A/N: I figure Arya is around 11 at the beginning of the first season, which would make her a little under 12 by the end of it, so that's what I'm going with, even if she's younger in the books.

This chapter is a bit of a filler, I mostly just wanted Ned and Gendry to have a little chat. I should be able to update on Saturday, Sunday at the latest.

Thanks again to everyone who's reading this :)

EDDARD

As a lord, he should have put an end to it and threatened the boy with bodily harm, whatever the circumstances. As a father, he silently sent him all his gratitude. After that first time, the Bull had made a habit out of joining Arya for the night, and Ned had seen his daughter come back to life in just a couple of days. She was still hungry, just like the rest of them, but she was no longer as pale as a ghost, her eyes were almost as bright as they had been when they'd left King's Landing, she didn't trip as much as she had for a while, and overall, she didn't look like she was about to collapse. It was amazing what a few nights of actual sleep could accomplish. Seeing Robert's bastard coming back from the forest and toward the camp, Ned got up.

"Gendry, can I talk to you for a moment?"

He instantly dropped his gaze, clutched the firewood he was carrying closer to his chest and muttered "M'lord."

Funny how even though he now knew Arya was a Stark, he never seemed ill-at-ease in her presence, as opposed to how he behaved as soon as Ned was around, suddenly remembering his courtesies. Part of it was probably due to the fact that he had been friends with Arya before he'd found out that she was a highborn. And part of it was probably due to the fact that he was just a tad more intimidating than his daughter.

Smiling gently, Ned dragged him away from the group to talk privately.

"I have a few things to tell you, some you will not like."

The boy frowned but still didn't look at him. Ned sighed.

"We are getting closer to Winterfell."

"I know, m'lord", Gendry reluctantly admitted, thinking he understood where this conversation was going.

"I want to thank you for everything you've done for my daughter."

That got his attention, enough so that he raised his head to meet his eyes in surprise. Then he nodded, looked at the ground again and waited in silence. Ned winced. There was a lot he had to say, and more he couldn't say yet.

"In two days, she will go back to her family..."

"And I will still be going to the Wall. I know, m'lord, I never thought..."

Ned hid a smile at that. The mere fact that the boy was awkwardly trying to bring up what he had 'never thought' was proof enough that he had thought about it. Or at least that he believed that Ned had thought about it. He had a private laugh as he wondered what Arya would have thought of this conversation, but he quickly refocused. He could have stopped him, he could have told him that this wasn't what he'd been going to talk about, but he wanted to see how Gendry was going to justify what he had 'never thought'. Eventually, the Bull surprised him by deeply breathing in, gathering his courage, and looking him straight in the eye, his voice firm.

"She's my friend. I never forgot my place."

"I don't think you know your place", Ned said softly.

As was to be expected, the boy frowned, confused and maybe a little bit insulted. Ned finally allowed his smile to show.

"Listen, believe it or not, what I am trying to say is simple. Just because you will not be seeing her during the next few months does not mean you should forget her."

His stunned look was so similar to Robert's that Ned felt a painful tug in the pit of his stomach as he remembered his old friend.

"M'lord, I... I don't understand."

"Brothers of the Night's Watch are allowed to have friends, Gendry", he reminded him gently. "Arya has lost too many people already, I do not want her to lose a friend just because of distance."

"Oh."

He seemed understandably relieved and Ned decided to leave it at that for the moment and to change the subject.

"I have something for her. I cannot be seen with her without raising suspicion, and I was hoping you could give it to her."

"Of course, m'lord."

Ned placed a small object in Gendry's hand, smiling at his admiring gasp.

"I had this made in King's Landing before... well, before everything. Today is her nameday."

"I didn't know."

He shrugged.

"She probably doesn't even know what day it is. Tell her not to wear it before she's in Winterfell."

"Yes, m'lord."

ARYA

She watched suspiciously as Gendry and her father talked for what seemed like a very long time. Maybe she was just jealous because her friend got to talk to her father and she couldn't have a real conversation with him because no one could know they knew each other. It was strange to see how Gendry acted around Ned, all shy and respectful and unsmiling. She often forgot how intimidating her father could be to people who didn't know how kind he really was.

Seeing Yoren throw her a disapproving look, she resisted the urge to stick her tongue out at him and she went back to her chores, washing the dishes in the river while half listening to Hot Pie and Lommy. One word had her suddenly stop feigning interest in their conversation and actually take part in it.

"What did you say about Winterfell?"

"I said we should get there the day after tomorrow. That's what Yoren told me."

She could hardly believe it. Maybe losing count of the days had been a good thing after all, she hadn't realized they were so close. Just two days, and she would be home. She would see her brothers, sleep in a real bed, ride a horse, take a bath... and then she would have to convince her family to let her go to the Wall. Maybe if she just said she wanted to see her father and brother, they would let her go and, once there, she could simply never leave. That sounded like a good plan.

She was so lost in her fantasies that she missed Lommy and Hot Pie leaving and Gendry crouching down next to her. She jumped when he called her boy name and shoved him hard as a punishment for startling her. So hard that he fell backwards and laughed.

"Is this the thanks I get?"

"Thanks for what?"

"For the gift I'm supposed to give you. From your father", he added after making sure no one was close enough to hear.

She felt a smile tug at the corner of her mouth.

"A gift?"

He nodded.

"It seems today is your nameday."

She hadn't known that, but if her father said so, then it must be true.

"Give it to me!" she commanded impatiently.

"I don't know. You're not very nice to me, and..."

Before he could finish his sentence, she was wrestling him to the ground and trying to get him to open his stubbornly closed fingers. He was laughing so hard she could feel his body shaking under hers. She smiled, hoping he was distracted enough, but then he managed to stand up and she found herself falling backwards while he ran away. She went after him, the other boys laughing around them at seeing this tall man run away from such a small boy. Even though she was quick, his long legs gave him an unfair advantage, but just as she was about to give up, Gendry fell face first in the mud. She smiled at Yoren who had tripped him up, while her friend screamed "traitor!" at their leader. She kicked his leg until he yielded. After that, she just sat down beside him while he sat up, still grinning, and they waited until everyone had lost interest in them before the Bull finally handed her her gift.

It was so small she would not even have felt it in her hand had it not been for the coolness of the metal against her palm. Intrigued, she looked at the small object, and instantly felt a sob escape her throat. She brought her hand to her mouth to prevent more from coming, but she wasn't very successful and, embarrassed and needing time to herself, she got up and ran, ignoring Gendry's puzzled look and calls. She ran far enough to be out of sight, but not far enough for it to be dangerous and she climbed into a tree, liking the feeling of safety the height gave her. When she was sure she could look at her gift again without breaking down, she slowly opened her palm and admired it. The silver pendant was round and in the center of it, Nymeria was howling beneath a full moon. The reminder of her direwolf was as sweet as it was bitter, and it brought back with it every memory of every bad thing that had happened after King Robert had named her father Hand of the King. Micah's death, Lady killed, Sansa hostage, Jory's death, Syrio dying to protect her... This past few months had been hard, she finally acknowledged to herself as a single tear rolled down her cheek. Annoyed, she wiped it away and tried to remember that she would be home in just two days and that nothing else mattered.

When she heard Gendry calling her not too far from where she was perched, she managed a small smile and jumped to the ground, ready for whatever came next.

Or so she thought.

TBC

Warning: spoilers for the second season/book in the next chapter. Stop reading now if you don't want to know what happened in 2x07-2x08. Since I've only read the first two books, there won't be any spoilers past A Clash of Kings in this story.