Chapter Text
Arya remembers the day she learned of her betrothal very clearly. She had come from the stables, having beat Bran in a horse race, when her father had ushered her into his solar. In his hands he holds a letter marked with purple wax and she feels her stomach drop as she realizes what is to come.
The next words are a blur, but she catches a few words such as ‘honor’ and ‘noble’. She tries to protest but one look from her father quells her anger.
She clenches her fists; it seems she will have to content herself with Edric Dayne.
When it is announced at dinner that night people clap and congratulate her and Sansa asks their father when he will make a match for her.
She grips her cup willing herself to smile when she wants to scream.
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That night her mother comes to her room taking the brush from her dressing table and starts to untangle the knots from Arya’s hair.
‘’ I know you did want this match,’’ Arya sees the grip on the hairbrush tighten, ‘’ and I did not want it for you.’’ Arya wants to ask why but then she remembers the whispers of the name ‘Ashara’.
‘’ I don’t want to be a wife.’’ Arya whispers brokenly. She wants to ride is the wolfswood or run away to the free cities- not be shackled to some southern lord. She wipes the tears from her cheeks as she feels her mother’s arms wrap around her from behind, soothing her.
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Six moons later everyone gathers to say goodbye to her. She hugs everyone, shaking Rickon off of her as he cries.
But it is Jon who she clutches to the most.
‘’ I’ll miss you little sister.’’ He whispers into her ear.
‘’ I’m not so little anymore.’’ She feels her mother’s eyes on her but she doesn’t care just tightens her arms around him.
‘’ I snuck something into your trunk, a gift.’’ He lets go of her, stepping back while she uncurls her hands from his cloak and stands before her father.
‘’ Father.’’ She whispers. Her father who has always shown his love but never enough affection cups her cheeks and kisses her forehead, looking at her with sad eyes.
‘’ We’ll see you when it’s time for the wedding-now off with you.’’ She climbs onto her horse and straightens her back and lifts her chin, willing herself not to cry.
She does not look back until they pass the Neck.
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Her father’s men escort her as far as the Riverlands and then Beric Dondarrion takes over. He seems as if he is a stern man, like her father, and they do not speak unless she initiates it.
‘’ What is it like-Starfall I mean?’’ She asks him one day, he blinks. Then he begins to paint a picture of a castle bordered by rivers and seas and surrounded by groves of lemons and pomegranates.
‘’ And what is he like?’’ Beric smiles.
‘’ He is a good man.’’ Arya bites her lip, ‘how’ she wants to ask but she doesn’t. Instead, she urges her horse faster south.
Might as well get it over with. She decides.
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The heat becomes unbearable when they reach Horn Hill.
‘’ You’ll get used it.’’ He hands her a bundle. She opens it to find a tunic of summer silk and breeches. She raises her eyebrows at him. ‘’ You won’t stand out.’’ He assures her. She snorts; she doesn’t care about standing out, she would just rather not get a scathing letter from her mother about acting out.
‘’Thank you.’’
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It is all Beric said and more-Starfall that is. All around it is green and warm and she thinks that she shall never smell anything else but lemons which grow in the gardens.
And Edric is-well he is. She knows Sansa would think him handsome. Arya supposes that he is good looking and he is nice to her. He gives her a sand steed and his aunt Allyria gives her breeches and tunics all made from the same summer silk when Arya proclaims that she doesn’t like wearing dresses.
‘’ I hope you will be happy here my lady.’’ Edric tells her and Arya grits her teeth and tries to smile.
‘’I hope so to…my lord.’’
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When it is late at night and the castle is silent, she takes out the bundled gift that is at the bottom of her trunk. When she unwraps it, she finds a sword.
That night she places it next to her on the bed and cries silently until she falls asleep.
She dreams of snow and ice and a wolf’s howl.