Chapter 43 Arya

"Was it bad?" Gendry asked Arya, as he took a horseshoe out of the hot coals of the forge and then pounded on it with his hammer on the anvil. Sparks flew as his hammer hit it.

"Very bad," she told him with a heavy sigh. "My father told me and Sansa and Bran to leave. My mother wouldn't stop shouting at my father, and Roslin was in tears. Only Robb was calm."

"Guess he has to be if he wants to win tomorrow," Gendry replied as he stuck the hot horseshoe in the water trough where it caused steam to rise as the water hissed.

"He'll kill him," Arya said with a sense of certainty, but at the same time she could not help but worry.

They were at the forge, just before the supper hour, and thirty minutes after the trial of Ramsey Snow ended in shock and chaos. As soon as Ramsey was dragged off to his cell again, with plenty of people shouting for his head, his father and the two Bolton captains left without another word and went to their camp outside the walls of Winterfell. Arya had been as surprised as everyone at the results of the trial. She had expected Ramsey to be found guilty, but not that he would demand trial by combat. And then Robb had volunteered to be Winterfell's champion, and her father had agreed. Soon after Bolton left Arya's mother had marched straight up to her father and started in on him, quietly at first, and then louder as the great hall cleared of people. Arya could still hear her words, pleading with him to pick another champion. That's when her father told them to leave. Hodor had hung back and picked up Bran and then they left the great hall. Arya had ignored Sansa and Bran's prattling on about what had happened and marched straight to the smithy where Gendry, Mikken, and little Tim were already back at work.

"I still don't know why he's letting Robb fight Ramsey," she said. "Anybody else can do it."

"Not to worry, my lady," said Mikken as he came out of the back of the smithy. Mikken picked up a shovel and took some coal from a nearby bin and filled the forge again. Little Tim was at the bellows and Mikken nodded to him to get pumping. Then Mikken leaned on his shovel and looked at Arya. "Lord Robb has been trained to fight all his life. He'll put his steel in that one and that will be the end of it. Mark my words."

Arya knew he was right. Robb was a trained warrior, had killed men in battle, in the Whispering Wood, at Riverrun, on the road to the Twins, at Moat Cailin, and in the battles with the ironmen near Winterfell. But he was heir to Winterfell and as Arya well knew, anything could happen in battle. Why would her father risk him?

"It's still stupid," she said, unable to hide the anger in her voice. "Mother was right. Anyone can fight him. I can fight him." As she said this her hand went to where Needle usually was, but now it was back in her room in a sheath, hanging on a wall from a peg. So were her boy's clothes, and now she wore a brown woolen dress and nice shoes that were now covered in mud. Her face was clean and so were her hands for a change. When they had finally had a free moment to bathe when they returned to Winterfell, Arya had soaked in the hot water for over an hour and the skin on her hands and feet was like a dried grape when she was done.

Gendry looked up from his work after her comment about fighting Ramsey Snow. He stared at her, a worried look in his eyes. "Put that thought out of your mind right now."

Arya knew he was right, and felt glad that he worried about her, and gave him a little nod and a slight grin. "It's gone."

"You listen to the lad, my lady," Mikken quickly added. "He knows what's best. I know you got a taste for blood with your little Needle while on the road home. I heard all about how you and the lad here killed them ironmen near Seagard."

"Saved my life, they did," said Tim as he pumped the bellows, getting the coals in the forge red hot.

"That they did," Mikken agreed, and then he looked back at Arya. "But this is your brother's fight. He asked for it, your father gave the word, so let the men get on with it on the morrow."

"I was just saying that Robb's too important to risk in this fight," Arya replied with a bit of worry in her voice. "He's the heir of Winterfell!"

"Your father must have his reasons," Gendry replied as he shoved the horseshoe back in the hot coals.

"I'll tell you why he's letting Lord Robb fight him," Mikken said next. "Cause when he kills that scum Ramsey Snow, there's nothing Lord Bolton can do about it. Any other man kills him, even the Greatjon, then Lord Bolton's got to think, that man killed my son, I think I'm going to kill him now. Or some day in the not too distant future. See what I mean? But Lord Robb…he daren't touch him or the whole of the North would march on the Dreadfort and crush the whole lot of them skin flaying miserable curs."

"Maybe," said Arya, still not quite convinced. Perhaps that's why his father said Robb could fight. Or maybe he had other reasons. But her mother hadn't agreed at all and Roslin was none too happy about it either.

Gendry took the horseshoe out of the coals again and pounded on it with his hammer.

"Whose horse is it for?" Arya asked him, wanting to get her mind off the fight that was to come.

"One of Lord Umber's knights," he replied as he dipped it in the cool water again and the water hissed and steamed. He took it out after a few seconds and held it up and looked at it closely, the hot metal slowly cooling and changing color as he did so. "That's done it." He set it aside on the anvil to let it cool some more.

"How do you know it will fit?" Tim asked as he stepped away from the bellows and looked at the cooling horseshoe. "The horse ain't here anymore."

"First thing I learned to do in King's Landing was how to fit a shoe to a horse," Gendry answered. "Now I just have to look at the hoof once, and I know how to shape it right."

"I still can't believe you 'prenticed for old Tobho Mott," Mikken said to Gendry as he wiped the coal dust from his hands with a wet rag.

"Do you know him?" Arya asked the master smith.

"Know of him," Mikken replied. "Never met the man. But in our trade he has quite the reputation. He made armor and swords for many of them lords and knights in the capital. And now I got one of his 'prentices." He looked at Gendry carefully. "You had a good set up there, lad. What put it in your head to join the Night's Watch anyways?"

Gendry and Arya gave each other a quick look. When Gendry had first been handed over to Mikken when they came back to Winterfell, Mikken had questioned him closely, and Arya had advised Gendry not to tell any tall tales because if Mikken later found out the truth it would not be good. Besides, a lot of people already knew Gendry, Arya, and her father had traveled together from King's Landing with the Night's Watch group. But they couldn't tell him he was King Robert's son and that Master Mott had receive a warning from the Spider for Gendry to flee the capital because Joffrey was trying to kill all his supposed father's natural children. At least that's what her father said had happened.

"Master Mott kicked me out, I told you already," Gendry answered, not looking at Mikken as he picked up the horseshoe again with his metal tongs, checking it before he set it down again. "Had no where else to go."

"He didn't kick you out cause you're no good, so don't feed me that again," Mikken said in a sharp tone of voice.

"That's what he said," Gendry answered, staring at Mikken with a stubborn set to his square jaw.

Mikken snorted. "As you say, lad. It don't matter much to me. You're skilled and know more than most 'prentices your age. But Lord Stark did you a favor taking you in. He wouldn't want no trouble to follow you here."

Arya could see Gendry was getting mad so she knew she had to step in before this went too far. "My father knows why Gendry left Master Mott's service, so don't trouble yourself worrying Mikken."

Mikken looked at her for a long moment and then nodded. "As you say, my lady."

"Don't call her a lady," little Tim said casually and then he gasped, realizing what he had said and who he had said it to.

Mikken snarled and turned on him. "You little Barrowton gutter rat! How'd you like to be out in the cold walking back home? It's a long ways, let me tell you."

"I ain't got no home," Tim said in a forlorn voice. "Same as Gendry." Arya had heard from Gendry that Lady Dustin of Barrowton had sent Tim and the other Barrowton boy orphans off to be servants for the men she contributed to the northern army. Somehow Tim had gotten attached to help the smith Cletus, who had been killed on the road by the ironmen.

"No…suppose you don't, either," Mikken said, his tone softening a bit. "Just mind your mouth around your betters, lad."

"Aye," said Tim, his eyes downcast.

Arya spoke up. "It's my fault. I told him not to call me a lady."

"But you are a lady, my lady," said Gendry with a grin and she reached over and punched his left arm hard and then he laughed and she scowled at him, and then couldn't help but grin also.

"See you two getting along fine," Mikken observed, looking at them shrewdly.

Gendry turned a bit red and looked away from Mikken and Arya quickly spoke. "Of course we are. We fought and almost died together."

"She saved me, from the gold cloaks," Gendry said, giving her a long look, which she returned.

"He saved me, from…from many things," Arya said back, now looking at Gendry in the same way. They held the look for a long few moments, and Arya knew what he meant and he knew what she meant, and she felt her face grow hot, his deep blue eyes piercing her very soul. Then Mikken cleared his throat, and Arya snapped back to reality. They both realized what they were doing and looked away quickly from each other.

"Aye…there is that," Mikken said with a grin and then he gave a wink to Tim, who put his hand over his mouth to hold in his laughter. Gods! Do they know, too? Arya thought. "Makes the bonds of…friendship… that much stronger," Mikken added.

"Aye," said Gendry and Arya at the same time and then they laughed as did Tim.

"That's the stuff, lad," Mikken said to Gendry. "You keep talking like that you'll be a Northman before you know it. Get all of the capital gutter talk out of you." Then he looked to Arya. "So, how did Needle do in these battles you lot fought in?"

"Great," Arya told him. "Saved me and him and others more than once. Got nicked a bit, but Gendry fixed it for me at Harrenhal."

"Jon did good when he asked me to make that dirk for you," Mikken told her. "I thought he was asking for trouble, cause if your lady mother found out she would have been none too happy. But he said he'd keep it secret and so would you."

"I did…but then in King's Landing my father found out I had Needle. He was a bit mad at first. But he let me keep Needle and then he got me a Braavosi sword master to teach me how to use it."

That surprised Mikken. "He did? A Braavosi sword master?"

"Syrio Forel," Arya said, her voice a little sad. "But he's dead now. The Lannisters killed him."

Now Mikken's face grew grim. "Him and many others in your father's service." He looked around the courtyard in front of the smithy. "Many old and friendly faces are gone for good."

As Arya turned to look out from the smithy she saw her father, mother, Robb and Roslin leaving the great hall, which the smithy was located near. The men and women separated without a word, going in different directions. As Arya watched, her mother and Roslin went to the sept in the middle of the courtyard and they entered it. They were going to pray, Arya thought, and she knew only one thing they could be praying for. Her father and Robb marched to the gate for the inner courtyard and left by it, and she lost sight of them.

Gendry had also seen them. "They didn't look happy."

"No, they didn't," she replied quietly. Just then came a shout from the great hall entrance that supper was ready. Arya suddenly realized how hungry she was.

"Come on," she told them. "Let's eat." The others quickly washed their hands in the trough of cold water and then followed her to the hall.

Soon they were in the great hall, one of the first ones in. The tables were already filled with platters of bread and sliced meat and cheese, and bowls of fruit, and other bowls of steaming boiled potatoes and boiled peas. Flagons of water and ale were also on many tables, with wine also on the head table. Mikken, Gendry and Tim went to sit at their usual table in the back. Arya hesitated, looked to the table where she usually sat with her brothers and sister, but now it was empty. She looked to Gendry and then back to her usual table and then decided she didn't want to eat alone.

As she sat with them Mikken gave her a look and then quickly glanced around the hall, a worried look on his face. "My lady, won't look good you eating with us smallfolk."

"I don't care," she said as she grabbed a piece of bread. "My father always ate with his men, here and in King's Landing. He said a lord must eat with his people to know them and a lord who does not know his people is not much of a lord."

"But you know us already," Tim told her.

"Aye," Arya replied. "So I want to know you better is all. Let's eat."

Soon servants brought them bowls of fish soup and they dug in. The hall began to fill up, slowly at first, and then more people started coming. The villagers had a big table to themselves and they were loud as they ate and drank and talked about seeing Lord Robb kill the Bastard of the Dreadfort on the morrow. Arya winced when she heard them use that word, that word she hated. She also hated that Jon and Ramsey shared the same last name. It meant nothing, really, as all natural born children in the Seven Kingdoms took such names from things that represented their land. Gendry's last name was Waters, as were all such children born in the capital region. But she knew he really was a Baratheon, his hair and eyes proof of that, and her father had said he even had the height and build of a young King Robert.

Arya saw that the young miller's wife Leslie was not with the villagers. I guess she is back in the guest lodgings, Arya thought, maybe too sore to walk back to the hall. Arya knew what had happened to her, what Ramsey had done to her, knew more than she really wanted to after the trial. On the road home they had heard more than one tale of rape on the Kingsroad, had seen the woman and girls who had survived to tell the tale, some of them with weepy eyes, others with dead, lifeless looks, and still others full of anger. She knew men like Rorge and Biter, and Armory Lorch's men, and the Goat's Bloody Mummers, all would have done the same to her if they had gotten the chance, even though she wasn't even a woman yet. Arya knew she would have killed them with Needle before that could have happened. But then she got a feeling of dread. What if she couldn't have protected herself? What if they had raped her? What if she had been defiled? How would her eyes look to others afterwards? Could she even look at anyone in the same way and could they look at her without pitying her?

As she thought on this Arya could not help but look across the table at Gendry and Arya had another terrible thought. Arya knew most men wanted a maiden on their wedding night. They wanted blood on the sheets to prove their wife came to them a maiden. If she wasn't a maiden, would any man want her? Would he still love me if I was not pure? Would he still want me as his wife?

Then she shook her head and knew she was being silly. She hadn't been defiled, she was still a maiden, and he loved her, he said. Arya had never loved anyone before, not outside of her family at least, not the way a man and a woman loved each other. But then she got another feeling inside, a sudden dreadful feeling that maybe he has loved someone before. Maybe he had another girl, a girl he liked in King's Landing, a girl maybe he had even loved before they had sent him away. She had never asked him about that because she had never thought of it until now. She knew girls liked him, even women. Jeyne Poole always had big eyes around him, and Arya had gotten mad at her more than once at Harrenhal and on the road home for looking at Gendry like she wanted to eat him. Even Sansa said he was handsome and strong, though Sansa was too proud to ever consider someone low born like Gendry as a husband. And now the Winterfell girls were staring at him and then giggling among themselves when he passed by them while going about the castle helping repair things. The few times Arya had seen this she had wanted to strangle them all but had to restrain herself, and calmed her anger by practicing with Needle in the godswood in the early hours of the morning and in her room at night.

Just then Sansa's voice intruded on her thoughts. "Arya…what are you doing?"

Arya turned and looked at her. Behind her she could see Rickon and Bran and Jeyne Poole and the Frey boys at their regular table near the front of the hall. "I'm eating," she snapped at Sansa. "What do you think I'm doing?"

"Come and join us," Sansa said with a restrained smile. "We need to talk."

Arya almost said no to her, and then realized maybe Sansa and Bran wanted to talk to her about Robb. She had brushed them off earlier, but now she actually wanted to talk to them.

"See you later," she said to Gendry and the others and they stood and dipped their heads and called her 'my lady' in the appropriate manner and Arya almost laughed, but told them to sit and continue eating and then left them. Halfway across the hall Sansa stopped and whispered to her fiercely.

"You shouldn't eat with them!"

"Why not?" Arya shot back.

"You know why! Besides, Mother warned you to stay away from him!"

Arya wanted to be mad and then just let it go and sighed. "I can't stay away."

Sansa looked at her intently, seemed about to be mad, and then suddenly her face relaxed. "You do love him, don't you?" she whispered.

"I do."

Sansa gasped and then flung her arms around Arya, shocking her. "I'm so happy for you!" she said, a little too loudly.

Arya hugged her back for a moment and it was warm and nice, the first hug they had shared since seeing each other alive for the first time in many weeks at Harrenhal. Then Arya realized something. "Ah…Sansa…ah, everyone is looking at us."

Sansa let go and then her face turned a bit red. All around them people were staring at them, and quickly looked away when Arya and Sansa looked back. Then Sansa held her head up high and turned around. "Come. Let us eat," she said in her formal, lady like tone, ignoring the looks they were still getting.

"What was that all about?" Bran asked as they sat down opposite him and Jeyne. The Frey boys and Rickon were too busy eating to have even noticed anything, which was good.

"Never you mind, " Sansa said. Bran scowled at her but Sansa had started to eat her soup and ignored him. Bran turned to Arya. "Where were you? We wanted to talk."

"At.. at the forge," she said.

"You're always at the forge," said Little Walder around a piece of bread stuffed in his mouth

"No, I'm not," Arya snapped at him. "I'm here now, aren't I?"

Little Walder was too busy spooning up soup to answer. She looked back at Bran. "What did you want to talk about?"

"Robb!" said Jeyne suddenly, and for the first time Arya noticed she was on the verge of tears. "He can't fight that beast! He just can't!"

"Seven hells," Arya said in exasperated. "You're still not mooning over him are you?"

"What?" Jeyne said in feigned shock. "Certainly not. He is married after all."

"She likes Gendry now," Big Walder told them.

"She does not!" Arya and Sansa said at the same time, both glaring at Big Walder.

"Yes, she does," added Little Walder and before Jeyne could protest to any of this Little Walder continued "And Bran likes Meera and…"

"What?" Arya and Sansa said again at the same time and then they looked at each other and grinned. "Bran? Is it true?" Sansa asked and her little brother was rolling his eyes.

"Of course I like her," he said calmly. "She's very nice." Then he shot the Frey boys a dirty look. "Not like some people around here."

"I saw the way you always looked at her," said Little Walder, glaring back.

"Enough!" Sansa snapped at them all. "We need to talk about Robb and…the other one." It was as if saying his name was too much for her to bear.

"Robb will kill him," Arya said with certainty as she reached for the clay jug of water that was on the table and poured herself a cup.

"Will he?" Sansa asked, a tremor in her voice.

"Of course," Arya answered after she took a sip of water. She looked at Sansa and then Bran and Jeyne and she saw the doubts and fears in their eyes.

"Tell us, Arya," Bran said, his eyes intent. "Tell us why you are so sure."

"Why are you asking me?"

"Because you've…you've killed men," Sansa said, her voice lowered.

"What?" said Little Walder in disbelief. "She killed someone?"

"I told you," Rickon said to Little Walder. "She killed ironmen."

"How do you know that?" Bran shot at his little brother. They were under strict instructions from their father not to mention to Rickon any of Arya's or Sansa's more dangerous adventures.

"Tim told me all about it. He works with Gendry," Rickon replied matter-of-factly between spoonfuls of his fish soup. "He said Arya and Gendry saved his life." How did Rickon know Tim? Arya thought, but before she could question her brother Big Walder was talking to her.

"Is it true?" Big Walder asked as he looked at Arya with wide eyes.

"Aye," she said, seeing no point in denying it. Almost everyone in the army knew it so it mustn't be that big a secret by now.

"I wish I could've killed some ironmen!" Little Walder said with anger in his voice.

"Don't be stupid," his cousin said to him across the table. "They would've had your guts out in no time."

"Would not!" Little Walder retorted strongly.

His cousin snorted at him and then ignored him, looking back to Arya. "How many men did you kill?"

"What? Ah…" And Arya really did not have an answer for him. She knew she killed one gold cloak at the holdfast for sure and had a hand in helping Gendry kill two Lannister men as well. Then there were two or three or maybe more ironmen on the road near Seagard. And should she count those two men she helped the Hound kill when she was inside Nymeria? There was also another man that Nymeria killed when Arya was dreaming. She was just not sure.

"Never mind all that," Sansa shot at the two Walders before she turned back to Arya. "Tell us what you think."

"Robb's been training to fight all his life," Arya said, remembering Mikken's words. "He's killed men in battle, and even beat the Kingslayer and Tywin Lannister. Not too many men can say that, can they?"

"No, that's true," Sansa replied, seeming to take solace in her sister's words.

"Just…don't worry," Arya told them. "All will be well."

After that they ate some more, and talked on the trial and other things, and the whole time Arya kept looking up, expecting to see her father and Robb and her mother and Roslin, but they didn't come into the hall.

"Where is everyone else?" Sansa asked her as if reading her thoughts. "Not like Mother and Father to miss dinner. Nor Robb."

"Last I saw, Mother and Roslin went to the sept. I don't know where Father and Robb are."

After a bit, she saw Gendry get up from his table and head for the exit doors of great hall.

"I have to go," Arya said as she started to rise.

Sansa saw Gendry leaving the hall and then gave a little grin to Arya. Arya started to leave, then she turned back and looked at her big sister. "Thanks." Sansa smiled, and nodded slightly and as Arya was leaving Jeyne asked Sansa what all that was about and Sansa told her to leave it be. Arya was sure Sansa would tell Jeyne later about what she had said about Gendry, but Arya really didn't care as long as the Walder boys didn't hear it.

She caught up to Gendry back at the forge where he was just leaving after picking up the horseshoe he had fixed earlier.

"Have to go shoe a horse," he told her.

"I'll go with you," Arya said. He only grunted and kept walking and Arya knew something was up.

"What's wrong?"

"We're not supposed to spend too much time together," he said, taking long strides as Arya hurried to catch up to him. The castle courtyard was mostly empty, with the majority of the Winterfell castle occupants eating now.

"You don't want to spend time with me?" she asked in a hurt tone.

He sighed loudly. "Of course I do. But we have to be careful."

"It's not like we're standing here in the middle of the courtyard kissing."

He stopped and his face was a bit red, and she knew that happened because she mentioned kissing. She wasn't really hurt or mad at him, knowing he and Sansa were both right, that they needed to be careful. Even the Frey boys had noticed she was hanging about the forge a lot and that was not good at all.

Gendry was looking at her now, standing mostly in shadow as the setting sun to the west cast its last rays past the castle battlements and towers, sending long shadows across the courtyard. "We can't do that either," he said to her, his face still flush. "Not till you are older at least."

"I know," she answered, her voice downcast. Then she sighed. "Come on, you've got to shoe that horse before it gets too dark to see properly."

They walked to the East Gate in silence. They were just about to exit it and head to the Greatjon's camp where the shoeless horse was waiting when they saw a group of men riding up the short road that went from the Kingsroad to Winterfell. They were about twenty men, in odd bits of armor and different colored surcoats and clothing and cloaks, with no banners, all with different sigils on their clothing and shields. In front was a heavy, bearded man in reddish robes and besides him rode a tall gaunt one-eyed man with reddish hair and a slight beard who was paler than any man Arya had ever seen, even paler than the leech loving Lord Bolton. On his surcoat was a faded sigil of a lightning bolt on a purple background.

"Is that…no, it can't be them," Gendry said in surprise. "Not this far north!"

"It is! It is!" Arya shouted and she ran forward with Gendry right on her heels.

The guards at the gates stepped in front of the riders and shouted for them to stop. Arya ran past the guards and stopped by the lead horse, with Gendry right behind her.

"Lady Arya, is it?" said Thoros of Myr as he climbed down from his horse.

"Aye," she said with a big grin. He didn't know who she was last time they had met, in the village on the way home, but she bet Harwin had told him soon afterwards. "We never thought to see you again."

"I never thought to be here," Thoros said. "But the Lord of Light showed me the way and here I am." He turned to the thin man who was now off his horse as well. "Lady Arya Stark, this is Lord Beric Dondarrion."

Lord Beric Dondarrion. Arya had heard many and more stories about the Lightning Lord, from smallfolk on the road, and from the Lannister men when she was being held at Harrenhal. Many of the stories said he was dead, while others said he couldn't be killed. Arya dipped her head to him. "My lord," she said in greeting.

Dondarrion dipped his head in return. "My lady. We wish…" But Dondarrion stopped speaking and he was staring at Gendry. "Good gods."

"God, Lord Beric, one god," Thoros said, now looking at Gendry as well, the same look of recognition on his face when he first saw Gendry back in the village. "The armorer Mott's apprentice, is it not?"

"Yes, my lord. Gendry's my name."

Dondarrion was looking at him closely. "Can it be, Thoros? He has the look."

"That he does, as I said to you after I met him in that village."

Arya knew they had figured out who Gendry really was and quickly moved to stop any more such talk. "He's just a blacksmith."

Dondarrion looked at her with his one good eye for a long moment and gave a slight nod, as if he understood her thoughts. "As you say, my lady. My men and I have ridden far and are tired and hungry. Would it be too much trouble to impose on the hospitality of Winterfell?"

"Come inside. There is food and drink in the great hall," Arya told them. "I will get my father and tell him you are here." She told a guard to show them the way to the stables for their horses and then the great hall. Then they went inside, Dondarrion taking one more long look at Gendry. As they passed Arya searched for Harwin but he was not with them. "Where's Harwin?" she shouted to Thoros.

He stopped and turned towards her and the look on his face told her it all. "He fell in battle, my lady, with the Mountain's men, the very morning when we received our pardons from Lord Tywin Lannister."

Arya felt a sudden sadness. Harwin had helped teach her how to ride a horse. "He was a good man," Arya said sadly.

"That he was," Thoros replied in a weary tone. "We lost him and many others from Winterfell and other lands."

"I'll tell my father you are here," she said again and Thoros gave a slight bow and then turned and joined his comrades. As Thoros and Dondarrion and their few surviving men passed by, all of them looked at Gendry in that same strange way. Gendry spoke quietly to Arya once they were gone and the guards were out of earshot again. "They know who I am."

"That they do," she replied. She gave him a weak grin. "Best not think about it. They won't say anything to anyone."

Gendry went off to shoe the horse before it got dark and Arya went looking for her father. After a few questions to people she saw inside, she found him and Robb in the godswood, sitting under the great weirwood tree with its human face carved into its trunk. Arya hesitated before approaching them. They were sitting where Maester Luwin had died not even a week ago, and being here again brought up that terrible memory once more. As she stood there looking at them, her father glanced her way and then beckoned her to come forth.

"I suppose your mother sent you," he said, not bothering to rise from the ground.

"What? No…we have visitors."

"Aye? And who would that be?" Robb asked.

"Thoros, that red priest, and Lord Dondarrion."

That truly surprised them. "Here? In Winterfell?" her father asked as he stood.

"They just rode in the East Gate," Arya told him. "They…they had some bad news. Harwin is dead."

"That is grievous news," her father replied.

Robb sighed. "Harwin as well. Were there any other Winterfell men with Dondarrion?" he asked Arya.

"I didn't see our sigil or recognize anyone," she answered. She looked to her father. "Does that mean all of the Winterfell men you sent out from King's Landing are dead?"

"Aye, I suppose it does," his father replied heavily. "Where are they now?"

"I sent them to the great hall to eat."

"Well done. It is time we ate as well, Robb. You will need your strength on the morrow."

"Aye, Father," Robb said as he then looked to his sister. "Have Mother and Roslin eaten yet?"

"No. They are still in the sept…I think," Arya answered her brother. "Were they very mad?"

"Aye, they were," Robb said with shake of his head. "They just don't understand that no one else can fight him. Any other man would be marked for death by Lord Bolton if he defeated Ramsey."

"That's what Mikken said," Arya told them.

"Mikken is not wrong," her father replied grimly. "But Robb's status as heir of Winterfell may be no protection either. Roose Bolton may have no love for his natural son, but he is his only son and heir now. Roose may be dead inside from all those leeches he uses to suck out his soul, but this he will not forget nor forgive. If he did even his cowed people would start grumbling about how weak he was and no lord can have that. Some day in the future he will seek redress."

"Then we should deal with him now," Robb stated with determination in his voice. "While we can, while he is here and he is vulnerable."

Her father stared at Robb for a long moment and Arya thought he was going to say yes but then he shook his head. "That is not our way. Roose and his men have been staunch allies in our fights. The whole North may hate him and his, but if we do them harm without just cause, we will damage our own position."

Robb snorted. "Then we must always keep an eye for any treachery."

"As I and my forefathers have always done where the Dreadfort is concerned," Ned Stark said. "Put this aside for now. Come. Let us go greet our guests." The three of them left the godswood. Soon they were in the great hall and for the next hour as her father and Robb ate and talked to Thoros and Dondarrion and heard their tales, Arya sat on the edge of the group, on the far end of their long table, listening and sipping a mug of weak, watered ale and occasionally nibbling on a piece of bread or cheese.

"We were always but a few days behind you," Thoros told them as he refilled his wine cup for the fifth or sixth time it seemed to Arya. He did like to drink, she remembered from the tales she had heard about him. But it seemed to not make him drunk. "We missed you at the Twins by three days," Thoros continued. "We needed food and fresh mounts and old Walder Frey was slow to give us any aid whatsoever so we were further delayed. Finally, he agreed and gave us some horses and supplies, but we had to write a note saying you would pay him back."

Arya's father snorted. "That's the way of him. Now he is my kin by marriage and still he is tightfisted as ever. I will pay, not to worry. You and your men were sent from King's Landing under my command to bring justice to the Mountain. Your debts are mine."

"A grievous day it was when we learned Robert was dead and you were a prisoner, my lord," Dondarrion said. He had barely touched his food and only sipped some wine, Arya noted.

"Aye. A grievous day for the whole realm," Ned Stark replied.

Thoros then told them how they missed them at Moat Cailin by a week and then they just kept going north, finally arriving at Winterfell. "What news of Stannis and the Lannisters?" Thoros asked when he finished.

"Still deadlocked at King's Landing, the last we heard," Arya's father told them. And then for a while they talked on the war and what would happen, and Arya's mind drifted away a bit as she started to feel sleepy. Her head nodded and suddenly she felt the tug of Nymeria.

The direwolves were chained up near the First Keep, far away from the stables and kennels, the dogs and horses being skittish whenever the direwolves were nearby. Arya's mind connected with Nymeria for a moment and she could taste the bones she was crunching in her jaws and sensed her fellow direwolves around her also gnawing away on the bones Gage the cook had thrown them. Through Nymeria's eyes she could see the East Gate. By now it was dark and the courtyard was lit up with only a few torches. Then the gate opened and three people walked in. At first Arya could not make them out but the sharp eyesight of Nymeria soon picked out Roose Bolton and his two captains that had sat with him at the trial. They walked straight across the courtyard to the armory and then went inside. Arya knew they were going to the cells underground to see Bolton's son.

Suddenly Arya heard her father's voice as if from far away and she was back in the great hall. To her surprise she was still sitting in her chair. But everyone at their table was looking at her.

"Sorry…did you ask me something Father?"

"I asked if you were well," he said with concern.

"Why?"

"You closed your eyes and were…making noises," Robb said with a knowing look.

"Just…tired. Robb…can I talk to you?" She stood and nodded towards the doors.

"Aye," Robb said, and then he drained his cup of ale and stood as well. As Arya waited, Thoros was looking at her in a strange way and Arya had the sudden feeling he knew what she was.

Outside the great hall Arya told Robb what she had seen when inside Nymeria. "He's just going to see him," Robb said without concern. "Maybe give him some advice on how to kill me."

"Don't say that!" Arya said sharply, getting a sudden feeling of dread.

Robb smiled and ruffled her hair the way Jon used to do. "Not to worry, little wolf. He's no warrior. He kills helpless men and women. He's a murderer and a coward, not a true and honorable man. Not a warrior."

"That's what I am afraid of," Arya said. "He won't fight like a warrior. He'll fight dirty."

"Aye?" Robb said thoughtfully. "Could be something to that."

Then Arya remembered something. "When I was at Harrenhal, I overheard the Imp's man Bronn telling some Lannister men how he killed a knight in the Vale when the Imp was on trial for his life. Bronn boasted about how the other man fought with honor but died still the same."

"Mother told the same story at Riverrun," Robb replied.

In the gloom of the courtyard Arya looked up at her big brother. "Robb…just kill him…anyway you can."

Robb grinned. "Aye, my warrior girl." Then he turned and went back into the great hall.

Arya was going to go back, but then she looked toward the nearby sept, and decided to light a candle for Robb. The doors to the sept were repaired and the new hinges Gendry had made worked well, the doors swinging in silently, as they should. Inside Arya saw many lit candles. On each altar were small images of the Seven done in craved wood, hastily done in the last few days, to act as temporary replacements until proper full-sized statues could be done. Her mother and Roslin were kneeling before the altar of the Father, while Sansa and Jeyne were kneeling in front of the Mother.

They did not notice Arya come in. She wanted to tell them about the visitors, but kept silent and then looked at the Seven altars. Arya was indifferent to her mother's religion, feeling more in kin with her father's old gods. But she had been taught her mother's faith as well, and knew the Seven and what they represented. People prayed to the Father for justice, to the Mother for mercy, to the Warrior for strength in battle, to the Smith for strength at their labors, to the Maiden to protect their virtue, and to the Crone for wisdom. Candles were lit on all six of their altars.

The seventh altar was for the Stranger and no candles were lit there. No one prayed to the Stranger, for the Stranger represented death and why would anyone pray for that. She knew the Hound called his large war horse Stranger and more faithful men might call that blasphemy, but Arya had heard men at Harrenhal say the Hound was just laughing at death. Or maybe he just didn't care if he died, old Lucan the blacksmith had said thoughtfully one morning at the forge in Harrenhal when Arya had asked him why any man would name his horse Stranger.

Near the doors was a wooden box holding small yellow tallow candles and Arya picked one up and walked to the altar of the Warrior. She lit it on the flame of a candle already there and then placed her lit candle on the altar and then got on her knees on the cold stone floor. She closed her eyes and tried to remember any formal prayers but couldn't. So she just asked the Warrior to give strength to Robb's sword tomorrow and to help him kill Ramsey Snow who deserved to die more than any man in the Seven Kingdoms, at least now that Joffrey was dead.

"Arya," her mother's voice said and Arya opened her eyes.

"I was praying for Robb."

"As were we all," her mother said as she lit a candle for the Warrior as well. She knelt beside Arya. "Have you seen him and your father?"

"They are in the great hall eating with Thoros of Myr and Lord Beric Dondarrion."

Her mother stared at her with surprise on her face. Sansa and Jeyne had overheard and were soon asking her questions as Arya explained it all to them.

"Beric Dondarrion!" Jeyne swooned. "He's so handsome."

"Not anymore," Arya said.

Jeyne looked at her in disbelief. "What do you mean?"

"He's been in many fights, took some wounds," Arya told her.

"Wounds?" Jeyne said, her voice faltering.

"He lost an eye," Arya said and Jeyne let out a small gasp. "His head has been hurt as well. And his neck has a scar. I think the Mountain tried to hang him. Or was it Amory Lorch? Anyway, he's very pale now as well."

Jeyne had gone pale herself, and then Sansa led her away, giving Arya a reproving look. Arya was sure neither of them was going to the great hall to see the handsome lord now.

"You could have been more gentle," her mother told her.

"Why? Better she hear the truth from me than see it herself."

"Perhaps. Is he really so badly scarred?"

"Aye, he is."

Her mother and Arya then returned to praying to the Warrior. Arya glanced out of the corner of her eye at Roslin. The whole time Roslin never rose from her knees in front of the altar of the Father, her eyes still closed and her lips moving in silent prayer.

"Robb will win," Arya said quietly to her mother.

"He shouldn't even be fighting," her mother answered, a tremor in her voice. "There are hundreds of other men here who could do it."

"They might lose," Arya said, as she sat back on her calves, her knees sore from the stone floor. "Ramsey Snow must die."

"Yes, but why does it have to be Robb?"

"Father said…"

"I know what he said," her mother interrupted. "As if Roose Bolton would dare."

"He might."

"Then they should crush him now."

"Robb said the same thing. But Father said that was not our way."

Her mother snorted. "He is too honorable."

"Is that a bad thing?" Arya asked, surprised at her mother's reaction.

Her mother looked away from the altar to Arya and Arya could see the uncertainty in her eyes. "No…not a bad thing. But sometimes it will not help you. Your father tried to be honorable in King's Landing and all that got him was a black cell and all our lives in danger."

Arya knew her mother had a part of that for kidnapping the Imp but also knew saying that would do no good. Her mother was right in some ways and Arya knew that being honorable was not the best way always. Other men were not honorable and they would stab you in the back the first chance they got and to hell with what other people thought. Then Arya remembered she had stabbed a gold cloak in the back and had saved Gendry. If she had tried to be honorable maybe they would both be dead now. But that was in the chaos of battle where honor counted for little if you were trying to save your life. At the same time she also felt her father was more right than wrong, and being honorable was more good than bad. It brought you respect and trust, and she heard more than one person say in King's Landing and on the road home that the word of Ned Stark was worth something.

She knew she had to say something to help defend her father's choice. "He said that Lord Bolton and his men helped us and it would be a poor way to repay them."

Her mother sighed. "There is that." Then after a few moments of silence she stood and turned to Roslin. "Come. It is time to rest and get some food."

"I'm not hungry," Roslin answered in a weak tone.

"No? Then you must rest at least."

Roslin seemed about to protest but then just rose to her feet and soon they left. Arya was going to blow out the candles but her mother stopped her. "Leave the candles as they are Arya."

After that Arya went to the Great Keep with Roslin and her mother. She bid them good night and then Arya went to her room. Being back in her own room again was one more reason Arya was glad to be back in Winterfell. It was a big room and it had been hers and Sansa's room for several years. That was until she was six years old and Sansa had started complaining loudly and often about sharing a room with her little sister. So Sansa got a room by herself, a smaller room, and even complained about that, saying that as Arya was the younger sister she should have the smaller room. Her father had put an end to that, saying if Sansa wanted to be by herself, she would have to accept the smaller room or share with Arya. That had been one more reason for the rift that grew between them that was now slowly healing.

Arya saw Needle in its sheath on the peg and took it down and drew the slender blade out with a whisper of steel on leather. She wished she could just go down to the cells and stab Ramsey Snow to death but knew that would bring endless trouble. She practiced for a bit to help clear her mind, but it didn't work and she was filled with doubts and worries for Robb. Arya hung Needle back up and as she passed by the window of her room, a sudden flare of flame made her stop and look out. She opened the shutters wider. In the courtyard some men were lighting a fire. She distinctly saw Thoros and Dondarrion there and nearby was Gendry, his height and thick mop of black hair making him easy to pick out.

Outside Arya counted at least twenty men around the fire, with Gendry hanging on the edges. Arya sidled up to him. "What's this?"

"Thoros is going to pray to his god," Gendry replied.

"The night is dark and full of terrors, my friends," Thoros said in a loud voice. "But the flame of R'hllor will keep us safe from our enemy, the Great Other we shall not mention by name. Let evil flee from this land and let all men with doubt in their hearts find the true path to salvation. Look into the flames and see what path lies before you. Look into the flames and see your savior, and feel his light open your eyes and heart and guide you to wisdom."

Arya looked into the flames and all she saw was fire. But Thoros was a red priest and she had heard that sometimes they could see the future in the flames. Could he know what would happen in the morning? Could he know who would win the fight?

When the fires died down and Thoros was done praying and most of his men left to go to their lodgings, Arya was about to say goodnight to Gendry when Thoros and Dondarrion came up to them.

"You are Robert Baratheon's son," Dondarrion said to Gendry without any preamble.

Arya and Gendry were both caught by surprise by his words. "He is not!" Arya finally said in a rush.

She looked up at Gendry and he seemed about to join her protest but then he just sighed. "So Lord Stark tells me."

"He did not lie," Thoros replied. "Many a night Robert and I tried to drink each other under the table. You have his face, his eyes, his hair, his build. Aye, and even his hammer."

"Don't tell anyone," Arya said to them in a pleading tone. "Please. Some people might want to kill him if they knew. Joffrey already tried."

"Aye, they might," said Dondarrion. "But not us. We will tell no one."

They thanked him and then Arya looked at Thoros and just had to ask. "Can you see the future in the flames?"

Thoros shrugged. "Not always."

"Did you see what would happen to Robb tomorrow?"

"I saw something. A wolf, sitting by a man lying on the ground."

"That's Robb, the wolf," Arya said swiftly, hope in her voice. "He's been called the Young Wolf by his soldiers. Sitting by Ramsey's dead body."

"Perhaps," said Dondarrion cautiously. "The things Thoros sees are not always easy to understand until they come to pass. Well, good night."

"We shall say a prayer for Robb to the Lord of Light to see his sword guided true tomorrow," Thoros said and then after saying good night to them, Arya and Gendry were alone by the dwindling fire

"They won't say anything," Arya told him. "They were King Robert's men."

"I know," Gendry said and then he lowered his voice. "King Robert was my father. Even now I still can't believe it."

"It's true."

"The whole time I was in King's Landing I never knew."

Mentioning King's Landing reminded Arya of something. "When you lived there did you have any…any friends?"

"Some…when I was small. At Master Mott's the other apprentices didn't like me."

"Why not?"

He grunted. "Too stubborn. That's why I made the bull's head helmet. Sort of a jape."

Arya laughed a bit and then pressed on. "Did you have any... any…girls? As friends, I mean."

He looked at her in puzzlement. "Are you asking me if I had a special girl?"

"Aye."

"No," he said with a grin and Arya felt some sense of relief. But he kept speaking. "Did you? I mean, a special boy."

"What? No…I'm just a…I mean…"

"I know what you mean. You're still a girl. Doesn't mean you couldn't like someone."

"No. Never. And you?"

"No. Never."

"Good."

"Good."

Nothing else needed to be said and in the darkness she reached out and took his hand and he held it tight. "Robb will win," he said, as if knowing what she was thinking.

"I said a prayer for him to the Warrior," Arya told him after a moment. "I've been in the godswood, the sept, and now here tonight. Sometimes I think there are too many gods."

"Maybe we should have just one god," Gendry said, looking at the dying fire. "I've heard people say King Stannis believes in Thoros' god."

"I've heard the same." Arya answered. Then she gave a little laugh. "He's your uncle. The king."

"Aye, he is. Not like he will ever greet me with any warmth."

"But he won't harm you either."

"Because I have no claim. So he will never make me a Baratheon either."

"No, he won't," Arya agreed and felt it was just not fair. If King Stannis ever legitimized Gendry or any of King Robert's other children born out of wedlock, then his own claim to the Iron Throne would be damaged. A son or a daughter of a king comes before his brother by all the laws of the Seven Kingdoms.

Finally, they said good night to each other. She wanted to kiss him again but knew she shouldn't and they parted after saying good night. Arya finally went to her bedroom, and an hour later finally drifted off to sleep, her mind still filled with worry on what the morrow would bring.

Morning did come, and Arya knew it would be the last dawn someone would see. She knew in her heart it had to be Ramsey Snow, but a nagging doubt still clouded her mind and she could not help but fear for her brother. Breakfast was a somber affair, but at least all of her family gathered together. Her mother had a brave face on as she sat next to her father, but neither said a word to each other as they sat, and Arya guessed maybe their fight continued in the night. Roslin was red-eyed and looked as if she had not slept at all, and kept making little whimpering sounds. Sansa barely touched her food and was also almost in tears, and kept looking at Robb when she thought he was not looking her way. Bran went on about this book he was reading about the plants of Westeros and Robb took an interest in his talk, and Arya and her father joined in as well. Rickon was just eating and laughing when he thought something was funny, as usual. Finally, Catelyn Stark could stand it no more.

"Stop it!" she said in a stern voice.

"Yes, please!" Roslin added. "You're all acting as if nothing is wrong!"

Arya's father looked at her and then to Arya's mother. "We all know what is going to happen today. Robb is going to fight, a fight to the death. He knows that, everyone knows that. Hearing the weeping of his mother and wife are the last things he needs now. You must be strong, the both of you. Robb needs a clear head, not one filled with the lamentations of women."

Catelyn Stark's face set itself in anger and she was about to retort when a loud shout came from the end of the hall.

"There's the bastard!" Flint's son shouted from where the villagers were eating.

They all turned to look and there was Ramsey Snow, being led into the hall with his guards and his father and a strong contingent of Bolton men behind him. Ramsey was still in shackles but the way he grinned and sauntered you would not think he was a prisoner about to fight for his life.

"Lord Stark!" Ramsey shouted to their table so everyone could hear. "I have had my breakfast. And so has your champion it seems. Have my shackles removed so we can get on with this."

"Are you so eager to die?" Robb asked him as he stood.

"No, just to be rid of this place forever." Ramsey told him and then looked back at Ned Stark. "I must have assurances that I will be allowed to walk free when your son is dead."

Arya's father snorted. "I will follow the law…if you win."

"Then let us fight!" Ramsey said and a great shout went up from the breakfast crowd.

"Bring the prisoner outside. Remove his shackles and give him armor and a sword," Arya's father told the guards.

"He already has armor and weapons," Lord Bolton said in his barely audible voice.

"Then let it be done," Ned told them and another great shout went up and the crowd surged out the doors. The guards dragged Ramsey with them and his father and the other Bolton men followed.

Catelyn and Roslin started to protest this haste but Arya's father told them what was done was done.

"Ned,…can't it be stopped?" Catelyn asked in worry, all her fears for her eldest son now about to come to pass.

"No."

"What if he loses?"

"He won't," Arya's father said with confidence. "He has been trained all his life for this. He has proven his skill in battle."

"I will defeat this scum, Mother," Robb said, equally confident, as Roslin clutched his arm. He turned to his wife and gave her a kiss on the lips. "No more tears now...my lady."

"Aye…my lord," she said but her voice still betrayed her fears.

With that Robb strode toward the door and shouted to Olyvar, his squire, who came running from the back of the hall and followed Robb out the doors.

Arya hung back as the others left, looking for Gendry, but even though she saw Mikken and Tim and the older apprentice smith, Gendry was no where in sight. She even saw Jeyne and the Frey boys and Gage and Osha and the rest of the kitchen staff heading out the doors and Arya was one of the last to leave.

The courtyard between the guest house, the armory and the Great Keep was in chaos, as almost everyone in Winterfell and the Bolton and Umber camps was here, coming running when they heard the fight was about to begin. Thoros and Dondarrion and their men were also there as were the villagers. And there she saw Gendry at last, standing by Thoros, talking to him, with Dondarrion on his other side. She tried to wave and get his attention but he didn't see her. All was a hubbub of noise and movement as people scrambled to find places along the walls and on the bridge that connected the armory and the Great Keep. Arya tried to move to where Gendry was but couldn't and then she lost sight him and of her parents and Robb and she kept getting pushed back, under the bridge and then she was near the guards barracks near the old First Keep. There she saw the direwolves, still chained up, and they were all looking intently at the surging crowd.

Grey Wind was standing up and he was growling, his body straining against the chain that was attached to a metal peg in a stout wooden post. Nymeria and Shaggydog and Summer were also up on their feet, all looking towards Arya now.

She turned away from them and wormed and wiggled her way through the mass of people until at last she could see what was happening. The Winterfell guards had pushed people back until a clear space was in the courtyard between the Great Keep and guest house, nearby the ashes of the fire Thoros had burned last night. Robb was over by the guest house, with Olyvar helping him strap on his best armor, pieces of plate over stout chain mail. Arya's father and Lord Umber were there, talking to Robb, while her mother, Sansa, Roslin, Rickon, and Bran, on Hodor's back, were just behind them. Catelyn Stark held onto Rickon's shoulders as he stood in front of her while Sansa and Roslin were holding hands, both struggling to control their emotions. No one seemed to notice that Arya was missing or even seemed to care.

Then she saw Ramsey Snow, standing over by the Great Keep with his father and the other Bolton men. Ramsey's shackles were off and now were on the ground near the ashes of the fire. His father and some of the others were helping him on with his armor, plate over chain mail, well designed and with the flayed man of the Dreadfort embossed on his breastplate. He strapped a shield with the same sigil to his left forearm and was handed a long, sharp sword, and then a great helm that covered his face, with just a slit on its visor, was placed over his head.

When Arya looked back to her brother Robb had his shield with the direwolf sigil on it and his own sword in his hand, with just a half helm on his head, which had the eyes open and just a strip of metal to protect his nose. It also had cheek guards that did not met at the chin. Arya knew that Robb's helmet gave him better vision while Ramsey's gave more protection.

The two combatants moved to the middle of the arena. Arya's father then walked between them and raised his arms for silence and soon the people were quiet.

"We have come here to see a man be judged before the gods," Ned Stark began. "His fate will be decided by a trial at arms. To the death. No man can yield. If the accused defeats his opponent his crimes are forgiven and he is free to go and no man shall stop him or face the law as well. If he is defeated, then may the gods judge him in the hereafter in equal measure to the crimes he has committed against the people of the North. Let it begin."

Without even waiting for Ned Stark to fully exit the fighting arena Ramsey Snow let go a furious yell that could be heard outside his great helm and charged at Robb. Robb was ready for it and easily stepped aside and lay his steel across Ramsey's back. For one brief moment everyone thought it was over but Ramsey's armor saved him, despite the long rent in his back plate, for the chain mail underneath had not been damaged.

After that he was more cautious and the two combatants circled each other, looking for an opening, as the crowd cheered and yelled. Arya was jostled from side to side and could feel the madness of the crowd as Robb and Ramsey clashed their swords together and took blows on their shields and took swipes at each other. Ramsey's swipes were more like hacks, his sword swinging wildly, while Robb had more finesse, seeking an opening…and then he found one.

Ramsey overstepped with a clumsy blow and Robb sliced his sword up the back of Ramsey's left lower leg. Even over the noise Arya could hear him cry out and the shouts and yells from the crowd grew to a fever pitch as bright red blood streamed down the back of Ramsey's leg. He staggered and limped away from Robb as the loud voice of the Greatjon was heard above all.

"Finish the dog!" Lord Umber yelled and more people took up the cry.

Arya saw Roose Bolton then, by chance as the crowd parted a bit, and he was calm and not moving at all, just standing there with an impassive look on his face, as if he cared not for the outcome. She then looked over at her own family and they were quite the opposite. At first their faces had been filled with dread but now they were mostly filled with joy. Sansa and Roslin were cheering and Rickon was jumping up and down and Bran was pumping his fist in the air. But her mother still had that worried look on her face and her father had his usually mask of grimness.

Arya knew it was not over yet. Ramsey limped away and came near to where she was standing behind the Winterfell spearmen who were keeping the people back. Robb stalked him as if he was hunting, his sword out, his stout body in a crouch, his shield up, ready to attack and defend himself. Suddenly Robb struck and their swords clashed and Robb's shield slammed into Ramsey's body. He went down in a clatter of armor, landing in a cloud of ash as his body hit the remains from the fire Thoros had lit to chase away the darkness.

Then Arya saw it, saw Ramsey drop his sword and scoop up a handful of ashes in his armored gauntlet. As Robb stood over him to deliver the death blow and the crowd cheered madly Arya had a sickening feeling in her gut and tried to warn him.

"ROBB! LOOK OUT!"

But it was too late, as Ramsey spun quickly and flung the ashes up into Robb's face and they went into his eyes. Robb staggered back as an awful gasp came from the crowd. Robb shook his head furiously and ashes fell from his face and helmet but he staggered some more. Ramsey slowly got to his feet, and then he ripped his helmet off from his head and shook out his long, stringy hair. He picked up his sword and strode after Robb.

"Time to die Stark!" he shouted and then he laughed and his thick lips formed an evil leer.

Robb tried to rub his eyes with his hands but they were covered in gauntlets and held shield and sword and could do no good. He swung his sword blindly, shaking his head and blinking, trying to clear his eyes, and Ramsey easily stepped out of the way of Robb's sword. More than one voice cursed at Ramsey for his treachery and across the way Arya could see her mother step forward and try to enter the arena, her face full of anguish, but her father grabbed her and she started to cry and yell for them to stop this madness.

Then, through all the noise and hubbub and movement, Arya saw Gendry again, and he was there, moving through the crowd toward her, now just a few feet away. At the same time she heard another sound, the distinctive howl and growl of a direwolf…and then she was gone, inside Nymeria and then she saw with Nymeria's eyes that Grey Wind had pulled her chain and peg from the wooden post and was running toward the crowd. With a mighty tug Nymeria pull out the peg holding in her chain as well and she was chasing Grey Wind across the courtyard. People screamed and fled when they saw the two direwolves coming and a hole opened in the crowd. As the people parted Arya saw herself, lying on the ground, under the bridge between the Great Keep and the armory, with Gendry kneeling next to her.

And then she could see the fighting arena, and she got the shock of her life. Ramsey Snow was standing over Robb, who was on his knees. Ramsey's sword was buried in Robb's body, under the left arm where the armor was weak. As Ramsey pulled out his sword full of Robb's bright red blood he yelled in triumph and raised his sword for another blow. But the blow never came. Robb's own sword came up, and just the tip of it, razor sharp, caught Ramsey Snow across the throat just below his chin and just above his armor. If he had kept his helmet on he would never even have gotten a scratch. For a second Arya thought Robb did not cut him, had missed, but then the flesh parted in a wide gap and bright red blood flowed out and down the front of Ramsey Snow's armor.

Grey Wind had leaped over Gendry and herself, and was charging across the courtyard and Arya knew what her brother was going to do and had to stop him. Just as Grey Wind was leaping for Ramsey, leaping to kill this man who was attacking Grey Wind's master, Nymeria tackled him from behind and knocked him to the ground. The two direwolves rolled and fought as the crowd screamed and surged back. All was chaos and Arya could see nothing but the fur and bared teeth of her brother trying to snap at her neck, could feel agony as his claws were ripping her flesh on her belly. And then her own teeth sank into his left shoulder and Grey Wind howled in pain. She didn't bite deep, just enough to make him hurt. The two direwolves separated, then got up and were panting, circling and growling at each other, the chains still attached to them scraping across the ground.

Suddenly Grey Wind stopped and stared at Nymeria with a strange look. And then he howled and all who were there that day would say for years after it was the most frightening, heart wrenching noise they had ever heard in their lives.

Through Nymeria's eyes, Arya now saw what was happening. Behind Grey Wind lay Ramsey Snow, grasping at his throat, blood coming out between his fingers, as his father knelt beside him.

And there was Robb, lying in a pool of red blood, so red, so shockingly red. Her father and Maester William were kneeling by him and her mother was holding Rickon who was crying and Sansa and Roslin held each other and were bawling their eyes out. Bran was crying as well and big Hodor's eyes were full of tears. Maester William was shaking his head and her father shed a few tears as well and Arya knew her brother was dead. Nymeria then howled as Grey Wind joined her and from across the castle Shaggydog and Summer howled and joined them in their pain

Suddenly Grey Wind stopped howling and then Arya got another shock. "Sister," came a voice in her head and Arya wondered if for a second she had not gone mad.

"Robb?" she gasped, not daring to hope it was truly him.

"Aye."

"You just died!"

"I knew I was going to die. I…I don't know how but I fled my body. I am with Grey Wind now."

"He wanted to stop the fight. To kill Ramsey."

"I sensed his anger. You stopped him?"

"Aye. Now what do we do…you're dead."

"Not yet."

"But your body…"

"Is dead…then I will live on with Grey Wind while I can. Tell everyone I am sorry I could not defeat Ramsey Snow."

"But you did! He's dead!"

She felt a sense of relief come from him "Then I have done my duty. You were right. He fought without honor. I should have listened to you little sister."

But then someone slapped Arya's face and she fled from Nymeria and was lying in Gendry's arms.

"Robb?" she asked. Gendry was pale and he just helped her to her feet. "Arya, sorry...I had to hit you. Everyone is looking at us. Robb is…" but he couldn't say it so she did. "I know. He's dead."

The crowd was still around them, and many people were crying and others were looking at her strangely and with sympathy.

"She just fell," one woman said. "Why did she fall?"

"It's the shock," said a soldier of Lord Umber's. "Her brother just died."

"No!" said Arya, suddenly remembering, and then she grabbed Gendry's hand. "Come on!"

She dragged him through the crowd and there she came on a scene of horror. Ramsey's bloody body was being picked up by some Bolton men and being led away with Roose Bolton in front of them, his face still expressionless. Her father was holding her mother who was wailing in agony, as were Sansa and Roslin, and Bran and Rickon and many others. Jeyne Poole, Mikken, Gage, Tim, the Frey boys and many others were in shock and some in tears as well. And there on the ground lay Robb, with Grey Wind sitting across his body. Nymeria sat nearby, whimpering, with several bloody scratches on her belly.

Osha was standing nearby the kitchen staff, a grim look on her face, and she was looking at Grey Wind, and then she looked over to Arya and Arya felt her eyes on her. Arya had not had many words with the tall wildling woman but now Osha came over to her.

"That one is yours?" she asked, nodding to Nymeria.

"Aye," Arya replied

"Where is your brother now? With his direwolf?"

"How do you know?" Arya asked in shock.

"You do not cry like the others do. You know he is not dead, little one, don't you?"

"Aye…he is inside Grey Wind now. But no one will believe me."

"I will," said a voice and she turned and there was Thoros of Myr and Lord Beric Dondarrion. Thoros stepped past them and then he stopped by Robb's body.

"With your permission Lord and Lady Stark, I will examine him."

"He is dead," said Arya's father, anguish on his face. "I am afraid there is naught anyone can do."

"Maybe I can," Thoros replied.

Arya's mother glared at the red priest through her tears. "He is with the Seven now. Your false god can do him no good, Thoros. My son is dead. Leave us be to mourn as we will."

"He is not dead!" said Arya suddenly, stepping through the crowd and everyone stared at her.

"Arya…," her father began but Osha cut him off.

"Sorry, my lord, but your daughter speaks the right of it." She looked at Grey Wind to emphasis her point.

Ned Stark looked from Arya to Osha and then to Grey Wind, and then understanding dawned and he nodded. "Lord Umber, Gendry, pick Robb up and take him to the Great Keep, to his bed chambers, at once."

"Ned?" Catelyn Stark said in shock and anger. "What are you doing?"

"Saving our son. Quick, let's move!"

As if he knew what was happening, Grey Wind leaped off the body as Lord Umber and Gendry picked Robb up and took him quickly to the Great Keep, with the whole family and Maester William, Thoros, Osha, and Dondarrion following. Grey Wind and Nymeria padded behind them all. The crowds looked at them in wonder as they entered the Great Keep.

Inside they lay Robb on his bed and Grey Wind immediately jumped up and lay at his feet. Arya took off his chain as well as Nymeria's. Thoros looked at Ned Stark. "A fire, in the hearth."

Osha had heard and moved quickly and got a fire going in the hearth near the bed. Thoros turned and looked at them all. "This is not for all eyes. The children should leave."

Arya's mother looked at Sansa and she dragged a crying Rickon away while Hodor left despite the protests of Bran on his back. Catelyn looked at Arya and told her to leave as well but Thoros shook his head. "I need her." Then before Arya's mother could protest, Thoros looked to Maester William. "First, we need to bind his wound and clean him."

Arya had seen wounds before, had caused many herself, and they were never a pretty sight, more so now because it was her brother. They took his armor off, and his wound was bound with a heavy cloth and bandages. Robb's body was washed of the blood and ashes, and then Thoros looked at Arya. "Can you talk to him?"

"Aye," she said.

"Tell him he must join his body again. I cannot save him unless he does that. Do you understand?"

"Aye."

"What in Seven hells is going on?" the Greatjon asked in bewilderment.

"There will be time enough to explain later," Ned Stark told his friend. "I need you to go look in on Lord Bolton and see what he is up to. His son is dead and he may not take that well."

"Aye, my lord. And if he is up to no good do I have permission to kill him and his?"

"Aye, that you do, but report to me first if you can," Ned told him in his grim tone and the Greatjon agreed and left.

Arya closed her eyes but then Gendry spoke. "You'd better sit down first." Arya sat in a chair, looked at Nymeria, closed her eyes again and in a second she was inside her. Suddenly Arya felt the pain of the scratches on her belly but quickly shut it aside.

"Robb?"

"I'm here. What's going on?"

"Thoros said he can save you. But you must join your body again."

"It's…it's painful…more painful than this bite you gave me."

"Sorry, but you must endure it. For a bit."

"Aye…when?"

"Now."

"Aye."

She fled from Nymeria and opened her eyes. "He knows.'

Thoros then bent over Robb and lay his head on his chest. After a few moments he stood. "He is ready." He looked to Gendry and Ned. "You must hold him...tightly."

Gendry took his feet and held them while Ned grasped his shoulders. "That will do," Thoros said and then he stepped over to the fire in the hearth as everyone stepped aside.

Thoros closed his eyes and began to pray. "Lord of Light, protector of all, show me the light, show me the way to help Robb Stark. He walks in the dark lands now and we need him to return to the light, to come out of the shadows. His death was a noble death, done in the cause of justice, and he deserves more life. Show him your power, show him your mercy."

As he finished praying Thoros opened his eyes and reached his hands into the fire and he did not flinch as if he felt no heat at all. And then his hands came out and they were covered in flames. Gasps came from the people in the room, except Dondarrion who Arya suspected had seen this before. Thoros took the flames and put them to his lips and seemed to suck them off his hands and down into his body. In a second he stepped over to Robb and bent to his body. It seemed as if the flames came from Thoros' lips, flowed to Robb's mouth and then went inside of him. Robb's body began to shudder and shake as Gendry and Arya's father held Robb tight. Roslin let out a wail and Catelyn held her in her arms. As tears filled Arya's eyes she prayed harder than she had ever prayed in her life, praying to the old gods and the new to save her big brother.

Suddenly Thoros stepped back and Robb gave a gasp as he breathed deeply and his eyes flew open. He looked up and spoke only one word to the man standing over him holding his shoulders. "Father?"

"Aye, my son," said Ned Stark, fighting back his tears.

"It is done," said Thoros wearily as he collapsed into a chair.

One by one they all looked at Robb in wonder and awe and many tears were shed and gasps of emotion filled the room as Robb was hugged and kissed and prayers were said to the gods, old and new and even red. Sansa and Rickon and Bran were called for and shed tears of joy as well. Grey Wind howled again but no one seemed to care and even Arya's mother ruffled his fur and gave him a hug. Word was passed to the crowds outside and a great cheer went up when they learned the Young Wolf was still alive and many people fell to their knees to thank the gods.

Then Robb asked for her and Arya stood beside his bed and she took his hand, which was warm and strong, not cold and lifeless. He smiled at her. "Thank you, my little wolf," he said and Arya could only nod her head as she cried in joy at having her big brother wolf back again among the living.