A/N: I just want to say that I know I am the worst to update...and I'm sorry. School tends to take a lot out of me and on top of that I had a little bit of writer's block. And I wanted to write a proper chapter rather than to update something crappy. I love my story too much to do that...again sorry. Your reviews are always lovely and most appreciated.

I don't own any of these characters! They belong to GRRM.

And on with the show.

Chapter 4: A Bull, a Stag, and a Dragon

"No. It's not true...it can't be!"

Stannis stood, walking over to the raven haired smith. "But it is. Why else would you be here, if that weren't the case?"

Gendry fumed at his comment before answering. "You must be mistaken then, I am no Baratheon."

"Aye, you are not. You may be a bastard, but you are a Baratheon. A bastard with the blood of the Stag in them." Stannis stated.

"I don't understand." Gendry whispered. He wore a blank expression on his face and was now looking at the floor.

The elder man paced the room as he spoke. "You are my brother, King Robert's, bastard son. One of only three surviving bastards, if I'm correct."

Arya who had been watching the exchange, gasped as she stood. "So it's true then? That Lannister bastard had them all killed. That's why..." She trailed off as she finally came to terms with the real reason the Gold Cloaks wanted Gendry dead all those years ago. "That's why they wanted you dead Gendry. Robert's bastards would just-"

"Be a constant reminder of what true born Baratheons should look like." Stannis finished.

"How many were there? How many bastards?" Gendry asked. Stannis faced his nephew with a solemn expression.

"Sixteen."

Gendry dropped to his knees, stunned and in shock. "I think I...I think I..." He kept sputtering, unable to form a sentence until Arya spoke again.

"I think he has heard enough, Your Grace."spitting out the last few words sarcstically.

It did not escape the King's notice. "I will leave you to it then, Lady Stark."

The King left the forge instantly.

Arya looked down at Gendry who was still on his knees. "Gendry?"

"I need some time alone, please." he pleaded with a broken voice.

Taking his face in her hands, she kisses him softly. "Okay."

She has barely stepped out of the forge when she hears him scream. Immediately, she runs back in and to him. He's screaming and yelling and shouting. She tries to embrace him but he steps away from her. Arya gets the hint and moves away to the table near by. Gendry then starts to tear the forge apart: throwing swords and armor at the walls, flipping the table and cot upside down, and then he shoves his fist into the wall. He mashes his hand into the wall again and again, before he hears Arya's voice.

"GENDRY STOP!"

The blacksmith looks down at his hand. It's bloodied and swollen. He blinks and then he feels the rage subside and the grief overcome him. Gendry glances back at Arya and runs into her arms, finally breaking down. He cries for the father he never knew, the brothers and sisters that he never had the joy of having, and the mother that was taken too soon from him. All the while Arya held him and stroked his raven hair, having fallen onto his knees and burying his face in her belly. It almost brought the young Stark princess to tears, seeing the man she loved most crying his heart out.

When he managed to stop, he held onto her as she held onto him during her nightmares. She lead them to his bed and laid him down gently. Arya curled into him and hugged him tightly, reassuring him that she was there.

"I'm not going anywhere." she whispered.

He closed his eyes and nodded before falling asleep in the arms of the woman he loved.

Gendry's attention snapped back to the conversation at hand. He was standing in Stannis' solar with Arya and Lord Davos.

"So what's it going to be then boy?" Stannis declared.

Gendry took a deep breath in before speaking. "I accept your offer, your grace."

Stannis faced him while Arya glared at him in disbelief. "I'm glad you acc-"

His speech was cut short as Gendry put his hand up. "I accept the offer of being named your heir, on one condition."

The King scowled at him in anger. "You listen here boy! You are in position to be giving me conditions! Do you understand?"

"On the contrary, your grace. I have every right. You have offered me to be your heir and I said I was willing to accept." Gendry spoke coolly.

"Then what game are you playing at? You must want something else then?" Stannis sternly implied.

"I am not playing any games. I am merely ask that you bear another son within the year as I act as your heir. If not, then you must name Edric Storm, your heir. I want no part in this. I want no Iron Throne." Gendry replied.

Stannis studied his nephew's face and thought over his demand. The boy had no ambition to rule or want to be involved. Perhaps it's for the best, the stubborn stag thought.

"If that is what you wish, then so be it."

Arya and Lord Davos seemed to be in awe of what transpired as they both had not said a word.

"If that is all you needed to speak about, your grace, I best be on my way." Gendry spat out as he rose to leave.

Arya shifted and then stood leaving with Gendry before she remembered something. "Wait!"

"Yes, Lady Stark?" Davos asked.

"I thought I should let you know that the Targaryens are coming to Winterfell."

Stannis' head shot up quickly at her announcement. "When?"

"They are still traveling but should be here within a week."

He paced the room and then let out a dry laugh. "That dragon bastard seems desperate to find alliances. Though he must know where the loyalty of the North lies."

"We've spoken about this already!" Arya fumed. "The North will not bend the knee, but you have our support as well as the support of the Iron Islands. Queen Asha has pledged loyalty to you in exchange for free rule from the realm."

"And I expect it will stay this way when I part, Lady Stark."

She nodded before taking her leave. They walked out the solar and towards the Godswood. She needed to release some of the tension and anger that had accumulated during the meeting. She arrived at a run and reached for Needle instantly. She hacked and slashed at the heart tree as Gendry stood and watched. After an hour, she stopped and was heaving. Gendry stepped forward and she punched in square in the jaw.

"HOW COULD YOU BE SO STUPID?!" she seethed.

He rubbed his jaw as he spoke. "Stupid? How can you say that?"

"Because you are! You're a stupid bullheaded bastard!"

"I did what you asked of me. How is that stupid?!" he countered.

She threw her arms up and smacked him. "I told you to do what you wanted! Not what I wanted or what Stannis wanted, but you!"

"And I did!" he screamed at her. "I took his offer because it was the least that I could do Arya!"

"What are you talking about?"

He let out a wry laugh and sighed, running a hand over his face. "Mya, Edric, Shireen, and I are the only Baratheons left."

"I still don't understand what any of this has to so with what you want Gendry."

"There were sixteen of us, Arya. Sixteen! And now, there's only three. Don't you understand? We're all that's left. Just as you and your siblings are all that's left of House Stark. The very least I can do is carry on that name. If not for me, then for them." he answered.

Arya stood in silence as she realized that he was right. Her family and the name of House Stark consisted of just her brothers, sister, and herself. And House Baratheon was also in pieces as Stannis was the only legitimate male still alive. She understood that part of him wanted this and the other part just wanted to pretend that this never happened.

"Family. Duty. Honor." she whispered.

Gendry looked at her with a quizzical expression. "What?"

"My mother's words. Family, Duty, Honor."

"What do they mean?"

She sighed. "It means that you fight for your family and you do your duty with honor. And I can't blame you for that."

"For once, can't you just have faith in me?" he exhaled.

"I do have faith in you." she cupped his face. "I just want this to be over already."

He embraced her and kissed her temple. "So do I."

She could smell salt of the sea as she walked through the streets of Braavos. The heat of the sun baring down on her back as she made her way to the docks. The docks were full people and traders as well as refugees. Reaching her point of interest, the people disappear. The docks are empty and quiet...too quiet. She slowly keeps walking when suddenly, she comes face to face with a man with blue hair and startling violet eyes.

He circles her like a vulture and then whispers in her ear, "Hello, Cat."

Arya opens her eyes and jolts from the bed. She's sweating and she's gasping for air. Blinking, she looks around the room and sees Gendry sitting up.

"Arya? Arya, what's wrong?"

She doesn't answer, which concerns him.

"Arya? Look at me." he says, wrapping his arms around her.

She shakes her head and then looks at him. "Sorry...I had a nightmare...I didn't mean to wake you."

He pats her hair and then pets her spine, softly kissing her hair. "It's alright. I'm here."

She nestles into his large frame and lays down on the feather bed. He stands and goes to open the window of her chambers. Somehow he always makes her forget her troubles and make her feel happy, if only for a moment. She manages to giggle at the sight of him. He's as naked as his initial name day and his toned back and legs don't exactly help. She bites her lip down as he makes way to the bed again. Gendry stares at her and notices her eyes are black with lust and a thin ring of steel is barely visible. He smirks and kisses her neck. She moans when he nibbles on her earlobe and she locks her arms around his back.

He starts to trail his kisses down further until she yanks his head back up. "C'mere stupid."

He laughs but complies with the tiny brunette. She wraps one leg around his hip and pulls him down to her lips while he holds himself above her. He kisses her again and again until their lips become swollen.

"I should go." he says breathless.

"No, I think you should stay." she teases pulling his bottom lip into her mouth.

"As much as I would love to, I prefer to have my head where it is." the blacksmith chuckled.

Arya pouted and then bit down on his lip. "Can we at least do it one more time?"

"You're insatiable Arry! I've had you twice already." he rasped.

"And one more wouldn't hurt."

Just as he was about to respond, she crushed her lips onto his and straddled him. She sank down on him and rode him to a breathtakingly beautiful climax. She cried out so loudly he had to slap a hand over her mouth. Her teeth clamped into his flesh and he muffled his groans in her neck. She rolled off of him with the most amused and satisfied look on her face. He smiled before pulling her into him and falling asleep again.

Arya was dreaming again. It was the same dream from before. She was at the docks in Braavos again, waiting when the same man appeared. He was tall, handsome with blue hair and violet eyes. Tanned and just stunning. He whispered the same words as before.

"Hello, Cat."

She said nothing but approached the man, gripping his collar. She wasn't sure what possessed her to do so, but she kissed him. Then, she felt as if she were aflame. All she could smell was smoke and fire and when she touched the blue haired man, all she felt were scales. It was almost like...like touching a dragon.

"Targaryen." was all she spoke.

The man smiled and then everything begins to shift around her. Suddenly, she was running through the woods. Running from something, running to something. She stops and looks up at the moon and she howls. Like a wolf. Next thing she knows, she's chasing a stag. The aroma comes strongly to her and she can almost taste it. Chasing after the stag proves fruitful as it disappears and leaves her wondering what comes next. Just as she's about to leave, a bull appears in front of her. The bull doesn't seem harmful nor dangerous, rather stoic and with a kind look in it's eyes. She moves closer to it, wanting to be near it. A fire breaks out and everything goes black.

Arya woke again to find Gendry looking at her with concern. His eyes were wide and his mouth slightly open. She sat up instantly, grabbing his face in her hands.

"What? What is it?"

"You were...you were.."

"I was what Gendry? Tell me!"

He sighed and embraced her. "You were growling and jerking around. Shaking and unresponsive. You scared me half to death."

Arya remained quiet taking in the information. She dared not to tell Gendry about her dreams and what they could possibly mean. She didn't want to scare him off with the fact that she may be a warg. Instead she held him closer, stroking his arm and pressing a kiss to his bare chest. But even in the comfort of his arms, she couldn't stop thinking about her dreams.

Something bad is headed this way, she thought silently. I just hope that we're ready for it.

When Arya woke again, Gendry was gone. She smiled when she noticed a blue rose on the pillow next to hers.

"Silly boy." she murmured.

Getting out of the bed, she stretched and dressed. She wore a deep green wollen dress with a leather jerkin as her bodice and her knee high boots underneath. She strapped Needle to her side and braided her hair into a Northern style braid before heading to the Great Hall. As soon as she entered, she was lost in the flurry of people moving and arranging things. It had then hit her that they were expecting guests. Stannis had left for Storm's End just a few days past and the Targaryens were due to arrive any day.

"Arya!"

She snapped back to see her sister calling to her.

"Yes?"

"Come. We should eat before our guests arrive, so we can greet them properly." Sansa stated.

Arya gave her a bored look. "I will eat but I certainly will not greet them. They are your guests, not mine."

Sansa frowned. "You are a Stark of Winterfell and most importantly, a princess that must do her duty. And that includes meeting with the prince."

Arya hated when Sansa talked about highborns and royalty, but she was right. "Fine! When do we greet the 'Dragon Prince'?"

Sansa smiled and walked over to the maester. Arya huffed as she was left with no answer. So she turned on her heels and left the Great Hall.

"Are you not going to eat?" Sansa called out.

"Send the food to my chambers! I need some air!" she yelled back.

"Alright. Be in the courtyard within the hour! AND DON'T BE LATE!" the queen shouted.

Arya grinned. Oh, I'll be late. You can count on that.

She wasn't sure how she ended up in the old tower but there she stood seeing all of Winterfell. Looking around the tower, she laughed. We laid here together after Stannis left the first time. The Stark princess found herself reminiscing about her childhood memories and the new ones she made with Gendry. She idly wondered if they should rebuild the broken tower but was spurned from her thoughts when she felt arms coil themselves around her waist. But they were the wrong hands, the scent was different. It's not Gendry, she thought. Then the person spoke.

"Hello, Cat."

A/N: Okay so what happens now? Jk! Let me know what you thought about it!

And again, sorry I'm the worst at updating! But look forward to another chapter by the end of the week!