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"I will" They broke apart and looked at each other aardly "Uncle Benjen said to send you to the stables if I saw you," Robb finally said

"I have one more farewell to make," Jon told him

"Then I haven’t seen you," Robb replied Jon left hions and wolves and horses It was a short walk to the are across to the Keep

Arya was in her rooer than she was Ny Arya would only have to point, and the ould bound across the room, snatch up some wisp of silk in her jaws, and fetch it back But when she smelled Ghost, she sat down on her haunches and yelped at thelanced behind her, saw Jon, and juht around his neck "I was afraid you were gone," she said, her breath catching in her throat "They wouldn’t let ood-bye"

"What did you do now?" Jon was aled herself fro I was all packed and everything" She gestured at the huge chest, no more than a third full, and at the clothes that were scattered all over the roos weren’t properly folded, she says A proper southron lady doesn’t just throw her clothes inside her chest like old rags, she says"

"Is that what you did, little sister?"

"Well, they’re going to get all messed up anyway," she said "Who cares how they’re folded?"

"Septa Mordane," Jon told her "I don’t think she’d like Nyarded hiolden eyes "It’s just as well I have so for you to take with you, and it has to be packed very carefully"

Her face lit up "A present?"

"You could call it that Close the door"

Wary but excited, Arya checked the hall "Nymeria, here Guard" She left the wolf out there to warn of intruders and closed the door By then Jon had pulled off the rags he’d wrapped it in He held it out to her

Arya’s eyes ide Dark eyes, like his "A sword," she said in a srey leather, supple as sin Jon drew out the blade slowly, so she could see the deep blue sheen of the steel "This is no toy," he told her "Be careful you don’t cut yourself The edges are sharp enough to shave with"

"Girls don’t shave," Arya said

"Maybe they should Have you ever seen the septa’s legs?"

She giggled at him "It’s so skinny"

"So are you," Jon told her "I had Mikken make this special The bravos use swords like this in Pentos and Myr and the other Free Cities It won’t hack a man’s head off, but it can poke hih"

"I can be fast," Arya said

"You’ll have to work at it every day" He put the sword in her hands, showed her how to hold it, and stepped back "How does it feel? Do you like the balance?"

"I think so," Arya said

"First lesson," Jon said "Stick theave hi, but Jon found hi like an idiot "I knohich end to use," Arya said A doubtful look crossed her face "Septa Mordane will take it away from me"

"Not if she doesn’t know you have it," Jon said

"Who will I practice with?"

"You’ll find so is a true city, a thousand times the size of Winterfell Until you find a partner, watch how they fight in the yard Run, and ride,And whatever you do"

Arya kneas coether

"don’ttellSansa!"

Jon messed up her hair "I will miss you, little sister"

Suddenly she looked like she was going to cry "I wish you were co with us"

"Different roads so better now He was not going to let hio I’ll spendchaer"

Arya ran to hi "Put down the sword first," Jon warned her, laughing She set it aside almost shyly and showered him with kisses

When he turned back at the door, she was holding it again, trying it for balance "I alot," he told her "All the best swords have names"

"Like Ice," she said She looked at the blade in her hand "Does this have a nauess?" Jon teased "Your very favorite thing"

Arya seemed puzzled at first Then it caether:

"Needle!"

Theride north