Silver Stag

Last Stark Returns

[Winterfell - Gate]

Arya approaches the main gate on foot where two guards were huddled by a brazier getting warm.

She had fled the House of Black and White in Braavos after killing the waif. She had gotten a head start, but knew eventually the Faceless Men were bound to come for her.

One of the men noticed Arya walking to the gate and approached her. "Hey, oh. Where are you going?"

"In there. I live here."

"Fuck off."

"I'm Arya Stark. This is my home."

Both men looked at each and started laughing.

"Arya Stark is dead." The first said.

"Send for Maester Luwin or Ser Rodrick. They'll tell you who I am."

"There's no Rodrick here." The second told her.

"Maester's name is Wolkan.

"Go ask Jon Snow then, the Warden of the North. He's my brother."

"He's a thousand miles away."

"It's cold. We're busy. So, you know, best fuck off." The second added.

"Mm-hmm."

"If Jon Snow is gone who is in charge of Winterfell?"

"The Lady of Winterfell, Lady Stark."

"Which Lady Stark?"

Was her mother somehow alive?

"You tell us. You're the one impersonating her sister."

"Tell Sansa her sister is home." Arya told them.

"Lady Sansa is too busy to waste her breath on you, just like us. So for the last time, fuck off." He went to grab Arya but she easily dodged out of his grasp.

"I'm getting into this castle one way or another. If I'm not who I say I am, I won't last long. But if I am, and Sansa finds out that you turned me away..."

Arya kept glancing at the men who looked uneasy. They bring her inside of the gate. They indicate towards a cart near the entrance.

"You sit there. Right there. Don't move."

Both guards had a conversation out of earshot of Arya.

"Go tell Lady Stark. I'll watch her."

Arya was glancing around Winterfell. Men were working building tools and cutting wood. She continued to look around and saw their family flag sigil hanging from the wall.

The two guards were still arguing.

"You tell her."

"I'm not."

"Because if you don't I'll hit you right in the fucking face as hard as I can."

The guards turned around and the girl claiming to be Arya was gone.

[Crypts]

Arya was standing looking at a statue of her father holding his sword. She heard a sound and turned to see Sansa approaching. Sansa stopped when she saw her.

"Do I have to call you Lady Stark now?"

Sansa hesitated for a moment. "Yes." She began smiling then walking towards Arya, reaching out to hug her. "You shouldn't have run from the guards."

"I didn't run. You need better guards."

Sansa smirked at her.

"It suits you, Lady Stark. Jon left you in charge?

"He did. I hope he comes back soon. I remember how happy he was to see me. When he sees you, his heart will probably stop."

Both girls turned and looked at the statue of their father.

"That doesn't look like him. It should have been carved by someone who knew his face." Arya said.

"Everyone who knew his face is dead."

"We're not." She turned to her sister. "They say you killed Joffrey. Did you?"

"I wish I had."

"Me too. I was angry when I heard someone else had done it. However long my list got he was alwys first."

"Your list?"

"Of people I'm going to kill."

Sansa began to laugh and Arya joined her.

"How did you get back to Winterfell?"

"It's a long story. I imagine yours is too."

"Yes. It's not a very pleasant one."

"Mine neither, but our stories aren't over yet."

"No, they're not."

The girls both embraced each other again.

"Arya, Bran's home too."

Arya smiled, looking at Sansa. Sansa didn't smile back, causing the smile to fade from Arya's face.

[Weirwood Tree]

Bran was sitting next to the Weirwood tree after Meera had left to return to what remained of her family.

Sansa and Arya approached, Bran turning to look at them.

"You came home." Bran said.

Arya stepped forward and threw her arms around her brother. Sansa smiled in the background. Arya let go and stepped back.

"I saw you at the crossroads." He told her.