Noxious Snow

Part 4

"What's taking them so long?" Robb questioned out loud despite not having any other ears to hear it. He prodded the fire at his feet with a long stick watching as a lump of ash spilled onto the ground and a puff embers floated off into the air. He was starving and worried, the cold air nipped at the back of his neck as he tried to avoid his mind wandering to the worst possible scenario. Ten more minutes he had decided, before he would go out looking for his father and brother himself, he hoped however that it wouldn't come to that. A rustle in the nearby bushes caught his attention instantly as sharp eyes left the dancing flames and instead shot towards the direction the noise came from. A small shadow darted past the breaks in the foliage as Robb shot to his feet, instantly grabbing hold of his sword and unsheathing it from his belt.

"Who's there?" He called out, hoping to startle off any animal that he may have mistaken for something far more dangerous. With another rustle he decided that whatever was there couldn't have been too big. Robb cautiously approached the bush were the thing seemed to have settled before looking over the top to see something he least expected. Large familiar grey eyes looked up at him with a sheepish smile.

"Arya, by the Gods what are you doing here? How did you even get here?" Robb uttered in shock, dragging his little sister out of her hiding spot by the collar before replacing his sword back in its rightful place. Arya brushed off all the leaves that had stuck to her clothing and picked out a twig from her hair before answering her big brother who had now crossed his arms across his chest with a scolding look in his eyes.

"Well, the thing is, it was so boring after you and Jon left and Septa had me doing crochet of all things while I had to sit and listen to Sansa whine about this and that! So I snuck out of the castle, found a horse and followed your trail, it wasn't exactly hard and you weren't really moving that fast. I just really wanted adventure is all! I even brought my own sword, see!" A flash of steel glinted in the moonlight as Arya pulled out her thin-bladed weapon and swung it around a little, nearly slicing Robb with it, if he hadn't managed to back step out of the way.

"Whoa there Arya, that's not a toy, who even gave you that?" Robb asked grabbing hold of his sister's wrist to stop her from her enthusiastic swinging.

"My sword is called Needle and Jon gave it me on my last birthday," Arya replied bluntly, yanking her arm out of her brother's grasp before putting her sword away.

"Did he now?" The older Stark raised an eyebrow, slightly amused by that. Still this was no place for a little girl to be and he knew it. Now he hoped even more that his father would return soon so this mess could be sorted out.

"What did you do with your horse by the way?" Without a word, Arya pointed to the fourth horse that was in the company of the other three and Robb made a noise of approval.

"I hope by now you have a decent fire going!" Ned Stark called as he appeared from the shadows carrying a limp deer across his wide shoulders. Jon wasn't far behind him as two faces instantly washed over with the same stunned expression when the saw little Arya Stark standing in front of them. With a small, innocent wave she gave them both a guiltless smile while in the background Robb pinched the bridge of his nose, "we have a little problem." Ned dropped the carcass on the ground heavily as a frown instantaneously crossed his face.

"Arya, what are you doing here? You know full well you shouldn't have come along," Eddard reprimanded in a very stern tone. Arya bowed her head in shame and bit her lip unsure of what to actually say to her father about the matter considering she really had no valid argument other than her own stubborn desire to be wanted to be treated like one of his sons rather than a daughter. Lord Stark however could never stay mad at any of his children for very long, he knelt down in front of his youngest daughter and wrapped his arms around her, hugging her tightly, suddenly feeling very afraid for her safety. She may have been feisty and for a girl of her age had an astounding ability to look after herself but in a place like this she was an easy target and all but defenceless against the things that lurked behind the trees.

"This was a very foolish thing you have done, my daughter," Eddard sighed.

"I know…I'm sorry father, I just really wanted to be with you, Jon and Robb," the younger Stark muttered wondering what kind of punishment she would be in for after this little incident. Hearing the truthful remorse in Arya's voice, Ned Stark stood himself up and looked between his two adult sons deciding what to do next. It didn't take him long to come to a conclusion.

"It is too dangerous to travel a distance in the dark so Arya will spend the night with us and then we shall take her back to Winterfell at first light before we continue any further," Ned declared. Arya tried to contain the excitement she had at the idea of spending the night in the wilderness for the first time but couldn't hide the bounce in her step nor the big grin on her face. Jon and Robb shared a look of concern for their younger sibling that wasn't voiced before Ned decided that the matter was dealt with and once again shot out new orders.

"I'll skin the deer, Robb you set up a spit roast and Jon, keep an eye on Arya and make sure she doesn't do anything else rash," Eddard instructed pulling out a knife and quickly setting to work.

With a silent sigh, Jon sat down besides Arya with his back against a large tree trunk. He pulled up a knee and rested his arm across it before giving his sister a disappointed look.

"What?" Arya mumbled, shifting uncomfortably under her favourite brother's stare. A hand shot to the grass beside her crossed legs as she pulled out a handful of green blades.

"You know what, Arya. Why did you follow us?" It didn't hurt Jon knowing that she had disobeyed an order but that she had willingly put herself in danger. The day he would see a sibling die would be the day his soul would fracture into unfixable pieces.

"Because Jon! I didn't want to be alone…you know you're the only the one in my family that I really get along with because you understand me and well, I didn't get to give you my present!" Her voice suddenly changed in volume as the enthusiasm returned.

"What?" Jon was taken back, praying that missing out on giving him a present wasn't what drove his crazy sister into travelling all this way. But then again this was Arya Stark, the wildest and most unpredictable of the Stark children. Arya's hand dove into her pocket before she pulled out a black cord that was attached to something that shone silver with a red ruby for an eye. She held the item out in front of Jon whose eyes locked onto the wolf's head pendant that hung from the cord.

"I had it specially made for my favourite brother, I did the markings myself to make it look like a wolf," she exclaimed gleefully lowering the item into Jon's open hand who in turn began to inspect the somewhat familiar design.

"This doesn't mean you're off the hook you know?" Jon grinned wrapping an arm around his little sister and kissing her on the forehead. Nevertheless it was a beautiful piece of jewellery that even he couldn't deny held so much personal value. Arya chuckled, glad that she had managed to put a smile on her brother's face because it really was an expression that he didn't seem to have very often.

"I will wear it with pride, thank you," Jon slipped the long black cord over his head, giving the wolf one last look over thinking about how accepted into the Stark family he actually was – bar of course Catelyn who would never see him in that light.

Once the deer was fully roasted on the spit, Ned called everyone for supper taking out a couple of bowls he had brought with him on his own horse (having for some reason brought a spare) and the Stark family all sat around the toasty campfire enjoying the tender meat. After half an hour of eating their fill and taking part in animated conversation full of laughter and banter, Eddard Stark announced that it was time to turn in for the night.

"So, Arya did you remember to bring a bedroll?" Ned quizzed collecting up all the bowls.

"Er…I…er…I forgot," Arya mumbled, scratching the back of her neck awkwardly, cursing herself for not being more prepared when she was already in the wrong for being out here in the first place. Jon unintentionally cracked an amused grin at Arya's mistake, after all the planning she must have gone through to sneak out the castle to forget something so important.

"That's not a problem, you can use mine. I'll take first watch, Robb you'll take second and Jon you'll take third alright?" Ned instructed watching both his sons simply nod in response, happy to take on responsibility without question.

"What about me? Can't I take a watch?" The youngest present Stark member asked with enthusiasm. Ned chuckled deeply, "no Arya, you'll do no such thing. Your mother is already going to have my head for not taking you back immediately, nevermind taking you back half asleep." Arya broke out into huff and crossed her arms across her chest. Once again the Stark sons looked slightly entertained by their sister's keenness to be like them.

"Well then, you should all get some sleep, I'll wake you up Robb in about three hours when it's your shift," Lord Stark simplified slouching himself against a tree and using a stone to quietly sharpen Ice for something to do and to keep his weapon handy if needed. After all he was a father protecting his own children, there wasn't anything he wouldn't do to an enemy if they threatened his pride and joy.

Once the bedrolls were laid across the ground (Arya's taking a spot that was awfully close to Jon's) the Stark children got themselves comfy beneath the warm embrace of the covers and quickly drifted off to sleep. Lord Eddard Stark watched from beneath the shadows of leaves with a distant but happy smile on his face at three of the most treasured beings he kept close to his heart. His eldest son, Robb Stark: strong-willed, caring and a born leader, was more than what Ned could ask for to be his heir. Then there was Jon Snow: born a bastard but with the true strength of a Stark burning fiercely in his blood, a natural swordsman with such a soft and trusting heart that understood others better than anyone else. Finally Arya Stark, his youngest daughter that was so passionate and energetic she rivalled all the Starks put together: headstrong and confident she would probably one day become one of the greatest warriors Westeros has ever seen, despite her gender. Ned knew he was lucky to have such wonderful children, not one of them corrupt or foul-natured, blessed by the Gods he was and for that he would continue to pray every day for their safety.