, though, to know that you're twin and both of your parents are dead at the hands of there South." The many ride to say in a cunning way, a way to make me hurt and be in pain from what I don't have. But then I saw Arya kick her horse to stand next to me and move down her hood and cloth. She was in full blown view now, and now the stakes were hire as she stood next to me on her horse. The look on the mans face was more confused and had a hint of fear and shock to it as well. He knew something more, I knew that for certain.
"You thought I was dead, Littlefinger?" Arya asked aloud, having me look at him in shock now. She knew who he was? Was he someone that we would have to get rid of?
"All of Westeros thought you were dead, but apparently a wolf can't die easily." He replied back to her in a low tone, having me see her eye him in a death glare.
"You worked for the Lannisters, I know that much." She explained aloud, having me feel much more anger for him now since he was once with the Lannisters.
"Not anymore I'm not." He said in almost retaliation as I watched him from behind James, knowing that James was going to protect me from anything or anyone.
"Yet you knew that I was alive." I said back to him in my bolder tone, feeling as though I would like to kill him because he knew about me and he knew about the Lannisters as well.
"Rightly so. I was told that you might be alive. I do recall having soldiers sent out to kill you." Littlefinger said aloud in his cold tone, having me see the shift in the groups and how they were all waiting for me to say something, anything. He was sent to kill me when I was young, he was supposed to find me and kill me.
"Clearly you failed." Arya said aloud next to me as I watched him with my eyes, seeing him eye me and never look over at my sister once. I knew Sansa was saying nothing, she was not moving, she must of beens cared. That are Littelfinger had her under his thumb and was ruling over her, was she under threat to not speak once at us?
"Bring us Sansa and you will go free." I said to him in a bold tone, showing my authority over the situation. He smiled at me, showing that he was not moved by my command at him. I and enough of him, not even knowing who this person was but only knowing that he was sent to kill me all my life and trying to make my life hell. For ally hat I knew, he was the enemy and that he was as much of a Lannister than the others were.
"I will not be moved by a little girl with a group of men to protect her." He said to me in almost a snarl, but within a few seconds I threw up my bow with the arrow drawn and I shoot. The arrow lands at his chest, the knights around him with the Arryn banners were in shock and move away from him as he gasps and looked right at me, the life in his eyes were leaving him and as I stared at him with my cold stare. He might of tried to kill me once, but I was the one who ended him. Who knew what else this man was capable of, since he was a ally with the Lannister. He slowly fell off his horse, no more life in him as I lowered my bow and looked at the knights that were once with him. Both the knights and Robin were looking at me in shock as I then tried to figure out what to do with them next.
"If you wish to have a roof over your head and stay in the alliance of the North and East, then come with me back to Winterfell." he explained aloud as I finally saw the cloaked women withdrew the food from her head. It was in fact Sansa, her hair was longer and was framing her pale face, which was in fact older and a bit wiser. She has been torment, if not with Littlefinger but with the Lannsiters as well. Arya hopped down from her horse as well as I, Sansa getting off her horse and the three of us met in the middle of the area with the horses, as if we were talking a peace trial.
"I had no idea that you were still alive." Sansa said in relief as she and Arya hugged from their spots. I was beyond glad that they were bonded again, even though they never had a good relationship as sisters. But then again they both have almost died. But once she looked at me, I smiled at her as she gave me a warm hug, having me hug her back and feel the family warmth coming through the both of us.
"From the moment I met you, I knew we were connected." Sansa explained to me as we pulled away from each other, having me see her smile the same way Arya smiled at me, a familiar smile.
"You know her?!" Robin asked from his spot on his horse, the three of us looking over at him with a bit of worry, "She just killed him!"
"Hush Robin, it's fine." Sansa replied to him as she looked back at the both of us, "Is it true, that Winterfell is back?"
"Yes, and we need to find Bran and Rickon." I explained to her, "I have no idea where they are."
"We can't forget Jon though, he's family too." Arya said in a hint of urgency, having me look over at her and see the worry in her eyes as she said this.
"We'll find them, as long as I'm back at him then we can find them." Sansa explained to us both, having me have a sense of relief over the three of us.
Three down, three to go.