a/n sorry this took so long i promise i didnt forget about this story but im a college student and things got super busy, but it is almost summer time so my writing pace should be picking up. i hope you guys like the first Arya chapter, but fyi it will still be a few chapter until arya and gendry meet. anyway hope you all enjoy

Chapter 3 – Arya

1845 –1853

Arya was born on January 10th, 1845 on her family estate in the town of Winterfell in upstate New York, Arya was the Starks fourth child and their second daughter. Arya was wild girl; she got on much better with her four brothers Robb, Jon, Brann and Rickon. She never interested in any of her of her sister Sansa's girly pursuits. She preferred to spend her time outside hunting and adventuring in the vast woods surrounding Winterfell. Arya was particularly close with her brother Jon who has five years older and her brother Brannwho was one year younger. Brann loved climbing trees always daring Arya to climb higher; while Jon was always there to catch them. It was Jon who really taught Arya how to hunt they started when she was only five and Arya always had an eye for shooting. Her mother would have complained more if they didn't bring in so much meat to eat, with six children they could always use the extra food.

The Stark family had always been involved in the abolition movement, Ned Stark was a very honorable man and to him it was clear slavery was immoral. He was also a patriot and was highly disturbed by the fact that slavery existed in a country he loved so much. Some of Arya earliest memories were of handing out abolitionist pamphlets with her parents and siblings.

Late in 1851 the Starks started taking in escaped slaves and helping them cross the border into Canada where they would be free. The year before the fugitive slave act was passed which allowed southern slave owners to recover escaped slaves anywhere inside the United States with the help of the Federal Government. Ned and Catelyn Stark like many northerners were appalled by the lengths taken by the slave hunters and became even more involved in abolition. Arya was only six so no one thought to explain any of this to her, but she did have in drilled into her that she was never to mention their guests to any of the neighbors and to find her brother or parents if she spotted any strangers on the property. Arya felt bad for their guest who had to stay in the Starks cellar for their entire stay, she felt especially bad for the children, though she liked how her mother actually encouraged her to hunt now.

Arya didn't really understand the seriousness of the situation until she was eight and on a trip into town when she was eight. She was at the tailors with her mother and her sister Sansa. The tailor was a free black man named the Jory and the Starks had been frequenting as long as Arya could remember. Arya was playing with his children in the corner of the room as Sansa admired the final touches being made to their mother's new dress. It was a peaceful day and although Arya did not generally like shopping she was content to play with the tailors children.

The tranquil scene abruptly ended when the door burst open and three strange men entered the shop. Arya noticed how Jory demeanor immediately changed, he seemed frightened to Arya.

"Gentlemen," he said, " You've made a mistake." The men ignored him and continued to approach.

"Gentlemen, I am a free man!" He continued sounding desperate now. The men continued to ignore him grabbing him and manhandling him towards the door. "No! This is a mistake! You are wrong, I'm free!" he continued to protest sounding terrified. Before anyone could really process what happened they were gone.

Catelyn grabbed her children and rushed home, "Ned!" She called when she arrived.

"Yes dear?" Ned replied confused by his wife's tone.

"Ned it was horrible!" she continued "The slave hunters dragged Jory right from shop in broad daylight! How can they do this he is no escaped slave, we knew his father!" She was clearly upset and speaking so fast Ned could barely understand.

"Calm down Cat, tell me exactly what happened." Ned said in his deep soothing voice. Catelyn recounted their outing and by the end of the story usual Ned's composed expression had changed, Arya had never seen him look so grave.

"Mamma, what happened? Why did they take Jory?" Arya questioned, she was confused and her parents' obvious distress made her nervous. Upon hearing question Arya's parents realized the girls were still present and told them to go outside and occupy themselves as they hand adult things to discuss. Arya hated being dismissed when she had so many questions, she new what slavery was but she didn't understand how those men could take Jory when he was no ones slaves, just their tailor. But she was always being told good children were seen not heard and she knew better than to disobey her parents when they were so distressed. She went find her brothers and tell them of her day. She found Jon first and when she told him the story it was him who answered her questions. Jon was only thirteen but he was a smart kid ad he liked to read the abolitionist literature. He told he about the fugitive slave act and how it allowed southern slave owners to track down escaped slaves in the north, and how the slave hunters could make extra money by kidnapping free black and sell into slavery. Arya was horrified when she fully understood what had happened to Jory.

Jory's wife and children were wife and children were their house guests the next night and when they vanished a few days later Arya understood that her family had helped them escape across the border into Canada.