The Dividing Line – Chapter 7

"Can't you just let her brush your hair…just this once?" implored Bran.

"I'm going to," huffed Arya.

"Leave the helm…please?" threw out Jon.

"Well, just in case, maybe I should….oh, fine, I won't, but I am taking Needle," she informed them stubbornly.

She stood in an ivory and pearl gray dress quite pissed and making faces and some exaggerated choking noises. It wasn't that low cut, but a little more than she was used too. She cursed the seven that she hadn't been suspicious when Mother and Sansa volunteered to pack her trunks for her. What a fool I am…and damn it the pearly lace at the sleeves was too much for my taste…

They all laughed while her maid brushed her hair until Arya asked her as nicely as she could to stop.

"Lord Baratheon doesn't mind me dressed in breeches…" Arya threw out carelessly.

"He likes you as a filthy little boy rolling in mud or so we heard from some of his stories of your travels together. Sounds like some adventures there," Bran grinned. "He tells us at the meetings during breaks."

"And he liked you surely in that acorn dress as well," Jon pinched her nose. "I'd muss up your hair but it is too pretty, your maid will kill me."

"Idle camp gossip, nothing more." She sniffed. "And my hair…I don't mind really."

"Good bye sister, I will see you there. I am going to meet with a few lords that wished to speak with me. Hodor," he called to him, and he arrived in less than a minute.

Jon waited until Bran left and then spoke softly to his sister as he gazed quizzically at her.

"He ever…"

"No never. Only person I can guarantee it never crossed his mind. Not with me or anyone else." Arya moved in front of the looking glass her maid held out in front of her and grimaced unsure of herself. Her hair was long and her maid had wrapped tendrils of hair around hot irons and made wavy curls. But she wasn't so sure…"Do you both think it is a bit much? Really now…tell the truth…I won't be mad…"

"You look like a beautiful lady. Your mother would be proud."

"The only reason I do this. And to please you and Bran from time to time. Otherwise I wouldn't give a camel's cu…"

"Arya," choked out Jon. Not again…"

"Sorry. Gendry and I picked up a lot of foul sayings on the road. Bad habit… I promise to work on it. And no, to answer your question…Gendry likes making things and playing with hammers better. He's my friend. He turns down whores like all the time."

"Admirable," said Jon.

"No, he is just stupid that way," answered Arya. She shrugged and eyed her maid warily as she held a brush behind her back and walked toward Arya.

She entered the tent. Gendry was on the dais with the Brotherhood. Hot Pie was joining them too. She walked over to the dais opening beyond hope that she didn't slip. The floor was strewn with bones from roasts, spilled wine, and the gods knew what else, mud, dirt, droppings from the dogs. There were some camp followers that came around to sweep from time to time, but that many men in their cups. They were certainly kept busy.

"So it is true," grinned Hot Pie.

"What?"

"You really do have a maid," chuckled Hot pie.

"Would you like to squire for me?" Arya asked pointedly, ignoring the jest.

"Not after what I saw today. Besides I am too slow and I love to make pies. And I think the North would be too cold for me…" he grabbed his sides as if imagining the chill and frost of the North.

"Yeah, you are fat and slow because of the pies. But if you put down a pie and picked up a sword we could teach you a thing or two. Really, we should in case you have to defend yourself," said Lem.

"I can defend myself," chuffed Hot Pie.

"Throwing a hot pie at someone's face could distract them for mere seconds but you are still getting run though with a sword," Edric Dayne shook his head.

"I fought alongside Arya. She yelled out Winterfell," Hot Pie straightened up and gave them a proud face.

"And he yelled Hot Pie," said Arya. Everyone broke up.

"It is not a joke. I did. I mean, what else could I yell? I don't have a bloody castle… my mum and my father were bakers…"Hot Pie trailed off.

"We can't all be tough that young. Arya Underfoot, I remember you running around the courtyard at Winterfell with diapers. She threw rocks and rode her pony before she could walk," Harwin smiled. "Her septa aged well before Lord Bran and his brother were born."

"Diapers could be better than this gown," Arya moped out as she looked down and tugged at her small train. Gendry laughed hard at that.

"Look at you. Pretty as can be. Lucky there are no roses round these parts or somebody would have crowned you warrior wolf maid of love and beauty." She noted that Lem laughed harder than anyone at his own jokes.

Men went to talk and sing ribald songs with Tom. Only Hot pie sat with them. Gendry looked at him for a long time and Hot Pie got up.

"Need to check on the rolls. Be back later." He made a hasty exit.

"So, It has been a while since we talked alone. I have been meaning to talk to you, Arya."

"It has. So busy and with people always around…"

"It's been good, but I kind of miss the way it was before sometimes too," admitted Gendry.

"My family always had people at Winterfell. I was never really and truly alone until after the Hound and I split up."

"Well, I always knew you could defend yourself but…"

" I learned a lot out there. My dancing master and then…"

"I am guessing not much dancing going on knowing you?"

"No, none at all. Gods no! It was to protect us at King's Landing. The water dance style from Braavos. And my instructor taught me much more and it helped me survive. And he was a great friend too. So long ago…before I even met you."

"And I don't have a style. Not even Westerosi. I just hit things and people if I have to…hard, but I'd rather not," Gendry looked sheepish.

"We don't have a choice. Maybe one day. No more. But even still I would always practice and try to get better."

"I hope so."

"How was your meeting?"

"Long. A lot was discussed. A scout came back. There are Lannister men miles from here. Another week or so and…"

"We are ready," said Arya.

"Yes. So tonight is the last feast for awhile. Too relaxed is not a good thing."

"Well, let us enjoy it then. Tomorrow we start focusing on the battle." Arya raised a wine cup and toasted him. Gendry smiled at her and clinked her cup with his.

"Yes. There is another meeting. Pretty much it is a day of rest tomorrow. Practice the next, and then we move."

"Anything else discussed?"

"Tactics. Where to place the lords and their banners…. We sent some more scouts out to get a better count of how many men the Lannisters have. These are not from King's Landing. They are the leftovers at Casterly Rock."

"That is a good thing then."

"It is. For now… When we get closer we have to be careful. We want to preserve what we have until we can meet up with the rest of my father's banners and there are still some Houses, well, we are not sure who they will side with." Gendry looked concerned, she noted.

"Well, you know how the Starks feel. Anyone aiding the Lannisters and the Freys…"her stomach lurched thinking or Robb. "They will die and we will take care of it. We don't expect you to go out of your way as we surely will. For Robb." She choked out and quickly composed herself.

"And I and my men feel the same way. No question. I swore an oath to your family. Those involved will answer for it. And there were other things…" He grimaced.

She guessed this might be why he was quiet today.

"Like what?" She had the oddest feeling of dread.

"My marriage, or others hopes for it. Every man in my house tells me of their daughter." Gendry made a disgruntled face.

"Surely our men haven't bothered you? They would ask Bran first and we have heard nothing."

"Well, one or two asked Bran and he said it was up to me. I appreciate that."

"Yes, this is war. No time for weddings…" She wondered why Bran hadn't mentioned it to her?

"Well, not the party and the dresses and such, but some, even my maester thought that if I offered to take the hand of a girl from a house that is not sure of which side to be on, it could turn in our favor."

"And you said no, right?"

"No. I mean I said I would think about it."

"You don't have to do it. We have enough men."

"For now we do, Arya. Part of me thinks it is my duty. It could help the outcome maybe. Save lives even."

"So you would sacrifice that part of your life?" Arya made a disapproving face at him.

"Maybe I should?"

"But you don't want to get married ever either. Neither do I."

"Well, I didn't quite say that."

"But you are young. You can have an heir eventually. Now, who has offered their daughters?" She crossed her arms to her chest and eyed him to just come out with it. He threw back his head and laughed at her expression."

"The seven help me if I remember them all…pretty much everyone has offered except Daenerys Targaryen of all people. Ok, stop making that face, I am just jesting. Really most of what I remember is brown hair, black hair, red hair, blonde…blue eyes, brown eyes, green eyes. Fair, not so fair, and one that looked like Hot Pie. Short, tall, thin, and chubby, you name it, and it was described to me or miniatures were shown. I don't know how I got out of that meeting at the end in one piece. My eyes hurt from looking and my ears from hearing."

"Well then, tell them you don't want to get married until after the war. Stall..."

"Oh, I will, I mean, I am. They want to wait too. Well, some want to see if I make it through of course, not that they would say that to my face. Some say do it now, well the ones that want an alliance with a House sitting on the fence. But Arya, even if I did marry, it would be after the war. I have too much on my mind. I couldn't worry about a wife now. Some even suggested a betrothal…"

"That would be smart. They can be broken. You have to do what you have to. Even if… say you were married. My father went off…the rebellion with the Greyjoys. It never ends. Mother had men that stayed behind to guard Winterfell, old Nan, Maester Luwin, Rodrik Cassell, and household people we trusted. Most knew my father's father or my father when he was a babe. They were our family too." She grew wistful remembering all they had lost.

"Well, I thought of that too. But I am not you. That has slowly built for me over time. Who do I really trust? Who cares for me? My father is dead and he never knew me and so is my mum. I just found out I have siblings. The only people I trust are some of the Brotherhood, and Hot Pie, and you. And I am starting to really like your brothers. I trust Bran. He is a nice boy. And I don't mean that disrespectfully. He is young. And I really like Jon. When you talk to him…he understands, he had it hard like we did. Really, his whole life, just like me..."

"Well, did anyone catch your eye?" She could kick herself for asking but she was curious. She remembered Bella at The Peach. She was a pretty girl. A whore yes, but she couldn't picture how someone whom Gendry liked would look.

"He paused and answered, "Yes…"

"I mean after the war…" And she was about to let it all spill out. It would be all right. She just didn't want to lose his friendship. He accepted every part of her that wasn't very lady-like. Really, most of her. How could she find that again? No wife would approve of his spending time with a girl who wore breeches and liked to fight. If they could just get past that and if he could find a girl that would be accepting all would be well.

"I could marry before," said Gendry.

"But I thought you didn't want to? Now she was angry and she was confused. She thought they were on the same page. Her heart sank. It was nice to have a comrade in arms. She had dealt with this months' back when the offers came in to Winterfell and Bran politely declined them all for her. Now she was alone. Eventually Bran would marry. Sansa would. It made her feel alone. It made her fell like a hypocrite. She didn't want to but what would life be like when everyone else was? She had never thought of this before and felt like a weak fool.

Gendry moved in closer to speak to her. "It is not that, Arya. I don't want to marry any of them."

"Well then, what is it?" She looked fearful but perplexed. She thought they had understood each other completely.

"Because…I want to marry you."