Chapter 10

Last Time:

Cat closed her eyes and imagined being Nymeria, taking her form but an image of Tamo as a fox-like woman kept appearing. Sudden pain erupted in her temples, and she felt herself falling….

"Cat!"

Cat opened her eyes to see a concerned-looking Tamo looking down at her. She was, she realised, lying on the floor. She felt washed out and tired. So very tired.

oOoOo

Cat woke in a panic.

"Cat!"

She rolled and saw Tamo standing in an unfamiliar room. The air smelt of salt…the sea?

"Where are we?"

"Cat, look at me," ordered Tamo as she moved, her hands coming up to cup Cat's face. "Don't think, don't do anything but picture yourself as Cat. Picture yourself moving into that form."

Cat was starting to feel unfamiliar panic, "What happened Tamo."

"Do it Cat, now!" ordered Tamo in a voice that was just short of a shout. "Like you are looking in a mirror. Picture it!"

Cat closed her eyes and tried to picture Cat she felt a small tingle but nothing else.

"Well fuck!"

She opened her eyes to see a worried Tamo.

"What is the matter?"

Tamo sighed and her eyes glistened. Cat realised that she had been crying.

"Tamo?" Cat stood, reaching out to hug Tamo when she realised that her balance was off. She looked down.

"What the seven hells!"

It took Tamo nearly an hour to calm Cat down.

"How did it happen, what went wrong?" Cat asked Tamo.

"I don't know, it either should have worked or nothing should have happened. This…this is unprecedented," replied Tamo with a look of wonder mixed with worry.

Cat looked down at the red fur on her arms. She looked like Tamo in her humanoid fox form. She still had Cat's features, to some extent but other than that she looked like Tamo.

"Will I be able to transform back?" she asked. There was more at stake here than vanity. She, they had a vital mission.

"I think so, it might take some time to learn how. Cat, no one EVER transforms on their first attempt. No one ever. I have no idea how you did it, but I am sure we can turn you back. When is the question," said Tamo in a reassuring tone before grimacing. "As to where we are…welcome to the Summer Isles."

"You brought me to the Summer Isles, why?"

Tamo wiggled her fingers in Cat's direction, "I couldn't leave you in Winterfell looking like that! So, you are currently in your room. An illusion with terrible cramps," she grinned. "Women's issues should keep the nosey ones out. I am tending you after all."

Cat rolled her eyes, it should work for a few hours, and she began to relax, slightly. Tamo would work it out.

"Unfortunately, that is not the most difficult bit…"

Cat tensed up again, "Oh?"

"Somebody saw you and I had to bring them too," Tamo explained. "They were peeking in the door."

Cat now had to worry about a servant or guard knowing things they shouldn't. "Who was it?"

Before Tamo could answer there was the sound of an unfamiliar voice and one that she knew well. Cat turned her head to see a much younger Daenerys Targaryen standing beside a wide-eyed Arya Stark.

"That is soooo amazing!"

oOoOo

"Why?" Cat demanded as she dragged Tamo out onto what appeared to be a sunny beach.

Tamo sighed, "She couldn't sleep and was walking the halls, she heard us talking and stopped for a moment…well, I am sure you can guess the rest. She is a curious girl."

"How the hell do we explain this to her, to my…to her family?"

"I am sure she can be trusted," Tamo replied with a grin.

"No, she can't," replied Cat with some heat.

"Yes, I can…I swear!" said Arya from behind them.

"I asked you to stay inside," said Cat.

Arya blew a raspberry, "As if, I'm not missing this!"

Cat and Tamo shared a look and Tamo squatted down to look Arya in the eye.

"What do you think is happening Arya?" Tamo asked sternly.

Arya stood looking defiantly back at Tamo. "You and Cat aren't normal. You can do magic like in old Nan's stories!"

"And?" Tamo prompted.

"And you will be able to teach me…is that why Cat is so good at fighting? How can you do magic, are you children of the forest, are you wargs, can I learn how to change into a fox person?"

"Arya this is a secret that you must keep," Cat said in her sternest tone of voice.

"I'm not telling anyone stupid! Why would I? I want you to teach me like you are teaching Daenerys Targaryen. I want to do magic and fight and turn into animals and…"

Arya trailed off as she realised everyone was watching her with shocked expressions.

"What?"

"You know who Daenerys is?"

"Of course I do, she told me her name and I've dreamed about her before," Arya explained. "Now can…"

Cat held up a finger, "Ah!"

Arya frowned at Cat, "You are not in charge of me!"

"Gods what a fucking mess," said Cat as she threw her hands up in frustration. "Wait, hold on you dreamed of Daenerys?"

Arya sensed a new opportunity to pitch her being trained, "All the time, well not all the time but sometimes. She has dragons and there is a giant wolf, and she is kissing Jon and he has a beard. And I fight in battles like Cat! I even have a sword called Needle…"

Cat felt her heart racing as she almost panicked. Arya was seeing her life…she had to be.

Before she could speak a small silver-haired girl appeared. She was standing with her hands on her hips and frowning at the group standing on the beach.

"Well, isn't this a delightful mess."

oOoOo

Cat sat, mentally exhausted as Tamo patted her on the back. Seated next to her on the log was a teenaged Daenerys Targaryen. All three were watching the spectacle of Arya Stark arguing with a goddess.

It had been going for quite some time and after they got over the fear of Arya being struck down by the goddess, they realised that the two of them were arguing over the situation.

"…what do you mean I can't help!"

"…the dragons must return…"

"…pfft, my father wouldn't do that!"

"…the great other is a threat to everything…"

"…then I should be helping…"

"Magic is not some game, child…"

"I'm taller than you!"

"…I dreamed it all…that was true? How was I there?"

Cat suddenly sat up, realising what Arya was asking. She started to stand but before she could intervene Liaxes had replied.

"Because you were there in that other future child. You fought and you died and then my brother sent you back. I am not saying you have no role, you do, but right now your part is to learn to fight again. To be strong and prepared. Cat, Tamo and Daenerys all have a part to play if we are to win this time."

Arya was silent, staring at the goddess before gasping. She spun around and stared at Cat. "My dreams…the house with black and white doors…changing your face…it was YOU!"

Cat flinched but didn't reply.

Arya slowly walked forward not taking her eyes off Cat until she stood close enough to reach out and touch Cat. Her grey eyes were shining with unshed tears. "Who are…no, I know who you are. You are me!"

Cat met Arya's eyes and slowly nodded, "I was but not anymore."

Arya shook her head, "No, you are me with a different face…I became a faceless man. I died to save my family, I won."

Cat shook her head, "You don't have to do that Arya."

Arya's face grew angry, "Why not! I know what is coming now. I've dreamed it and I need to learn what I can to help. I've been having dreams for half a year and now I understand. I'm you, you are me and we can save Winterfell."

"Arya…I can't…things aren't the same as last time," Cat tried to explain in the face of Arya's defiant expression.

Arya huffed, "Good, I don't want my family to die." She made a face of disgust. "I don't want a boy sticking his thingy in me, yuck!"

Cat winced; she hadn't asked what exactly Arya had seen but that comment told her that she had seen quite a lot.

"Arya Stark of Winterfell," said Liaxes in her odd 'multiple' voice. "You served mankind in that future we seek to stop. Will you do so again?"

Arya nodded slowly and warily, "Yes."

"And you will keep this secret, knowing that breaking your vow could threaten all that we work towards?"

"I will."

Liaxes turned to Cat, "Does that satisfy you Darkheart?"

Cat sighed, "It does."

"Then it is done," she seemed to study Cat closely. Her eyes then narrowed in suspicion. "Why do you look like that by the way?"

oOoOo

Liaxes was giggling as she skipped off accompanied by Daenerys and Arya.

Cat, now back to normal was leaning back into the arms of Tamo. Thinking about Arya and what she still considered a narrowly avoided disaster.

"She is an intelligent person, Cat."

"Arya?"

"Yes Arya, she will be an asset and it looks like she's hit it off with Daenerys and Liaxes," Tamo replied lightly, squeezing Cat. "Let it go my love. Trust me I know children, especially girl children. Arya is gifted and has a fiery spirit, but we can steer her in the right direction."

Cat sighed loudly, then cursed. "We've been here for ages!"

Tamo laughed, "We have but Cat and Arya are still in Winterfell. One night will not matter and I think you need to have a conversation with your younger self. I will talk to Daenerys, for now, let them enjoy their afternoon."

"That conversation will be…interesting."

oOoOo

It was.

Liaxes had left after bringing back a happy Arya and a thoughtful Daenerys. And while Tamo and Daenerys cooked dinner, Cat and Arya sat outside.

Eventually and unsurprisingly, it was Arya that broke the silence.

"Is Tamo your friend or your lover?"

It was such a shocking question that Cat found herself laughing nervously. "What?"

"I'm just asking," replied Arya.

Nine-year-old Arya Stark looked young in the late afternoon light. "I'm not answering that, you are still nine Arya."

"I'm Nine and a bit and besides I've heard about the sword and sheath three times now." She held up a finger with each recitation. "Once listening while Mother told Sansa, in my, your memory of Braavos and when mother told Sansa in your past world. And I've dreamed of Gendry and just recently of you and Tamo." Despite her confident tone, her face was a bit red-faced.

"Oh," was all that Cat could manage.

Arya lowered her voice slightly, "Does it get more interesting when I'm older?"

Cat had never expected this, "Um, yes sort of. Well, you remember Gendry, yes?"

Arya nodded, yes, Cat could see that she was blushing at the uncomfortable memory of a single night with Gendry.

"Well, that was it for me and my love life before Tamo. And that is all I am saying on that issue. You will need to find your own path as far as your…love life. Gods, this is weird!"

Arya giggled despite being red-faced. "Try it from my perspective! I know the word perspective from you. I know about boys' thingies and what a girl tas…looks like, you know down there," she pointed down. "I'm not scared or anything but it's weird. Like I can remember you fighting and sometimes that helps and sometimes it doesn't. It is going to take some time. I mean I was looking at Daenerys when we were swimming with Liaxes. Did you know Gods don't have belly buttons, but she still has…her other bits?"

"No, I didn't know," admitted Cat with a laugh.

Arya lowered her voice even further. "I saw Daenerys…in the nuddy, she was beautiful, but I don't feel like touching anything or nothing. It was interesting…pretty and she has hair and stuff."

"Hair?"

Arya gestured downwards.

"Ah, hair right. Well, she is a few years older than you…what is she Twelve?"

"Thirteen," corrected Arya.

"I am sorry about the dreams Arya."

Arya shook her head, "Some of them are terrible and sad but I'm not scared of them. I was scared that I was going mad."

"I think we need to talk about some of them…not the Tamo ones but the other things," suggested Cat.

"Like father, mother and the others," agreed Arya.

"Yes, I will do all I can to make sure that doesn't happen Arya."

"And I'll help…after you've taught me," promised Arya.

Cat nodded and there was silence again before Arya cleared her throat. "Is Daenerys our enemy?"

"She's a thirteen-year-old girl and Tamo is teaching her, what do you think?"

"I think she could be our friend. I don't think she was happy before and she seems happy now," Arya said thoughtfully. "She said Tamo and Liaxes were going to help her hatch dragons and Jon…what about Jon, she is his Aunt!"

"I know," replied Cat sadly. It had been something of an issue…last time.

"We'll keep them all alive," Arya promised. "Our family, father won't be killed, mother won't be murdered, and I won't become a faceless man. I trust you, Arya Stark."

"And I trust you Arya Stark…now come on that fish smells like it's cooked!"

oOoOo

They left after dinner and to Cat's surprise, Arya blushed furiously when Daenerys kissed her cheek in farewell. Arya hugged the older girl tightly and promised that she would be her friend.

Getting back to Winterfell was simple enough and the next day things looked normal.

Cat had to give it to Arya, the girl could act.

oOoOo

Lord Stark's trip to the wall would probably take two months. He had departed two days after what Cat thought of as "the Arya incident".

Lady Stark would support Robb as the Stark in Winterfell and for now, their work would continue as planned.

The days crawled by and Cat, Tamo and now Arya, continued their training. Arya was improving in leaps and bounds and Sansa was improving, slowly. She had hand-eye coordination but lacked aggression. Still, Cat was impressed that Sansa was still trying. She knew Sansa could be brave and had seen how strong she was. This time she would know how to defend herself and more importantly have a few fewer illusions about life in the South.

The girl praised for her beauty was now getting compliments for her growing skills and finding that she liked it.

The other surprise was the Blackfish. The old knight had stayed in Winterfell. He was supporting Robb and assisting Ser Rodrik and Syrio with the training of the men and the boys as well as keeping an eye on Sansa and Arya.

In the other future, the Blackfish had remained the Knight of the Gate in the vale. His being here added another layer of an experienced council in Winterfell.

Despite the changes and the wins, Cat knew full well that the clock was ticking. They might have bought more time, but the Great Other was coming. They had to be ready.

oOoOo