❈ | 026 | Video

[fearcutsdeeperthanswords]

[The video clicks on, and those unaffected will notice that Arya looks different. When she arrived, her head was shaved bald; she hasn't kept up with that, but yesterday it was no longer than her chin. Today, it's well on its way past her shoulders again, and much less messy than one might expect. And she's in a proper northern dress. Hell has frozen over.

The expression on her face, at least, is a very familiar scowl.]

You can't put princesses in dungeons!

[It's an angry huff, but there's a reason this is public, instead of private to Arthur.] My brother is King in the North, and he'd cut off your stupid head himself for jailing me. [Behind her, Nymeria gives a quiet warning growl, more annoyed than distressed. That hasn't changed, either: they still feed off each others emotions. Arya tosses hair over her shoulder, and keeps glaring at the screen.]

Robb's a better king than Arthur can ever be. Robb never put little girls in dungeons. [Not that she likes thinking of herself as a little girl, but.] He's fair, and smart, and not paranoid like some kings.

[This is perhaps brought on by the last flood, which was very close but not quite like home, and she misses her family. And anger is less annoying to her than petulance.] You all think Arthur's good just because he's a king, but he's not. He's just a stupid craven.

[Private to Arthur]

You give me Needle back, or the next time I buy poison, it will be for you!

Comments

[fearcutsdeeperthanswords]

Some say it's a woman's weapon. It's braver to kill with steel.

But he took my sword.

[deadly_ned]

First, I would like to issue a general blanket statement that there isn't any proof that women have their own weapons or are any braver or more cowardly than men, which is a fact I take for granted but apparently is still somewhat of a thing here.

And I think it takes more bravery to live than to kill.


Do you need a sword?

[fearcutsdeeperthanswords]

[Oh Ned. She likes you.]

I need my sword.

[deadly_ned]

Why do you need your sword?

[fearcutsdeeperthanswords]

Because it's mine, because Jon gave it to me and it was taken once and I want it back.

[deadly_ned]

That's why you want your sword.

Why do you need your sword?


If you can tell me why you need it I'll go talk to Arthur about giving it back.

[fearcutsdeeperthanswords]

No, that's why I need it. To protect myself. To practice.

Because Jon gave it to me.

[deadly_ned]

Who's attacking you that you need to protect yourself?

[fearcutsdeeperthanswords]

Do you trust everyone here?

[deadly_ned]

No.

But I trust them not to murder me in my sleep.

And I trust in the lock on my door and the dog sleeping on my bed.

[fearcutsdeeperthanswords]

If Nymeria kills someone, Arthur will take her away, too. [And then she really will kill him.]

[deadly_ned]

That's usually what they do to dogs that kill.

What are you afraid is going to happen if you don't have your sword?

[fearcutsdeeperthanswords]

Nymeria is not a dog!

...I'm not afraid of anything. [She does not sound as positive as she usually does about that.]

[deadly_ned]

I'm sorry. What's Nymeria?

So you want your sword. You don't need it. Sorry, I'm just...trying to phrase your argument as best I can in my head in a way that would sound convincing to others.

[fearcutsdeeperthanswords]

She's a direwolf. She's not a pet, and she's not a stupid dog, she's of the north. [She's me, she doesn't add.]

I want it. [It's a concession, but she's no less fierce for it.] My brother made it for me.

[deadly_ned]

That's my mistake, then. Direwolves don't exist where I come from, I don't have an accurate frame of reference from which to look.

So...I think what we need to do is treat it less like an actual weapon made for stabbing people and more of a sentimental heirloom that you'll be extremely unhappy without and unhappy inmates don't graduate.

[fearcutsdeeperthanswords]

Would you tell him that?

[deadly_ned]

Are you going to stab him if I do?

[fearcutsdeeperthanswords]

No. [Probably.]

[deadly_ned]

If there's going to be stabbing I think I need to know about it before I ask your warden for your sword back.

How about...if I can convince him, whenever you feel like stabbing him I'll let you in the, the, um.

CTS...?

I think that's what it's called.

And we can make a dozen Arthurs to stab in terrible gruesome ways.

[fearcutsdeeperthanswords]

[omg Ned. You are her favorite.] I promise. We can do that.

[deadly_ned]

I'll talk to him.

[fearcutsdeeperthanswords]

Thank you, Ned.

[deadly_ned]

You're welcome.

[And a quick haphazard search of the network for the swordless princess' name..]

..You're welcome, Arya.

[fearcutsdeeperthanswords]

[And, to the shock and awe of all, she doesn't correct him! She just grins, and answers to Arya, and kills the feed.

why can't this be canon]