[Chapter Size: 3400 Words.]
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Third Person POV
Winterfell, 298 AC.
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On the way back, they encountered some Stark guards searching for them, since their father had sent them after Arya had taken Bran into the forest.
And it didn't take long before they were back in Winterfell, where they found Mearim already waiting at the castle's entrance, with Unsullied guards on both sides protecting her while Arya was away.
"Princess," she greeted.
"Lady Mearim... Let's get ready to leave," Arya said categorically, her voice carrying a certain irony.
At the same time, Mearim just gave a small smile. It was a joke between them. "Of course, princess. Your things are all ready, we can leave whenever you wish," the girl said.
Arya smiled and looked at her brother beside her. "Can you deliver a message to our family, Bran? I'll meet them soon. I'll speak with Willas Tyrell and his brother, I'm sure they'll want to accompany us to White Harbor," she said.
"All right, sister. I'll tell father," Bran replied, starting to go inside, but Arya touched his shoulder. "Remember, don't say anything about what we saw in the forest. Understood?" she said seriously.
"Yes, go. I'll keep secret everything I heard," he said with his chest puffed out, while Arya ruffled his hair and he ran inside. Arya turned to her royal guard at her side.
"Take care of him." She asked Bari, who nodded before moving inside.
She looked around, making sure no one could truly see her there surrounded, then quickly made her eyes turn white, while checking on the animals inside the castle, each quickly positioned somewhere.
One of them, a rat, saw the queen still shouting inside the maester's chamber, while they were still tending to her brother without his sword hand. Jaime was still unconscious.
Through another rat, she saw the king drinking in his locked chamber, while a Kingsguard who was not Barristan Selmy stood at the entrance, and by the sound of it, there were prostitutes inside, their cries echoing as he seemed to drown his anger after what had happened in the yard a few hours earlier.
Her father was in the solar with her older brother, and Bran was approaching, talking, while her mother once again comforted Sansa, as she did every day, complaining once more about the Arcticans and the chaos they caused like savages, as always.
She found the one she was looking for inside the great hall, while some nobles had retreated there after what had happened, waiting to know what would come next. So she followed there.
She drew attention the moment she entered, but ignored all the stares — perhaps not only because of her, but also because of the men who followed her. Behind her was the man, Trinsmy, who had caused all the initial confusion and threatened everyone.
For the first time, Arya was not the only center of attention in Winterfell when something big happened. Some were fearful because of the hatred of those from Arctic. At the same time, some were angry and others were so afraid they could not even look Trinsmy in the eyes. When he returned the stare of anyone who looked at him too long, he did so in a most unpleasant way, and most quickly looked away. The man had simply cut off Tywin Lannister's hand right in front of everyone without hesitation — he was far too dangerous.
Arya sat with the Tyrells, while they stared at her in surprise.
"You're leaving?" Surprisingly, it was Willas who spoke, breaking the silence, just as Mearin sat beside Arya with the two Tyrells.
"That is exactly why I came to tell you, since you have a ship in White Harbor," Arya said.
"Great. We have already asked to have our things prepared, we are leaving as well. We even said our goodbyes to your father, knowing you would not remain much longer. While you went to the Wolf's Wood with many guards," he said, his gaze somewhat confused, as though his words were also a question, not understanding why Arya would simply leave Winterfell and go to that place filled with guards without a good reason.
"Do not worry, I did not suffer an ambush, if that is what you are concerned about, my lord. In any case, I will go now. Better that I just say goodbye to my family and we depart today itself," she said with only a calm smile.
She quickly stood, heading toward her father's solar. As she was entering the upper floors, she came across someone she did not expect to meet in the corridor as soon as she entered it.
The queen was there, and she simply stopped as well after leaving Luwin's chamber to return to her own. She had three white cloaks — Ser Barristan Selmy, Ser Arys Oakheart, Ser Meryn Trant — behind her, and there were also five Arctican royal guards behind her, including Jill, Trinsmy, and others.
For a moment, neither of them spoke. As they looked at each other, Arya could see the queen's eyes full of hatred, seeming to grow stronger with every second she stared, her eyes behind the bandages covering her head to protect her wounds. And it would not be pretty when she finally healed.
The queen began to tremble as she spoke her words. Her voice seemed to falter even more: "Savage bitch!" she cried out in a burst.
That was the trigger for the next commotion. Immediately, swords began to be drawn, starting with the Arcticans.
Before anyone could react, Trinsmy passed by Arya before she could do anything to stop him and advanced toward the queen right there in that corridor, sword raised.
Cersei barely had time to see her guards move to protect her — she had only a few split seconds to trade her expression of hatred and anger for one of fear, upon seeing the same man who had cut off her brother's hand now simply charging at her with the intent to kill her.
She immediately stepped back, trying to hide, quickly retreating, while Barristan Selmy was faster, stepping forward as another guard raised his blade to defend her, and Trinsmy's Valyrian steel clashed against the old knight's steel, with the queen falling in fright.
"This Lannister whore dares insult the princess in our presence? Get out of the way, old man, or I'll kill all of you!" Trinsmy said angrily, as the other two white cloaks quickly raised their swords to join in defending the wounded queen.
That corridor turned into chaos. Servants and guards passing by began shouting at one another.
"I won't let you do this!" Ser Meryn Trant shouted, as he advanced on the Arctican along with Ser Arys Oakheart.
But Trinsmy was not alone. Another Arctican guard defended against Ser Meryn's enemy blade, while the last white cloak tried to move the queen away from the conflict as she remained on the floor, staring in fear. They were outnumbered.
Old Barristan Selmy tried to hold the attack, but was pushed back when Trinsmy advanced again, his blade dancing at an impossible speed to follow, even for someone like him, forcing him to retreat.
He did not even realize when he was knocked down with a kick, falling backward. The guard protecting the queen immediately placed himself in front of her as Trinsmy came at her once more, but Ser Arys Oakheart had no time to react before taking a punch to the face from the Arctican intercepting him before he could do anything.
Without a helmet, the impact of the Valyrian steel gauntlet shattered his nose.
If the queen had already been terrified, now she faced death in the shape of a man. She tried to crawl across the floor as Trinsmy raised his sword already above her.
"No! Stop! Don't kill her! This will bring great trouble, Trinsmy!" Arya shouted immediately, as he was already bringing the blade down toward her head.
The queen could only feel the sword striking the stone beside her, nearly cutting her ear. The sound of steel against stone rang out like a dreadful melody.
"I'll only refrain from doing this because I hear the princess, and I know it would bring heavy consequences for my king at this moment. But don't think I'll forgive it next time, be warned. If you insult her in front of me, your head will be cut off. Still, I cannot let you go unpunished."
Then, he pulled the sword free from the stone and began pointing it at her throat. Sansa seemed to have gone into shock; even she could not speak.
"STOP! Get off her!" Arya took a step forward.
Trinsmy looked angrily at the princess. "She just insulted you. At least let me deal with this — I won't kill her," he said in a tone that left no room for negotiation.
"I said, get off her!" Arya growled as an order.
He only sighed, somewhat indignantly. The white cloaks could not get close again to protect the queen, with the other Arctican royal guards blocking them. The queen saw the blade lift away from her neck, but she remained there on the ground, still trembling.
Arya then approached and, surprisingly, crouched over the queen with an indifferent look toward her.
"I did not want him to leave a mark on you. After all, it was not he who was offended. But that does not mean I will leave you unpunished. Queen, your mouth and your actions are full of disgrace. Look at yourself now. See the harm you have brought upon yourself since the moment you thought you could do whatever you wanted in Winterfell, that you could assassinate me, that you could be better than Jon. You have just created a war. And when I return to the south, no one will save you from the fury of a dragon." Arya spoke with an indifferent tone, as if looking at something foolish.
That was how she saw it: how could that woman continue behaving all the time as if her actions had no consequences? Perhaps she should not be surprised when the very queen decided to bear children after lying with her own brother.
Arya drew a dagger from her belt and touched the queen's neck.
"I am doing this so that you remember me. So that you remember that if you touch any member of my family while I am away — for after all, I am leaving today and will never see that disgusting face again — I swear it will not just be your face. I intend to tear off all your limbs, stitch them together, throw you into a filthy brothel, and you will be a prostitute with no choice but to serve beggars seeking pleasure." Arya said something horrible, something she would never have spoken before, but she was enraged at that woman. That madwoman.
And it seemed to work. As Arya began to scratch her neck, blood started to flow. The queen could only stare at the Stark with trembling eyes full of fear, perhaps even with a touch of regret.
After cutting enough, she sheathed the dagger and Arya stood. Behind her, guards and servants watched, shocked and afraid, not knowing what to say after witnessing what had just happened. The queen remained there, her neck bleeding.
Trinsmy, who had been angry before, upon seeing what Arya had done, gave a satisfied smile at the princess of Arctic.
"Let's go, let's meet my father and my brother." She said as the royal guards followed her along with a stunned Mearin, who looked back at the queen on the floor being immediately aided by other white cloaks. She moved forward, and the Arctican royal guards made sure no white cloak came near Arya.
Arya began to advance, leaving the queen behind, in the corridor now crowded with guards who had come after hearing the servants' cries for help.
"Do not worry, all the confusion is over," Arya simply said to the crowd, which made way for her. The queen was left with her neck bleeding. Arya had ensured it would leave a scar — one that would remind her of Arya every day, along with the very promise the girl had made that no one else had heard.
It did not take long before she found her father, who was hurrying through the corridors along with her brother.
"Arya! What happened! The guards told me there was a fight between you and the queen!" Lord Stark said with concern.
"Nothing serious, father. Anyway, if you want to check on the queen, go ahead. I'll wait for you in the solar," she said, shrugging.
Lord Stark frowned and quickly went down the corridor to see what had really happened, with Robb alongside him. Arya entered the solar and picked up Winter in her arms, waiting patiently for her father. He came shortly after, along with her brother, who looked at her with a weary gaze.
"My gods, Arya… you and that woman can't stop nearly killing each other for even a single minute," he said, a bit worried.
"Don't worry. I'm already leaving. Besides, she was the one who started everything. This whole mess began because of her, because she couldn't, for even a moment, put aside her hatred and anger," Arya said calmly.
Her father only sighed before sitting at the table. Robb said nothing, but kept looking at his sister, lost in his own thoughts.
"So, you're leaving," he finally said, while the wolf shifted in Arya's lap and was soon placed on the ground, the she-wolf running to Lord Stark's table.
"Yes. Afterward we'll wait in White Harbor. As you know, things here in Winterfell are not getting easier. And before someone commits an unforgivable crime… since I don't want to burden Jon, we're leaving." She spoke, and Lord Stark nodded, watching the wolf rubbing against his legs.
"I wish you would stay a little longer, Arya. I wish you would say a proper farewell, since we'll never know when we'll see each other again… me and your siblings," he said with sorrow.
"I know, father. You know it's no longer safe for me to be here. You saw what happened…" she said.
He nodded, disappointed but aware. "I understand… How much time do we have?" he asked.
"Time enough for our last conversations," Arya replied.
He nodded. "Robb, could you give me a minute with your sister? I want a private conversation between father and daughter," he said at last.
"Afterward I also need to have my conversation with your sister's brother," Robb added with a small smile before leaving the solar.
"The king still doesn't know what happened. He certainly won't be happy about it, but he's too drunk right now…" Lord Stark said with a sigh.
"Well, that was inevitable from the moment she couldn't keep her mouth shut. The guards were only defending me, defending my honor," Arya said.
"I know… that woman is complicated," he said in a weary tone, while Arya only shrugged. "Anyway, how was your conversation with Jon? I didn't know you were going to take Bran until they told me he had disappeared from Winterfell with you," he said, with a slightly disapproving look.
"Hey, as you saw, he was fine," Arya shrugged, since she hadn't told him about her leaving for the forest with her. He hadn't been there and had probably gone to speak with her mother.
"I know… it's just that I wish you had told me. Anyway, how was it? I mean… Jon and Bran?" he asked with some caution. He didn't know how Jon might react to Bran after what had happened in the last few years.
"If you're talking about Jon holding some grudge against Bran, you're mistaken, father. Jon adores him. He even showed the dragon to me and to Bran," she said, while he raised an eyebrow.
"He showed you both the dragon? That white dragon?" he asked.
"No. The dragon he recently conquered, the very one that can breathe green flames," she said, as Lord Stark's eyes widened, connecting it with the green flames seen in the west of the realm.
"I see…" was all he said. "Bran seemed quite excited. That must have been it."
"Is something bothering you?" Arya asked.
"It's Robb and Jon," he said at last. "I wonder if one day they'll speak again."
"I don't know, father. Honestly, I even tried to convince Jon, saying Robb had changed. But Jon was slandered for years by Robb out of petty jealousy. It's not something Jon will forgive so easily. He's felt betrayed since he was six years old, because that was when Robb simply turned his back on him, to be with arrogant Theon Greyjoy," she said with a sad tone.
"And the theft had been the last straw… Not to mention Robb never admitted it and doubled down in recent years, speaking ill of Jon and calling him a bastard. I know he was just a child, and later a teenager full of jealousy, watching Jon conquer the world, hearing every story that reached Winterfell, with lords and smallfolk praising Jon, his adventures, and bravery. Even though Jon had gained a reputation, even with people saying he kidnapped me… Jon was still very well spoken of in the North and adored by part of the common folk…" she finished.
"I know. But I wish things could be mended. Robb is becoming someone worthy of the Stark name. You see that too, don't you?" Ned murmured.
"Of course I see that, father. And just like you, I truly wish Jon was on good terms with our whole family, that he was here in Winterfell eating at our side. But I also can't force him to do something he doesn't want. Something that hurt him… He will carry that wound for life, you know that. Jon is a good person, but that doesn't mean he forgives easily, or even that he isn't hurt. He is the bravest and strongest man I know… but he is still human, like all of us." Arya spoke with her eyes on the ground, looking defeated.
"You're right," Lord Stark sighed at last. "I suppose we can't force anything, only let things settle naturally. If there's a chance, it will happen in the coming years."
"Father, remember everything I told you. The king is leaving soon, and you will not accompany him… Your friendship with him is quite strained, and House Stark is facing a serious political problem. But I believe things will work out. Father, when the war in the North ends, Jon will launch an attack on the Seven Kingdoms, and all those who tried to harm us will pay."
"Also, I want you to know we'll be keeping an eye on things. When the queen and the king leave, you only need to keep the North and Winterfell in order. Be careful with everyone in the south, because it won't be long before they start plotting, especially now that you've declared for Arctic, canceled your daughter's marriage, and also the role of Hand of the King. Not to mention the fact that both of Tywin Lannister's children were brutally attacked inside your castle."
"Even so, everyone also knows you have Arctic's support, and they'll think twice before trying anything. But, as we've seen, it seems rationality doesn't always work with them. The queen is a good example of that… and she had to pay dearly from the moment she tried to kill me."
She spoke while Lord Stark only nodded, aware of the long list of possible enemies Arya had laid out for them, especially within the council. The strange thing was that not a single one there was safe. Arya had pointed out every flaw as she knew them when she returned to the North after years away. She had said he should trust no one there.
She herself had set a bird thousands of leagues away to investigate the life of each of the councilors. Moreover, she had already warned Jon about everything, and she had a much deeper impression of them, but never spoke of it, since it was in her own interest to keep such information as the ones he still keeps in Arctic.
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