Once they reached the castle, Arya and Gendry headed in different directions, both trying to avoid the situation. Arya was directed to a room where she was given a basin to wash herself and a gown that looked much like one Sansa wore years ago. At least it wasn't one of Cersei's dresses.

Arya quickly washed and dressed and soon joined the feast. She noticed Gendry was already seated at Daenerys's high table. Jon was seated on the queen's left while the seat to her right, the seat of honor, was left vacant for Arya. She quickly approached the table avoiding eye contact with Gendry, but she knew he was watching her. She felt his eyes following her the entire length of the room. She sat next to the queen and quickly downed the glass of wine set out for her.

Daenerys turned from Jon with a smile on her face. "Lady Arya, you are looking lovely this evening."

Arya managed to smile and reply. "Thank you, Your Grace. You look radiant. Victory suits you."

"As it should for you as well. Why do you not look pleased?"

Arya shrugged. "I suppose my mind is not ready for the war to be over."

The queen nodded. "I know what you mean. But look around you, Arya. We are in the Red Keep and our enemies are dead."

Arya hesitated. "Not all of them."

Daenerys gave her a questioning look. "What do you mean?"

"I ran into Jamie Lannister. I let him live."

"Why?"

"He didn't want to fight me. In fact, he led me to Joffrey's hiding place."

Daenerys sat in silence staring at Arya. "Is that all?" she said finally.

"He said he would kill Cersei for us. But with no way of knowing for sure, she may still be alive."

"You let my enemy walk away with the promise to kill his sister and lover, but you made no effort to find the truth?" Daenerys asked coldly.

"Yes, Your Grace," Arya replied honestly.

The queen broke into a smile. "Jamie has been on our side for months. Tyrion convinced him to join our cause. He did kill Cersei and he should be joining us any moment."

Arya breathed a sigh of relief. "You knew and didn't tell me?"

"Only Tyrion and I knew. We didn't want to run the risk of a spy in our midst finding out what Jamie was doing and have him killed."

"I only found out when Jamie brought Cersei's dead body to us," Jon chimed in.

"But he killed your father," Arya replied.

"My father had gone mad. I accept that fact and I plan to learn from it. Thankfully there are no Targaryens left for me to marry," Daenerys said jovially.

"Will you marry?" Arya asked, ready to change the subject.

"Of course I will. But I will need to choose the best possible match. As my Hand, will you compile a list of all the Houses with suitable men to whom it would be the most advantageous to marry?"

"Certainly," Arya replied. She thought she noticed Jon make a face but when she focused on him, his face was neutral.

They spent the rest of the evening eating, drinking, and enjoying the feeling of victory. The kind of victory that would not diminish soon nor would lead to another battle. The war was over.


Over the next several weeks, Daenerys settled into her role as Queen of the Seven Kingdoms. Lords from other Houses were starting to express their fealty and even propose a marriage alliance. Arya added these to her ever-growing list.

Arya had successfully avoided Gendry and was trying to focus on her work. She was in the process of perusing a map and checking off all the Houses that still existed when a knock came to the door.

"Yes?" Arya said, still focusing on the map.

"My Lady, Queen Daenerys wishes to address you in her private chambers," a handmaiden said upon entering and curtseying.

"Very well. Thank you," she replied, not looking up.

She finished her research of the Northern houses and headed to the queen's chambers. When she arrived, the maester was also present with several volumes in hand.

"What can I do for you, Your Grace?" Arya asked.

"Will you please come and decipher this passage for me?" Daenerys asked, ushering her over.

Arya grabbed the book and noticed it was the journal of a former maester.

The princess called me to her hideaway at the Tower of Joy. She was in labor and needed assistance with the birth. When I arrived, though, it was too late. She was dead and the baby was gone. When I spoke with her handmaiden, she informed me that the princess's brother had found her and had taken the baby up North for its own protection. Perhaps it was for the best as Robert Baratheon is on the hunt for every living Targaryen.

Arya looked up, confused. "Who are they talking about?"

Daenerys shook her head. "I'm not certain. I was the only baby born during this time, but my mother was the queen, not the princess."

"Then the only other princess would have been Elia, but she was in King's Landing when she died."

"There must have been someone else. But my family's relations were mostly dead by then."

"And none of them were the princess," Arya reminded.

"Exactly. Which means it had to have been one of my father's children. It couldn't have been Viserys; he was only a little boy. Certainly not old enough to sire a child. Is it possible Rhaegar could have taken another wife?"

Arya thought about the stories she heard. She thought about the reason that started Robert's Rebellion. "Lyanna," she said breathlessly.

"Who?" Daenerys asked.

Arya looked at her queen. "Lyanna Stark. My father's sister. She was kidnapped by Rhaegar and died shortly before the Rebellion ended. It was rumored he had married her, but, perhaps he truly did."

"Then who is this child?" she asked.

Arya shrugged. "My father only ever returned North with one baby: Jon."

Daenerys was shocked. "Jon Snow? Your bastard brother?"

"Perhaps he's not a bastard after all," Arya said weakly. She was in shock at the knowledge that her favorite brother was not actually her brother at all.

Daenerys turned to the maester. "Find me all the journals during Robert's Rebellion. There must be something somewhere that states whether he married Rhaegar to any other woman."

"We need to tell Jon," Arya said.

The queen looked at her Hand. "It should come from you. You're his sister."

Arya looked at Daenerys. "I'm his cousin. And I suppose that makes you…his aunt."

They both burst into laughter at the absurdity of the situation.

As the settled down from their laughter, Daenerys said, "Well, I suppose that's one bastard squared away. Now for the other."

Arya looked at her, confused. "What other?"

"Gendry Waters. Lady Brienne tells me she believes him to be the son of Robert Baratheon. As there are no living Baratheons, I could do away with the House altogether. But I could also grant Gendry the family name and all that belongs to them."

"We don't have any proof on that, though. Some people can look similar and not be related at all. I think we should try to get proof."

"You met Robert Baratheon while he still lived. Do you think Gendry resembles him?" Daenerys asked.

Arya shrugged. "I don't remember him that well. I suppose there are similarities."

The queen produced another journal, this one slightly newer than the last. "This was your father's journal while he was Hand. He apparently went looking for Robert's bastards."

Arya looked at the familiar scrawl on the book as she read the entry.

I found a boy by the name of Gendry, of fifteen or sixteen annuals apprenticing for Tobho Mott, a blacksmith, in Flea Bottom. He looked remarkably like Robert when he was a young man. The jaw was the same, as well as the sparkling blue eyes. I think this boy could have been conceived during the Rebellion, which makes him Robert's oldest son and the true heir. I have no proof other than the timeline matching up. Gendry's mother apparently worked at the tavern around the time we were in King's Landing, right as Robert took the throne. This may be coincidence, but I feel in my soul that I looked at Robert's true son today.

Arya looked up. "If you make him a Baratheon, wouldn't he be your enemy?"

Daenerys laughed. "I doubt his feelings would change. Besides, I'd give him a wife who's loyal to my crown to keep him in line. The point is, do you feel your father's account is good enough to acknowledge Gendry's parentage?"

Arya closed the journal and held it tight in her hands. "Yes."

"Very well. I will speak with Gendry and officially make him a Baratheon."

"What about Jon?"

"I want proof that Rhaegar and your aunt were married. If he's a true Targaryen, he could have claim to the throne."

"Jon wouldn't try to take the throne from you," Arya said. "He doesn't like being in charge."

"And yet he leads so well."

"I thought you didn't want him to lead."

"I don't want him to be king, but I could find a place for him in my kingdom," Daenerys replied.

Arya examined Daenerys closely trying to decipher what she was saying.

"I should go talk to Jon," Arya said.

"Thank you."


Arya found Jon in his room, reading.

"I don't think I remember a time when I could just sit and read," Jon exclaimed with joy.

"Really? I'm bored not fighting," Arya said.

"We all need to adjust to this new chapter in our lives," he replied.

"Actually, there is more adjusting to do than you think."

Jon gave her a questioning look.

"Do you remember the story that father told everyone when he brought you home?"

A shadow clouded Jon's face. "Yes. He told everyone that my mother was a barmaid and he had one night with her right after he was married to your mother. Nine months later I came along and he thought it was his duty to care for me, so he took me to the North."

Arya nodded. "That was quite a story. And it's a complete lie."

"What?" Jon exclaimed. "You're calling our father a liar?"

"No. I'm calling my father a liar. Jon, you're not Eddard Stark's son."

"I'm a Stark, Arya. Look at us. We look alike."

"You are a Stark, Jon. You're just not Eddard's child."

Jon was livid. "What are you talking about? Why would you even say such a thing?"

"You remember how Father used to always say I reminded him of his sister, Lyanna."

"Yes, it was like she was restored to him."

Arya nodded. "We look alike because I favor Lyanna. Your true mother."

Jon's brow furrowed as he stared at Arya.

She continued, "Daenerys's maester found journals from another maester who was here years ago. He described going to the Tower of Joy to aid in the princess's birth but she was dead and the baby was taken by the princess's brother to the North. The only princess we knew of at the time was Elia, but she died at King's Landing and her brother would have taken any child to the South. We believe Rhaegar married Lyanna and sired you."

Jon stared at Arya in silence for a few minutes, processing. Finally, he said, "I'm a Targaryen?"

Arya nodded. "Daenerys is looking for evidence that your parents were actually married before you were born, but based on the maester's description, you are the child of Rhaegar Targaryen and Lyanna Stark."

"So, I may not be a bastard after all?" Arya shrugged. "Then why did he raise me as one? I lived my whole life being looked down upon when actually I was the son of the prince." Jon was fuming as he paced the room.

"He did it to protect you," Arya replied. "Robert was on the hunt for any Targaryen. I think he would have hated you the most since you were supposed to have been the child he wanted to have with Lyanna. Father treated you better than any bastard could have ever hoped for. He probably would have told you the truth when Robert died, but he didn't live to see you again."

Jon stopped pacing and stared at his sister-turned-cousin. "This changes everything. If I'm a Targaryen, that means I can't…"

"Can't what?" Arya asked.

"I…I was hoping to be recognized as a Stark so then I could have a name and title."

"But you'll still get that as a Targaryen."

"Yes, but there's one thing I can't get now."

"What?" Arya asked, exasperated.

"Daenerys."

She was silent for a few moments. "Daenerys? You wanted Daenerys?" she asked dumbly.

Jon nodded then shook his head. "Not have her, but…marry her. Join our houses."

Arya's eyebrows raised in surprise. "Oh. I didn't know you wanted that."

"I mean, I couldn't ask her. She's the queen. But now that's out the window since she said she wasn't going to marry a Targaryen."

"Jon, I think she meant an immediate relation like a brother. You're her nephew. There's some different blood in there."

"It doesn't matter now. It was just a thought."

"I would have consented, you know," she said.

"To what?"

"To legitimizing you. I thought you should have been a Stark years ago."

Jon smiled. "Thank you."

"This changes nothing. You're still my brother."

"And you'll always be my sister," Jon replied.


A few days later, Daenerys summoned Arya to her chambers again.

"Did you find anything else, Your Grace?" Arya asked.

"It was confirmed that Rhaegar did annul his marriage to Elia Martell and married Lyanna Stark."

"Annul? But didn't he have children with her?"

"Two children. He must have had a reason to annul rather than divorce. By annulling his union, he delegitimized his sons."

"I didn't know you could do that," Arya stated.

"A prince or a king could. With this information, it means Jon was second in line for the throne when my father still ruled. He could still make a claim."

"Are you going to tell him?"

"I hadn't planned on offering him my throne."

"He's smart. He'll figure it out."

Daenerys sighed. "I know. Do you really think he won't make a claim?"

"I think you could convince him not to," Arya replied cheekily.

"What do you mean?"

"Jon sees you as his queen. I doubt he wants to do anything to upset your happiness with him."

Daenerys raised an eyebrow. "Why did you phrase your statement in that way?"

Arya sighed and sat down. "I think you should make him your consort."

"He's my nephew!"

"I've also seen the way you two have been looking at each other and it isn't familial affection. Besides, if you married him, you'd get the Starks. If you have the Starks, you have the North."

Daenerys sat and pondered. "What about Oberon Martell in the South?"

"I doubt he'd be loyal to you once he found out your brother cast his sister aside and completely ruined her and her children's chance at a future."

"You want this to go public?"

"Jon has a right to claim his name. It'll get out one way or another."

"Fine. What about the Iron Islands?"

"The Greyjoys have no living sons," Arya said uncomfortably.

"Jamie Lannister?"

"Would you really prefer Jamie over Jon?"

"No, I'm trying to weigh all options before considering your proposal. I promised the people I'd be a different ruler than my father. I can't simply go and marry a Targaryen."

Arya nodded and contemplated this. "Perhaps the truth doesn't come out until after you are married and with child? It would still make tactical sense to marry Jon since he represents the Starks. He may not have the name, but the people respect him. They would follow you and your descendants because of your union with the North."

Daenerys nodded. "I will need to think on this."

"Of course, Your Grace," Arya said, standing to leave.

"Oh, before you go, I'd like you to know that you will also be getting married."

Arya blanched. "What?!"

Daenerys gave her a hard look. "You are my Hand. I want your lineage to always be the Hand to the Targaryen Throne."

"I'm not marrying Jamie Lannister!" Arya said hurriedly.

Daenerys's face softened and she let out a chuckle. "No, I wasn't thinking of him, but I do have a man chosen for you. You will be married within a fortnight."

"Your Grace, I can't!"

"Why not, Lady Arya? Do you think my selection would be too unbearable for you?"

"It's not the choice of the man; it's the union itself. I will not sit and be someone's wife and mother when I possess far greater talents."

The queen sighed. "I assure you I will not marry you off to a man who wants to whisk you away and turn you into a domestic being. You will marry a man who will live with you here and care for your children when you are serving me."

"Is there such a man?" Arya asked skeptically.

"If the man wishes to keep his head, yes."

Arya gave a weak smile. "I just don't see myself as a wife."

"It is not a role that comes natural to women like us, but it's possible to make it work if you have a partner who sees you as a powerful goddess rather than an insubordinate mouse."

"Is that how Khal Drogo saw you?" Arya asked. She never mentioned the queen's previous husband, but was too curious to care about the consequences.

Daenerys smiled. "He saw me as the latter, but in time I learned to break him like a wild horse, so he saw me as the former until the end of his life."

"That sounds tolerable."

"It was. I plan to have that again. And I plan to provide that for you as well."

Arya shifted and finally nodded. "Acceptable."


As Arya left Daenerys's chambers, she felt a sense of dread overwhelm her. She never expected that she would have to marry. As fine as Daenerys had made it seem, she was still nervous at the prospect of having to spend the rest of her life with a stranger.

Lost in thought, she didn't see the one person she had been dodging for the past month approach her.

"Arry," Gendry called, shaking her from her thoughts. "I need to talk to you."

Arya froze in her tracks. She just stared at him, unable to say anything. Gendry took it as a sign to continue.

"Daenerys offered to legitimize me. Since there are no living Baratheons, she has the power to revive the House and give it to me. I honestly have no idea what to think. I need your advice."

"You should accept," Arya said flatly.

"You think? But isn't the ancestral home of the Baratheons at Storm's End?"

She nodded.

"That's far," he said softly.

"It is."

"You want me to go?" he asked, hurt and confused.

Arya sighed. "I don't know."

"We should talk about what happened."

She stared at him coldly. "We will never discuss what happened. I think it's best you forget."

Before he could reply, she walked away as quickly as possible.


She was almost as the end of the hallway when she felt a hand grab her arm at the elbow. "We're going to talk," he hissed in her ear.

He pulled her to the nearest door and peeked inside before nudging her inside, he shortly after. He closed the door firmly behind him and stood in the doorway, blocking Arya's only escape.

As the door closed and Arya realized they were alone, thoughts of that night flooded into her mind. Her face flushed at the memory.

"Look, I know you're ashamed at what happened, but it obviously wasn't just both of us trying to get our jollies," Gendry said.

She turned to face him and took a step back when she noticed how close they were. "What makes you think that?"

"The kiss," he said.

"That was nothing," she said, trying to brush it off.

"Bullshit. Something's been going on between us and you're too chicken to admit it."

"Fine, if you think you've got this thing pegged, then why don't you enlighten me," she challenged.

"I think we're in love with each other."

Arya squeezed out a single laugh. "That's ridiculous."

"I think we've been in love with each other for a long time. Long before I joined your army."

"If that's what you think, it's been one-sided."

"Again, bullshit. I think you felt it first. It took me a lot longer to realize what my feelings were."

"I'm not in love with you, Gendry."

"You don't want to admit it?"

"There's nothing to admit," she stated defensively.

"Then I'll go first: I'm in love with you, Arya."

Arya's face went neutral. He never used her real name. She looked at him as she processed the thoughts and feelings racing through her. She didn't know what to say. She had never been in this position before and honestly never thought she would be. This kind of thing was something Sansa would have gotten herself into. Not Arya, a stubborn wolf who pushed away the people she cared about.

She thought about what Daenerys had said. She was going to provide Arya with a husband who would live in the castle. Gendry was going to be given a name, and everything that came with it—including running the House from Storm's End. No matter what Arya felt, she couldn't give him anything.

"I'm sorry," she said regretfully. "I don't feel that way. That kiss was my reaction to the tense situation. That…act was simply a bodily need."

Gendry stared at her in silence. "Why are you afraid?" he finally asked.

"I'm not afraid. I'm telling you that what you're feeling is one-sided."

He walked up to her and stopped inches away. "Then why aren't you stepping back?"

Arya swallowed and stared into Gendry's bright blue eyes. "I can't."

He grabbed her and pushed her against his body. "Because you feel the same way I do."

She shook her head. "N—"

He kissed her roughly, smashing their lips together until it hurt their teeth. Arya tried to resist, but every part of her body wanted to respond. Her arms slid around his neck and pulled him even harder to her as she kissed him hungrily. He walked her backward until they reached a table. He shoved her onto it and pushed up her skirts. His trousers were soon pooling around his ankles and he was thrusting deep inside her.

She groaned as entered her. His pause was brief as he started to pump his hips hard against hers. She wrapped her legs around him, pushing him deeper inside her as he continued his quick pace. She gripped his shoulders as his pace got harder and quicker. Their panting was the only sound in the room. He broke the silence with a groan as he climaxed. He thrust inside her a few more times before stopping, trying to catch his breath.

While he was still inside her, softening, she said, without looking at him, "This can never happen again."

He gave her a confused look. "Why not?"

She sighed and gently pushed him away, pushing her skirts back down over her legs. "The queen has informed me that I am to be married within a fortnight. I will never be unfaithful to any vow I make."

Gendry looked at her, defeated.

She got up and walked past him. When she reached the door, she turned to look at him. He was still standing there, facing the table with his shoulders slumped. She turned and left the room.


"She told you, I gather?" Daenerys said upon entering the great hall. Jon was standing on the dais, staring at the Iron Throne.

He turned and looked at her. He didn't need to pretend he didn't know what she was talking about.

"She has," he replied.

"Have you spoken to anyone about it?" she asked, walking over and standing next to him instead of sitting on her throne.

"No."

"Not even Ser Davos?" she pressed.

He shook his head. "I haven't uttered a word about it to anyone since Arya told me. I'm still processing."

"Good. She had an idea that we shouldn't reveal anything until after the wedding."

Jon furrowed his brow in confusion. "What wedding?"

"Ours, of course. I cannot be knowingly marrying a blood relation after I have already assured my people I will merge my bloodline with another Great House. If we wait until after we're married, it's less likely people will be upset."

"But that's dishonest."

"It's called ruling. I'm protecting my people from details they do not need to know until they're ready to know them," she stated.

"I don't think it would work."

"Of course it would. You've been my ally for some months now, it makes sense to solidify that alliance with a marriage. Bran is the head of the Stark House and must remain in Winterfell and the youngest is far too young to bring into my bed, but you fought beside me. It's natural that an understanding would have taken place some time ago."

"That all sounds very reasonable, Your Grace, but I still think people won't buy it," Jon replied.

Daenerys walked away from him to sit on the throne, eyeing him from her position of power. "We can address the finer points of the plan, but this is the best option."

"There are other noble lords you can marry instead of me, Your Grace."

She looked at him questioning. "You seem to keep forgetting that you're not a bastard anymore, Jon. Besides, I need the North. Arya agreed it was the best match I could make."

"Arya said that?"

"I need your support on this, Jon. Do you agree to my plan?"

"Will I marry you?" he asked. She nodded with a rueful smile. "I think I can agree to that."

She stood. "Perfect. I'll have the hall boys begin decorating."

"Doesn't it need to be announced first?"

She started walking away but turned to respond. "I sent out the announcement this morning. We've already received acceptances from the Tullys and the Mormonts."

He watched her in amazement as she turned and left the room.