When they went to dinner, Lem let out a loud laugh and asked Gendry why his eye looked to be turning a different colour. Gendry scowled at him and Jon looked embarrassed. As they ate, Jon asked the Brotherhood if they had heard anything of Theon Greyjoys whereabouts, is he dead or alive? They told him that he must be dead, but it was not definite. Jon and Arya looked at each other.

"If I had a list, he would be on top." Jon said, not bothering to care who heard. He had decided after leaving the forge that Lady Smallwood must know Arya's true identity and it would be best from now on to be as truthful as possible with everyone if he was going to protect her, from herself especially, whilst he was at the Wall.

"I do not think he killed them Jon." Arya said quietly.

He was taken aback. "They are dead Arya... he killed them and hanged their heads from the walls of Winterfell... I am sorry, but..."

"I know they as gone Jon," she interrupted, "but I cannot believe that it was at Theon's hands. He was our friend..." she spoke low and kept her eyes down. It was the first time the men had seen this venerable side. She was not angry, sick or passive. She just could not believe that a friend would turn on her family. She was showing her age for the first time.

Jon sighed and held her hand.

"He did kill them, Arya. People turn on their friends at times like these... Father believed Joffery when he said he would not kill him if he confessed falsely to treason, and he cut off his head. Robb believed Bolton a friend, and he betrayed him. There are no loyalties in war little sister. You can rely on very few people, and I fear the only ones you have left in your corner are at this table tonight... Sansa... I do not know how to help her."

Everyone at the table was following their conversation now.

"I cannot believe that she married a Lannister. How could she?" Arya spat.

This angered Jon and he spoke to her in a way he never had before. "She had no choice."

His voice was rising. "Do not blame Sansa for anything she does, Arya. I will not have it! You have done things to survive and so has she. The Queen will have her reasons for that marriage, Winterfell I assume, but Sansa is alone and scared, I guarantee it. The only blessing she has is that she was not forced to marry Joffery... I have heard he is... he enjoys humiliating people."

Arya was shocked at his anger and rubbed his hand to calm him. "I am sorry brother... do not upset yourself."

"I am sorry... but I have heard tales of how he treated Sansa... remember, she had to watch as he beheaded Father... I cannot imagine..."

"I know... I only heard... Yoren shielded my eyes..." she said hoarsely.

Jon leaned over and kissed her forehead. "Joffery would be the second name." He said simply.

"Lady Smallwood, I would like to thank you again for giving Arya shelter... I use her true name because I assume you have known for some time that she is a Stark." Jon said and everyone looked at him, wide-eyed.

"I want to thank all of you for helping her and keeping her safe. As much as it pains me to say this, I have given in to her, and said I would ask if you might train her with sword, Harwin, when you are here... and then, when you think her ready, perhaps she may go with the Brotherhood and help with your mission." Jon was very serious and stern. The men looked at him like he was mad.

"You want your highborn sister to travel with a bunch of outlaws?" Lem said loudly.

"Jon... It is very dangerous." Harwin added more gently.

"I understand the dangers... like I said, I am not happy about it, but I know my little sister, and she will not be stopped... she will go out alone and seek vengeance as soon as she likes. I think you all know her well enough by now to see that truth... so I am trying to protect her as much as I can." He continued. "I know you will train her well Harwin and not let her travel till she is better... and I fear Gendry is so in love with her that he will eventually follow any plan she has rather than leave her side... so I have no choice but to ask for your help."

Jon looked at Gendry and gave him a quick smile to show that his words were not meant to offend. In truth he could not be happier that Arya had such a strong man by her side, a man who would die for her, protect her, like he would himself.

"I will train her when I am here, Jon, but the Brotherhood must discuss the other matter..." Harwin said.

"Milady... please do not fret... it will all be well."

Tom said to Lady Smallwood who's had covered her mouth to hide the sobs which were trying to escape. It horrified her to think of the little Lady on the road, travelling as an outlaw.

"And what about him with the black eye formin," Lem said nodding toward Gendry. "You know he is one of us... he will be with her too."

"I know that... I believe that I would have a better chance seeing my sister sing and do needlework than stay away from Gendry... so again, I have to let her live as she wants... I trust Gendry to take care of her."

This time, when he looked at Gendry, he could not bring himself to smile.

"We will leave you to discuss it. Lady Smallwood, perhaps you would be so good as to join Arya and myself for a walk?"

"I will." she sobbed.

As they walked, the Lady's tears dried. She liked Jon... He was handsome and well mannered. A Bastard, yes, but bought up with highborns. She trusted him.

"I have to leave tomorrow, Milady," he said. "You will have no problems with my sister... if anything occurs which I need to know, just send a raven... the master is a friend... all will be kept very discreet, you have my word."

"She is little trouble... but I worry for her." She said.

"She is right here." Arya interrupted, annoyed.

"Sister, we are giving you everything you want in spite of our good reason, please let us talk." Jon said.

Arya realised he was right and decided not to push it... she would get her vengeance, and she had Gendry. Life was the best it had been since Winterfell.

"My sister was a constant worry for her Lady Mother, I can assure you."

Arya bit her lip to stop from complaining.

"She was as bad at singing as she was dancing, and her needles went in her finger more than the fabric," he continued chuckling. "She was never going to be a typical Lady. Our father did not know what he was going to do when reached marriage age... he knew she would reject any offer he put to her. I am not surprised in the least that she loves a Bastard smithy."

"I know she is not typical... but this path is so dangerous... and you know she can never marry Ser Gendry... will she live with him in dishonour?" She whispered the last part.

"No... Gendry is a good boy. He will not dishonour her, and she knows it is vital to her claim on Winterfell that she is... whole, so I trust she will not dishonour herself. What will be in terms of marriage, I do not know, Milady? Only time will tell."

Arya had nearly chewed off her bottom lip by the time they had finished talking. Her annoyance was peaked and she wanted to kick Jon in the leg... badly. She did this as soon as the Lady retired.

"Ouch, Arya!" he responded to the kick.

"God's I though ye would never shut up... I hate everyone deciding my future for me." She said.

"I know... listen, we have to go beyond the Wall when I get back. I do not know when I can contact you again, so please, Arya, please... stick to the plan and listen to Harwin and be careful with Gendry." He reddened.

"I will, on all things. I am not stupid Jon. I know I am not ready to fight yet. I can wait... did you know Robb traded me to one of the Frey's for passing over the Trident?" she asked suddenly.

"Yes... Bran sent me a raven. He though you might kill him, or your husband, or yourself! He was very worried."

"I probably would have done something stupid. I found out on the way the Twins... me and Gendry were going to run the night we got news of mother and Robb."

"Run... Robb would have gelded him! Are ye mad?" He said shocked.

"We thought that if we got caught, the Frey would not want me cos' he would think I lay with a Bastard smithy... and no one would ever want to marry me again, so I would be safe from that at least. I could not stand to be married to some old Lord, Jon."

"And what of Gendry's safety?"

"He said he would rather be dead than see me married off to some old man and have to live at the Twins... he said he would risk it so I would be free." Arya said without emphasis. She knew she would do the same for him and Jon must know that or he would not leave her with him.

"He is a good man, Arya. He will take care of you." Jon was impressed, but also worried about the lengths they would go to in order to stay together.

The Brotherhood agreed to let Arya travel with them when she was ready. Lem was most hesitant, but Tom and Gendry talked him round.

"I still can't believe you would let your sister join us on the road." He said the next day as they all broke their fast.

"I heard she slept in brothels and such the last time she was on the road with you, Lem... how were you going to tell my brother that?" Jon teased. "She has seen enough in the last two years... what else is there?" he mused more solemnly, and Lem did not argue further.

Jon and Arya took a walk after breakfast. King Jofferys wedding was the next day and Jon thought it time Arya knew what Sansa had lived through in King's Landing.

"He is a beast. I heard from men sent to the Wall from King's Landing that he would have his King's Guard beat her, even striping her once, in front of many people. She is lucky she is married to Tyrion. I found him honest and helpful when I knew him and I know he had nothing to do with Bran's fall. He will not harm her... I know it."

"I miss her at times... not like I miss you or father... but still. It is hard to believe that we are the only three Starks left."

"It is."

"When do you think the war will end?"

"I don't know. Stannis is the only hope of getting that inbred off the Iron Throne. He needs more support. He cannot do it with the army he has... and as for the Greyjoy's... I do not know what they thought they could achieve against Robb, Stannis... the Lannister's! Fools. Bloody fools."

"You hate Theon?"

"I always hated Theon, little sister. I thought our mutual hatred was obvious all those years... but as much as I hated him... I never thought him capable of killing a child... any child... let alone our brothers."

They both sat and were silent for a long while, reflecting on all the loss and betrayal that had fallen on their family. After, Jon said with a smile,

"I should go and talk with your smithy for a while, now that he is my natural brother." Jon teased.

Arya punched him in the arm playfully. "Do you approve dear brother? You are now the one will decide who I marry... make sure you get a good price!"

"I would have to sell you with some sows and goats, little sister... no one will want an insolent girl in boys clothes."

Arya punched him again. "Gendry wants me." She said with a satisfied smile.

"Aye... that is why I should talk to him more... he is obviously out of his wits!"

Jon got up and ran towards the forge with Arya running, cursing behind him, like they had when they were children and carefree. By the time they reached the forge, they were out of breathe. Gendry looked up and shock his head, smiling as Arya kicked Jon in the back of knee, causing him to fall over. The both laughed out loud.

"I have come to say good bye, Gendry." Jon said when got up from the ground.

"It was good to meet you at last, Jon."

"And you." Jon walked over and shock his hand. He looked him in the eye and said, "I am trusting you to care for her... please make sure she is safe... or as safe as she can be in this war."

"I will."

Jon wanted to threaten him, wanted to show him that he knew how men thought... and he had better not think of his little sister like that. He wanted to hate Gendry, but he couldn't. He loved Arya and he would protect her.

Jon left them alone while he went to gather his things and saddle his horse. Arya watched Gendry work, shirtless as always. She watched the muscles flex in his arms and the sweat trickle down his chest. She wanted to touch him. She wanted to trace her fingers along his abdomen and feel him shudder. She want to kiss every inch of his exposed skin. Her eyes were dark. Her mouth slightly open.

"Arry... what's? What are looking at?" Gendry was taken aback.

He could see lust written all over her. He had seen it before when they kissed, but never this strong, from simply looking at across a room. She walked over and, without speaking, trailed her fingers from his shoulder to abdomen. He shuddered and they both inhaled sharply. He grabbed her and kissed her hard. His tongue was invading her mouth as she pushed her back against the wall. He moved his hands to his favourite place and pulled her into his growing erection. As he kissed and nibbled at her ear she said breathlessly.

"You had better stop... Jon might walk in."

He broke away from her and had to take a step back. They both starred at each other, panting.

"You had better leave, my wolf... I will finish this later."

Arya let out a giggle. "Tomorrow maybe, I think I will be crying for Jon for the rest of the day."

"Yes... sorry, I find it hard to think when you look at me like that... Gods Arry, you will be the death of me..." he said shaking his head.

She giggled again and ran from the forge.