Chapter 35

The preparations to leave were well underway. The raven had been sent setting out the terms for an alliance with Aegon. All the Northern lords had added their names to it as well as the Blackfish. She thought Aegon would be reasonable when he read it. She just hoped Lord Connington wouldn't baulk. It had taken a lot to get an agreement. If their offer was not accepted then Arya knew there would not be another chance. All that was left now was to wait for the reply. She was not sure how she would receive it. They would be travelling for some time.

Provisions were being gathered both for the march and for at Winterfell while Arya and the men were gone. In the middle of it a shipment of glass arrived. She could not find where it had come from. Aegon had seen the damage to the glasshouses but he did not have the gold. The only other person she thought might be capable was Wyman Manderley but he would give no answers. She thought it must be him. He does like his food.

Lord Wyman had been adamant about staying in Winterfell with Rickon. His son would march with Arya. She did not feel she could refuse him. She did not doubt he was loyal to the Starks even though he was secretive and she had doubts as to who he supported as King. She was certain he would not physically harm Rickon. She was not going to leave him alone with her brother though.

The She-Bear had been rather eager to march with Arya. As much as Arya enjoyed the woman, she felt she needed her to stay with Rickon. Rickon had taken to her and Arya knew Aly was loyal. Arya had been tempted to ask Robett Glover to stay but she did not like the way he and Lord Wyman would whisper together. She wanted them separated. It was not that she did not trust Ser Robett, sshe just knew there had been something with him and Lord Wyyman before she came to Winterfell. Besides that, he had been one of Robb's advisers and the Blackfish had urged her to keep him with her.

Arya had to name a Castellan. She had been tempted to name Brienne but she quickly found that was no good. She could not have a Southron named Castellan. Instead she chose the She-Bear. She might have named one of the Umbers but they wanted to fight. They would not stay behind. She knew the men were not happy but they could not really criticise her for naming a woman, after all Arya had been running Winterfell for months now.

Rickon was furious with her. He did not want her leaving. He did not want her leaving without him. He wanted her close.

"I want to make sure people don't hurt you" he had said.

Arya had to repress the urge to laugh at her young brother trying to protect her given what she was capable of but she understood. It was hurting her as much to leave him as it was hurting him to be left. Osha would stay with him and Arya was thankful for that. The Skagosi were split. Their leader had insisted he wanted to fight and would march with Arya. Some were coming with him. The rest would stay with Rickon. After their poor welcome Arya had come to realise how good they were. She now wished she had more of them.

The Greyjoys had posed a problem. Asha wanted to join the march. Arya had been torn. There had been a discussion and in the end it was decided to let her come with them. It was not a popular decision but everybody agreed it was not a good idea to leave both Asha and Theon behind in a lightly garrisoned Winterfell. The woman was also swearing that she and the few men she had would provide leal service. She did not look to be lying.

Brienne was miserable at first. Arya had asked her to stay behind. The Lady of Tarth had looked wounded.

"I need you Brienne" Arya had implored her. "Rickon trusts you and you know more of honour than anybody else here. I need you to teach Rickon. I need you to protect him and I need you to help him with his lessons".

"I was meant to find Sansa" Brienne had said in a dejected voice.

"Mother didn't know about Rickon when you made that oath" Arya reminded her. "You know this is important. I trust you". She gripped Brienne's large hands in her smaller ones and looked into the tall woman's blue eyes, her prettiest feature. "He is very important to me. I know you will protect him".

"I failed Renly" Brienne whispered.

"I know you won't fail Rickon" Arya said determinedly. "You will protect him from people inside and outside of Winterfell and if somehow the castle was to fall, you take him to the Wall. Jon will help you".

Brienne nodded and Arya could see a glimmer of pride in her eyes.

"Keep up his lessons" she said again. "I know how good you are with a sword. He has to be a great Lord of Winterfell". She paused. "Tell him of mother. You knew her".

Brienne got a queer look at that but she agreed again.

Arya was kept busy after that but as she got close to leaving she heard disturbing whispers. The subject of her marriage had been abandoned to her great relief. The whispers were now about Rickon, Arya was horrified. When she spoke of it they looked guilty but they pressed her.

"If he is married then it will stop others from using him to claim Winterfell".

Arya knew what was meant by others. She had not forgotten Sansa being married to the imp. The Northmen wanted Rickon married to a Northern girl. Rickon was not frightened of much but she saw his eyes get big when he realised what was going on. He had been so angry he had alternated between hiding from her and glaring at her sullenly. When she stood firm in refusing to let them do this, he clutched her hand tightly and temporarily forgot his fury.

"He is too young. I won't hear any more" Arya declared.

When they were alone he had looked at her solemnly.

"I will run away if they try to make me marry while you are gone".

"They can't" Arya reassured him. "I am leaving you with Brienne and Osha and the She-Bear and Skagosi. They will protect you". She remembered Storm's End and Aegon helping her avoid being betrothed. "You will get to choose who you marry when you get older".

"I don't want a girl" Rickon said stubbornly.

Arya felt the corners of her mouth quirk even though she tried to control her face. "You will when you are older. You can find one you like". Despite her thoughts being taken up by the battle to come, she had not forgotten Robb. She did not want Rickon used for politics. She had grown to understand how things worked with marriages in the great Houses but Rickon was not like the other Lords. Besides, if she was being allowed to choose not to marry she could not deny him.

"I don't want somebody who wears dresses and kneels" Rickon warned, pouting. "I want somebody who can fight like you".

Arya could not hide a smile this time.

"Some of the Dornish ladies are quite fierce" she said, remembering Aegon's stories. "Maybe you might like one of them".

Rickon started to get angry. "I don't want any of them. I want you. Don't go Arya".

She crouched and tried to calm him down. "I don't want to leave you. It is something I have to do".

He grabbed hold of her tightly. "Take me with you. I can fight".

They had already spoken of this. Arya did not want to cover it again. "You have to stay" she said sadly. "Do you remember what I told you? Do you remember what father said?"

"There must always be a Stark in Winterfell". The words were almost spat out.

Rickon looked reproachful and disappeared again. Arya sighed. She did not blame him. Saying goodbye was going to be so difficult. Everybody leaves and this time it's me.