A/N: I'm not sure I'm happy with this one but I can't figure out why. I'm going to post it anyway because I'm now tweaking sentences and I'd rather move onto different chapters.

Chapter 41

Arya listened to the Lady of Bear Island's account of Robb's Will. She used everything she had learned to hide her expression. She saw Maege give her a queer look. Aly grinned, no doubt getting some amusement out of her mother's reaction to Arya. Arya became aware of Brienne tensing by her side. She is offended on my behalf. Arya could tell at a glance.

Arya was not offended. The She-Bear's tone was abrupt but she gave enough detail in her tale for Arya to understand. Robb had no choice. Rickon and Bran were thought to be dead. Arya was in hiding, also thought dead and Sansa had been married to Tyrion Lannister. She felt a pang at what her brother must have felt. Poor Robb.

She did not know what to think about Jon being heir to Winterfell. It was her home but she knew Jon would let her stay. She did not want to be Lady of Winterfell. Bran was missing and Rickon... Rickon didn't want to be Lord of Winterfell. Jon could be with us, he is strong like father. He is so like father. Arya had seen it. She felt a small hope. Jon might be a good King of the North. Then she remembered the dragons and a shiver went down her spine.

Maege became very blunt when she arrived at the point of describing how Jon took the news.

"He refused".

Arya was shocked. "Why?"

Maege scowled. "He would not disinherit you and Rickon. He said he swore his oath to the Night's Watch. He would not break it"

He is too much like father.

Arya wanted to scream. She took a moment to gather her thoughts and to take a deep breath. Maege was muttering darkly about disrespecting the orders of their King but Arya was remembering what Jon had told her. Having Jon come to Winterfell might make things easier for her and for Rickon but it would not be right. Jon was needed at the Wall. Arya had to accept it no matter how frustrated she was. Rickon was going to be Lord of Winterfell, it was his right and Arya would be the Lady until he was ready. Her shoulders slumped and she sighed.

Maege set a steely gaze on Arya. "Is there a way he could be convinced?"

"I can write him" Arya said hesitantly "but I know him. I don't think anything I say will change his mind".

The horn blew not long afterwards to announce the return of the men. Arya walked with the She-Bears, mother and daughter out to the gate to meet them. The host moved slowly. Arya met many of the first to return then organised for others to make the men as comfortable as possible as they arrived.

She made her way to the great hall where a modest feast of sorts would be held. She found the Lord of White Harbour already there. She noted that winter was already having an effect on him. He was still colossal in size but slightly less so. He smiled in her direction but she did not return it. She marched over to him.

"Did you know, my lord?"

She was relieved when he did not try to pretend he didn't know what she meant. He simply nodded. Arya dropped down next to him on the bench seat, torn between feeling furious and just feeling sad.

"You should have told me".

All the secretive looks now made sense. Arya had not fully trusted them. Her experience in Kings Landing and the years following it had taught her not to trust easily but it still hurt.

"I'm sure you all thought me very stupid".

Lord Wyman sighed. "Not at all my lady. I think you are remarkable. You must understand that those of us who knew were not all agreed once you arrived here. We also could not spread the news in case it reached the wrong ears. There are those who would have taken certain actions if they knew he had been named heir. You know there was an attempt on his life just as there was on yours".

"The people who attacked Jon did not know of this" Arya said stiffly.

"That is true my lady" Lord Wyman conceded. "If they had they might have made a better job of it".

His words sounded convincing but Arya was still unhappy.

"The Will had to be safe and it had to be read" Lord Wyman said tiredly. "In the end it has changed nothing".

Arya disagreed. It did change something for her. She did not feel hurt over the Will itself but she now felt even more filled with doubts as to how much support she had amongst her own bannermen. Wyman Manderley must have read her mind.

"Do not doubt the loyalty of White Harbour my lady".

She studied his expression and this time there was no sense that he was trying to be clever, that he was holding something back. She nodded.

"It was you who had the glass brought wasn't it my lord?"

This time he didn't evade the question. Arya sat with him, sharing the news of what had happened at the Dreadfort. His eyes twinkled over Bolton having lost his head but the twinkling faded when he found out that Roose Bolton's wife carried his heir. Arya distinctly heard him mutter the word tansyunder his breath. She decided to pretend she had not heard it.

The men scattered throughout the castle as they arrived. Arya took her place in the high seat on the dais at dinner with those who had arrived. She was starting to feel tired but she forced a weak smile and greeted Duck when he rode in late and when she saw the Blackfish she sought him out.

"Uncle did you know about Robb's Will?"

He shook his head and frowned. She felt a flood of relief that he had not been keeping it from her.

"Robb made it when he thought Sansa was the only Stark left and she had married the imp" she explained. "He named Jon as his heir".

Brynden Blackfish was far angrier than Arya had expected he would be.

"What was he thinking?" he exclaimed. "To make the bastard his heir". He shook his head. "Your mother never trusted that boy".

Arya expected her expression had become stony.

"You do not know Jon. Mother was not fair to him".

The Blackfish wanted to argue, she could see that but she cut him off.

"Jon has refused to leave the Watch. He has refused to disinherit Rickon and me".

Surprise flooded her uncle's craggy features. Arya's softened her tone to end the conversation.

"Jon is very like father. If you gave him a chance you would see".

It had become late. Arya went to her chambers and found Rickon waiting for her. She did not protest over him wanting to stay. He was restless and she was disturbed often in the night. It seemed that Rickon kept wanting to make sure she was still there.

Arya was later than usual rising the next day. The march had worn her out more than she had realised. After she broke her fast, she met with the young She-Bear to find out what ravens she had missed. There was one from Jon addressed to her, repeating what Maege had said and stating rather firmly that his place was at the Wall. She knew then that there was no point writing to him about the Will. She still wrote him but she did not question his decision.

There were also two ravens bearing the Targaryen seal. One was in Lord Connington's hand. It was an acceptance of the alliance signed by both him and Aegon. Arya felt relief rush through her. She had been worried that Connington would want to refuse or that they would argue terms. Arya still could not believe the bannerman had agreed to an alliance. She knew they would have taken it badly if the offer had been questioned or turned down.

She knew she needed to call a meeting to announce the agreement but she held off to read the other raven. It was addressed to her and in Aegon's hand. Aly was still sitting rather close to her, Duck had joined them and Rickon was lingering too. Arya would have liked to have read it alone but she knew she would just draw attention. She broke the seal and tried to school her face.

Lady Arya,

I was most grateful to receive your raven bearing news of your success in taking the Dreadfort. I have been most concerned about the safety of you and your men, our allies. I have now left Dragonstone and am intent on marching into the Riverlands. I do not intend to hold those who aided in the rebellion accountable if they wish to be allies against the Lannisters. If you must needs write to me we have made a base at Maidenpool. Lord Connington has suggested we march on Harrenhal. I will write if there is news. Stay safe.

Aegon Targaryen

She tried not to feel bruised over his formal language. He is only doing as I did. When she looked up she could see she was being watched intently.

"Prince Aegon has responded to us taking the Dreadfort. He is pleased. He is marching into the Riverlands. They are thinking of taking Harrenhal".

She had tried to keep her voice level but it almost sounded wooden to her ears. Duck was smiling as he always did whenever Aegon wrote. Rickon did not really react but Arya felt as though Aly was studying her. She put aside the parchment and stood. There were no other letters of importance.

She announced the agreement to the alliance in the Great Hall with all the lords bannermen present. They inspected the wording of the agreement but none of them found an issue with it. The discussion soon turned to who the traitor was at the Dreadfort. Another attempt was made to find the culprit but it was hopeless. Arya was certain now that it was not one of the Lords themselves. Some of them may have hidden knowledge of Robb's Will from her but they were not committing treason. They had tried to question the lesser lords and knights but that was just as unsuccessful.

Robett Glover sought her out when she made to leave the hall.

"Please forgive me my lady" he said "it was not my intention to hide anything from you".

Arya could see he was concerned. She had thought on Lord Wyman's words. She nodded.

"I understand".

Ser Robett looked relieved. She knew she would need to move past it. He was one of her best advisers. She spoke with him briefly to show she was not holding a grudge before taking her leave.

Arya lingered at Winterfell a week. She did not have a problem with the children having been brought to Winterfell. It was good to have Rickon mix with those his own age but it did test his restraint. She saw that Brienne kept a firm hand on him. Arya did not have to intervene often. Rickon was still a very angry boy but then Arya had not expected that to fade.

Roose Bolton's widow was kept under guard. Fat Walda was sullen and difficult. Arya could see the hate and fear in the woman's eyes. Arya did not care. The hatred this woman felt towards her and her men was nothing compared to the hate Arya and the Northmen felt towards the Freys. Arya still half expected that Fat Walda might come to harm.

"You best hope that those in Winterfell respect guest right better than your family did" she told her bitterly.

During the meeting to decide strategy for Moat Cailin Arya shared the news with the Blackfish about Aegon's plans in the Riverlands. He went very quiet and she could see he was deep in thought. Maege Mormont had joined in on the meeting. She had been in the Neck for some time and now knew ways around Moat Cailin that others did not. She suggested making contact with the crannogmen and Arya took the advice. Torrhen's Square had been discussed too. The Ironborn had taken it but it was lightly held and Asha Greyjoy insisted they would yield. Arya did not think she was lying.

Rickon was still very unhappy when Arya left to march south but he was a little less difficult this time. The main protest he made was that Arya was going in the same direction Mother and Father and Robb had gone. She tried not to lie to him. She could not promise all would go well.

Arya did not share his fear of the South. She was worried for the men marching with her but not for herself. Marching south brought her closer to those on her list. It also brought her closer to Aegon though she did try to tell herself that did not matter.