Note: This one is longer, lots of stuff to cover and the cliff hanger is finally resolved. I won't get to write today, I'm off to the Supanova Expo. GRRM will be there. I'm super excited :-) Thanks for the feedback on the last chapter too, I'm glad y'all liked it. I have plans for Sansa's arc, you'll have to wait a while to see it though because I have many other chapters which have to be covered first. It will be a progression rather than an immediate resolution

Chapter 25: Davos

Davos Seaworth had not expected a warm welcome. It had not been easy to convince the boy Rickon Stark to leave Skagos. He was wild, his direwolf was wilder and the Skagosi had accepted him into their company. The boy was not interested in being a Lord. In the end, it was the wildling woman with him, Osha who had helped make Davos' case after he had earned their trust. It had taken time, a lot of time and Davos hoped he was not too late.

Two dozen Skagosi had accompanied the boy. It had been the price he had to accept to get the boy to board his ship. They appeared savage, they spoke little of the common tongue but they had befriended the boy. The one consolation in visiting Skagos was that the stories of cannibalism appeared little more than myths. Or perhaps they didn't think I'd be to their taste.

He had arrived at White Harbour, thinking he had fulfilled his end of the bargain only to discover that the Lady Arya Stark had claimed Winterfell in her own name, the former Arya Stark being an imposter and the Manderleys were to deliver the boy to her. When Davos made to hand him over, Rickon would not be left in the charge of the Manderleys.

"He trusts you m'lord" Osha said.

And so it fell to Davos to make sure Rickon was delivered to his sister. He was informed that he would find Lord Wyman Manderley at Winterfell. He had arrived at Winterfell and the greeting was even colder than expected. He now found himself and his fellow travellers surrounded by fierce looking knights and men-at-arms with drawn swords. The boy was at his side and the Skagosi had fanned out in front of them. Davos could hear the armed men arguing about savages.

"What are you doing?" a female voice demanded. "Put away your swords. My brother is with them".

Davos did not see any swords being sheathed though the men began to look doubtful. Before Davos could push forward and try and help defuse the situation, the boy's direwolf lunged forward. Oh no. The wolf was unpredictable and capable of far more savagery than the Skagosi. This will not end well.

"Lord Rickon please" he entreated.

Before he could get the words out a second beast leapt into the fray, cutting off Shaggydog before the wolf could reach the men. Davos pushed in front of the Skagosi, watching the two of them rolling in the snow, nipping at each other and growling. The other direwolf was larger and had Shaggydog subdued in minutes. Davos looked away and his eyes met the young woman's. This must be the sister. She was dressed like one of the men and was not at all like the other highborn ladies Davos was accustomed to. There was a hardness about her and he could not tell from her face what she was thinking.

"My lady" he said quickly. "I am Davos Seaworth, Lord of the Rainwood and Hand of the King".

The young woman was unsmiling. "He is not my King. You have brought my brother?"

Davos nodded and eyed the men who still held their swords. "The Skagosi mean no harm. They only want to protect Lord Rickon".

"You heard him" the young woman barked. "Put away your swords. Now. If they begin to look a threat I will have them taken care of then".

The men sheathed their weapons hastily and stepped back. The young woman's eyes flicked slowly over the Skagosi.

"I welcome friends of my brother" she said.

Davos interjected. "I'm afraid they speak little of the common tongue my lady, they mostly speak the old tongue".

The young woman smiled, the first real expression Davos had seen. He looked down to see that Rickon had finally stepped forward. For all his wildness, Davos could see the first real fear in the boy's eyes. He suspected it was fear of rejection from the sister he didn't know. Osha was close by him looking protective.

"Rickon" The young woman's tone was soft but her expression became radiant. "You look like our brother Robb used to". Her smile suddenly dropped. Rickon did not speak, he still looked uncertain.

"Lady Arya I am sorry about your brother" Davos supplied.

The Lady Arya Stark looked at Davos as though she had just remembered him. "I apologise my lord, I have been discourteous. I am grateful to you for bringing my brother to me".

She did not look grateful.

"You are welcome to stay as a guest in Winterfell for a time, Lord Davos. I am afraid the old tongue is one I don't know. Is there a way to tell my brother's friends they are welcome to stay too?"

Osha smiled. "The little lord can do that m'lady". She gave him a prod and the boy passed on the message. The Skagosi thumped their spears on the ground and Davos saw more than one smile.

"Rickon"' the Lady Arya said. She bent her small frame into a crouch. "I can see you are frightened. We are blood". Her expression became fierce and although their features were completely different she resembled the wild Stark boy for the first time. The boy radiated anger and Davos suddenly realised this young woman was the same. "I won't let anybody harm you".

Rickon took a few steps forward. "I won't kneel" the boy said petulantly.

The Lady Arya laughed. "You won't have to". She grinned. "I don't kneel either". She held out her hands and the boy took them.

"Sister" he said hesitantly.

"Yes" she said firmly.

The boy's expression became angry and Shaggydog began to growl again, despite the other direwolf being there ready to subdue him. "A man burnt our home. He killed everybody".

The Lady Arya's expression became grim as she leaned close to her brother. "He did" she said and Davos could only just hear her. "I killed him for it. He can't hurt you".

The words filled him with foreboding but they had the opposite effect on Rickon. He embraced the young woman. When he finally let go, he looked hesitant again.

"I know mother and father are dead"

"Yes" the Lady Arya said and her expression became pure fury. "We are going to make them pay for that".

A shiver ran down Davos' spine. She stood, still holding Rickon's hand and beckoned for everybody to follow her into the castle.

Davos noted that when the Lady of Winterfell gave orders, people obeyed rather quickly. Not all of them seemed happy about it but they obeyed nonetheless. Quarters were found for the new arrivals despite the Skagosi being viewed with hostility. Davos himself was given a room which he was more than happy with. It was fire damaged but then again, so was most of the rest of the castle.

Rickon stayed close to his sister and Osha and the Skagosi stayed close to Rickon. They led a procession around the castle and through to the kitchens where the Lady Arya requested food for the new guests. Davos took it gratefully. It wasn't a lot but he had experienced far worse. He tried not to be uncomfortable with the way the young woman looked at him. He felt as though he was being weighed and judged and found wanting.

Davos had a good sense of people from his smuggling days and he was quick to realise that there was something wrong about the young woman. In the first days he attempted to hold his tongue but there was no point to that. She seemed to find out everything anyway. There was also something dangerous about the way she moved. She was so light on her feet but he sensed that she was like a snake poised to strike and he misliked the way her direwolf looked at him.

He had learned that the boy Rickon had a connection to his wolf. It was clear that Arya was no different. Hers was something which almost made him more nervous. It was more controlled. He expected that if the wolf was to strike it was likely to be calculated and deadly.

His train of thought was interrupted when a large woman dressed in armour sat next to him. He recognised her as one of the Lady's shields, the Lady Brienne. He nodded his head and spoke a greeting. Her response surprised him.

"The Lady Arya likes you"

"She does?" Davos was confused. He had now been in Winterfell for almost a week and hadn't seen a single friendly expression. He hadn't seen much of an expression on that face at all. He hadn't had a friendly word from the Lady of Winterfell. He would not have stayed as long as he had but the Lord of White Harbour was avoiding him.

"She says she hasn't met anybody quite like you. She likes how honest you are".

Mayhaps there is hope yet. He had been told that Arya Stark was attached to Aegon Targaryen's cause when he had stopped at White Harbour. He had also heard of what had happened when she arrived at Winterfell. She had fallen out with Stannis but mayhaps something could be mended. Her hatred of the Lannisters was known and she shared that with Stannis.

He sought her out when she emerged from the lessons she had begun with Lord Rickon.

"If it please my lady, may I have a word?"

She nodded and he followed her. He had thought they would go to her solar. Instead, she walked outside. He kept silent, his worry growing when the direwolf began to shadow her. She glanced at him.

"You need not fear Lord Davos, Nymeria will not attack you unless you intend to harm me".

"Might I ask where we are going?" he replied.

"Somewhere there are no ears" the young woman responded.

When they stopped, Davos realised they were in the godswood. A large weirwood grew in the place where Arya stood.

"Do you keep the old gods my lady?"

"Call me Arya, my Lord" she replied. "I'm really not much of a lady. The old gods were my father's gods but they did not help my family. Do you believe your Stannis is Azor Ahai?"

Davos hesitated. "The red woman thinks so".

Arya smiled. "But you don't. You are a smart man. It is a shame you were not here to counsel Stannis when I arrived. I suspect you would have shown him his stupidity. I tried being honest with him but I was angry. My brother wrote me and I hear he is still most unhappy with me".

"Stannis is a just man" Davos began.

"Stannis is a wrong man" Arya retorted. "Of course it is not all his fault. The priestess has told him rubbish. I have tried to tell him but I am a woman and he does not listen to any woman but the priestess I hear". She gave him a pointed look. "Do you worship R'hllor?"

"No my l-Arya"

Her smile became a little wider and Davos could see it was genuine. Her eyes twinkled with amusement. "My brother likes you. Osha likes you. I find you brutally honest, even when you know your opinion might not be liked. I like that. It makes you interesting". Her smile dropped. "Aegon would like you" she said quietly.

"I am Stannis' man"

"Yes" she said softly. "You are loyal. I understand that". She sighed. "I know what you want of me. I cannot give it".

Davos felt his heart sink. He had delivered the Stark boy. The boy was supposed to be the liege lord of the North. It had quickly become apparent to Davos that Rickon was not key anymore. He was a boy and the men looked to the Lady of Winterfell, their warrior maiden. Little Rickon had quickly followed their lead. If she would not ally herself with Stannis, the other Northern houses would not either.

"There was a time I would have supported Stannis" she said gently. "We do share enemies but he is not the rightful King. I cannot kneel".

That was familiar. "Your brother said the same thing the entire journey from Skagos".

Arya smiled. "Yes, he is very close to Osha and free folk don't kneel I hear. The North does not wish to either".

Davos was surprised. "You don't intend to kneel for Aegon?"

She grinned wolfishly. "He hasn't asked me to". Her face became more serious. "He will not make the North kneel. He has heard them, he has felt their pain and seen their suffering. He knows what they want and he will not take it from them. Your Stannis cannot match that".

No Davos thought wearily he cannot.

"Lord Wyman has been avoiding you. I will send him to speak with you" she said matter-of –factly, "You should wait here. There will be less chance of being overheard".

She murmured a farewell and all but vanished. Davos waited. It took a while but true to her word eventually Lord Wyman Manderly came puffing and struggling into view, the direwolf following not far behind him. Davos eyed the beast suspiciously.

"Lord Davos" Lord Wyman began "I must apologise. The Lady Stark tells me I have been shameful in making you wait".

Davos shifted uncomfortably. "We did have an agreement my Lord".

"Yes" Lord Wyman sighed. "One it appears I made prematurely".

I do not like the sound of this. He looked at the direwolf again. The she-wolf was flitting in and around the godswood.

Lord Wyman smiled. "The Lady is not stupid. I'm not sure how much she sees but she is very good at making sure others do not hear. She knows of our agreement".

Davos was surprised. "She does?"

Lord Wyman nodded. "She reveals little but she was not happy. She did not however ask that I go back on it".

Davos was even more surprised. "There is something strange about her"

The Lord of White Harbour moved closer. "Not many see it. They see a girl. They see a slight, delicate looking person but underneath it lies steel and barely suppressed rage and I suspect a dangerous skill which will be terrifying when wielded. She does not want to rule and that is why she does it well. The others are beginning to see it. The letter was the beginning. She does not want power but that is what she will have. Through her, the North will get their vengeance".

"She killed Ramsey Bolton" Davos said. "I heard her tell her brother".

Lord Wyman's smile was unsettling. "She did. The prisoners are terrified of her and with good reason. Did you hear about the sentencing?"

Davos felt a shiver go down his spine. "I did".

"The Young Wolf was formidable on the battlefield. They killed him at the Red Wedding because they could not beat him in the field. His sister will not fall such easy prey. I study her just as she studies others. She sees things and she never lets her guard down, not in the training yard, not in her solar and not even at a feast. You will have your agreement Lord Davos. I will keep my word but know that my true allegiance is to the Starks".

Davos supposed it would have to do. "Thank you my Lord. I will tell His Grace".

Lord Wyman wasn't finished. "Lady Arya tried to make your Stannis see sense. I pray that you will help him see this is folly. I will give him the allegiance I promised if I must but cannot call him King in truth. The North will rise but not for Stannis".

Davos parted from him feeling rather unsatisfied. He did not truly feel that he had won a victory. He left for the Wall with a warmer farewell from Winterfell than he had expected but with a heavier heart.

AN: I'm not sure whether the Skagosi speak the common tongue, they probably do but it suited me for them to speak the old tongue and given the geography it isn't implausible. One of the Skagosi houses is the Magnars and we know that is Lord in the old tongue.

I'm annoyed with Manderley for making that agreement with Stannis. I didn't feel that he could back out completely after Davos did his part but he does seem shifty. I think he wanted Rickon to be King in the North in a Dance with Dragons and that seems rather at odds with agreeing to support Stannis.