thinking about a boat.

[starktostone]

Why must I go there? I hardly think I am capable of helping anyone with their redemption. I can scarcely help myself. I am sure you've noticed there is another problem as well. They will recognize me!

He can do that if I succeed? Truly? Then if it please you, I will go.

Comments

[selfmadeprincess]

Well that was certainly a fast change of opinion.

[starktostone]

My lady mundane has suggested the god of this boat can give me a miracle if I am successful in the endeavor to redeem someone. It is enough to change one's mind easily.

[fearcutsdeeperthanswords]

But you turned into a wolf. [She doesn't really believe that, but it's easier to parse right now.] They said you flew away.

[starktostone]

How could I turn into a wolf? In any case if I did, wolves can not fly.

[fearcutsdeeperthanswords]

Wolves with wings can. [...]

They say you disappeared. After Joffrey died. They say you killed him.

[starktostone]

I did not. [She knows it was her fault. She isn't sure she's ready to admit that yet. Joffrey deserved to die for all he did but she was no murderer. She was only a pawn.]

But he deserved it.

[fearcutsdeeperthanswords]

Oh. [Better a murderer than a pawn, in Arya's mind.]

You should have. [A Stark should have killed him. Even if that Stark was a Lannister, now.]

[starktostone]

I did not wish to kill anyone, I only wanted to go home. His death did provide distraction enough for me to flee. [She can't help but think how he looked, choking to death at his wedding. She had only witnessed it for a second before she ran but it will be burned in her mind forever.]

[selfmadeprincess]

I suppose so. Who would recognize you if you were sent there?

[starktostone]

My sister and my lord husband.

[fearcutsdeeperthanswords]

He deserved to die. [She's not supposed to think that anymore, but she does, and she isn't sorry for it. Most days, she wishes Nymeria had done more than bite his arm.]

[starktostone]

He did. Though I wish it had been by Robb's hand.

[fearcutsdeeperthanswords]

Yes.

The Freys deserve it, too.

[starktostone]

I'm sure they'll get what's coming to them. [At least she hoped so.]

Are you safe where you are?

[fearcutsdeeperthanswords]

Mostly. [Apart from the occasional dangerous port or breach, but she doesn't have to tell Sansa about that...]

There's a Lannister here.

[starktostone]

Is it the Queen? [There's fear in that voice. Cersei wants her head.]

[fearcutsdeeperthanswords]

The Imp. [She'd rather it was Cersei; if it was Cersei, Arya would have killed her by now. Maybe twice.]

[starktostone]

Oh. [She's not sure if that's better or worse. While Tyrion may have been kind to her, she's sure to have earned some scorn for fleeing, being his wife and all.]

Has he done anything to you?

[fearcutsdeeperthanswords]

[She'll have choice things to say about that, not least amongst them, how could Sansa let them make her a Lannister. Arya grits her teeth for a moment.]

I thought he was my father. [She sounds disgusted and furious, all at once.]

[starktostone]

[Hey, it's not her fault! Scheming Lannisters are ...scheme-y.]

How could that be possible?

[fearcutsdeeperthanswords]

[Arya is made up of grudges and illogical anger, but at least it doesn't last. :c]

There was a flood. It was stupid. [And by stupid, she means the aftermath was awful and unfair.]

[starktostone]

Was he fooled you were his daughter as well? That must have been quite strange.

[fearcutsdeeperthanswords]

Yes, and he thought it was funny. [So she thinks, anyway, there was certainly a lot of mocking.]

[starktostone]

He would.

Did you like being his daughter? Before you realized? [She's just curious. It's been awhile since Arya's had a father after all.]

[fearcutsdeeperthanswords]

No! [It's a lie; she didn't know anything else, at the time. And she loved him, like she loved their real father, and that makes her sick.]

[starktostone]

Nobody could replace our father, of course. [Even the man she called father now would never come close.]

I dread my coming. I have been trying my best to hide from those who would know me and my mundane wishes to throw me on a boat with him.

[fearcutsdeeperthanswords]

The Admiral won't let you hide. [She's wary of that; Tyrion has made friends, and he will recognize her and make it public - and if he doesn't, the Admiral will when Sansa is assigned an inmate. Arya doesn't think she wants people asking questions about her.]

You'll have to call me Cat.

[starktostone]

[That doesn't sound good. She had hoped to avoid Tyrion altogether.]

Cat. After our mother? [She doesn't ask why the sudden name change. She's in a similar situation.] I promise to call you Cat if you promise to call me Alayne.

[fearcutsdeeperthanswords]

Just Cat. [Yes, for Catelyn, like she'd been Beth for Roderik's daughter, like she'd tried to be Jeyne on the Barge, for Sansa's friend. Even her lies tied back to Winterfell, always.]

Alayne. [She wants to ask why, and maybe she will - but not yet.] We'll be like strangers.

[starktostone]

[She wants to remark that they were practically strangers before all this, despite being sisters. Upsetting who could be her only ally on the barge would be stupid though.]

Exactly. Nobody will ever realize we know each other. We barely even look alike.

[Though Alayne's hand immediately goes to her hair, which has been dyed more closer to Arya's. She hopes nobody will make the connection.]

[fearcutsdeeperthanswords]

[They were strangers, but they had at least been sisters. Arya doesn't know what they'll be, now.]

Your hair's darker now. [And she has barely any hair at all, but she still thinks Sansa looks more like her, now.]

[starktostone]

[Acting like you've never met your own sister was something Alayne thought she'd never have to do. She was sure she'd never see Arya again.]

Yes, the auburn was too obvious. It would've made for a terrible time trying to hide.

[Petyr had said she looked too much like a Tully and that would've gotten her found out in no time.]

Your hair is much shorter. You look just like a boy. [She hadn't meant it insultingly. In fact, it was a decent disguise if you were trying to hide.]

[fearcutsdeeperthanswords]

[She might have taken it as an insult before, but now, when she's actually pretended to be a boy, how can she?]

I was going to go to the Wall. [she chews her lip absently.] Jon's there. They say he's Lord Commander now. But I couldn't get there.

[starktostone]

I've heard the same. What stopped you from going?

[She had never been nearly as close to Jon as Arya, but she missed him anyway. If she couldn't get to Winterfell, the wall would most likely be her next option.]

[fearcutsdeeperthanswords]

The war. [She was so angry at Yoren, for so long, because he'd promised he'd get her to Winterfell. He hadn't gotten her anywhere.]

I tried to get to Riverrun, next. People kept getting in my way.