Chapter 4

When they were far from the main gate of Winterfell, Arya took a silent inventory of her new pack as they rode off on their horses down the path to the main road.

Lem appeared calm and in good spirits as long as he ignored the biting jests of the Hound. He took on his duty of assisting the daughter of Stoneheart because the Brotherhood would officially be made banners of House Stark. The meaning was not lost on him…much more than they could ever have hoped for years ago. More than he could for himself as well; being born from a tavern wench, or so he had been told, very much like Gendry. Brienne rode quietly for the most part only speaking from time to time to ask questions or when spoken too, appearing lost in thought most of the time. Edric Dayne was the most excitable of all. He seemed to feel he was his own man now. This was different, not something he was required to do for Beric or the Brotherhood as a squire. Gendry said he didn't trust him because he smiled too much and had already made a jeer at his elaborate purple cloak spangled with silver stars, claiming when his mum used to tell him tales of wizards when he was very little, that this was how he pictured a cloak they might own. He whispered to her conspiratorially but she was sure a bit louder so Edric might hear, but she wasn't sure.

Before he could elaborate further, Arya said nothing and sped up her horse. This was not the time for him to be stupid. Maybe after they got Hot Pie safely back…

The Hound was watching from the rear. He seemed to be in a grumpy mood. Sansa had not taken his leaving well, with a bunch of whiny why's in repetition that even Arya didn't want to hear anymore. The Hound appeared to be in his glory as he said good bye to her one more time before leaving. If Arya heard him bark out, "She is not too happy about my going…" one more time she would scream. It was as if he wanted to hear it time and again for himself. The minute they left, he already seemed anxious to get back to her. They were ridiculous. Really, the both of them…Just get it over with already! She had heard by now all of the stories of them at King's Landing. He was the only heir to House Clegane. If he just didn't come out already and ask for her hand when he officially came into and took his inheritance, she just might do it for him. And she had the feeling that Sansa would say yes too. She had given him a favor, a little wooden bird that someone at Winterfell had carved for her and made a great show of bestowing it upon him, bridling under the attention and sweet but gruff devotion he gave her. He had grinned like a bloody idiot, and it was all Arya could do to not throw up right there and then.

Leading this pack, her pack, would not be easy. If they could get their nonsense together and some of them not come to blows with each other, they just might be alright.

They would ride until night. There was an inn that they could reach by night fall. Not the one where her and Gendry had left Hot Pie. That would take much longer, many days of riding to reach.

This one was safe. People knew Stark men were nearby so she wasn't worried. It was camping out at night after they left the inn on the Kingsroad that they had to be more careful.

"So we reach the inn…but still, we will take turns watching the horses in the stable and the supplies," offered Brienne.

"Yes, I think we should. I am on first. And then we can see who is not tired from there. Three hours each and then that person can get rest and the next can go."

"Good. Think I'll have a cup of wine at the inn and then I can go next, Wolf girl. Help pass the time. The little bird, your sister, is still not that pleased…" grumbled the Hound.

"Too bad for her," snipped Arya. "She'll get over it. I know. We heard you the first two hundred times…" she chewed her lip and took a deep breath to calm her temper.

"You should be more understanding. She didn't have easy years, the last few," chided the Hound.

Arya believed the chuffing, so similar, to Septa Mordane could now be considered uncanny. But she thought of what she had gone through and something within made her speak up. It had really touched a nerve perhaps, or just right pissed her off.

"Neither did I, but we are fine. And I won't ask you for anything again when we get Hot Pie back so as not to hear you."

"See that you don't," replied the Hound.

"Fine. And see that you don't get too drunk and make a bloody arse out of yourself. Something happens… I won't come to help you like I did last time." Her voice rose without her meaning to.

"Carved him up nice didn't you, the Hound grinned, and he gave her a knowing look.

The rest just stared at them, their jaws dropping at the both of them, Gendry most of all. And then he remembered what she did to get them out of Harrenhal. She had saved them all and allowed them to get free. But what she had had to do to free them…

"You didn't bloody die did you?" She whacked him in the arm. She hadn't even told Gendry, and she didn't like the odd looks the others were giving her. Lem gave his nose a lingering rub and counted himself lucky.

"Watch your sword hand if you want to keep it." He growled, but he started to laugh. He tried to sway his horse away and almost managed to fall off due to his bulk and height.

The group started to laugh especially because Arya's face was still livid.

Gendry eyed her steaming face. "I've had countless bruises from her." He nodded and inclined his head towards Arya. He gave her an endearing smile.

"You'll live and you'll shut up about it unless you want more." She spluttered in a fury, noting his amusement at her expense.

Gendry's blue eyes danced and he laughed so hard she could see his chest rollicking from mirth. She shot him a filthy look. She hadn't liked the look in his eyes when he watched her now. Something odd…new…what the hell was wrong with him? She had to get her pack back and now this.

"You'll be next. Just see if I won't," she warned menacingly. All thoughts of patience blotted from her mind.

He kept laughing and she saw him wipe water from his eyes. Was it really that funny? He certainly seemed to think so.

They rode silently. The Hound had reached into the neck portion his breastplate and had taken out the wooden bird. He had one hand on the reigns, Arya noted with horror, and the other twisted the bird in his large palm to get a look from every angle.

He was going to run his damned horse off the path and break its leg….and they had not others!

Arya gritted her teeth and rolled her eyes for deliverance. She looked upward at the Warrior hoping he would hear and was not off fighting a great battle in the sky.

"Has it bad then," remarked Lem.

"Mind your business, Green Teeth, or I'll knock the piss out of you, but at least it'll match that gods awful cloak of yours," roared the Hound.

"Let him be," said Brienne diplomatically.

Arya rolled her eyes and shot a look at Gendry who was trying to arrange his face to fight off another grin. For frankly this huge beefy man holding a delicate carving in his hand was too much to take in. He'd most likely let them all get cut but he'd save the wooden bird. It didn't make him feel any better about the risks they were taking but it was still funny.

"Do you really think for a minute…"started Lem. All dislike for the Hound evident in his screwed up face.

"My bird knows my worth…anyone else have something to say?" He looked around daring anyone to object, or really say anything else at all.

"No. And it is honorable to have the respect and trust of Lady Sansa of House Stark," quipped Edric.

Gendry eyed him with impatience and an eyebrow cocked in disdain.

"You don't have to tell me that boy. And she is a right lovely, proper and good little lady. Although your blonde hair might almost be as pretty as hers."

Gendry snickered and Edric looked back imperiously and with anger.

"What?" shot out Gendry. His look dared him to respond in kind. He grinned in a threatening sort of manner, daring almost, but he seemed a bit too triumphant for Arya's taste.

Arya wished she had asked the crafter for something to block her ear drums, before leaving Winterfell.

"I think we are almost there. Look." Brienne pointed.

The Inn rose up in front of them on a hill.

Edric sped up his horse to ride beside Arya.

"Pardon me, my lady. But I think the grumpy armorer might fancy you. And if that baseborn scum bothers you I will not stand for it. I will tend to him."

Gendry's eyes shot daggers. He had heard. He heard everything Edric said to her. She hadn't quite known that bulls had such good hearing like wolves.

She turned bright red but then a rush of anger and embarrassment went through her and she rambled out.

"No, he doesn't. I know for a fact. We are just friends and he was one of the first in my pack. Why I put up with him in the first place."

"Are you sure? Does his bothering you trouble you much?" asked Edric, like Gendry wasn't there.

"No. It's not that, shrugged Arya. "He just thinks I am a pain in the ass. He doesn't think I am pretty…and that I curse too much."

Gendry's mouth shot open but he said nothing. Well, he was so stupid he couldn't even pretend like he wasn't supposed to hear.

Edric nodded dismissively."Will you sit by me when we eat at the inn?"

"Sure."

Gendry's eyes narrowed but he still said nothing. He pulled his horse's reigns and rode past them up the hill, but not after giving them both a stormy look.

"I think we should go first, just in case, to check out the inn. Lem can come with me if he wants. You ride behind and don't come in until we come back out." He never waited for her answer.

Arya nodded in agreement, and then thought that as leader of this pack she should have put him in his place a bit. But her stomach did a turn anyway.