A new cub

Chapter 2

The road had been tough for Arya, tougher than any journey she had been on.  She was aching uncomfortably on this horse for so long, barely eating either because her appetite wouldn't let her or because she was trying to save time.  She was exhausted.  She noticed a few familiar landmarks and realized she was about three hours away from her home.  She was almost there, relief almost set in, but Arya didn't let her guard down.  She pushed her horse to go faster and made it in two hours.  

The guards this time around recognized Arya unlike her last return home when she had to sneak past them to get in.  As she was unpacking her horse one of the guards ran off to get her sister, now the Queen of the North.  

"My Queen, I'm sorry for the interruption, but your sister, Lady Arya has returned home.  

"Arya" Sansa murmured as she quickly got up.  She wasn't supposed to see her sister in months, maybe years, but she had returned in just over a month.  Worried, Sansa quickly got up and fled to the main gate.

Sansa saw her sister as she hurried down the stairs.  She was wearing one of her heavier coats and although it was cold, it was the North, it wasn't that cold.  Sansa took a mental note, but didn't mention it.  "Arya I didn't expect you home so soon its lovely to see you." She gave her sister a hug and felt Arya squeezing a little harder than usual.  Something was wrong...

A kitchen helper nearby spoke up and said, "My Queen shall I inform the kitchen to prepare a feast in honor of Lady Arya's return?" Before Sansa could respond, Arya spoke up first.  "No feast please have food brought to my sister's chambers we will be eating alone tonight."

"Right away my Lady."

"Sansa I need you, I mean I need to talk to you"

Sansa hadn't seen this look in her sister's eyes since she was 8 years old. She was nervous, anxious, maybe scared.  She wasn't even like this when preparing for the battle against the dead.  Sansa just nodded and guided her sister towards her room.

"Arya what is wrong?" "I'll tell you in a second I need to eat first and don't want anyone else to hear."

"You are making me nervous"

Before Arya could respond there was a knock on the door as their food was delivered.  Arya quickly scarfed down the food.  Apparently she could stomach food today and she was grateful for it.

"Okay you finished your food what is happening" Sansa asked as she took her sister's hand.  

Arya had thought for the past week about how the conversation would go, what she would say, how Sansa would respond.  All of that preparation and she was still speechless.  She couldn't figure out why she was so nervous to tell her sister, but she was.  Instead of speaking she removed her large fur and picked up her undershirt.  

"Arya what are those scars from, are you okay? who hurt you!"

"No ignore the scars Sansa those are in the past. Look again"

Sansa not wanting to ignore the scars gave her sister a look that meant we are going to talk about those later.  But when she took another look her eyes widened and she couldn't stop staring.

It wasn't much, but there was a small baby bump forming. "Arya are you.."

"Yes" Yes was all Arya could form looking down at her feet and quickly trying to cover up her stomach again.  

"Arya this is wonderful" 

Arya looked into her sister's eyes and although there was joy in them she could also see her mind going a million miles an hour.  Probably wondering who the father was, how did this happen, when did it.. but before Arya could try to decipher her thoughts she felt tears coming.  She felt flushed, she needed to yell.  She realized she hadn't really expressed any emotions about this outloud yet.  She couldn't hold it in anymore.