The next day, Robb gave me a kiss and sent me on my way to Winterfell.
I had about two dozen men guarding me, a future prince or princess, and the Lollistons.
The travelling was hard on me, since the prince or princess inside of me grew everyday, and would be birthed in a few moons. I decided that instead of Princess Lyanna, it would be Princess Catelyn instead. I think Robb would approve.
I couldn't imagine the pain that Juliana, who has become my constant companion, must be feeling. Robb forced us to take a healer, Mel, who was an older woman at least fifty.
We traveled for a month before we reached Winterfell, and it was a hard month. Winter was truly coming, and snow and ice had made it difficult traveling.
We had to take side roads for our safety, and the ground was treacherous. Around the fire, eating porridge, Juliana and I became very good friends. "I'm going to name her Dimia, or him Dimitri," Juliana told me. I smiled at her. "I hope it's Dimia, so that Ned has a future wife." Juliana smiled and nodded. "Plus let's hope that Dimia takes after me instead of Henry. He had the most terrible nose. Thank the gods Rorin looks like me." I had roared with laughter, and she too, until our guards told us to shush it.
When we finally arrived at Winterfell, we were worn and tired. I, however, was rejuvenated with energy as soon as I saw the familiar grey walls. I raced my horse and jumped off, forgetting formalities, and picked up little Ned. He was nine months now, and had gotten his toddler fat.
Still holding Ned, I introduced Juliana to Bran and Rickon, who I greeted as well. They said hello back to be, but very halfheartedly. Then again, their mother had just died. I carried Ned up to my old chambers and called for a bath.
I watched in amazement as Ned, who had a full head of thick, dark hair, crawled across the bedroom floor. He laughed as well when I tickled him, and always seemed to babble happily. I bathed with him, making funny faces and talking to him.
"Hey Ned. You may not remember me, but I'm your mama. Can you say mama? Mama," Ned didn't say anything, instead laughing and clapping his chubby hands together before trying to pull out my hair.
I floated him in the bath, and simply played with him until Eva came and told me it was time for the return feast.
She dressed me in a thin silk gown, with a low back. The skirts were mesh, but decorated so heavily with black satin that you couldn't see anything. The bodice was completely black satin, but the arms were clear with only a few splatters of black. A mourning gown, for Catelyn.
She then put my hair in an elegant bun, with a curl of black hair on each side of my face. "Annablyth, Sansa Stark has been spotted." Eva said after the handmaiden left. I had to try very hard to not turn around. "Where?" I asked. "The Eyrie. She arrived there disguised as Alayne Stone, niece of Petyr Baelish. She has dyed her hair black, but my informant recognized her." I purse my lips. "Send one of your most trusted men to smuggle her out of there and return her home."
Eva nodded, and then left. Lorena, my old handmaiden, came in and gave me Ned, who was dressed in black, mourning clothes, with a direwolf brooch.
I carried Ned down to the Great Hall, and seated him next to the direwolf throne, which I sat on. When everybody filed in, a lifted my goblet and said. "I, Queen Annablyth Stark, will inform all guests present that I am with child." When the chatter settled down, I said, "To Catelyn," and lifted my glass.
I sat down and enjoyed the good, Northern food that I had missed so much.
About an hour into the feast, a serving boy came to whisper in my ear, "Your Grace, somebody demands your presence." I take a sip of wine. "And who is this?"
"The Hound,"
I stopped cold. What was Joffrey's dog doing here? "Why is the Hound so far away from the Lannisters?" I say, desperately trying to keep my mask of composure on.
"He says he wants to ransom Arya Stark." I stand up and excuse myself, following after the servant. He leads me outside, and I regret not getting my black fur.
Sure enough, the Hound is standing in the courtyard with a boy by his side. But no... I squint my eyes, and call out softly, "Arya?" The boy turns, and upon seeing my face, rushes into my embrace.
I laugh as she squeezes me. "I missed you Anna," she mumbled into my shoulder. "I missed you too, Arya."
The Hound cleared his throat, but I ignored him, instead electing to shut my eyes in bliss. "I need to get paid. I didn't bring her out of the goodness of my heart."
Reluctantly, I let go of Arya and stood to my full height. "I shall pay you in your life,"
The Hound snorted. "You work for the Lannisters, our enemy. You should be grateful for my gift," The Hound started to pull out his sword, and I tell the servant boy to go get Brienne.
I kneel in front of Arya again. "Have you heard of your mother?" I ask. She nods, biting her lip. "I'm sorry Arya." She shakes her head. "It's okay. It wasn't your fault."
"Why are you so filthy?" I ask. "Wait, never mind. You can tell me after you're all cleaned up. I'm sure you had a big adventure." Arya nodded again. "Do you want to go see Bran and Rickon?" She looked up at me. Brienne walked out of the hall.
"Brienne, could you be as kind as to escort Sandor out of Winterfell? Kill him if he says one more word about an award." She nods. "Gladly." Arya looks back at their retreating figures before I lead her back to her old room.
Before, however, I made sure to get some of my best soldiers to make sure that Brienne is okay.
I call a bath, and let Arya be alone for a while. Instead, I tell a woman to go get a dress that would fit Arya, and then request Bran, Rickon, and Ned in my solar.
"Bran and Rickon, I have something to tell you. Something that you must keep a secret until morning." They both nodded. "Arya is back. Right now, she's in her bedroom getting cleaned up. We're going to tell everyone she's back tomorrow. Okay?"
They nodded eagerly, and we waited until Arya opened the door.
She was clad in a simple brown serving dress, but she still looked uncomfortable. Arya smiled, and immediately went to hug Bran and Rickon.
A moment later, I introduced her to Ned. "Ned, this is your aunt Arya." She picked him up, put him on her lap, and started to tell us the story of how she survived.
"I'm sorry that you've been through so much," I tell her after she finishes. She shrugs, a smile still on her face. "I'm glad I'm home, though," she then bites her lip nervously. "Am I going to have I marry somebody now? I don't ever want to marry somebody," That second, I made up my mind.
"Arya, you will never have to marry anybody who you don't want to marry. I swear it on the old gods and the new; from this day on, you will make your own decisions."