Jon leaves for the Night's Watch

Together they sat on a pile of straw, hidden from the castle in the only place Arya could feel safe. It was their secret and here they sat for what may have been the last time.

"Arya, you don't have to tell me what happened, if you don't want to," Jon said softly. He was always so considerate, Arya thought.

Her gaze shied away from his and a pink shone in her cheeks. Bashfully, she began. Quietly at first, unsure of herself. She looked to him occasionally, gauging his reaction. Assured of his loving acceptance, she included every lurid detail. At last, it was over. Arya could breathe again, she thought.

After a few anxious seconds, Jon spoke. "And... he came inside you? Have you seen the Maester?"

"Maester Luwin gave me Moon Tea, Jon. It tasted awful."

He laughed. "And the other? On your face, you said?"

"Oh, Jon." She started to cry and reached out for him. He took her in his arms in the most caring, gentle embrace she had ever known. When, at last, they began to separate Arya glimpsed the bulge that had grown in his trousers. Diverting her gaze to the ground, she hoped Jon hadn't seen her.

"I have something for you, before I go. Might make you feel better," Jon began, withdrawing a long bundle. "I had Mikken forge it specially for you.

Arya's eyes widened with excitement. She flung the cloth wrapping to the floor in an instant and sat gaping at her new sword. She stood, or at least tried, in the confines of their hiding spot and began to twirl the sword in her left hand, stabbing at imagined enemies.

"Something to remember me by, sis'," Jon said thoughtfully before Arya hugged him with all her might. She held him tight and only after what felt like forever did she whisper lightly in his ear, "I'll miss you, Jon."

They sat in silence a moment longer. Arya closed her eyes tight, wishing they could just stay like that forever - no Night's Watch, no King's Landing, none of that - just the two of them, together.

"How could I ever thank you, Jon? This means so much to me," she said, gazing into his dark eyes. Arya sat still, thinking long and hard on what to say in that moment. At last, "I want to give you something, Jon, to remember me by."