A/N Well this took longer to write than I thought it would. I apologise. Anyway, try to enjoy the walking, horse riding and fluff of this chapter...
The repetition of the constantly moving forest and horse hooves in a continue clatter, complete with sway side to side, against the dirt path lulled Arya to sleep through the day. Gendry had wrapped a loose woollen blanket around her shoulders and allowed her to rest her head against his shoulder. He was too nauseous to care very much.
Although they were on the road for a few months before Harrenhal, Gendry was still not used to the idea of travelling across country. Especially not in odd carts and on horse back. He'd sat in the back of the food cart when they travelled with the Night's Watch, but then there was two horses pulling the cart and not one. The cart was steadier, not rocking as it was with the singular mare.
Arya seemed more used to the idea and also seemed very comfortable to sleep against him.
He didn't mind. If Tywin's plan went ahead as he planned, he was sure that he'd have to get used to it anyway.
"Arya," Gendry said to the sleeping girl, shaking her shoulders slightly to wake her as the cart rocked to a stop. The girl woke slowly as Gendry spoke, her eyes opening lazily to the dusk mist that surrounded the slowing cart and men. "We're stopping."
"Wake up you sorry traitor's daughter." One of Tywin's men yelled out to the girl, slamming the hilt of his sword on the side of the cart. It caused Arya to jump up abruptly at Gendry's side, her eyes narrowed at the sworn sword of Tywin's. Gendry didn't say anything as she did, he just slid from the cart to help her out.
"Arry, come on" He murmured to her, placing his hand on her shoulder when she didn't move away from glaring at the knight. The knight smirked slightly, finding the sight of the two wards quite humorous. "Lord Tywin wanted to see us." Gendry pushed Arya lightly towards where Tywin's tent was laid out.
"How far are we from King's Landing?" Arya asked as she rubbed the sleep from her eyes. She swayed slightly as she walked, trying to find her footing on the uneven ground after spending hours on an uneven cart. Gendry was struggling in a similar way, but he was managing better somehow - probably because he hadn't laid down for most of the journey.
"I wouldn't know. I've never travelled the King's Road." Gendry remarked to Arya, walking beside her and waiting for her to punch his arm. When she did, he chuckled and grinned over at her. Prepared to retort a 'That was not very ladylike response' when he stopped himself abruptly. He was sure there were men in the campsite that did not know who she was - in fact, Tywin had made it quite obvious that there were.
Neither had noticed the sworn sword of Tywin's following them towards the tent, until the man spoke up . "We will not be stopping tomorrow girl - we are about two days out." The man said, glancing the girl up and down when she turned to face him.
She narrowed her eyes at him, uttering out a "Thank you, ser." before Gendry turned back to face her, placing his hand on her shoulder for the third time since she had awoken only moments ago. Arya then turned back to face Gendry, brushing his hand off of her shoulder so that they could continue walking the short remaining distance to the tent.
Flurries of gold and red Lannister banners and tenting canvas flying around the son of a stag and the wolf-girl - they looked out-of-place in the sea of golden-haired or red cloaked men who payed very little attention to them. Other than the odd one or two who would give them a passing glance or odd glare of confusion.
The tenting was all temporary anyway. At least for the most part. According to what Arya had overheard, around a few hundred men were staying at this location to hold it incase her brother got passed the line.
Her eyes finally set on the largest tent erected in the messes of other tents. It was hastily built for the night that the men needed under canvas. Needed, because if what the man had told her was true - they would need it.
Orange and golden lights flame over blonde haired and red cloaked men. Misty reds and lilac mixed with the greying clouds of blood orange. Arya believed she hadn't seen a sunrise like it since she was at Winterfell - it would be almost six months now since she left. She missed the grey stone walls, the flames and candles that scattered her room and her parents, the childlike adoration of it all. She missed her brothers, Bran, Rickon, Robb who fought in southern fields for her and her sister's freedom. And Jon. Jon was freezing in edges much father north than she had ever stood. She wished she could fight them, she wished that they could fight her way to freedom. She wished they would flee back north, hide in the castles of the loyal and wait for her mother and brother to return. But they couldn't. It was not that easy.
They finally reached the tent. The open door of canvas flew out beside the two of them, revealing where they were stood to whomever faced the doorway - the luck, however, seemed to be on the side of the lingering duo as the candles and torches being light began to flicker.
After a few long moments spent outside the tent, the two walked through the flap carefully. The duo then finding themselves face to face with a rather confused Tywin Lannister and his war council. "You wanted to see us, milord." Gendry said pointedly, Tywin's eyes realising that the boy was correct.
"Yes I did boy." He nodded, dismissing the war council around him and motioning for them to sit. Neither the Lannister lord nor the two 'wards' spoke during this time. They just stood or sat uncomfortably in the silence. Tywin was the one to finally break this silence, needing to get on with the rest of the war plans very soon after. He skipped all small talk and got to the point quickly. "You must be tired, so you both will stay in a tent nearby my own."
"Why, my lord?" Arya spoke hesitantly. She was honestly confused by it all - the whole prospect of being so close to Lord Tywin's tent made her wary of what was going on in the camp.
"Because not all of my men are as honourable as your brother or my son." Tywin said bluntly, he was not so careful in choosing his words as Arya had being. He said the words truthfully in hope that the two would soon leave and get some rest, knowing that they would both be rising again early the next day.
"How do they get away with it?" Arya asked, worried that the Lord knew of his men's digressions but did not stop them. Worried that he could not control her men, who may very well hurt her.
"War is not a time to punish the dishonourable me, Arya." Tywin said to the girl, wishing he was wrong about what he was saying. But if he saved Arya and her boy, then he could not risk killing a few rapists when they would probably die anyway. "But they will not get close enough to your tent to try" He assured her, hoping that this would quench any worries that she may have had about it. He didn't particularly enjoy the idea of rapists in his camp, but he found that in the time of war, it was not justified to punish dishonourable men when they could be fighting for him loyally.
Arya seemed to be prepared to jump in for another argument when Gendry spoke up. "Come, Arya, let us leave." He stood, hoping that she would follow his lead. Not that she ever would, he knew that she would lead their lives - not him. And he would follow her wherever she goes. "Lord Tywin is a very busy man." He placed his hand on her shoulder, waiting for her to stand. When she finally did, he allowed her to take her time. Tywin didn't say a word as they left, he just allowed them to leave.
Arya piped up with her question as they walked from the tent, seeing the sight and hearing the sound of steel against a whetstone made her think."Do you know how to fight, Gendry?" She turned and grinned at him.
"I know how to swing a sword." Gendry said, hoping it would brush off the conversation - since she had seen him swing a sword in the forge at Harrenhal. Not that he assumed she would be paying too much attention to his technique since she was often lost in her thoughts. He didn't blame her.
"No you don't." She laughed slightly.
"I do." Gendry looked at her, annoyed at the fact she was disputing this.
"No you don't."
"Yes, I do."
Already fed up of the argument they were having and noticing the perturbed glances of annoyed and worried guards. They knew if that this argument continued the Lord Tywin would either have them disciplined or he would have the duo. "Fight me then, stupid." Arya said cockily at the taller man.
"Fine then." Gendry sighed, giving up. He knew that if he didn't agree, eventually she would find away to get him to. He couldn't dispute it, because she always did. "How?"
"Sticks - tent. Now." Her grin widened. The promise of practise for the first time in months brought joy to her face. She was excited for once. The prospect of actually practising, actually fighting someone willing, was thrilling to her. Not that Gendry was as willing as Syrio.
Syrio. She would never forget Syrio.
She would never forget any of them. She would avenge them all.
Gendry walked into the tent he assumed to be theirs, the guard at the canvas door nodded, informing him that he was right. It was about as lavish as the room they had in Harrenhal. A simple pallet covered in straw bedding adorned the centre of the tent. Candles light the tent with casted shadows of dancing flames. He found the tent oddly beautiful - not that he would ever mention that to her.
He didn't say much as he fastened the edge of the canvas door so that it was shut to the outside movement of troops and prying eyes. As he turned back to face Arya, the sudden clank of wood against his side shocked him. She laughed when he didn't catch the 'sword', he grumbled under his breath as he picked it up.
She dropped into a stance that Gendry didn't quite recognise, he turned 'side-face' like she had told him to stand. And then their dance began, Arya besting him what seemed like constantly - laughter and joy filling the tent with the echo of wood hitting wood and muscle.
Gendry never managed to beat her, she was too quick, too small of a target for him. But she did teach him things, like how to hold his 'sword', how to stand, how to swing.
But she had been right. He hadn't known how to fight.
They awoke on the straw at sunrise to the sound of one of Tywin's squires entering their tent and grumbling at them, Gendry rolled off of the bedding quickly, noticing how close Arya had moved near him in her sleep, and stretched out the cricks in his back. He glanced at the squire, who glared at him before speaking. "Lord Tywin wishes for you and the girl to wear these." He dropped the clothing into Gendry's not ready arms and grinned to himself as Gendry leant down to pick up the fallen small-clothes. He turned them over in his hands, noticing the Lannister sigil embroidered on the left breast.
"Thank you," Gendry murmured, throwing the clothing down onto the bedding and pulling up the small-clothes that were his, slipping them on. He assumed that the squire had left, but he had not. He was stood at the edge of the tent, his arms folded over his chest with a look of annoyance cast on his face. When Arya had still not stirred as Gendry pulled the burgundy top shirt over his head (he hated how it felt instantly) Gendry decided to crouch down and shake Arya's shoulder gently, hearing her snarl into awakening. "Arya, we need to leave soon." She promptly rolled from the pallet and glanced wearily over to where the squire stood. Gendry handed her the pile of clothing that remained, the Lannister lion staring up at her awkwardly as she glanced down at it. She almost threw the clothing from her grip but when she noticed that it was not a dress she hesitantly pulled the clothing on. She looked up and Gendry and back down at their clothing - it felt wrong.
It felt very wrong.
It was the sigil to neither of their houses, it was a sigil that their 'families' were fighting against. And yet they were dressed in burgundy and gold clothing that glinted with the sigil - making them both cringe.
"Are you finally ready?" The squire growled out impatiently, glancing the two over with a snarl on his lips and leading them out to where Lord Tywin stood. Lord Tywin did not say anything to them, only instructed one of his men to collect a single mare and bring it so that the two could ride beside him. Because he needed to 'talk' with them.
He had said this to his men, but never exchanged a word with the duo during the constant ride.
An awkward silence was buffered by the sound of horse shoes and cart wheels. Dust was drummed up in the air between the horses and the tiny remaining space between the duo on horseback. Gendry felt even more awkward than he already did - with the fact he'd never really learnt how to ride - with Arya sat tightly between his legs, her back resting against his chest. It wasn't made any better for him as her hands held the reins with his covering them so that they both had enough support in the saddle of the horse.
The cool air bit at their loosely bound hands, Tywin hadn't given either of them gloves when he sent them their clothing - something he hadn't explained his reasoning for this to them either. Arya could feel the leather rubbing against the palms of her hands roughly, as well as the callous of Gendry's hands worriedly holding over hers. She could tell he didn't feel comfortable, and sometimes, over her shoulder, she could see him looking longingly at the cart behind them.
As the day continued the journey only seemed to lengthen. The idea of no stops meant literally no stops except for when they needed to 'rest'. Lord Tywin's squires would give him a water-skin whenever he asked, but would often neglect the 'wards' Tywin had ordered them to also serve. Tywin noticed this when their lips were becoming chapped and bristled in the cool air, the skin cracking when he passed them the skin.
He still did not speak to them more than a few, unimportant questions or notes.
The night ride took longer than it should have. Although they had said they wouldn't stop at night the road had become too dark to see and the horses were becoming restless. So they stopped for a few hours. Arya and Gendry fell asleep by a tree during these hours, their backs resting on the trunk of the old tree where they had tied up their horse.
They were awoken rudely a few hours later to the sound of a horn and being forced, once again onto a mare.
The second day continued much the same, until they reached an area that Lord Tywin and his men had planned to stop at.
"We are half a day's ride out now…" Arya noted as their horse plodded slowly beside Tywin. She smiled slightly as she noted this - Tywin noticing and leading his horse towards the inn at the crossroads.
"You stopped here before, girl?" Tywin yelled his question back to her- glancing over his shoulder as his white stallion continued trailing towards the inn, as if the horse was used to this pass.
"When I travelled south with my father." Arya said, a slightly gleeful tone lost in her voice. Glinting and disappearing as quickly as it came. It didn't feel like it had being six months - it felt both longer and shorter at the same time. It felt like both a lifetime away, and moments ago. She tried not to let these thoughts show. "They do stew." She remembered aloud.
Tywin heard her and smiled. His horse pulling to a standstill beside the inn entrance. "Then you and the boy go eat." He said, dismounting from his stallion as he spoke. Once he dismounted he had his squire give them a small bag of silver stags. He didn't say very much else, only that they should not leave the camp until his return, he just allowed them to dismount before leaving alone to the two squires that flanked his sides.
"C'mon then Arry." Gendry said to her as they entered the inn, the duo sat down and asked one of the girls who worked there to bring them some stew. The girl took one look over them with confusion laced in her eyes but got to work anyway. The two slid into one of benches, Gendry sitting at the edge whilst Arya was closer to the wall - not her choice to be there since Gendry had asked her to sit first.
It wasn't long until the stew arrived at their table, threw down sloppily in front of them with hard bread and two wooden spoons as the girl scooped up the silver coins and left. "Thank you." Arya spoke almost mutely, muttering out her thanks to the tavern girl who only grimaced slightly and glanced over Gendry. Gendry hadn't noticed the motion of the girl's eyes as he was too busy breaking the bread to start eating his stew.
They sat in silence if for only the sounds of slurping and breaking bread between them. It was then when a sound of raucous laughter filled the air and armoured feet clunked against the stone floor. The men walked in and Arya steeled, frozen as she heard them speak of her mother and brother. Of how they wanted to kill them for the glory. Gendry, of course - since he was sat so close to her- noticed this. "Relax Arya, I'm never going to let them hurt you."
Ary laughed slightly, placing her spoon into the bowl and letting it roll slightly. "I'm sure I could defend you better than you could me." She threw a punch to his shoulder, causing him to exaggeratedly move to the side and some of his remaining stew to slosh out over the side of the bowl, before the two of them started laughing.
"I'm sure you could… we better work on that then." Gendry admitted, suggesting something Arya had hoped he would. She wanted to practise, he knew he needed to. It wouldn't be hard for them to, they could go down to the back of the inn - the light was still good
"Fight me again, then." Arya smiled, turning fully in her seat to be facing him - before attempting to get to her feet and push him to stand. She grumbled a little at him when he didn't but continued trying.
"Let our food settle first, hasty." Gendry laughed at her reaction, pulling her down - back to sitting beside him on the bench. Gendry glanced towards where the Lannister men were sitting, staring at them with angered and annoyed glares. He gulped and took a gulp from the casket of liquid the girl had brought with their stews.
"No," She protested, standing again and proceeding to push him again. She wouldn't take that for an excuse! "Someone could attack whenever." She said pointedly, pushing him once again and causing him to laugh some more.
Through his laughter, he took one more chancing glance at the group of men at the edge of the room. He smiled hesitantly at Arya. "Fine then. C'mon then." he gave in through his laughter, standing and taking another gulp of the liquid - it tasted a hint like meed, but it was too weak for him to tell properly what it was. He didn't care, it quenches his thirst.
Arya remembered that there was a small open area that would still be open around the back of the inn - they wouldn't camp there, it didn't have enough space for a tent and it was too close to the inn.
They took two broken broom staffs from the side of the inn and began their practise. Arya dropping into her usual stance whilst Gendry attempted to mimic her slightly in his actions. She smirked slightly noticing this, murmuring 'stupid bull' under her breath and swiftly tripping him up. Gendry pushed himself to his feet, only to find the end of Arya's broom touching his chest. "Dead." she smiled and helped him up - before their dance bagan all over again.
Tywin was stood by the window of the inn when he overheard the laughing and clashing of wood. He surveyed over the area before noticing them directly under the window pane, he was about to yell down and scold them when he paused and faltered at this idea. She looked as wild as the mountain tribes his son had brought him, but yet as graceful as his daughter had when she begged to practise with Jamie. He found himself reminiscing more than feel anger at the two children.
Arya had often reminded him of his daughter, how she was strong-willed, strong-minded and knew when to voice her opinions. She was clever, well maybe not clever, but she was smart. She knew what she was doing.
How the boy reacted around her confused Tyiwn. He did not have to watch over the girl, but Tywin saw how he always did, as if he cared for her more than he let on.
He watched them fight another battle until the girl beat the boy once again before he turned back to the reports he was reading - he had a few more days to wait out before Stannis Baratheon's ships reached King's Landing. They would wait out at the encampment there until they heard where to go next, or at least that was Tywin's plan. No need to rush the rest of the things in motion.
The duo fighting had not seen either of the two men who had watched over them whilst they practised. They had not noticed the Lord who felt he had to care for them, nor the faceless man who also felt the obligation.
Tyrion Lannister, as hand of the King, was a very busy man. He was not expecting to have to wait for Lord Baelish to arrive, so that they could actually discuss the trivial matter that he did not want to speak of. Although he disliked the Starks, based mostly on Catelyn Stark's 'hospitality', he did not see their current fate as just. Lady Sansa did not deserve to be the play thing of Joffery's. Ned Stark had always being honourable. And the news of the Stark boys from Winterfell.
How Robb Stark had wood to feed his fire of hate against them all.
But with Arya Stark, it was different. With Arya Stark, he might actually be able to stop the horrors that might pass her. "My father has the remaining Stark girl then." The door to his quarters opened as Lord Baelish entered, Tyrion did not wait to begin his conversation with Littlefinger - for the man would be the only way for them to help their war effort.
"You heard my announcement, Lord Tyrion." Baelish said in a throw away comment, seating himself beside the imp. "But don't you have a battle to plan for?" Baelish took a sip of the Dornish red Podrick had poured for him, savouring the flavour and the colour.
"I did and I do," Tyrion said, before taking a sip of his own wine. He shook his head at Pod when he tried to refill his goblet before turning to Baelish. "However, I am surprised that he has kept her in the war zone and did not send her back." When Baelish didn't reply to his statement, Tyrion spoke up again."Any explanations for this, Lord Baelish?" Although his sister was not stupid, he knew she would not of pried enough into Baelish for him to answer his questions. Tyrion knew he was not as threatening of a presence as Jamie or his father - but he would not be threatened either. He was not Ned Stark and he knew how this game worked, so he knew that Baelish would eventually give in.
After a few lies too blatant to repeat, he started to gain the truth.
"Arya Stark is not the only pawn your father has," Baelish said bitterly, the tone of his voice telling Tyrion that this was the truth." He also has the last known surviving bastard of Robert's." His eyes widened at this admission, he had heard of the killing of the bastards - especially about the young baby Barra from Ros. He also knew about the boy who had been sent to Renly's household.
"What about the boy who was in Renly's care?" He asked, worried slightly for the boy was not much older than Myrcella - not much older than Sansa or Arya. He was just a boy, that was caught up in this, the same as the bastard his father held and the baby that was slaughtered in a brothel.
"He perished in the slaughter. He was the first to go, apparently." Tyrion hoped, from how indifferent Baelish seemed about this fact, that his guest never had children.
"So my father has a royal bastard and a Ned Stark's other daughter." Tyrion noted, more to himself. He let out a low whistle and muttered the words 'well he has being busy' to himself completely, before turning his attention back to the Lord before him. "What is he planning, Lord Baelish?" Tyrion asked the Lord before him, not really caring heavily for the answer since he was cared more for the well-being of the girl and stopping this war through that. "Since you seem so intrigued to say." He made his remark sarcastically, noting on the fact that Baelish had actually told him very little; although he had seemed to have talked about it, at length, the night before with the other council members.
"He seems to plan to be joining the girl and boy together in marriage." Lord Baelish said, taking a sip of his wine. "To destroy an agreement that exists between the Freys and the Starks." News of the Frey and Stark agreement moved like the wind through the realms as soon as Robb Stark crossed at the Twins. Walder Frey had wanted to gloat after all, and Lannister spies had not had a hard time of scavenging the information from the fifty-odd relations of Walder Frey, or any of the others, who had learnt first hand. "He has also seemed to adopt them as his 'wards'"
"Poor girl." Tyrion remarked, sipping his wine. Although he may have more fear for the other Stark she-wolf cub, he did feel for the youngest daughter of Ned Stark. For she, from his memories, was not made for court life - or wedded life at that.
"From how I saw the two act, I'm not sure it's that bad of a prospect for the two of them." Baelish remarked, remembering seeing the two in the blacksmiths - the boy seemed prepared to protect her from just the glare he received from the two of them.
"That's not what I meant." Tyrion said, laughing slightly. "She's having to cope with my father. Poor girl."
"Lord Tywin, there is a raven for you." The Lannister Lord and his two wards were breaking fast together, by his command, when his squire entered to hand him the letter. The two that did not want to be there exchanged a hopeful glance and hoped that this would mean that they would be excused and allowed to return to avoiding the other soldiers.
Tywin took a few moments to read over the scrap of paper before him, before turning to Gendry and placing the paper on the table. "Boy, when the girl finally gives you children. Kill them." He allowed Arya to reach over the table to read the Queen's hand - not caring heavily for the fact she was reading it. "Write to my daughter informing her that she has no say in the girl for she could not keep her at King's Landing." He said to the squire, who hastily began scribbling down the words Tywin said. "Also, that we will be arriving in time to help with the battle I have heard rumours about, and if she wishes to keep her seat then she should concentrate on that"
The squire, once finished - promptly left the room. The three sat in silence for a few long moments, Gendry not knowing quite what his part was - whereas Arya felt that she should be the one to break the silence. "My Lord?"
"Yes girl?" Tywin turned to her, placing the goblet he had raised to drink from down on the table once again. He watched how she placed her knife down, how her gaze seemed to be glazed with an anger he could just about make out.
"Shouldn't we be leaving to the battle soon?" She asked, cocking her head to the side as if to point out to the obvious nature of her question. She had known that the battle must have been soon, but she didn't know how soon it would be.
"Of course girl, but what is your haste?" Tywin said, taking a sip of his drink as he spoke.
"It's just… wouldn't you prefer to be closer to King's Landing when the battle takes place - it isn't that far now, but strategy would favour being closer." Arya hesitated on her words, making sure to choose them well - trying to make sure that no one suspected anything of what she was saying. Unluckily for her, both Gendry and Tywin knew that she would be up to something.
"You are right girl." Tywin said, nonchalantly and uncaring in his tone. "What are you planning?" He knew full well that if the girl and boy had seen an opening to leave they would have. He was testing that when he put them on horse back together and by putting them in a separate tent - but then, he assumed, the girl must have known that with the Lannister guards around that she could never escape.
She just smiled innocently at his question, never answering it.
"What are you planning?" Gendry asked her wearily as they left Tywin's room, walking towards their own across the hallway. He spoke in a hushed tone, noting the open drafting window and sounds echoing around the halls.
Arya didn't respond until they were in the room, she replied in an equally hushed tone - knowing that Lord Tywin's men surrounded their room within their own - and from the noises she had heard in the hallway, some were obviously not resting. "King's Landing is a big place, we could easily get 'lost'."
