Chapter Text
Days, weeks, months, years—who knew? Who knew how long it would take for a particular ashy grey ship bearing a direwolf figurehead to discover what’s on the edge of the world? All of it still remained a mystery to every single living being. But the youngest Stark girl possessed an obstinate eagerness to find out what truly lies beyond the vast Sunset Sea.
It had been a few months since the fall of the reestablished Targaryen dynasty with the new King-Beyond-the-Wall being the cause of its demise. Arya didn’t quite have a say in what his fate would be as she wasn’t inclined to make any significant decisions. All she knew was that Jon was still her brother. He was not a dragon, but a wolf. Despite having a valid claim to the Iron Throne, they all knew that he always belonged in no other place but the North. They also knew that he didn’t want anything more than to stay in the North. And so here they were, all four Stark children bidding each other their farewells.
Sansa got what she wanted. She became a lady, more importantly, she became the Queen in the North. Arya knew she’d do a great job. Hearing all the horrors her older sister had been through during their time of separation, Arya assumes that she has surely learned a lot. She saw how Sansa led the forces during the battle and admired her rationality even if their resources were scarce. Bran on the other hand, became King of the Six Kingdoms. It was a very unexpected conclusion for the realm, but then again Arya could care less about who ruled. Her younger brother wasn’t the same one she knew before they left for the capital but instead he was rather odd and always bore this mysterious smile that implied that he knew all the answers to everything. He wasn’t like the same sweet Bran who used to climb every tower in Winterfell. But she trusted him and she knew he was now a wise young man. Westeros might finally have a chance to thrive with him as their King.
The grey-eyed girl was now boarded on her ship, her own galley which she named Nymeria, after her once loyal friend. Ever since she was just a child, it was her dream to commandeer her very own fleet and sail through the many seas, discovering all these countless uncharted territories. And now, a girl has fulfilled her dream.
With the sound of leather soles hitting wood, the youngest Stark girl walked towards the edge of the deck overlooking the limitless sea. As far as grey eyes could see, their first stop wouldn’t be of view for more than a week. She rested her gloved hands on the ledge as the salty breeze blew on her pale, bare skin. The girl would take a deep breath in as she shut her eyes, the familiar scent of the sea bringing back memories to when she first rode a ship to the eastern continent of Essos. A rush of adrenaline coursed through her veins as she remembered the excitement that came with riding a ship towards a place she has never been before. All the hardships and lessons she encountered in Braavos were definitely worth it. If it hadn’t been for a certain man she met all those years ago, Arya wouldn’t be as skilled as she is now.
These memories were quickly shut off when she heard a group of men yell just below the deck she was on. From her standing position, she swiftly turned around and took a few steps forward. “To Arya Stark!” One man announced as he raised his hand that was holding what seemed like a mug of beer. Various voices uttered and exclaimed the same words in symphony as they nodded towards the direction where the young assassin stood. A one-sided smile spread across her face as she gave them a grateful nod before the group of Northerners downed whatever liquor it was they were having. She was truly fortunate to lead these men just like the way her late father did. It seemed as if she garnered the same amount of respect as the honorable Ned Stark once had. For them to eagerly join her in this expedition without a question was something she was thankful for.
“Eight more days until we reach the Lonely Light, my lady.” A tall, bearded man spoke beside Arya as he looked down at her with smiling eyes. It was Ser Rodner, a reliable knight sent by Sansa who swore to protect her sister and assist her in leading the ship. Arya didn’t really know the man, but she remembered growing up around him and his family, the Cassels. That was somewhat enough for her to be able to rely on him. The girl tried to shake off the queasy feeling she experienced as the knight called her a lady. She simply let it pass this time. “I’ve heard that’s the farthest castle that is still part of Westeros, is it?” She’d now turn around and face the sea once more, only meeting the man’s eyes for a few seconds before solely focusing on the deep shade of blue. “‘Tis, my lady. The Farwynds have been long overdue for a visit, but the Greyjoys don’t seem to give a damn about them.” Rodner shook his head as he let out a scratchy chuckle. “Must be why Queen Sansa asked for us to pay them a visit. None of the other houses received any word from them for quite some time.” Aside from the fact that he kept calling her a lady, the knight was a bit too talkative for Arya’s liking. He was getting on her nerves. Yet, she knew he was simply trying to gain her trust and respect. And for that, she cursed Sansa in the back of her mind for urging her to have a sitter accompany her along her journey. It was as if she hadn’t seen how capable the younger Stark was during the battle that took place not long ago. For that, Arya resisted the urge to roll her eyes.
All she did was purse her lips and nod, still keeping her eyes glued to the infinite horizon. She could care less about the Farwynds in all honesty, it’s not like they were important. But she was doing this for her sister, to whom she felt like she still owed a lot to for all the years she tormented her. Thus, the reason for their first destination. Apart from that, Arya also wanted to inquire about the many things they would encounter on their journey. She wanted to prove all the tales she heard from Old Nan about the sea dragons, krakens and leviathans lurking underneath them. The grey-eyed girl assumed the Farwynds would know, considering that they live in the middle of the ocean with the nearest sign of land being miles and miles away. She also heard about the few people who went on the same journey as her and never came back, but Arya was determined to be the first successful person to do so. Her ancestor, Brandon the Shipwright, Elissa Farman, who was said to have stolen three dragon eggs that came to be Daenerys’s dragons, and even Rhaenys Targaryen herself had considered it. Just the mere thought of riding on the back of Meraxes flying over the Sunset Sea made her grin in excitement.
The sensation of her face stretching brought her back into reality as she looked up at Ser Rodner with a weak smile. It seemed as if a few minutes had passed with not-so-comfortable silence in the air. “Well, Ser Rodner, I trust that this voyage will run smoothly upon our arrival?” She’d tilt her head up to face the man as she asked the question, subtly beginning to take a step away from the highest deck. The knight then bowed his head as a sign of agreement before following her suit as the two captains made their way down to where most of the crew were. Some were managing the sails, others were transporting boxes of their rations and the rest were carrying beers and rums and the finest Dornish Wine one could ever consume. What a great way to start their expedition. “Looks like our men are as prepared as they can ever be.” Arya knew he was trying to initiate some small talk and for that, she quietly sighed. “They should be. We don’t know how long it will take until we reach the edge of the map.” The assassin answered in an authoritative tone as she linked her hands behind her back and stood at a ready stance. Everyone on the ship knew not to mess with the Stark as it was very clear she could kill anyone that stood in her way. Hells, she defeated the Night King. Could there be any reason not to fear her?
From the corner of her eye, she saw a glimpse of worry on Rodner’s face after she spoke her stern reply. Perfect. It was the reaction she was hoping to get. Arya wanted him to know who truly was in charge even if he was sent to be in charge of her. A dumb proposition, really. “Correct, my la—” Before he could finish, Arya cut him off. “You don’t have to call me that, you know.” She started. “I am not a lady, I would prefer it if you drop the formalities and simply call me Arya.” Her body was half-tilted facing him while her hands were still clasped behind her back. A smug grin was on her face while she had her chin lifted up as if she were challenging the knight. Rodner on the other hand had his lips parted in surprise but simply nodded again. “Alright then, Arya.” He replied, a respectful smile now spread across his lips. The man then cleared his throat and looked down towards the men and women who were going about their day. “This trip will take us a lot of time, what do you intend to do to keep yourself busy?” Arya had a neutral expression on and it was hard to know what exactly it was she was thinking of. After a few seconds of silence, she replied, “Whatever it is captains must do; manage the ship, give orders to the men and plan our voyage. Now then, Ser, shall we head on to the officer’s quarters to discuss with the rest of them?”