The First Snow

PART XVII: ARYA

Arya didn't like the look of tenderness on the Hounds face, it wasn't right. She wanted the hate back, the warrior who never disappointed with his viciousness. One night with Sansa and he was milky bread.

When they were clear of the door. Arya turned on Sansa. "If you get him killed I will never forgive you."

Sansa didn't shy away. "Nor will I forgive myself."

"What exactly did you do to him." realization crossed Arya's face.

"Nevermind, I don't want to know." Sansa only smiled at her back.

Arya thought about ditching her sister and seeing if she could find her way back. She was angry and she didn't know why. A part of her still wanted to kill Sandor, the other part of her wasn't sure what to feel. It wasn't puppy love like her love struck sister had with Joffrey she felt like the Hound understood her and he didn't judge her. They both had blood on their hands, unlike the porcelain skinned Sansa.

She knew she shouldn't be mad at her sister, she knew they spent time together before the Hound found her.

When she turned to see Sansa lost in her own thoughts half smiling it angered Arya further.

"Look you stupid cow, you have to pay attention there are people who want us dead." Sansa came to.

"You're right" It won't happen again. Sansa pushed passed her leading the way. Arya finally remembered that she had been here for nearly two weeks.

In the market Sansa selected two fresh loaves of bread, wine, a chunk of white cheese, dried venison, new potatoes, fresh herbs.

Arya looked at her suspiciously.

"What are you going to do with that stuff, those potatoes need to be cooked." she started to hand them back to the merchant who was frowning.

Arya realized her blunder and dropped them back in Sansa's bag. Dried apricots, onions, and six costly eggs rounded her purchases.

"Sandor could eat all of this on his own." Arya looked at the meager sack. "He's already lost weight."

When she looked up at her sister she saw the concern her face so she continued.

"He always lets me eat first." Arya hoped to anger Sansa or at the very least make her feel bad.

Sansa didn't take the bait. "Of course he does he loves me and you are a part of me."

Arya fumed her round face turned red and her eyes grew dark. "Did he tell you that? One fuck and you think you own him?"

She pushed passed Sansa roughly narrowly missing breaking the eggs. When Sansa found her she was pounding her small fist into a bag of grain.

"Oi, if you aren't going to buy some stop touching them." Arya turned her lip curled back and started to spit on Sansa, before she could Sansa grabbed her jaw.

"Don't even think about it, I don't know why you're acting like this. There was a time you wanted us both dead."

Arya spat feebly the drool running down her chin. Sansa was tall, and stronger than she remembered.

"You fucking bitch, I watched father die." she sobbed.

"And I was beaten because I wouldn't look at fathers head on a pike next to Septa Mordanes. Sandor stopped me from killing Joffery, and myself that day." Sansa pushed her sister back.

"I may have been sitting on silk cushions in Kingslanding while you were out here on your own but I was in a cage dying a slow death."

Arya didn't recognize her sister, she had always been beautiful but she was silly and too proper. The woman before her now was not the girl who left Winterfell. Arya envied her as much she despised her.

"Why are you here, you ruin everything?" Arya sounded childish even to her own ears.

"I am your family, I might be the only family you have left. I don't know where Bran and Rickon are or if Jon Snow lives."

When Arya remained silent she continued. "What are you going to do, go off alone train to be an assassin like your dancing master?"

Arya's face contorted. "Do you really think I believed you were taking dancing lessons?"

"What are you going to do, marry him, have his babies." Arya took a step back toward Arya.

"I am already married." With that Sansa left the market and headed back to the town home.