Convincing Arya
Eddard
"I truly can't believe I'm doing this" Ned Stark thought to himself before opening the door that lead to to his study.
"Dad, you wanted to see me?" Arya's head peeked through it, he nodded in response and his youngest daughter came inside the room, closing the door behind her. Once she sat down on in front of his desk he went to serve himself a glass of whiskey.
How should he approach the topic?
Full frontal and to the point? Or dance around the edges and casually move from there? Both tactics were dangerous, his daughter was sharp and her attitude problems were too big. He knew that if she felt cornered she would go on to defence and probably dodge the questions or just deny, deny, deny. But he also knew that if he took too long in reaching the topic she could figure out where he was heading and deny, deny, deny or she could get bored and… deny, deny, deny without being conscious of what was going on.
He knew his daughter far too well. After all, he was her father and he knew exactly how the mind of Arya Stark worked. Hells, he even figured out she was dating boy in secret, Robert's boy even before everyone knew he was actually Robert's boy!
It was really a shocker to find out that Gendry Waters turned out to be one of Robert's kids whom he had fathered all around the country. But it just took one look at the boy once Arya brought him to officially introduce him to figure it out. It took Robert a flew into town to recognize his son and meet him. The Baratheons were an even more complicated family than the Starks but somehow they always managed to get together, somehow.
His sister Lyanna dated Robert for a while, his friend never quite got over from her but she married Rhaegar Targaryen before their sudden and sad passing. His daughter Sansa dated Joffrey for a while one of Robert's kids, who turned out not to be his kids. Rickon was dating Shireen, the daughter of Stannis, Robert's brother.
It was Arya who ended up dating Gendry Baratheon, acquiring his new last name at Robert's insistence. Arya who looked too much like Lyanna and Gendry a carbon copy of his father. It seemed to be like those would end up righting the doomed relationship their look alikes had. That all happened 8 years ago, when Arya was 17 and Gendry 21.
It had been 8 years of those two being together. They were, along Rickon and Shireen, the only lasting relationship from that time having his kids, including Jon and Theon who may not be his but he considered very much like his sons, moved on from a wide variety of partners, especially Theon who changed girlfriends like if they were shirts. It all resulted in what was about to be discussed.
"Dad, what's going on? You look lost in thought" Arya snapped him back to reality, he really needed to talk to his daughter.
"Yes. I was talking to Jon the other day" he started.
"About what?" Arya asked.
"Many things, but he mentioned something that took my interest"
"and what is that?" he could see very well the quizzically lifted brow of Arya. She was suspecting "He mentioned talking to Gendry the other day"
"I knew it! He couldn't keep it quiet"
"Arya…" he started.
"Don't Arya me! The answer is no, will always be no and that's it. It's the 21st century after all" he sighted, that was what he was expecting.
"Arya, how long have you been with Gendry?" he asked softly, taking a sip of his drink.
"Eight years"
"And you love him, am I right?"
"Yes" was her quiet answer. Arya may be a person who was shy discussing about her feelings, but she was sure of her feelings for Gendry. Ned knew that was the only way to get through her.
"Then why are you avoiding it? Don't you think this hurts Gendry even though he doesn't say it because he loves you so much?" he looked at her in the eye, trying to get through her hard walls.
"He has always known what he was getting into, he knows it. He knows that's something I don't want to do"
"But don't you think about what he wants? He always follows the path you lead without complain. Perhaps he kept thinking you'd change your mind one day"
"Then he doesn't know me that well"
Ned sighted again, this was going nowhere "Arya, don't you think that proposing 15 times means that he really hopes you'd change your mind? Fifteen times, Arya! Fifteen! There's only so much rejection a man can take!"
"… it's been seventeen times" she looked down
"Good, gods! Arya! How can he even manage that? Your boy is a martyr!" he declared scandalized. That was just plain too much. He need to remember giving Gendry a hug when he sees him because no man could stand having his marriage proposal rejected seventeen bloody times unless he truly loved that woman.
"Arya, why don't you want to get married? You've been living together for the past three years, he cooks for you and keeps the house clean while you train. You already have a functional living dynamic. And you both love each other it won't change if you get married, it just be a formality"
"Formality can kiss my ass!"
"Arya, language!"
"Sorry…"
HE sighted again, this time pressing the bridge of his nose with his fingers "You know what one of my dreams is, Arya?" he asked his daughter softly.
"You have many dreams"
"There is one that is at the top of my lists"
"What is it?"
"I want to see my children happy, I wanted them to grow up and become good people who can difference between rights and wrongs, who have morals and values. So far, I've achieved that, you and your brothers, counting Theon, are good people. And all of you have found someone that makes you happy. But I also have a selfish wish, a selfish dream. You know what is it?" she shook her head.
"Ever since you were a little girl I always asked who was the going to be the man who would win your heart, I've always hoped he would be a good, generous man who'd love you unconditionally even though you are wild and untameable. I always hoped you'd find a man who would respect your nature and I'm happy to see you've found that man in Gendry. But ever since you were a little girl I always dream of the day I'd walk you down the aisle to give you away to that man. It's selfish, yes. But that is my dream. My dream is to see both of my daughters, you and Sansa, happily married to a nice man who deserves you"
"dad…"
"Darling, let me finish" he cut her off "I know it's selfish, and ever since you were young I always knew you wouldn't follow the traditions but even though I knew that, I still keep hoping for the day I'll walk you down the aisle. When I had that heart attack…
"Dad…!" she tried to cut him off again, he knew she hated been reminded about the time he had that heart attack a few years back, when she was 22.
"When I had that heart attack, all I kept thinking was how Sansa was recovering from her abusive relationship; I thought about Jon on that dangerous mission on the other side of The Wall; I thought about Rickon and his attitude problem; Bran and his disability; Theon and his party ways; Robb and the huge responsibility he'd bare on his shoulder if I died; about your mother; and I kept thinking about you, how I could never fulfil my wish to walk you down the aisle. I never worried about you doing well in life because I know you can handle everything life throughs at you, you're strong after all. Nonetheless, I wanted to know for sure that you'd forever have someone to back you up when I'm gone"
He took a deep breath again, she was quiet now, he raised his eyes again to meet hers "So, if you think traditions are worthless, at least do it for me. Do me that favour, sweetheart. Let me walk you doing the aisle so I have one less selfish wish to fulfil"
Both kept looking at each other in the eye, a match he was not willing to back up from. He knew, for sure, that she was trying to confirm that everything he was saying was true, for which it was. He just… exaggerated it a bit, making it sound all the more dramatic.
Arya was the one who broke the eye contact, sighted, puffed, growled before saying "Fine". His eyes grew wide, his mouth popped open "Fine, what?" he needed to be sure.
"I'll do it. I'll say Yes and I'll get married" a smile was forming in his face; hells he could be in the brink of tears now "But!" she continued.
"But, what?" he needed to be careful now, Arya had just taken the bait, he needed to make sure she doesn't let go.
"I have conditions, and you need to help me"
"Which are?" he raised his eyebrow.
"traditional ceremony by the Godswood. Mum and Sansa CAN'T be on the organizing committee unless I ask them. And even if I do, they can't get all crazy about it. You'll handle them. And just close friends and family. That's it"
"Those are your only conditions?"
"Yes. I would ask to be able to wear a tuxedo but I think that's pushing it too far" she glowered at him and he laughed softly "Yes it would be" she joined him laughing. He finally stood up from his seat, walked around his desk to hug his daughter. Even if she was no longer a little girl, she'd always be his little girl. And he was going to finally have his dream of walking her down the aisle come true.
"alright, dad. Next time the bull asks me, I'll say yes. Just keep quiet about this, okay?"
"Okay" he laughed. She kissed him on the cheek before leaving to go to the apartment she lived with Gendry.
Ned downed his glass of whiskey before making a phone call, he was send directly to voice mail. It was six after all, Gendry usually was working at this time of the day, the boy was a hard worker on his own company, doing all the hard fieldwork supervising.
"Waters, It's done. You know what to do" he hanged up.
He never truly intended to mess with Arya's relationship, but when Gendry went looking for him at his office to ask for his help in convincing Arya to agree to marry him, well he couldn't refuse. They reached an agreement, he'd convince Arya to agree to getting married and Gendry would convince her to have kids.
In the end, Ned knew all too well that he'd be the one convincing Arya to agree to have kids and he'd happy do it because he wanted at least two grandkids per children. He'd so was looking forward to being a grandfather and spoil his grandchildren.
Now his list was going good so far.
Robb was already married with Jeyne, one baby on the way.
Sansa was in a healthy relationship with Willas Tyrell.
Jon was going to elope with Ygritte in a few weeks (only way for her to agree). It was a secret Ygritte was planning, Jon was clueless about it. But Ygritte casually dropped that information for him to know a few days ago.
Rickon and Shireen would probably tie the knot before moving in together after finishing college. Stannis would not let her little girl live with a boy before marriage.
Bran was had beaten his disability, finally been able to walk and having found himself a girlfriend in his therapist.
Theon had been single for three weeks in a row, a new record. He was hoping it'd last a bit longer so he could appreciate meeting someone especial.
Everything was going good so far and Ned Stark was a happy man. He poured himself another glass of whiskey, tonight he deserved it and he was going out to eat a steak. He'd probably have to do it in hiding, he'd need to call theon since he'd be the only one to allow him to eat a good piece of steak without annoying him about his heart or ratting him out to Catelyn.
Yes, life was good for now.
Author's note
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