Arya Stark - Game of Thrones - Barways

[mm_dyna]

Winter is Coming.

Those are the words of her House.

Not until now has she realized how important those words really are. There's the oncoming danger and enemies wishing them ill, like her father said. And the need to protect each other.

Even Sansa.

Even if her big sister was horrible sometimes.

Still, it's nothing to get too worried about.

Comments

[smallestopener]

Ingress wears her grays and her sword as she sits on the barstool. Her legs dangle down much farther than this time last year. She's twelve now, and she's grown again.

Her sword's not a wooden one; it's the real thing. She's visiting London Below for part of the summer, and then she'll be back to Haven. She'll be a Herald in a few years.

"Hi," she says to the girl. It looks like she just walked in for the first time.

[likeaneedle]

Oh.

Arya's eyes go straight to the sword on her person. Another girl with a sword, she thinks excitedly.

And she looks about her age, too.

"Hello," she says politely. "Are you another one of Syrio's students?"

[smallestopener]

"No, I'm not," Ingress says with a big smile. "We're probably not from the same place. I train in Haven."

[likeaneedle]

"Haven? And where's that?"

Arya's studied maps, and things.

She would have heard of it, she's sure.

[smallestopener]

"It's in a country called Valdemar. I'm Ingress. Is this your first time here?"

[likeaneedle]

"I think so," Arya says, thoughtful.

She'd very quickly studied the space from where she stood, upon first entering.

"This place looks nothing like the Small Hall.

"And I've never heard of Haven or Valdemar before.

"And you've got a sword."

Which, clearly, is the most important part.

[smallestopener]

"I have," she says, cheering noticeably. "I'm not supposed to wear it outside of class yet, but I'm visiting my home, and my teachers aren't here to see me."

[likeaneedle]

Arya can't help the fluttering of excitement in her chest.

She smiles, too.

"Has it got a name?" she asks.

[smallestopener]

Ingress laughs. "In Haven, people don't name swords. But they do so where I'm from, so I call it Biter. Where are you from? And what's your name?"

[likeaneedle]

"Oh, 'Biter' is a great name," she says approvingly.

Speaking of names ...

"I'm Arya from the House Stark in Winterfell. It's in the North."

[smallestopener]

"Ah, but which north?" Her eyes twinkle. "We've so many to choose from here. You're at a very special place. It's called Milliways, and it's at the end of all time and places. So my north is not the same as your north, and your north is not the same as his-" she points to someone at a table "-or hers. It's a bit confusing, but if you don't think about it too much, it's more fun."

[likeaneedle]

Arya's eyes widen.

"This is not a joke, truly?"

She might be studying the man and woman Ingress has just pointed to, before her eyes go back to Ingress, herself.

"And I haven't died or anything?

"Though I'm sure I would've remembered that," she thinks aloud.

[smallestopener]

"You would have, I promise. It's not a joke. It's just a place you can find sometimes. Do you have ice cream in Winterfell?"

[likeaneedle]

Arya shakes her head.

"No, not exactly," she replies. "We do have iced fruit with cream, but nothing like iced cream. Is it good?"

[smallestopener]

"Oh, my gosh. So good. Come sit with me, and I'll get you some."

She waits for Arya to climb up beside her.

"House Stark. I like that. I'm of the House of Arch, myself. Are you a lady, too?"

[likeaneedle]

Arya does so.

Quite happily, too.

"Well, sort of. I mean, I guess I am. But I don't want to be," she says, making a bit of a sour face. "Ladies get married to stuffy lords and have babies and aren't allowed to do anything fun."

She lets out a breath.

"Your House of Arch isn't like that, too, is it?"