[Chapter Size: 3300 Words.]
---------------------------------------
Third Person POV
North, 297 AC.
---------------------------------------
"Make your tents while I go speak with my father about some things. I'll be staying in the castle, but we'll train every day." Arya said to her men, while they all aking only her Arti group and her dy-in-waiting with her.
Arya returo Winterfell after that, where her father waited he gate with Wendel Manderly, probably discussiay.
"Are you done? Do you need anything else?" he asked as Arya shook her head.
"I don't need anything, thank you. They've managed on their own, but I need rooms for my Arti panions," she replied to her father, who nodded.
"I'll leave that to Vayon Poole tanize. Now let's head into the castle. Your mother is eager to have you ba your room again," he said, motioning for Arya to follow him to the entrance.
But not before turning back to Arya as they prepared to reuh the family waiting at the castle's entrance. "One more thing: try to have a bit of patieh her. You know, she's a bit misguided, and it's worsened over the years. Your departure shook Catelyn quite a bit..." he said carefully.
Arya looked at him, refleg for a moment, but responded with a firm tone. "I do that, but I won't tolerate any disrespect toward Jo me be very clear. Jon didn't kidnap me; going with him was my choice. I don't regret what I did, and I'd do it all the same again. Not because I have anything against you, but because it was how I found my p the world..." she said firmly to her father.
"Alright, I uand. I've already spoken to her and asked her to restrain herself, so I hope she doesn't act out..." Ned replied, and Arya nodded.
Thus, they proceeded to the castle entrah Arya's guards, where her mother came, apanied by the septa and some servants, to receive her back.
Her mother approached with a cautious look at Jill and Buri, who followed closely behind her daughter, but she smiled warmly at Arya. "e, Arya. I'll have some servants take your belongings into the castle."
"I'd rather not, Mother. There are many valuable things among them, so I'll have my guards ha," she tradicted her mother once again, obviously unwilling to leave her luggage with strangers.
Catelyn didn't scowl this time, keeping her posure, and nodded, noting that Arya had her own guards. Meanwhile, she invited Arya to follow her, as Buri had to carry the luggage with Jill winking at him due to his ask, while Arya walked with her mother.
"Princess..." Jill said as she drew closer to Arya, her words loud enough for everyoo hear, leaving them stunned by the title.
"Princess?!" Catelyn was the first to react, staring at Arya and her guard, bewildered. Even the septa, Sansa, and her friends, who were present, wideheir eyes in shock at what they heard.
Nearby, Ned scratched his head. He already khis was Arya's status in Artica, as the royal guards called her that all the time. Bran, Robb, and Ri stood at a distance, as their mother wao show the castle to their sister.
"Yes... Arya is a princess in Artica," Jill expio the speechless woman, who had questio aloud.
"There's no known kingdom called Artica," Septa Mordane's voice was heard, ced with disdain.
"Westeros isn't the only p the world with kings and queens, madam..." Jill retorted.
"Septa Mordane," Arya introduced sharply, her tone far from friendly. She knew Jill had addressed her directly because of the stern look the woman had given her, which was disrespectful.
"Ah, yes... the religion of the south..." Jill ented with equal disdain.
"You attacked the Citadel and sughtered maesters aons like savages! The gods will show no mercy to your souls!" the septa snarled, as the tension in the air grew thicker and thicker.
"We do not fear yods if you think you frighten us with words. We have our own gods, gods of this nd. Besides, we fe our path with steel and fire, not with words, if you think you judge us," Buri said, carrying the luggage as he pced a hand on his sword. The septa's eyes widened in fear, realizing these savages had mercilessly killed unarmed septons and maesters.
"Order!" Lord Stark's voice thundered with authority, as his guards also pced their hands on their ons near his wife, responding to Arya's guard's implied threat.
"Let's put ao this madness! Arya has just returned— we go one day without arying to kill each other? You..." Lord Stark first turo the septa with a disapproving gre. "You must not provoke any guest of this house. I've already spoken to you and Catelyn about this. Moreover, you'll o get used to the idea of Arya being addressed as a princess of the kingdom beyond the Wall, whether you like it or not." His words made the septa lower her head.
He then turo the guard who had spoken st. "I will not permit you to draw your sword in my house," he said sternly, though Buri did not flinder Lord Stark's gaze.
"I have nothing against you, your people, or yions, but I will not tolerate any disrespect toward my king, my house, or my gods," Buri responded firmly.
"Buri, calm yourself," Arya interjected, turning to her father. "He is right about this, Father." Her words made Lord Stark regard her for a moment before sighing and nodding.
"Bring bread and salt to my daughter and the Artis visiting Winterfell. They will be treated with respect here," he said at st. Servants brought the items, and the ritual of guest right erformed. O was plete, Catelyn approached her daughter.
"e, Arya. I'm sure you want to take off that armor and put on a dress," she said, trying to brush aside the earlier tension and enjoy her daughter's presence.
Arya sighed, knowing her mother would try everything to steer her away from things she deemed unsuitable for a dy. "Alright, Mother..." she said wearily, following her ihe castle.
Jill trailed behind, while ayed back to speak with some guards and Ser Rodrik, who had been watg them the eime, keen to observe Arya after so long.
Buri followed closely, leaving the septa behind as Sansa went to speak with her alongside the irls.
"I made sure your room repared over the past few days," Catelyn said softly as they ehe chamber, while Arya looked around, noting that little had ged.
"The bed is a bit small now," Arya remarked, gng around the space.
"Certainly, it's been seven years... We'll have it repced soon," her mother replied.
"No, it's not necessary," Arya said, clearly implying she wouldn't be staying forever. Catelyn frowned slightly but chose to ig, f a smile as she turned back to her daughter.
"Well, I'll wait for you. Let's sit and do some embroidery together. Your sister will love sharing this moment with you," she said, as Buri set the luggage down and exged a raised-eyebrow gh Jill, overhearing the versation.
Arya felt a bit sorry for her mother but shook her head. "Mother, we do that tomorrow. Today, I just want to lie down for a bit and talk to my brothers," she said, not wanting to engage in such activities now.
Catelyn, though pursing her lips, nodded, finding the request reasonable. "Of course, you're right... I'll see you at dihen," she said, beginning to leave the room, albeit relutly.
"Your mother seems to love you. She's not as bad as I imagined," Jill ented as the three of them were left alone.
"She loves her children, no doubt, but that love makes her it atrocities. You've seen that darker side of her—you must have noticed it too," Arya said, looking at the door after her mother had left.
"Yes... these people try to act gently when it suits them, but we saw the way she looked at us, with a certain hatred. Maybe not as btant as the septa's, but it was there. She held back to avoid fighting with you. I hope that restraint sts a year," Jill replied.
"Anyway, I have a moment alone? I'll handle my luggage," Arya said finally, prompting the guards to leave the room.
Left alone, she began removing her armor, piece by piece, letting it fall to the floor. Now wearing only her underclothes, she moved tgage, pulling out a dress. As she slipped it on, she felt lighter without the weight of the armor, even though the eldeal, specially crafted, reduced its weight by 80 to 90%.
Wasting no time, Arya y down on her bed at st. She was ba Winterfell, but deep down, she khis pce was no longer her home. She belonged more to the North. Still, she resolved to make the best of her stay here until she returo the true North.
'But my mother certainly won't make things easy for me and will do everything to make me stay...' Arya thought. She didn't kly how to feel about her. She undoubtedly loved her mother, but there were things that couldn't be fotten.
Arya left her room, carrying a ge of clothes for after a bath. "I'm going to bathe in Winterfell's hot springs," she said, instrug her guards to apao the springs.
It wasn't long before a servant appeared in the corridor to meet her. "Lady Arya, I see you're heading for a bath. Your mother has instructed us to attend to anything you need. Do you require anything?" the servant asked.
Arya nodded. "I want you to fetch Mearin and tell her to join me. She's among the Artis," Arya said, wanting her dy-in-waiting. The serva immediately to carry out her request.
"We'll wait for you at the door, Princess. No one else will be allowed in," Jill assured her at the baths after ensuring the area was empty.
"Alright. Besides Mearin, don't let anyone else enter," Arya instructed as her royal guards stepped out, closing the door and leaving her alone.
At peace, Arya removed her clothing and sank into the hot waters. A short while ter, Mearin arrived.
"Arya..." Mearin murmured.
Arya's dies-in-waiting were dear friends she had made in Artica over the years—Mearin and Hil.
Mearin had been attacked alongside Hil and Arya in Vontis. Hil didn't survive, and sihen, Mearin, now her sole dy-in-waiting, had apanied her. It was a sensitive topic between them, but avenging Hil by striking the cities of Sver's Bay a year ago had been a shared act of closure.
"I want you to stay with me the whole time, Mearin. I'm sure I'll end up arguing with everyone here," Arya said, knowiay would be challenging if her father didn't mahings.
"I'll do that," Mearin replied, stepping into the water to bathe as well.
"Winterfell is stra's where the king lived, but it feels so warm pared to the North. Even so, Artica is still warmer than Winterfell," Mearin remarked, looking curiously at the walls.
"Yes. Jon stayed here until he was eight, and tally, I also stayed in this castle until I was eight, before leaving," Arya said. The versation turo childhood memories, and Arya realized that although she spoke of Artica, she had never delved deeply into those memories. Now seemed like the right time to revisit them.
"Wait, horse-face?! You must be joking!" Mearin excimed, wide-eyed upon hearing the niame given by Sansa's friends—and Sansa herself—when Arya lived here.
"That was a long time ago, so just fet about it," Arya said, stepping out of the water and grabbiowel.
Afterward, Arya left the baths dressed in one of the dresses she had acquired in Myr, with Mearin following, wearing a dress Arya had gifted her.
"Where are we going now, Princess?" Jill asked, walking alongside Buri.
"We're going to the courtyard. I want to talk to Bran," Arya said, still feeling a twinge of guilt about her brother. Her owl was cirg Winterfell, easily log him. The wolves had gone off to the forest to run.
They stepped out a moment ter, drawing the attention of the people w in front of the castle, as Arya walked alongside Mearin and her guards toward the courtyard.
There, they found Bran practig archery alone. Robb robably elsewhere, but Bran noticed their approad couldn't help but smile at his sister, running immediately to her.
"Arya!" he excimed, clearly thrilled to finally talk to her.
"Hello, little brother. I see you're practig archery. Mind if I join you?" Arya asked with a cheerful smile.
"Of course, Arya," he replied, his gaze admiring the guards apanying his sister.
Bran dreamed of being a royal guard, and seeing the Arti royal guards thrilled him. Their impeccable armor and posture caught his attention. He also curiously observed Jill, who wore a helmet but had visible hair. Female royal guards did ieros, but that rule clearly didn't apply in Artica.
Then his eyes nded on Mearin, who gave him a friendly smile, leaving him flustered. She was as beautiful as Sansa, with hair even darker red thaullys'.
"My brother is embarrassed because of my friend! I didn't know he was already ied in girls," Arya teased with a grin, leaving Bran stunned by her boldness.
"That's not true!" Bran excimed, his face turning bright red as Arya's grin widened and she burst into ughter.
"Alright, alright, little brother. I uand. Mearin is indeed a very beautiful woman. Now, let's see your archery skills. Maybe I give you a tip or two," Arya said fidently, as Bran looked at her skeptically.
"I doubt that, sister. You may have a legendary Valyrian steel sword, but with a bow? I'm not so sure," he replied, though the rumors about Arya's feats surfaced in his mind, keeping him from saying more.
"Looks like you haven't heard about my performan the Tourney of the Fields. I took third pce, peting against adults," Arya said, showing off.
Bran nodded, finally recalling the event. With that, they moved to the practice area.
Meanwhile, elsewhere.
"My dy, Arya is in the courtyard," a servant announced as she ehe room where Sansa, her friends, Septa Mordane, and Catelyn were sewing and sipping drinks, discussing Arya.
"She's in the courtyard? But didn't she just finish bathing?" Catelyn asked, a bit surprised. She already knew her daughter had goo the baths and had expected her to e here. Catelyn had instructed everyone in the castle to keep track of Arya's whereabouts, wanting to ensure she didn't run off again, though it was unlikely.
"Yes, but she went to see her brother. He's practig archery with her," the servant replied, causing Sansa and the irls to widen their eyes in shock.
"What?! A dy shouldn't behave like that, Lady Catelyn. Your daughter has turned into a savage; I warned you!" Septa Mordane said with disdain. Catelyn, still stunned, ighe ent and stood.
"Let me see this for myself," Catelyn said, striding through the castle until she reached a baly overlooking the courtyard. She had heard stories of Arya doing unthinkable things for a dy over the years, but seeing her now, so poised aiful, she hoped her daughter might behave—despite the armor and sword.
From there, she saw the two royal guards standing in one er. With them was a girl in a very elegant dress, her hair an intense red even deeper than Catelyn's own. It was Mearin, part of the Arti group that had arrived with Arya. Clearly well-treated, she seemed to hold some importance, as evidenced by her pce among Arya's guards.
Below, Catelyn spotted Arya and Bran. Each held a bow, with Arya lifting hers and aiming an arrow, instrug Bran to imitate her. This drew the attention of several people. Even Ser Rodrik approached, while others who had been training stopped to watch.
Arya fired her arrow, hitting the target dead ter even from that distance. Bran tried to imitate her with some effort, but his arrow nded ihird ring—far from Arya's bullseye.
"You need more training and practice, but I believe this stance works better for you. With it, you'll bee an excellent archer," Arya said.
"I'll get there, Arya!" Bran replied, his eyes shining with excitement at her encement. "Thanks, Arya. You teach better than Robb," he added with a smile.
"I had good teachers, Bran," Arya remarked, recalling her lessons in Artica with Ygritte. Back then, the redhead had taught her with the ulterior motive of getting closer to Jon, which she succeeded in, even marrying him and having two princes. But Arya also beed from those lessons, being the skilled archer she was today.
They tinued practig, and Arya gnced up at the baly. She noticed her father had arrived and smiled at her. Unlike her mother, who was clearly unfortable watg Arya practice archery, especially in front of others, the septa beside Sansa looked even more filled with disdain.
Mearin noticed this as well and appeared worried, but Arya murmured as if readihoughts: "Let it be. I'll have to deal with this for a long time, but there's nothing we 't endure."
"If aries to harm you, let me know. I won't allow it while I'm here. And if necessary, Jon will e and bring Winterfell down," Arya said firmly to Mearin.
"Of course," Mearin replied with a nod.
Bran, standing nearby, seemed armed by Arya's words, but she ig, fog on her guards. "I want you to divide yourselves between me and Mearin. She must be protected as well. Although no one would dare y a hand on me, I won't tolerate anyone harming her or my mother doing something foolish with that septa," Arya anded firmly. The guards nodded without hesitation, uanding her desire to prevent anything akin to what happened in Vontis.
"Well, looks like we're splitting up, Jill. Try not to cry from missing me," Buri teased Jill in a pyful tone.
"I'll get some time without looking at your face, so it won't be a problem. I'll be with the princess," Jill replied nontly, shrugging.
"Alright. But you're sure the girl will attract more attention... which means I'll have more ces to use my swainst these idiotic southerners," Buri said, making Arya shake her head. She khey were joking, but her priority was ensuring everyone's safety.
"Anyway," Arya said, pg a hand on her brother's head. He looked at her, slightly startled, as she ruffled his hair to fort him. "Shall we go to the godswood?"
"Sure, we go," Bran replied cautiously.
Arya felt at peace for a moment and then turo notice Ser Rodrik watg her from a short distance away. He was her, likely studying her as she fired arrows and instructed her brother.
"It's been a long time, Ser Rodrik. I'm heading to the godswood now, but we'll have another ce to talk. Is that alright?" she said calmly, knowing he had been waiting to see her.
"Of course, Lady Arya. I see you handle a bow very well. For years, I've heard stories about it, and it seems they were true," Ser Rodrik ented with a friendly smile.
"Indeed, Ser Rodrik. I also have a Valyrian steel sword and am quite skilled with it. Perhaps we train together at some point," Arya replied in a sereone.
Ser Rodrik nodded, watg as she left with Bran, her guards, and Mearin, heading toward the godswood.
◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆
?? Ra here: ??
I deeply appreciate your support sihe beginning of this exg journey!
I hope each chapter has provided incredible moments. If you like my work and would like to support the tinuation of this fanfic, sider being a patron with pns starting at 2!. As a token of gratitude, I offer access to more than 210 extra chapters with 7 active fanfics at the same time, along with other exclusive bes on my profile, such as images and signifit decisions for the stories.
Even if you are not a patron, I am making chapters avaible a few hours earlier here, so bee a free member oform!
?? RaLeague | Patreon??
Visit our Patreon for more: https:///RaLeague
Extra tent Already Avaible:
????? One Piece - I Am a Different Luffy!: 30 extra chapters!
?? Danmachi - Infinite Mana System!: 30 extra chapters!
?? Game of Throhe Legend of Jon Arctic!: 30 extra chapters!
?? Naruto - Minato Namikaze SI!: 30 extra chapters!
??? The Witcher - As Uchiha Madara! 30 extra chapters!
? Harry Potter - Shadow Monarch! 30 extra chapters!
?? Game of Thrones: DragonBorn! 30 extra chapters!
Except for One Piece with daily chapters and DragonBorn once a week, all fanfics are updated 3 times a week, there's just a pause in updating in the week, only to create drafts for the week's chapters.
In addition to the extra chapters, daily chapters are posted and 25 chapters per week!
Your support is very important and makes all the differen keeping these stories alive.
Thank you very much for being part of this journey! I hope you tio enjoy the story and that it brings even more joy to your life!
Visit our Patreon for more!!
◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆