Arya Stark had never been an obedient child.
But this was the first time she actively disobeyed her father out of fear… for someone else.
Her father, Lord Eddard Stark, was preparing to ride out with Ser Rodrik to search the woods again.
Arya watched from the shadows of the courtyard—
heart pounding, hands shaking.
She knew exactly who he was looking for.
Leo Pendragon.
The Shadow.
The man who saved her life.
And Arya Stark refused to let the man who killed a bear with his hands be treated like a common threat.
Not when she owed him her life.
Not when she promised him she'd keep his secret.
Arya's Plan — A Child's Trick, A Stark's Courage
She sprinted into the Great Keep, barefoot and silent.
Straight to Jon.
Jon Snow, already preparing his gear for the Night's Watch, turned sharply when Arya burst into his room.
He had never seen her this pale.
"Arya? What's wrong?"
She grabbed his sleeve.
"Jon—Father's going to look for the Shadow."
Jon froze.
Everything inside him went still.
"Why?" he whispered.
Arya swallowed.
"Because I ran off yesterday. And a bear almost killed me. Leo… he saved me. He killed the bear. Carried me. Brought me back."
Jon's eyes widened, horrified.
He knelt, gripping her shoulders.
"A bear attacked you? Arya—why didn't you say anything?"
"Because I promised," she whispered fiercely.
"Leo helped me. He's not bad. He just… stays alone."
Jon's jaw tightened.
He remembered the weight of that strange sword in his hands.
The kindness in the stranger's voice.
The unnatural strength.
Leo wasn't an enemy.
Jon knew that instinctively.
Arya tugged him again.
"Help me stop Father. Please."
Jon closed his eyes.
And then he nodded.
Arya Confronts Her Father
She ran outside again, intercepting Ned just as he mounted his horse.
"Father—wait!"
Ned frowned, dismounting at once.
"Arya? What is it now?"
She stood straight—trying to speak like a grown-up, the way Sansa could.
"Father… don't look for him."
Ned blinked.
"Don't look for who?"
"The man in the woods."
Ned's expression hardened.
"Arya. You saw him."
Her silence was an answer.
He knelt in front of her, voice soft but commanding.
"Arya… that man might be dangerous."
"No," she said stubbornly. "He saved me."
Ned's breath stopped.
His eyes widened.
He gripped her arms gently—but tighter than usual.
"Arya. Tell me exactly what happened."
She shook her head.
"I promised him I wouldn't tell."
"Arya—"
"He saved my life, Father," she whispered.
"He held a bear's jaws apart. With his hand. And he didn't hurt me. He gave me food. He let me sleep in his camp so I'd be safe."
Ned's heart dropped into his stomach.
A man who could break a bear's skull.
A man who could lift a child one-handed.
A man who lived alone in the woods.
A man Jon already met.
This was worse than he thought.
And yet—
Arya's voice cracked.
"Father… please don't scare him away."
Ned Stark felt something twist painfully in his chest.
His brave little girl was begging him to protect a stranger.
This wasn't a child's fancy.
This was real.
Ned's Choice
Ned looked at Ser Rodrik.
"Cancel the search."
Rodrik blinked. "My lord—?"
"I said cancel it."
Arya sagged with relief.
Ned stood, lifting his daughter into his arms.
She clung to him tightly.
He spoke softly into her hair:
"I won't send cavalry or guards into the woods. I won't hunt the man."
He paused.
"But Arya… I must know one thing."
She looked up.
"Did he harm you?"
"No," she whispered.
"He protected me."
Ned nodded slowly.
Then he set her down.
"Very well. I will not pursue him."
Arya's face lit with gratitude—
but Ned's next words froze her blood.
"But I will speak with him."
Arya panicked.
"No! Father—"
"Arya." Ned's tone was absolute.
"If a man like that lives near Winterfell, I must know his intentions. For our sake. For your sake."
Arya opened her mouth—
But Jon stepped forward.
"I'll go with you, Father."
Ned looked at him sharply.
Jon held his gaze.
"I met him too."
Understanding dawned in Ned's eyes.
He nodded once.
"Then the two of us will go."
Arya's Final Move
She followed them to the gate despite being told to stay behind.
When the gate closed, she whispered into the cold morning air:
"Leo… please don't fight my father."
Then she ran to Ghost—Jon's direwolf—and the white wolf nudged her hand gently.
Arya whispered:
"Ghost… find Jon. And find Leo. Protect them both."
Ghost lowered his head.
And ran.
Meanwhile — Leo Pendragon Sees Ghost
In the woods, Leo caught movement out of the corner of his eye.
A blur of white fur.
A wolf.
No—
A direwolf.
Ghost stepped into the clearing.
Leo's eyes narrowed.
"Well," Leo muttered, "that's new."
Ghost stared.
Then padded forward, unafraid.
Leo crouched.
"You tracking Jon? Or Arya?"
Ghost simply huffed and bumped his head against Leo's palm.
Leo froze.
"…oh. So that's how it is."
He looked south.
Toward Winterfell.
Toward Ned Stark.
Toward the unavoidable meeting.
Leo sighed.
"Fine. Tell Jon I'll wait."
Ghost turned—
And Ned Stark stepped into the clearing.