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Because she agreed, Arya smiled. "Though magic probably helps," she joked a little, quietly taking Regina's hand as they resumed walking. "What sort of price?" she asked, tipping her head up to look at Regina with concern. "It doesn't hurt you, does it?"
When Arya took her hand, Regina's heart contracted and fluttered with affection for this unusual child. "The price depends on the spell. Sometimes it's an unusual ingredient, a bit of blood, life energy. But for something so innocent, it's nothing to worry over. I promise, it hasn't hurt me."
"Okay." Arya nodded somberly, taking Regina at her word. She'd decided to trust her, so that was that. Maybe she had more of Eddard Stark in her than she realized. "Because I wouldn't want anyone to get hurt because of me."
"We may have to agree to disagree about that," Regina replied after a long moment. "If I get hurt looking after you or protecting you, and that keeps you safe, then I've done what I'm supposed to--" as a parent. "Neil feels the same. It's part of how we became friends. In fact, it's why I wanted to surprise him tonight."
"But I don't want to lose anyone else," Arya objected, swallowing hard as her eyes threatened to water. "I want to be able to protect myself. To protect everyone that I care about."
Maternal reflexes had to be quick and Regina's hadn't dulled. No sooner did that first 'but' make it out of Arya's mouth than she'd turned, gently caught Arya's chin so she could look in her eyes, and then stroked her newly smoothed hair to pull her into a hug. "I know, sweetheart. I know. Believe me." She sighed over Arya's head and was abruptly even more grateful for Neil, and hopeful that Charlie would take a liking to Arya. "I'll teach you what I can, and Neil can teach you more. I promise, you won't be helpless if the people you care about are threatened. I just don't want you to have to protect yourself by yourself. That's what I'm here for."
Arya hugged Regina tightly, giving herself a moment or two just to be held, to swallow past the tightness in her throat and push back the urge to cry. She'd already lost most of one family. She wasn't going to lose another.
"We'll protect each other," she murmured, her voice muffled by the hold. "Okay?"
"We'll protect each other," she murmured, her voice muffled by the hold. "Okay?"
"All right." Arya did have skills with her sword, and she had been on her own, taking care of herself. As much as Regina wanted to wrap her back up in swaddling cloths and give her a quiet, peaceful, safe life, the djinn of violence was out of the lamp. The best she could do now was protect her when it showed its face and make sure Arya could protect herself.
"In a way, that's why I wanted you to come with me tonight," she said after a moment, and although it was a sly turn on her intentions, it was neither untrue nor unkind, and Regina was pleased with it. "Neil has a young friend he's trying to protect, but it isn't going well. I think maybe you can help."
"In a way, that's why I wanted you to come with me tonight," she said after a moment, and although it was a sly turn on her intentions, it was neither untrue nor unkind, and Regina was pleased with it. "Neil has a young friend he's trying to protect, but it isn't going well. I think maybe you can help."
Thoroughly curious now, Arya eased back from the embrace and peered up at Regina curiously. "Me?" she prompted. "How can I help?"
Since they needed to continue walking, Regina offered Arya her hand again. "Neil came on a little too strong, and now Charlie is being stubborn about living in a place that isn't safe because she chose it." That, she assumed Arya would understand; Regina knew it to be something she would have done in Charlie's case.
"I would like to have you at the Inn with me but you're too grown--" She gave Arya a small conspiratorial smile -- 'we're better at this' -- and continued, "To share a room with me. However, the rules of this world require children to be Charlie's age to be in a room alone. So, if you were to convince Charlie she would be helping you have some independence by sharing a room with you at the Amagi, we could get her out of danger without her feeling pushed around. What do you think?"
"I would like to have you at the Inn with me but you're too grown--" She gave Arya a small conspiratorial smile -- 'we're better at this' -- and continued, "To share a room with me. However, the rules of this world require children to be Charlie's age to be in a room alone. So, if you were to convince Charlie she would be helping you have some independence by sharing a room with you at the Amagi, we could get her out of danger without her feeling pushed around. What do you think?"
Unsurprisingly, the task involved being clever and sneaky, and that made it immediately more appealing to Arya. "I can do that," she replied with a toothy grin. "I mean, if you think she'd want to." Charm was where Arya fell short, after all--Sansa was always better at that, making people like her, even love her.
"I think she will." Regina didn't know much at all about Charlie, but what she knew was that the girl, like Regina and Arya, had had a difficult childhood, and that she tried to take care of herself. She'd also checked in on Neil to see how he was doing, which told Regina that she cared. Give her a girl like Arya and Charlie would probably do cartwheels to look after her, and if Arya liked her, to be a part of her life.
"You just be yourself. I want to help her and Neil, but you being safe and happy comes first."
"You just be yourself. I want to help her and Neil, but you being safe and happy comes first."
"Okay." Arya had been forced to pretend to be other people to be other people, sometimes it was hard to remember what it meant to be Arya Stark of Winterfell. But she felt safer now, with Regina, than she had felt in a long time, and that made it a little easier. "I can do that."
[ Arya is easier than Charlie, because Arya will trust Regina. And she lived in a world where illnesses killed, so she'll know that Regina's worried without her having to say so. Even so, she keeps it to text, because she doesn't trust her voice. ]
Neil has a fever. I'm taking care of him at an inn. We'll be home when he's well, and I'll let you know how he's doing when I can.
Emma and Evie will be at the house. Please don't run, love. I promise, I'm coming home.
Neil has a fever. I'm taking care of him at an inn. We'll be home when he's well, and I'll let you know how he's doing when I can.
Emma and Evie will be at the house. Please don't run, love. I promise, I'm coming home.
[The face on the network is a little haggard, but very much alive—nothing a few more hours of sleep can’t fix. He offers a tired smile and a wave as he speaks.]
Hey, shortcake. I know Regina sent word I was sick, but I’m doing a hell of a lot better. We’ll be home in a little bit, but Regina’s exhausted from looking after me. I’m tryin’ to get everyone to help me make sure she rests—you know how she can be, tryin’ to take care of everyone no matter how she feels.
Think you could lend a hand with that?
Hey, shortcake. I know Regina sent word I was sick, but I’m doing a hell of a lot better. We’ll be home in a little bit, but Regina’s exhausted from looking after me. I’m tryin’ to get everyone to help me make sure she rests—you know how she can be, tryin’ to take care of everyone no matter how she feels.
Think you could lend a hand with that?
[ Arya does know what sickness can do and it is scary. ]
i promise I won't run.
do they have maesters here?
i promise I won't run.
do they have maesters here?
I'm glad you're feeling better. I was worried.
What can I do?
What can I do?
Well, I asked Alice if she'd get real affectionate--curl up in bed with her so she wouldn't wanna get up, but that's just 'cause she's good at that stuff.
What are some quiet things you like to do? Maybe you guys could read together, or you could sit with Regina while you sharpen your sword--hey, do you know how to sew? I could teach you how to work with leather--it's hell on your hands, but it makes your fingers strong and develops calluses. Plus, custom sheaths for your daggers are cool as hell.
What are some quiet things you like to do? Maybe you guys could read together, or you could sit with Regina while you sharpen your sword--hey, do you know how to sew? I could teach you how to work with leather--it's hell on your hands, but it makes your fingers strong and develops calluses. Plus, custom sheaths for your daggers are cool as hell.
[ There's very little Arya likes to do that's still and quiet, but. ]
I learned needlepoint from my septa but I was never very good at it. My stitches were always crooked. My sister was always better at it.
I learned needlepoint from my septa but I was never very good at it. My stitches were always crooked. My sister was always better at it.
[ Regina wishes Arya didn't understand this as well as she does. She wishes she could protect her from it enough that she could start to forget, instead of relying so much on Arya's firm grasp on how awful the world can be. ]
Thank you, love. There are doctors here. I think that's what you mean by maester. But Neil's sickness
is magical. The magic healers won't have any more skill with it than I do. He should be all right in a few days. Think good thoughts for me.
Needlepoint? ...huh.
It was embroidery for me. [This he admits with a rueful grin.] My uraidh--teacher, guess it's kinda like your septa?--he said it'd help me learn focus, improve my dexterity, and give me a sharper eye.
Could you teach me how to do needlepoint? We'll let Regina watch so she can laugh at me when I mess it up.
It was embroidery for me. [This he admits with a rueful grin.] My uraidh--teacher, guess it's kinda like your septa?--he said it'd help me learn focus, improve my dexterity, and give me a sharper eye.
Could you teach me how to do needlepoint? We'll let Regina watch so she can laugh at me when I mess it up.
maesters heal people when they're sick or injured, and they teach the children of lords their letters and sums and the histories of the seven kingdoms. Robb used to tell me they studied old magic too and that maester Luwin would put a curse on us if our letters were crooked but mother said that was nonsense.
can you fix it? Can you fix magic with magic?
can you fix it? Can you fix magic with magic?
Septas are women who worship the Seven, they usually serve at a lord's house and lead services, but she was our governess too. She taught us things ladies are supposed to know.
[ The face Arya makes, makes it pretty clear what she thinks of that. ]
I'm very bad at it...that's why I named my sword Needle. Sansa and Septa Mordane can keep their needles, I've got a better one.
But I can try.
[ The face Arya makes, makes it pretty clear what she thinks of that. ]
I'm very bad at it...that's why I named my sword Needle. Sansa and Septa Mordane can keep their needles, I've got a better one.
But I can try.
I would side with your mother on that one.
I can't fix it, but he's survived this fever before and this time he has my help.
I can't promise, because I won't lie to you, but I will do my best.
Pray for me that it's good enough?
No kiddin'? That's kinda how it is in my world, at least among the common folk. My king was my uraidh,, but if I hadn't been brought to serve at court I'd have taken my lessons from a priest or priestess of the Thousand Ancients. But, uh...
[He trails off, making a distasteful face.]
Yeah, ladies do more 'n just sew and shit. Well, whatever you know? I'd like to learn. That thing with naming your sword, too...they don't do that in the Five Realms. Maybe some time, you can help me figure out a name for mine.
[He trails off, making a distasteful face.]
Yeah, ladies do more 'n just sew and shit. Well, whatever you know? I'd like to learn. That thing with naming your sword, too...they don't do that in the Five Realms. Maybe some time, you can help me figure out a name for mine.
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