Game of Thrones: New Era

Chapter 8 of my Game of Thrones story, enjoy.

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Now onto the story.

Disclaimer: Game of Thrones belongs to George R.R. Martin.

Catelyn

Catelyn smiled to to herself as she rode with her escort. She was relieved that her mission to the Vale had been successful. Despite the cost of her sister's life, she had exposed Petyr for what he was and won the support of the Vale for Robb and Gendry.

'May it help them and guide them to victory as they finally advance upon King's Landing.' She thought to herself. 'They avoided facing the Tyrell's in combat; I suppose such a fight would have been uncertain, that is good news at least...But they are not done yet.'

She knew after all there was still the Dornish, and the remaining armies within the capital and being sent out to fight. Her only hope was that somehow, something would change with the Dornish who truly represented the biggest threat to them.

She bit her lip. 'If the Dornish can somehow be won to Gendry's side...It will turn everything in his favour when he attacks King's Landing.'

Slowly but surely, after such a long time of uncertainty, the tide was turning, they were changing their fortunes as they slowly regained what they had lost, and then expanded upon it. It seemed the end was in sight, just out of reach, but she knew, one slip would ruin everything, so they still had to be careful.

As they drew near Winterfell; Catelyn sighed. There was another issue, closer to home, that still had to be resolved. Especially now her part in the war was over. She still recalled with sadness Arya's argument with Gendry and Robb about her desire to join the army and fight with them.

'They refused her, for reasons they would not explain...' She noted to herself. 'But they had their reason and it wasn't that they found her helpless...Oh Arya, what could I possibly say to calm her down. To try and fix this.'

While fretting about that, she did her best to outwardly at least, seem calm. She had ridden through the gates and entered the courtyard. She smiled to see that she was being welcomed back by family.

In his wheeled chair, Bran sat, smiling as she dismounted. Standing at his side was his wife, Meera, one hand on Bran's shoulder, the other holding her spear as she too smiled. Rickon was also present, standing restlessly at Bran's other side.

Also with them were Meera's brother, Jojen Reed and their friend Lily Fenn, a red haired, green eyed Cranog girl of five and ten with pale, lightly freckled skin. She noted someone missing however.

'Arya isn't here, is she truly that angry she refuses to come and greet me when I return?'

She couldn't deny, it worried her, perhaps even more than she already was.

She approached those gathered and smiled, Bran then greeted her.

"Mother, it's good to see you back safely. We heard of your success." He said; unable to hide the jubilation in his voice.

Still smiling she nodded. "Thank you Bran, it has been...a hard task, but I was indeed successful and the Vale are now with us."

They all nodded and Meera then asked. "Is, the war truly nearing it's end, Lady Stark?"

"I sincerely hope so, Meera." She replied.

She then decided to ask about what was bothering her. "Where is Arya, surely, angry as she was, I thought she'd come down when she heard I was returning."

It did not help her when she saw their expressions drop, the awkward glances they shared.

"Arya's not here mother." Rickon said at last. "She's vanished."

Jojen nodded and added. "She's not in Winterfell and nobody has seen her since...since she..."

"Nobody has seen her since she argued with Robb and Gendry, before they left. "Bran finished; sighing.

Catelyn shook her head. "No, this, this cannot..."

Bran nodded sadly. "I'm sorry mother."

She could scarcely believe it, after so long apart, after such a brief reunion, she had lost her youngest daughter again; this time due to the girl's own volition it seemed.

Catelyn bit her lip as she stood at the door; she wasn't sure why she was hesitating at first. Then she realized it was because she was afraid.

'If I go in here and find nothing, it will prove my fears true.' She fretted.

She was standing by the door to Arya's chambers; she was praying that Bran might be mistaken; Arya was always good at hiding, even better now with those lessons she had learned while away. She wanted to believe Arya was just hiding in her room, sneaking out to get food and such whenever she needed it and avoiding detection.

With a trembling hand she reached out and opened the door. Stepping inside her hopes were immediately dashed as she looked around. The room was empty, the bed clearly had not been slept in for some time. There was dust everywhere, inches thick. The room had clearly been neglected and there was only one way that was possible.

Catelyn frantically searched the room for any sign, but there was nothing, Arya was gone, vanished and there was no clue as to her whereabouts, or where she had gone. Cat staggered back, slowly leaving the room, closing the door behind her. It was then the first tear escaped.

She let out a shuddering gasp. 'Oh Arya, where are you...what have you done? Gods, what if she's somehow found a way to join Robb, or Gendry, as part of their army. They told her not to, but Arya isn't the sort to just listen to something like that.'

Still fretting Catelyn walked away from Arya's chambers, her mind still racing.

As she did so, numerous fears, thoughts and implications assailed her mind.

'Or, or what if she's just run away, she's stuck out there in the wilds...What if she tried to go North to the Wall, to Jon?' Catelyn wondered. 'She, she didn't want to stay behind; she felt trapped. She felt as if, as if staying behind meant she'd simply be made to wait until she was married off...She believed that; that we wanted her ready, in case we needed to make an alliance.'

She bit her lip at that, not realizing where she was going as her mind continued to race.

She considered the possibilities, knowing Arya's mind as she did. 'For Arya that was the worst fate possible; being married off to a stranger, because we need their help. She...She always said she'd never marry, not like that. I wonder, what would she do, if it was someone she knew, someone she cared about and who cared about her? No...This isn't, oh Arya...'

It was then she realized she had come to the Godswoods, to the Heart Tree. With a cry of despair she fell to her knees and, frantic with worry, began to pray. To the Old Gods, to the Seven, to any God that would listen; praying for her youngest daughters safety, hoping that, wherever she was, she hadn't done anything that was too reckless.

End of chapter, a startling, and worrying, revelation at Winterfell now, read and review please.