Game of Thrones: Not So Different – Arya
Chapter 4 of my Game of Thrones story, just a quick one this time, but has important details so, enjoy.
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Now onto the story.
Disclaimer: Game of Thrones belongs to George R.R. Martin.
Chapter 4
The atmosphere in Winterfell, the Stark family's ancestral home, was grim. Even the delight that Robb and Jon visiting from college should have brought was marred by the large black spot that hung over the entire house, specifically Arya's absence and the exact reasons for it.
"This isn't what I pictured us coming back home to." Robb admitted.
Jon nodded. "No, me neither."
The two of them were sitting, watching and doing their best to keep Rickon distracted, with Bran's help, while Ned and Cat spoke to the doctors at the Institute on the phone.
Bran sighed as he sat, trying and failed not to hear his parents voices on the phone. 'How did this even happen, how could we have been so blind, look at them all, they're all shocked, as am I. We had no idea Arya was so, we just thought...'
He grimaced, remembering all the arguments; he bitterly wished he had said something then, opened his eyes and saw what was really happening.
'Arya was hurting and we never noticed; we just made it worse, thinking she was acting out. It wasn't right, or fair and it led to her...'
He didn't want to finish that thought. Everybody tensed however as they heard the phone call end. But still Ned and Cat did not come through to the room.
So, left to their own devices, the rest of the family was left to wonder. Of them all, Sansa couldn't stop torturing herself with guilt. She still recalled with horrible clarity the sight when Gendry had found Arya, the blood on her sister's wrists.
'And it's all my fault...' She recalled with great shame. 'All because I was, blind, foolish. I didn't see the truth, even when it was right in front of me...And I almost lost my sister because of it.'
"Sansa..."
She started and saw the rest of the family looking at her.
"Sansa, what is…?" Her mother began.
She shook her head. "I was just...I can't stop thinking about it, about Arya and that..."
They all shared a look, all knowing what she meant.
Her father then spoke. "Sansa, you can't keep..."
"It was my fault dad, you all know it, I know it." She snapped. "It was me and the way I acted, the things I said to her that did it after all..."
"We all played a part in it Sansa." Her mother remarked.
"But..."
It was Jon who asked the worst question possible however. "Sansa, why?"
She shuddered, she couldn't answer that, she had no idea how, or even where to begin. She was saved from doing so at that moment however by the knock at the door.
Even as he detached himself from the scene to answer the door, Ned knew who it was, as did everyone else. They only had one regular visitor ever since Arya was committed to the Institute. Sure enough, Gendry was there when he answered the door.
"Mr. Stark..." He began.
Smiling softly Ned nodded. "Come in Gendry."
He entered, looking awkward as always, it seemed to be just how he was around them. He followed Ned back through to the living room and sat down, he looked around at the others. He recalled the wariness they had shown towards him.
'I am Arya's friend, nothing more, they had no reason to be wary...' He reflected. 'Now, after seeing Arya like that though, Gods...'
He shuddered at the memory but quickly focused as the others began talking.
"Well, we called." Ned was saying. "But Arya, isn't allowed visitors yet."
Gendry nodded. "I know, I tried asking too. Although, they said she's, improving somewhat."
Cat agreed. "Yes, I heard that too; I just hope, we can fix this...We put her in there, in more ways that one."
Gendry bit his lip, unsure what to say to that. Meanwhile Sansa bowed her head. She still felt horribly guilty, but that wasn't the worst of it. She knew exactly who was responsible, the one behind it all. But Arya was recovering, there was some hope in that and perhaps, perhaps she could still make amends.
As they spoke about Arya however, Sansa couldn't help but notice something. Whenever she looked towards Gendry, his expression, the look on his face, it said it all. She realized then that Gendry might have feelings towards Arya, feelings that might be more than just friendship.
End of chapter, hope you enjoyed it, read and review please.
