The Lady and the Bastard

A/N: I actually already have another story I'm working on, but I just thought of a Gendry x Arya story and I just had to write this one. This story won't be too long though.

So anyways, I hope you enjoy it and please review! I'd appreciate some feedback. :)

Disclaimer: I do not own any of these characters nor settings and it all belongs to GRRM and his brilliant brain of his. (Like my other story, this disclaimer will be for the whole story).

Chapter 1: The Little Mouse

They all looked at him like he was something special. No one ever paid attention to some random bastard from the Crownlands. And once Gendry had walked through the south gates of Winterfell, dozens of eyes glanced over to him; and for some unknown reason, he was agitated by it. But why? They were only looking at him because he was a new face. He suspected that Winterfell didn't get many visitors. Even in the summer, it was still cold. The thought didn't change his mood though. Gendry was just so used to being ignored that he didn't like the idea of people paying attention to him. He liked being alone and he liked being by himself. He could care less if people start paying attention to him. All that mattered was his metalwork. That was all he was ever good at.

He knocked on the door of a small house next to the smithy in Winterfell. An old, but burly man had opened the door and greeted him.

"Your Tobho Mott's old apprentice?" the old man grumbled and Gendry nodded in reply. "Good. I heard you work exceptionally well, especially for your age. Show me that helmet, will you?"

He opened his sack of luggage which had nothing but spare, dirty clothes and the bull's helmet he had made once and was very proud of. Gendry loved it more than anything. He gave it to the blacksmith for him to inspect it. "Fine work it is. It's nice to finally get some help around here. Too much work for an old man like me." Suddenly, the blacksmith started laughing heavily, which Gendry didn't seem to find very funny.

"What's your name, boy?"

"Gendry, um," he stopped midsentence, not sure how to address him. Should it be master?

"Call me Mikken, Gendry. And come out of the chilly air and come in! You'll be staying here for now." Gendry looked around and it seemed cozy enough. "Nothing too special. You'll have to sleep on the floor though."

"That's fine. I should be used to it by now." He brought in his things and stepped inside. A fire was burning and it smelled of firewood inside. It felt nice to feel warmth after being in the cold for days.

"You start work tomorrow, and go ahead and get yourself comfortable," he said and left to go out to the forge.

After Gendry got comfortable and settled down, he decided to check out the smithy. He never got a good look at it for he was too anxious to see his new master and how he was like. Now since he's met him, he seems nice enough. When he departed the house, he saw Mikken with a small, tiny girl. The girl gave Mikken a piece of parchment.

"I'll start working on this. Good thing I have some help around here from now on," the blacksmith read the parchment with some difficulty, but nevertheless he was able to read it and started on his metalwork.

"Help?" the girl said confused until her grey eyes met Gendry's own blue eyes. "You're helping Mikken now?"

Gendry nodded and just continued to stand by the door stupidly. The girl with brown hair continued to talk to him though. She looks like a mouse, he thought.

"Are you new 'round here? Where you from?" she kept on asking with curiosity clear in her voice.

"King's Landing," he replied.

"That far south? You must hate it here. It's awfully cold."

"I don't mind it though," he said abruptly. Gendry didn't care where he was or where he lived, as long as he worked as a blacksmith's apprentice making weapons and fixing up armor, he would be just fine.

"Gendry, you better be addressing her-" But Mikken was cut off by the mousy girl.

"My name's Arry," she said with a faint smile. "I work at the stables."

Mikken started to laugh again and Gendry could not understand his humor. "Aye, you do. Arry Horseface, she's called." And Mikken continued to laugh.

"Shut up," she told the blacksmith loftily.

"Careful now, little lady. Your mother and father don't want you being rude to others. Or do you need more of your lessons?"

Arry shook her head in reply. Gendry could see why they called her "horseface". She had a plain face and her brown hair looked as if it was her mane. And he didn't think hanging around horses lessened this title for her.

"Well, I best be going now," she said in a casual tone," See you 'round, Gendry." Arry had a sly smile on her face when she left and scurried noiselessly away like a mouse. He noticed other folk were greeting her as she passed by.

"She's well liked?" Gendry asked Mikken.

"Aye. Everyone loves her. Well, maybe not including her sister, but she's hard not to like. She can be annoying at times, but she's a sweet girl."

Gendry watched Arry as she scampered away. He looked sweet to her, but he knew there was something else in her. As if a little fire ignited in her that you could see in her playful, grey eyes. Gendry was fascinated in her. Hope to see you around too, Arry, he said to himself and decided to help Mikken out with the list of weapons and armory they had to work on.