I was wrong, there was actually two chapters left! But I will be posting the last of my baby at the same time. I have to admit I've been kind of nervous about the end... Hope you like it, though. And thanks a lot for sticking with me all this time, you are the best! You have been my motivation to finish the story, and I love you.
Chapter 29
Sansa
She had lived in Dorne for almost a year now and the people of Starfall loved her more than she had ever anticipated. Whenever she walked through the yard, commoners would cheer and wave at her. Although the idea of this life had frightened her a year ago, Sansa was happy. She had a beautiful babe, a husband who adored her as much as the commoners did, and she had to admit: Edric was not nearly as bad as she had been afraid of. As a matter of fact, she found him both handsome and kind. He never raised his voice at her, and had never abused her in any way like she knew so many husbands would do. But although she loved him, he was still no Jory. But Sansa was no fool. She knew perfectly well nothing would ever have come out of her romance with the captain of guards. She needed only look at her son to know that she had made the right choice.
When Arya first had written to her, Sansa had danced in happiness. They might have had their differences growing up, but they were still sisters, and sisters ought to look out for each other. She had therefore written back in hurry and welcomed Arya and her smith to Starfall without even consulting her husband.
Ever since she received the second letter from Arya, where she confirmed her departure, Sansa spent all her time preparing for the new inhabitants. As the castle of Starfall was very big; much too big for three, Edric suggested that Arya and Gendry could stay there with them in the west tower which was completely unoccupied and had a great view over the river. They would sleep in different rooms until they were married, of course.
But as the journey from Winterfell was long, Sansa managed to prepare everything long before the group was even close, and she found herself restless for another project. Edric had given her two handmaids and a singer to keep her entertained, but ever since Espan's birth, her son gained most of her attention. He was scarcely two months old, but already very big.
"He will be a great lord someday," his wet-nurse, Kayra, smiled as she removed the boy from her teats and handed him to Sansa. "A handsome one as well."
Sansa smiled down at her little son, stroking his nose. "His hair will be as golden as his father's."
"Or mayhaps it will darken with age and become auburn like yours, my lady." Kayra curtsied and left her alone with the babe. Sansa could sit with the little bundle in her arms for hours – completely enchanted. She remembered how relieved she had been when she learned it was a boy; every lord wished their first born to be an heir.
"I hope you will grow up just as honorable as your father," she told the boy, rocking him in her arms. She knew Edric was the best husband she could ever have hoped for; he treated her with more respect than she had ever expected to get from a man whom married her for her birth. He had even forgiven her for sneaking around with Jory before their marriage. Although he had been slightly hurt in the beginning, he had kissed her softly and whispered: "The important thing is that you are with me now. You chose me."
And from that moment on, Sansa knew that Edric was a man she could truly love.
Her thoughts were interrupted when one of her hand maids entered with a soft knock. "You have a visitor my lady," the young girl said. Sansa tucked the blanket around her son and placed him in his crib.
"Watch him until my return," she ordered the girl and hurried down the staircase, curious of whom this visitor could be.
Arya
When they reached White Harbor, Arya bid the guards farewell and wished them luck on their way back to Winterfell. She rented a room in an inn by the quay and told Merida and Jarin to stay there and regain warmth while she and Gendry went to find a captain willing to take them to Dorne. Being of noble birth had certain advantages; as money. Robb had been generous and given her more than enough to last her a lifetime of luxury. Walking around with that amount of money in her satchel made Arya feel extremely paranoid and she made sure to keep her dagger accessible.
Merida seemed thrilled to finally eat food cooked in a kitchen and sleep in a bed. Jarin however, was not pleased by being left behind.
"We'll be back before twilight," she promised them.
They fought their way through the crowded fish market. Gendry had made himself a crouch on their journey from Winterfell and was limping quickly beside Arya as she scanned the dock for ships ready to set sail.
"Look, there," Gendry said, pointing toward a ship at the end of the seemingly never-ending row. Arya looked in the direction he was pointing to and saw a crew of ten carrying barrels and boxes aboard one of the smaller ships. Arya nudged Gendry's arm and urged him along as she quickened her pace. As they reached the ship, the crew was already aboard.
"Hey!" Arya yelled, waving her arms. "Hey!"
A man looked up from his bucket of water. "What?"
"Where are you headed?" she asked, taking a few steps closer to the edge.
The man looked at the others whom were too busy preparing the ship to notice her.
"Bravoos," he replied. Arya sighed. Even with all the money she owned, a captain would unlikely be willing to sail all the way to Dorne. They would have to find someone else.
They walked up and down the quay for what felt like hours without luck. Most of the ships were headed for the free cities, and although Arya offered them a lot of money, they only eyed her suspiciously and turned her down. In the end, they had no other choice but to return to the inn as she had promised Merida.
They found the young couple in a corner, a large goblet of wine placed on the table in front of them. Judging by their jolly behavior, they had already drunk more than enough.
"Any luck?" Jarin asked, wrapping his arm around Gendry's shoulder.
"No," Gendry replied.
"Here, have a drink, brother. That will drown your sorrows."
Gendry snorted and gave Arya a japing look, but took a sip of the cup Jarin was offering him.
"Are we staying here until we find a ship, my lady?" Merida asked. Arya reminded her once again to call her by her first name, but the girl never seemed to listen.
"I'm sure we will find a ship in the morrow. Someone must be sailing to Oldtown or Lannisport," Arya assured her. Merida nodded and pulled her down on the bench beside her.
"Have a drink, my lady. You ought to have some fun."
Arya smiled and motioned for one of the serving women to bring some more wine. "Are you hungry?" she asked the others. Their table was soon covered in newly baked bread, broth and cake to quail their hunger. When the night arrived, Gendry and Arya had to carry their companions to bed, as they had both almost fainted by the table from drinking so much.
Arya and Gendry however, returned to the common room to finish their meal. As the room emptied, Arya found herself getting drowsy and rested her head on Gendry's muscular shoulder.
"Do you think we will ever find a ship to take us to Dorne?" she asked. Gendry put his arm around her shoulder and pulled her closer.
"Of course we will, Arya. You can't lose hope after one day – that's not very Stark-like," he mocked her. Arya scoffed and put his hand in hers, squeezing it.
"I can't believe we're really doing this," she breathed, smiling. "In a matter of weeks, we will be free to do whatever."
"And what does my lady wish to do?" he asked. Arya put her hand on his cheek and looked up at him.
"You know very well what I wish to do with the freedom."
He sniggered as he leaned down to kiss her. His lips were soft against hers. They tasted of wine, just like they had the first time they kissed.
"Although I have a theory, I'd like to hear it again," he said, leaning his forehead against hers. Arya chuckled and kissed his nose.
"I want to marry you, Gendry Waters."
Gendry cupped her chin and looked at her. "You want to marry me? But do you know if the feeling is mutual?"
Arya punched his shoulder and grimaced at him. "Stupid," she muttered. Gendry's lips twisted into a smile.
"I believe you have not asked me for my hand, my lady."
Arya crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes, squinting at him. "Is that really necessary?"
Gendry smirked and nodded until Arya seized his hand and looked into his blue eyes.
"Gendry, will you do me the honor of becoming my husband?"
The smith framed her face with his hands and nodded, bending down to kiss her. "Of course, m'lady," he said.
They came across a ship headed for Oldtown, and for the right amount of gold, the captain was willing to drop them off at Dorne. Arya wrote to Sansa, telling her the journey would take two weeks, and added that there were two weddings to be planned once they arrived. The captain, Snook he was called, ordered them to be at the quay by the break of dawn in the morrow and made it very clear that the ship would sail with or without them. Arya had given him half of the payment beforehand, but kept the rest for when they arrived in Dorne. The last thing she needed was some sly sailor to rob her of everything she owned.
When they lay in bed the night before their departure, Arya reminded herself to cherish her last night on solid ground for a very long time. She had never been on a boat before, but had heard it was a nauseous and tiresome way to travel. But however tired she was, the sleep would not come, and Arya lay awake, staring up at the dark ceiling while listening to Gendry's soft snoring and Merida's even breaths. Jarin sometimes sighed in his sleep as he turned in the bed, but would sleep quietly for most of the night.
Her thoughts suddenly wandered to her father in the capital, and she caught herself wishing she had waited to leave Winterfell till after his return. It felt like years since she had felt his strong arms around her. She whispered a silent prayer to the gods that they would watch over him in the city of conspiracies – every man was dangerous in King's Landing. Even those considered friends. Gendry had told her so on their way to the Wall. He had also told her that everyone was so hungry for money they were willing to do whatever just to earn themselves a few coins. Arya hoped her father did not make any enemies and that he would be smart enough not to go against the king himself. But she knew her worries were stupid; her father was a clever man – he knew best.
They brought their belonging to the harbor and were greeted by three cabin boys, hardly older than Rickon. From the look of them, they were all from across the narrow sea.
"Lady Stark!" Captain Snook called. Arya pursed her lips and hurried toward him as he approached them on a limping leg.
"Captain, I beg for your discretion – no one can know we are journeying south," she explained, slipping some golden dragons into his hand. The captain nodded slowly and winked.
"Do not worry, lass, your secret is safe with me. Let me show you to your cabins – I'm afraid we only have a couple to spare." He gestured for them to follow him. "Boys! Bring their luggage down!" the cabin boys hurried to obey.
After they had seen their cabins – hardly bigger than Gendry's chamber back in Winterfell – Arya and Merida stood on deck and watched as the ship left the quay. It was a strange feeling that filled her when the ship rocked on the waves, and it did not take long before Merida and Arya both were hanging over the railing, wrenching their stomach's dry. Judging by the look of Jarin and Gendry as they emerged from their cabins, they were not doing much better.
"How long did Snook say this journey would take?" Jarin asked, stroking Merida's back affectionately.
Arya sighed, clutching her stomach. "Two weeks."
"I need some wine," the blonde man replied with a sigh and returned to the cabin. Merida hurried quickly after him. Arya found the fresh air helping and she leaned on the railing, gazing out on the ocean. She had never seen anything like it; the sun's reflection in the blue, vivid ocean, and the smell of salt and fish.
"It's just two weeks," she told herself as her stomach started twitching again. "Fourteen days."
Gendry sniggered and placed his arms around her, kissing her neck consolingly.
They spent their days on deck, either watching the birds dance in the air or learning old songs from the crew. Arya especially liked a man called Twigg; he had a strange sense of humor, but yet made her laugh with every joke. His singing voice was deep and pure, and he sometimes let her help with his daily chores. The first few days, Merida and Jarin drank until they passed out, but as they grew accustomed to the rocking movements of the boat, they too joined Arya and Gendry on deck. Most of the time, they played cyvasse. Sometimes, Merida would impress them with her artistic skills and draw a picture almost identical to the object she had been looking at. Other times, Captain Snook would tell them stories from the sea about monsters and mermaids, but mostly Arya sat with her back against a pole and stared at the blue ocean that had finally quieted down.
On their eight day on the sea, Arya was standing on the top of the cabin with captain Snook when she caught sight of Jarin and Gendry in the front of the ship. They were in a deep conversation, and it looked like they were fighting. Arya slid down the steep staircase and tiptoed closer, careful not to be seen. She knew eavesdropping was for children, but she had always been curious, and probably always would.
"You should have told me before," Gendry said in an angry voice. "You've known all along – you should have said something."
Jarin pushed his blonde hair out of his eyes in a manner much similar to Gendry's. "Yes, I know, but I did not know how to. I've wanted to tell you since I saw you in Stannis' camp, but I couldn't find the courage to."
"I guess that explains why you saved us," Gendry sighed.
They sat in silence for a while. Arya leaned too far out from the barrel she was hiding behind and fell to the ground right in front of them.
"Arya!" Gendry jumped to his feet and helped her up. "Aren't you a bit old to eavsdrop?"
Arya felt her cheek flush and jerked out of his grip. "Only when I get caught," she said, meeting his eyes. Jarin forced a smile, but she could see that he was uncomfortable. She wished she had heard more, but knew that Gendry would eventually tell her what their conversation had been about.
"Let's go and eat," Gendry told Arya, seizing her elbow and pulling her gently along.
"As long as you tell me what all that was about," she whispered back.
