Bringing the Dawn

XVI.

Arya Stark

Kings Landing, 299AC

The first time Syrio had tasked Arya in catching a cat, she had almost laughed at him in the face. It was such a random task and she had no idea how that corresponded to sword fighting. She had wanted to disobey him by hiding in a corner somewhere to watch the Knights spar when they had spare time. But something about going against her dancing master did not sit right with her. It wasn't the refusing orders part that was doing it as she'd done that plenty of times. She'd lost count a long time ago of the lessons Septa Mordane gave them all. But with her, all she got was a reprimand and in extreme cases a slap on the wrist. Going against a seasoned warrior was something else though.

So, she did what was asked of her. It took her a while to find a cat as she wanted to remain close to the castle in the event she couldn't find one inside the castle. She didn't want to chase after Prince Tommen's ginger feline as the animal was kind with her and came up to her. Arya wanted a challenge. It took her days to find the one she was going to set her eyes on, but when she did, she knew. A black stray near the kitchens that regularly terrorised the kitchen staff. Reminding her of the wild stray that lurked in the servant's quarters in Winterfell that seemingly only accepted her.

Fur as black as night, eyes greener than the Queen's, with patches showing his skin covering its body, and missing an ear to top it all off. When she told Syrio of the one she was going to try to catch, he had simply chuckled merrily at her before striking her with his wooden sword. She was getting good, now being able to hold out for longer than a few minutes against the man, but never being able to corner or disarm him. She'd only started learning a few weeks prior, and she wondered if this was how quickly her brothers had picked it up. Robb was a great swordsman, but Jon was a brilliant swordsman. Ever since he'd bested Ser Rodrik that day, he'd never been beaten by anyone.

Tears sprung at her eyes as she remembered what her father had told her a few days prior. Why did he go to the Wall? He was a Prince. He had a higher claim than the Lannister's and the Baratheon's. A part of her wanted to blame Sansa for her open support of the King and Queen, but somehow she knew she wouldn't have convinced him into doing it. Had her mother done it? Perhaps if it were before he turned sixteen, but once they knew the truth, she warmed up to him. It was obvious there was tension between the pair, but there was also a begrudging respect somewhere too. He must've made his mind up a long time ago and had decided to go anyway.

And now he was presumed dead- alongside their uncle Benjen.

She'd never get to leap on him again, have him toss her hair to annoy her, race her around the castle, have him secretly teach her how to sword fight with Robb. It hurt, a lot. At least she got to say goodbye to him. A noise caught her attention and she turned to face the black feline she'd set her eyes on. She had been trying to catch it for a week now, and she had failed every single time. The more she did, the more embarrassed she got. But Syrio taught her she needed to have patience and that things aren't always as easy as they appear. Quiet as a shadow.

Steadily, she walked towards it, remaining on her tiptoes to lower the sound of her feet. Keeping in the shadows of the suits of armour, other decorations, and the dark corridor to hide herself. Taking care to breathe through her mouth very lightly and there was barely a sound coming from her. But it heard her, causing her to curse in her head and begin to chase after the animal. Completely ignoring the remaining quiet portion. Servants gave her odd looks as she did so, but Arya paid them no mind. Focusing solely on herself, and the path to catch the beast.

She chased after it for what felt like hours, never looking up to see where she was exactly. But soon she came to a corner, smirking to herself at finally cornering the animal. She bent down to pick it up, but the moment she gripped its sides, it clawed frantically at her causing her to let it go which allowed it to escape again. Ignoring the stinging in her skin where its claws had broken through a layer and the dripping blood now on her from the puncture marks in question, she ran after it. The cat ran behind a tapestry and she pulled it away to catch it- and was met with a hidden tunnel. Peering down into it, she could see the bright green eyes. Almost like it were inviting her inside.