NB : Thank you all for following that story. I hope you enjoyed it :) This is the last chapter! Hope you'll like it! Feel free to comment, it's always nice to have some feedback!
Part Seven
It took her seven years to fulfill her desire of adventure and one more year for the travel back, once she had realized that the aching in her heart as she was staring at the sunset over the Alrean sea –a sea far west of Westeros she had named after the first explorer who wanted to discover west of Westeros and was lost at sea- was the longing for home.
Her crew hadn't discussed over it and just nodded. Arya was grateful to have such a crew; she loved she had to gain their respect and that her family or her slaying the Night King had nothing to do with how they treated her. After eight months of sailing, they set foot in Westeros again and the aching in her heart smoothened a little. They spent a few weeks in Oldtown as she needed to give the new maps to the Maesters. Sam had been more than interested to hear about everything she saw; he took many notes and Arya wouldn't be surprised if he decided to compel them in a book. She actually liked that idea. After Oldtown, her crew had been certain she would want to sail to King's Landing or to Winterfell.
She had smiled at their surprise, but none of them complained.
"We'll be there in three weeks, Captain." Tomas had said. "Though we may need to stop to Tarth for supply."
Arya had nodded, her mind already wandering and an absent-minded smile on her lips.
000
Arya wouldn't have admitted it for the world but as the coast came closer, her nervousness became stronger. Eight years was a long time after all and though she finally felt whole and herself, maybe he wouldn't want to see her. Maybe she had hurt him too much. She chewed on her bottom lip –she's almost certain she had spent all the journey from Tarth chewing on her lip.
At the moment, it felt like a terrible mistake but she was confused as it would refer at coming back to him unannounced or at her leaving without bothering to say goodbye. She assumed she would find out soon. She knew that if the outcome wasn't the one she was hoping for, she would always be welcome to Winterfell and even beyond the former Wall. But it wouldn't be the same. Her happiness wouldn't be the same. But she assumed it would be happiness nonetheless.
Usually, gazing at the waves and hearing the sea was enough to calm her nerves but not this time. She barely heard her second in command reporting they would arrive in less than two hours. She nodded.
Once at Storm's End, they would let The Sailing Nym there as she wouldn't travel anymore. She saw everything she needed to see; she didn't see everything but she saw enough. Now her next adventure will be on Westeros. And she was at peace with that. She had been able to live the way she wanted for years and it had made her incredibly happy but maybe now she could make a little compromise to make him happy too. If he still wanted her. She knew for sure he wasn't married but it didn't mean he had been waiting for her. She never asked him to.
They arrived as the sun was setting and she smiled hearing the "hurray" from the crew. She asked that two of them would stay on the ship to guard it; the rest of the crew would be free to do whatever they wanted. Some will go to the tavern, some will go to the brothels and some will go to both places.
She took a deep breath as she jumped out of the boat.
She took her time to wander in the streets to try to calm her nerves but it wasn't working either so she decided to stop delaying the inevitable. The sooner, the better. She walked to the Castle; it was very different from Winterfell but she could hear the waves against the cliffs and she loved that sound.
She wondered whether she should sneak into the castle or whether she should announce herself. She went with the second one. She approached the guards at the gate.
"I wish to see your lord." She said, hoping she sounded more confident than she was feeling. "I wish to see lord Gendry Baratheon."
000
Storm's End's Great Hall was bigger and darker than Winterfell's. On the grey-stoned walls were displayed the banners of the Baratheon. Black and yellow behind a stag. Two larges tables were settled along the walls. And there was the throne. It was a really imposing one –a large black chair on the top of a stair. Sat on the chair was Gendry Baratheon. Candles weren't lightening enough for her to see his face but she would recognize his silhouette everywhere. His shoulders were broader than the last time; she smiled at the thought of Gendry sneaking out to the forge once in a while. Yearning to see him, she came closer, forgetting immediately her nervousness. He stood and stepped down his sit. They were no more than five feet from each other and yet Arya had to admit she had felt closer to him when she'd been lost in the middle of the ocean. His face was the same though; his black hair had grown longer, like he wore it when they were traveling together –she liked it that way- and his eyes were still dark blue. She used to be able to know what he thought just by looking into his eyes; but now, all she could see was emptiness and she was afraid she was the one who had caused that. Maybe she had broken him.
His face showed no sign he was happy to see her or if he had recognized her. Arya hadn't changed much; she didn't grow taller but she now wore her hair longer. Most of the time they were tied but she sometimes loved having it floating on her shoulders. She still had the same face and the same grey eyes though she had gained two scars: one crossed her right eyebrow and the other her lips. The pirate who did the last one had claimed she talked too much.
The meeting had barely started and yet it wasn't going the way she planned at all. Once again, she chewed on her bottom lip.
"M'lord." She finally said.
He frowned.
"Don't call me that."
She smiled. After a while, he smiled too though his smile didn't reach his eyes.
"Why are you here?"
She looked at him, right in the eyes.
"Last time I saw you, you wanted me to come to Storm's End. I took the long road but…" she said softly.
Theirs gazes met and this time, she knew for sure he was smiling, even without looking at his lips.
"No. Why are you here?"
Obviously, he wasn't going to make that easier for her. Why should he?
"Because I came home."
He didn't answer.
"You are my home, Gendry." She said, quite confidently.
She thought it would be more difficult to admit. Still, he kept silent and she could feel her confidence shattering down.
"I can't be a proper lady, I…"
"I don't care." He finally cut her.
She ignored him and went on.
"I don't want to be a proper lady. I won't sit by the fire knitting. And if someone asks me to, there's a chance I'll stab him with the needles. I won't wear dresses and I'll never be quiet and silent as it's expected from a lady."
She caught her breath and feeling the ice in his eyes had melted, she stumbled over the words.
"I won't be a proper lady but I can be a new kind of lady. I can…"
She took a deep breath.
"I can be your family. If you'll have me, that is."
Almost immediately, she remembered the last time she had spoken those words to him; he had broken her heart. And now, she was hoping he wouldn't do the same. He kept silent for a long time and though his eyes were never leaving hers, she felt her heart break. Maybe she wasn't enough after all. Maybe she had waited too long.
She looked away.
"I'll be going then." She whispered.
Only that seemed to wake him up.
"Wait what? Going where?"
She looked at him, stunned.
"Stay." He whispered.
"But I thought…"
He shook his head.
"I just want you to be happy." He said softly. "Will you be happy here?"
She smiled as she nodded.
"I'll always be happy when I'm home."
Then, finally, he moved forward and Arya felt her heart burst with relief and joy. He grabbed her hands and leaned down, touching his forehead to hers.
"Then, welcome home… m'lady."
He chuckled at her frown and she finally smiled.
"Thank you for waiting for me… M'lord."
And for being my family, she thought, my friend, my home. For everything.
THE END
