Northern Conqueror

Chapter 45: The Last River

Chapter 45: The Last River

They camped as best they could with barely enough tents for half their men, but Arya was used to sleeping under the stars. It just felt odd to know she wouldn't wake with the sun as there would be no dawn to break the horizon and bathe the world in light. Instead it would go even darker as the moon fell, leaving only the stars to break the black void above until the dim sun rose like a candle left to replace a hearth.

She was settling into her spot near a tree noting that Jaime, Sandor and Jorah had taken up spots near her again, as they had every night since they started south. Even on their walk they kept around her, acting as her lieutenants as well as clearly intending to be her guards. Were she younger she might have felt insulted, but she understood now.

The men had started a fire and begun to cook the game they'd caught through the trek when one of the men patrolling the perimeter called out, "Who goes there?"

At once the men reached for their weapons and prepared to launch into a battle as Arya got to her feet along with her trio of guardians.

Suddenly one of the men from the Night's Watch with the patrol called out, "Edd?!"

"The Lord Commander," one of the men near the fire said rising to his feet, easing the tension of the others.

Arya saw a group of men in black enter the camp with one of their patrolmen, leading them to her. "Your grace," the man called, Arya biting back her annoyance.

As much as she'd loved having Jon back, she hated that she'd somehow become a princess because of it. It was the only thing that made her wish they recognized her as his cousin and not his sister. Maybe that would've been enough to stop it.

"Lady Arya Stark," the patrolman said presenting Arya to the man at the front of the group, "Eddison Tollett, Lord Commander of the Night's Watch."

They shook hands as Edd smirked. "Your brother talked about you. Makes sense you'd be out here with 'em."

Arya frowned. "He's not with us."

Edd blinked. "He's not?"

"He was, but..." Arya sighed, and went about telling him and the others what happened, watching their shock as they listened to what had caused their need to escape.

Their uncertainty of Jon's survival ended when they reached the kingsroad and riders from the south arrived saying they'd been sent by King Jon along with another group sent to the survivors from the Shadow Tower that joined them the next day. With more horses, tents, bedrolls and other supplies they rode south to meet Jon and his army.

The moment they saw Jon riding between Daenerys and Sansa at the head of the mass of soldiers Arya galloped toward them and guided her horse beside his. She nearly pulled them both from their horses leaning over to hug him.

By the time they reached The Last River on their way back north they stopped and set up camp while the moon rose. With scouts and patrols out Arya helped Gendry prepare his makeshift forge to repair armor and arms for those that had been at the Wall. Once he was prepared he ushered her away with a laugh.

"This will be boring," he assured, "go speak with your brother." She'd been ready to tell him off until he added, "Ask him about his new sword."

Arya slid into the space between him and Sansa a moment later, Daenerys tittering as Arya asked, "You have a new sword?"

Jon laughed, setting his bowl down between his feet as he drew Nightbane and handed it to her. "Sam gave up Heartsbane, the Tarly sword, and had Gendry reforge it into this one and another he called Bravemind."