Headnote: Shoutout to BehbaLovesTea and Domino91 for the amazing reviews! Thank you to all those who are reading this and reviewing! Please drop a review if you have the time, it really helps me update faster. I promise we will meet Arya in the next chapter, sorry for the wait for that to happen.

Disclaimer: I do not own Game of Thrones, just my OC, Maggie.

I awoke the next morning feeling light on my feet. Well, lighter on my feet. Water dancers always have to be graceful and swift, and ready for anything. I can't recall the last time I was this happy. The only time I can think of was when I grabbed my first blade.

I get out of bed and change into cleaner clothes than the soiled ones from yesterday. My clothes always get dirty when I'm running or training. I only own three dresses and they're very plain. It's not like I care what color they are or how many jewels are laced onto it, but they are very dull…and also soiled. I always wear thin pants with a white shirt over it. I had a pair of boots and flat shoes that helped me with my dancing. I was almost always barefoot though, I just loved the feeling of having my feet out. It was calming, and also quieter. But I knew that I would have to wear a dress for where I was going today. I had to get to the castle so I could tell Lord Eddard that we will train his daughter. I had a feeling that I would get questioned if I were to wear "men's clothes" so I forced myself to put on a light blue dress. I put pants on though, just in case.

I leave my room to find Syrio sparring with the air. I smile and walk past him into the kitchen. I grab an apple off of the counter to break my fast. I don't eat very much; it helps to be light and tiny when you are a water dancer. I don't starve myself but I have grown accustomed to little food. I take a bite of the red flesh of the apple and the juice fills my mouth. I swallow and take another bite. I watch Syrio practice by himself while I eat the apple until I reach the core. I toss it into the wastebin and turn to Syrio.

"Would you care to stop fighting a ghost and face a real target?" I question him, playfully.

He doesn't look at me when he answers, "It does not matter whether there is a real person or not. Practice is practice and without practice, you die. Besides, it is much more challenging to face an invisible enemy, for you cannot see what they are going to do next, you must feel it." He continues on with sparring with the ghost.

"I'm going to have to go to the castle, to tell Lord Eddard that we accept his request." I tell him.

"I know, here take this letter. I wrote it out last night while you were asleep. I believe they will want it in ink." He explains, while handing me the parchment.

I grab it and say my farewell as I take my leave and head out to the castle. I don't think the guards will let me into the castle if they see me drenched in sweat and grimy so I decide to walk. It was very weird to walk but it was also comfortable, but my legs were practically begging me to run. I make my way through the crowded and hot streets of Kings Landing. It was very noisy with all of the merchants screaming at you to buy their things. I got very annoyed at how they would grab my arm as I passed and begged me to buy something. Now I have another reason as to why I hate going into town.

I tune out the shouts and yells and try to push my way through the throng of people. After a few footsteps I realize that my steps are in sync to some sort of beat, a clang actually. I soon realize that my hearing is focused on the blacksmith's hammer being thrust at metal. I don't remember hearing it before but it was pretty loud around me so I guess I couldn't have heard it. I continue on keeping in time with the steady hits against metal as I remember my time at the forge.

Flashback

I sprint down the crowded street, panting loudly. I was being chased by some of the knights of the Kingsguard when I had tripped them up when they tried to tell me that I was a stupid little girl. I was twelve at the time, still very young and reckless. I dashed around people that were in my way and even slid under a man's open legs but the men were still hot on my tail. I turned around to look at them and I realized that they were very close, too close.

I ducked to where they couldn't see me and turned a sharp right and then hid behind a barrel. I held my breath, praying that they didn't see me in my desperate attempt to slip past them. I let out a sigh of relief as they passed by me. I leaned against the barrel, trying to catch my breath. I had never run that fast or hard when I saw one of them pull out their sword. I knew I could never beat them in a fight, even if I had a sword. I was still learning how to use a wooden stick. I knew my best chance was to flee, and that is just what I did.

They had gotten far enough past me so I decided to get out from behind the barrel. I took a couple of steps to go back from where I came from when I hear an ear-shattering scream. I whip my head around as I see one of the little girl shout at the knights my exact location. They spun around and came bolting at me, even though they were still pretty far away.

I turned and ran back the way I came even though I was still panting and my legs wobbled. I was weak from running through the Red Keep all morning. I knew that I wouldn't last long as I started to slow down.

All of a sudden my legs fall out from beneath me and I tumble to the ground in a heap. I could hear their shouts getting closer and closer. This is it, Death has me in his grasp and I'm going to go with him.

I then remember all of Syrio's teachings, to never give up. I shakily start to push up with my arms, but they are shaking so much from exhaustion that I fall again. I close my eyes in pain. I then feel someone grip my arm, but I use what's left of my strength and shake it off.

"Not today." I mutter as I feel now two hands grab my shoulder and lift me up.

I'm scared to open my eyes, to see the god of death. So I keep them shut tight as I feel myself being lifted off the ground.

"Not today…not today…not today." I repeat the same words over and over as I am being carried to Death's home.

Somehow I push back my fear and open my eyes to see the ground moving beneath me. I blink the black spots from my eyes and then realize that I am moving, not the ground. I raise my eyebrow in curiosity as I realize that I'm being carried on someone's back. I know it is not Death because this body is warm and full of heat, not cold and full of ice. My breathing has returned to normal and I'm not so tired anymore. I lift my head to see a mess of raven black hair that is glistening with sweat.

I realize that we're losing speed so I tap the mystery person on the shoulder and whisper, "I can run now."

He hardly stops as he lowers me onto the ground and he picks up speed with the weight off of his shoulders. We speed through the city as the knights chased us. I don't know why this boy helped me, I do not know him. I haven't even had the chance to really look at him but I could already tell that I had never seen him before.

I noticed he was starting to slow down and I started to pull into the lead before I knew it. The boy suddenly vanished and then just as fast an arm reached out and grabbed my arm, causing me to stop. I turned as the boy pulled me into a building and lead me far into the back of the shop. I soon discovered that it was a forge. He pulled me down behind a work bench and we watched the opening of the shop as the knights rushed past.

We waited a long time before we decided that it was safe. I let out a long sigh, careful this time not to attract attention to myself like the last time. We both collapsed onto our butts after squatting for a while. Our breathing calmed and then there was a long, awkward pause. I could tell that he wanted me to say something but I was too stunned to comprehend any words, and I also didn't know if I could fully trust him yet, even if he just saved me.

"You're welcome." The boy says hotly.

I turn my head to look at him. He must be around the same age as me, maybe a few years older, but definitely no more than two. He was sweaty and his skin was red, after running for so long and then staying inside the blistering heat of the forge. I could only guess that I looked about in the same condition. He had a mess of dark black hair that was slick with more sweat. He had grease smudges all over his face, arms, and clothes. He had the most beautiful blue eyes I had ever seen. They seemed to shift when the light hit them differently. I became lost in his eyes as I wondered how they could look like that. He was very handsome. I never paid attention to boys like that, ever. I was either beating them at everything they threw at me or they were too afraid to come near me. My father could be very scary at times.

"Can you speak? Or have I rescued a mute?" He asks stubborn as a bull.

I shake myself out his eyes at that comment. "No, I am not mute. I can talk very well, actually." I reply, getting annoyed at his attitude. The heat in the room was definitely not helping my temper.

"Well then a bit of gratitude would be nice, since I just saved your ass." He says, exasperated.

"My ass was fine, thank you very much. How is that for gratitude?" I retort back. We glare at each other until I finally break my gaze away. Damn those gorgeous eyes.

I look down ashamed as I realize how I had been acting like a brat when he just saved my life.

"Thank you, really. I would have died if you hadn't come and 'saved my ass'." I tell him, seriously.

He lets out a faint laugh, "Your welcome. Anyway why were they chasing you?"

I don't hesitate before I answer him, "They called me a stupid little girl so I hit them."

He looks amused at me answer. "You hit a knight?"

"Five actually."

He is taken aback, "How in the seven hells did you take on five knights and not get captured?"

"Well I am very quick and hit very hard. But I would have been captured if you didn't help me." I tell him honestly.

"Yeah, I suppose you would have." He says.

There is a long pause until he reaches out black smeared hand, "Gendry Waters."

So he is a bastard. I could care less what he was but I felt it was crazy that he told me that right when I first met him. Most bastards are ashamed to tell people of their heritage. I could tell that he thought that I was disgusted that he was a bastard since I paused, wondering whether or not I should tell him my name.

I was quick to recover though, "Maggie Forel." Gendry smiles and we shake hands.

"So Gendry, why did you help me? I've never met you before; you have no reason to save me." I question.

"Well surprising as it may seem to you, some people like to help others." Gendry replies with a smirk.

"Oh and is that supposed to mean you?" I ask him, teasingly although I knew that wasn't the real reason he saved me.

His smirk fades away and he tells me seriously, "I've seen too many people die and I couldn't stand there and watch it happen again."

I was surprised at his answer. I felt bad for him; I knew what it was like to watch someone die right in front of you without being able to do anything.

I reach out and touch his shoulder, "I understand how you feel, thank you for not letting me die."

He nods and I take away my hand. "So how did you know that this place was safe?" I ask him.

"Well for one I live here." Gendry replies.

"You do?"

"Yes, I'm the blacksmith's 'apprentice', even though I'm the one who does the work." He tells me. He clearly doesn't like to be called that, or be used. He is stubborn.

"So I guess that explains how you carried me on your back while running."

"Well you definitely have to be strong in this line of work." Gendry says with a smirk. I let out a soft laugh.

"Tobho will be back soon and I don't think that he will be happy that I brought a fugitive here." He tells me.

I nod and get up to leave, "Thank you so much, I owe you." He nods at me and I peer over the edge of the doorway and then leave the forge and Gendry with it.

I must have been there longer than I realized because it was already dark and most of the people left the streets. I hurry back home, picturing Gendry's gorgeous blue eyes the whole way.

End of Flashback

I smile to myself as I remember that fateful night that I met Gendry Waters. I hadn't seen him since, and more than once had I thought about going back to the forge to see him. I don't know why but I wanted to see him again, to see his eyes again. I can still remember exactly how they looked. I'll never forget him even though I'm sure he forgot about me.

I find myself at the castle's gate and stride up to the guards. "I have to speak with the Lord Hand." I tell them.

They scoff, and one tells me to "piss off". I can feel my anger boiling but I hold my tongue back.

"I need to speak to Lord Eddard Stark, it is important business." I say, seething.

One of them steps close to me, "You better get a move on girlie before I have your head on a spike."

I'm not afraid of him, but I use what little self-control I have left and turn on my heel and walk away. I need to find another way into the castle.

I walk around the perimeter of the castle until I find an open window with a few good footholds. I look around to make sure no one is watching me before I take off at a sprint and grab the ledges and pull myself into the window.

I do a roll-over and land in a crouch. I look around and see no one else in the room. I stand up and walk across the small room to the pile of clothes sitting on a chair. I pick them up and head over to the door. I figure that no one will question me if I am carrying clothes, they will probably think that I am a maid.

I open the door and peer through the opening. I step out once I now that it's clear and walk calmly through the long halls. This place was all too new for me and I had no idea where I was going. I saw a young guard standing by one of the doors and I asked him where Eddard Stark was, smiling. He blushed and pointed me in the direction of his solar. I thanked him and winked behind me before I headed up the stairs. A sword is not the only weapon I can use.

After getting lost three times I finally made it to the solar. I told the guard standing there that his daughter asked me to give him these clothes right away. It was the best thing I could come up with since I had picked up nothing but dresses. The guard gave me a questioning look but I whispered to him that it was 'lady problems and something that had to be discussed privately.' I laughed on the inside as I thought about my terrible lie but nonetheless, the guard knocked on the door and told him my story.

"Let her in." I could hear how confused he was in his voice. I thanked the guard and strode into the room. Once he realized that it was me he ordered the guard to close the door.

I set the clothes down on a lone chair and sighed.

"Lady problems?" He asked me, amusement evident in his voice.

"It was the best thing I could come up with since I just happened to grab the dresses." I countered.

"Did you have trouble getting into the castle?"

"If you call 'trouble' being threatened to have your head on a spike, having to climb through a window, and wonder around aimlessly for an hour, then yes I did." I tell him.

"Well at least you made it here, do you have an answer?" He asked.

"Do you think I would've come here if I didn't have an answer? Yes, we accept your offer and will train your daughter." I say, while handing him my father's paper.

He grins, "I can't thank you enough. I don't think anyone else would give their time to teach her. When are you planning to start?" He asks me.

"How about tomorrow after she eats lunch, she will need the energy." I say. He nods and I turn to leave.

"Wait, show these to the guards if they question you." He hands me a badge with the symbol of the direwolf, stag, and the hand of the king's badge. I thank him and then leave the castle.

I walk through the crowded streets again but I don't pay attention to the shouts anymore. I smile to myself as I keep my steps in sync with the blacksmith's hammer.