when she was just a girl

[persequor]

Wʜᴏ: Arya and you
Wʜᴀᴛ: Exploring
Wʜᴇɴ: Today
Wʜᴇʀᴇ: Everywhere a curious kid can get into. You can set up the scene, just let me know where we're at!


[ Had it been anyone else but her mother explaining where they were and what to expect here, Arya would not have believed them. The concept was hard to understand much less swallow. But if there is someone in the world she still trusts wholeheartedly it is her mother. She would not lie to Arya. Not about something like this.

Thus after she found a moment to wander away from Catelyn, she decided to explore the castle, Needle at her side. If she was to be here for a while, she needs to know what can be found. She had always enjoyed discovering new places, talking to new people. Maybe a day to tire herself out was all she needed to sleep through the night again. ]

Comments

[persequor]

[ That sounds…so dull. ]

Is that it?

[chippedcup]

Well, no. He has all these adventures and battles evil monsters and meets a woman who I'm thinking is a princess in disguise that helps him defeat a dragon. It's actually very fast-paced.

[persequor]

[ Sounds better. ]

Does he win?

[chippedcup]

Against the dragon, of course. But if he gets the girl yet, I don't know. I'm only halfway through the book.

[persequor]

I don't care about the girl. Facing a dragon is a better story.

[chippedcup]

Do you think? I've never thought of it that way. I suppose facing a dragon does take a lot of bravery.

[persequor]

And luck and skill to survive.

[ She remembers the stories of the dragons, particularly of the Field of Fire. None were lucky there. ]

[chippedcup]

You would think that if someone had bravery, they would have those too. Because if they didn't, they wouldn't last long. Be eaten in a second.

[persequor]

Yet there are still men who have only bravery and no cunning. They're the ones who charge in first and usually don't return. You would think the others would learn from them, but they don't.

[chippedcup]

Because they're men. Sometimes men can be incredibly stupid. [She would know.]

[persequor]

[ Arya snickers. ]

[chippedcup]

[Belle grins at that.] ...So, can you actually use that sword?

[persequor]

[ She drops a hand to the hilt. ]

Yes.

[chippedcup]

I always wanted to learn... it can be very useful. But my father seemed to think I was best suited towards being a lady.

[persequor]

My father did as well. But I told him I didn't want to be a lady. He found me a teacher.

[chippedcup]

I love him dearly, but he's not the best listener. I ended up betrothed to a man named Gaston.

[persequor]

What did you do?

[chippedcup]

Took the first opportunity I could to get out of there. I made a deal with a magical imp to protect my town from a war, if I went with him and became his housemaid forever.

They didn't want me to, of course, but I decide my own fate. I was going to save everybody in my town, even if it meant I was magically tied for the rest of my life. And well... I wouldn't have to marry Gaston.

[persequor]

But you're still doing what someone else says. You just picked someone different. Is that really better?

[chippedcup]

I'll admit, it's probably still not the best, but... It's better than being married to a man against your will.

[persequor]

[ She nods. ]

I don't think I'd ever want to marry anyone. Especially not against my will.

[chippedcup]

[She nods too.] It's not a nice feeling to have it looming over you.

Right now, I'm mostly a free woman, since I'm here. As free as someone could be in this Castle. And before that, I was traveling my world. The imp broke our deal.

[persequor]

You got lucky.

[chippedcup]

Pretty much. Depends on how lucky you consider that he kicked me out because I fell in love with him. [Bitter? Just a bit.]

[persequor]

[ Arya blinks in surprise. ]

You did? How could you love someone who kept you prisoner?