Chapter 24 Arya

The wedding was done and the bedding had begun and all in the great hall of the Twins western castle cheered and yelled and shouted bawdy comments as Robb and his bride Roslin were carted off to their wedding chamber, both carried high in the air, their faces flushed with excitement, embarrassment, and possibly also expectation. Roslin was already being stripped of her wedding gown by the men and Robb's doublet was already being torn by the women. Everyone was in a joyous and festive mood. Everyone except Arya Stark that is.

She sat on a bench with the boy, the one they told her she had to marry, and was having no fun at all. His name was Elmar and she had only met him an hour before the wedding ceremony had begun. He had the Frey look and was the same height as her and was skinny and pale. She had been polite and greeted him with courtesy and he had done the same in return. But when it came time for the wedding Arya was told by her mother that she would have to enter the hall on the boy's arm and sit with him and dance with him and at that point she almost ran away. Her mother sensed this in her and after a sharp word Arya had agreed to be civil and had done her part to uphold the Stark name during the ceremony.

She was wearing the blue dress her mother had found in Riverrun for her. It was plain but it was the only clean and decent clothing she had for a wedding ceremony. Sansa and Jeyne and the Frey girls all wore very beautiful dresses and many of the men from the North and the Twins asked their hands for a dance. No one asked Arya except Elmar and she danced with him once, a northern jig she liked, where you didn't have to touch the other person at all except to slap hands together high in the air at certain points. He didn't know the dance and fumbled about and she wasn't much better and after that they both agreed dancing was not for them.

Arya scratched her leg where the dagger sheath had rubbed on her skin while she was dancing. She had two daggers, one strapped to each thigh, hidden under her dress. Before they went into the castle for the ceremony her father had taken her aside and had led her into his tent. It was empty since Arya's mother was off helping Sansa and Jeyne get ready.

"I need you to do something for me," he had said, his face with that grim look he always had when something was worrying him.

"Anything," she told him right away.

"Hide these on you," he told and he handed her the two daggers in sheaths with leather straps and buckles on them.

She took them without a word. "You understand why?" he asked.

"We can't trust the Freys," she replied right away.

"Aye," her father said. "Robb can't wear a weapon to his wedding but you and I can. Most of our men inside will also be carrying hidden daggers."

"If anyone tries anything I will kill old Walder Frey first," she told him in a matter of fact way.

Arya could see he was unhappy with this. "I'd rather if you never had to kill anyone for the rest of your life," he told her.

"I will if I have to."

"Aye, that you will. If things go bad, you are to protect your mother and Sansa and Jeyne. You let me and the men deal with the Freys. You get your mother and the other girls to safety. You understand?"

"Aye, my lord," she said in the way he and Robb and other northmen often talked. Her father chuckled and ruffled her hair.

"My little wolf," he said tenderly. "Right. Hide them well and then it's time to meet the Frey boy. Roose Bolton arrived a few hours ago."

"Seven hells," she said quietly. "Do I have to?"

"You know you do."

"I won't marry him so what does it matter."

He sighed heavily. "Arya, it matters and you know why it does. It's only for one day. Tomorrow or the next day we are going north. Then…then it will be a long time before you see him again. Maybe never."

"I hope so," she answered and then after promising to be good her father left and she strapped the two daggers to her thighs.

Now it seemed like it had been for naught. The wedding was going well. The ceremony had been done quickly, performed by a septon who was one of Walder Frey's sons or grandsons or nephews or cousins or something. The wedding cloaks had been exchanged. Roslin's was a deep blue with the twin towers of her sigil sewed in gold thread. Robb's was not as fancy, but in short notice Sansa and Jeyne and Arya's mother had done a decent job, and the direwolf in grey on a field of white silk trimmed with fur did look a bit like Grey Wind.

After the ceremony and Robb had kissed his bride for the first time, gifts were exchanged. Walder Frey's son Stevron gave Robb a sword with a jeweled hilt and Robb thanked them for this kind gift. And now Robb was armed as well and once that happened Arya saw many of the northern men relax, including her father. A goldsmith had been found and he had taken some Stark gold and melted it and fashioned a nice necklace and a ring for Roslin's wedding gift. They were not very fancy, but they all said it was beautiful and no one seemed insulted. Arya was sure her father had told Walder Frey that more wedding gifts would be given when they had a wedding party at Winterfell.

After Robb and Roslin had been carried off to the wedding bed, more food and drink was served and the band in the balcony began to play again and more people danced, including Sansa with old Stevron Frey and Jeyne with one of the Stark lords. Arya could not remember who he was. Sansa looked like she wanted to run away but was polite and danced well with the heir of the Twins. Arya could see many of the men of the castle were looking at her sister and Jeyne and she had no doubt what was on their minds.

"Why is your hair short?" Elmar suddenly asked her.

"I like it short," she told him. "I think I will keep it this way."

"You should let it grow," he replied. "A woman should have long hair."

"Maybe," she said, not wanting to argue with him. Sansa had once told her courtesy was a lady's armor. Well, Arya was no lady but she knew she should try to be polite. "What do you do for Lord Bolton?"

He made a face as if something disgusted him. "Help him with his leeches mostly. Ugh!"

"Leeches?" she asked in puzzlement as she looked across the hall where her father was sitting with Lord Bolton deep in conversation. With them were some other northern lords and the two crannogmen who had come down the river. Arya guessed they were talking of what to do at Moat Cailin. She looked at Roose Bolton and he was a scary man, no doubt about that. He was pale and thin and when Arya was introduced to him she could barely hear what he said. She had heard one of the Stark soldiers call him the "leech lord" and on his chest was a sigil of a man with his arms and legs splayed out. The 'flayed man' she knew it was called from her lessons with Maester Luwin. How could such a man be one of her father's lords?

"He puts leeches on his skin every day," Elmar was explaining. "He says they draw out the blood and take away any sickness."

"Is he sick?" Maybe that's why he was so pale.

"No, never. Maybe they do help him. But I hate it. They are so slimy and they smell like mud and are full of blood when I take them off him."

"They are just leeches," Arya said with a shrug. Gods, he was scared of leeches.

"You'd hate it too if you had to do it every day."

"Maybe," she said again. Then she remembered Roose Bolton's men had been in a battle with Tywin Lannister. "Were you in the fight with the Lannisters?"

"No," he said. "I stayed with the baggage and other servants."

"I've been in a fight," she bragged before she could stop herself. She had not meant to talk on that but now it was out.

"Where?" he asked in a suspicious manner as if he was preparing not to believe her.

"On the road from King's Landing to Harrenhal. I was hiding in a party of Night's Watch recruits with my father. Lannister men attacked us. And gold cloaks from King's Landing as well."

"Why did they attack you?"

"They were after…they wanted to take my father back to King's Landing. That's just after my brother captured the Kingslayer." She had almost told him about Gendry. No, she would never tell him anything about Gendry, that was certain. "Ask my father if you don't believe me."

"I believe you," he said, but she wasn't sure if he was lying or not. Just then her mother approached them.

"Hello," she said to Elmar, and Elmar immediately stood and bowed.

"Lady Stark," he said and then she sat with them and he sat again.

"How are you getting along?" Arya's mother asked them.

"Fine," Elmar replied. Just then there was a commotion and two Frey men started fighting and a chair was knocked over. Their family members separated them and Old Walder Frey from his high chair ordered them kicked out and then laughed and made a joke about it not being a wedding until there was a fight. Everyone laughed with him and then the music and drinking began anew. Arya's mother had looked worried for a moment and Arya's hand had gone to her dagger on her right leg but then she relaxed.

"I think they both like the same girl," Elmar explained as the two men were dragged away still shouting insults at each other.

"Yes," said Catelyn Stark with a quick look to Arya. "That happens, more often than you would think. Well, Elmar, it has been a pleasure to meet you. Perhaps some day before your wedding you can come to Winterfell."

"Is it far from the Dreadfort, my lady?" he asked.

Arya felt her stomach suddenly clench tight. "Yes," said her mother. "Everything is far apart in the North. Why do you ask?"

"Lord Bolton asked me to come with him to the North."

"No," said Arya before she could help herself and then her mother gave her a sharp look. "I mean," Arya quickly continued. "I thought you said you don't like serving him."

"I don't," Elmar answered in almost a whisper. "But I'm scared to say no to him."

"Tell your father," Catelyn Stark said right away. "He will make sure you stay here."

"He scares me, too," Elmar admitted.

"Gods, are you not scared of anyone?" Arya asked in disgust.

"Arya, be civil!" her mother snapped at her.

"Sorry," she said to Elmar.

"Not to worry," he replied. "All of my family is scared of him. Even my brother Stevron and he is really old."

"Maybe it's time you showed him you are a man, and not some boy he can order here and there," Arya said, really wanting him to stay here and not come north. "Tell him you want to stay here."

"I will," Elmar said, straightening his back and standing. "Right now."

"Good," said Arya. "Go, now, while no one is talking to him."

Elmar stood and went straight to where his father was, weaving his way around drunken guests and twirling dancers.

"Seven hells," Arya said quietly as her mother looked at her shrewdly.

"Why did you do that?" her mother asked.

You know why, she wanted to say but didn't because it sounded a bit rude and she didn't want to talk about her wish to never, ever see Elmar again. So she told a lie. Well, a bit of a lie. "The Dreadfort? He'd hate it there."

"True enough," her mother replied quietly, with a quick look to where Lord Bolton was talking to Arya's father.

Just then the dance ended and Sansa and Jeyne escaped from the dance floor and staggered to their table.

"I'm exhausted," Sansa said as she took a goblet of wine and drank deeply.

"Go easy," admonished her mother. Already Sansa and Jeyne had pink cheeks and it was not from the dancing. Then from above they heard a great cheer and many people from the bedding ceremony came down the stairs again. Many of the girls were giggling and the men were making bawdy comments.

"Poor Robb," Sansa said in a sympathetic tone. "It must be so embarrassing. All those girls seeing him naked."

"Not the best way to bed for the first time," Catelyn Stark said grimly, and then she looked at her daughters and Jeyne. "When your time comes just grit your teeth and bear it and it will be over soon."

"Yes," said Jeyne in a quiet voice. "That's what they tell you."

Catelyn Stark reached her hand out across the table and took Jeyne's hand. "You are safe now and you are going home. We will find you a nice northern boy to make you a match."

Sansa laughed and her face was now very pink and Arya could see she was drunk. "Father wanted Gendry to marry her."

Arya felt her face flush but she held her tongue and said nothing. Her mother gave her a quick glance and then looked at Sansa. "What did Gendry say?"

"No, of course," Sansa said.

Jeyne sighed. "What a pity. He's so tall and strong and handsome. But he has eyes for someone else." With the last she looked at Arya and then Sansa and Jeyne giggled again.

"That is quite enough girls," Catelyn Stark said to them sharply and then Arya could stand it no more and stood and left and before she knew it she was outside in the courtyard of the castle. There were many men and women here of the Twins who could not be seated inside and they were sitting on benches under pavilions and eating and drinking and music was playing from a small band. Arya knew that in the eastern castle and in the Stark camp similar pavilions had been set up, and many of their people were feasting as well. But she also knew that many more were not feasting and were on guard duty and were prepared for any eventuality.

As she breathed in the cool night air Arya sensed that it might rain soon. A drunk staggered out of a pavilion and almost collided into her and she stepped back quickly as he fell in the mud and she shook her head in disgust at the mud that splashed the bottom of her dress. Arya started back inside when she ran into her mother.

"You should not have left," her mother said in admonishment.

"I would have hit them if I hadn't," Arya said as they stood in a doorway of the castle near the portcullis.

Her mother shook her head. "That would not do at all." She looked around and saw another doorway and beckoned Arya to follow her. They stepped into the same empty room where she and Robb and her father had been two days ago when they had first arrived. There was a torch in a wall bracket giving off some light.

"So?" her mother said once they were inside. "What did you think of him?"

"The Frey boy?"

Her mother sighed in exasperation. "Who else would I be talking about?"

"He's…he's just a boy," she said, as if that explained it all.

"Yes…and you are still a girl."

"Not anymore. I've killed men," Arya said quietly and then her mother let out a little gasp and hugged her tight and Arya felt warm and good all over.

"I would give anything to the gods for you to have never been in a place where you had to do such a thing," her mother said as she kissed the top of her head.

"I had to do it or I wouldn't be here," Arya told her as she leaned her head on her bosom.

"I know, my baby girl, I know. The gods will forgive you for what you have done for you had to do it."

Arya stepped back and looked up at her mother. She had to say it, and say it now. "Mother, I will never marry Elmar Frey."

For a long moment her mother stared at her and then just nodded her head slightly. "Well, then. There are many years between now and your wedding day and only the gods know what will happen. You keep this between us. You never say a word to Sansa or Jeyne or anyone else."

"I think Sansa already knows."

Catelyn Stark sighed deeply. "Gendry."

"Yes."

"Arya…how can you know he is the one for you? You are too young to understand how you really feel and…"

"No, I'm not. I know."

"Arya…it can never be."

She expected that but it stung nevertheless. She knew she would have to fight for what she wanted. "Please listen to me. I like being with him, spending time with him, listening to him talk, seeing him work."

"A blacksmith's work," her mother said in disdain as if any man with such a lowly profession was not good enough for her daughter.

"The Smith is one of the Seven," Arya shot back.

"True enough," her mother replied after a moment and Arya took encouragement from that.

"Gendry doesn't treat me like a child. He respects me, and listens to what I have to say, and he understands me. And we have been through so much together."

"That you have," she said in resignation. "But Arya…he's a …"

"Don't say it!" she almost shouted. "Why does it matter so much? His father was a king! How much higher born can you get?"

"King Robert never said he was his son! Don't you understand how our laws work?"

"Yes, I understand," Arya said. "And it's stupid." Then she said what she had wanted to say but shouldn't, but in her angry state she let it all come out. "You don't like Gendry just because of Jon."

Her mother inhaled sharply. "Don't talk of him."

Arya ignored her wish. "He's my brother and I love him."

"Yes, I know," said Catelyn Stark, her voice trembling. "You all love him. And…and I admit…he is a good boy…man. But… he's another woman's son, not mine. Don't you understand what that means to me?"

Arya had not really understood until recently. She now knew that Jon was proof that her father had slept with another woman. She now understood why that made her mother mad. She would feel the same if her husband had done the same. "I do understand, Mother. But why does being what he is make Gendry bad? He can't help how he was born."

"I never said he was bad," her mother replied. "I just want you to marry a strong, true, good-hearted man who is brave and will protect you and give you healthy children and make you happy for the rest of your life."

"I don't think Elmar Frey is any of those things, and maybe never will be," Arya said. "Gendry is all of them."

And then after a long moment of silence her mother nodded and spoke a single sentence and Arya never loved her so much as in that moment. "Perhaps you are right."

Arya held her breath and waited for her to say 'but' or that he was 'not for her'. To her surprise her mother only said. "Come, it's time we got back to the wedding."

They went back and much was the same and an hour later the party was winding down. Many people, mostly Freys, were drunk and falling asleep at their tables. Old Walder Frey left after thanking everyone for coming and he received a long and hearty cheer for his hospitality and was then led by some of his strong sons and grandsons off to bed. Elmar approached her and told her his father would allow him to stay at the Twins and he and Arya both seemed relieved. Then he bid her good night, bowing and kissing her hand, leaving a bit of spittle on it which Arya quickly rubbed off in disgust once his back was turned. Jeyne and Sansa had seen it happen and laughed themselves silly. They were obviously drunk and laughing at everything they said or saw. Her father was still deep in conversation with Roose Bolton and some other northern lords at one of the tables, all of them with mugs of ale or wine.

"It is time for bed," Catelyn Stark said to the girls after a quick word with her husband and then all four of them, with six relatively sober Stark men escorting them, left the hall and made their way back to the camp on the west bank of the Green Fork.

Sansa and Jeyne fell asleep almost immediately but Arya lay awake in her blankets for a long time, thinking on her conversation with her mother. And she also thought on Gendry, and what it had been like to kiss him that one time. Arya had surprised him, she could see, and she had also surprised herself, the urge to kiss him coming on her so suddenly. She said she had wanted to do it, to see what it was like in case she died. That was true to a point, but she wanted to do it also because it was him. Any other boy and she might not have done so.

Then they had been attacked by the ironmen and he had been wounded and Arya's heart was in her throat, fearing he would die. He was so scared when the boiling wine was poured on his wound and his hand's grip on hers was like steel and she could feel the pain shooting through his body. Then her mother was stitching his wound as Arya wiped away blood and helped her and that truly amazed both Gendry and herself. Maybe her mother was actually coming to like him after all. After he was taken to the tent Arya had found his other shirt by the forge wagon. When she was cleaned up she returned to the tent but he was passed out. For a long time she lay there listening to him breathe, worried that he would still die and then finally she had fallen asleep.

As she slept next to him the direwolf dream had come again. When she awoke and he was worried about her she told a little lie. She wasn't just running and howling at the moon. When she was inside Nymeria she could see a large camp, many tents and men and horses. And in the midst of them were many banners. Stark banners. Nymeria was following them. The last few nights she tried to dream of Nymeria again but it didn't happen. Now as she listened to the soft sounds of her sister and Jeyne sleeping Arya finally drifted off, hoping to have the dream once more.

This time the dream came, sharp and clear, and she was running and she was alone, running in the woods and then running beside a river. Through Nymeria's eyes she once again saw the camp and the men and horses and banners in the moonlight. And then she saw two castles and a bridge and she knew where she was. Then men were shouting, and chasing her and Nymeria fled once more and soon outdistanced them and Arya left her direwolf once again. After that, Arya fell into a dreamless sleep.

The next morning, Arya awoke early, as the sun was coming up. She knew what she had to do today. She had to find Nymeria.

Sansa and Jeyne were sleeping still. Arya stirred and dressed in her boy's clothes, strapped Needle to her side and belted one of the daggers on her other side. Sansa heard her and moaned and rolled over.

"Gods, why don't you sleep some more?" she growled at her sister.

"Time for breakfast," Arya replied. "How's your head?"

"Awful," Sansa groaned. "I will never drink wine again as long as I live."

"Me neither," moaned Jeyne. "My head is pounding."

"Good," Arya said with some spite. "You both deserve it for what you said to me in front of mother."

Sansa suddenly sat up and groaned again. "What did we say?"

"You teased me about Gendry," Arya told her sister.

"Did we?" Jeyne said from her blankets. "Sorry."

"Yes, we are sorry," Sansa said as she collapsed into her blankets again.

"Well…fine," Arya replied. "See you later."

"Say hello to your man," Sansa said as she rolled back over under her blankets and Jeyne giggled.

Arya growled. "At least I have one." Then she reached down under her blankets and brought out the surprise for Gendry and headed out of the tent.

Outside the air was clean and crisp and smelled a bit smoky. Some people were stirring but not many. All around was the remains of the wedding party. Two large pavilions were filled with sleeping men still at the benches or passed our under the tables. If the Lannisters or ironmen attacked them now it would be a defeat for sure. Kegs of wine and ale and mugs and cups were everywhere as was the remains of food on plates. Arya found half a ham hock on a plate and then found a bun of bread that was not very stale, and a flagon of ale that was still cool from the night air. After a quick search she had a basket and some cheese and some apples and she put all of the food in the basket and headed for the forge.

He was already awake, stoking the coal in the lit forge, getting ready for the work day. As she came through the tents and towards the forge he saw her and smiled.

"Good morning," Gendry said.

"Hi," she replied shyly. Gods, what was wrong with her? She wasn't one of those shy giggling girls. She looked straight at him. "I brought breakfast."

"Good, I'm starving," he replied. "Bring it over to the wagon, please."

She set the basket on the back end of the forge wagon and then she handed him his shirt that had been ripped in the battle. "I got most of the blood out," she said. "And sewed it as best I could. I'm not very good at it so…"

"No, its fine," he said with a grin as he looked at it. "Thanks." He hung it on the wooden side of the wagon.

"How's your shoulder?" Arya asked him with concern.

"Fine," he answered automatically.

"Show me," she demanded.

He hesitated and then took off his shirt and she looked at the linen bandage on his well muscled shoulder. Her mother told her to look for any redness in the skin around the wound, especially any red streaks leaving the wound to the nearby flesh. But it looked fine to her and she told him so and he put his shirt back on.

"You should see the maester later to change the bandage and let him see it."

"I will."

Arya looked around. "Where are Tim and…what's his name, the old soldier?"

"Duncan," he answered. "They are still sleeping in the tent," Gendry told her. "Tim would sleep all day if I let him and there was too much ale and wine last night for Duncan."

"But not you?"

"I had some," he replied as he broke the bread up into large chunks. "But didn't feel like having too much fun."

"Why not?" Arya said as she cut up some ham with her dagger.

"You weren't there," he told her and she blushed, unable to help herself.

"Sorry you couldn't come inside."

"I understand. How was it?"

"Awful," she said with a shake of her head. "They made me walk in front of everyone arm in arm with the Frey boy and dance with him and sit with him and…I hated every moment."

"What's he like?"

"A scared little boy." She explained about Lord Bolton and the leeches and Gendry made a face.

"Sounds disgusting."

"They're just leeches," she said, but maybe he was right. She had never handled leeches every day before. "Then I had a long talk with my mother."

He looked at her steadily, a worried look on his face now. "About what?"

"You."

He now looked very worried. "Oh? She tell you to stay away from me?"

"No!" Arya said right away. "And I wouldn't even if she had said that. She…she seems to like you now."

"Really?" he said in surprise. "That's good. Isn't it?"

"Yes," she said and they looked at each other and smiled and Arya felt very good inside. They ate their ham and bread and drank some ale. Arya looked over at the forge. Sitting on the ground nearby were many shields and pieces of leather strapping.

"How goes the project?"

"Slow," he replied. "I need more pig iron to make the rivets. The leather straps need to be thicker as well or the rivets will burn right through them. Iron nails with fat round heads would be better but we have none. Maybe I'll just have to make some or we can buy some from the Freys. And the shields are all rounded or oval. Square shields would work better. With rounded ones the arrows would get through the gaps."

"The men under the shield shell will be wearing armor also," she told him.

"That's true. Then your brother's turtle will lumber right up to the tower doors and knock them down."

"He said he got the idea when he saw me pick up that turtle from the water."

"He told me the same," Gendry answered around a mouthful of bread and ham. He swallowed and continued speaking. "Old Duncan said he had heard of a shield shell like that before, used in some siege a long time ago. He couldn't remember where."

"It's a good idea," she said. "It'll work." It had to work or they might never take Moat Cailin back.

"When are we moving?" he asked after a drink of ale.

"Today or tomorrow, my father says," Arya told him as she sliced some cheese and handed him a piece.

"Are you staying here today?" he asked, as he popped the cheese in his mouth.

"Maybe later," she answered. "But first I need your help with something."

"What?"

"I had another direwolf dream last night," Arya told him, excitement in her voice. "Nymeria is near. I can feel it. I want to find her."

"When?"

"Now."

Gendry nodded. "Right. Let me wake up Tim and tell him where I'm going."

As he left towards the tent, Arya had to grin. He didn't argue with her, didn't say she was stupid or it was too dangerous or anything someone older might. Five minutes later a sleepy eyed Tim was crawling out of the tent.

Gendry was strapping on a sword and also put his hammer on his belt. "I'll be back soon," Gendry told him. "There's some food in the basket. Keep the forge hot and start heating that bit of iron we have left. We're going to make nails."

"I can't make nails," Tim said in a groggy voice.

"Today you'll learn, when I get back," Gendry told him and then he looked at Arya. "I'm ready. Where do we go?"

"By the river, south of the Twins. A small stand of forest is there."

They walked steadily through the sleeping camp and the sun was rising to the east and it was beautiful, the air crisp and the sky had just a few clouds. Last night Arya had thought it might rain but it looked like it would be a good day. More people were awake and moving now and some cooking fires were going.

"Why did you bring the sword?" she asked him as they passed the drawbridge to the western castle and moved further south along the river bank.

"Might be other wolves with Nymeria," he replied. "You said she had a pack."

"Yes, she does, but I haven't sensed them in some time."

Finally, they came to the edge of the Stark camp where some wooden barriers were placed and four guards stood with spears and swords and shields.

"And just where would you two be off to?" said the one in command, a sergeant by his markings. He had the two crossed long axes of Barrowton for his sigil.

"Taking a walk over to those woods there," Arya pointed.

"I think not," said the sergeant. "We heard wolves over there last night."

"Wait a minute," said another one, with the direwolf of Winterfell for his sigil. "It's Lord Stark's daughter."

The Barrowton sergeant looked at her steadily. "My lady, your father would not like you leaving camp."

"Then you had best come with us," Arya said and without another word she stepped around the barrier and Gendry followed her and then with a grunt of disgust the four soldiers followed them.

"What are we doing exactly, my lady?" asked the sergeant.

"Looking for a direwolf," Arya said matter-of-factly and then the four soldiers stopped.

"A direwolf?" said another one in surprise. "No such thing."

The sergeant gave him a sharp look. "What you think that big hairy thing that follows Lord Stark around everywhere is? A bear?"

"No...just thought it was a big dog." That brought some laughter, even from Arya and Gendry

The soldier from Winterfell spoke up. "Lady Arya here and the other Stark children all had one for a pet."

"Mine was lost," Arya told them. "Now she's nearby and I mean to find her."

Arya started walking again and Gendry kept close by her side and the four soldiers hurried to catch up.

"Direwolves are dangerous, my lady," the sergeant warned her.

"Not to me," she said. "I am a Stark of Winterfell. The direwolf is my sigil. And don't call me a lady."

The sergeant laughed and so did the other men and Arya looked at them and was about to be mad when suddenly she felt it, in her head, Nymeria was there, close and then her body shuddered and her eyes rolled back in her head and she felt herself falling. Gendry was shouting and then he caught her in his strong arms and helped lay her on the ground.

Arya was inside Nymeria now and she saw the people near the woods. Gendry was helping her on the ground and the four soldiers were standing around, looking agitated. Nymeria padded out of the forest and walked toward them. Through Nymeria's yellow eyes Arya could see one of the soldiers look at Nymeria, at her, and then his face was in shock and he shouted and he was scared and Nymeria's instinct to run and leap at him and rip out his throat fought with Arya's desire to control these instincts. Then one of the men raised his spear and he was about to throw it. Gendry jumped up and knocked the spear away. The soldier punched Gendry in the face and he took the blow and punch him right back and knocked the soldier to the ground. Then the other three were on Gendry and trying to restrain him as he wrestled with them, and inside the direwolf Arya screamed "No!" and Arya's mind fled from Nymeria and she woke up on the ground.

"Stop it!" she yelled as she got up. "You're hurting him!"

Gendry had a cut above his right eye and two were holding him as the sergeant went to hit him. The fourth one Gendry had hit was slowly rising from the ground. Arya was pulling on one of the soldiers' arms to make him let go of Gendry when Nymeria bounded through the air and hit the sergeant and knocked him down. The other two let go of Gendry and then snatched up their spears where they had dropped them and got ready to stab Nymeria when Arya screamed. "STOP!"

"Kill it!" the sergeant screamed from the ground with Nymeria on his chest growling at him. The spears seemed about to plunge but Arya dove on Nymeria and blocked them from attacking. At the same time Gendry drew his sword and stuck it under one soldier's chin.

"You make a move I'll cut your head off," he growled, his voice full of anger.

Slowly Nymeria calmed down as Arya talked to her in soothing tones. "It's all right, I'm here now, come on, get off of him." Nymeria crawled off and the sergeant leaped up, his face full of fear. Arya and Nymeria were rolling on the ground and she was laughing and Nymeria was licking her face and there were tears in Arya's eyes.

"Seven hells," said one of the men in amazement.

Gendry lowered his sword and the other men lowered their spears. The sergeant looked at Gendry in anger. "You hit one of my men! You're under arrest!"

"Like hell!" Arya said as she stood and Nymeria growled as if sensing her anger.

"You're man hit me first," Gendry retorted.

"You knocked my spear away," the soldier complained as he rubbed his jaw.

"Cause you were going to kill Nymeria!" Gendry shot back.

"It has a name?" one of the men asked in confusion.

"Of course it does," Arya told them. "She's my direwolf. Her name is Nymeria."

"Best let Lord Stark sort this out," said the sergeant.

"A good idea," Arya said with a smirk.

Ten minutes later they were all standing in front of Arya's father who had a sleepy disgruntled look on his face. Arya's mother came out of their tent and gave her a sharp look and then her eyes widened in surprise as she saw Nymeria, but she said nothing as Arya's father and the sergeant talked.

The sergeant explained what had happened and then Ned Stark looked at the men. "Very well. Get back to your posts. I'll deal with this matter."

"Aye, my lord," said the sergeant and they hurried off.

"What am I going to do with you two?" he said wearily after the men left.

"They started it," Arya said quickly. "Gendry was just protecting Nymeria and me."

"Aye," said Ned Stark. "I suppose so. Best get back to your forge, lad."

"Not yet," said Catelyn Stark as she came forward towards Gendry. "Your bleeding," she said to him.

"Just a small cut, my lady."

Then Arya saw it. His shoulder was bleeding again, a bit of blood seeping through his shirt. "Your shoulder!" she gasped.

"To the maester with you," Arya's mother ordered Gendry. "Stay with Nymeria," she told Arya. "I will take care of him."

"Those men should be punished," Arya growled after Gendry and her mother left.

"No, they shouldn't," her father told her. "They were just doing their duty, and if that hadn't been Nymeria you might have been killed. How did you know Nymeria was there?"

"I…I dreamed about her," Arya confessed.

"Aye?" he asked in puzzlement. "What kind of dream?"

"It's hard to explain." She didn't want to explain, afraid he wouldn't understand and call her stupid or foolish. But before he could ask anymore questions Sansa arrived.

"Is it…Nymeria?" came Sansa's voice as she emerged from their nearby tent. She looked pale and her eyes were weary but she was also very surprise.

"Yes," said Arya as she ruffled Nymeria's fur. Sansa came over and hugged Nymeria. Then through the camp came Grey Wind, padding swiftly to Nymeria's side and the two direwolves playfully nipped at each other and growled and Arya and her sister played with them both.

"What kind of dream I asked you?" Arya's father repeated.

Sansa and Arya exchanged worried looks. "Just a dream…I don't know," Arya said. "I thought Nymeria was there and she was."

Her father was staring at her. "Have you had these dreams before?"

"Yes," Arya and Sansa both said at the same time.

"You as well?" Ned Stark asked his oldest daughter.

"I did…when Lady was alive," Sansa replied.

Now Arya could see her father's face filled with sorrow. "I'm so sorry about what was done," he told her once again.

"I know," Sansa said. "It's not your fault."

"No, but I should have done more to stop that madness," he told them, his voice heavy with regret. "I think we need to talk to Maester Luwin about these dreams when we get to Winterfell. He might know what they mean."

"Yes," Arya and Sansa said as one again, and Arya sensed Sansa was as relieved as she was.

"Right, that's sorted," said their father. "Breakfast and then it's time to go home."

"Really?" Arya asked as she stood up, her face happy.

"Aye," her father told them. "How goes Gendry with the shell?"

"Slow," she told him. "He needs nails and thicker leather straps and square shields to make it better."

"I'll see what we can gather." Then her father smiled. "Here comes the newly married man."

Robb was striding through the camp, and many men were dipping their heads and congratulating him and he was grinning and smiling and even blushing a little. Grey Wind ran over to him and Robb rubbed his fur and laughed and then he looked up and saw Nymeria.

"Seven hells," he said in surprise as he looked at Arya. "Is it yours?"

"Aye," said Arya with a big smile. "Nymeria has come home." She quickly explained, leaving out the part about dreams. Then a sudden thought hit her. Did Robb have direwolf dreams as well? She would have to ask him when he was alone.

"And how is the new husband this morning?" Ned Stark asked his son.

Robb smiled. "Happy, Father."

"Good. We have work to do. Did you eat?"

"Yes, with my wife." He said the word as if it he hardly believed he was married. "She is preparing her baggage for the trip the north."

Arya's father got that grim look on his face. "The Neck is not a pleasant place. And we might be going into battle. She might want to wait until the road is safe."

"I said the same. But she insists on coming."

"Very well."

The rest of the morning was spent in preparing to break camp. Arya found Gendry at the maester's tent just as he was leaving. He told her it was a minor problem, a slight tear in the stitches and the maester said it would heal well. Then they went to the forge and Gendry decided that there was no time to do any work and quickly dosed the forge in cold water and let it cool off for a few hours. They loaded all of the supplies in the wagon and hitched the horses and finally when they were ready to move some soldiers came and helped them lift the now cooler forge into the wagon last.

Arya was dirty and sore when they finished but she was happy now that Nymeria was running at her side again. She went back to her tent and found her horse and loaded what few things she had in its saddle bags. Then she helped some men pull down her tent and fold it and store it in a wagon. All the time Sansa and Jeyne stood nearby, doing nothing but complaining as they loaded their horses with their things. Both were now in riding clothes, and both still looked a little ill.

"Why can't we stay here another day?" Sansa complained.

"Two days would be better," Jeyne said. "I bet a lot of the soldiers want to rest as well."

"We've already rested for three days. And have to move fast if we want to kill ironmen," Arya explained. She was trying to get her horse to stop jumping about as Nymeria was nearby, giving the horse a fright. "Look, horse, Nymeria is my friend and she is coming with us so get used to her."

"You can't talk to animals," Jeyne said with a laugh.

"Yes, I can," Arya shot back.

"Arya…" Sansa said with a warning tone. "Why don't you put Nymeria in a wagon so she won't have to run beside the horses?"

"That might work," Arya said. Then her father was coming towards them.

"Robb and I are going into the castle to collect his wife and pay our respects to Walder Frey," her father told them. "Lord Bolton has already started north with an advanced guard. Sansa and Jeyne mount up and cross with the center force with Lady Stark. Arya, go to the wagons and tell them to hurry along and that they will cross with the center force."

"Aye!" she shouted and then she mounted up and rode fast through the camp with Nymeria fast on her horse's heels. She went through the places where the supply wagons and other tradesmen's wagons were and shouted out her father's orders and already horses and oxen and donkeys were being hitched and readied and soon they started to move towards the bridge.

Arya found the forge wagon and already they were moving and Gendry was on his horse, with Tim in the back of the wagon and Duncan at the reins of the team pulling the wagon.

"Can Nymeria ride in the wagon?" Arya asked Gendry.

"She won't eat Tim, will she?"

"Of course not!"

"Fine by me," he replied. "Hey, Tim, make room for a direwolf!"

"A what?" the boy said in fear from the back of the wagon.

"Nymeria," Arya said as she looked down at her pet. "Up! Into the wagon!"

Nymeria looked at her oddly and didn't move and then, without knowing how she had done it, Arya felt her mind slip into Nymeria's. Then she was jumping up into the forge wagon and curling up by the anvil as Tim scrambled away from the big beast to the farthest corner of the wagon, his eyes wide. Then Arya's mind came back to her body and she was in her saddle swaying and would have fell if Gendry hadn't grabbed her.

"Whoa!" he said to her as he helped steady her. "What was that?"

"I…I did it…without being asleep," she said, with a touch of pride. "It happened by the river this morning as well."

"Gods," he said in an awed whisper. "What does it mean?"

"It means…it means I'm a warg." It truly did, and there was no denying it now.

"That's what the Hound called you at Harrenhal."

"Yes," Arya said and she looked at him and he was staring at her with an odd look. "Are you afraid?"

Then he smiled and Arya felt it was all right. "No," he said. "I'm never afraid around you."

Arya felt a chill run up her spine and she breathed deeply and felt as if some strong bond between them had just been forged. "I feel the same with you," she whispered and then they looked at each other and grinned once more and nothing else needed to be said.

Soon they were riding for the bridge, and a long hour later they had finally crossed to the east bank. Her father and Robb were riding along the column of men and horses and wagons and everyone was cheering them.

"TO THE NORTH!" her father shouted in his strong loud voice and hundreds of voices near him shouted back and then the shout flowed back and forth across the long line of the army.

Finally, Arya thought, they were going home.