Though it took a lot to pry Arya and Aegon apart, eventually it was managed with Jon literally dragging Arya away to the godswood. Where he watched as she sank down before the tree and just sat there for hours. Jon was left trying to figure out what he had just witnessed and failing utterly to decphipher anything that had just happened. While Arya tried to pray, to figure out the connection that had just been felt for Aegon. Never had she felt that before,a so instant connection that it left her wanting to run back to where Aegon was and go to him. All of Arya screamed for her to do that in fact. So much so that Arya actually headed away to do thus.
Jon grabbed Arya before she could leave, somehow sensing that she was going to Aegon. Instead Jon dragged her to where their family was waiting. Bran, Sansa, Rickon and Jaime watched as they entered the room while Jon pulled Arya into the room.
"Arya,whats going on?" Sansa moved to Arya's side but Jon scowled at her and she stopped. Arya barely heard her sister and focused on Jon, who was closely looking at her.
"Jon."
"Arya, tell me what just happened with Aegon?"
"I...don't know...I just know that I love him."
"Love...Arya, you just met him. How could you think your in love with him."
"I don't think, I know. I know I love him just like I love you. Why don't you believe me?"
"Arya, I just want you safe...and what just happened does not inspire that your safe in my mind...I love you, Arya, so much and I would not see you hurt."
"Jon, I know how much you love me. You would have broken all of your vows and ridden from the Wall with an army if not for the treachery of those bastards on the Wall. I have never doubted how much you love me...So why do you doubt me?"
"I don't. I would never doubt me."
"Yes, you do. You doubt that I an chose for myself.. That I know what is best for me...And I do know. I know that Aegon will..is making me happy. I haven't been happy since I lost father. Please, can't you be happy for us. Your our brother and this is not history repeating itself."
"It is because I am your brother that I worry...Its not doubt, its just worry..What if history does happen again? What if I lose you?...Your all I have left, are my everything Arya, you always have been. I loved Robb dearly but from the moment you were born, I have loved you above all else. You are my sister despite everything and there is nothing that I wouldn't do for you. Nothing I wouldn't sacifrice for you."
Sansa tried not to be hurt by the fact that Jon had not once mentioned her, reminding herself that they had never been close as children but it didn't help. As Sansa had tried to get close to Jon after she had returned to Winterfell, wanting to be close to all of her remaining family even if he was now a cousin. Jon had spent nearly all of his time with Arya though and clearly did not approve of Jaime's prescence at her side so rarely bothered to even try. Sansa knew that if Arya had tried even half as much as she had, Jon would have done whatever it was Arya wanted. Not caring about Jaime, if it was known that Arya had also taken him as lover. The two of them had always been close and even now the two of them rarely tolerated anyone coming between them. Even her. Arya spent so much time at the Wall sometimes that Sansa went weeks without her sister and that hurt. Arya was now both her lover and her sister but it was like Sansa had even less of her then before and not more.
Bran looked at Sansa and felt like wincing for his eldest sister but refrained as he did not want to hurt his sister. Nor did he want to be forced to discuss the relantionship between Arya, Sansa and Jaime. Not even now that it would soon come to end.
Jon turned to Bran."You knew, didn't you?"
"Yes..I saw it long ago. Arya and Aegon are meant to be...Just like Lyanna and Rhaegar were." Bran had seen both couples and was still amazed by the level of love between the four of them. Breathtaking.
"But unlike them, Aegon and I will not start a war. I am not betrothed and you now know that I go willing to Aegon so no death or stupidity...Jon...He makes me feel."
"I thought you didn't want to feel. Its why your with them," Jon's flung arm in Sansa and Jaime direction clearly indicated what he was referring to. Who were deeply shocked that he knew and that he was speaking of it in front of everyone. Before either could come up with something to say though, Arya spoke.
"I didn't want to feel again but...Aegon makes me unafraid of it. He makes me feel so much, in just the moments that we were together and I should run because of it but I...feel safe with it. Happy...You told me that you wanted my happiness, that's why you didn't want me with Sansa and Jaime. Why are you angry?"
"I want your happiness, Arya. More than anything in this world but...Aegon ...History is repeating itself. What if you die? I could not bare that."
"Jon." Arya moved to her brother's side and into his arms." I will never leave you. Ever. History is not repeating. There will be no war. No death. Aegon and I will marry and we will live happily together...Eventually I may even give him children, when I'm ready...I am not Lyanna and he is not Rhaegar." Arya cupped Jon's face and forced him to look at her in her eyes."I will be fine and I will be happy."
Jon wanted to look away so badly but he couldn't as thus he saw the certain in her eyes and worst of all her love. Jon knew that Arya loves Aegon and that was all Jon had ever wanted for her. It was what he had hated her relationship with Sansa and Jaime after all, hated that she was hiding from life with them. So he should be deliriously happy that she had finally found love but instead he was terrified that she would meet the same fate as his mother.
"Arya..I am terrified."
"I know. I know."
Arya didn't know how to reassure Jon any better then what she had tried so she just stood in his arms.
Bran watched his siblings for a moment before speaking up, knowing as he did it that he was sealing their fates and thus didn't look at Sansa or Jaime at all." I have seen this, Jon and I have seen what happens."
Jon instantly looked at Bran, intent on only one thing. For while he loved Aegon dearly, only one thing mattered to him.:"Does she live? Is she happy?"
"Yes. Arya and Aegon are happy together for many years and have many children. Who will rule over Westores for longer then we ruled the North so far. Arya will die an old woman and she will gladly reunite with Aegon. Her life will be filled with love and happiness and joy ."
Arya smiled in relief while Jon gripped[ed Arya to him tightly while trying not to both sag in relief and run away with her. Arya would be happy but she would also go south and Jon feared that. Feared for her because all the Starks that went North didn't return and because Arya would be going so far from his side but in the end Jon cared more about her happiness then everything else. So he gently cupped Arya's face, kissed her tenderly and gave her away.
"You have my blessing and my permission."
Arya kissed him in joy then ran off to find Aegon, who was waiting since he saw Jon take her away. Knowing that Arya would come back to him soon, unable to stay away.
Jon tried not to stop breathing after realizing what he had just done while Rickon throw his glass at the wall. He had just lost his sister.
"How could you let him marry her? He's a kneeler. A southern. Everyone that goes south doesn't come home." Shaggydog growled as Rickon became more and more agitated and the direwolf started to rise from his sit by the fire with Summer and ghost. Bran quickly wragged into Shaggydog and calmed him.
"You know about us." Jon looked at Sansa and grimaced as he realized that he had let the cat out of the bag about that.
"Yes."
"How long?...Wait, since last year right.. that's when you started to keep her at your side constantly when you came here, even spending the nights together and when you started bring her to the Wall more." Jon looked away, upset at having upset her even if he would not apology. Since the thought of the Kingslayer touching Arya filled him with disgust.
"Smart work, Tageryen. Using Arya's love for you to keep her form us." Ghost rose and prowled around Jaime, who stood very still. Well are of how quick the direwolves could strike and remembering how Grey Wind had reacted to him years ago.
Jon moved to grip his sword and Bran grabbed his hand, preventing him from touching it. "Don't, Jon."
Sansa wanted to berate Jon but realized that would get her nowhere save for Arya being furious at her and right now Sansa needed Aryato not be angry at being angry at Jon would not get her that. Arya loved Jon more than anything. The fact that Arya would choose Jon over her went without question so Sansa just grabbed Jaime's hand and dragged him out of the room. Intent on finding Arya so they could talk to her