The rain poured down on them, Arya and Gendry trode through the mud and ruins of the burned holdfast, the lions had been through already. Arya kept a sword strapped across her back and needle at her hip, Gendry carried their food and a long sword he couldn't use it but it scared off the smaller thieves to see a big boy like him armed as opposed to Arya she didn't frighten anyone until they saw her fight. They found a barn which was relatively unscathed from the fires, it had slight scorch marks but it would do. They huddled in the barn cold still, the wind howled through the broken windows letting some of the rains in. The curled up together in the centre of the barn both of them were drenched to the bone. Arya took the first watch sitting on a ledge near one of the windows, it didn't matter where she sat in this rain she could have stayed dry and seen just as much, she passed the time by sharpening needle, it gleamed the way a sword should but she could still the blood on it.

Arya looked down at Gendry he slept peacefully in the one blanket they had. Arya looked out into the rain and wondered where Jaqen had ended up, her eyes started to droop it had been nearly four years since she had escaped Harrenhal with Gendry and Hot pie, Hot pie had died only a few months after they escaped he took a slash to the foot when they were surprised by outlaws, they fought them off and kept most of their gear, but Hot pie got sick the rot set in and within a few weeks he was delusional with fever, they found a maester but even he couldn't do anything for the boy, Arya gave him the gift of mercy, they buried him in a shallow grave and left the small town on the river bank behind. Neither Arya or Gendry had mentioned the boy since that day, they just persisted on they had seen nearly every side of the war they had been captured by Lannisters and hidden from Baratheon soldiers, they had fought outlaws and spent no more than three moons in the one place.

Both of Arya and Gendry had grown in the time they had been travelling Arya was a woman grown now, her hair was long once again, her breasts had come in, her hips had widened and she bleed every moon, she caught looks from passing men and a few had even tried to take her, Gendry was very protective of her when men were looking, he reminded her of Jon. Gendry was a man, but Arya still saw the boy, he had grown even taller to the point where he towered even more over her, even earning a slight beard. Both of them had developed muscle from running and fighting Arya tried to teach him how to use a sword but he was still much better at making one then wielding one. Even so he looked like a hedge knight tall, dark haired, and with muscles developed from hard work.

Arya heard a shuffling from below before she glimpsed the top of Gendry's head poking up from the ladder, they didn't need to wake each other for shifts anymore they just woke up out of habit. "It's my turn. Move over." He shoved her slightly as he squeezed himself onto the ledge with her.

"I'm not tired you can sleep some more."

"Nah, I need you to save me if anyone is to attack." They both laughed at that. "Will M'lady protect me?"

"M'lady is going to slap you soon."

Gendry shifted so his face was pressed right up against hers, "Go on M'lady." He tilted his face so she could easily reach it. Arya moved forward and wrapped her hand around the back of his neck and kissed him on the lips. She wasn't sure why, but she just kept going she slipped her tongue into his mouth and felt the warmth as his joined hers. Gendry's hands began to explore, her chest groping uncertainly at her breasts. Arya broke her lips away from his, catching his bottom lip between her teeth lightly, before letting go. "I'm sorry." Gendry apologised pulling away from her. "I shouldn't have done that."

"It's okay Gendry, I want to." She pulled him back to her, laying herself back and pulling him on top of her.

Arya woke the next morning slightly sore, Gendry's arms were draped around here he was warm, small rays of sunlight broke through the holes which used to be windows. She detangled herself from him, and stared down at his naked body as she gathered her clothes she still dressed like a boy even if she could pass for one anymore, they'd leave this morning the rain had seized and it was never safe to stay in a place like this for long, you never knew who owned the lands. Arya started to pack up their things when she heard the grunts of Gendry waking up. "Arya?" He whispered still half asleep.

"I'm here." She called from the window where she was gathering needle and her nameless blade. She felt him behind her as he wrapped his arms back around her one around her waist and the other just below her neck, pulling her against his chest and kissing up and down her neck. "Good morning." He whispered into her neck.

She shrugged him off of with her shoulders. "Get dressed, we should be gone already."

"As M'lady commands." He walked over and shrugged into his pants and tunic.

"Just do what I tell."

"If M'lady does those things she did last night again, I'd be a slave to her." He moved his eyebrows up and down and had a wicked grin on his face when he said it.

Arya slapped his chest. "Just get ready." She couldn't do it without smiling though.

They left the barn before the sun had risen much higher; Gendry grabbed Arya's hand as they walked through the mud thanks to last night's heavy rains.