Disclaimer before you read this: the reunion between the sisters was never meant to happen this chapter. It is a transition of sorts, a chapter to address issues remaining when Arya left Kings Landing and to lay the groundwork for the chapters to come. I expect some readers to be disappointed but please don't be too harsh. I'm tired and stressed from trying to meet deadlines for other things (I have a project due next week). Work has been busy and I've had little writing time but the material you are waiting for is on its way.

Thanks for the lovely reviews by the way. I know I might have sounded frustrated in my author note from the last chapter but I do appreciate them.

Chapter 91

Arya made certain not to look back once they departed from Kings Landing. It pained her to leave the friends she made. She would miss Aegon's men, Lemore, the kind people from the kitchens in the Red Keep, the Dornish she had only just begun to get to know, even Tyene and Obara, and those from the Riverlands who seemed to watch her leave with sorrow in their eyes.

I should have left long ago.

Nymeria's three-legged pacing by her side reminded her of the reason for the delay. The direwolf did not wish to remain with her. Arya heard the other wolves calling and they began to follow as soon as they picked up Nymeria's scent. Arya knew it would not be long before Nymeria disappeared to be with the wolves again.

They are her pack.

The thought brought to mind Arya's own pack. It hurt to leave Uncle Brynden behind. He was her blood, her mother's blood and parting from him had been just as difficult as the farewell with Aegon. She kept reminding herself of what awaited her. Rickon waited for her in Winterfell and Jon at the Wall.

I might be able to visit with Jon properly this time.

Arya knew Winterfell managed for moons without her. They can allow me to visit with Jon. Aegon sent men for the Wall and Arya intended to go with them. She wanted to know why Jon sent that letter, why he wanted her to stay away. She wanted him to hold her and call her little sister and tell her everything would work out.

I have to find out about Sansa first.

Varys put doubts in her head before she left Kings Landing. He gave her one of his odd little knowing looks.

"Missing Starks have reappeared before."

Arya knew what he spoke of. He refers to Jeyne posing as me. After his visit Arya wrote letters to Winterfell and Moat Cailin telling them of her intentions and giving instructions. Nym interrupted her writing to try to convince her to stay. The Dornishwoman became rather more upset than Arya expected. Arya knew she would be unhappy, that the Dornish did not wish Aegon to ally with Daenerys but it was more than that.

She called me sister.

Nym liked to play games but in this she spoke truth. They had become close even though Arya knew they both still kept secrets from one another. Nym did not care who she killed, Nym embraced it. Arya did not have to hide so much from her. It was hard to push her away after that but Arya knew what she must do.

Sansa is my blood. She remembered what her father said and focused on that. Sansa is my pack.

Arya would do whatever was needed to find her. She did not truly believe that Ser Jaime was lying, the information from the Vale sounded too odd for it to be a lie. Even if it was not Sansa with Jaime Lannister, Arya still needed to try. Sansa is my sister. Nym had Tyene and Obara and other sisters in Dorne. The Sand Snakes would look after one another. Arya needed to concentrate on her own family. She needed to think of the wolves.

Arya put Robett Glover in charge of the scouts and took her place in the centre of the column for the ride North. She received a report on the first night that they were being followed. It did not take long for Arya to determine who pursued them. Her men looked displeased upon seeing Sandor Clegane. Thoros followed not far behind and Arya asked for them to be brought to her tent.

"Where have you been?" she asked. "The Warrior's Sons were looking for you."

Sandor's mouth twitched and he made that sound Arya knew to be laughter.

"They weren't likely to find us."

Thoros gave him a look of disapproval and shook his head. Arya did not know what he meant but she began to piece it together.

"You were together?"

The idea seemed ridiculous. Arya had dismissed it outright when Tyene made the suggestion. She did not know how they had not killed one another.

"Myr still has friends in the city she-wolf." Sandor gave her one of his ghastly smiles. "They are the kind of friends the septons don't visit, the kind they don't want anybody visiting."

The look Thoros gave him helped Arya work it out.

"You hid in a brothel."

Their silence confirmed it. Arya knew the faith wanted the brothels closed down but all they did was drive them into hiding. It made their task a lot harder. The women were harder to find for the priests and their followers and they would be even less likely to offer up men like Thoros who they knew and trusted. Arya did not know how Sandor fit in.

I have not seen him kill yet.

He did not join in the battle in Kings Landing. Instead he remained in a tent. He offered to be part of my guard. Arya refused him and he only snorted, cursed and called her a stubborn bitch. She did not see him after that but she heard he did not take part. The only time she saw him draw his sword was in the fight against Gregor, that and when he said Cersei asked him to kill her.

Something changed after I wouldn't give him mercy.

Arya wanted to speak with Thoros alone but Sandor lingered. She could see he wanted something. Thoros provided the answer.

"We have heard word of you seeking the Lady Sansa."

Arya stilled her face to hide her reaction. Somebody did not keep quiet. A denial would be pointless but at the same time Arya did not intend to divulge her private thoughts to them. She shook her head.

"Nobody is to speak of it."

Clegane stiffened and his expression darkened.

"You leave in an awful hurry for a woman who has overstayed. Has harm come to the little bird?"

He tried to look as though he did not care but he did not fool Arya.

"My sister is my concern," she said abruptly, smarting from his accusation about her staying too long.

Sandor made a rude noise and spun on his heel.

"Don't fucking tell me then. I'll find out from somebody else."

Thoros remained in the tent. He sat on a stool close to the brazier and Arya remembered the words she often heard spill from his lips. The night is dark and full of terrors. He seemed to study the coals, a very serious expression on his face.

"I fear I am still a poor priest," he finally said.

Arya wanted to deny it but she refrained. "Why is that?"

He looked at her with a frown and shook his head sadly.

"I came from Myr to bring my faith to the King. I have failed a third time and I am not certain whether I join you because R'hllor means for me to go North or whether to save my own skin."

Arya frowned but she knew at least part of what he spoke of.

"Aegon will not let them kill you."

Thoros shook his head. "I saw it child. They will give him no choice." He sighed heavily. "The flames offer me glimpses but they do not tell me which path to choose."

He looked so burdened. Arya wanted to call him a coward, to insist he stay and help Aegon but she knew he spoke truth. Even if Aegon did not wish Thoros dead, resisting the Faith might bring him enough enemies for war to break out once more.

They will say Aegon is weak in his faith.

Arya grew tired of it. It seemed that no matter what choices were made, somebody must pay. The priests and knights should be punished, not Thoros. They were the ones attacking people who did no wrong. It reminded her of what she must do too. I still have not determined those who raped and killed after the battle. She pushed it aside for now, wanting to know more from the red priest.

"Is Aegon in danger?"

Thoros hesitated. "I do not know. I think I see dragons. What will come of it is still uncertain. Mayhaps my presence will matter little in the end."

He hid something and Arya knew it. She remembered the dreams Aegon spoke of and it unsettled her. Mayhaps they are not just dreams. It made her think of Bran. The raven had not returned to her yet and she found herself missing the connection.

"Do not fret," Thoros said kindly. "Harm might not befall him."

Arya wanted to snap at him. He does not know that for certain. Instead she told him to leave and prepared for bed. I cannot go back, she told herself. I must not think of it. Cara joined her and they managed to convince Nymeria to stay despite hearing the howl of the other wolves. Arya closed her eyes to sleep, taking comfort in the company of her friend. The comfort did not last.

Her dreams were filled with blood and not the good kind like in the wolf dreams. Faces appeared before her, faces she thought long gone. She saw the boy in the stables though his face was blurry and she did not see his features. She still knew it to be him. Others followed, others she had killed. There were so many.

Ser Ilyn looked at her and she heard him make that noise. He had laughed when he found her in his tent and she told him who she was. His missing tongue made it hard to tell but Arya knew laughter. The clacking sound stayed with her long afterwards and she heard it now as she saw him reach for his sword once again.

I could not hear his last words.

Dunsen she thought of less and yet she now saw him too. The guards slept, dosed with sweetsleep and she remembered him appearing gleeful. He thought I was going to free him for gold. She spoke to him of the helmet and she heard his laughter.

"There are worse things than taking good steel going to waste."

He had done worse and he spoke of it as though it meant nothing. He was still speaking of it, completely oblivious and he did not even see the knife. Arya looked down at her hands but they were clean. They did not stay that way. Other faces flashed by, faces from Braavos and faces from battle and Arya wanted to call out to somebody, anybody to make it stop.

"You are going where you must go Arya. You are going North, to Sansa and Rickon and Jon. Winter is coming for us and we must be ready."

She woke with a start to find the raven in the tent with them. It was fluttering above her and squawking and Cara waved her arm at it in alarm. Arya sat up in her bed.

"I heard you," she muttered.

It squawked once more before falling silent. She looked at her hands and the blood was gone. It was only a dream. It had felt so real. The voice sounded like her father but Arya knew it must be Bran. She rose and got ready to join the march again trying to think of what it meant.

Haldon rode with her, his face etched in disapproval. Nymeria already began to roam and Arya knew Haldon wished to be by Aegon's side. He knows Nymeria does not need him. The wolf did not go far before coming back in view. Her strides easily kept pace with the horses.

"I am glad you came," she told him.

Haldon looked startled before giving her one of his thin, too knowing smiles.

"You prefer a maester you know."

Arya shook her head. "I prefer my friend."

He did not answer her then but his expression softened. Much had passed between them. Arya did not have to pretend so much with Haldon and he wasn't stupid. She turned to see the black brother from the Night's Watch riding close to her personal guard and urged him to join her. He did so gladly, his recruits under the watch of Aegon's men.

"Tell me more of my brother and the Wall."

The man referred to Jon as the Lord Commander and it felt odd. Everything he offered felt odd to Arya. The man he spoke of did not sound like her brother. It all sounded so formal, more like their father when he put his lord's face on. Arya supposed that must be what Jon did now. She still thought of him as her brother who smiled for her and called her little sister.

She had to make him tell her what it was truly like there. When he did she felt gripped by despair. Jon told her a little but he sheltered her. He might have asked for men but he made it seem that he faced little danger. I should have been there with him. Her men would not have wanted to go but Arya knew now she should have been by his side. She told the man and he laughed at her.

"He wanted to send you away. When that other girl came to the Wall he said it was no place for his little sister."

Arya shook her head. "He wouldn't send me away."

The look the black brother gave her made her think on it. She remembered Jon's letter and realised he had already tried. It made her feel even more stubborn about it. I won't let him send me away. Jon thought it too dangerous with the dead men and the Others but Arya had been through more than he knew.

Jon and I belong together, same as when I was a girl.

"I can help," she said firmly. "Once I return to the North I can fight too."

He laughed again. "Nobody wants to be at the Wall." He cocked his head in the direction of those being sent there. "They certainly don't want to be there."

Arya glanced at the unhappy faces of the prisoners. Many of Aegon's men looked almost as displeased. He is right. They wanted to fight Aegon's enemies, the people opposing his rule. They wanted the gold and land which came from fighting people. They see not profit in going North. It reminded her of something Bran said.

The true enemy is in the North.

Arya now understood what he meant. She thought she understood in Pinkmaiden but she knew better now. It took the battle in Kings Landing to make her see. I fought and people died and we won little. Cersei still lived and people still fought and those in the city and elsewhere still suffered. Aegon had the throne and he might be a better ruler but Arya gained nothing by lingering to join his battles now.

I have to do what is right.

Her dream returned to her. My hands were clean and then they weren't. She resisted the urge to chew her lip. I need to rule my face. She tried to remember the rest of it and how it felt. The last part of it disturbed her, the last part felt wrong but the people on her list did not. If I did not kill them they would keep hurting others. It wasn't the killing that felt wrong. It was the reason for killing.

I had to do it. If I did not kill them in battle then I would be dead or more of my men would be lost.

It still did not make her feel better about it. Thinking of the battle in Kings Landing reminded Arya of the task she had put off. She used her time carefully, beginning to move unnoticed when they camped at the end of each day. When she finished her duties it gave her the chance to watch and to listen and a carefully chosen face allowed her to find out what she wished. After a sennight she knew all she needed to know. What to do with the knowledge was the more difficult question.

Sandor Clegane joined her when she sat by the fire thinking of it. Only Nymeria remained close. She gave him a wary look. He seemed to have dropped the subject of Sansa but Arya still did not relax.

"Has the little wolf bitch found out what she wanted to know?"

Arya made certain not to react but he did not need to hear her answer. His face twitched.

"You forget I know you. I know you better than these fools. I had to hear your bleating all that time before you ran away and left me to die."

I did not run away. I had nowhere else to go.

"You should have died," Arya retorted.

He did not seem to care. "Why have you been creeping around the camp at night? Are you missing your King that badly?"

"It isn't about him," Arya snapped.

Clegane gave her one of his hideous smiles. He never thought it was. Arya sighed, knowing she might as well tell him. Everybody will know soon.

"After the battle some of the people in the city were killed. Some of the women..."

Sandor looked as though he might laugh at her. "What did you expect? Have you never heard of the Sack of King's Landing?"

Arya scowled. "That was the Lions."

This time he did laugh at her. "Knight are for killing. The Northmen might not have taken vows but they are no better. Most of them think of themselves as knights. It makes no matter which bloody colours you dress them up in or which fucking banner they march under."

Arya did not want to look at him.

"It matters to me."

Sandor went silent. "Look girl, this is what happens in war."

Arya did not want to hear it. "I'm not a girl, I'm a woman grown and I'm not stupid. My father would not have let this be."

He snorted. "Your bloody lord father killed just like these others. He might not have sacked the city but he killed all the same. He liked it just like them too."

Arya was so angry she wanted to hurt him. She left him instead. He is wrong about my father. Arya went to her tent and closed her eyes trying to remember him. She tried to picture him and imagine his voice. She wished he were with her right then to tell her what to do but she thought she knew anyway.

They are wolves like me. I commanded them and their wrongs are my wrongs unless I do something.

They were approaching the Crossroads Inn when Arya gave the order to gather the men. Her advisors gave her queer looks. Nymeria had been roaming further but the direwolf now kept close to her side. It made her feel stronger even though she still felt apprehensive. When she began to say the names of those she knew to have hurt people after the battle the camp erupted in protest. While most were little known, some were knights and two lesser lords were named.

"Bring them," she ordered.

The Greatjon acted quickly, as did Robett Glover and the Skagosi. Arya unsheathed her sword and the first of the men being brought forward realised what she meant to do. She heard whimpering and pleading but also curses.

"You have a choice," she told them. "The sword or the Black."

Most chose to take the black once they tried to call her bluff. They joined the ranks of prisoners with the man from the Night's watch. She saw them watching her with anger in their faces. The whispers carried to her ears. Arya heard talk of treason. She knew some felt that actions after battle should be overlooked, that it was the price paid for taking men from their homes for so long.

They think me a soft hearted woman.

She heard talk of behaviour to be expected when a man's blood was up. There were also questions as to how she knew. They think it to be trickery. Arya answered them as honestly as possible.

"They spoke in the wrong person's ear. There are few secrets from me in this camp."

The angry people were the minority but it still gave Arya pause. She heard the whispers about her leadership and suggestion that her brother would not see it the same way. Arya thought of her connection to Bran and knew they were wrong. Bran is not that different to me. Sometimes when she felt the raven she wondered if the thoughts in her head truly belonged to her.

He thinks it wrong too. He speaks of the true enemy.

It did not truly make her feel at peace even though she knew it to be right. Some men gave her looks which promised future dissent even if they did not whisper. Arya retreated to her tent, feeling even more lonely and isolated than she felt after the battle when she confined herself to the Maidenvault to care for Nymeria. She crawled into her bed after a time, wondering if Jon and Aegon might have understood what she had done.

Aegon punished his own men but he did it more to prevent the people protesting.

She suspected that he might hesitate to act if he thought it might make his lords bannermen unhappy. He wants to do what is right but finds the choosing hard. She did not know what Jon would do. She thought he might agree with her but she did not know. If only they were here with me now. The thought was a foolish one but she lingered on it still.

Things will be better when I see Jon.

Sleep did not want to come and Arya tormented herself with memories. She hated that her mind went to Aegon when she thought about wanting it all to go away, of not wanting to be alone and not wanting to hurt and feel weak. She wondered if he thought of her too.

He won't, she told herself. He will have somebody else.

She felt angry with herself and she pushed the thoughts away. She knew she made the right decision when the messenger from Kings Landing caught up to them the following day.

"Ser Brynden wished for me to tell you that he rides for the West."

Arya thought it odd at first that her uncle went to the effort of sending a messenger. When she read the parchment meant for her she understood.

Daenerys is here.

She quickly saw there was more to it. The letter told her they journeyed to Casterly Rock to meet with Tyrion Lannister. It also said Aegon intended to go with them. She felt no surprise given that he made no secret of his need to make an alliance with his Aunt but she worried about him leaving Kings Landing.

There are dangers everywhere but he knew the city needed him there. He knew he must not be seen to abandon them.

Arya quickly hardened herself as she remembered what he intended when meeting his Aunt. She dismissed the messenger. Cara soon gave her something else to think of. Her maid became more agitated the further North they came. Arya finally broke and demanded to know the problem.

Cara's eyes filled with tears. "You will be angry with me your grace."

Arya grasped her hands. "Tell me."

Cara sobbed her way through the tale and Arya became angry but not with Cara. She reached for the pin Cara always wore.

"May I borrow it?"

The woman sniffled and her hands shook so much that Arya had to unpin it herself. She changed into a gown similar to that worn by Cara and attached the pin to her dress.

"What will you do?" Cara asked. "You do not look like me."

The maid was so distracted she forgot Arya's title. The illusion is stronger with something belonging to the person you want to look like. She did not tell Cara. Cara feared the man Arya planned to meet enough. She recalled the conversation with Tyene.

I was right to trust Cara.

Even threat of death did not convince the maid to betray her. Arya made her way through the camp, repeating the same words in her head as her look changed. I am Cara, frightened Cara who rarely smiles and worries at every word. Her hands fluttered nervously and she kept her eyes low. When she reached the sentries she jumped in fright.

"What are you doing?" one barked.

"I-I need to... her grace asked that I..." her lower lip trembled.

"Fine," the other said tersely. "Get on with it."

The man waited where Cara said he would be. He does not look impatient. Clearly he was in the habit of waiting. He smiled at her as she approached him and she looked about herself nervously.

"I did not think you were going to show."

She shook her head. "The queen has been watching me." She fiddled with the brooch. "She watches everything."

He laughed at that. Arya gave him a sidelong glance. He did not stand out at all. His voice marked him as lowborn. Cara said she knew him only as Elbert. His features were plain, his height middling.

Arya wrung her hands. "The queen will have me killed if she knows," she said in a shaking voice.

"She won't know," he said gruffly. "She trusts you don't she?" He gave her a sharp look. "Have you forgotten what you owe?"

Arya shook her head. Her eyes filled with tears as he passed her a vial.

"W-Why do I have to do it?" She fumbled the vial in her shaking hands.

Elbert shrugged. "All I know is she is an obstacle. Somebody wants her out of the way."

Arya sniffled and pocketed the vial. Elbert turned suddenly and his relaxed demeanour changed.

"What is that beast doing?"

Arya startled. "I-I don't know. She usually only follows the queen."

Nymeria bared her teeth in a growl and Elbert almost tripped trying to back away. Arya followed him and his eyes widened as the direwolf nosed her palm. She sighed knowing the game was likely up and unclasped the pin.

"Who sent you here?"

Elbert cursed and this time he did trip. Arya stood over him and he sat, pale and trembling with fear as he looked up at her.

"Y-you..."

Arya felt for her finger knife but she did not want to use it. She wanted answers.

"Tell me who thinks I am an obstacle. Who wants me dead?"

He shook his head and she saw he had pissed himself.

"All I know is they don't want you to be queen. I do not know his name."

Nymeria growled again. When Elbert rose, the wolf lunged for him as he ran no matter that Arya tried to call her back. She hunched over the body, her muzzle red with blood. Arya heard shouting behind her and the sentries joined her, looking confused.

"What is it, your grace?"

Arya plucked out the vial and handed it to them.

"Treason," she told them. She left Nymeria with Elbert feeling frustrated that she did not have the chance to question him further. Nymeria is not a pet. The direwolf had killed too many to show restraint at one who posed such a threat. Arya shook off her disappointment.

The punishment would have been death regardless.

Cara looked worried when Arya returned to the tent. The snow began to drift down outside once more as she closed the flap.

"He is dead," she told the maid.

Cara looked relieved. "I never wanted it. I never told them anything and I never said..."

Arya hushed her. She knew the truth from much earlier. She felt she had no choice. Arya knew that feeling. She experienced it herself in Braavos. They sat together by the brazier for a little drinking mulled wine. The question stayed with Arya though.

This is the second time somebody has tried to have me poisoned.

It was still on her mind the next day as they reached the Crossroads Inn. Arya did not bring many men with her to greet the Heddle sisters. We cannot stay, we only want information. The children greeted her with a slightly warmer greeting than the last time but Willow still had no smile for her. Jeyne urged her inside.

"Have you been well?" Arya asked.

Willow scowled. "We have had to fare for ourselves."

Arya knew the Brotherhood aided them. I did not think about what might happen after. She looked around the Inn.

"I did not mean to leave you without friends."

"We had other friends your grace," Jeyne said softly.

Willow spat. "Your lady sister took them."

Arya's pulse quickened. "You saw Sansa?"

Jeyne nodded. Arya sat with them, giving orders to her men to bring what little food they had to spare. She listened to their tale of Jaime Lannister arriving with Sansa Stark and the men from the mountain clans. She saw Willow's resentment at the outlaws now accompanying Sansa and Jaime and the direction in which they travelled. Jeyne did not speak as harshly but Arya still saw her sorrow.

"I can leave men with you," Arya offered.

"The wrong men will be worse than none," Willow replied.

Arya thought of Kings Landing and knew them to be right. "I will choose carefully," she promised.

She did not linger at the Inn now that she knew for certain her sister was with Ser Jaime. Her anger at the man felt fresh once more. Ned is with her. She tried to remember him. He was only a boy when Arya met him. Anguy she could picture a little better but they did not make her feel confident after seeing what became of the others in the Brotherhood.

The men left behind looked thankful for the shelter even if they resented the delay in their return to their homes. Arya promised them it would not be for long. She urged her men to move quickly as the rode further North on the Kingsroad, thoughts of the poisoner pushed to the back of her mind.

There will be time to investigate that later.

The snow fell thicker and lay in deeper drifts the further they rode. The Northmen however were best equipped to deal with snow, arranging for the horses to be able to keep moving without sinking. Arya noticed the difference without the men from the Riverlands in tow though Aegon's men fell a little behind them. It did not concern her, her focus was on her family.

We are coming for you Sansa.

A/N 2: The next chapter will be Sansa and Jaime and I expect to include both POVs in the one chapter.