Mirrorball // Sansa Stark

13. Optimist

'I wasn't playing and I don't want to be a lady!' arya exclaimed. 'I want to be a knight!'

'Come here...' Ned said patting the bench at the end of the bed as he took a seat. 'What do you want with this?' Ned question holding her sword up

'It's called needle,' she corrected

'a blade with a name... And who are you hoping to skewer with needle your sister? You know the first thing but sword fighting-'

'Stick them with the pointy end,' she told him quickly.

'Yes that's the essence of it.' He laughed. His little Arya was going to be a warrior.

'I was trying to learn...' She told him 'I asked Mika to practice with me. I asked him it was my fault-''

'Oh sweet girl no no you did not kill the butchers boy.' Ned reminded her.

'I hate them I hate all of them, the hound, the king and the queen and Joffrey and Sansa. I hate all of them!' arya declared. "Not Jae, he's okay but everyone else!"

''Sansa went before the king and queen and was asked to call the prince a liar.' Ned told her.

''So? He is a liar!' Arya told her father.

''shush my sweet girl, sansa will be married to Joffrey someday. She cannot betray him she must take his side even when he was wrong.' Ned informed her.

'But how can you let her marry someone like that?' Arya questioned. Jae thought the same thing, Ned thought the same thing but how was he to go against the king? He wasnt.

''Look at me, you are a stark of Winterfell, you know our words?''

''Winter is coming.' Arya recited.

''You were born in a long summer you have never known anything else but winter is coming.' Ned informed her. 'we must protect ourselves. Look after one other, Sansa is your sister.'

'I don't hate her' she admitted 'not really.'

'I do not want to frighten you but I won't lie to either, we have come to a dangerous place we cannot fight a war amongst ourselves.' he handed her back needle 'go on this is yours.'

'I can keep it? 'She said happily

'Try not to stab your sister with it,' Ned told her 'if you're going to own a sword you're going to need to know how to use it.''

"Hello old sport." Jae said coming up to Ned. 

"I have a favor to ask." Ned remarked. 

"Anything." Jae agreed. 

"I need to find a swords man that can be discreet." Ned offered. 

"I am a swordsman and i think I can be discreet for you." Jae offered. "Who do you need..." He drew a finger over his neck. 

"NO, no, not that!" Ned assured. 

"Oh, good." Jae agreed with a chuckle. 

"I want Arya to learn and I need a swordsman to teach her." Ned corrected. Jae cleared his throat pointing a finger at himself. "I know how closely the queen is watching you-"

"She doesnt care about your children." Jae said bluntly before taking a step back and pursing his lips. "I didnt mean-"

"No its the truth." Ned assured. "I want someone that can teach her every day, be hard on her." 

"I can be tough, did you forget in your old age old sport?" Jae mused. 

"I did not forget." Ned assured. 

"I have a few friends here, I think I can find Arya a great swordsman." Jae remarked. 

"Thank you." Ned agreed extending his hand to Jae. "You are a good man." 

"So are you, don't lose your head while you are here, hands dont last long in the capital." Jae warned as he headed off. 

"Oh, Jae-" Ned called catching up with him. "Have you spoken to Sansa at all?" 

"I have." Jae agreed cautiously. 

"How does she seem?" 

"The castle is less magical than she thought." Jae relayed. Ned chuckled. "Ned I really want you and the girls to see the Mansion, I think the girls would love it, magical too." Jae remarked. 

"We just got here, I dont think the realms can stand without leadership for that long." 

"I suppose, think on it. Its beautiful."

"I wish I had your life Jae." Ned admitted. 

"Funny because I wish I had yours... pre capital that is." Jae remarked. 

"You do?" 

"Yes." Jae admitted honestly. "A wife that loves you, children that-''

"Hate me most days." Ned interjected. 

"A family." 

"You could have a family, if you wanted a bride you would step outside and have a dozen women flock to you." Ned remarked. Jae chuckled. 

"I want the right one, not just a woman, I want my forever." 

"Thats honorable, what if you never find her?" 

"I'm an optimist old sport." Jae reminded him. "She is out there, closer than we think."