She's right, of course, they shouldn't question what was a blessing. Passing a hand over his face to wipe the fallen tears, he nods. "I hardly know myself how any of this came to be. Perhaps we will know in time. Oh Arya, it is good, good to have you here."

Ned lets go of her enough to get a better look at his daughter all grown up. She is dressed like a Northern warlord, not at all like a Lady of either North or South. Through his tears, he chuckles. "You were right, you know. That lady I thought you might turn out to be. That's not you."

He slips an arm around her shoulder, bringing her to his side, wordlessly gathering her, awkward armor bits and all. And weapons. Why does that not surprise him?

Glancing around, Ned draws her off the main street and towards a park bench beneath some small trees. Everything here was quite new. "I will tell you what I know, at least. I arrived just ten days ago. I found Sansa at her shop, she sells needlework here, if you can believe that." He flashes a little grin at Arya. "She showed me how to use the messages here, their magical version of ravens." With his free hand, he taps the button behind his right ear. "And from there, I spoke with Jon and Robb and Jeyne. And Theon is here too. They have all been here longer than I have, some of them for many months."

He has them sit on the bench, arm still looped about Arya's shoulders. "And you, Arya? Have you just come? What news from home?"