Chapter XIV: Arya II – A Visit to White Harbor
The white walls of the city were gleaming in the sun as the Sea Wolf approached the mouth of the White Knife. It felt like a defeat, but after two tries, resupplying first at Lannisport and then at Pyke, Arya had run out of funds and her men out of patience. The storms had left their toll on the ship. And so they had limped along the coast of Westeros back towards their home port, where the Sea Wolf had been built and where they still knew every bolt and plank in her body. It was time to return home, for the men to visit their families and for Arya to reconsider her approach.
When they pulled into port, the harbormaster bowed before her and called her “Your Grace,” which only served to remind Arya of why she had left. She was no princess, no matter how many of her siblings wore crowns.
“Welcome back,” Lord Manderly said when she arrived at the New Castle. “Your sister will be pleased to hear you’re alive and well. Do you plan to go visit her?”
Arya shook her head. “I came to restock, to get the ship repaired in a proper shipyard, and to look at the maps you have here. I’d also like to talk with some of the captains. Going to Winterfell wouldn’t be of any use.”
Manderly nodded understandingly. “Still, you should consider writing to her.”
Arya did consider it. And reconsidered it. In the end, she even wrote, but it was a short message. She loved her sister, but she just didn’t have much to tell her.
Dear Sister, she wrote. I tried to cross the Sunset Sea twice, but had to return due to bad weather. I’m currently resupplying at White Harbor and the ship is undergoing repairs. I expect to ship out again soon (and to succeed this time). Give Jon my best when you can.
Arya
P.S. You need a proper deep water harbor in the west, Sister.
But while the repairs went well and the men enjoyed their time off, Arya had a harder time of it. She studied sea maps, weather charts, ship’s logs and captain’s journals to get a better understanding of why she had failed. She noted down where and when to expect doldrums and storms, and piece by painful piece, she assembled her plans, charted courses and chose one.
When the ship was ready, so was she. She wouldn’t fail again.
Fin