A/N: In the previous chapters, I had referred to Jon's eyes as brown. I've went back and changed that to grey as I'd like to maintain from the books how he shares the "Stark look" with Arya.

Also, I've added the following segment of dialogue in Chapter (1) "Jon Snow I" between Jon and Brienne in reference to Needle:

Now, Jon reached inside his cloak and took out a rather big scroll sealed with the direwolf sigil of House Stark. He handed it over to her saying: "A letter to Sansa. There's only so much I can explain in a raven".

"Understandable, Your Gr-my Lord," Brienne stuttered for a moment.

Jon noticed Davos and Gendry approaching and continued: "That there is Gendry Waters, a talented blacksmith and battle-tested beyond the Wall. He's worked the dragonglass mines here and I'd like you to escort him to Winterfell as soon as the Dothraki set up camp".

"Yes, my Lord," she got it right this time.

"Also, I don't like leaving Sansa alone with Littlefinger for too long," he added.

"Neither do I," Brienne agreed, "but, the Lady Arya is able of protecting her".

Jon raised his brows to the woman towering him to which she responded: "She's rather skilled with a peculiar skinny blade".

She kept Needle.

A wide grin suddenly covered Jon's face as he noticed Podrick trying to contain a giggle and Brienne shooting him a side look.

Gendry, then, arrived next to Davos and took Jon out of his thoughts by saying: "Good morning, Your Grace".

Apologies for any inconvenience. I hope you enjoy this update.

Arya Stark I

In her short life, Arya Stark had killed many people – a few of whom were not even on her list. They all deserved it though some more than others. But, crossing names off her list was always personally satisfying. It gave her a sense of purpose to avenge her family, impose justice, and right the wrongs in the world.

Yet, none had been as satisfying as Petyr Baelish. She knew he was trouble; but, he had never been on her list. And as soon as Bran enlightened her and Sansa of Littlefinger's latest scheme, he was immediately placed at the top spot. And with Sansa's plan of deception, she had for the first time eliminated a name as Arya Stark of Winterfell in front of an audience composed of Northern Lords nonetheless and with the very weapon used by the perpetrator to hurt her family.

The sound her Valyrian steel dagger made as it slashed Littlefinger's throat and its echoes resonating against the thick granite walls of the silent packed Great Hall were music to Arya's ears.

This little blade needs a name, thought Arya while gently tapping its pommel as she now sat alone at the high table in front of the hearth in the Great Hall. She had just led Sam to Bran's chambers and was admiring Littlefinger's blood stain on the floor while enjoying a cup of ale before heading up to the Lord's solar to rejoin her sister.

Cut-throat, the words popped in Arya's head as she lost herself in the redness of the stain. She took the dagger out of its garb and moved it around, her eyes following the reflections the flame light made on its shiny blade. It was a perfect name; Littlefinger had given the dagger to a cut-throat to kill her brother Bran and in the end, she used it to cut his throat.

Needle now has a little brother, thought Arya with a devilish smile as she lightly traced Cut-throat's sharp Valyrian steel blade careful not to cut herself. After a few moments, she sheathed it at her waist and took another sip of ale thinking back to how Needle; the skinny sword her brother Jon gifted her before he left for the Wall and she for King's Landing, had saved her.

It was not just the multiple occasions she used it to oust her enemies; but, more importantly, it was that in reclaiming Needle, she had reclaimed herself as Arya Stark of Winterfell before completely losing her to the Faceless Men. And then, it was Hot Pie's mention of Jon and how he had come down from Castle Black and took back Winterfell that prompted her to turn away from killing Cersei and return home.

Arya loved her family dearly – even Sansa; but, Jon always had a special place in her heart. He was the only one who actively encouraged and supported her in becoming who she wants to be in spite of the restrictions old-fashioned Westerosi customs and traditions imposed on her as a highborn female. Over and above, he was the only sibling with whom she shared physical features, which prompted her at one point as a child to believe that she, too, was a bastard – he assured her she was not though. Her other siblings took after their Tully mother while she and Jon shared the Stark look; long face, brown hair, and grey eyes.

And now, Jon was only a few weeks away from returning home. Arya felt a tickle in her left sword-wielding hand picturing herself showing him how much she has grown from sticking them with the pointy end.

She was taken out of her thoughts when Samwell Tarly walked into the hall. She assumed he had concluded his visit with Bran and was now looking for Gilly and Little Sam. He looked flustered as he crossed the now dimly lit hall hardly noticing her small frame in the wooden armchair she occupied.

"Are you lost, Sam?" she called out to him.

He almost tripped over his own feet before acknowledging her: "Lady Stark".

"Lady Stark's my sister," she stated matter-of-factly. "Gilly and Little Sam are in the Library Tower," she answered his unasked question after a brief pause. He smiled thankfully; but, still looked rather agitated. She waved gesturing for him to come over: "Have a cup of ale. You look like you need it".

This was as good a chance as any for her to find out about Jon's time with the Night's Watch. She had tried to ask Sansa what she came to know from Jon. Her sister would avoid the subject saying that they were too occupied with preparing for the Battle of Bastards to share life stories; but, she had noticed that Sansa would always avoid her eyes and start fidgeting when asked. Arya knew the Lady of Winterfell was hiding something and Sam here may very well be her best lead to finding it out.

He hesitated for a brief moment before walking over to the high table. He poured himself a cup of ale and sat down defeated across from Arya. Something was on the tip of his tongue as he held the silver cup. He gulped half of it, sighed heavily, and said referring to Bran: "Your brother sees everything now".

"Seems so," Arya responded calmly. She has the ability to assume people's identities by wearing their faces. Bran's visions did not bother her – at least, not as much as they bothered Sansa.

"Have you known Jon for long?" she changed the subject easing the awkwardness.

"We took our vows together," he responded.

"You don't look like a fighter," she said a tad worriedly.

"I'm not," he shrugged, "Jon always had my back at the Wall". He paused before smiling and saying: "I still killed a Walker once".

"How?" Arya was intrigued.

"Stabbed him in the shoulder with an ancient dragonglass dagger I had found at the Fist of the First Men," he explained and added after a brief pause: "that's how we realized their vulnerability to it".

"So, you went to the Citadel looking for a way to a source of the glass?" she asked lightly.

"That and others things," he was calmer now and took a sip of ale before continuing, "Maester Aemon had passed and I thought I'd be more helpful to Jon as a Maester. He was Lord Commander, then".

"Aemon," Arya pondered, "that's a Targaryen name".

"It is," Sam confirmed, "he was Aegon V's older brother; the one who stepped aside for the Unlikely king".

"That makes him Daenerys's great-uncle," she put it together.

He nodded. "I read him a letter about her once; about how she refused to leave Slaver's Bay until the freedom of the former slaves was secure," he recalled.

"I heard about her liberation when I was in Bravos," Arya added.

Sam's eyes lit up as he quickly asked: "You've been to Essos?"

"I have," Arya responded plainly.

"What's it like?" Sam was hungry for new information.

"Warm," she almost snorted and they both broke into laughter.

As their laughter died out, Arya thought back on the Targaryens.

Like most Westerosi children, she was fascinated with dragon stories. And she was particularly fond of the warrior-queens Visenya and Rhaenys without whom Aegon would not have conquered and united the Seven Kingdoms. Yet, the Targaryens had dealt devastating blows to her family just as the Lannisters did a generation later. The Mad King Aerys burnt her grandfather Rickard and her uncle Brandon alive. And Prince Rhaegar kidnapped and raped her aunt Lyanna who her father had told her once in King's Landing that she reminded him of.

And now, a Targaryen was on her way to their home.

"So, what's a Targaryen like?" she asked Sam softly without revealing her curiosity.

"Well, you wouldn't really call Maester Aemon a Targaryen. He'd been with the Night's Watch for decades, hardly anyone remembered he was a dragon". He paused; then, reminisced: "He was kind and wise. Nothing like the rigid Maesters I met at the Citadel. It was his vote that broke the tie between Jon and Sir Alliser Thorne for Lord Commander," he sounded bitter saying this man's name.

Arya was content with what Sam said. Not all Targaryens are evil and mad, she concluded. She would have to wait and meet this Daenerys to size her up herself.

She took another sip of ale before venturing into a new subject: "You mentioned Jon killed a Walker at Hardhome…".

"Yes," Sam confirmed, "He went there to negotiate with the Wildlings. Wanted to bring them South of the Wall lest they become meat in the Night King's Army". He paused as a darkness fell over his face before continuing: "But, the Night King attacked and killed most of the Wildlings," he paused again and gulped, "then, Jon saw him raise the dead as wights with just a gesture of his hands".

Now, that troubled Arya. She gulped; then, composed herself and told Sam sincerely: "Thank you for sharing this". As she looked at him, she noticed how visibly exhausted he was; so, she added: "I don't wanna keep you any longer from your family" to which he smiled. "Let me show you the way to the Library Tower," she said as she got up from her chair.

He quickly joined her. "Thank you, my La-," he stopped when she arched her eyebrow. She only tolerated formality from strangers and Sam was clearly a friend. "Thank you, Arya," he said again now correctly.

Ghost accompanied them out of the hall; then, ran ahead in a frenzy throughout the courtyard. By the time Arya was crossing the courtyard back from the Library Tower to the Great Keep to join her sister in the Lord's Solar on the second floor, he had settled helplessly by the Guest House.

Sansa had changed out of her Lady of Winterfell attire and was now sitting in front of a blazing hearth in a light blue nightgown with a dark grey fur shawl hugging her shoulders while an empty wine goblet dangled in her hand.

"My Lady," Arya said as she took the chair opposite her. The chairs were at a diagonal; so, their occupants could look at the hearth or each other.

"You don't have to call me that all the time," Sansa said as she got up to refill her wine goblet from the nearby side table housing the flagon and a few more goblets, "At least, not when we're alone. Or with family". She finished pouring wine for herself and held an empty goblet gesturing to Arya if she should pour her a one, too.

"Too fruity," Arya said flatly.

Sansa shrugged, then, came back to her chair and sat down. A silence fell between the two sisters as she stared in the flames sipping her wine.

Arya noticed something was troubling her sister and after what transpired with Littlefinger, she thought it best that they keep each other informed from now on. She wondered if Samwell Tarly's arrival was the reason though she had concluded for herself that he was a good-hearted fellow that poses no threat.

"You don't need to worry about Sam," she assured her.

"I'm not," Sansa responded without flinching.

A few moments of silence followed before she sighed deeply then said: "Daenerys Targaryen is on her way to Winterfell".

"And that bothers you?" Arya asked.

Sansa turned around and her tone was slightly raised when she said: "A Targaryen, Arya".

"Who is bringing her forces North to join our fight," Arya countered.

"So is Cersei," Sansa said mockingly.

"You and I both know that's not gonna happen," Arya shot back.

"I'll have you know I tried warning Jon about her," Sansa said as she leaned back in her chair, "And now he's bent the knee to her rival. She will not let this slide".

"True, she won't," Arya agreed, "but, her time will come soon enough". She has her own plans for the Mad Queen.

"And Daenerys-," Sansa started to say before Arya cut her off.

"Is not Cersei. Maybe she's a warrior queen like the Targaryens of old," she was picturing her childhood fantasies of dragon riders.

"Or maybe she seduced Jon," Sansa scoffed, turned back to looking at the flames in the hearth, and took a sip of wine; then, said: "Littlefinger noted the possibility of a marriage alliance between them. Together they'd be difficult to defeat, he said".

"A Targaryen-Stark marriage could bring peace to the Seven Kingdoms after we get rid of Cersei," Arya suggested slyly.

"Have you forgotten what the Targaryens did to our family?" Sansa turned to Arya and shot back sharply.

"I have not," she stood her ground, "but, who says she's anything like her father and brother? She's never even met them. Sam was just telling me of her great uncle Aemon who was the Maester at Castle Black. He was a mentor to him and Jon," Arya paused; then, concluded: "We can't judge her by her family's crimes".

"You sound like Jon," Sansa huffed.

"He was always my favorite sibling," Arya teased.

Sansa looked at her younger sister contemplating whether or not she should say what she was about to say. She took a sip of her wine and said plainly: "Jon's a basta-".

Before she could finish the word, Arya hissed at her with glaring eyes: "Sansa!"

"Just hear me out," she urged her. Arya sighed sharply, arched an eyebrow, and gestured for her to continue.

"Jon's a Stark to me," Sansa explained, "but, to the Northern Lords, he'll always be a Snow. You've seen how their loyalty wavers with the tide. And as her hand, Tyrion would never have her marry a…," she paused to choose the word, "Snow".

"And as queen, she can make him a Stark by royal decree," Arya shrugged now more relaxed.

"And why would she do that when he's already bent the knee?" Sansa countered, "he gave up our only bargaining chip; an independent unified North," she was clearly angry. Sansa turned back to the hearth and sipped her wine to calm herself down. After a few moments, she said sternly: "If Daenerys Targaryen enters a marriage alliance, it'll be to secure the South. Meanwhile, we ought to secure the North for ourselves".

Arya read her mind: "And you mean to do that by having Jon marry who exactly?"

"Wynafryd Manderly," Sansa responded plainly.

Smart choice, Arya thought. The girl was of a suitable age and said be fair. The Manderlys were the richest house in the North presiding over the Kingdom's only city. Her uncle Wendel was slain with Robb and Catelyn at the Red Wedding and though her grandfather Wyman sat out the Battle of the Bastards, he later proclaimed Jon King in the North and dubbed him the White Wolf. Arya would not give Sansa the satisfaction of commending her choice though because regardless of its merit, she knew that – just like her – Jon would not be forced into a marriage.

"You can't force him into a marriage," she reminded her sister.

While still looking at the flames, Sansa admitted: "No, I can't". She paused; then, said devilishly sipping her wine: "But, I mean to place the girl in his path when he arrives at White Harbor. It's up to her to leave a lasting impression on him".

As much as Arya enjoyed badgering her sister, she did not want to shatter Sansa's plans by telling her that Daenerys was said to be so beautiful that whores were dressing up as the Dragon Queen all over brothels across Essos.

She opted to ask her: "Have you forgotten how your own forced marriages went?"

Sansa finished the last sip of her wine and got up to fetch some more while saying: "I'll have you know Tyrion was not entirely awful".

Arya was not sure if it was the wine or that together they had bested Littlefinger; but, Sansa was finally opening up to her about the years they have spent apart. "I'll have one of those," she said when Sansa reached the side table to refill her wine.

Sansa continued as she refilled her goblet, poured a second one, and brought them back to the chairs by the hearth: "Tyrion's not like the other Lannisters. He was kind and honorable".

Arya's eyes widened. Sansa handed her the wine and took her seat while saying: "He never consummated the marriage".

"You're telling me the Imp didn't jump at the opportunity to fuck the beautiful young Lady of Winterfell," Arya teased taking a sip of her wine.

Sansa cringed at her sister's choice of words: "You don't have to be so crass," she took a sip of wine and said turning back to the hearth: "And no, he didn't. Said he'd only share my bed if I wanted him to".

Arya arched an eyebrow at her: "And do you?". Sansa turned to her quizzically. "Want him to share your bed?" Arya finished the thought taking another sip of wine.

A blank expression fell over Sansa's face as she fiddled with her goblet's stem and said: "I don't want anyone to share my bed".

Arya knew Joffery and could picture his cruelty to Sansa; but, she did not know Ramsay and feared the worst from the bastard heir of a house that flayed its enemies alive.

"The Bolton Bastard?" she asked breaking the silence.

"He raped me and forced Theon to watch on the first night," she said in a cold steady voice while holding Arya's gaze, "On the subsequent nights, he'd fuck me or cut me. Sometimes, both".

Arya's left hand gripped the chair in anger until Sansa said: "I fed him to his wild hungry hounds after Jon beat him to a pulp". Her voice was so calm it was chilling even to Arya who had never thought of her proper lady sister as a killer much less a vicious one.

Sansa sipped her wine and leaned back in her chair in triumph.

It was then Arya's turn to share: "I fed Walder Frey his sons Black Walder and Lothar in a pie before slitting his throat," her voice mirroring Sansa's.

"Winter came for House Frey," Sansa acknowledged as she raised her goblet to toast her sister.

Arya responded with a light nod raising her own goblet back: "As it'll come to all those who betray us".

The Stark sisters spent a few more hours sharing their life stories, confiding in each other about their worst fears and deeds until Arya heard a strong ascending wolf howl outside the Great Keep. It was Ghost. She last spotted him lying helplessly by the Guest House after she had led Sam to the Library Tower. But, unlike the mournful howl she heard from him a few weeks earlier, this was a resounding battle cry.

Arya's thoughts turned back to Jon; so, she asked her sister softly: "Sansa, what haven't you told me about Jon's time at the Wall?"

Unlike the previous times she had fished about this, Sansa did not avoid Arya's eyes neither did she fidget; but, a darkness fell over her face. She blinked heavily before saying: "It's not my place to say".

"Tell me," Arya demanded through grinded teeth now sure whatever her sister was hiding was horrid.

Sansa held her gaze with pleading eyes that said please, don't let me do this. Arya stood her down with a glare.

Defeated, Sansa sighed; then, said quietly: "They killed him".

"Wha-? Who?" Arya was in more disbelief than when Hot Pie told her of Jon taking back Winterfell.

"His brothers at the Night's Watch," Sansa paused. "A few of them," she corrected, "they killed him".

Arya felt a surge of anger run through her veins from yet another betrayal. New names for my list, she thought.

"What are their names?" she demanded sternly.

Now knowing why her sister was asking, Sansa quickly said: "Jon hanged them after…," she tried to find the words. Arya arched an eyebrow in waiting. "Stannis's Red Woman brought him back," Sansa explained.

Seven Hells.

Arya was now even angrier. Melisandre had taken Gendry away from her earning the Red Priestess a deserved spot on her list along with Beric Dondarrion and Thoros of Myr. But, now, the bitch had gone and brought Jon back from the dead.

I am not gonna go through another Hound.

Arya quickly quashed her doubts and asked her sister blankly: "Where is she?"

"He banished her shortly after the Battle of the Bastards," and before Arya could inquire about the reason, Sansa said: "I don't know why," she paused, "he doesn't like to talk about this whole… ordeal".

Arya sighed heavily, took another sip of wine, and asked: "Why did they do it, anyway?".

"They didn't agree with his decision to let the Wildlings south of the Wall," Sansa explained, "that's why the Wildlings stood with us against the Boltons".

A silence fell between the sisters as Arya's mind went back to her earlier conversation with Sam; and specifically, Jon trying to save the Wildlings from the Night King and his army. Her heart broke as she connected the hardships Jon suffered over the years.

Another of Ghost's howls broke the silence.

"We should retire to bed," Sansa said softly as she got up from her chair and laid down her now empty wine goblet on the nearby table housing the flagon and the rest of the goblets.

The Lady of Winterfell straightened her back before saying: "Come the morning, we need to start cleaning up after Littlefinger".

"Yes, my Lady," Arya teased still sitting in her chair.

Sansa rolled her eyes, smiled, and walked over to Arya. She placed a hand on her shoulder and said softly: "Good night, sister".

Arya tapped her hand lightly and responded: "Good night, Sansa".

A/N: Next up is "The Dragon and the Wolf". I'm dreading it. Any pieces of advice?