The long corridors of the keep still confuse you. It's only been a month and they are so unlike those of your home. These are tall and long, winding this way and that, but warm to the touch. Hot water is pumped through them, the maester says. Home is darker and danker, but you know where you're going. You could get anywhere you needed to go blindfolded. But you're not home anymore. You're in Winterfell.
As you move through the halls, a sudden fear leaps into your heart. Something is behind you - you can feel its presence. You wonder if it's a ghost. Without stopping to look, you pick up your feet and run, not caring where they carry you. You can almost the monster's hot breath on your neck. You skid around corners and dash up stairs, but you never run into another soul. You are alone.
Finally, breathing hard, you turn into a room and slam the door closed behind yourself. You are fairly sure you have outran the horror that dogged you and you allow yourself to peer around the room, to see where you've ended up. Your chest rises and falls rapidly as you try to regain your breath.
It only takes a moment for you to realize you're in the nursery and that it must be the time of day that the babes are put down for a nap. You stalk up to the crib of white pine, a wolf fur lining it, and peek in as quietly as you can. Arya sleeps inside on her back. You look down at her. She's small. She was born before you had been taken from Pyke, but had yet to reach her first nameday - or even the halfway point to her nameday. She was a noisy thing with a big mouth. It was startling how different she looked, peaceful and asleep.
You reach into the crib to touch the babe when the door opens behind you. You snap your hand back to your side, your spine tingling with fear again. The monster has found you. Spinning on your heel, you turn toward the door. It is the Septa. Her face changes into a severe frown at the sight of you. "What are you doing in here?" She demands to know.
You don't answer her. Instead, you dart for the door, pushing her aside as you go. You speed into the corridor and tear away.