ARYA
Arya still couldn't believe what was happening. She was standing in Gendry's arms, sopping wet from their fall in the stream. She felt happier than she would have ever imagined kissing a boy. A small part of her resisted, the wild child in her.
He's playing the prince and I'm playing the princess. Gods, I love kissing him, though.
Gendry was looking down at her, smiling, his blue eyes sparkling.
"You look happy," she said, pointing out the obvious.
"You could say that. A kiss on my name-day. Not a bad one, all in all."
She laughed and put her face against his chest. She felt so comfortable like this, pressed against him, his arms around her. She couldn't imagine why they hadn't done this before.
A particularly powerful breeze swept by them and they both shivered, suddenly remembering that they were actually quite freezing.
"I better get you back to the castle before you fall ill," Gendry said, squeezing her tightly.
She rolled her eyes, "Oh, how chivalrous…"
He laughed and kissed her again. She liked the way he casually kissed her, like it was something he had always done.
"I could get used to that," she said as they separated.
"Gods, I hope you do," he replied, grinning.
They rode back to Winterfell, shivering, teeth chattering as the sun had dipped below the horizon and the night's chill was upon them. They rode in silence, neither feeling the need to say anything, for once both totally aware of what the other was feeling.
A few days later, Arya woke in the morning with the light streaming into her room, disrupting a particularly nice dream. She and Gendry were down by the stream again, beside the waterfall, kissing. In her dream, Gendry had his tongue in her mouth and everything was hot and wet. She had seen a few common men and women doing that in dark alleys, when she was sneaking around in the shadows of Winter Town. She had never understood the appeal until Gendry kissed her. Even their chaste kisses seemed to have ignited something deeper in her. It excited her and scared her at the same time.
They had kissed a few other times, all quick, secret kisses when they were alone in empty hallways. She had not mustered the courage to try using her tongue and neither had Gendry it appeared.
After dressing and leaving her chambers, she found him waiting around the corner.
"Good morning, Arya," he said with a grin.
"Well it was," she replied, feigning annoyance and starting to walk down the stairs. He quickly followed behind her.
"You're words are as cold as the North, my lady."
She punched his arm, "I see you've taken to standing outside my chambers."
"No, just this morning."
"Oh I'm sure of it, Your Grace," she said sarcastically.
He stopped her by grabbing her arm with enough force to surprise her, but not enough to hurt her, "You know I dislike that form of address, Arya."
Her face broke into a mischievous smile, "What are you planning to do about that, Your Grace?"
"Shut you up," he replied just before his mouth came crashing down on hers.
She took just a moment to get over her shock before she reacted to the intense kiss. He pulled her body close to his, his hands grasping her forearms. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she couldn't help but remember her dream from this morning.
Gods, this is amazing. I love the way his body feels pressed against mine and how his lips combine with mine. I want to feel his tongue exploring my mouth. If I open my lips a little, maybe he'll realize what I want.
In between Gendry's kisses, she let her lips fall apart, ever so slightly, barely conveying her message. She could see his brow furrow slightly, but he didn't stop kissing her. He was thinking.
He must have received her message, however, because just as she thought about how dim he was, she felt his tongue reach her lip. He tentatively brushed her lips before she opened her lips wider, encouraging him further. His tongue swept inside her mouth, exploring and dancing with her own tongue. Arya couldn't believe they hadn't tried this sooner, just as she had felt when they kissed the first time.
She lost herself in his kisses, his embrace. His fingers were digging into her hip bones and hers were pulling his hair and massaging his scalp. They both forgot themselves and lost all sense of time.
Arya heard a faint plop in the distance. She didn't want to, but she forced herself to pull back from Gendry. She turned her head and her eyes widened at the sight.
Theon and her older brothers were standing a few steps below them. The apple that one of them had been snacking on was on the ground, clearly dropped out of shock.
They all just stared at each other, no one offering any words. It felt like ages before Theon finally burst out laughing, Robb joining him after a moment.
Arya's face darkened and Robb and Theon had enough sense to run. She saw red and sprinted after them, leaving Gendry still standing on the step with Jon.
They ran through the Great Hall, the kitchens, and the serving quarters. She didn't know why she was so angry, but she was. It was a private moment. She felt violated.
The boys finally stopped and she could see them standing with their backs to her. "You bloody, sons of…" she trailed off when she reached them and saw her father standing beside them.
"Arya! What is the meaning of this?" he said, demanding more than asking.
Arya stood there, mouth agape, a blush spreading over her face.
"What is going on, Robb?" her father questioned further
"We uh… Well, you see, Father… Arya was…"
Theon interrupted, "Oh come on, spit it out, Robb. We stumbled upon His Royal Highness and Arya kissing on the steps."
Arya shouted a string of expletives at Theon and attempted to lunge at him. Her father held the back of her shirt, barely exerting himself to hold her back.
"Is this true?" he asked, his voice deceptively calm.
Arya stood up straight, mustering whatever dignity she could, "Yes, Father. It is."
Ned Stark didn't say anything. He simply looked at his daughter, with an unreadable expression, "Robb, please find and escort Prince Gendry to my solar."
Ned turned his back on the three of them and strode into his castle. Arya's mind was racing too quickly to notice that Theon and Robb had crept away.
Oh Gods, I've really done it now. Father's going to kill him.
