Author's Note: I don't know why, but I felt like the song "Hand of Sorrow" by Within Temptation fit extremely well to some crazy idea I had in my head. And I got so excited that I just HAD to write it. Don't judge me, please? I own none of the characters.
"Let me see your face," were the words that had started this whole damned thing. His life at the forge had been ended a few days after the King's Hand had come to visit him. Gendry had been confused as all the seven hells when Lord Eddard Stark's right hand man Jory Cassel had come to fetch him. Torbho Mott had taken one look at the piece of parchment sealing his life away and nodded, consenting to whatever terms it was that Lord Stark had seen fit to present him with.
'Why in the seven hells would he want me on his personal guard? I make swords, not use them,' he had told himself again and again as he was led up to the Red Keep and away from the home he had known for so long.
Why would they send him away from that?
That was how he had found himself outfitted in new clothes and armor with the direwolf of House Stark on his breast, the dirt scrubbed away from him, and a sword from Tobho Mott's forge on his hip standing outside of Lord Stark's solar in the Tower of the Hand in the Red Keep.
Queen Cersei had been positively furious with Lord Stark for hiring Gendry on and training him. He didn't see why it was such a big deal that the King's Hand had hired on some bastard boy. Then again, he was a bastard and it made sense as to why he would be looked at in disgust when it came to the royal blood. King Robert had thought it amusing, but there had been something dark and stormy in his eyes and he had looked Gendry up and down like a pig for slaughter.
Gendry Waters did not like King Robert Baratheon now any more than he had when he didn't have to be close to him.
Thankfully, however, Lord Stark had the sense to keep Gendry close to the Tower of the Hand after the initial discovery of his new boy.
Gendry did not particularly enjoy being someone's "boy," but what choice did he have in the matter?
He was leaning back against the wall by the closed door to Eddard Stark's solar, his eyes wandering over the red brick that the castle was made out of out of boredom. His mind was clouded with thoughts of the past that had haunted him from day one. Guarding someone's door was nowhere near as entertaining as he had wanted it to be. Not that he had been given a choice in this new life of his, nor did he really expect there to be much excitement to begin with, but still.
He started as the door was pulled open and Jory Cassel exited, stepping to the side and giving Gendry a knowing look. "His Lordship would like to see you, Gendry," the older man stated simply. Gendry blinked, confusion settling into his stomach.
He had been taught early on not to question His Lordship's orders, however, so he bowed his head and entered the room he had been set to guard.
Eddard Stark sat in a heavy chair behind a heavy table. Maps, books, and other papers littered the surface of the table and Lord Stark's brow was furrowed in thought. The man had a kindly face, but many of those features were lost with the solemnity that he bore upon his shoulders. Gendry could not imagine that being the King's Hand was far from anything but an extremely heavy burden. Especially when it came to being Hand to the great fat sod that was Robert Baratheon.
Gendry bowed stiffly, dipping his head down as well as he rose. For all that he hated Ned for taking his life at the forge away from him, he still respected the man. Two and a half years of service to a man will do that.
"Yes, m'lord?" he asked sheeply. Lord Stark looked up from the parchment he was reading, crinkling his eyes in a shadow of a smile.
"Please, have a seat, Gendry," he told him. The younger man did as he was told, nodding his head again as he took one of the chairs across the table from his Lord. He sat stiffly, however. Gendry had never been quite comfortable ever since leaving the comforts of the forge. He had been taught his courtesies, his mother had been sure of it. She had wanted to raise a respectful son and he had tried his hardest to do just that. Not for the first time, a passing thought made him wonder what his mother would think if she could see him now.
"I have decided that having you guard the door to my solar is a waste of your talents," he said simply. Eddard Stark was never a man to beat around the bush, but the statement made Gendry hold his breath. What did he mean? Gendry didn't have any talents other than making armor. He wasn't great at that, but he was decent and it was something he could actually do. Since when did Gendry Waters have any talents?
"M'lord?" he asked after a moment, confusing making his brow furrow again.
"I want you to guard my daughters. I fear that King's Landing is…not as safe as I would like."
"M'lord, why not someone else? Why…why me?" he asked before he could stop himself, breathless. He wasn't sure what to make of this new assignment. He had met Ned Stark's daughters before, of course. In fact, he was on somewhat friendly talking terms with the youngest of the Stark girls. He wasn't sure if they were really friendly or not considering the fact that half of the time, Arya Stark called him 'stupid' more than once. He didn't mind it so much, though. Not as much as he would have if it were others calling him stupid.
The corners of Lord Stark's mouth were curled upwards in the slightest as he shook his head and returned his gaze to the piece of parchment he had been reading before Gendry had interrupted him.
"You are strong, you can fight though you do not think you can. You are a loyal man, despite what I have put you through. I do not believe putting you in charge of the safety of my daughters is a bad thing, though I will admit it will be trying and test you. I would like to know what you are capable of, more than just standing guard outside of my door and the courtesies you have been taught."
It all seemed so simple when he put it like that, but all Gendry could think was why? He sighed and ran a hand through his unruly raven black curls, tugging at the ends as he thought.
"Do you accept, then?" Lord Stark asked him softly, looking up at him through his lashes. Gendry nodded, getting to his feet quickly and performing another bow.
"Yes, m'lord. I accept."
"Good! You may take your leave. Arya is at her dancing lessons, Sansa with Prince Joffrey and the rest of the court. It may be best to keep Arya in line for the most part. I don't suggest you wandering into the court. Cersei does not approve of your presence there," Ned stated simply, turning his attentions back to his paper, dismissing him.
But still, Gendry lingered. "May I ask why?" he paused, "m'lord?" he added before he forgot himself. He was a bastard, after all, and no matter what assignment Lord Stark gave him, he was never going to be more than a bastard. Less than all of these high born lords and ladies.
Why he wanted a bastard to guard his daughters was still beyond Gendry.
Ned sighed and folded his hands before him, looking up at the young man sullenly. "Once I am sure there are no ears to hear us, I will tell you. You may go."
Gendry sighed inwardly and nodded, bowing again before turning away and leaving the solar. Jory was beside the door, nodding to Gendry as he descended the stairs to go hunt down Arya Stark, the girl who would now be his ward.
