backdated to earlier this evening; dictated

[ladywinter]

[It almost sounds like Catelyn is speaking to herself- and that’s not far off. She doesn't really have a purpose with this; she’s just thinking aloud as she stitches up a tear or a couple of tears in Arya’s clothing.]

Strange to think that it will soon be spring. I will never grow used to your short seasons, I fear. In Westeros, many of you would have seen only a single winter.

[A little pause. This thought has occurred to her before, but recent events have only made it more obvious.]

Strange also that this place takes so many youths. I might almost be flattered to be an exception. [And with that wry little comment, she lapses into silence.]

Comments

[songsandstories]

I am often reminded how this is not Westeros. Stranger even, with its magic.

[ladywinter]

A year ago if I had been told of this place, I would have thought the speak mad.

[wishmadeinfire]

_{[There is a small laugh.]}

Not all are as youthful as they seem - at least, not by the standards of humans.

[ladywinter]

[This...actually surprises her. There's a little pause before she responds.]

Then by whose standards shall they be judged?

[radiantwingedone]

... Occasionally appearances deceive.

[ladywinter]

How so, ser?

[peacockherald]

A passing of a whole year, come so soon. It makes you wonder how time flies past us so quickly in a place like this.

[ladywinter]

Not only here; blink and the years will pass you by, the place matters not.

[ensorceler]

I have also taken notice of this. Children run about freely, though not all of them orphans.

[ladywinter]

Some of them younger even than my Arya and she has only seen her twelfth nameday. [Or was it thirteenth? Going back to their world and a year here.... it makes this complicated.]

dictated;

[gentleidealist]

That's true, but residents don't age like normal. They'll look the same even if the inside has grown up, you know?

I bet it's awful for people who haven't gotten their growth spurt yet.

[PRIORITIES]

not here

[wolfchild]

[ preach ]

[ladywinter]

I think my daughter would agree with you. [And it's weighed on her mind. It's not right that as long as she's here, Arya won't grow into womanhood. And yet Cat can't bear to wish for either of them to return home.]

What is longest any have been here, do you know?

dictated;

[revolter]

[ speaking of children. ]

Does winter really lasts so long?

[ladywinter]

It does. If the stories are right, there was once a winter that lasted a generation.

[thatrabbitsdynamite]

I'm more than ready for spring to come. [Even if he can't bring it himself]

Westeros. You're from Arya's world. [That means you're one of the tiny number of people he'll like or one of the very large number of people on his hit list]

[ladywinter]

More than that, ser; I am Arya's mother.

Dictated

[sugarwaffo]

[Here. Have more youths.]

Only one winter? That wouldn't be anywhere near enough.

[ladywinter]

Spoken as one who has never seen a true Northern winter; they come often enough for my tastes.

[wolfchild]

[ Speaking of Arya, she's gonna walk up and drop her head on Cat's shoulder. Hi, mom. Mommy smells nice and is warm. Mommy is best ever. ]

Oh! I forgot! I found something for you!

[ Running to her room! ]

[ladywinter]

Did you? [But then Arya has already run off! Goodness, child. She'll just wait patiently, the smile actually reaching her eyes for once.]

[savethedarkness]

[M still isn't a complete believer in all this, but some of the things she's hearing are still worth thinking about. case in point.]

How long are your winters, then?

[wolfchild]

[ Have a much younger voice pipe up because she can be helpful and because M ]

Years. One lasted a generation if the stories speak true.

[ladywinter]

As my daughter says, years. This past summer has lasted ten years and the old wisdom promises a winter just as long.

[assassino]

[Curious.]

Westeros, hmm? You wouldn't happen to know Alayne and Arya, would you?

[ladywinter]

Very well. Arya is my daughter and Alayne is a friend of the family.

[The lie tastes vile in her mouth. She hates pretending like this- she'd rather the world know that "Alayne" is her eldest daughter, her darling Sansa. And she doubts the lie will last any longer than it takes a person to see the two of them together. But this is what Sansa wants and she won't risk pushing her any further away.]