Arya allowed Dae to take her by the hands and lead her to the bench. Dae was so scared, she could tell. Older people, especially her family always tried so hard to pretend around her. Pretend they were happy when they were sad, brave when they were afraid, confident when they knew nothing. Dae was no different, she was worried about Jon, it was tearing her up and even Arya had to admit, she hadn't been this nervous since the war but that was different. The war was chaos and screaming and fire, this was quiet and waiting and in a way was so much worse. They didn't know what happened to Jon or where he was, at least before they knew who their enemies were.
"How are you?"
Dae asked politely. Dae was polite, she was always polite and kind. Jeor Mormont, Jon's Lord Commander of The Kingsguard had said once she had a gentle heart. Arya thought that sounded right. She liked Dae almost instantly, she reminded her of Sansa though less judgmental.
"I'm fine."
"You know can talk to me, right?"
Dae asked her after she answered. Arya only stared at her curiously, as if they weren'lt talking right now.
"This is hard for me, but I can't imagine it is any easier for you. I know that they are saying horrible things about me now. They blame me, and while you know I wouldn't do anything to hurt him, and you, I don't blame them either, it is all so sudden, so inexplicable."
She said and shook her head.
"What I'm trying to say, sweet girl, is that...I am here for you. For whatever you need, I am here."
She told her, taking her hands in to hers. Arya wanted to make a joke, say something clever, she was always saying clever things. She hadn'lt expected the response she gave. Instead she lurched forward and wrapped her arms around Dae and hugged her tight. She wouldn't cry though. Little ladies cried and she was a wolf. She wasn't really sure why she hugged Dae. Maybe it was that she felt Dae needed it, or maybe Arya needed it. Or perhaps it was something else she couldn't quite explain. Arya pulled away after a moment and rubbed her nose with her sleeve with a subtle sniffle.
"My father used to tell me when I was sad, he'd say Arya, you're a Stark and Starks are of the Winter. I never really knew what that meant but it always made me feel better when he'd ask me to say our words, Winter is Coming. You're a Stark now too Dae, they're your words now, so you remember them. Wolves have to stick together, especially in the winter."
Arya paused, her voice softening somewhat as she allowed her mind to drift to her brother.
"I know Jon is gone for now, but he'll be back, he always comes back. Till then its you and me, we're a family, a wolf pack."