6 Reassurance and An Invitation For A Trip Outside Winterfell

"So...let me get this straight. One of you wants to ask if I want to accompany them to the Godswoods for a walk and the other one wants me to teach them how to fight?" I asked with a deadpan look as the two sisters gave a glare to the other before looking to me and nodding. Seeing their admission, I sighed before rubbing at my eyes with a hand, "Just my luck," I whispered to myself.

Sansa seemed to take the first move after me speaking as she gave a scathing look to Arya, "Mother and father said you should give up on pursuing such things, Arya. Do you want to get Alaric in trouble with them?" she asked, seemingly genuinely worried that I'd get in trouble because Arya.

"But it's unfair!" Arya suddenly burst out into a shout, her tone full of indignation and frustration, "You get to do what you like but I don't," she sulked before looking to me, "You're not like the others, Ric...you said that I can be what I want. Did you change your mind?" she looked at me with grey eyes that were slowly becoming teary alongside full of all sorts of volatile frustrations.

"A lady needs to attend to her duties--" Sansa started but I stopped her with a hand on her shoulder. She looked to me, unsure of why I stopped her, but I just shook my head at her.

Such archaic thinking may be the norm in Westeros and for it's people but I simply can't abide by it, for the most part. Honestly, it baffles me they all think like this because if a House used women as well as men, they could probably double their amount of soldiers.

Don't get me wrong, I know the disadvantages women have when it comes to fighting against men. For one, biologically speaking, men have more raw brute strength at their disposal. But when did brute strength make a good warrior? Sure, it helps - just look at The Mountain - but it's not the be all and end all of combat. Technique, reflexes, stamina and body coordination are of much more importance, and women have the same capacity for improvement as men when it comes to those things.

The only reason women are seen as weak in Westeros is that all the training methods are for men. If there was a training method that focused on expanding on a woman's advantages while minimizing their weaknesses, they could easily become as strong as male warriors.

Sexism also has it's place in making this a reality, but that's a thought for another day.

"Arya," I started, bringing the young girl's attention to me, "I haven't changed my mind about the fact that you can become a strong warrior if you put your mind to it. If I had, I wouldn't have given you all those tips and tricks about exercise, would I?" I questioned her and her eyes lit up as if she was about to ask me something. Yet I cut her off before she could, "But it's not my place to go out of my way to teach you, Arya. If your parents say no, they mean no. I don't have the right to deny what they want for their daughter."

She went quiet and it was clear from her eyes that she felt betrayed by my words. I couldn't really blame her either. I'd done my best to help convince her father when I had the chance but he'd never had any of it - women were just women to him. He just couldn't see the potential to have a one-up on just about every other Lord out there.

Yet alas, it was all for naught.

She went to get up and leave silently but I swiftly stopped her, though she did turn around and look at me with the same indignant eyes she gave just about anyone who told her she couldn't train like the other boys, "What?" she bluntly asked and with a tone that was so biting it was surprising to think it came from a 7-year-old. I held up one finger to her question and her indignation quickly melted into confusion, "What?" she asked once again, to which I smiled widely.

"Convince one of your parents to let you train and I'll teach you how to become strong. It doesn't matter if you convince your mother or your father, whether it's a reluctant yes or an enthusiastic yes - just convince one of them and I'll let you train with me. Sound fair enough?" I asked with a nonchalant tone.

Hearing me, Arya just kinda...stared at me with a dumbfounded look on her face. Like she could process what I'd just said. Though it didn't take long for a reaction to come to her face.

Slowly, but with increasing speed, tears began collecting in her eyes before they fell down her cheeks. It didn't take long after for her to begin wiping her eyes and cheeks with her sleeve rather quickly and aggressively but it did little to help - her tears just kept coming.

No doubt from the fact she'd found someone who endorsed her ambitions. I mean, Jon supports her - but one bastard backing her up wouldn't be all that reassuring no matter how much Arya loves her brother. But a lord's legitimate son? An Umber, no less? That would be like being finally accepted for what you wanted by the type of person you want to be accepted by. After all, House Umber has a long history of warriors and you might even be able to go as far as calling us a House of warriors. Martial ability is one of the most respected things in my House. So, to be accepted by one of those people must be like a dream come true.

And why does Arya want me to train her? Probably because she's seen me trounce dozens of adults over the years during fights. My training methods are also highly effective. I'd also garner that me not looking down on her for being a girl also plays a large part in it.

Anyway, I pulled the crying Arya into a hug, trying to comfort her or to get her to stop crying - What? People crying made me feel uncomfortable as hell - and I gave her a few pats on the back while speaking to her.

"I've only known you for a few years, Arya, but you're like a little sister to me. An annoying little sister but one I care deeply for nonetheless," I joked and heard a scoff come from the little Stark who was now hugging me back, "I have confidence that you can become one of the best fighters in Westeros. So I'll train you. But you need to get permission like I said, okay?" I pushed her back and looked down at her while she looked back up at me with puffy red eyes.

She nodded to what I'd said and mumbled, "Okay..." in response before seeming to get embarrassed about the fact she was comforted by a hug and backing away from me.

...What a tomboy.

Either way, she wiped her face with her sleeve before she looked at me with grey eyes alight with determination, "I'll make them give me permission!" she said to me with determination oozing from her words before it disappeared and she actually acted like a girl for once, giggling to herself in both happiness and excitement before she waved to me and, surprisingly, even waved to Sansa, "See you two at breakfast!" and then she shot out of my room as a blur.

And with that, the room went silent and I just chuckled at how quickly the kid could change her mood. She went from indignant, to hopeful, to sad and finally to happiness.

Shaking my head with a smile, I looked to Sansa who looked somewhat...jealous of the attention Arya had gotten. Suppressing a groan - one problem pops up after another is solved - I smiled to Sansa, "I'm fine with walking around the Godswood with you, if you want me there, Sansa," her face lit up, "But it will have to wait until after breakfast, okay?"

"Yep!" she nodded with a smile before she leaned closer to me, her hands on her knees and bunching her dress together as she gripped it, "So...you'll really come on a walk with me?" she asked with anxious excitement.

"Sure," I nodded before smirking, "After all, I get all the lemon cakes I could ever want when you're around," I gave a teasing wink before Sansa went red in the face and looked flustered to high hell. Standing up, she spluttered as she tried to think of a comeback to what I'd said. Yet nothing came out of her mouth as it opened and closed like a fish's, and I continued to smirk at this sight, "Am I wrong?" I asked, piling on.

In response, Sansa just glared at me though there was no heat behind the gaze and in the end, she showed a small smile before looking away from me, "No, you're not wrong," she admitted in mild exasperation as she looked at me from the corner of her eye.

Hearing her reply, I stood up and gestured to the door, "Breakfast should be done by now - you wanna walk there together?" I asked with a cordial smile. Sansa nodded with an overjoyed expression but when I scratched at my chest, I grimaced. Sansa looked at me in confusion upon noticing this grimace and I wiped my hands on my trousers before pointing to where Arya's face had been on my shirt, "...She wiped her snot on me. You can go ahead, I'll catch up after I change my shirt."

Sansa's eyes widened in realization before she gave a stunted nod and quickly made way to leave the room.

Meanwhile, I took my tunic off and began to pick out a new clean one. I was too hungry for this shit.

. . .

"You called for me, Lord Stark?" I asked with a mild tone as I entered the solar I'd entered two years ago when I'd first got to Winterfell. It was still the same as back then - very bare, with nothing but a few book shelves, a desk covered in parchment and a chest of ironwood off to the side. I suppose that's all you need when all you do in your solar is sign and review documents like the Warden of the North over here.

The man in question lifted his head up from looking down at the paper in his hand and put said paper down before gesturing for me to come in with his hand, "Aye, I did, lad. Take a seat," he said.

Seeing no reason to deny him this, I walked into the room with a calm gait and sat down opposite him. Our similar heights made it so I could look him right in the eyes as we sat and we just stayed like this for a few seconds. He seemed to be thinking about something.

Meanwhile, I wiped some crumbs of lemon cake off of my tunic as discretely as possible.

Finally, however, Lord Ned began to speak, "First of all, how was your walk with Sansa?" he asked, seeming more like a curious father than a Lord right now. It caught me off guard for a moment but I regained my composure and answered with a smile.

"Great. It was a relaxing walk with wonderful company, Lord Stark," I kept my words cordial and my attitude even more so - I didn't want him to get the impression that I didn't like his daughter's company. It's not that I didn't but rather I didn't want him jumping to any wrong conclusions and then have to explain my way out of it. That'd be a lot of effort and it was still morning, so I'd rather spare the effort honestly.

A hand to his chin and scratching at the beard there, Lord Ned tried to hide the small smile on his face but it was near impossible with my senses. He was obviously happy we were getting along.

"That's good to hear, lad," he gave a nod, the small smile gone as if it didn't exist in the first place as he continued speaking, "But I didn't call you up here because of that. I called you up here to ask if you would like to join me on a trip outside of Winterfell. It would serve to broaden your view of the world and help you see how a Lord should interact with other Lords and how he should solve his problems."

"Hm?" I hummed curiously, "So, there's some sort of trouble in the North? What's happening? If you don't mind saying, my Lord," I asked with as much courtesy as possible while I tried to suppress the ominous feeling I could feel in my gut.

Hearing my question, the Lord sighed before leaning forward, "What is most important when living in the North?"

Having responded to my question with another question...I could only gather that this was a test of sorts. He knew I was bright for my age but he wanted to see how bright I was. So, I decided to actually put some thought into it and I quickly came up with two answers.

"...There's no single most important thing in the North but if priority should be placed on two things it would be food and warmth. Wait--Is there something wrong with the food supply in the North? Did the Tyrells cancel a deal or something?" I asked with a little bit of urgency slipping through into my voice.

Why was this bad? Well, if it was the Tyrells, there had been more changes. The Tyrells didn't start limiting the food supply for multiple Houses until the War after King Robert's death. If that's started early...Well, my foreknowledge might be done for.

"No, it isn't the Tyrells. Try as they might to keep the North weak we have other ways of getting food," he shook his head and I let out an audible sigh of relief while Lord Ned carried on, "Rather, it's our supply of fish, meats and lumber that are running low. I've sent word by Raven to White Harbor and Deepwood Motte...but I've heard nothing back. Either they've decided to betray us or, in the more likely scenario, the Ravens..." he trailed off and I finished for him.

"The Ravens are being dealt with by an outside party," I said and the Lord nodded with a look of slight admiration at my deduction ability. I mean, it wasn't that hard to work out but any other 13-year-old wouldn't have put two and two together which made me someone uncommon in Lord Ned's eyes. "But who? Who's dealing with them? And why?" I asked the big question.

Lord Ned looked at me before nodding, "That's what I need to find out. In case it is the Lord's of White Harbor and Deepwood Motte who are causing the problems, I must personally make an appearance. And if it's some sort of banditry at play, the man who makes the sentence should swing the sword, Alaric. I'd like you to remember that," he stared over at me, his grey eyes as hard as stone as his serious words entered my ears. Then, his eyes softened and a small smile played on his bearded face, "So, will you join me on this trip, lad?"

It didn't take much to see that he wanted me on this trip with him for whatever reason and I wasn't one to look a gift horse in the mouth. After all, seeing new places would mean I'd be able to expand my view of the world and see new things.

So, with my answer decided, I gave a nod and a bright smile, "It would be my honor to come along with you on this journey, Lord Stark."