Arya

"Are you sure about this?" Father asked again.

She rolled her eyes one last time. "Positive."

Father turned to Robb. "You'll see them safely to Eastwatch?"

"On my honor," he replied. "Anything you want me to tell Jon?"

Father was silent for a moment, but then said, "No. Just be safe out there."

"You be safe," Bran said. "We don't want you dying out in Essos."

"I won't give Daenerys Targaryen reason to harm me," he said.

"You mean more reason than she already has?" Myrcella asked. "Don't tell her about our marriage."

Father smirked. "Despite what my daughters seem to think, I am not an utter fool. Are you sure you want to do this?"

Myrcella nodded. "I know it's risky, trust me. But if the Northern lords will not accept me, is showing myself, ingratiating myself to them, not the best way?"

"It may work," Mother said. "But that doesn't make it not dangerous."

"I'm not frightened," Myrcella said.

Robb smiled. "That's my wife." He looked down at Rickon. "Will you be alright being the Stark in Winterfell for a while?"

Rickon grinned widely. "You know I will."

"Listen to Mother and Maester Luwin, and be good."

Rickon nodded.

They all hugged and said their final goodbyes, then Mother and Father stepped aside for a moment. Theon nodded at Robb. "I'll keep your little brother safe."

Robb and Arya exchanged a look, but he turned back to Theon. "I'm glad to hear it."

They mounted their horses, and Father did the same. Together, the five of them rode out the gates of Winterfell, the three guards meant to come with her and Bran following a bit behind. "You know the way to White Harbor?" Father asked.

"Yes, Father," Robb said. "We'll be fine."

Nodding, he turned South and started down the Kingsroad. Only when he was out of earshot did Bran say, "He was being so annoying."

"He just worries about you," Myrcella said. "It's sweet." She had a sad look in her eyes. Arya supposed she had never known that feeling; Jaime hadn't been allowed to show her fatherly affection, and Robert had never cared to. And Cersei hadn't seemed like a particularly loving mother, either.

"Come on, then," Robb said. "Off to White Harbor. I'll have to apologize to Lord Manderly for spurning his granddaughters."

"You can promise him Bran," Arya said.

"Hey!" Bran protested.

Robb seemed to be considering it, though. "Perhaps. A second son is not quite being the Lady of Winterfell, but it would still be an honorable match, especially if Bran is granted a keep to rule over."

"If I must marry," Bran said, "I want it to be to Meera."

"We do not get to marry who we choose," Myrcella said. "None of us. Your parents didn't choose each other, nor did my mother choose King Robert, nor Robb and I. Yet two of those marriages, at least, did not end in disaster."

"Some people get to choose," Bran argued. "Like Prince Duncan. He chose Jenny of Oldstones."

"But he had to abdicate his claim to the throne," Arya pointed out.

"Not to mention that it caused a great rift between the Iron Throne and Lord Baratheon," Myrcella added. "He renounced his fealty to the throne and declared himself the Storm King, and Ser Duncan the Tall had to defeat him in a trial by battle. Then the king had to agree to marry his daughter to Lord Lyonel's heir and send her to Storm's End as a ward in order for peace to be restored." She sighed. "King Robert told me that story, one of the rare times he decided to try and be a father. That princess was his grandmother, Rhaelle."

"House Baratheon was always closely tied to the dragons," Arya said. "The original Baratheon was Aegon the Conqueror's bastard half-brother."

"Allegedly," Robb said.

Arya shrugged. "Couldn't Father just give Jon his own noble house? There have been others started by bastards."

"House Longwaters," Myrcella supplied.

"And House Blackfyre," Bran added.

"Not sure that's the best example to model after," Robb said. "Besides, Daemon Blackfyre was legitimized."

"You were going to legitimize Jon, you know," Bran said. "When you were King in the North. Wrote it in your will. Which was lost. You wanted him to be your heir. Mother wasn't happy, though. She thought it was unfair to disinherit your sisters for Jon."

"It is unfair!" Arya said, shooting Robb a glare. "Why would you do that?"

"Sansa was married to a Lannister," Bran said, "And everyone thought you were dead. I don't know what exactly he put in the will, it might not actually have disinherited you, but it didn't matter much. It was lost and they still named Jon king."

"Stannis offered to legitimize him too," Arya said. "As Lord of Winterfell. But he said no. He'd taken his vows with the Watch. And he'd already almost broken them once, and made his choice."

"Almost broken them?" Robb asked. "When?"

"When Father was killed and you marched to war. He wanted to join you."

Robb winced. "The bannermen would have expected me to behead him as a deserter. It's a good thing he never did. Or... it doesn't matter, since that timeline no longer exists, I suppose. It still makes my head hurt to think about it too hard."

"Mine too," Arya admitted. "And I lived it."

They rode on the rest of the day before making camp at nightfall, and Arya sat by the fire watching the stars. She thought about her awkward meeting with Gendry when she had introduced herself to him this morning, hoping he didn't see her blush, then about the conversation they'd had on the road about marriages. She had said no to Gendry once, and would again if he ever asked, though it seemed unlikely he'd ever get to know her this time around. She had no desire to be a woman wed. But she may have to, to aid their family politically. As Myrcella had said, none of them got to choose.

Bran came out to join her. "Are you frightened?" he asked.

"Of facing Bloodraven? How hard can it be to kill an old man who has a tree growing through him?"

"Of what we might learn," Bran said. "Of whether he's right, and it was wrong to meddle with time."

"Oh," Arya said, and then, after a silence, "Yes, I'm frightened of that."

Sansa

When at last word arrived that her father was in the city and making his way to the Red Keep, Sansa almost leapt up to go and greet him. It had been far too long since she had seen any of her family.

Father smiled as he got off his horse and ran to embrace her.

King Robert grinned and hugged him next, saying, "Ned, so good to see you again! Was starting to worry you'd abandoned me."

"I'm sorry, Your Grace. There was much to attend to in the North. I trust all was well here?"

Robert shrugged. "Well enough. We have a new Master of Coin in Mace Tyrell, and Littlefinger has been sent to the Wall."

Father grimaced. "Normally I'd approve of more men for the Watch, but he's a dangerous man to allow to live. Still, I'm glad he's out of power. You got my note, then?"

"Yes, and your girl here acquitted herself quite well at the trial. It probably never would have happened without her."

Father beamed at her, and she felt herself flush with pride.

"The queen sends her regards," Robert said, "But she couldn't come to greet you because she's too big to move now."

Father nodded. "I hope she's doing well and that the babe is healthy."

A few more pleasantries were exchanged before the two of them could finally head off alone, and she followed him back to his solar.

"So," he said when they were seated. "Seems a lot has changed."

Sansa nodded, then filled him in on all that had happened, including her ability to warg into Lady.

He raised his eyebrows. "So it's not just Bran?"

"It's all of us. Can you..."

"Not that I know of," he said with a small smile. "Would be nice."

"There's one more thing," she said. "Loras Tyrell is going to ask you for my hand in marriage."

"Oh," he said.

"I've decided it's in our house's best interest if you accept."

"But is it what you want?"

"Did you want to marry Mother?"

"Fair enough." He frowned. "But you say the Tyrells are plotting to get Robert off the throne."

"And I think we should help them. Get him to abdicate to the baby when it's born. It makes sense, and his hatred of Daenerys will be an obstacle to peace. If anybody can convince him, Father, it's you."

He sighed. "Robert has mentioned wanting it, I'll grant that much, but it still seems wrong."

"I know there are risks involved. But we have to be prepared."

He nodded. "I understand. I will think on all you said."

She nodded. "One final idea I wanted to get your thoughts on..."

"Yes?"

"What if I came with you to meet Daenerys?"

"No. Too dangerous."

"I can handle it."

"You said you didn't get along before."

"We didn't. I wanted Northern independence. She didn't. But there are many things I think we have in common, and we are not so far apart in age. Perhaps I could befriend her."

"I don't know. Who would keep an eye on things here, then?"

She thought about it for only a moment. "Lady."

"She can't speak or manage things, though."

"True. But... the realm will be fine. The Tyrells can handle daily affairs. The big issue to manage will be Daenerys."

"I suppose that's true enough." He frowned. "I'll think on it."