Chapter 9. The Black Mountain

"What is that mountain?" Arya asked looking up at the mountain to the east side of Braavos.

She was with Gendry, "That is the Black Mountain."

Sandor was with them as well as they sat on the outside of a Tavern having lunch, "They say a swordsman lives up there-The greatest swordsman in the world-Pei Long."

Arya stood up, "We must be going."

"How much longer are we going to be here?" Sandor asked.

Arya sighed, "Gendry hasn't reached acolyte yet."

"And what happens after that? Do you think the Faceless Men will alow the two of you to leave."

She didn't have an answer-when Gendry and Arya returned to the temple Gendry went to his studies and training while Arya was summoned to the council of masters. "Arya!" Omere said.

She furrowed her brow, "My name is Lynna."

"And yet your heart is not with us-Your heart is in the west and avenging your family."

She tried to deny it but they wouldn't let her, "We know why you gave a coin to your lover Gendry and we know that you still consort with the man Sandor the Hound-You still have your sword needle and the fang blades the burnt mn gave you." Ethan said.

This time a woman spoke-a woman named Joslan, "Our code states that everyone must put away their past, but you have held onto it-As such you are excommunicated from the guild of Faceless Men-Our code says that gold has no sway over destiny and neither does an oath."

Omere spoke up, "If ever you wish to rejoin our ranks we shall allow-Until then you are no longer an acolyte of this order."

"A warning Arya lone wolf-whenever a member of the guild seeks your aid you will give it-You may not share our secrets and if you ever intervene in our affairs we will kill you-Go now from this Arya Stark."

"What about Gendry?" She asked.

"He may follow you after his training is complete as he has not given up his former life as well-Your destinies are intertwined."

Arya gave Ethan the coins and left the council chambers. When she exited the hall Jacqen was waiting for her. "Where will you go now?"

Arya looked up at the transparent rock ceiling of the cave as they left the temple, "Tell me about the black mountain."

He smiled, "The black mountain-atop the mountain lives a man by the name of Pei Long-of 1,000 years of age-He has never been beaten with the sword-They say that traveled the world in search of someone to best him with the sword, but he never found one-he climbed the mountain and lives alone-He only teaches those who can brave the mountain climb and reach the top."

Arya stared at the mountain, "Has anyone ever climbed the ountain recently."

"Ethan climbed the mountain many years ago-but Ethan teaches no one the secrets he learned from Pei Long."

Arya remebered her sword lessons from Ethan and she remembered how it always felt like he was holding back on her. She could never break his guard or best him. Two days later Arya stood at the base of the mountain which was littered with the bodies of people who had failed to reach the top. She hugged Sandor then she hugged and Kissed Gendry.

"I will light a torch when I reach the top and light one every night to let you know that I live."

Gendry kissed her again, "I will look for it everyday."

She took a deep breath and began her ascent up the steep mountain side. Arya didn't look back because if she did she felt she might turn around for Gendry who had tried unsuccessfully to convince her not to do so. When she was 30 feet up Arya rested for an hour, then she continued on as carefully as possible. Each step and hand hold had to be taken carefully or it was over. If she took the wrong path she could get stuck. After she was a 100 feet in the air Arya rested on a small stretch of protruding rock-she had to remain absolutely still or fall to her death. After an hour she went on-remembering how her brother use to climb the side of castle Winterfel and was pushed by Jaime Lannister. Her anger and rage kept her going up and up towards the top-soon the air began to thin and she struggled for air, but was able to adjust her breathing. It took two weeks to climb the side of the mountain-all her water was gone and she lay on her face and stomach at the edge of the top of the mountain-Arya had made it.