AN: I have heard your requests. The next chapter will be Aegon's POV.

Chapter 26

Rickon had only been a baby when Arya left for King's Landing. He now had seven years but he was still very much a child. He reminded her of a cross between Bran and Robb but he looked wild and he was always angry. Arya could understand anger. It was something they truly shared.

He was not interested in being a lord. Arya had hoped his arrival would lessen the pressure on her. He was, after all, the rightful Lord of Winterfell but he was so difficult to keep in check. Shaggydog was vicious and almost uncontrollable and it took both Arya and Nymeria to keep Rickon and his direwolf from inflicting damage.

It touched her that Rickon had bonded with her. Arya wasn't motherly but she was going to protect her brother. He made it hard though. She spent so much time intervening. He set Shaggydog on people, he didn't trust anybody except her, Osha and the Skagosi. He lashed out often and the people in Winterfell soon began to steer clear of him when they could.

Rickon's quarters were close to hers but he spent a lot of time in her solar and chambers. She suspected that he was worried he might lose her too. She encouraged him to seek her out. When she woke at night and found him looking worried in her doorway she would let him in her bed and tell him stories. She told him all the ones she could remember Old Nan telling her, scary tales of legends and stories about the Starks. She would tell him of Brandon the Builder and the Shipwright, of Jon Stark who drove the pirates from the White Knife and of course of Torrhen Stark, the King who knelt.

"Do you know the Stark words?" she asked him.

He shook his head and Arya felt sad. He had missed so much.

"Winter is coming" she told him.

He looked confused at that. "Winter is here".

"Yes little wolf" she said with a sad smile, urging him to lie down under the furs "but the words can mean so much more. You will see. Try to sleep now".

She allowed him a few days to settle in but when it came close to a week she knew she needed to give him more guidance. She knew she needed to be firmer. She just wished she knew what she was doing. I wish mother was here. No sooner had the though crossed her mind then she became angry, remembering why her mother was gone.

She took Rickon aside.

"You are right not to trust everybody little brother but you can't keep attacking them"

He looked at her, his lower lip protruding in a defiant expression. "I don't like them. Why can't they just go?"

She sighed and brushed back the hair falling in his eyes. "They are here to help us. We cannot avenge mother and father and Robb on our own. Be a good boy. Watch me instead. I'll help you learn. I'll help you see how we can punish our enemies when the time is right. They should not see it coming. Do you understand?"

He nodded but she could see he was humouring her.

"No more trying to hurt people" she said firmly "and don't make me set Nymeria on Shaggydog".

She had spoken with the maester. Rickon needed to learn his letters. He had refused at first then Arya had cut a deal. She would learn the old tongue from him and the Skagosi if he would learn his letters. Rickon didn't need to know that she had wanted to learn anyway. Her arguments for him to learn his letters were greatly bolstered when she received a letter from Jon. Rickon saw her excitement when reading it and decided it must be worthwhile after all.

Stannis was still wroth with her. He was arguing with his priestess and Jon said that people were talking about her as though she was some sort of warrior princess with unearthly powers. Arya frowned at that. Jon's letter alternated between the playful brother she once knew and somebody who was writing to a stranger. It hurt a little. He had questions for her, some which could be answered in a letter and some which could not. She answered what she could, feeling upset for a time when she read that he could not come to Winterfell. She added in her letter that Rickon was with her, explaining how it had come about.

Rickon laughed at her first attempts at speaking the old tongue but she improved. She learned the old tongue a little faster than Rickon learned his letters but they both learned. She practiced with the Skagosi as she got better and found that while they appeared savage, they were not so different and they were loyal.

She also took Duck aside and asked him to teach Rickon how to use arms. He looked worried at first but she could also see he was proud to be asked.

"Are you sure little lady?"

"I am" she replied. "You were a master-at-arms. I trust you. I want somebody I trust to teach him. He needs to learn discipline and when the right time is to draw his weapon".

She also knew that Duck was her best hope. Rickon warmed to him more because he knew Duck was Arya's friend. It also helped that Rickon saw Arya spar with Duck. She was watching Rickon and Duck one day when Osha came and sat with her.

"You are not what I expected of a Southern lady"

Arya glanced at her. "I'm Northern"

Osha smiled at that. "Anything south of the Wall is Southern"

Arya thought for a moment. "I suppose it is".

There was a brief pause before Osha kept talking. "You are a more like the free folk than the others. You don't kneel either, you're one of the best spearwives I've known and of course there's the marriage talk".

Arya didn't look away from Duck and Rickon. "Is there?"

Osha laughed. "You know there is. Amongst the free folk a man has to steal a woman. If she don't want to be stolen he can expect a good beating".

This time Arya laughed, a real laugh. "I like that idea".

Osha grinned. "I thought you might".

There was another brief silence. Rickon had just lost his temper and Duck had given him a rap on the wrist with a tourney sword for trying to take a swing at him. The boy looked at Arya. "You earned that Rickon. Listen to Duck, he'll teach you well. He taught Prince Aegon".

Despite Rickon's refusal to kneel, that piece of information impressed him. Arya saw him look at Duck with wide eyes and Duck grinned. Osha looked at Arya knowingly and she tried to repress a scowl.

"The free folk follow the strong you know" Osha continued. "The Skagosi are the same. Rickon has lived with them and me for most of his life and he now follows you. I've seen what is happening here".

"Have you?" Arya asked, motioning encouragement as Rickon looked at her again.

Osha's "They follow you because you are strong"

Arya sighed. I have little choice. "I'm going to the rookery" she said. "Let Rickon know where I've gone".

She felt Osha watching her. "You look for those birds a lot".

She couldn't argue with that. She was almost there when Asha Greyjoy fell into step with her. Arya had seen the woman watching her. She hadn't been sure what to do with her. She was a prisoner of sorts but had been allowed some degree of freedom.

"You don't have your guards with you my lady"

"Brienne is sleeping after night duty and Duck is in the training yard" she looked at Asha with narrowed eyes. "I don't need guards".

The Greyjoy woman laughed. "You surely don't".

Arya kept walking. "Is there something you want?"

"You haven't killed my brother".

Arya did her best to hide her expression. "There would be no point".

"You will not free him?" she asked.

"I cannot" Arya said abruptly. Even if she had wanted to (and she wasn't sure she did) the others at Winterfell would take it badly.

The woman reached for her wrist and Arya had her weapon ready. Asha quickly raised her hands defensively but she was smiling.

"I'd love to be able to do that" she said. "It's almost as handy as my throwing axes".

"Make your point" Arya growled.

"I can help you" she said. "I've been watching you. I know what you want".

"I doubt that" Arya retorted.

"You want your enemies to pay but you also want your prince to have his seven kingdoms". She grinned. "I can deliver one".

Despite herself, Arya was interested. She stopped "How so?"

"Euron Greyjoy will not last on the Seastone Chair. My brother and I can take it".

Arya raised an eyebrow. "I can see you believe that. Why would you think I'd let you do that?"

Asha grinned again. "We will make peace with your prince". Her face became serious. "My uncle is mad. The Iron Islands will rejoin the seven kingdoms. You have my word".

Arya studied her. "You really mean that don't you".

Asha nodded. "I wouldn't lie to you. I've seen what you do to liars".

They began to walk again and they reached the rookery. Arya wanted to be alone and the Greyjoy woman must have sensed it.

"Just think about it" she said. "In the meantime" she gave an exaggerated bow and smiled "I am at your service".

She was saved from dwelling on Asha Greyjoy when she found a raven waiting for her. It had the Targaryen seal but it was not Connington's hand. She clutched it tightly and fled to her quarters, opening it with fumbling fingers. She began to read.

Dearest Arya,

I have missed you terribly. It has been so long since anybody has pointed out my stupidity. Lord Connington sometimes implies it but it just isn't the same.

She had to put the parchment down, her vision blurred so badly she couldn't keep reading. Stupid, stupid, stupid. She took a few deep breaths then steeled herself to keep reading.

Lord Connington is wroth that the North will not offer support but I have not forgotten your words and I have not forgotten what I saw in Winterfell. I will never forget how brave you are. We march soon. There is much work to be done but I will find a way back to you my love. Do make sure you give Duck a good beating for me. I shall want him at his best when we meet again.

Aegon

She set it down in her lap, trying to control her breathing. Stupid, stupid man she thought. He was supposed to forget me. When Duck finally came in he found her still clutching the parchment. His face lit up.

"Is it from the lad?"

He was so hopeful that Arya knew she couldn't keep it from him. Duck knew their secrets though Arya was certain she still blushed a little as she read out the parts she was able to share. Duck was smiling when she finished but she could see pity mixed with it.

"He's fond of you" he said.

"I should burn it" Arya sighed. "If somebody sees it..."

She walked to the hearth but before she dropped it into the flames she knew she couldn't do it. Instead she folded in up and stored it away in a hidden compartment in one of her pairs of breeches. What am I going to do with him?