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Humans! [ Good, now that he has your attention. ] There is a sickness aboard this vessel, a Dark Beast that harbours rot and the ruin of any that approach it. I, myself, suffered injuries that have now healed. It is a skilled foe that walks in shadow, a warrior of the forsaken. It does not bleed when wounded or hesitate to give harm and it will kill you, should you be fool enough to challenge it. Unless, of course, it decides to keep you alive for sport — those mortals who deliberately put themselves at risk do so at their own peril. If you believe you are strong, I am here to tell you that you are not. Keep your corpses to a minimum.

Specifically: it carries a great chain that burns like embers, knows your mind and moves at incredible speed. Thranduil is aware of this demon, as are all those of Elvenkind aboard.

[ Nuada, who brings the network this message from the corridors where he is patrolling, peers into the camera with wolflike gold eyes. You may have seen them around recently, instead belonging to one massive six-foot hound. ]

To those who are not human, I say this; stay with your brothers and sisters, send word over a secure line if any of you are attacked. All manner of Aes Sidhe, from my world or not, are my concern.

[ What else? His manner eases ever so slightly, as it is wont to do between comrades. ]

Loki — we must speak concerning the forging of your weapon. It is time to take up arms worthy of your skill, my friend.

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That's the thing I told you about.

[ ...except she never actually told jon oops. ]

You did not speak to me of any creature.

Yes, I did. I told you and Bran and Gendry. It was when Nymeria was tracking it.

No, it seems you told Bran and Gendry, but neglected to speak of it to me.

[ p…ause. ]

No, I told you first! I remember! I was in the gardens with Thranduil after he asked for my help and I got sick of waiting so I messaged all of you since you had to know and Gendry doesn't have a wolf and Bran's too little. [ kinda missing half the explanation there, short stack. ] Then after everything was done, I went to find Gendry since I promised him I would.

I thought Tyke would have known of it too. [ another pause. she sounds uncertain. ] I did say!

[ it is too hot for this. ]

Do you think I would forget such a thing?

You did not tell me.

[ slouching.

slouching a lot. ]

No. I guess not.

Then you should tell me now.

[ arya chews her lip. she picks at her sleeve as she starts. ]

King Thranduil called and said he needed Nymeria's help to find whatever attacked his vassal. The ugly elf that just told everyone. I had to stay in the gardens with him and Lord Elrond since he didn't want me going with the group, but Nymeria did. She took them to where it happened, but there wasn't much of a scent to track from there. They looked for a bit, then they got back, and Nymeria and me left.

All he'd ever say is it was a demon that did it. [ as is evident. ] King Thranduil wouldn't really talk all that much about it.

[ watching t wear a hole in the gardens lost its fun after two minutes. ]

I do not think you should call him the ugly elf, as he has a name. Ser Nuada, if you must.

[He's mostly saying that because he likes him, okay, they are friends.]

Next time, do not send Nymeria without family, or at least one of her littermates. If they fuss, tell them to speak to your brothers on it. I would not see you lose her.

[Of course Ghost goes off alone all the time but it's different, Ghost is different, who knows why.]

[ not to worry, she likes him too. when every other elf is beautiful enough to make her feel like a rat next to them, arya appreciates nuada a lot. ]

She didn't really go alone. I was—with her. In a way.

[ guess who's been practicing with bran. ]

Have you managed, then? To warg?

I've been doing it a really long time. But I didn't know what it was. In Braavos, I used to dream of the Riverlands. I have a pack of hundreds. It'll snow there soon.

Winter is coming.

[ as they always do, their house words bring a chill. winter is coming and jon at the wall, bran beyond it, rickon and sansa who knows where and arya across the narrow sea. she needs to return one day, will, but she does not know when that day will be.

arya thinks back to her last day in braavos in the kitchen of the temple, her hands wrapped around a cup of warm milk. those poisons she got belonged to the faceless men. the waif could brew all sorts, and she was the one to give her a cup.

might there have been something else in the milk? surely they would not overlook so easily her killing dareon. her eyes flit back to the screen. what would jon think of it? ]

I'm sorry for not telling you before. It won't happen again.

I will hold you to that, Arya.

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