no home sweet no sweet home

[persequor]

[ At Alexstrasza's tree ]

[ She finally stopped inside the woods. Sagging against a tree, she grabs her side. Her breaths come in shallow gasps. She inhales through her nose, exhales through her mouth. Calm as still water. I must be still water. This time, her dancing lessons don't help.

For once, Arya is completely alone. Nymeria some days left early in the morning to hunt and wouldn't return until evening. Arya did not worry, but she misses her companion keenly now. The girl and wolf are the same; their pack is all gone.

When she opens her eyes, she blinks. The vegetation ahead is verdant, moreso than the one where she is. Look with your eyes, she hears her dancing master say. Looking with her eyes, she spots a tree. An oak. An old, old oak, peaceful and warm. She doesn't think there are any weirwoods here. But this oak has the feel of a weirwood. Of Winterfell's heart tree.

Is the tree still there? Did they cut it down and burn it? Is it broken and dead too?

She sits in front of the tree like she used to in front of the heart tree. They would go together to say their prayers to the old gods. She remembers one night they spent in vigil outside. Rickon was not yet born and Bran was still a baby. Arya had said she could stay awake all night, but she fell asleep against Jon Snow. Only their father had stayed awake until morning. He had woken them all up, her and Robb and Jon, even Sansa had stayed outside, to see the sunlight wash over the red leaves. The tree had seemed on fire, but it wasn't scary. It was beautiful.

When she tries to pray this time, the journal trapped against her chest pokes her. Arya tugs it out and drops it beside her. The cover falls open. Her prayer is quiet and one she has been whispering to herself every night before sleeping. Today, it has a new name. ]

Joffrey. Queen Cersei. Ser Ilyn. Ser Meryn. The Hound. Theon Greyjoy.

Comments

[songsandstories]

I have. A few people have seen me with it, but I think most are gone now.

[persequor]

Most people here don't stay long. Castle must not like how they taste.

[songsandstories]

How long have you and Mother been here?

[persequor]

Mother's been here— [ She bites her lower lip as she counts ] —nine moons now. I've been four. But a girl said I'd been here before, but I don't remember it.

[songsandstories]

You were here before? I did not know that was possible.

[persequor]

One of my friends has been here seven times.

[songsandstories]

Gods, seven times?

[persequor]

Yes. [ She smiles a bit. ] Even the castle mislikes him.

[songsandstories]

I do not know how you meet people, Arya.

[persequor]

I meet them fine. [ So Zelos has more problems than a calculus textbook. He's still her friend. ]

[songsandstories]

It was a compliment, Arya.

[persequor]

It didn't sound it.

[songsandstories]

I only meant that you somehow always managed to make friends.

[persequor]

[ Oh. Well. Hmm. ]

I like talking to people.

[songsandstories]

I know. You have always had a way with it.

[persequor]

It's not really a way. I just do it. Princes aren't the only ones with something interesting to say.

[songsandstories]

Princes rarely have interesting things to say as it were. [There's a flicker of a smile.]

[persequor]

I could have told you that. [ For once, there's no sharpness in her tone. ]

[songsandstories]

I wouldn't have listened. [She admits with a small smile. Her head bends and she looks down at her hands.]

Indeed I was wrong about a lot of things.

[persequor]

[ Arya stares down at her hands. This entire conversation has been surprise after surprise. She can't remember the last time she was able to talk to Sansa, really talk. Every time it was a fight. ]

I'm sorry about Lady. I didn't know they'd make her take Nymeria's place.

[songsandstories]

I know. [It was never Arya's fault.] I am sorry I did not call Joffrey a liar.

[persequor]

Father told me why you didn't.

[songsandstories]

I thought it was what I wanted. We were betrothed, and he had never been cruel to me. [She looks back to her younger sister.]

I wish we never went to King's Landing. And that King Robert had never died.

[persequor]

[ Arya glares at some distant point. ]

Wishing is for babies. It won't change anything. [ It won't bring their father back, the one thing she's wished for every night since she arrived here. ]

[songsandstories]

That is why I had to do what I did. I wished for Robb to come. And when he didn't and Petyr offered a way out of King's Landing, I took it.

[She just wants Arya to understand. She doesn't love her family any less.]