A/N: Yes, the singer is Tom from BWB. Yes I am working towards Arya eventually making it to the Riverlands. Take what you will from that :-) This one is not as exciting as the last chapter. Inspiration hit me when I wrote that one and it was fun. This one was more hard work. I like writing Arya's actions from other character's POV's. It is easier. If I could I wouldn't have included half of this chapter but I needed to have some of it to cover her interactions with the prisoners and some of what motivated the Freys to hand over the prisoners and surrender.

I am writing the reunion now. It was meant to be in this chapter but had to be pushed to the next. Most of it is already written, I may get it out today but hopefully those of you busting for it won't mind waiting if it isn't ready until tomorrow :D

Chapter 47

Being so close to the Twins brought back painful memories for Arya. She tried to repress them as best she could. She could see the dragon banners in the distance on the other side of the crossing. She tried to keep her mind on what she came here to do.

Ser Brynden did not want her to meet with the Freys when they sent men out to talk with them. She knew he was worried that they might target her as they had killed her mother and Robb. His blue eyes were sad when he spoke to her about it, asking that he treat with them instead. The Tullys were after all the rightful liege lords of the Riverlands.

"They have no honour child".

She humoured him but made sure Nymeria was close. Her uncle did not spare the Freys his disdain and hate when they came out to more or less tell them to leave. The Northmen could not really assault the castle but they could see that Aegon's forces were intent on inflicting damage and having an army guarding the other side of the crossing prevented the Freys from bringing in aid and provisions.

Arya had watched how the Frey men came and went from the castle. The Twins would be difficult to access. The moat was an obstacle Arya had not encountered before. She spent her day watching and resting. There was little else to do and she had plans in mind for her nights.

The Blackfish was in command of the scouts, just as he had been on the march to the Twins. He spent the night watching to make sure the Freys did not manage to send out men to gather supplies. What he did not know was that Arya was watching as well. When the Frey men made their move, Arya took advantage of the distraction. She managed to gain access to the castle while her uncle and his men disposed of those trying to bypass the Northmen and their camp.

Being a woman had its advantages. She donned a roughspun dress over her breeches and wore a different face. The men in the castle easily took her for a servant. From there she was able to find her way around the castle and to hear what the Freys were saying. She was determined to put her training to use, keeping in mind what the Kindly man had once told her. If she was successful, nobody should even know she had been there.

It did not take long to learn that the Freys were fighting amongst themselves. She learned that they held prisoners from the Red Wedding. They had met with Connington and had threatened to kill the prisoners. Connington in turn had threatened to burn down the Twins and kill every Frey in the seven kingdoms. Arya had to use everything she had to suppress a smile over Connington's strategy.

The Freys had different ideas on what should be done but Lord Walder Frey's word was final. He wanted the prisoners killed just out of spite. He did not believe Connington would really burn them but others were not so sure. Arya heard them arguing over it. She knew Connington well enough to know he was not one to make empty threats.

While they were arguing, Arya made her way along the tables under the pretence of serving. She hated being in the hall, knowing this was where Robb and her mother were killed. She felt nothing as she gained access to the dais, refilling Walder Frey's cup and slipping the poison in unnoticed. Arya did not particularly like using poison for this but she needed to use a method which would not draw attention. By the time the poison worked she would be long gone.

She visited the prisoners in the cells before she returned to the camp. There was no guard. The Freys clearly did not expect anybody to try to free them. Arya was tempted for just a moment but she knew it was madness. They would be killed before they could make it far through the castle, even if she managed to get out herself. Instead she held her finger to her lips to warn them not to make a sound. They looked back at her with emotionless expressions.

They do not know who I am.

She had her own face but she suddenly realised it was unlikely they even knew she was alive. The Freys would not have wanted their prisoners to know that Starks still lived. She stepped forward, wrapping her fingers around the bars of one cell.

"I will come back for you" she whispered. "I will avenge Robb and my mother and I will return".

The man inside looked at her as though he thought she was mad. She saw him look a little closer and his eyes widened.

"Gods, you're the Stark girl!"

She nodded and allowed her lips to curl into a small smile. This was the one time she had found her resemblance to her Aunt useful.

"I am Arya Stark. What remains of the Northern army is guarding this castle. Prince Aegon's forces are about to lay siege to the other castle. I must go but I will be back". She put her finger to her lips again. "Do not tell them I was here".

It was more difficult to get back to the camp. Arya ended up in the water and was soaked and shivering when she returned to her tent. She was fortunate that the Freys had sent all their archers to the other castle otherwise her splash surely would have earned her at least one arrow. She would need to be more careful. Duck was waiting for her. He wrapped a warm cloak around her and shook his head.

"You are lucky nobody came looking for you".

By the next night the trebuchets had been in action on the other side of the Crossing. As flames started to lick at the castle Arya took advantage of the mayhem to access the other castle again. A plank bridge had been produced but whatever plans they had for it had been abandoned when the other castle had caught fire.

Inside the castle, she heard that Walder Frey was dying. She used her disguise again and followed the passages to find his chambers. Before she could make it there, a man grabbed her around the waist despite her efforts at evading him. She thought about whipping out her finger knife then realised there were too many witnesses. He groped her and began to pull her along.

She realised who he was before they made it to his chambers. They called him Black Walder and he was known for bedding the Frey women and servants alike. Her skin crawled from his touch. Arya had only ever let one man touch her and he was gentle, he said he would be good to her and he was. Black Walder was rough. Arya had not intended to kill him yet but in that instant she changed her mind. As soon as he pulled her into a private room she sunk her blade into his neck, leaving his body on his bed.

She wiped the blade clean on his clothes, counting herself lucky that she had not gotten blood on her own clothes. When she finally made it to Walder Frey's chambers, the maester had just left him. He was sleeping and looked as though it would not be long before his end. She took out her dagger and carved a message on the wall. The North Remembers.

She stopped by the cells again before leaving. The prisoners were quicker reacting this time. The man she had spoken to the previous night jumped to his feet.

"Lady Arya".

She smiled for him. "You are the Greatjon. Lord Frey is dying. It will not be long now".

He spat. "They want us dead".

She frowned. "The other castle is on fire. Freys are dying in this one. They must see soon they won't last".

His expression changed slowly to a grin. "Freys are dying?"

She pulled out her dagger and searched the walls, looking for a place to carve another message.

"Yes"

She began scratching into a wooden panel.

"Give me names" she said. "I will see that it is done".

They not only gave her names, they also told her more of what happened on the day of the wedding. Arya found Lame Lothar Frey before she left. He was in his bed and had barely woken before she slit his throat. Nobody had found her message yet. Nobody was looking for an intruder before she left. By the time she made it back to the camp, thankfully dry this time the fire had been all but put out in the other castle. Duck looked tired.

"Your uncle came looking for you. I made an excuse but he is starting to suspect".

The Freys sent out men to speak with the Northmen very early. Arya knew what they were going to say and did not want to give them the chance. She could not have the Northmen know what she had done yet. She slipped into Nymeria's skin and killed two of them before the rest retreated quickly back into the castle.

On her final night time visit to the Twins, she quickly discovered that the new Lord of the Crossing, Edwyn Frey, was no better than Lord Walder had been. Her messages had not been received well. They did not want to release the prisoners.

Edwyn Frey was easy to find. He had taken his father's quarters even though Lord Frey was barely gone. Arya had taken the face of one of the Frey women and he did not suspect. Arya moved quickly behind him to draw her blade and he made no sound. When she left him she found Raymund Frey. When she finished with him she retreated again after one last visit to the cells. There was a guard this time but it was easy to get past him to speak with the prisoners and leave a message for Connington.

She watched as the prisoners were marched out the next day. Her uncle stood alongside her along with her other advisers. They were all looking at her suspiciously.

"Should I ask where you were last night Arya?" he said hesitantly.

Arya met his gaze. "I'm sorry uncle. I wanted to tell you earlier".

He frowned. "We caught Freys last night trying to get away from the Twins. They said that..."

"I know what they would have said" Arya replied quickly.

"How did you-" Ser Robett began, looking incredulous

Arya shook her head. "You are better off not knowing". She could see by their expression that it would not be enough so she added in a low voice "I learned things across the Narrow Sea".

The hours passed slowly as the Freys surrendered on the other side of the Crossing. Arya watched as the Targaryen banner began to fly above the Twins. She could not suppress a frown.

It was almost nightfall when the gates were opened on their side. The drawbridge was lowered and the portcullis was raised. Arya took a deep breath and readied herself.