[ there's radio silence for a long moment before there's a blip and look, robb, your sister is standing right next to you clutching to nymeria and a shit-eating grin and an expression that says 'ta-da' in a westerosi way. ]
[ Are you looking to give your brother a heart attack girl? Because you're well on your way to doing it. Robb practically jumps away, locket falling to the floor with a clatter. Instinctively he goes for his sword, only pausing when he realizes it is only Arya. ]
[ Nymeria already worms her way out of Arya's grip to search for her own brother as Arya just grins at her startled brother, holding up her hand to show him a ring.]
[ Give his heart a moment; it thunders in his chest, eyes wide and mouth agape. How did she? He stares at the ring though it leaves him with only more questions. ]
[ A magic ring, then. Instinctively he distrusts it, magic is something he has yet to fully come to grips with though it is in the very air around them. But if it returns her to them at any moment... ]
Someone gifted this to you? [ He is uncertain whether he should thank them or curse them. ] Gods be good Arya, it would have been kinder to warn me.
I appreciate your efforts, truly... [ He trails off, gaze falling from her to the floor. He can act strong as they need him to be, he can hear the Lord's face, but laughter passes rarely by his lips these past days. He prays it was different. ]
Arya. [ It might be easier to be angry at her, at them all, but he isn't. He moves to sit on his bed, patting the spot beside him for her to join him. ] It can't have been an easy secret to keep.
Better that you had. [ It is like a pressure on his shoulders, on his chest, ever present and tainted with the sour taste of guilt and defeat. ] It doesn't matter now, what's done is done and now I know the truth of it.
[ Arya feels a pressure of her own against her chest, thinking how she'd been the one whose lips the truth had tumbled out of first. She struck the first blow to her brother's heart, her eyes lower shamefully, although there is an anger that rumbles within her.]
It does matter. And I will make them pay for what they did to you. [ She says it with a hatred a girl her age should not have to hold. But she will never see Robb smile again, she thinks. Here or back home.]
No. [ It is quick, fierce, joined with a near growl in the back of his throat. She is too young to hold such rage, to swear such things. He will not have her hands bloodied because of him. ]
I do not want you to exact vengeance, I want you to survive. I want you to find Jon or Sansa, find them and stay with them. I want you to be safe.
[ her chest aches under the weight of all the lie she kept from him and the guilt that pushes at her. but more than that, she wants, despite the sound that comes from him, that sends a shiver up her spine, she wants to prove that the lannisters are not the only ones who pay their debts.
she will repay each and every one of them if she has the chance. she looks up at him, she still looks like the child she is, except for the determination in her eyes. she wants to tell him that he made her brave, that he will make her brave when she goes back. but he scolds her and she presses her lips together.
there is already blood on her hands and it will not wash off until she makes the rest of them pay. she looks down at her hands, fingers curling, uncurling in her lap before she swallows it back and becomes the liar she has to be once more, because he is hurting and she is not so wild (yet) as to ignore that. so she takes his hand and lies.]
[ Behind the king, the lord, all he wants is his family to be safe; to be alive, protected, somewhere they needn't fear lion's claws if such a place still exists in Westeros. Perhaps that is why he is blindly accepts her lie, or she has become so good at fooling him. His fingers curl around her hand, shoulders sagging, lips parting to exhale soft breath. The world is not kind and Robb knows more now than ever that such a promise will never keep, but it helps, easing the weight on his chest. ]
[ it's then that she leans up to kiss his cheek like she used to when she was young, when no one was looking, when he'd let her shoot his bow or sneak her a sweet when mother said he shouldn't. she leans back, looking at him to his hands before speaking softly.]
[ Like a warm gust of wind that melts away summer snows does her kiss melt the frown from his brow, truly was it difficult to remain clouded by gloom. He can try to be other for now, for her, let a smile return to the place that it should always be. ]
Only if you don't fight with Grey Wind over who gets the bed.
[ An attempt at humor is better than none at all. ]
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I rather you close by.
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What─?
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Look what I got.
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A ring? [ Please explain. ]
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Someone gifted this to you? [ He is uncertain whether he should thank them or curse them. ] Gods be good Arya, it would have been kinder to warn me.
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I wanted to make you laugh. [ Or at least, smile.]
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Forgive me, laughter is far from my mind.
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It does matter. And I will make them pay for what they did to you. [ She says it with a hatred a girl her age should not have to hold. But she will never see Robb smile again, she thinks. Here or back home.]
I will be as strong as you.
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I do not want you to exact vengeance, I want you to survive. I want you to find Jon or Sansa, find them and stay with them. I want you to be safe.
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she will repay each and every one of them if she has the chance. she looks up at him, she still looks like the child she is, except for the determination in her eyes. she wants to tell him that he made her brave, that he will make her brave when she goes back. but he scolds her and she presses her lips together.
there is already blood on her hands and it will not wash off until she makes the rest of them pay. she looks down at her hands, fingers curling, uncurling in her lap before she swallows it back and becomes the liar she has to be once more, because he is hurting and she is not so wild (yet) as to ignore that. so she takes his hand and lies.]
I will be safe. [ some lies are kindnesses.]
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Can I stay with you?
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Only if you don't fight with Grey Wind over who gets the bed.
[ An attempt at humor is better than none at all. ]
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