The Unkindness of Strangers and the Kindness of an Angel
Chapter 12 of my Game of Thrones story, enjoy.
Reviews
Wolfgirl2013: Thanks :)
Marina Ka-Fai: Thanks, glad you enjoyed it, yeah, he is :)
Boris Yeltsin: Thanks; glad you enjoyed it :)
Veridissima: Thanks, glad you enjoyed both chapters, yeah, really enjoying typing that part; hmmm, yeah, I can see that too in fact :) Glad you liked Ned, yeah, I suppose it would, glad you liked Sansa too :)
Now onto the story.
Disclaimer: Game of Thrones belongs to George R.R. Martin.
Chapter 12
Arya sighed as she sat up in her room. A week had passed since she came out to her dad and sister, as well as her best friend. Throughout that week, despite Arya promising to stick by her, no matter what happened, Myrcella hadn't found the courage to admit the truth to her own family yet. Besides, Arya knew there were still members of her family who didn't know too, her brothers for example and her mother. Thinking of her brothers made her sigh again, she thought about Bran, sadly things hadn't got any better for him, he still endured the name-calling, teasing and shoving, in silence as usual. The only consolation Arya felt was that things hadn't got any worse at least, the worst incident so far being the one Arya had found out about where Joffrey had his friends stick her poor brother's head down a toilet while he flushed. She had sworn she would get revenge, but she was still plotting how best to accomplish that. However right now she was facing something that required her full attention. She couldn't stop thinking about her father's words - "please tell your mother, she knows I'm hiding something" – this worried Arya considerably. Unlike the rest of the family who followed the Old Gods, as the Stark family had since medieval times, her mother and Sansa followed the Faith of the Seven, her mother was more devout about it than Sansa however. That was what worried her.
While the Faith of the Seven didn't condemn homosexuality, it didn't condone it either and some of the Septons and Septas had twisted that vagueness to suit their own narrow minded views and attempted to preach these ideals to those who would listen. While she knew her mother would never see homosexuality as a problem or something evil, it felt likely to Arya she'd have a hard time accepting it if it affected her personally like this. Still, she couldn't hold off forever, so she had decided, whatever her mother's mood was, she would tell her tonight. She had already warned Gendry if she needed to take refuge in his apartment. So that evening, after dinner, she found her mother cleaning the kitchen, and decided she would have a better chance if she was being helpful.
"Hey mum." She greeted as cheerfully as she could. "Want any help?"
Catelyn turned, surprised at her daughter's sudden offer but then smiled. "Why, yes, thank you Arya."
So they got to work. They had almost finished when Catelyn then asked.
"So... Arya, why are you helping me?"
Arya stiffened. "Mum..."
Catelyn shook her head. "I know you well enough Arya; I know you try everything to get out of doing housework. I know you wouldn't help me like this, if you didn't need anything."
"I'm not here to ask you for anything." Arya replied quickly.
"Arya..." Catelyn began.
Arya took a deep breath. "I wanna tell you something, something important."
Catelyn looks surprised at her daughter's sudden exclamation.
Catelyn pondered for a moment as they finished the cleaning and then spoke up.
"Okay... do you want to sit?"
"Yes, please." Arya replied at once.
They sat down at the kitchen table; Catelyn reached over and took Arya's hand.
"You can tell me anything, sweetie." She said reassuringly, although she was worried, knowing how wild her daughter was, as well as those boys she spent so much time with.
"Did you break any law? Or are you pregnant or something?" She asked worriedly.
"No, mum. By the Gods, it's nothing like that." Arya gasped, in perspective what she had to say didn't sound that bad
Catelyn shook her head. "Arya, you shouldn't speak of the Gods so dismissively like that, Old or New."
Arya bit her lip, things were getting off topic. "Sorry, mum."
"Now, tell me what's wrong. I can't see what it could be, if it isn't anything like that." Catelyn said softly.
Arya was fighting hard to control herself but realized she was trembling, taking a shaky breath she finally admitted. "I'm gay, mum."
Catelyn's stared wide eyed and gasped. "Really?!"
Arya nods; waiting fearfully. Catelyn saw the fear in her daughter's eyes and was shocked by it; wondering how her daughter could be so afraid of telling her something like that.
Catelyn reached out and took Arya's nearest hand with both her own. Arya looked up at her mother, eyes wide hope and fear showing in her eyes.
"Okay Arya, why did you feel so scared of telling me?" She asked, worriedly.
Arya took another shaky breath and explained. "Mum, you're so religious, and I know what..."
"Oh sweetie..." Catelyn cried, immediately standing up and hugging her youngest daughter "Arya, I'm may be strong in my faith, but for me, family always comes first, it always has for my family. I'll love you no matter what, I hope you know that."
Arya could feel the tears stinging her eyes as relief flooded through her. She returned the hug and choked out. "I love you too, mum."
Arya couldn't believe it; it was as if all her fears just melted away, in fact, she felt silly having them in the first place.
What neither of them knew however; was that both her oldest and youngest brother were outside the kitchen listening to the conversation; they had heard every word. Rickon turned to Robb, eye's wide.
"Arya is a lesbian?" Rickon asked Robb, surprised.
"I suppose so, that's what she just said..." Robb replied, just as surprised.
Rickon frowned. "I don't get it, she didn't say anything, did you ever suspect…?"
Robb shook his head and explained. "No. I always thought she liked that boy – Gendry."
"Hmmm, me too." Rickon admitted before asking. "Do you think she is dating anyone?"
Robb shrugged. "I don't know. Let's listen and see."
So they both stayed listening until their father showed up.
"Boys?" Ned wondered what they were up too.
They both turned and stammered; Ned shook his head, realizing what they were up to.
He warned them. "It's not polite to eavesdrop you know; now, if you'd like to give your mother and sister some privacy please."
They both nodded and quickly left, heading to their rooms. Ned waited a bit before knocking on the kitchen door and entering.
"Is everything okay?" He asked.
They both nodded and Catelyn explained. "Yes, everything's fine Ned, this is what you were hiding right?"
He nodded. "Yes; I…It wasn't my place to say after all."
She nodded and Arya excused herself; heading upstairs, happy that her mother had accepted her.
She had barely shut the door and sat by her desk when there was a knock at her door.
"Yeah, come in." She called out.
Robb and Rickon entered her room; Arya was confused by their expressions, however it soon became clear when Robb spoke.
"Arya, we, Rickon and I…We heard what you were saying to mum." He explained.
Arya bit her lip and blushed. "Then you know I'm, um…attracted to girls then?"
Rickon nodded. "Yeah; we just wanted to tell you, we don't think any differently of you, you're still our sister and we still love you."
Robb smiled and agreed. "Yeah; if you ever need any help or anything, you can always ask any of us, I'm sure."
"I, you guys, thanks." She said breathlessly before hugging her brothers.
After they left Arya pondered to herself.
'Bran's the only one who doesn't know…I, I should tell him.' She thought to herself but then dismissed the idea. 'No, he's got his own problems to deal with, the bullying and all that; I should focus on trying to help him get free of that. Telling him about my sexuality can wait until that's done.'
With that decision she decided to relax, she hadn't told anyone other than Sansa and Gendry about Myrcella yet, in truth she wasn't ready for that yet, but hopefully one day. Needing to occupy her mind she began texting Myrcella, letting her know about what had just happened.
End of chapter, hope you enjoyed it, read and review please.
