Game of Thrones: The New Stark

Chapter 1

The sun rose to welcome a new day for the inhabitants at Winterfell, the largest and most important capital in the North, the largest of the various former Kingdoms that composed the continent of Westeros. Following a bloody war known as the War of the Five Kings, peace had finally returned to Westeros, although only after much bloodshed and disagreement, King Stannis Baratheon finally ruled the land, aided by the Starks after much negotiation. Robb Stark, the current Lord of Winterfell and the leader of the North and the Riverlands during the War of Five Kings had; with some considerable help, pretty much ensured that, while no longer bearing the title of King and nominally swearing allegiance to the Iron Throne and Stannis Baratheon, he, his family and his lands were, for the most part, independent. The distance between King's Landing and the North helped in this as it meant the central government was far away and the Starks were required to ensure there was no further outbreaks of violence in the North. But thoughts about that were far from the mind of the young man who woke up in bed as the light came through the windows. He yawned softly and turned his gaze to the young woman sleeping beside him, his wife. The two of them unclothed.

The young man could still hardly believe he was married, as well as who he was married too. He had been born a bastard after all. His name was Gendry, a mere blacksmith apprentice who, surprisingly, was the baseborn son of the former King Robert Baratheon. This was reflected in his appearance, with his shaggy black hair and blue eyes, he also was tall and muscular, due to his work in the forge. With his life in danger because of his father, he had been forced to flee his home in King's Landing. At first joining up with the recruits who were being taken to the Night's Watch; the group that guarded the Wall to the far North and prevented attacks from Wildlings.

'At least until things all changed.' Gendry reflected. 'In more ways than one...'

The girl by his side was still asleep, she was shorter than him, quite skinny yet athletic, although closed her eyes were grey, her hair, which reached down to her shoulders in a style many of the more conservative ladies considered scandalously short, was brown. She was also pale and five years younger than him. Her name, was Arya Stark. She was the third child of Eddard Stark and his wife Catelyn Tully, the youngest girl and youngest sister of Robb Stark. In an attempt to smuggle her out of King's Landing and take her safely to Robb after her father's murder, the Night's Watch recruiter Yoren had disguised her as a boy and let her slip out with his group. Unfortunately Yoren was killed and the group taken prisoner. Later, after escaping and making it to Winterfell after a long and dangerous journey, Gendry and Arya had not wanted to part. Despite their vastly different social status they had fallen in love.

In the end, tired of all the betrayal and death that had marred their family so far in the war, it had been Robb who came up with a solution. To thank Gendry for protecting Arya, Robb had knighted him, thus elevating him to a worthy level; finally allowing them to marry as soon as the war was over.

'For all her talk of hating marriage, Arya accepted, because she knew, I wouldn't tie her down or try to change her.' Gendry recalled happily. 'I married her, because I loved her for who she was, it's also why she accepted me, married me...'

He trailed off, sighing sadly, his hand gently running down Arya's back. On it was the evidence of his greatest failure, a mass of scars. When they had been captured they had been taken to Harrenhall, a castle with an evil reputation, at that time in the hands of enemies to Arya's family. While her true identity hadn't been found out, it had been discovered she was a girl, leaving her to live in fear in the castle. Gendry wasn't sure of the details and Arya refused to tell him; but in the end, he had found her being cruelly punished, tortured even as she had been stripped from the waist up and whipped within Harrenhall's courtyard, then left to die of exposure. That night, Gendry had rescued her and got her out of the castle, the two of them escaping together.

'But I still failed her...' He thought sadly. 'I should have been there, to prevent it from happening in the first place, even if it meant...I'd be punished in her place.'

He tried to chase the thoughts away, he knew Arya wouldn't be happy if she knew what he was thinking. She never blamed him for that and every time he blamed himself she would smack him in the chest.

Finally, a small smile coming to his face, Gendry moved his hand and, as his touch became more intimate, Arya awoke.

"Gendry..." She whispered.

He laughed softly. "Sorry, I couldn't resist."

She rolled her eyes. "As much as I'd love to, we do have to get ready, we've got to go and see my family this morning; some sort of announcement."

Gendry sighed but nodded and together they got out of bed, ready to get dressed and begin their day. For Gendry it was time for yet another day of challenges, for now, as not only a knight, but as Ser Gendry Stark, husband to Arya Stark; he had to get used to something new. Life and responsibilities, as a noble.