Chapter 7 No fear
Lady Arya Stark of Winterfell waited nervously for her friend Jaqen, He had agreed to dinner at the table of their modest house in Braavos. As her head drooped down in disappointment, she felt two hands cover her eyes.
"A lovely girl did not believe a man would turn up to her family dinner" Arya shrieked in delight and threw her arms around Jaqen's shoulders. "Oh Jaqen, I do believe" She smiled and looked again at her friend "Sansa and Sandor are waiting patiently, we must not be late." Jaqen offered his arm and Arya took it looping her small delicate hand through.
"How have you been, ser?" Jaqen smiled serenely at Arya's courtesies
"Trying to find out who I am without the faceless men, in the house of black and white, you give up your name and your rights. A man finds this difficult but with a lovely girl's help, a man may achieve his goal of becoming someone." Jaqen pushed the stray curl behind Arya's ear and let his hand linger on her flushed cheek for a second.
"You have my word, Jaqen, I will help you achieve this" they continued walking back to the house. Arya smiled "I have missed you, more than I should" she whispered
"A man has also missed his lovely girl" Jaqen answered. "We are here" Arya said taking a breath, I should warn you, Sandor is a little rough around the edge's but I have come to see him as a good friend perhaps one day my brother by law." Sandor came up behind Arya and chuckled making her jump and she turned to scowl at him.
"Sandor, do you have to sneak like that? We were talking" Arya snapped
"Aye little wolf, I am very fond of you both, let the man enter, we don't stand on ceremony here little wolf. So this is Jaqen?" Jaqen bowed. "I am Lord Sandor Clegane, please enter our home"
"A man would be most pleased to enter your lovely home" Jaqen entered the house and followed Sandor to the Solar where he found Lady Sansa sewing on her rocking chair. Arya kept hold of Jaqen's hand afraid that Sansa would disapprove. But her elder sister gave a kind smile and a courtsey. "I am pleased to meet you at last, Jaqen, Arya is most vocal about how she feels for you." Sansa sensed the tension in her betrothed and decided to hold his hand to take the sting out of her rebuke.
"Sandor, you aren't growling at the man are you, please excuse my betrothed, he is simply testing your bravery. Arya, can you help prepare the bread and cheese?" Arya grumbled as she flounced to the small kitchen. "Will you sit and talk with me, ser?" Sansa took her seat and together they spoke quietly. By the end of the evening, Arya was curious and dying to know what they had thought of Jaqen. Sandor talked gruffly but his smile reached his eyes "I like him, little wolf, it may be hard for him to remember how to be Lord Jaqen again. I will write to your father and ask him to come to Braavos so he himself can approve this man you have chosen, if…..you agree to keep an open mind." Arya drooped her head in sadness. Sandor took her small hands in his large ones. "Hey, little wolf, I only ask that you keep an open mind. It may not be easy for him to forget he was a faceless man but he may succeed in this task." Arya smiled lightly and Sandor pulled her into a hug. "Go on, get to bed little wolf" Arya smiled this time and started yawning "Gooodnight Sandor, goodnight Sansa" she called out "Goodnight, dearest" Sansa replied.
"My little sister in love, I never would have imagined it" Sansa said as she looped her arm through Sandor's.