Chapter 263

"Did you complete what you set out to do?" his aunt asked and he shook his head.

"It was… more complicated than I thought." He replied "I've met with some success but not I what I aiming for."

"What were you doing?" Arya asked. He kept an eye on his aunt, noticing how she would react to an interruption from a Stark.

She didn't even bat an eyelash.

"Important adult work." He said with a smirk and Arya pouted and crossed her arms.

"My brothers never tell me anything either." She said but then went back to eating a moment later "I jus' hout hat ou ere gone or a long…"

"Eat first. Talk later." His aunt said but there was no venom in her voice.

It seems like his aunt truly didn't hate the younger lady of house Stark. The fact that even his cold hearted aunt couldn't bring herself to hate the little bundle of excitement known as Arya Stark said something about the girl.

That's good news for him if he ever heard any. He really didn't want to witness yet another silent pissing contest for months.

"You were gone for a whole week." Arya said after eating "You did not even show me the castle." Then her expression changed and she smiled widely "But Baka did. She might be scary but she's so awesome"

The stars in her eyes made him wonder if Baka had gained a fan in Arya Stark.

Once Arya stopped speaking, there was a comfortable silence in the room, only broken by occassional clanging on spoon to plate while eating.

"So… I heard that the King tasked you with brining another Wight." His aunt said and he nodded, wondering if she was about to go for yet another lecture.

To his surprise, she just sighed in a tired manner that he didn't like at all.

"Are you alright?" he asked and she shook her head.

"Last time you went up there, you almost died." She said in a tone that conveyed that she trying to hold back her emotions "How can you expect me to be alright with you risking your life once again."

There was silence in the table. He felt a hand on his thigh and turned to see Ygritte giving him an assuring glance.

He nodded before turning to his aunt.

"Don't worry. I won't go until I'm properly prepared this time around."

"That's what you said last time." She said and he nodded.

"Yeah. I had still underestimated the White Walkers back then." He nodded "This time, I'll be so prepared that I won't even have to participate in the main fight."

"I won't ask for your promise, looking at how you broke yours last time." He internally winced at that "But… do be careful."

He nodded and turned to Arya once again.