Chapter One.

"Arya," whispered Gendry, "se've been over this, even if we untie the knots where would we go? We're in the middle of a camp guarded by the Brotherhood."

"We can't sit here and do nothing! Pass me that stone, it looks sharp enough."

How could he give in so easily? Just because they were captured and the Hound revealed her identity. No. She wasn't Gendry. She wouldn't sit around and wait for the bandits or brotherhood or whatever they called themselves decide her fate.

"Shhh, they're coming." Gendry whispered to her.

A tall, sharp-looking man walked over. He had gruesome scars all over his face. He bent down and said, "You must be wondering who we are, little-"

He was cut off by Arya. "I know exactly who you are. My father created your little group and now this is how you treat his daughter." She said, leveling a glare at him.

"I mean you no disrespect. You will be given the utmost respect and care until we send you back to your brother." Said Beric Dondarrion. "I am Beric. Gendry, we have no quarrel with you but you may be our guest until we get the Young Stark home."

"Is this how you treat your guests? By tying them to a tree? I'd hate to see how you treat your prisoners." Arya told him.

"Well said." Beric agreed, chuckling. "Archer, put down that bow and get these two something to eat."

"M'lady I'm afraid all we have is stew. Nothing like what you're used to."

"What kind of stew?" asked Gendry.

"Best not to say." Replied Archer "Might make lady Arya squeamish."

"I'm sure my delicate composition will be fine for a day." Arya said laced with fake piety.

Gendry snorted and sat down while Archer came back with three bowl in hand.

Arya smelled the concoction and asked if it was rat with horse guts.

This raised a laugh from everyone while others wondered how a noble lady would know such thing.

"I am Thoros." a balding old man said. "Boy, what gods do you pray to?"

"None." Replied Gendry. "They didn't take no stock in me so I won't take none from them."

"The one true God the Lord of Light will. He cares about all his followers." preached Thoros. "And what of you, my lady Stark?"

"I only believe in one God." replied Arya. Gendry looked shocked and Thoros smiled. "The god of death." The smile was wiped from his face.

"Not up to your standards Princess?" Mocked Tom when he saw her eyeing the stew.

"Princess?!" she shouted while spitting stew. Very unlady-like. Sansa would cringe if she knew.

"Well haven't you heard? You're brother Robb is the King of the North."

Arya couldn't help but feel a sense of pride as she heard her brother's name.

Gendry on the other hand cringed. His chances of being with her were low enough when she was a lady but now a princess? He was doomed.

She looked up as Sandor was brought in, hands and feet bound and shackled with a bag over his head. The guard undid the binding around his hands and told him to eat. Sandor took a spoon full and looked up to see Arya across the fire. Arya bit her lip and clutched her spoon. Ready to use it as a weapon if need be.

"They say he has a Direwolf." said Edric. "Bigger than a horse!"

"Shut it." yelled Anguy "Everyone knows there aren't any Direwolves south of the wall!"

"Its true!" declared Arya. "All of us have..." she frowned as she remembered what had happened to Nymeria and Lady, "-had one." She finished, less enthusiastic.. "My father found a dead Direwolf in the woods with six pups. One for each of the Stark children."

"There are only five Starks. Everyone knows that." interrupted someone

"My brother Jon is a Stark in all but name!" replied Arya furiously. She didn't see Gendrys' hopeful expression. "We had to take care of our wolves and train them. Jon trained Ghost the best and Rickon was too small so Robb helped him. And Nymeria-" Sighed Arya.

"Who's Nymeria?" pestered Edric.

"Yeah, girl, tell them what happened to your precious Nymeria." Sneered Sandor.

Arya got ready to stand but Gendry pulled her down. "You vile murderer. I hope you die." She spat.

Sandor laughed. "His blood is on your hands."

"Liar!" yelled Arya, and by now the whole camp was watching. "You Killed Myca."

"He attacked the kind, I was the kings shield" His eyes were cold, without a look of regret.

"Myca never hurt him, I hit Joffrey it was me!"

You could hear a round of gasps. This little girl had the guts to hit the king?

"Then maybe it should have been you I killed that day". Gendry's eyes grew cold at the Hounds words.

"Joffry is a bully not a king. He deserved it. He deserves to die. He's the reason my father had to kill Lady."

Sandor nodded and said "Yes, as much as I hate you, girl, I'm impressed that you had the foresight to set yours free. Or your wolf would have been slaughtered with your sisters." He paused "But tell me little Girl how did you escape that day?"

"Why should I tell you?" spat Arya.

"Because if you do, I'll give you news on you sister. So tell me, how did you get out of the castle."

Arya took a deep breath and contemplated her options. She didn't want to relive that day but she also wanted news on her sister Sansa. "I was with my dancing master." she began, before realizing that people thought she meant an actual ballroom teacher and elaborated. "Syrio Forel was a Braavosi sword fighter and he was teaching me. The gold cloaks came, pretending to be sent by my father, but Syrio realized they were lying. He fought them off and told me to run. A boy in the stables recognized me said he was going to get a reward. I... I stabbed him. Seven above, I killed him."

Everyone looked shocked and pitied the girl. Noble or not no one should have to go through that at such a young age.

"I ran into the crowd so they couldn't see me, but then I saw Sansa. She was crying and begging, then I saw what she was looking at. They made her watch. They had my father and Joffrey-" Arya burst into tears.

Gendry slid her arm over her and held Arya as she cried. He rocked her as she fell asleep in his arms. "I expect you to hold your word."

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Author's Rantings

So hey, this is my first fanfic, hope you like it. If you have questions, comments, and such please don't hesitate to send them.

Reviews? Comments? Suggestions? Sacrifices? Review please - oh and recommend stuff for me (please) :D

Written by kitsykatsy & Beta'd by Spinning Furret