paradisa | (no subject)

[ Arya doesn't know what led her here this afternoon. She has never been particularly religious. But that friend of her mother's said she was welcome here if she needed an escape from the castle and she really needed one. She isn't sure what she expected, but the simplicity of the building is a relief. Everything has been so complicated lately, simple is good. She hesitates at the door, wondering if she should knock. Finally, she just pulls it open and steps inside.

It reminds her of a sept somewhat. It has the feel of one. The Seven aren't on the walls here, but there are other figures. Like the sept, it's quiet. Arya bites her lower lip. It feels wrong to call out. She sits gingerly on a back pew instead. She's not much given to prayer, but in the silence she prays now. In case the Seven can still listen, in case the Old Gods can still see, she prays to both.

When she's done, she remembers her rules. Arya slides her journal out from where she pinned it against her with her jerkin. Still sitting on the pew, she lets it fall open on her lap and filters quickly to her mother. ]

[ Catelyn Stark ]
I'm in town. I'll be back soon.

[ With that filter out of the way, she stares at a blank page for a while. Jon was always the brother she loved best. He's the one she could tell anything to. She hates feeling so unsure about him, but after what she was told, she doesn't know if she wants to know more or if he will even tell her. You're being stupid, she chides herself and makes the filter before she can think twice. ]

[ Jon Snow ]
Could you come into the town? I'm in the church here. I want to talk to you.

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My brother. I asked him to meet me here.

Aye? Want some company? [He smiles] Sometimes brothers can take their sweet time comin' t'meetcha. I know mine does.

Jon's not like that. [ She doesn't tell him to go away, which is her way of telling him he can stay. ]

Takes good care've ya, does he? [He takes the hint and smiles warmly at her.]

[ She tilts her chin down, chewing on her lower lip. ]

He did. Here's the first time I've seen him in months.

[He frowns a little]

I'm sure 'e had a good reason, aye?

He was with the Night's Watch. [ She forgets that most here will not know what the Night's Watch is. ]

Th'night's watch? Izzat somethin' from here?

No. The Night's Watch is a brotherhood sworn to man and defend the Wall and protect the Seven Kingdoms from the dangers beyond the Wall.

[He smiles] Sounds like a right good thing, then. What sorts've dangers are beyond th'Wall?

Wildlings mostly. They sometimes come down to rape and plunder the towns. When the Night's Watch can't keep them back, Winterfell stops them.

[He frowns, Wow that definitely doesn't sound like a nice place to live... to say the least.]

I'm glad y've got a group like that t'help protect ya, then.

[ And that's not even the worst. ]

They don't really protect us. We work together. The Lord of Winterfell is the Warden of the North. He's charged with protecting the North. The Night's Watch is not supposed to take part in the fights of the realm, but they and Winterfell have always been friends. Many Starks have served in the Night's Watch.

[... he doesn't think he wants to know the worst]

Sounds like a hell've a place y'live in.

It's not. It's beautiful really. There are woods everywhere and all sorts of animals. On some nights you could hear the howling of wolves so close it's like they were right outside the window.

There's a swimming hole nearby my brothers and I would go to when I was little. During the really hot summer days, we'd escape and go there. Other times the summer snows are so thick they cover the trees and everything is white. We would take horses and go riding. Jon and I, we'd go out without really meaning to go anywhere.

Everything smells right. Not like the city, which stinks before you even see it. You can actually breathe in the North. And Winterfell is always warm. Even in winter. There's hot pools and the castle was built around them. The walls are all old grey stone, but strong. They were built to last. My brother Bran could climb the wall and the balustrades, even the towers.

Inside the Godswood, it's silent and so still it's like you can hear the wind talk to you. Especially around the heart tree. When you look up, you just see the white branches and the red leaves and you see the face on the tree and it feels like the Old Gods really are there. Looking after us.

[ She looks off into the distance, a tiny smile on her face. ]

And the people are all true. They're hardworking and loyal. No one would turn someone else away. And they all loved my father. My father used to say that being a lord is like being a father. Except you have thousands of children and you worry after all of them. They're good people in the North.

[He chuckles, grinning]

Sounds a lot like my home, Ireland. It sounds beautiful. [He smiles warmly] Yer father's a smart man. My Da's here's well.

You're lucky. I've asked and it's rare for people to have family here. Especially more than one. Most have friends or just people they knew.

[he smiles] I'm luckier'n most, then. I've got me brother an' Da. An' one've our friends's here as well. He's like a brother to us.

I've two of my brothers and my mother. [ And her sister, but that's complicated and not worth getting into. ]

I'm glad y've got family here's well. It makes dealin' with this place an' what it throws our way much easier, don't it?

It does. [ Her smile is brittle. ]

[He catches that smile and decides a change of subject might be in order.]

What d'ya think've th'church? We've put a lot've work into it so far.

I like it. It's simple. I like simple. It's peaceful.

[He smiles] 's why my brother an' I like it. Why we decided t'fix it up.

[He pauses for a moment before leaning in a little, lowering his voice like he's sharing some big secret]

D'ya wanna see somethin' we found when we first got 'ere?

What did you find?

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