Chapter 6! Enjoy this one is quite long!

Arya called out. "Jaqen" He came back to the doorway he had been leaning on 10 minutes before to look enquiringly at her.

"I need a towel" she said. She felt her cheeks glowed warm as she thought of his comment earlier. She had never been so flattered before. Sansa used to call her horse face. All the boys in Winterfell used to play swords with her or hide and seek, or she would join them to scramble through the woods, sticks scratching their arms, gravel stinging their knees. She had always wondered why Sansa wanted to impress men so much, she brushed her hair and gave flirtatious looks. Arya had always felt sickened at the idea of marrying someone. It was only until after she had met Jaqen she found herself more conscience of her appearance and manner. Jaqen once again reached into a drawer and held out a fluffy cloth for her to dry herself with. He closed his eyes smirking as she grabbed the towel from him and carefully wrapped it around herself.

"sh rea" she said and he opened his eyes and stood opposite her. She glimpsed Jaqens eyes flicker up and down her but so fast she wasn't sure they had done so at all.

"Selo mora knes iyata" he said in Lorathi.

"Which means?_"

"A girl learns fast" She grinned at him.

"A man will wash himself now" he said while pouring more hot water into the bath.

"Ok, can I look at your books?"

"If a girl wishes" Arya padded out still wrapped in her towel, her wet feet making footprints to his bed. She grabbed the book she had picked up earlier and then sat on his bed.

"What does Syeno Piella mean?" she called.

"Dragons of rose" came the reply. She flicked through it but quickly laid it aside and looked around his room for something fun to do. She walked over to the letter he had been writing but was disappointed see it sealed closed. She grabbed it peeking through the end of it to see if she could see any words.

"A girl is to curious for her own good" Jaqen yelled out to her. She scowled and dropped the letter not even bothering to ask how he knew she'd picked it up. She then rummaged through all the draws in his desk. More paper, ink, books, a knife, a blue sapphire, a bag of coins, more weapons. She picked up the knife looking over its handle. It was engraved with a picture of an eye with a scar running through it. She unsheathed it and held the golden blade in her hand turning it over watching it catch the light. It was strangely transfixing. She lay it on the desk and opened the next drawer. Teeshirts, armour and jumpers were mushed in together. She selected a tee that was pale blue and pulled it on. It was massive and acted like a dress on her. The towel fell to the floor and she walked back over to the desk where she had left his knife. She pulled open another drawer finding a hairbrush and laughed.

"Jaqen, you own a hairbrush?!" There was silence for a few seconds and then in a cautious and slightly embarrassed voice;

"Yes"

"Ooh I'm Jaqen, I must have my luscious locks looking beautiful for all the ladies" She said while giggling and dancing around brushing her own hair.

"A man's hair is long!"

She walked over to the doorway he had come to, to talk to her and laughed. He was sitting in the bath as he had done the other night. His wavy hair fell by his shoulders hiding the side of his face. He turned his head taking her in. She had resumed his position at the doorway, her brown hair was wet, her dark eyes laughing and she was holding onto his hairbrush. She also wore one of his shirts he noticed too.

"Does a girl know manners? Not to rumble through a man's wardrobe" he sighed but smirking all the same. She shrugged.

"Can I wash your hair?" he was surprised at that but nodded and watched as she filled a bucket with warm water. He lay back as she approached and closed his eyes as the water ran down his face. She slowly massaged his head with her fingers and soap.

"Hmmm" he sighed.

"What?"

"Who knew a wolf could be so gentle?"

She didn't reply. Arya ran her fingers through his hair and then walked over to the sink a mischievous smirk plated on her face. Gentle am I? She glanced at him, he still lay his eyes closed. She quietly picked up the bucket of drinking water filled with ice cold water. She grinned and walked towards him again. She tipped the bucket almost bursting with laughter but she grimaced as his hands shot up onto her wrists. His eyes flashed open and he twisted the bucket attempting to pour it on her.

"No Jaqen, no!" she laughed pushing his arms away with all her might. He laughed as well pushing back. Suddenly a figure in the doorway caught both his and Arya's attention and they immediately stopped. The bucket clattered to the floor, the water flowing out, it trickled along through the cracks of the floor until it stopped in a puddle at the base of a well-worn shoe.

"Sorry to interrupt Lo" Lillian's sweet voice swirled like honey. She took in Arya standing half naked in one of Jaqens shirts. Of him himself stark naked in the bathtub and perhaps the worst of it was she had caught them wrestling and laughing. Arya reddened as Lillian's sharp gaze examined her.

"That's perfectly fine Lilly, what does a woman seek?" Jaqen asked, Arya glanced at him sharply when she heard him say Lilly.

"Thaniel asked if you would come to him as soon as you are able. He seems to think it's of the utmost importance. He sent me to find you" Jaqen sighed.

"A man thanks you" he said nodding at her. She smiled back at him and then looked upon Arya. She smirked but Arya also saw something else in her eyes, something ugly. She then spun gracefully around and left. Jaqen stood up and stepped out of the bath. His body dripped wet and his manhood hung down for all to see. Arya shrieked and covered her eyes turning around.

"You should have warned me you were going to do that" she mumbled through her hands as he laughed behind her.

"A man gives his sincere apologies. A man forgets just how young a girl is" he said while pulling on some pants.

"Sh rea" he said and she turned.

"I'm not that young' she protested. He smirked in amusement while pulling on a shirt.

"You have not bled, nor laid with men nor seen a man properly. What else would a girl be called but young?"

"Who says I haven't flowered yet?" She said crossing her arms. He looked her over frowning.

"Has a girl?"

"Why do you care if I have?"

"A man is curious"

"Curiosity killed the cat"

"I'm not a cat, I'm a faceless man….so has a girl bled?"

"…..yes, 2 months ago while you were off gallivanting after someone on one of your selected missions" He only nodded looking at her with an expression she couldn't read.

"A man must go now. I may see you at dinner." He then turned and left just as Lilliane had done before. Arya watched him go. She walked out of the bathroom and sat on his bed picking up the golden knife. She thought of Lillianne, she wondered how many times Lilly had been in Jaqens quarters. She wondered if she'd ever laid on this bed. She was surprised to find the thought made her sick. Arya tried to think of something else. She wondered whether she would go to dinner, she was starved but Thaniel's green eyes put a chill in her bone and Lillianna's perfect, kissable lips would smirk at her. Arya shivered and climbed in under Jaqens blankets. She buried her face into his soft pillow and found it smelt of spice, and sunlight. It smelt of him. Her mind travelled back a thousand winters away were her room once lay in Winterfell. Her pillows there were harder with Nyemphodoria's muddy paw prints over them. But her mother and father used to kiss her forehead before she slept. Jon used to muss her hair. Bran and Rickon would yell goodnight, Robb would make a face at her before letting her sleep. God how she missed that life. She shuddered as the sound of ice swinging over her father's head rang in her brain. Sansa's screaming, her own heart broken sob. Arya felt warm tears leak from her eyes. All too soon she was crying uncontrollably, shuddering and gasping for air. She wanted her mother to hold her, she wanted Jon to tell her it would all be ok but most of all she wanted her father. But hes dead. And I'll never see him again. Never speak to him. Never laugh with him. She gave a strangled cry and smothered her face into the pillow. Suddenly a soft voice whispered in her ear.

"Shhhhhh…be quiet, be still…..shhhhhhh, its ok, its ok" She felt gentle hands stroke her back and hair. For a few seconds she thought Jon was whispering to her, but the hands were softer, the voice had an accent and Jon was years away protecting her on the wall.

"Shhhhhhhhhhh" She turned to look up through red eyes at Jaqens blurred face. She sobbed harder turning away from him. She didn't want him. She wanted Jon. "G-go a-a-away" she hissed through shuddering breaths. He didn't. "I d-d-don't w-want you. I w-want my b-brother"

"Your brother is not here lovely girl" he said in a soft voice. She whimpered as the hard truth of his words hit her. She lay like that for what seemed hours, crying, whimpering, wishing for her family. All the while Jaqen sat holding her. He lay down beside her and pulled her into his arms. She did not resist. She felt so weak and exhausted. And his body was warm, he was comforting and he was her only friend. Finally her whimpers ceased. She sniffled and breathed deeply trying to control herself. Jaqen looked down at the tear streaks covering her face and felt a pang, he wanted to give her, her brothers, he wanted to see her happy in Winterfell with her family. But this he could not do.

Jaqen bent down and kissed her hair. He then slowly unwrapped his arms from her. "No" she whimpered clutching onto his arm.

"A man is just going to get a girl some water and something to eat, a man will be back" She let go and he walked out to the kitchens. Lillianne was there cleaning up with the boys in training running around her.

"Oh hello Lo!" she smiled at him. He gave a weak smile back.

"Would a woman be so kind? A man has missed dinner…"

"I think theres some potatoes left over in there and a few beans, oh and bread and butter" she said indicating to various pots.

"Thank you" he went piling up a plate.

"Have you seen Arya she wasn't at dinner either…"

He hesitated, "A man is not sure where a girl is"

"Hmmm I'm sure she'll turn up….she always does" Lilliane said rather bitterly.

Jaqen only nodded and turned back to his chambers. She watched him go, observed his every delicate step, the way his hair swung, the way he held the plates full of food…PLATES, her blue eyes widened. In all her time at the house of black and white Jaqen had never eaten two separate plates full of food.