Dark Wings, Dark Words

Blood

Ashanna waited until the soldiers and lords filtered out of the great hall. She watched as Larson, the new Lord Fair, shook Ser Arran's hand and conversed as they walked through those grand doors. Cedric and Mila nodded to Ashanna and promised to find her in the afternoon.

As their shadows faded from view, Ashanna swiftly turned to face her brother and mother. A delighted smile gracing her lips.

"Where's Arya?" She beamed. Robb's smile disappeared.

"Arya?" He whispered. Ashanna furrowed her eyebrows in confusion.

She's here. She has to be here. I sent her ahead of me." Ashanna said firmly as she turned to face her mother. Lady Catelyn placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. But Ashanna could feel a cold distant feeling radiating from her mother. Warm tears stained Ashanna's cheeks.

"I had to try... I had to try and save Sansa. If she died... because I left her there... I-i wouldn't of been able to live with myself. Arya wouldn't come with me... I wouldn't of been able to drag her behind me.. I let her go by ....I let her go." Ashanna sobs. Her mother pursed her lips into a straight line.

"She- she was with our friends... I thought she'd be safer... I thought she'd be safe. She knew to follow the trident. She had a plan! I-I believed that she could do it! I thought she'd be here!" Ashanna cried.

"Do you know what thought done?" Lady Catelyn asked icily. Ashanna gazed up at her through her tear-filled eyes.

"Thought planted a feather and thought it would grow a hen. Don't base your actions on thoughts... base them on facts, on what you know is true and correct. Arya is most likely dead in ditch and her blood is on your hands." Her mother hissed.
Ashanna flinched as her mother took a step towards her. For a split second her mother's gaze softened at Ashanna's fear.

"Mother!" Robb shouted in a horrified tone. Ashanna's mother whipped round to face him.

"Am I wrong?" She asked through gritted teeth.  Ashanna watched as Robb clenched his jaw and took a step towards their mother.

"You're wrong. Arya wouldn't go with Ashanna! Ashanna was trying to rescue Sansa!  Arya knew the trident led to here. She travelled with friends. Her destination was somewhere she'd be welcome, somewhere without enemies! Ashanna travelled  back into the lion's den to save her twin! They could've captured her, tortured her or killed her! But she ignored all of that because she couldn't bare for you to look at her like you are now, if she didn't try."

Ashanna's mother took a step backwards from Robb's outburst. Robb took another step forward.

"If you blame her for Arya's disappearance, you must blame me for Bran and Rickon's death. Their blood is on my hands, mother. I left them defenceless. BECAUSE I THOUGHT THEY WOULD BE SAFE! I let Winterfell burn! I didn't even return to bury their bodies. If we really want to place blame on one another maybe we should place some on you, mother." Robb snapped.

Their mother balked. Ashanna's  crying faltered. What did he mean by Bran and Rickon? Winterfell? Her baby brothers were
not DEAD!
Robb wouldn't lie though..

And Ashanna began crying for a completely different reason

"If you didn't abduct the Imp without consulting father. He wouldn't of been injured by the Kingslayer! He would've made his departure from king's landing! He'd be alive! His men would be alive! The girls would be home!" Robb screamed.

"Everyone makes mistakes, mother. We have all done things we wish we could change. We all have blood on our hands. But we cannot be two places at once. We cannot change the past. And we cannot turn on one another. Everything, every death, every battle, everyone we've lost... it'll be for nothing, if we don't band together." Robb said as he took their mother's hand. He took Ashanna's in his other. They stayed that way for quite some time as silent tears streamed down their faces.