They were on the run from Harrenhal, having just walked out of the gates two fortnights ago when Gendry suggested that they should stop and rest.
"I don't think we're far enough away yet, Gendry." Arya said.
"Hot Pie, who do you agree with?" asked Gendry.
Arya turned around to see Hot Pie already passed out next to a nearby tree.
She sighed, "Fine you get your way, but we start again at first light."
Gendry smiled, bowed, and said, "As m'lady commands."
She shoved him for that.
"Okay, okay, maybe I did deserve that this time." Arya made a face at him and laid down a few trees away from Hot Pie, Gendry surprised her by laying down right next to her.
"What are you doing?" she asked.
"Resting, and you?"
"I'm trying to do the same but some stupid bull is bothering me."
He looked at her in a way he never had before, "Do you want me to move?"
Arya looked down and muttered, "Not really."
Gendry smiled to himself and laid back down. An hour later neither of them were sleeping yet and Arya was getting restless, she couldn't stop moving.
"Arry, you okay?" A pause, and then,
"Arya."
She turned around so quickly Gendry actually moved back a bit from fear of getting hit.
"What did you just call me?"
"Arya", he whispered again, "that is your name is it not?"
"Well yes, but you've never called me that before." She couldn't help but love the way her name sounded coming out of his mouth.
"That can't be true." he said.
"Trust me, it is."
He moved back even closer than he had been before, they stared at each other for what seemed like an eternity when Gendry suddenly snapped out of it and finally said, "Well I think it's time for some sleep, don't you?"
"Gendry…"
"Yes, m'lady?"
She sighed once again, "I really wish you'd stop calling me that."
"Well then what shall I call you?"
"My name, stupid. I like the way you say my name." Suddenly she was blushing furiously, what had come over her? And she called him stupid.
He moved a bit closer and whispered, "Having trouble falling asleep?"
She closed her eyes and saw birds flying over her head, the same birds she saw the day her father got beheaded, "I have nightmares, I already see enough horrible things while I'm awake I don't need to see more when I go to sleep."
He took a deep breath, because he knew there could be major consequences for what he was about to do, and put his arms around her. She froze.
"What are you doing?" she asked, panic clear in her voice.
"Arya, just go to sleep." With the sound of her name on his lips she sighed and relaxed some, then ten minutes later she was out like a light. Gendry fell asleep soon after.
He woke up first, arms tight around her and her head and hand was on his chest. He sighed, this was the best he's felt in a while. He lifted his head up a bit to see if Hot Pie was still sleeping and thanked the gods he was, that would have been a bit awkward had he not been.
He felt shifting in his arms and looked down to see Arya looking at him with sleep heavy eyes.
"Good morning.. Arya."
She smiled, mumbled stupid, and then went back to sleep.
