Imparting Lessons

Crouching down beside the two Direwolves, Nymeria and Grey Wind, Robb draped a thick cover of fur over the form of Arya who was resting between the two of them. "Are you sure you wouldn't be more comfortable on the bed?" Robb asked, Arya shaking her head.

She was cleaner now, Dacey under his instructions helped get his sister clean of all the grime and mud she had accumulated on her journey. There was, to his horror even some blood upon her hands, even though she told him it was only an animal she had killed. It still didn't stop his mind from wandering what she could have possibly seen or encountered on her journey.

He wanted to shout at her, he really did. Robb wanted to know what could have possibly driven her to leave the safety of Riverrun and travel across the Riverlands which was once again becoming the centre of a war. It was not a land for anyone, especially not his sister.

But he didn't, he couldn't.

Robb was being watched constantly and he had already shown weakness to those that surrounded him by embracing Arya as he did. He couldn't afford to do that anymore, he couldn't allow his enemies to know just how much she meant to him in case they tried to get to him through her. It was why he had not prepared her a separate tent and why he had the members of his Kingsguard on constant watch around his tent.

It was why he had allowed Nymeria's pack of wolves into his tent, a part of this pile of bodies that surrounded Arya as she lay there. If someone did break through his Kingsguard and entered the tent if they managed to get past him. Arya would be protected by the wolves and that's all that mattered to him.

Arya shook her head "I'm okay." She replied, smiling happily as she felt the warmth and comfort of the wolves surrounding her, especially Nymeria. "Are you going to war soon?"

"Our camp is moving tomorrow, you were lucky to arrive when you did," Robb told her.

"Where are you going?" She questioned excitedly."Can I come with you?"

It was Robb that shook his head this time. "No, you won't be coming with me." He said firmly, Arya scowling angrily, something reflected by the rising growl of Nymeria who looked to him. However, Grey Wind's growl was lower and much more threatening, Nymeria lowering her head. "You will be travelling with Daenerys Targaryen."

"Why? Why can't I stay with you? I want to fight, I can fight!" Arya almost pleaded, but Robb was not moved at all, just staring back at her, Arya not quite like the look upon his face. It was not like how Robb used to be, he was always kind, funny, charming and charismatic. But now, he was completely different and Arya wasn't sure how to respond.

"It doesn't matter," Robb stated simply. "You are too young to be going to war."

"But you were only two years older than I when you went to war! Why can't I fight? Is it because I'm a girl?" Arya asked heatedly, upset that he was looking down upon her.

Despite the situation, a break appeared in Robb's facade, lips twisting slightly into a smile. "It's nothing to do with that, Arya. I know that you are strong, you had to be in order to find me on your own." He smiled sadly. "I have been fighting this war for four years and I have yet to secure the south. I still have a war to fight in the North, I'm looking at possibly another two to three years of war. But not all my fighting from this point on will be on the battlefield, it will be in the court, my court."

Arya tilted her head, not quite sure what he was talking about.

"There are a lot of lords and ladies under my command, Arya," Robb told her. "All with their own ambitions and reasons to serve me. They follow me because I represent a chance for them to rise higher. But someday in the future, near or distant, they will try and kill me. Whether it be for personal greed or in service of someone else, they will try and kill me and, they may succeed."

"Why are you telling me this?" Arya wondered, voice quiet and head dropping.

Robb reached over, pulling her towards him as he rested his head against hers. "Because I do not want anything to happen to you. I do not care if I die, so long as you and our family live. I would never forgive myself if anything were to happen to you under my watch. So please, Arya, for my sake, please do as I ask."

There was a few moments of silence before Robb felt her head move.

"Okay." She whispered, Robb, ruffling her hair with a small smile. "But I want to learn how to fight."

"Are you negotiating with me?" Robb asked, brow-raising in surprise, Arya nodding sharply in return. "Very well, I shall ask Ser Brienne to teach you on your journey. But you must follow her every instruction, am I clear?" His voice then lowered as he brought Arya close once more. "And be careful, Arya. I do not trust Daenerys Targaryen or her advisors. If for a moment you do not feel safe, tell Ser Brienne or any of my Kingsguard. Never go anywhere on your own and only eat what they provide you after it's been checked, am I clear?"

Arya didn't hesitate to nod her head. "Why are you with her if you don't trust her?"

"Her Dragons," Robb said. "They are young and while I have prepared possible ways to combat them, they are untested and therefore they may not work. I have survived this long Arya by only entering battle when I am sure of victory. And while I am sure of emerging victorious against one of the Targaryen rulers. In the aftermath, I am uncertain that I would be able to win against the other."

"But, you never lost a battle!" Arya protested.

Robb chuckled. "I am happy to know you have such trust in me, sometimes I find myself surrounded by those who doubt me. They used to think I was too young and inexperienced. Now people think I have grown arrogant and drunk upon victory. My actions and plans are always questioned, people doubting my abilities. I have very few who do not question my orders and have such faith in me."

Arya scowled slightly. "Must be annoying."

"Oh, it is." Robb agreed, a smile returning to his face. "Yet all I have to do is ignore them. Arya, let me tell you a few things that I hope will help you in later life." Arya perked up at this. "Even if everyone around you doubts you, so long as you believe in yourself, that's all that matters. You are Arya Stark, you are strong and so long as you believe in yourself, nothing will stop you from achieving what you want."

Seeing the smirk forming on her face, Robb pinched her cheeks a little making her cry out a little. "What was that for?" She asked, rubbing her sore cheek as she glared up at him.

"Because Arya, just because you can achieve whatever you want, doesn't mean it will be easy. Sometimes you will have to take risks, but never take too many or too great a risk with your life." Robb's voice was firm, eyes even firmer still. "I have achieved what I have by never entering a battle I am unsure of victory. In your life Arya, while you must take risks at times, make sure that you have prepared as much as possible and remove that element of risk altogether, do you understand?"

Hand dropping from her cheek, she nodded her head. Once more, Robb ruffled her hair a smile upon his face. "One last thing, Arya. Never let your enemies see your fear and never doubt your own abilities. Half the battle is fought here," he pointed towards her head, and then her heart. "And here before the fighting even begins. If you doubt yourself, if you fear your enemy, you will lose. It is fine to respect your enemies, Arya, but never be in awe or fear them. They are not unbeatable, no one in this world is. And do you know what, they will never be prepared or ready for the She-Wolf, Arya Stark."