ARYA AND GENDRY

ARYA

Life can be confusing sometimes especially for a ten-year old getting ready to turn eleven. Arya wanted nothing to do with being a Lady of some House or some man's husband. "If they try to make me marry some Lord I will run away." Arya always says secretly. Then Gendry comes to Winterfell. Arya finds herself staring at him as she walks by the forge. One night she has a dream about kissing him.

"Your mind is not here you are elsewhere and when your mind is elsewhere you body becomes dead." Syrio says to her.

"Sorry…I can do better."

"We are done for the day. Go and deal with what has you distracted."

As Arya leaves Syrio stays to continue training with Meera. She rounds the corner and bumps into Gendry. "Excuse me…Um Lady Arya right."

"Just Arya."

"Are you alright just Arya."

She smiles, "I do not like being referred to as a Lady so call me Arya."

"As you wish."

"So you traveled with my father?"

"Yes."

"How did you meet?"

"You don't remember? You were there when I explained everything to your Mother."

She was trying to prolong their conversation, "Yes I was…I forgot sorry. So how old are you?"

"I made my fifteenth name day a few months ago."

"Gendry!" Mikken calls yelling his name.

"Sorry I have to go."

Arya watches him leave thinking about their age differences. She sighs and heads to the main hall thinking about his name day. "I wonder if he has a woman in King's Landing ." She hears a girl say.

Arya knows the he they are talking about. It seems that every young girl in Winterfell has gone bonkers over Gendry. Everyone, but Meera who likes Bran. Arya sits at the head table eating with her siblings. She watches as Sansa and Jayne giggle about something. "What are you two giggling about?"

"Reinah…" Reinah is the Stableman's daughter, she is 17. "…likes to bring Gendry his lunch. One time she spilled the drink on him…on purpose and was wiping her hands all over his chest."

"Her father caught her and well she is punished, cannot leave her room."

"Well Reinah was always fast…You know what they say about her." Jayne says.

"What do they say?" Arya asks.

"Your too young to hear such things."

"What she'd spread her legs for a horse if she liked him."

"Arya! If mother heard you saying such things."

"You won't tell."

"And why not?"

"Cause, I know your secret."

"You promised!" Sansa angrily replies.

"Aye I did. Now you promise me." Reluctantly Sansa complies. Later Arya goes to the kitchen and requests a special cake made. Then she goes to Robb's room and takes one of his old hunting coats he no longer wears. Early the next morning she waits by his room.

"My Lady." Gendry says when he opens the door.

"I told you call me Arya."

"Not proper you being the daughter of a Lord and me a commoner."

"And where is it written we can't be friends?"

"Nowhere!"

"Good…Now take these and happy name day…Sorry I missed it."

Gendry smiles, "Thank you…I guess."

One evening Arya is alone in the godswood practicing by herself. When she spins around she catches Bran and Gendry watching. She pauses, "Either of you care to spar with me."

"No!" Bran quickly replies, he had been beaten by Arya before and was not eager for a rematch.

"What about you?"

Gendry smiles, "I can use a sword, but I prefer to fight with a hammer…There is no such thing as practice hammer."

"Fine I didn't take you for a chicken."

"Wow is she always this cocky?" Gendry asks looking at Bran.

"Intolerably so." Bran replies.

"Buuuck…buck, buck, buck, buck, buck, buuuck!"

There is a sword rack near the wall. Gendry walks over and picks up a hand and half blade. Bran smiles running off. Arya takes her side stance as Gendry takes a more traditional fighting stance. "I have to warn you I have never lost a fight."

Arya smiles, "Neither have I."

"You have never killed someone I have."

"So what!"

"Fighting for your life teaches you to survive no matter what."

"And training helps you to prepare for that."

He shakes his head and attacks, surprising Arya with his speed despite his size. She glances the sword off her own practice blade and spins away, but Gendry follows swinging his own sword. She ducks barely missing the whack to the head. That is when Bran returns with Meera, Jojen, Rickon, Syrio, Mikken, Sansa who heard in passing, Jayne Pool, and many other young people.

Ser Rodrick walks into the godswood as well. People start cheering, some for Arya and others Gendry. Syrio remains quiet, but every now and then he raises an eyebrow or smiles. She ducks forward under his sword and twists coming back up, as if she is dancing and steps into Gendry's guard, but he catches her sword hand. Gendry brings his sword in, but she blocks it raising her foot catching him on the wrist.

Then she stomps on his foot, but Gendry does not release her wrist. He flips her over and stands over her with his sword pointed in her face. "That's enough!" Ser Rodrick yells, "Boy Arya Stark is the Daughter of…"

As Gendry backs away Arya shouts, "Don't interfere!" She gets up and picks up her sword. "The match isn't over yet."

"Yes it is I won." Gendry replies.

"I never yielded."

"I say it is over!" Ser Rodrick says imposing himself in between them.

"Forgive me my Lord." He looks at Arya, "My Lady…"

As the crowd disperses Syrio walks up to Arya and stares at her. "What?"
"Now I see why the little wolf has been distracted…She fancies the blacksmith yes."

Arya frowns, "No!"

Syrio smiles and points his finger, "The dance of life and death can also be the dance of love and passion…Syrio has seen many a lovers' dance the way the two of you did."

"I am not in love with Gendry."

"Your mouth says no, your eyes say yes."

GENDRY

Gendry lies in bed thinking about his duel with Arya. The way she moved and responded to him. He shakes his head, but no matter how hard he tries not to think about it, the more he does. And when he closes his eyes he sees her face. "Oh gods help me she is a child." He whispers getting aroused. After tossing and turning most of the night he falls asleep.

"Morning!" Gendry says to Mikken.

"Good Morning. Sleep well? Cause you look awful."

He sighs, but before he can answer, "Gendry!" Maester Luwin says calling his name.

"Yes Maester."

"Come with me lad."

Gendry did not like the way he said that. "Where are we going?" He does not answer and leads Gendry to Lady Starks's bedroom. His heart starts pounding.

"Leave us!" Catelyn commands sitting up in the bed three months pregnant.

"My Lady."

She stares at him, "I hear you sparred with my daughter Arya."

"Yes…I mean yes My Lady."

"How old are you Gendry?"

"Ten and five name days old. I made my last name day a few months ago."

"Arya is ten and too young…"

Gendry is the son of Robert Baratheon so he speaks his mind no matter who he is speaking to, "Forgive me for interrupting my lady, but we are just friends."

"And see that it stays that way. There are other young girls living in Winterfell your age…I am not at the point of banning you from Arya, but don't think I won't. Keep your hands to yourself."

He clears his throat, "Yes My Lady. If I may say, before I go. I know about my father's reputation with women...I am not like that"

"I'm glad to hear it. Dismissed!"

Gendry leaves feeling many things, fear, anger, disappointment and regret. That night Gendry thinks about returning the hunting coat. Then he gets another idea, "Mikken! Can I have these scraps…" He asks the next day, they had stopped for midday meal.

"You don't have to ask me every time…Standing rule at Winterfell. Any metal scraps we can keep and use as we want."

Gendry takes the best pieces and melts them down to start on his project. Eventually the metal melts. He takes the mold and reshapes it for a young female. Then he pours the melted metal into the mold and lets them cool. While the metal cools he takes another mold to shape a helmet. "What ya doin?" Reiah asks.

"Oh high. I am making something."

"For me?" She seductively asks.

"I am sorry no."

She places her hands on he hips, "Who then?" She forcefully demands.

Gendry sighs, "Look you are a beautiful young girl, but…"

"But what?"

"Hello Gendry!" Sansa says walking up interrupting.

"Lady Sansa." Gendry says bowing.

She looks at Reiah, "Reiah would you saddle my horse for me I'm going riding with Jayne."

"I'm busy!"

"Now!" Sansa commands.

Reiah sneers and walks away, "Sorry about that."

"Thank you." Gendry gets back to work.

"I was passing by on my way to the Sept and saw." Gendry smiles and keeps working, "That is very small for a man…It wouldn't happen to be for my sister would it?"

"A present My Lady for her Name Day."

"Most girls like poetry and flowers, not Arya, this will win points with her."

"Its not that kind of gift."

"Sure…Word of advice Gendry…Finish learning your craft and leave Winterfell. Arya may like you, my brothers, and don't get me wrong I like you, but you and Arya may never be."

"Because I am a low born common bastard."

"Part of the reason…Also my mother will never allow it. Arya will fight to keep you, but in the end all it will cause is heartache and pain…"

Gendry didn't want that he thinks as Sansa walks away. But what could he do? An idea comes to his mind. Gendry is a talented blacksmith and he is able to finish his present just in time for Arya's name day celebration. She is presented with many gifts and smiles when she spots Gendry in line. He smiles back, but his smile vanishes when he spots Lady Catelyn looking.

"Happy name day My Lady."

Arya gasps after unwrapping the heavy sheet and paper. It is a full set of armor in Arya's size. The shoulder pads are wolf heads and so are the grieves. The breast plate has a Dire Wolf carved into it and there is a Dire wolf helm to match. "Thank you!" She says shocking everyone leaping onto Gendry and kissing him on the cheek.

CATELYN

"Ah young love." Maester Luwin says.

She looks at him and he raises his hands backing away, "Arya…" Catelyn and Arya are alone in her room after the celebration.

"Yes mother."

She sighs, "Do you like Gendry? Do you love him?"

"I…I…don't know what I feel…When he is around I get excited. I feel funny inside. I feel like those stupid girls in the books Sansa likes to read."

Catelyn sighs, "I guess it is that time for you and I to talk." After they talk Catelyn goes to her room pushed in the wheeled chair by Hordor. Gendry is waiting at the door.

"My Lady."

"It is late…Why are you here?"

"I came to say goodbye M'Lady…"

"Goodbye and where are you going?"

"South to fight for your son…"

"Gendry you are no soldier and…"

"And I do not wish to cause your House any Problems…I will fight for your son and if I survive maybe head east and become a Sell Sword." He hands her a letter, "If it is not to presumptuous would you give this to Arya…" Catelyn takes the letter. "If you feel the need to read it then by all means do so My Lady."

He turns to leave, "Gendry!"

"Yes Lady Stark."

She sighs, "Don't go." She tares the letter up. "Stay…Please stay."

He smiles, "I can't…Because…because I love your daughter…She doesn't see me as a bastard or a commoner…I am too old for her and she too young for me."

"Yes…But she will get older and in these coming days she will need her friend. She will need the man she loves."

"Has something happened?" Gendry asks picking up on the tone in her voice.

"There is something I must tell the children tomorrow." She says raising her hand to show Gendry a Raven's message.