GENDRY
He was surprised with the affection, Arya held for their child. Prior to the delivery, Arya had not wanted a child; she claimed she did not care for them, that they were loud, needy and stupid. Gendry was happy to become a father, he liked the idea of creating something with the woman he loved; he felt the child was a tidbit of each of them, blending into one perfect human being. He told her that much one day and Arya responded by calling him a stupid bull-headed boy.
But now, things were different. Ever since the first time she held their baby in her arms, she was reluctant to let her go. Even when Gendry would try to hold her, she had growled at him. Arya was beaming, she had a certain glow about her, that came to life with the birth of their child.
Arya loved the child, even more then she loved Gendry. Gendry was never sure whom he loved more. They both held a great place in his heart and he would do anything for either one of them. One night when Gendry cupped Arya's breast she grimaced, stating her breast was to tender. But later on, that very night when Ned cried out of her mother's milk; Arya pressed that very breast to their child's mouth and smiled at the baby she cradled in her arms.
The maids were supposed to help with the child, but Arya turned them away. She changed every wet dipper and answered every cry. She never sleeps anymore, Gendry thinks to himself. When the baby is awake, she is constantly with her and when the baby is asleep Arya practices her water dancing. He knows she desires to get back the body she once had. He knows it's not for her figure. Arya already regained that – for the most part – in remarkably a half a moon's time; although her breasts two sizes larger now, her hips a bit wider, her ass more prominent and there was a slight bit of fat on her belly now that was also covered in stretch marks. But, she was still the tiny slim slip of the girl he once remembered, skinner than most women her age, whom had not carried a child. Arya never once cared about looks, it was her muscle she wished to get back. She'd tire more easily and curse herself for being so weak. Gendry smiled at that thought, Arya and weak were two terms that did not comply with one another.
They received many letters of congratulations from: Sansa, Jon, Edmure & the Blackfish, Stannis, other allies and the Queen herself (shockingly). Most were filled with sweet sentiment; although Stannis' letter was a bit aggravating. He had congratulated them on the birth of their daughter and claimed that he was happy for them; but he insinuated that he was upset that Gendry had not fathered a girl. Gendry grew infuriated, as if he and Arya could control the sex of the baby. Oh I`m sorry my Lord for not fucking my wife the correct way, Gendry thought bitterly.
Ned was one now, her name day just one moon prior. Gendry was bouncing her on his lap while Arya was feeding her mashed peas. The girl stuck her tongue out at the fowl food and buried her head into Gendry's chest. He saw the flicker of sadness that was expressed in Arya's eyes.
"She's just like her mother." He commented, carefully cradling the baby in his lap.
Arya laid the food on the side of the table and nuzzled up beside him. He wrapped one arm around her and the other was still holding Ned. Arya reached for the baby, but she remained in Gendry`s lap, latching to her father. Gendry had never felt so happy and sad at the same time. On the one hand he was overcome with warmth that Ned sought his affection and on the other his heart went out to Arya. She spent more time with the baby and showered her with love; yet their child seemed to favour him more than her.
"She doesn't like you because you gave her a man`s name." Gendry joked, trying to make light of the situation.
"Shut up!" Arya responded, resting her head on his shoulder.
Gendry pressed kisses on Ned`s cheeks as she giggled and lay her in between both their laps. He kissed Arya on her temple and lay his head on top of hers.
She tried to get Ned to eat again but the girl refused, pressing her lips hard together as Arya attempted to bring the spoonful of peas to her mouth.
She`s as stubborn as her mother. Gendry thought.
When Arya finally gave up, they laid Ned to sleep. Arya and Gendry stood beside the crib, watching her chest slowly rise and fall. Gendry wrapped his arms around Arya`s now slender waist and begun pressing kisses to her neck. "The girl might get lonely, perhaps we should reward her with a younger brother or sister." Gendry whispered against Arya`s ear.
Arya grinned and pressed her lips to his. He led her back to their chambers, closing the door quietly behind them, as not to wake the baby. Gendry was desperate for her; they barely had time for sex after Ned was born. Once they were in their room, Gendry slammed her back against the wal. Arya ripped off his clothes and pressed hungry kisses onto his chest. He moaned her name and ripped off her tunic, taking her breast in his mouth. He bit down hard and tasted the sweet milk that escaped from her nipple. Arya dug her nails into Gendry`s shoulders as he sucked away; more from the pleasure than the milk. She grabbed him by the hair and pulled at it, so now his mouth met hers again, their tongues dancing with one another.
He threw her on the bed, kicking of his breeches before tugging at her own. His lips met hers again as he thrust himself inside her. She bit hard on his lip, he tasted the iron in his mouth but did not feel any pain; just pleasure. Their hips were meeting at a fast and desperate tempo. His lips slipped away from her mouth and began suckling at her neck, sure enough to leave bruises.
Their bodies were in a thick layer of sweat, he felt the pressure build inside of him. Their hips were both moving so fast, he doubted it was possible to go any faster. His hands were tightened around her hips so hard that she would bear bruises in the morning. Her nails had left several scratches on his back and he knew he would feel the pain with her when they were done. Right now, all that mattered was the pressure building up inside his body. He felt her shudder underneath him and in a few more strokes his body exploded in pleasure as he realised his seed inside her.
He rolled off her and they were both panting heavily. After a couple of minutes, their breathing settled and Arya rolled on top of him, moving her hand up to stroke his cheek. He wondered if she was aware of the fire that would shoot through his body, when she touched him.
She sighed, "you shaved."
Gendry shrugged, "why? Does my Lady, miss my beard?"
She punched him in the ribs and he laughed, "as a matter a fact, I do." She proclaimed as she bit her lower lip.
He did not know that; in truth he shaved it off because it was itchy. After the Arya and William incident, Gendry did not have the effort to do tedious things, like shave; so he had grown out a beard. Once he and Arya made up he was too lazy to shave it, until recently. Wanting to look good for their daughter`s first name day. But now that he knew the beard appeased Arya, he was determined to grow it back, no matter how itchy it was.
They laid together five times that night, each time more passionate than the last. He was not surprised to hear a week later, that Arya missed her moon cycle.
As Arya`s belly grew larger, she grew crankier. "Who's bright idea was it to make the women suffer for nine months?" Arya complained while feeding Ned, "Why can't the baby just pop out of you the next day or better yet why can't you bloody men deliver a child?"
Gendry frowned, he loved it what Arya was angry; it was one of the strange qualities that led him to fall in love with her. But he did not like it when she cursed in front of the baby, she had already started to speak (at about eighteen moons) and the babe was very impressionable; he knew sooner or later the babe would learn to pick up curses from her mother "And where does my Lady suggest the baby come out?" Gendry asked.
"You have a hole too!" she yelled.
Gendry arched an eyebrow at her, "you want me to poop them out?"
Arya groaned and pushed the mashed bananas into Ned`s mouth. She protested again, but Arya gave her a look and the baby opened her mouth and ate the food in front of her. Only Arya could strike the fear in babies; the baby may have loved Gendry more, but she was too afraid to disobey her mother.
When the bowl of food was empty, Arya got up to hand it to one of the maids to be washed; when all of a sudden he saw her eyes widen and the bowl slip from her fingers, crashing into several pieces right in front of her feet.
"What's wrong?" Gendry asked, as he rushed to her side. When she didn't respond he grew worried and began shaking her shoulders. Oh gods, what in seven hells was happening?
"The baby... he... she... the baby... kicked." She choked out.
Gendry immediately went down on his knees, the shards of glass digging into his skin; but he didn't care. He lifted up Arya`s tunic and pressed his ear against her belly. He heard it and he felt it, the baby was kicking strongly against her stomach. He smiled and kissed her on the belly button. Ned had never once kicked, she was a silent peaceful girl. But, this child had been kicking like there was no tomorrow. "Seven hells!" Gendry exclaimed, "Arya. Oh Arya can you feel that? The baby is kicking so much."
He grabbed her hand, moving it towards her stomach so she could feel to, but she jerked her hand away and slapped on the head. "Are you stupid?" she screamed, "It's inside me, obviously I can feel it!"
Gendry did not think it was possible, but Arya grew more irritable during her current pregnancy then her last. When she was carrying Ned, her emotions grew so wild that Nymeria had bit off some skin on his right upper arm. It wasn't hard enough to leave a permanent mark, but it was still hard enough to hurt. This time around, he merely suggested that she should be resting more and Arya got so mad that she flung his bull helm at his head. The impact was so hard that it had caused Gendry to lose consciousness, he woke up with a lump on his head. Arya apologized only to yell at him five minutes later.
Unlike Ned, who had arrived one moon early, it was a week past when Arya was supposed to deliver. As much as he loved Arya, he left Meera to deal with pregnant Arya. Even Bran was too afraid to see her; no matter what either one of them said, they always seemed to strike a nerve, causing Arya to grow frustrated with them.
"It`s because you are men." Meera explained to Gendry, after he asked her why Arya had never seemed to grow frustrated with her. "She feels like none of you understand what she's going through and in truth you never will; so she grows frustrated."
Gendry had gone to the forge that morning and hammered anvil, while Damon played with Ned.
"What are you so busy making?" Damon asked as he made googly faces at Ned. The babe giggled and touched the outrageous folds on Damon's face.
"Making a full suit of armour" Gendry joked, "I'll need it if I am going to survive another night with Arya."
"Consider yourself lucky" Damon teased, "At least Arya only becomes like that during her pregnancies. Ursula gets like that right before every moon cycle."
Ursula was Damon's new girlfriend; she worked in the castle as one of the cooks. "Yes, but at least Ursula can't rip your head off."
"Oh you'd be surprised how vicious she could get when she`s angry. Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned." Damon stated.
With that, the door to the forge flung open, revealing Rickon on the other side panting. She's *pant pant* going into *pant* Arya *pant* baby *pant* now!"
Gendry ran to their chambers, leaving Ned, Damon and Rickon behind. When he made his way upstairs, to their room; he stopped when he saw Meera and outside talking to Bran. All three of them carried a worried expression; even Hodor whom did not seem to understand much.
They turned to look at him, when he arrived. Gendry made his way towards the room but two knights grabbed his shoulder, holding him back. "Let go of me!" He demanded, "my wife is having a baby, I need to see her!"
"She already delivered." Meera said her voice cracking.
What in seven hells was going on? Why were they so upset?
"Where`s the baby?" He demanded.
"He`s fine." Bran said, "A beautiful, healthy boy. He's quite big and strong for his age. He's with a wet nurse right now,"
Gendry arched an eyebrow at him. A wet nurse? What in seven hells did he need a wet nurse for? Arya had plenty of milk. "What of my wife?" he asked.
Everyone's head dropped, their eyes refusing to meet his. Gendry felt a sudden dryness in his throat. Why weren't they answering him. He turned to look at the door, the same door that the two knights had stopped him from entering. When he shifted his gaze back, his eyes met Meera's. They were wet, filled with sadness and apology. Gendry's heart thudded harder in his chest, "What of Arya?" He repeated, harshness now in his voice.
"I'm sorry" was all she said before Meera broke out into tears.
Gendry's heart sank, as he slowly pushed open the door.