Arya tried to escape on three different occasions that night. Every time Gendry would drift off into the world of sleep, she'd try to sneak out the door or climb out of the barred window. It did not work because Gendry would always wake up just as she was about to make it out of the room. While he did manage to restain her each time, it did not mean that she was about to go down without a fight. He had scratches down his face, and a lump throbbing on his head. She called him every name in the book, including a few Braavosi terms he had never heard before. As dawn broke, Arya, grumbling but exhausted, was led by Gendry to one of the lesser known ports. Varys was waiting by the loading dock as boxes and luggage were loaded onto a rather small vessel.

"Lady Stark, I see you've had an eventful evening," Varys beamed at her, his hands tucked away in the folds of his robes. "Excellent, very excellent. All is going to plan. Gendry, have you explained the particulars of our plan to Arya?"

"Not yet m'lord, she's been keeping me busy all night."

"Well it's at least a week's trip across the Narrow Sea, so you shall have plenty of time to explain it to her. Also, you will be sharing quarters in the lower levels, away from the sailors. We cannot have you running off now can we Lady Stark?"

Arya attempted to glare reproachfully at him, but had a sneaking suspicion she looked like a sleepy toddler trying to avoid naptime. "I suppose we can't, Lord Varys."

Varys smiled a wry smile, "As certain as I am of your sincerity at the moment my dear, your reckless nature must be taken into account. Just to assure that you will not attempt any such escape once we reach Westerosi shores, Nymeria will remain in my quarters and in my care until after we have placed a Stark in Winterfell." He clapped his hands together like a small child. "Once that goal is complete, you are free to receive your direwolf and keep her wherever you like!"

"You cannot keep a direwolf, my lord. They are of the North," Arya responded with a venomously sweet smile on her face. "They cannot be tamed, broken, or kept. All anyone can do is offer loyalty and friendship and hope the beast chooses to give them in return."

"Of course, my lady, of course." Varys bowed his bald head towards her and gestured one soft hand to the boat. "Shall we proceed? Gendry, would you be so kind as to escort the lady?"

Gendry offered Arya his arm, but she snorted at his attempted gallantry and stormed onto the ship by herself. Gendry sighed and began to follow her, arm dropping to his side.

"You'll have your hands full with her, Gendry. She's a stubborn young wolf," warned Varys.

"I know m'lord," Gendry replied as he saw Arya walking determinedly around the deck of the ship, inspecting every inch of it. "But I wouldn't have come all this way if she was anything else."

xXx

Gendry walked into their quarters where Arya was setting up her blankets. Some of the crew had brought down some food and some sleeping supplies. It was dark and their quarters, and a bit cramped for two people, but at least it was dry. Some of the crew had to sleep on deck and Gendry had overheard them saying that there wouldn't be good weather until they reached Westeros. All in all, Gendry was grateful to be dry. But it didn't mean that the week in close quarters with Arya was going to be easy.

"So, do you know what's happened in Westeros since you've been gone?" Gendry asked nonchalantly, trying to get Arya's attention.

She didn't answer him and kept going about setting up her area.

"It's been quite the shithole ever since you left."

More silence.

"Everyone's fighting and lying and scheming have turned the Seven Kingdoms into a crazy mess. The War of Five Kings has ruined our country. Those lords and ladies and kings and queens don't know what they're doing." Gendry shrugged and went to set up his blanket as well. "Varys says it's all for the best but…"

"You believe everything Varys says do you?" Arya turned and glared at him heatedly.

Finally, a reaction, though Gendry.

"Not everything. But he's been right on target so far."

"That's because he's the Master of Whisperers. He knows everything, but only gives you the information you need to be a pawn in his chess set. When he's done, he'll dispose of you, because you're just a low-born bastard who suits his current needs," Arya spat at him.

"He got me to you though," Gendry said quietly, trying not to show how Arya's petty name calling still stung after all this time. "And I'm not as low-born as you think."

"Master of Secrets tell you who your daddy is too?" Arya mockingly asked. "Think helping one of the major politicos of Westeros is gonna get you a happy family reunion in the end?"

Gendry stood up to his full height of almost six foot eight and went chest to chest with Arya, who looked like a child compared to him. "My mother is dead, m'lady, and my father with her. I'm not gonna get a 'happy family reunion' out of this, but I'm gonna try and get you yours."

"Who says I wanted one in the first place, stupid?" Arya questioned back. "I was perfectly happy in Braavos."

"One, your family needs you Arya, or what's left of it anyway." She opened her mouth to argue but he spoke over her. "And, no you weren't happy. Not in Braavos or anywhere else in the Free Cities. You weren't in Braavos. No One was in Braavos, Arya. They explained it to me. The Faceless Men take all that you are and tear it away. Push it so far back into your mind that it's as if you never existed. Arya was gone," Gendry said in a low voice. "I just wanted to bring her back."

Arya looked up at him with her piercing grey eyes. She stared him straight in the face for a moment, reading his body language as best she could.

"You've changed," she whispered soberly.

"For the better I hope," Gendry tried to crack a smile, but Arya's solemn face kept it from growing too large.

Silence crackled between them, many unspoken questions charging the air like electricity.

"You may have come all this way to find me, but there is still a lot you have to learn about who I am, Gendry," Arya said quietly, dropping her gaze as she went over to her corner of the room. "A lot to learn, indeed."

A/N: Can't have her warm up to him right away! She wouldn't be Arya if she did that! Also, we will see Nymeria next chapter, and there will be some softening of hearts next chapter. Please review!