good dirt | arya stark

fifteen: true sight

"We need to talk, Eris."

Eris gulped lightly, sitting down on Irene's bed. His iron clanked as he sat down, some of it making a rusty noise as it rubbed together. "About what, My Lady?"

"Do you love the girl that you're galavanting with?"

His brows shot up off of his head, and he immediately tilted it to the side. He always did that when he lied. "What?"

"I know you've been with a girl almost the whole time you've been here." She said, resisting the urge to roll her eyes. "You leave in the night to go with her, I hear the door opening. You're only one room away, you know."

"I didn't know it would offend you, My Lady."

"Don't use that title with me. It's just us." She grasped his hand and watched his actions. He almost recoiled back. It wasn't in disgust, but he was reserved. Whoever he was with had him wrapped around her finger, and she probably didn't even know it. "I just wanted to confirm what I already knew."

"I don't want to offend you in any way, Irene." He had recovered from the shock of her touch then, leaning towards her now.

"It doesn't offend me." She paused in her words, breathing outwards. "I just hate being alone when I don't have to be." Eris knew that. She had lost everyone and everything from home but him. Even his brother was dead, and he was one of the biggest parts of Irene's life. Eris was all she had left from Highgarden really, and it depressed them both.

"I'll tell you when I'm leaving from now on."

"I don't care when you leave," she said, her voice stern. "I just want to meet the beautiful girl who's taken your time and attention." Eris laughed.

He still had a small smile on his face when he looked in her eyes with sincerity. "I'm sorry."

"Don't ever apologize for finding someone." She pulled him into a hug that nearly squeezed the life out of him, but he couldn't do anything but hug back. It was too powerful to ignore, and it was something that he hadn't gotten platonically in such a long time. They both longed for it. For that sense of home and familiarity and just, the Reach. They were both too young for what had happened, too young entirely.

§

This was the first time Irene was invited to a dinner that consisted of all the living Starks in one place. She wasn't even nervous, just jittery at the thought of being around so many her family would hate and be fearful of. She had learned in her stay that the only thing for her to be afraid of there was the cold.

"Your Grace," she bowed her head to Jon, who grimaced at her.

"No need for that."

"Fine by me," She said, her tone rather informal as she went along with her walk to the only empty chair. "Where's Dragons?" She sat down diagonally from Arya.

Sansa cracked a smile, one that was hardly seen under her newly harsh and cold exterior. Jon, on the other hand, narrowed his eyes at her strange language. "They're flying."

"No," she chuckled, catching Arya's attention. "I meant Daenerys. It's what I've been calling her in my head."

"Queen Daenerys is attending her own duties." Jon Snow said, his voice just as weary as his facial expression.

"Hm." She hummed. "It's a wonderful pleasure to sit down with you, Jon Snow. I've heard so much about you."

His brows raised. "You've heard of me down south?"

"Bad and good things. But you're Sansa's blood, so I took the good to heart. I care deeply for your family, even though she doesn't exactly like me at the moment."