Game of Thrones: Everything I Never Knew I Wanted
Chapter 6 of my Game of Thrones story; enjoy.
Reviews
Veridissima: Thanks, glad you enjoyed it; glad you liked Renly's part. Well; that's the way Jeyne is :)
tcem: Well, here you go :)
sarah0406: Yeah, got that right; well; that's sadly the way he is :)
rubini25: Thanks, glad you enjoyed it :) Yup, glad I got that part right. Glad you liked Roberts reaction; well, it was mostly thanks to Renly's interference, plus Robert had only started his drinking that night, well, there's more issues to come, read on and see :)
Darksnider05: I am well aware of everything you put up, no need for it; when I ask for reviews, I want to know if you enjoyed the story, what your favourite parts were or have constructive criticism about my writing. Anyway, I hope you did enjoy the story and will have more relevant reviews in future.
Guest: Thanks, glad you enjoyed it :)
Now onto the story.
Disclaimer: Game of Thrones belongs to George R.R. Martin.
Chapter 6: Father Revealed
Jon sighed; it had been two months since the King's visit, if Arya's assumption was right, it was therefore four months since she ended up pregnant. She was now beginning to show physical signs of pregnancy; her belly had begun to swell; her sleeping patterns had changed along with her eating patterns too. The pregnancy sickness also affected her and was already her least favourite thing about it. He shook his head; he really needed to talk with someone; someone who would listen without mumbling threats about the father, like Robb did. That left him with his best friend; so he entered the forge. Mikken was working away; he looked up and saw Jon. He nodded and pointed through to the back.
"He's through there." Mikken stated simply; knowing why Jon had come.
Jon thanked him and headed through; there he found Gendry.
"Good afternoon Gendry." Jon said; getting his friend's attention.
Gendry turned around, also smiling. "Afternoon Jon; do you need something?"
Jon shook his head.
"No, I just need to talk to someone."
"I'm all ears." Gendry replied.
Jon sat down on the cot and sighed again. He was still having trouble really believing that his little sister was pregnant. She had always sworn she would never get pregnant or get married; now this. Things were changing and he really didn't like that they were changing so fast.
Jon looked seriously at Gendry.
"You can't tell anyone, alright." Gendry nodded; indicating he understood. "Well; Arya's pregnant."
Gendry tensed and was suddenly very aware of any sharp objects or potential weapons in the room, in fear they would be used on him.
Jon then continued. "She won't tell us who the son of a bitch is that got her pregnant. Robb wants to rip out his throat."
"And you?" Gendry asked; trying to keep his voice calm. He didn't want to lose Jon, who had been his closest friend in Winterfell, besides Arya.
Jon groaned and leaned his head back. "I don't know, on one hand I want to kill him. But then; Arya says he makes her feel happy and treats her right."
Gendry shrugged, trying to pretend it was nonchalant. "Maybe he does."
Jon shook his head again. "Then there's the fact she and this man actually made love; she's only seventeen, I'm five years older than her and I haven't…And neither have you."
Gendry shifted awkwardly but didn't say anything; guilt gnawing away at him as Jon shifted into a more comfortable position on the bed. As he did so Jon felt something solid beneath his hand. He went to move it and then saw what it was; a slender Bravos blade that he would recognize anywhere. Gendry saw it to and froze; it was Needle.
Jon looked surprised at Needle then up at Gendry, his eyes narrowed.
"What's Needle doing here?" He asked; he knew Arya could have asked Gendry to sharpen it; but she would never have left it here; she would have waited until the job was done and taken it with her.
Gendry shifted awkwardly again. "I…Jon…"
His face went red and suddenly it all fell into place. Jon leapt up, glaring at Gendry.
"It was you!?" He yelled. "How could you, she's five years younger than you, just barely older than a child. You got her pregnant."
Gendry raised his hands defensively. "Jon, please understand I…"
He didn't finish because at that moment Robb, who had been talking to Mikken about his armour, had burst in and slammed Gendry against the wall. Next thing Gendry knew he was gasping for breath as Robb landed a blow on his stomach.
"You sick bastard, how dare you?" Robb growled; ignoring Jon trying to pull them apart. "She's my sister and you took advantage of her?"
He punched Gendry again, and again, but then stopped at a new voice.
"ROBB!" It was Arya; Robb let go of Gendry at once. "What did I tell you? He didn't take advantage of me, if anything; it was the other way around."
Gendry groaned and leaned against the wall. Robb remembered his sister mentioning that and bowed his head. Arya pushed past Robb and checked Gendry, making sure Robb hadn't seriously hurt him. Finally Robb regained his composure.
"Arya you know I still have to take him to father."
Arya turned back to Robb, glaring. "No." She growled, placing herself between them.
Gendry however shook his head and gently touched her shoulder. "It's okay Arry, I'll go."
Arya looked at him, worry and surprise obvious on her face. Then the four of them left the forge, heading for Lord Stark's solar.
They arrive; Jon opts to wait outside, in case Catelyn is there. He doesn't want to make the situation any worse by his presence if she is. The other three entered the solar; Catelyn was indeed there, as was Eddard, sitting at his desk. They watched as the trio approached; Arya saw her mother's expression change and knew her mother had put it all together in that instant.
"Arya, is he…?" She asked; Arya nodded.
Ned however observed them, slightly surprised. "Arya, what is the meaning of this?"
"This is Gendry, father, you remember him, Mikken's apprentice." She explained. "He's…He's the one who…"
She couldn't get the words out. Robb however wasn't so subtle. "He's the father of her child."
Arya rolled her eyes, but was quietly grateful to Robb, for at least getting the awkward part out of the way.
She quickly explained. "Like I said before father, he never forced himself on me; he treated me with as much respect as I thought possible, and more." She looked at Gendry and allowed herself a small smile. "He loves me…And I love him."
Robb looked like he was about to choke on his own tongue. Although Arya didn't know if it was because he was angry at what she had admitted; or was trying not to laugh.
"Arya…" Her father began, but she quickly cut across him.
"He treats me the way you told me men should treat their wives…I know because…He looks at me the same way you look at mother. It makes me feel so happy too."
There was silence for a moment; Arya found herself growing anxious and tried to quash the feeling.
Arya silently hoped that her words would get through. However it was Gendry who broke the silence.
"M'lord, M'lady; Arya's right, I know what we did was wrong, but I love her, and the child growing inside her. You could take my right now and I'd die still loving them both."
Arya frowned. "Oh, shut up; could you honestly be more stupid…"
"I'm sorry Gendry but…" Catelyn trailed off and sighed. The boy might be baseborn, but he was showing so much affection for Arya and his unborn child, his family she supposed, he put just about any Tully to shame. But still; that didn't alter the truth of his low birth. "Arya, he's not fit for you. You could still find a match for you; an older second son may still…"
"NO!" Arya snapped suddenly. "I'm not marrying anyone…Father please…!"
Ned raised his hand, motioning for them all to be quiet. He leaned back in his seat and sighed.
"Arya, we've not decided what to do yet." He informed her. "I think it best for the moment to wait and see, until we can make a more…informed decision."
Arya did her best to calm down; it wasn't what she had hoped for, but it was better than her other options.
Her father continued. "I think it's best you all leave us now, Gendry, you should return to work. I have no intentions of taking your head, but be aware; the Wall is still an option."
They nodded and began to leave.
Before she left Ned called out to Arya.
"Arya, I want to stay away from the forge from now on." He said warningly. "Until I've made my decision, understand."
Arya looked back at him incredulous. "Father, it's not like I can get pregnant now…"
Ned frowned at Arya's joke. "I'm serious Arya."
She sighed and nodded before leaving. Ned shook his head; this hadn't been what he had expected.
'So, she's pregnant with Gendry's child.' He thought quietly. 'I wonder how Robert would react to that, especially if he was told who Gendry really was. Not the way he planned it, but still, a Stark/Baratheon alliance could be possible.'
"Ned." He turned to his wife and saw her worried expression. "What are we going to do? If we try and marry Arya to someone else, or send that young man away to the Wall, she'll hate us forever. But, we can't just let them stay together like this. It's not proper, but he's…"
Ned shook his head. "There's more to it than him being a bastard and Arya highborn Cat, a lot more." He paused and then added. "The hard part is how much needs to be explained."
Cat looked at her husband, surprised. "What do you mean?"
"I can't say right now; this will take some time. In the meantime, we just wait and see. No doubt the rest of the family will soon find out about Gendry too."
"Sansa, Bran, Rickon…Who knows how they will react."
Ned nodded; he wondered that too and also, a thought occurred to him. He might eventually have to reveal the truth to Gendry, but if he did, it might mean putting the boy, Arya and their child in danger.
Having left the solar Arya and Gendry hugged and he hurried away to the forge. Arya watched him go sadly, then felt a hand on her shoulder. She glared at her older brother.
"Leave me alone Robb."
Robb shook his head. "I did what I had to do Arya; the responsible thing."
Arya glared. "You've just ruined whatever chance the baby had of having its real father."
Robb's expression went serious. "Not if I can help it."
"What?"
Robb nodded. "Arya; like I said, I did what I had to do. But; if there is anything I can do to convince Mother and Father to let you and Gendry raise this baby together…Then I'll do it."
Arya couldn't believe what she was hearing; finally she managed a smile and hugged her brother.
"I'm sorry Robb, I…"
"No, you were right; I'm the one, who should apologize."
Following that, brother and sister went their separate ways, each hoping for a favourable outcome, for Arya, Gendry and the child.
End of chapter, hope you enjoyed it, read and review please.