From the Ashes {Game of Thrones}

Chapter 55: Reunion

For a moment, Robb has to wonder if the girl in front of him is truly his sister. Despite it being less than two years since he last saw her, she looks to have aged ten years. Though he probably has done the same. The second difference is the hair. Arya's hair looks so similar to Bran's now. The long locks replaced by a much shorter cut. It suits her in a way he wouldn't have expected. The most surprising is the silks that Arya wears. Silks with printed flowers. Breeches and a willowy shirt covered by vest that trails behind her almost like a dress.

His little sister stands before him. So much like the sister he remembers but so different.

"I saw them cut father's head," Arya says. The childlike wonder of battle gone and only hardness of watching a terrible thing happen remaining.

"I'm sorry you had to see that," Robb says because what else is there that he can say. "And I'm sorry that I couldn't get to you," he adds. His focus had been on defeating the Lannisters and with that, he'd left his sisters defenseless amongst their enemies. He had failed in his duties as an older brother, he had failed to protect them from the horrors of the world.

Arya doesn't say anything at that. She tries so hard to remain distant, still fearing that this was some sort of fever dream that would be taken from her if she moved. But that doesn't last long. She's safely nestled in Robb's arms just seconds later. The touch of family finally surrounding her again. And if she tightens her hold on Robb, neither of them will mention it. Somethings are better left unsaid amongst family.

Robb's hold on Arya tightened in response. Everything might have fallen apart around him, but he had his littlest sister in his arms. "How did you get here?" he finally asks her.

"It was a long journey," Arya said with a slight laugh of exasperation. "I'm curious how you ended up in bed with the Kingslayer's wife," she asked pointedly. Her eyes narrowed at him.

"She's not the Kingslayer's wife anymore," Robb replied. "Karina and her family saved my life," he told her. Robb didn't say anything else about his marriage or relationship with Karina. It was a conversation that could happen at a later time. For now, all he wanted to do was spend some time with his sister and learn who she was now.

Whilst Robb and Arya reunited, Karina was in Lady Orlena's private office. "The King in the North," Lady Orlena said pouring them both some tea. "He is much more suitable than the Kingslayer."

"Indeed" Karina said. "How are the defenses?" She questioned.

"When I left Veritas, riders had been sent out to have our borders defended," Lady Orlena told her. "All bridges should be closed by now. We're cut off from the rest of Westeros."

"Good, I'll need to return to Veritas with haste. I would like you to stay here, my lady. I do not trust the Riverlands, the war is there," Karina said.

"As you wish, my Queen," Lady Orlena agreed. "If you don't mind, your grace, what happened at the Twins?" She inquired.

"It was a massacre, they broke guest right and murdered everyone," Karina replied, her eyes hazing over just slightly as she thought of what had happened. "I want any Frey that come upon our soldiers murdered," she added.

______

Robb spends the day with Arya. They rejoice in meeting again, they mourn the parents they've lost, and they catch up on everything they've gone through. Robb tells her about the Frey he was supposed to marry and Talisa, she calls him an idiot for it. He supposes he would have been for marrying Talisa as he originally intended.

Grey Wind cuddles her after she reveals more information about Lady's death and sending away Nymeria. Robb hopes that one day they'll be able to find Nymeria. He couldn't imagine not having Grey Wind.

It's only at the end of the day, as he's getting into bed, that he sees Karina. All thoughts of bed are gone as she walks straight into his arms.

"We're leaving for Veritas tomorrow at midday," Karina mumbled against his neck. It's barely understandable. "How was Arya?" She questioned a few moments later, after she's pulled away slightly so her face isn't pressed against the crook of his neck.

"Different, but alive," Robb replied. There really isn't a better way to describe his littlest sister. She's not the girl he watched leave, but she's alive and healthy — it's more than he had come to expect after everything.

Robb doesn't know how long they just stand there holding one another. But he doesn't mind it one bit. It's calming to hold onto to someone and have a steady presence in his arms. Anything less and he would have to think of everything that had been lost. With Karina in his hold, however, he can focus on her breathing and find some peace.

Eventually they do end up in the bed, their clothes discarded on the floor. "If you hadn't married me, your father and men would be alive," Robb says when the candle by his bedside begins to flicker.

"The Lannisters would have gotten him somewhere else then. Declaring independence, holding Jaime prisoner, overtaking Lannisport hasn't made us their allies as they once thought we would be," Karina states, running her hand through his hair as she speaks. "Marrying you might have brought it upon us earlier, but it also led me to you. Now you're alive and Arya is safe from the Lannisters, those are good things," she continues.

That night isn't spent like the rest of their nights since the Twins have been. Despite their nude bodies pressed together with little space, neither on thinks of doing anything. For the first time since that night, they're not using sex as a coping mechanism to forget everything for a little while. Instead, they're finding solace solely in one another's presence and company.