Thank you all for your feedback! I'm sorry this chapter is so short... The next one will be longer though.
(Guest, can you read this? I hate that I can't communicate with guests. Yes, I know! I've heard it was Martin's idea and that she'll probably face a similar fate in the books. But it isn't so surprising after all. It just breaks my heart.)
"Do you like it here?", Gendry asked with a mouth full of sweet bread. He was sitting in the kitchen of Storm's End, savouring in the smell of yeast and fresh baked bread. Around him the servants were scurrying around, bowing their heads whenever they passed by him.
Ever since Gendry had brought Hot Pie to Storm's End he visited the baker boy frequently in the kitchen. He enjoyed the company of his old friend, who reminded him of his Flea Bottom background and their past with Arya.
Gendry chuckled at the sight of Hot Pie. He was busy kneading dough. His face, hair and basically his whole body were covered in flour.
"I suppose 'tis nice enough," he told Gendry. "The Stormlands seem nice. It could be worse than having you as lord. Although it certainly feels odd to be your servant."
"I'm not your Lord, Hot Pie," Gendry said, feeling actually hurt. "I'm your friend."
"Well, your still 'm'lord'," Hot Pie shrugged.
"I'm not. I'm Gendry."
The younger man looked up and laughed. "That sounded just like her. Tell me about Arry. Is she well?"
Gendry sighed, hoping his expression would not betray the lingering ache he was feeling. "She's good. A woman grown, but wild and wayward as ever. She killed Ramsay Bolton on her own. I admire her strength, you know. She got Winterfell back and there she is now with her sister."
Hot Pie gave him a smile which Gendry thought looked pityingly. "Where's she been until now?"
Gendry grabbed another piece of pastry, earning a scowling look from Hot Pie. "In Braavos actually."
Hot Pie raised his eyebrows in surprise. "Braavos? What's she done in Braavos?"
"She's spent five years there. Selling oysters or something. Then one day she decided to return to Westeros."
Gendry fell silent and smiled to himself. He thought back to the day when he found Arya with Nymeria in the forest. The wild and feral wolf girl, kissed by the Braavosi sun. Yet with the same stormy silver eyes. He had seen her again last night. In his dreams she was dancing in the snow, wearing her dark furs and her braided hair. She was laughing and turning, inviting him to dance with her.
"You know," Hot Pie invaded his thoughts, "I always thought you and her... Well you know."
"Know what?"
"You two were always so close. I know she was a lady, where you were but a bastard. But now that you're a lord, I figured you'd wed her."
"Well you figured wrong. Arya is in her homeland, where she belongs."
Hot Pie snorted and continued to form bread rolls from the dough. Gendry too remained silentbefore he reminded himself that he had other matters to attend to.
"Anyway, Hot Pie. I need to leave you to yourself. Bake me more of that sweet pastry with the raisins, will you?"
"Oh, bugger off, m'lord," he told Gendry rolling his eyes, making the latter laugh.
Gendry walked down to the bay where he knew he would find Davos Seaworth who had just returned from a trade in Dorne.
He had acquired a liking for the Onion Knight who served as his castellan. Like Gendry Davos had grown up in Flea Bottom, so Gendry felt he could easily relate to the man. Davos had ever been faithful to the Baratheons and had accepted Gendry willingly as his new lord. Over the years Gendry had come to appreciate the loyal knight dearly. He trusted him and his good sense that was helping him to maintain the ties to other houses with the trades they were carrying on.
"My Lord," Davos saluted the Lord of Storm's End when he saw him approaching the ships. Next to the knight Gendry's squire Alester, a bastard boy of ten and two from Estermont, bent down his head to greet him.
Gendry tousled the boy's brown hair. "Alester, I hope you enjoyed your journey to Dorne. I trust Ser Davos treated you well?"
Gendry had taken Alester in as a squire when he had moved to Storm's End three years ago. He remembered a brisk boy with the dream to become a knight one day. Gendry then had offered him to become his squire and eventually a knight of his own.
Ever since then the boy acted humble and respectful towards Gendry, as if he was the king himself.
"He did, my Lord," the boy told him meekly.
Gendry knelt down in front of his squire and gave the boy an assuring smile. "Go and help the men with unloading the ships. Later we shall share some of the Dornish wine you brought with you."
Alester gave him a wide grin, displaying the gape between his teeth and headed to the ship to help discharging the cargo.
"You and the boy get along quite well," Davos noted.
"He's a good lad."
"Don't you want your own children to call heirs, Lord Gendry?"
Gendry sighed. Why was it everybody was talking marriage and heirs these days? However, Davos was right. At the age of one and twenty Gendry had long since reached the nubile age. Marrying and having heirs of his own was not only expected of the Lord of Storm's End, but also necessary to carry on the line of House Baratheon.
"On my visit to Sunspear I've come to meet the Princess of Dorne, the Lady Arianne Martell. She's of a remarkable beauty, my Lord. But she's also clever and cunning, definitely unlike other women. I believe you would like her. Her son is a Sand and thus can't inherit her title. The trueborn daughter and son of Trystane Martell and his lady wife Myrcella will inherit the title instead."
Davos was speaking the truth. Gendry had once met Arianne himself and he had found she was indeed a beautiful woman, with her raven black hair and her dark olive skin. He had also noticed the Princess of Dorne had made eyes at him, but there had been no spark, no genuine interest on either side.
Arianne Martell was still unwed at the age of thirty, with a bastard of her own. Even if Gendry would actually come to like her, she would never replace what he was feeling for Arya. A match between the two would mean a loveless marriage, but both might benefit from it.
Marrying Arianne Martell was not a bad idea. The bond of the two houses would serve to strengthen both lines and their heirs would constitute a loyal ally to the Iron Throne.
But not yet, he thought. I won't marry yet.
"You could also marry Lady Shireen Baratheon," Davos continued. "So you can hold Dragonstone, as well."
Gendry shot the knight a disapproving look. "I'm not marrying my cousin, Davos."
Ser Davos nodded and to Gendry's relief dismissed the subject.
"I want to visit the godswood. Care to join me, Davos?", Gendry asked.
"The godswood?", the older man replied in surprise. "It is no more a godswood since Lord Stannis burned it down."
Gendry nodded but nevertheless made towards the place where once the godswood of Storm's End had stood.
When the two men entered the area, Gendry noticed that the wood had begun to grow again. It had been burnt down years ago, but nature had reclaimed its right. The ground was covered with grass and moss. Small plants were growing and here and there saplings were to be seen.
"It was an offer to the Lord of Light," Ser Davos commented as the two men were viewing the former sanctuary. "I told him not to burn it down for it was a sacred place, but the Red Woman had him under her spell."
At the wall Gendry had met the Red Priestess Melisandre of Asshai. A powerful shadowbinder whose madness had driven Stannis Baratheon into his demise. She had believed him to be Azor Ahai and when she saw that he was not, she had let him fall. He wondered what the priestess was doing now. If she had returned to Asshai or if she was still seeking Azor Ahai.
"When she tried to sacrifice my brother, you rescued him," Gendry said. "I never thanked you for that, Davos."
"It was folly. King's blood, she had said. Tell me, what God is it, who demands a human sacrifice? He was but a boy," the knight frowned suddenly. "I'm sorry, my Lord. You follow the Lord of Light. I forgot."
It was true. When he was a knight of the Hollow Hill he had been converted to the religion of the Lord of Light. He had seen the red wizard Thoros of Myr resurrecting Beric Dondarrion. He had seen the power of R'hllor. He had seen the madness in Melisandre and in Lady Stoneheart.
"Aye, when I was with the Brotherhood I was taught the Lord of Light's belief, but I'm not devout. So you sent him to the Free Cities, didn't you?"
"Together with good men to guard him, yes."
"Do you know where he is now?"
Davos raised his maimed hand to his chest and seemed to clutch on to something, that was not there.
"Last time I heard of him, he was hiding in Lys. When peace came upon Westeros he refused to return. I suppose he's still fearing Melisandre or came to like his new life in Essos."
"I see," Gendry nodded and took a moment to think. "I want Edric to be legitimised. He is free to return to the Stormlands whenever he wants, but as Edric Baratheon. I already asked Daenerys to legitimise my sister Mya, who lives in the Vale. I invited her to the Stormlands, but she chose to remain at the Vale, although as Mya Baratheon."
Gendry smiled at the idea of his legitimised siblings. He hoped the day would come, when they all would be gathered in the same place. How many more of us had my father sired?, he wondered. How many are still alive?
"I want a new weirwood tree to be planted," Gendry said eventually. "This place shall become sacred again."
"Have you found the old gods while in the North, my Lord?", he saw the knight chuckle.
"Well, something like that," Gendry smiled, albeit wistfully.
The godswood of Winterfell had captured him. The sentience of present ancient spirits had fascinated him. He wanted such a place at his home, although he suspected it would lack the mysticism of the northern godswood. Nevertheless, he would cherish to have the sacred forest to visit and be reminiscent of his memories of Arya and the North.
"I'll leave for King's Landing soon. Prince Jon has returned and Queen Daenerys plans to celebrate the new-found freedom of the North. See to it, that the godswood will be restored."
Obediently Ser Davos bowed his head. "Of course, my Lord."
oOoOoOoOoOoOo
When Gendry entered the Red Keep and saw Arya walking alongside Jon, he thought he was seeing a ghost. He blinked a few times at the sight, only to see, that it was truly Arya in front of him. As soon as the girl and the prince spotted Gendry staring at them, they made towards him.
"Gendry," Jon greeted him first.
"Hello stupid, came to talk boring politics with your queen again?", the impish grin on her face made his stomach flip.
"What are you doing here Arya?"
She frowned at him as if his question had been foolish. "I chose to accompany Jon to King's Landing."
"Be honest," Gendry wiggled his eyebrows at her. "You came because you missed me."
He saw Arya blushing slightly before she punched his arm."Oh, don't be so full of yourself, stupid. I've come to spend more time with Jon. Not for some imbecile lord."
"Why, m'lady, you wound me," Gendry told her with mock hurt on his face, making Arya laugh.
"Oh, shut up."
The two were ginning at each other and behind Arya he saw Jon smirking at the pair.
"I'll leave you two alone as I have duties to attend to. I'll expect you in the throne room later, Arya," the prince said and kissed Arya on her cheek. She assured him she would be there in time and Jon left them alone.
As Gendry continued to walk with Arya, she cheerfully told him about the reconstructions of Winterfell, the return of her brothers and how happy she felt now that her remaining family was reunited.
Arya looked good. She had an everlasting smile on her beaming face and Gendry was sharing her joy. It was probably the first time he saw her chattering so carefree.
"So Nymeria's not with you?", he asked when Arya finished her narration.
"No," she sighed. "She once again left us at the Riverlands. But I know I'll see her soon again."
When she will leave me again, he thought. "How long do you plan to stay in King's Landing?"
"I don't know yet," Arya shrugged. "There's no haste for me to return. I'm not first in line anyway, so they're not in dire need of me. For the time being I'm free to go wherever I want to. I guess I'll return when I begin to miss my family and Winterfell. Anyway, you heard Jon. I need to leave, the queen is expecting me. She plans to make a feast for us," Arya rolled her eyes exaggeratedly, signifying her annoyance. She waved Gendry goodbye and went towards the throne room, leaving Gendry grinning like a fool.
"So you and the wolf bitch, huh?", Gendry heard a voice as soon as Arya was out of sight.
He turned to see the silver haired prince looking at him with a face full of contempt. Aegon was dressed all in black with a crimson cloak around his shoulders, displaying his Targaryen birth. His arms were crossed and he was smiling smugly at Gendry.
"What do you want Aegon?"
Aegon raised his chin into the direction Arya had gone. "You bedded her yet, Baratheon?"
Outraged by the insolent question Gendry stared at the prince. "I don't think that's any of your concern."
Aegon gave a cruel grin. The violet almond shaped eyes were glinting dangerously. "So you did? Doesn't surprise me that a bastard is eager to sire more bastards."
Gendry clenched his fists and bestirred himself not to punch the prince's complacent face. "Piss off, Aegon, before I'll kill you,"
Gendry's threat only served to spur Aegon on. "Pray tell me, Lord Gendry, is she as wild in bed? Does she bite and scratch like the wolf bitch she is?"
The fury provoked by Aegon's unpardonable insults struck Gendry and he was no longer able to control himself. He grabbed Aegon, who was shorter than Gendry, by his collar and lifted him from the ground.
"Why so angry, Baratheon?", Aegon spat at him. He uttered the name full of despise, his voice sharp as a blade. "Or is she rather fucked by dogs?"
Gendry emitted an angry cry and shoved Aegon to the ground. He was bristling with rage. The wrath was like sparkling electricity on his skin. It was making him dizzy. He closed his eyes and breathed in and out slowly before he would actually kill the Targaryen prince.
"Talk so much as once again of her and you'll never again display that cocky smile of yours. This I promise you, Your Grace."
Gendry knew menacing Aegon was unwise. Even if his aunt chose not to punish Gendry for his assault, Aegon had the Golden Company behind him. The company of sellswords had sworn their allegiance to Aegon and had ever been loyal to him. They had once taken the Stormlands and Storm's End, the place he was holding now. He swallowed and made an effort to calm down.
Aegon grinned darkly. "Threatening your prince, Lord Gendry? This is treason. But I guess that's in your blood."
"Leave," Gendry said through gritted teeth. "Leave, before I can no longer help myself."
Aegon broke into a fit of laughter and stood up from the ground. He brushed off the dirt from his clothes and Gendry braced himself for more insults. The dragon prince merely huffed at him contemptuously and left Gendry to brood.
Gendry had never gotten along well with Aegon Targaryen. However, this had been the first time Aegon had affronted him so openly.
Aegon had infuriated Gendry to such an extent, that he knew he would have been ready to harm the prince. Perhaps Aegon was right. Perhaps it was in his blood. His father, Robert Baratheon, had killed Rhaegar Targaryen, who was the father of Aegon. He shuddered at the thought of how similar their stories seemed. However, Aegon was not Rhaegar. Although they said Aegon had his looks, Rhaegar had been different. People had loved Rhaegar, the Silver Prince. The gallant and valiant knight who had sung. Aegon on the other hand was arrogant, conceited and hotheaded. If someone was like Rhaegar, then it would be his other son Jon.
And yet his father had slain the well-loved dragon prince. Why would the dragon and the stag always fight?, he wondered. Is it our blood? Is it our fate?
Rhaelle, Gendry's great grandmother on his father's side, had been a Targaryen. It could not be the blood, for they were sharing blood ties, albeit distant. And Gendry was not Robert. He ought not to repeat the same mistake.
oOoOoOoOoOoOo
"What's with the sour face?", Arya asked when she found him not much later sitting on a bench in front of Maegor's Holdfast.
"Had an unpleasant encounter with that prick of a prince. Gods help me, Westeros would be better off if Jon soon had an heir."
Arya sat next to him. "Ah, yes, the arsehole was staring at me earlier as if I was marked with smallpox."
Gendry looked at her, the corners of his mouth turned down. "If he dares to lay a finger on you, I will break his neck."
Arya huffed at him annoyed. "I can take care of myself well enough. I don't need you to protect me."
"I know that, Arya," he snapped at her. "Still I'd kill him," he frowned as he saw Arya grinning mischievously at him. "What's it now?"
"If I didn't know better, I'd say you're jealous," she smirked. Gendry narrowed his eyes at her and refused to reply to her remark. "Perhaps I want to be touched by Aegon? Queen Arya. Doesn't that have a nice ring to it?"
He knew she was teasing, for she shared his dislike for Aegon Targaryen. Yet the thought of him wedding Arya made him fume. Abruptly Gendry stood up and grabbed Arya by her arm to pull her up.
"What are you doing, stupid?", she said, trying to wriggle out of his grasp.
Gendry dragged her along with him and entered Maegor's Holdfast. He ignored her protests until he had found a small storeroom inside the fortress where he thought they would not be seen.
He pushed Arya against the stone wall and without a word pressed his lips on hers. Arya immediately responded to his kiss, opening her mouth and let their tongues fight for dominance. She moaned and arched her back to press her chest into his. Gendry's hands wandered along her body, more demanding than the last time. He cupped her breasts, touched her hips and grabbed her bottom. He let his hands slide down the back of Arya's thighs. She then put her arms around his neck and hopped to wrap her legs around his waist.
Gendry broke their kiss to put his lips on her cheeks, on her jaw and down her neck. He sucked on the delicate skin, leaving a mark, a vow for everybody to see that she was his. He was indifferent of the rumours he would cause as he yielded to the desire of his body.
His kisses became frantic again. His firm grip, as if scared the girl would dissolve inside his embrace. He breathed in the smell of her skin and her hair, anxious to remember. The sweet smell of grass and wood. The smell of Arya.
"Come. To my chamber," Arya said breathless.
Gendry let her slide down on her feet again. "No," he stated firmly.
The dissatisfaction with his reply was written all over her face and it made Gendry chuckle. "Why not?"
"I won't be able to control myself."
She grinned and kissed him again. Her hand slid down between his legs, making him groan. "I better hope you won't."
He remembered Aegon's words and the bastards he might father if he gave in to Arya. "No, Arya," he gave her another lingering kiss. "I can't."
"What do you mean you can't? I feel you're hard for me, so why won't you fuck me?" Gendry felt his cheeks redden at her brazen words. He began to stammer but Arya cut him off. "Stop blushing like a bloody maid."
Gendry laughed a little and gathered his courage. "I want all of you, Arya."
Arya furrowed her brows, while his lips were brushing her cheeks again. "All of me?"
"Yes, all of you. I don't want to just fuck you. I want all of you. I want to sleep and wake up next to you every morning for the rest of my life. Marry me, Arya Stark."
Arya groaned. "Arya Baratheon. That sounds even worse than Queen Arya."
Gendry sighed, foreboding her refusal. "I love you, Arya, and I want you to become my wife."
He saw her biting the inside of her cheek, perhaps contemplating the proposal, perhaps wondering how to escape. She then gave him a sympathetical smile."I'm sorry Gendry. I don't want to marry anybody. Never."
Her answer hardly surprised Gendry, but the peremptoriness of her voice stung him. He tried to shake it off and pulled her to him, burying his face once again in the crook of her neck. It made her giggle and he looked up to her frowning. It must have been the first time he had heard her emitting such a sound.
She bit her lower lip. "You should reconsider... Coming to my chamber I mean."
He laughed out loud before he resumed kissing her.
It was in this moment that he swore to himself to never let go Arya Stark again.
The Arya POV will be longer.
Anyway, have you seen that season finale? (if not, don't read further because I'm now talking about it) Am I the only one who is totally pissed? I thought of forming my own golden company and seizing HBO to offer them all to the Lord of Light. Hello? Myranda dies because she is pushed down by Theon, and then Theon and Sansa jump down the walls of Winterfell (!) like Batman and Robin. And Hello? Myrcella? I adored the Dorne plotline in the books. People may call Arianne a hoe and Arys stupid, but I was drooling around while reading the chapters. And, Stannis! What?! What have they done to your character? AND also, I read an interview where Kit Harington stated, he's officially out. I'm not sure whether to believe it. It might be he was told to lie. Or the show stopped making sense. Who knows...