Lynn looked at the bristling little girl before him and felt a headache coming on.
He reached out, ignoring Arya's wary gaze, and ruffled her neatly combed hair.
"What's going on in that head of yours?"
There was a hint of helpless affection in Lynn's voice, effortlessly defusing Arya's hostility.
"Your sister just went through something awful. She was upset and came to talk to me. Isn't that perfectly normal?"
"And you, instead of comforting her, made her cry. Just wait until Lord Ned comes back and deals with you."
With a few words, Lynn turned an awkward scene into a family drama about an immature little sister driving away her heartbroken elder sister.
Arya pursed her lips. Though she thought Lynn had a point, that inexplicable irritation refused to fade.
"Go check on your sister."
Lynn nudged her shoulder.
"You're sisters. Surely you can talk things through."
Arya hesitated, then finally nodded and walked away, looking back every few steps.
Of course, Lynn confiscated her Needle.
He had no desire to see the hotheaded girl do something foolish.
After all, the sisters had never gotten along.
Though Lynn knew Arya had only meant to draw her sword to frighten Sansa, he still felt uneasy.
Only after Arya disappeared at the end of the corridor did Lynn close his study door.
The two daughters of House Stark were each more difficult than the other.
When Arya found Sansa, she was lying facedown on her bed, her shoulders shaking. She was clearly still crying.
Hearing the door open, Sansa abruptly sat up and glared at Arya with reddened eyes.
"What are you doing here? Have you come to laugh at me?"
"No!"
Caught off guard by her shout, Arya instinctively protested.
Seeing her sister's tear-streaked face, Arya felt a pang