Game of Thrones: Hearts in the Forest

Chapter 2 of my Game of Thrones story, enjoy.

Reviews

Marina Ka-Fai: Thanks :)
Wolfgirl2013: Thanks.
Boris Yeltsin: Thanks.
Veridissima: Thanks, glad you enjoyed it; I thought you'd like those parts; well, not just Ned and Jeyne, but Sansa and Mordane are safe too :)

Now onto the story.

Disclaimer: Game of Thrones belongs to George R.R. Martin.

Chapter 2

Gendry sighed as he looked around; he turned to Arya and spoke.

"I don't think we're going to get much further today." He said seriously. "We should stop, find a place to rest for the night, Arry."

She nodded. "Yeah, you're right."

Much as it irked her; having to spend another day away from her family. She knew that after night fell, navigating through the woods would be impossible. The Kingsroad also, was still not an option, not with Lannister soldiers clearly still around. They began looking around and soon found a suitable spot, near a stream. They quickly got to work, making the small clearing habitable; Gendry quickly began gathering firewood, while Arya checked what provisions they had and gathered more food. She knew she wasn't an expert on this sort of thing; but Gendry at least had enough knowledge to know what was safe and what wasn't. She'd gather what she could, then let him make his own judgements.

'I wonder where we are exactly.' She pondered quietly. 'Tomorrow, I think, once we check it's safe enough; we should maybe move just a little closer to the Kingsroad. We might see a sign or something, then we'll know roughly where we are…How much further we need to go.'

Satisfied with what she had gathered she headed back to the small clearing.

When she returned she found Gendry had just started a small cooking fire, it was all they could risk. She set down what she had gathered and spoke.

"Here's what I could find; I don't know half of these things so…If you find I've picked up something poisonous or inedible, just get rid of it."

He nodded. "Fine; let's see."

Arya noted that Gendry's fringe seemed to stick to his forehead, his face seemed slightly damp.

Seeing her gaze he explained. "I decided to wash up in the stream, we've been travelling for some time after all."

"Good idea." Arya replied before standing up. "I think I'll go and wash up too."

She then glared at him before adding. "No peeking."

Gendry shook his head. "Of course not, M'lady."

"One day, I'm going to make you stop that." She snarled before walking off towards the stream.

She stopped, she was more or less hidden from view now, a clump of bushes separating her and Gendry. However she knew if she called out, he'd hear her and vice-versa. She let out a long slow sigh, allowing the tension in her body to relax; her shoulders dropped slightly. She knelt down, immediately put her hands in the stream, not caring about the temperature of the water; and began to wash her face. Once she was done with that she looked around carefully. Gendry still couldn't see her and certainly wasn't peeking. So she quickly undid the laces and pulled her tunic off over her head.

Arya bit her lip as she examined her torso; all the bruises she had accumulated from training with Syrio were gone now. But there were still some fresh bruises, as well as small scars, showing whitely even on her pale skin. A record of her rough living on the streets of King's Landing and in the wilds. Her disguise as a boy had almost been ruined by her natural bodily growth. While not as big as her mother's or sister's she knew her breasts were large enough to be noticeable, enough that they could ruin her disguise. Luckily she had found a way around it. So, further preparing to wash; she reached up and unfastened the simple bands she wore which held her breasts flat. Once done with that she began to wash her upper body. While Gendry kept his word; someone actually was peeking on Arya. They were on the other side of the stream; hidden from view. He smirked as he saw her, he was a roughly dressed, unkempt man, wielding a sword; clearly a bandit. He turned and called out cautiously; not wanting her to hear.

"Hey, Ralph, Stef, Sammy, up here."

Three other bandits came over to him.

"What's all the noise about Edwin?" Ralph asked.

Edwin directed their attention to the half-naked girl at the other side of the stream. "Look what we have here boys."

Stef let out a low whistle; while the other two smirked when they saw her.

"Well, well." Ralph drawled. "What's a girl doing all the way out here; a cute one too, even with the short hair."

Sammy shrugged. "Dunno, don't care; let's just take her already."

Stef was gazing fixatedly at Arya's breasts. "Oh I'd like to take her alright; but we better see if she's alone first."

They agreed to check and see if they would still hold an advantage and so waited while Arya dried off.

Arya sighed and bound down her breasts again before pulling her tunic back on and tying the laces. The bandits watching smirked as they saw this; finally realizing how she had come so far unscathed.

"Clever I'll admit." Ralph whispered to the others. "Disguising herself as a boy."

The others merely nodded and they continued their scouting and saw her regroup with Gendry.

Edwin shook his head. "So she wasn't alone; still, it's just one person, there's two of them, and a lot more of us."

Stef nodded. "Let's get the boys and get ready to have some fun."

They headed back to their camp. Arya meanwhile sat down next to Gendry and took the food that he offered her. They ate in silence; all the while staying alert. Finally however, once they had done eating; Arya turned to Gendry.

"Say Gendry, I've been thinking, what are you going to do, after all this?"

Gendry shrugged. "I don't know; maybe go looking for work."

Arya smiled lightly. "You could always stay at Winterfell; there's a forge there, I'm sure Mikken would appreciate some help."

"I don't think so; I just…it probably wouldn't be wise for me to stay in Winterfell." He replied quietly, suddenly trying to avoid looking at her.

Confused Arya tried to catch his gaze while asking. "Why not?"

Gendry just shook his head, not offering any real explanation, yet strangely feeling awkward all of a sudden. Arya bit her lip again, worried.

She was worried about Gendry potentially leaving, not staying in Winterfell with her. She couldn't understand it; then she found she also couldn't understand why she was worried about that fact.

'What is wrong with me, it's not as if I…No, it's not that, don't even think that.' She told herself sternly.

They were about to lay down for the night; when suddenly Arya heard something, some sort of noise. She immediately leapt up.

"Gendry, quick; I heard something." She hissed, drawing Needle and holding it ready.

Gendry was also on his feet, drawing his sword. "You sure?"

She nodded. "Positive."

They both waited warily; wondering just what was approaching them now and if they'd manage to get through it.

End of chapter, hope you enjoyed it, read and review please.