Valyrian Steel
Chapter 29
Lord Commander Snow
Jon stared down at Gendry Waters as his blue eyes began to lose the color they once had in life. Jon had seen eyes like that far too many times in battle from men under his command. It was too late for any maester to be of help. Gendry held Arya's gaze and Jon's sister could not look away.
"Don't die stupid, I didn't give you permission to die. Your lady commands you to keep breathing." She said shaking him. Gods help him, Jon was sure Gendry was trying to obey her.
"Pate! We need Pate! PATE! " Arya called out "Gendry stay here, please you're my pack. You're my pack." she begged. Gendry struggled for breath one last time and his body went slack as Pate arrived. Nymeria pawed at him and whined.
"I'm sorry my lady, but he has passed." Pate said gently. Jon had only seen that look on Arya's face once, when Bran fell from the tower and they were told that he would most likely die. It was grief and fear and anger.
"We need to retreat," Jon said gently holding his sisters shoulder. She looked at him and Jon felt an icy grip on his spine.
"Greatjon!" Arya called out coldly.
"Orders my Lady."
"Alert the archers, I don't want a single man on the ramparts breathing. Shields up to protect them, and someone send a Raven to Daenerys. I want this place in flames." Greatjon nodded with a smile and gathered his men. A few set aside to hold their shields over Arya and Jon.
"Thoros, bring me Thoros!" Arya called out desperately. The men parted and the Red Priest knelt beside them.
"Bring him back, please." Arya begged.
"I can't. I haven't been able to sinceā¦her." Thoros said closing his eyes.
"Then what use are you?!" Arya snapped and went back to cradling Gendry's head.
"The men have taken position, orders my lady." Greatjon asked.
"Signal the Seagaurd men, I don't want a single man slipping through their grasps. And get me through that portucullis so I can show Black Walder his insides!" She growled.
Jon knelt besides her, "You don't have to do this, think of what father would want. He would never condone a massacre."
"Father is dead, the dead don't care for anything." She said brushing Gendry's hair back. Nymeria whined and nudged him a bit.
"Then what would Gendry want? He did not want bloodshed." Arya looked up at him, her eyes cleared a bit.
"They killed him." She said in a weak voice, the tears had started to fill her eyes. Jon had not seen her cry since she was a small girl.
"Black Walder killed him, many people inside had nothing to do with it. Please Arya. Show mercy." Jon pleaded.
Aryas eyes narrowed in anger and Jon knew that he had said the wrong thing. "What about the Red Wedding was merciful? Did you see what they did to Robb, to mother? They don't deserve mercy."
"If you will not do it for Father or Gendry do it for me, Please." Jon brushed the hair back from Arya's face and made her face him.
"Why do you care about the Freys?" she asked angrily.
"It's not the Freys, I'm trying to save." Jon said hoping to reach her.
Arya, looked at him with some confusion. She blinked in realization. "I haven't needed saving in a very long time Jon." The anger had left her voice and all there was left was grief.
"You're my sister, I will never stop trying to save you." Jon hugged her and ruffled her hair. She relaxed into his embrace and he felt tears on the nape of his neck.
"He's my pack Jon, I just got him back. I have to get him back. He's my pack." Her voice cracked and Jon's heart broke just a little.
"Only death can pay for life." Pate said gently aside, the Lady Stoneheart, Brynden Tully and Thoros stood with him. Arya looked up at them and the fear was back in her eyes.
"No, not her. Mother no, she's my mother you can't have her. Mommy no!" Arya blocked Gendry and pleaded with her mother. "You can't we just found each other. We were supposed to get it back, all the time, Winterfell, we were supposed to get it back! You can't take her! I won't let you!"
"It's better this way lass, she wants this. It's her choice." Brynden said kindly.
Thoros nodded in agreement. "She's lingered too long with nothing but anger to sustain her. This is her choice, her first choice not made of anger or hatred. Let her choose the light."
"Fuck your light! This is my mother!" Arya said drawing her blade but Jon held her back.
She fought against him until the Lady knelt and lifted her veil. Before Jon had only seen cold fury and hatred in that face, but now he saw a glimmer of the woman he had once known in Winterfell. The loving mother he was always jealous of Robb for having. The one he always wished he had. She wiped the tears from Arya's face like she had with so many of her children and smiled softly. Arya seemed to understand and shook her head, "No, no, no, you can't. I need you." The lady stroked her daughter's cheek and handed her a Valyrian Steel blade and an iron crown.
"That blade, was once part of Ice. Tywin Lannister had the great sword divided. This one was renamed Oathkeeper, the other Widows Wail. The crown was your brothers." Thoros explained for the Lady. "I believe she wants you to carry them in her place."
"I'd rather have you." Arya said the tears spilling from her eyes. "I'd rather have my mother." The lady leaned over and kissed Arya on her forehead then clutched her throat to speak.
"Stay strong my pup, your family still needs you. I'll send your love to your father." She rasped. She looked towards Jon and nodded, he knew it was time.
Arya went limp and reached out to her mother. "Jon, make it stop. Please." She pleaded in the tiniest of voices. Gods help him he wanted to but he held her back as the Lady Stoneheart leaned over to kiss Gendry. A light came from within her and transferred to Gendry who took a breath as the lady fell back. Arya let out a sound that was a mix between a mangled cry and a whimper and Nymeria let out a mournful howl, Shaggy-dog joined her and even Ghost tilted his head back. The men stood by watching and waiting. Gendry sat up and looked around touching his neck where the bolt once was, he looked to the Lady first then to Arya and his surprised face softened.
"I'm sorry my lady, I tried." Arya rushed towards Gendry throwing her arms around him and crying.
"Stupid stubborn bullheaded idiot." Arya said beating his chest.
"I know my lady, I know." Gendry apologized and held her gently. A few of the men murmured and Jon knew that there would be talk of the two being a couple. Arya reared back and punched Gendry square in the face knocking him out and causing Brynden Tully and Greatjon to laugh.
"I ordered you not to die!" she shouted at his unconscious body. Jon let out a surprised laugh and held her back.
"He can't hear you dear." He explained, and she glared at him. "He'll hear plenty when he wakes up." She snapped. She looked to Brynden, "Uncle, I want her body tended to by the silent sisters, we'll send her down the river towards her family home. She was a Tully first." Brynden nodded and Pate helped the man carry the Lady Starks corpse.
Jon ruffled Arya's hair and she looked up at him. A dragon's cry sounded above them and they looked up. Drogon, Rhaegal and Viserion flew above them and the call of dragons shook the sky.
