[A/N]: In response to day 2 of AxG week – Abandon to leave completely and finally. I may not have really filled the prompt - I kind of took it as leaving but didn't want it to be sad. There's enough of that in the actual books ppl I don't want to have it in fanfiction either. Sorry not my best work, struggled with this one. As always feedback is welcomed so review!
She stared at the reflection looking back at her. Red puffy eyes and a nest of unruly curls that looked in no shape or form ready to be tamed. She looked terrible, yet not terrible enough to chase away the affections of the man she could never love as more than a friend. She looked at the diamond ring in front of her. At any opportunity she would slip it off her finger, the thought of them becoming man and wife bringing on a new wave of grief.
"Oh Arya," a soft voice called from behind. She turned to see her older sister Sansa look at her with sad eyes. She came over and wrapped her in her arms, the gesture would have been soothing for most but Arya found herself breaking down even more at the action. "Shhh," she cooed as she stroked her hair. "It hurts at first, but with time you'll find your heart mending…and who knows, you may even grow to appreciate having Aegon as your husband."
Arya shook her head furiously at the thought. "I can't do this Sans," she sobbed. "The thought of us," she gulped, "being married makes me want to retch."
Sansa sighed before standing and looking down at her sister. "You really love him don't you?" Arya nodded, biting her lip as the tears streamed down her face. "Then go to him," the auburn haired beauty smiled.
"Whhaat?" she stuttered in reply.
The older girl cupped her sister's small hands in hers. "Gendry, go to Gendry," she began. "I've never seen you look so…lost before," she confessed. "I know you're doing this for mum and dad but…it's not worth your happiness," she finished.
"But what if they never speak to me again. I…I can't lose you all," she said in a whisper.
"You won't lose me," she smiled. "Or the boys, you know they would stand by you no matter what."
"But mum and dad?"
"Dad will get over it eventually, mum might take a little longer," she sighed. "But this is your life Arya, not there's. You have a choice, either stay here and marry a man you could never hope to love…or go find that bull-headed boy of yours."
Jumping to her feet, the youngest Stark girl threw her arms around her sister. "Thank you," she murmured, before roughly packing her bag. Giving her sister one last hug she mouthed her good bye.
Grabbing the ring from her dresser she made her way to the guest room Aegon was staying in. She knew it was cruel to leave this way, but she thought it would be worse if she didn't tell him to his face. Arya Stark was many things, but a coward wasn't one of them. Taking in a deep breath she knocked softly on the door.
"Arya?" he questioned, a wide grin spreading on his face. He really was handsome, especially when he smiled.
"We need to talk," she sighed, fiddling with her hands.
"You've been crying," he said, raising his hand to wipe away her tears. She flinched and pulled back, wanting to avoid the intimate gesture. "What's wrong?" his voice hurt.
"I can't do this," she blurted. She pulled out the ring, offering it to him.
He looked at her in shock, his blue, almost purple eyes widening in horror. "No," he shook his head. "You're not doing this," he pleaded stepping closer to her.
She stepped back, trying to distance herself from him. "I don't love you Aegon," she cried. "I know you think you love me, but I wouldn't make you happy. You deserve more than someone who would end up resenting you."
"But I could make you love me," he argued. "With time, you could learn to love me," tears now rolling down his face.
She shook her head sadly at him. "No I wouldn't, I'm sorry," she said finally before bolting out the door. He didn't' follow her, something she was thankful for. When she stepped out into the cool night she instantly felt a weight lift from her small shoulders. Freedom, she thought, a smile forming on her face.
She jumped into her black Jeep, turning the key to the ignition to hear the rumble of the engine. The 20 minute drive to 'The forge' seemed to take hours, her impatience growing by the second. Parking out the front she noticed that the lights were still on. She felt her heart hammering in her chest. They hadn't spoken since that day. She had been too stunned to say anything at first, but then it was fear that had kept her from saying those three words back. He was her best friend, the boy who knew her when she was nothing but a gangly child. The only one she had shared her most private thoughts with. What if she screwed it up by changing what they had? Instead she broke his heart. It was too late, she had told herself over and over. She was already with Aegon and they were supposed to get married. She thought she loved him, but the thought of not having Gendry in her life was much too unbearable. She just hoped she wasn't too late.
Taking in a long slow breath she walked up to the entrance. She stretched up on her tip toes, her arms reaching upright for the ledge above the door. She felt around for a few short seconds before she found the silver key that was always left there in case of an emergency. Unlocking it, she crept inside, the warmth of the hearth warming her instantly. She watched as Gendry beat at the steel in front of him, all his focus placed on the sculpture he was currently working on. It was amazing how he could turn something people saw as mere junk into something so beautiful.
Distracted by the way the muscles in his arms tensed with each strike she didn't realise she was heading straight towards him, kicking over a bucket filled with scraps in the process. "Shit!" she swore as she attempted to pick up the loose metal.
"Arya?" his gruff voice echoed. He hovered above her, those cerulean blue eyes looking at her with confusion.
"Hi," she said sheepishly. "Umm…sorry about that, I ah, didn't mean to disturb you."
"I don't mind," he half smiled. "What are you doing here?" his tone softer. "Shouldn't you ah be resting up for the big day tomorrow?"
"Umm," she said biting her lip. "About that, it's kinda not happening anymore." She looked up to see a hint of a sparkle return to his once cold eyes.
"What do you mean kinda?"
"I…I left him," she breathed. "I don't love him Gendry, I couldn't do it…not after…not after what you said," she confessed. C'mon Arya you can do this. "The truth is I've always loved you Gendry," she paused waiting to see if he was mad. He wasn't so she continued. "I just never thought you'd see me like that. You always treated me like a sister and then when you told me you loved me I felt like it wasn't real. I was scared that if I said it back you'd disappear and then I'd be all alone."
He was standing in front of her now, the heat from his body making her burn with need. She felt a calloused hand brush the hair out of her eyes. "You love me?" he smiled.
Her eyes fluttered open. When had she closed them? Intense blue stared into her grey. "Yes."
She felt his lips on hers, their mouths fitting perfectly against each other. Yes, yes, yes, she thought. This is how it was always meant to be. Years of pent up need and want was thrown into the kiss. Their tongues exploring each other's mouths and their hands grabbing hold of the other for purchase. It ended far too quickly for her liking, both of them breathing erratically. "What about your family?" he asked suddenly worried she would change her mind.
"They'll understand," she assured him, her fingers caressing his cheeks. "And if they don't we'll leave for Braavos like we always wanted when we were younger. You can sell your sculptures and I'll teach dance," she smiled.
"Why wait," he said. She looked at him puzzled. "We don't need to wait to do that. We can go now, tonight even. I can call Lommy up and get him to organise everything at the shop to be transferred over to Braavos."
"Are you crazy? We have nowhere to stay there."
"Ah well actually I bought a place there a few months ago," he said sheepishly. "After the whole 'I love you' incident I made up my mind to leave. I couldn't stand to see you married off to him," his face hard again.
"You'd really do that for me?" she said just above a whisper.
"I'd do anything for you Stark," he said cupping her face in his hands again. "You're my best friend. Wherever you go I go."
"You'd just leave Kings Landing, I mean this place is your home."
"It was only my home because of you. So how about it Stark? You ready to say bye to this shit hole?"
She thought about it for a moment. Mostly visions of how her family would react. It was true, she hated Kings Landing, Gendry was her only reason for putting up with it for so long. "Yes!" she answered before crashing her mouth against his.
"You and me," he whispered.
"Yes, you and me," she repeated.