The meal was a simple affair by court standards but Gendry still couldn't believe his luck. Salted fish and fresh bread accompanied the hot soup. He sat with Ser Davos at the side of the Great Hall, his eyes trained on Arya. Today the Dornish Prince sat beside her, talking quietly with her.
"You ought to be more careful. You make it very obvious you know, that you like her." Davos muttered to Gendry, covering his mouth with his tankard to hide his words
Gendry ignored him and tore another chunk of bread and dipped it in his soup. "She needs to at least pretend to like your man up there until after the Queen of the North's Coronation." He continued to ignore him and took a long swing of his ale. "If you keep staring daggers at them, we'll be in the midst of another bloody war when I've just began to hope I'll die an old man in my bed."
Gendry grunted a response but didn't tear his eyes from Arya who has dressed in her normal leathers but with her shirt loosely tied and her hair hanging loose.She'd even washed it in some fancy oil the Queen of the North had sent her along with a message about lying her head on her pillow to sleep. A coded reference to make sure Arya knew that their laundry was being watched, Gendry's too. They would have to be even more careful now then before.
"When will you be going to Storm's End?" Davos asked, taking the cue to change the subject
"Soon. When all this is over."
They were both momentarily distracted when Arya began to laugh loudly at something the Dornish Prince has said.
"When will she, that is, are you going on your own?"
Gendry pushes himself up off the bench.
"Going for a walk." He explained
"But the meeting." Davos reminded him
"Is pointless. All this sitting round." Gendry complained
"I agree. Would much rather be able to go home and tend to my own affairs."
"Home?" It was an alien concept to Gendry. There had been the hope he could just about remember when his mother had been alive, then the back of Master Mott's workshop. When he returned to Kingslanding after he escaped the Red Woman, he had never considered the place he slept and worked home.
Home to him was wherever She was.
"Home to me is the steel and smoke. I'll see you back at the meeting. I'm going to look in at the forge."
He was pulling his black leather jerkin over his shoulders before he had even entered the forge, his cloth short soon followed and were placed carefully on the side so as not to dirty them. He nodded at the other smiths working who had paused their work to see who had entered their hot and smoky space by choice. He had gone to the forge several times before but they still seemed just as shocked at the appearance of a Lord in their forge. He waved all greetings aside and went to the rotting wooden shelves where a half forged staff was wrapped in cloth. He had had more time to work on it this time with less distraction and time to focus on crafting it with intricate detailing. He had started chipping away at wood when they had been Yoren's recruits, with a rusty nail he had found on the round and bits of twig. It had helped keep him sane. He had done it at night when the others were asleep, even Arry. He would wait until she had recited her list and fell into some sort of sleep and begin chipping away at the wood as if he was carving into a hilt. It was different to steel. You had one chance with the wood. No reforging it.
He sat in the corner with his knife and chisel and slowly worked on the grain, carving the intricate details he had had in his head since Arya had walked out of his tent wearing another girls face. The dragonglass he planned to sink into the steel blades was safely stowed under a loose floor board in Davos' room. If his room was being watched then it could be being searched and he didn't want it to go missing.
He tried to lose himself in the etching of the wolf but couldn't shake the sound of her laughter from his mind.
Gendry arrived late to the meeting, muttering an apology as he slipped back into his seat. King Bran smiled his knowing smile and gestures for Bronn to continue on his plan for each house to donate either coin or jewels to the Crown on a loan basis which will be repaid in either wheat and corn or paid back at a later date.
He managed to wait almost half an hourglass before he looked at her. She was sat nearer to Bran this time, facing him but still on the corner of the table. She voiced her opinion on the need to forge strong relationships with the lands across the Narrow Sea.
"Many of those lands were loyal to the Dragon Queen. We need to work towards establishing good relations with them before anyone else does."
"Anyone else? Who are you suggesting a Princess Arya?" Asked another jumped up Lord Gendry couldn't remember the name of. He only knew Bronn after he had come to see him to let him know that he could procure the new Lord a "lass or lad of his choosing".
Arya clenched her jaw at her new title which both Sansa and Brann forced her to endure, for the time being at least.
"The Unsullied will be arriving now if they haven't already. We need to keep their forces low should they reconsider their retribution Lord Rykker."
"We have just fought one battle, they won't want to fight another!"
"And which war was that Lord Rykker? The battle of Kingslanding? The Long Knight? The battle of the bastards?" Which of these battles were you part of? I do not recall seeing you fight the undead in Winterfell. I do not recall seeing you in the ruins of Kingslanding until you received a raven informing you of Cersei's demise and demanding you bend the knee to the Dragon Queen. And then you were two weeks late."
Gendry fought to hide his smirk behind his hand
"The Princess asked you a question. You dishonour her by not answering." Prince Manfrey challenged him.
You fool. She needs no one to protect her honour. Gendry thought as he looked over to the Dornish Prince who was glaring at Lord Rykker.
"Thank you, but I can manage by myself." Arya said softly, placing her hand briefly into Prince Manfrey's clenched fist. "On reflection, I do not believe Lord Rykker meant any offence. He merely forgot that though the battles on the field have finished for now, the world will not stop for Westeros to rebuild. Isn't that so, Lord Rykker ?"
Though she smiled, the ice that laced her words were clear."
Rykker nodded and muttered an apology.
"Prince Manfrey has already ordered 12 ships of supplies to be sent and they should dock in the Blackwater within this moon turn." She smiled sweetly at the Dornish Prince "of which we are very greatful. It is hoped that the six kingdoms will work closer together and still maintain cordial relationships with the North." She finished, leaning back in her chair.
Gendry gritted his teeth until his jaw began to ache. This is ridiculous.
The meeting lasted another three hourglasses and it was already dark outside by the time he stalked out of the chamber and strode purposefully to his room. He would change into his old clothes and try to blend in at the forge where he could work out his anger on some steel until the early hours and fall into a dreamless sleep, not caring that he was in bed alone.
He wasn't the first person in his room, however.
A familiar looking girl was perched on his small table where scraps of paper with poorly formed letters littered the surface.
"Go away Arya."
She grinned with the lips of the dead girl before walking over to the thick wooden door.
She pushed it shut and removed the face, her own gray eyes twinkling at him as she did so before turning and locking the door.
"We both know you don't mean it. I know you are pissed off with me with how things were in there. You know it has to be done."
Gendry ignored her and bent to pick up the fallen parchment she had knocked off.
"Come on Bull, you know it's just for show." She laughed
He kept his back turned and feigned looking at the parchment instead
"Unless you want it to be real? Perhaps you have your eyes on another? Would be quite happy to ship me off to Dorne to be married to a handsome Dornish Prince!" She baited him and within seconds he had thrown the parchment back in the floor and had her up against the wall.
Surprised but intrigued, she allowed him to pull her arms up above her head and pinned them roughly to the wall. She wouldn't admit it to him nor allow it to happen often but she quite liked him taking charge for a change.
"Why Lord Baratheon-" he slammed his lips on hers to stop her speaking. She couldn't help but push her body against him as he pinned her to the wall. She was desperate to feel him against her.
He held both her hands with one of his as he started to undo her laces.
She smiled as he took control for a change. They had grown into a habit of slow love making throughout the night, with Gendry treating her as a piece of glass that might break.
"Don't talk to me. I'm pissed off with you." He growled as his fingers started to work the nub in her forest.
"Why?" She asked breathlessly
"You know why." He grunted.
"Don't." She grinned although she knew perfectly well what had annoyed her bull.
He didn't reply but took his fingers from her and undid his own laces which dropped to the floor. With the same hand, he positioned himself at her entrance and leant forward to whisper into her ear.
"You can't keep doing this. You can't ignore me in front of everyone." He spoke softly.
She closed her eyes and tried to push herself down but his grip on her was firm.
"Why are you doing it?" His voice was calm and quiet.
"Would you just put it in!" She groaned, bucking her hips forward to try to take him but he moved backward.
"Why? Confused? Frustrated?" He asked quietly as he kissed her once in the side of her neck.
She growled a warning at him.
"Good. This is how you make me feel every day we are sat in the damned chamber or in that hall with you letting him touch you and make you laugh! It's quite clear that you would rather spend your days with him! Will you be spending nights with him too?" He sneered.
She could feel his breathe on her face and opened her eyes. The calm sea of his eyes had turned stormy and she tilted her head to study him further.
He sighed when she didn't reply and released his hold of her and set her on her feet, taking two steps back and looking down at the floor. It will always be like this. She won't think before she acts. Not much has changed since we met. I shouldn't still find that endearing, not when it's me that bears the brunt of it.
"I didn't realise, I thought you understood. I didn't think you'd mind."
"Mind?!" Mind? She didn't think I'd mind her doing it?
Arya pulled her clothes into position
"Well you seemed to be enjoying yourself, we've dirtied your sheets enough." She attempted to sound confident and not bothered by the look of fury that had risen to his face.
He turned away from her and walked to the window to calm himself.
It was darker in his chambers than hers, being smaller but still stupidly big for one person, or two as it had been occupied the past few nights.
"I didn't say I didn't...don't enjoy...what we do." The angry Lord of Storm's End had shrunk back into the shy bull of his youth. Arya was briefly reminded of the time in the Peach.
He flopped down onto the bed with a sigh, sitting forward and resting his head in his hands.
"Good, because I would have called you a liar. You were always a terrible liar." She made sure the door was locked before going over to the small table where she filled two goblets with wine before walking over to Gendry, passing him a goblet then sitting down before him.
"I remember the first time I drank wine. I was hiding from the Septa and Theon's door was open so I snuck in. His sheets were in a ball at the bottom of the bed and there were two goblets still half full on the table. So I drank them. At first I hated the taste but the more I drank the sweeter it tasted so I drank them both. I filled them with the jug on the side and drank again. I felt funny and woozy so lay on the rug on the floor. I don't know how long I was there for but I do remember starting to feel sick and knew I would be in trouble if I was found so I just lay there until suddenly I was sick everywhere. I felt better so went next door to Robb's room and lay on his bed. I woke to find him shaking me and calling Theon to get Father. I had been sick in his bed. Father had come running up with Maester Lewin, I don't know where Mother was. I didn't know then that it was the smell that gave it away. He picked me up and took me to his room, he stayed with me all day making me sip warm water. He wasn't cross. Not with me anyway. He told me that one night, his brother Brandon had stolen a flagon of wine from the kitchens and brought it to their room. Uncle Benjen was too little but Father , Brandon and Lyanna all drank it and were spectacularly sick. He said it looked like a battlefield with slumped bodies and red everywhere." Arya drank deeply before continuing.
"He told me that we were all curious about things and we all made mistakes but to never try something on my own."
"Maybe you should listen to him. About doing things on your own." Gendry drained his goblet and set it carefully on the floor.
"The lone wolf dies but the pack survives."
Gendry looked at her and tilted his head, she desperately wanted to take his face in her hands and kiss him, to run her hands through the stubbley hair on his head.
"Did he say that as well?"
Arya nodded slowly, her finger brushing over the pattern on the goblet.
"You need to trust me." She told him.
"You owe me nothing. You are a Princess and he is a Prince. Your family needs allies. I get that."
"It's just for show, that's all. You know me, I'm not the marrying kind!" She reed to jest with him by he was refusing to bite.
"You're going to leave again aren't you? And for longer than a few trade journeys?"
"Yes. You know I am." She answered honestly.
"Are you planning on coming back?" He asked
"Perhaps."
"Do you want me to wait?" He asked, brow furrowed, fingers picking at at the blanket underneath him.
"No. I want you to be happy and free. To come back to hear how the Lord of Storm's End is loved by his people, his Lady wife and his many children. You deserve the family you've always wanted."
He nodded slowly. "Will you come and see me, if you come back?"
She smiled softly "If I come back. Anyway, who else will teach your flock of bull-headed Baratheon children how to yield a sword ?" She tried to keep her voice light, tried to stop picturing a small brown haired child with ocean blue eyes or a tall black haired child with eyes as grey as a wolf.
"Sideface." He nodded and a hint of a smile could be seen on his face as he remembered
She was touched that he had listened.
The day she saw him swinging a sword in Harrenhall was the day she looked at him through the eyes of a woman for the first time. Three moons after her first moon blood, she had been sat watching him in the forge at Harrenhall, crunching an apple Hot Pie had smuggled her from the kitchen.
The sword sizzled in the water as he dunked it, he swished it from side to side.
"You should stand sideface."
"Sideface?" He's asked, confused.
"Sideways." She explained, hoping that the flush of her cheeks was covered by the dirt on her face.
"Why?"
He looked behind him "Am I fighting someone?"
"You're practicing for a fight." She popped a small chunk of apple into her mouth "You should practice right." She gave a half shrug of her shoulders then looked away. He looked strong and yet she wasn't scared. Instead, she wondered what it would be like to be held in his arms, to fall asleep in them. Perhaps then she might sleep more than a few stolen hours s night. Maybe then she would feel safe...
She shook her head to rid of herself of the memory and placed her almost empty goblet on floor.
"So do I stay here or go back to my own chamber, Gendry?"
"You said half-full."He walked to the door to check the bolt was securely drawn across.
Arya's nose scrunched at a loss for what he meant.
"And you've checked that the bolt is pulled across." She replied knowingly.
"Stay but we don't- you know."
"What would be the point in that?"
"Because you can't keep me at arms length anymore. You have this plan for me in your head, a plan without you in it and you expect me to just go along with it?"
Arya sighed.
"Why does it matter?"
"Because you are choosing for me, I'm a Lord now, in charge of my own people." He shook his head and tried to ignore the anger building in his belly again and added in an undertone "Gods' help them."
"And they need a strong Lord who makes an advantageous marriage and has enough heirs! Don't you see? This isn't my choice, this is the only choice. For me. For you. For both of us." She interrupted. Why couldn't he see that she was freeing him? Letting him have as much of Arya Stark that was left. Giving him everything she could and setting him free to be with someone who could be a Lady, his Lady and give him heirs.
They sat in a smouldering silence.
"Are you going away to find him? Jaqen?" Gendry asked quietly, biting at his fingers.
Arya looked up, forehead creased.
"What? No. Why would you think that?"
"You said you needed him. Before."
"That was a long time ago. How do you even remember that? Do you think I'm going because I need to find someone or something?" She asked him
"And it's not here." She couldn't tell if he was asking her a question or answering himself. The shame and disappointment in his voice would stay with her for months. She would play back these last days and nights as she lay in her cabin as the sea rocked her to sleep.
"I don't know what it is or where it is but I know I want to find it." I have to find it. She thought to herself
He studied her. There was a need in her face he hadn't seen before.
He swallowed and nodded. "Ok."
"Ok?"
"Ok. You do what you have to do."
Thanks for reading :)
Feel free to comment ;)
I haven't forgotten there's a few plot strands that haven't been mentioned such as Gendry's parentage but wanted to really set his psyche up in the last few chapters. Hope you've liked it.