Arya Stark stood before the Red Woman, her head held high in defiance. She was bruised and battered, having gone through a great deal since leaving Winterfell.
"Arya Stark," Melisandre said, walking up to her new acquisition, "I am sorry for your loss. I know what it's like to lose family at such a young age."
"How do you know I'm Arya Stark?" Arya replied, an icy bite to her voice.
Melisandre raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Why, are you not Arya Stark?"
"Maybe I am," she replied, "Maybe I'm not. But what I do know is you paid The Hound a hefty ransom for me, without even knowing for sure I was Arya Stark. Seems like a pretty stupid thing to do." She grinned, believing she was in control.
The Red Woman chuckled, looking deep into Arya's eyes. "I have seen you in the flames. You are Arya Stark. There is no question." Arya tried to respond, but Melisandre cut her off. "We are not here to bicker. You have talent, Arya Stark, talent valuable to the Lord of Light." Arya rolled her eyes, but Melisandre continued. "I need you, Arya. Will you serve R'holler?"
"Do I have a choice," Arya countered, "You bought me. Last I checked, slaves don't get to choose."
"You are not a ****," Melisandre replied calmly, "You can leave whenever you want."
"Well in that case," Arya said, giving a mock bow and turning to leave. Really, she was just curious to see if she could.
"Since you were a little girl you've wanted to be a knight," Melisandre stated, stopping Arya in her tracks. "Every day since then you've wanted a sword and to know how to use it."
"So!" Arya shot back, but her cold demeanor was gone. The red woman had stuck a chord with Arya, a yearning to fight.
"The Lord of Light needs your talents. Under my care, you will learn how to fight. You will learn how to be invisible, how to gave into the fires and see the future. You will become a priestess of the Lord."
Arya was speechless. It was all she ever wanted, to be trained, to avenge her father. But she would also have to give up the gods of her fathers, have to side with her brother's enemy.
"Choose wisely, Arya Stark. Your future is decided tonight."
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