Game of Thrones: Tragedy and Reunions

Next chapter of my Game of Thrones story, enjoy.

Reviews

HarryPotterLover1996: Thanks, glad you enjoyed it, well, that's just a hint of things to come :)
magnus374: Yup, she sure has and yeah, it's still there; but she's willing to bend it a little of course :)

Now onto the story.

Disclaimer: Game of Thrones belongs to George R.R. Martin.

Arya

Arya fidgeted uncomfortably but managed to smile. She really hated dresses; but this was a special occasion, all her family was back together and Robb's army had won a great victory. She would be expected to dress up and, just this once, she would concede to that wish. Her movements were slightly awkward as she was still getting used to only having one eye to see with. However she shrugged it off and walked, carefully out of the room. The fact she had not worn a dress in so long also made movement difficult, more restrictive.

'I've become so used to the freedom I had that I've forgotten how carefully I need to walk in this.' She thought to herself wryly.

Shaking her head she left the room that had been set aside for her. She began to walk to the great hall where the feast would be underway, but then stopped. She had a different idea; a small smirk played on her face as she turned and headed to another room in the castle. True she was expected at the feast and soon, but she had other ideas. Besides, there was someone she wanted to see first. So it was; she found herself approaching Gendry's room, just as he was coming out. Like her, he was dressed in the finest clothes available to him.

He stopped in his tracks, surprised when he saw her. His face showed stunned surprise; most likely due to her 'unusual' attire. She almost laughed due to his expression as he walked over.

"Arya, wh-what, why...Uh..." He stammered, practically tripping over his own tongue.

She couldn't hold it back any longer and laughed. "Yeah, I know, surprised?" She remarked.

Gendry recovered somewhat, and shot her a smirk. "That you're wearing a dress? Or that you're here, rather than at the feast?"

"Both." She responded without hesitation.

Gendry sighed. "Fine, yes, I am surprised at both."

She shook her head and explained. "Don't think I'll be doing this often, it's just because this is a special occasion, alright." He nodded and she continued. "As for the feast..."

She trailed off as she pondered her next words. Gendry waited expectantly.

"You didn't think you were getting out of escorting me to the feast?" She finally said, playfully.

Gendry laughed. "Of course not, m'lady."

Arya smacked his chest. "What have I said about that, you stupid bull?"

"Oh, so you're allowed to call me that, but I can't call you 'm'lady'." He retorted before shrugging. With that they began to walk down to the main hall for the feast.

As they walked Arya smiled as she glanced over at Gendry. "Guess this'll be the first time you've attended a proper feast?" She questioned him, he nodded in return. "Well, just wait till you see it, it's pretty messy, I'll say that, but the food should be good; especially after everything we've had to put up with."

He sighed longingly. "Proper food definitely sounds great. At least you'll get to see things without being crowded, up at the high table."

Arya turned to look at him. "So will you, you'll be sitting next to me."

Gendry suddenly stopped walking and Arya turned back to face him.

He shook his head. "Arya no, I won't be sitting up there with you. I'm a bastard remember, my place..."

"Who cares about 'your place'?" She snapped. "Let them think what they want, I'll just remind them that you're the one who got me here; bastard or not, you've earned the right to sit with us."

Gendry sighed and gave in, he knew arguing with Arya was impossible. Therefore they resumed their walk and soon entered the main hall. Arya noted that the hall was filling up; already half the seats seemed to be full. She noted her family sitting at the high table, only Bran was missing. However as she took her seat she saw Hodor enter with Bran. Gendry sat next to her, with Rickon on his other side. She noticed Gendry looked rather uncomfortable and awkward. Rickon stared up at Gendry, but his expression was unreadable. At that moment Sansa turned to Arya and smiled.

"So Arya, I…I'm actually surprised, I mean you…"

Arya laughs at her sister's nervous attempt to comment on her clothes and replies truthfully.

"What? It's a special occasion! Don't get used to it… This is probably the only time I'm going to do it." Sansa laughed in response and they both relaxed. At that moment Arya heard her mother talking to Bran.

"Bran, please, relax."

Sansa turned and Arya leaned forwards to see past her. She saw Bran's agitation, which was quickly masked by an air of composure. She also noted their other guest, the Crannogman, Jojen Reed, as well as the empty chair between him and Bran, probably for Jojen's sister Meera? Sansa began to talk to their mother, so Arya turned back to Gendry. She noted that Rickon seemed to be asking him several questions; mostly about Gendry's past. Gendry was answering as honestly as he could, but one question caught her attention.

"What about your mother and father?"

Arya listened intently; she had only heard Gendry mentioned his mother briefly; and say very little about his unknown father. She often wondered if he had told her the truth, or at least, what he knew of the truth. If however he told Rickon something different, then for whatever reason, she would know he was lying. However he told Rickon the exact same thing he had told her, with only one new addition. Something which he hadn't known when he told her.

"Whoever my father was, he must've been important." He explained. "Why else would the Gold Cloaks have been hunting me?"

Rickon seemed amazed at this; but soon they were all distracted by the feast starting; the food arrived and Arya tore into it at once. Grabbing a leg from a still steaming chicken and without any second thought, took a large bite out of it.

Gendry laughed when he saw her. "Honestly, Arya," he chided her playfully. "Slow down, you'll make yourself sick."

She pouted at him and swallowed the mouthful she had. "Surprised you aren't doing the same, when's the last time you ate proper food?"

Gendry shrugged and replied as she ate some more. "Fair enough, but I'm more used to it I guess. After all, I'm just a simple base born boy who was once an armourer's apprentice; not a highborn."

Arya made a face and continued eating; she noted out the corner of her eye that Meera Reed had finally arrived and was seated between Bran and Jojen. A short while later Sansa turned to face her.

"Arya," she began, her voice uncertain, as if she wasn't sure how to begin.

Arya turned to her sister. "Wha'?" She replied thickly.

Sansa sighed. "Don't talk with your mouth full. It's rude and it makes it hard to understand what you are saying."

Arya swallowed and then tried again. "What's wrong?"

Sansa paused for a moment before leaning in closer and asking. "How did you convince Gendry to sit with us?" She glanced up to see if he had heard before continuing. "I mean, he seems to care more about his status than you. I thought he would've refused?"

Arya nodded. "He did at first; but I pointed out that without him, I wouldn't have got here. He practically saved my life and so...He earned his right to sit at the high table with us."

Sansa nodded slowly. "I see."

"Why?"

Sansa's eyes darted out to somewhere amongst the throng of people before looking back at her sister and replying, a bit to quickly for Arya's liking. "No reason."

Arya smirked. "What are you hiding, Sansa?"

"Nothing." she replied shaking her head.

Arya shrugged. "Alright then, I'll figure it out eventually."

Sansa did not reply and instead turned her attention back to the hall as Meera, along with a few others began to leave.

Not too long after that, Sansa left; Arya sighed and looked around. Everybody had definitely finished eating; all that seemed to be going on now was drinking games between the banner men and loud conversation. Arya began to feel groggy and thought maybe she should leave and head for bed too. It was then Rickon tried to stifle or hide a yawn behind his hand, unobtrusively.

"Time for bed, Rickon," Catelyn remarked, undeceived.

Rickon pouted but accepted once Arya declared she was tired and would take him when she left. So, guiding her younger brother out, she left the hall. Before she did she glanced back and smiled when she saw Gendry talking and laughing with Robb. Still smiling she left, happy in the knowledge that now, after so long, her family was together again.

End of chapter, hope you enjoyed it, three more chapters to go.