On the outside
*15 years later*
Thunder and lightning crackled behind thick dark clouds as fat droplets rained down upon The stone platforms of Kings Landing. For once it was cool in the city, the streets cleared of its normal hustle and bustle as people rushed to take cover from the storm. It rarely rained in the south and never for this long. The downpour was consistent as it started late yesterday evening continuing well into the afterhours the next day.
A young teen couldn't help but to wonder if maybe there was a reason for such a sudden change in the weather. He stood tall for his age, with his back pressed up against the harsh bark of one of the largest trees in king's landing. Attentive azura eyes peered through heavy strands of wavy ink strands that now cung to his chin and neck. He was soaked to the bone.
He was use to kings landing being dreadfully hot and crowded. With a permanent Foul smell that seemed to rise from the earth itself. He decided he liked the rain very much. The way it smelled and how cool it was it to touch. He liked that it also seemed to clean the foul earth and diminish the less than savory townspeople to almost none!
And when he went hunting, as he was right then, it distracted prey. Making for an easy kill, as the animal also looked for dry shelter.
The young man, who, was now completely soaked by the downpour, was crouched as low as he could get to the grounds. His body poised perfectly still as he watched a small male deer drink from a puddle. The animal though fairly large in comparison to him, was still quite young, as its antlers were still rather fresh by the looks. Just barely pushing through the two lumps on its head.
The young man took a deep breath clenching at the handle of a small dagger. From the blade alone one could tell it was finely crafted weapon. Though rather simple, the blade was strong and extremely sharp. The handle was smooth and shiny, with small grooves, and a thin piece of leather wrapped around it that kept it firmly in place in the palm of his hand. Its weight was evenly distributed throughout the entirety of the piece. Making it an excellent throwing knife as well.
He heard a small twig snap. Snapping his eyes back up he took a breath,With A Quick and silent flick of his wrist he heard the heavy wet thud of the animals body colliding with the earth.
The boy sighed triumphantly making his way over to his kill. Yanking the knife from where it embedded itself in the beasts neck. The blade was caught right Under the animals chin, severing its juggler, and almost taking off its Head completely. The boy winced Slightly, feeling a slight bit of guilt as he began gutting the animal. Once he was done he strung the carcass up to bleed. He picked up his knife wiping it in the grass, Taking note of how messy his hands were he frowned thoughtfully. Ma wouldn't really like it if he showed up at the shop covered in blood. So he walked for a little until he found a small stream to "freshen up" in.
"Toboho will be glad with this mornings hunt." The boy muttered to himself pleased with the idea of being able to ease some of his guardians troubles.
He hadn't known anything other than the kindly old man and his wife his entire life. He had been taken in by the smith and his wife when he was still a babe and that was it. They had told him he was a gift to them from the gods for all their failed endeavors and that he was truly a special child.
Now Gendry was young and impressionable, yes. But they'd live a less than privileged lifestyle and he had always been a clever child, albeit very quiet. making him much less naive than most kids his age. So he was smart enough to know that most children were told those things, That they were special or different by their doting parents just trying to give them something to believe in. It's just how it was. Especially for the poorer families he knew, but his way of thinking changed drastically one night just a moon after his 7th birthday.
FLASHBACK
A young gendry was pacing back and forth just around the corner from his home. He was nervous as he thought of a way to sneak in after being out all day avoiding his daily chores. He had left before the sun had even began to rise and now it was setting behind the tree tops. He knew he was in for a scolding for sure but the day had been great, he could surely make up for any missed chores tomorrow, right?
Deciding not to face the impending doom that awaited him if he entered through the front of the forge. The 7 year old child stealthy climbed the unsturdy scaffolding along the back of the old building and made a swift getaway through his bedroom window. Shirking off his boots he lit a small fire in the tiny fire pit at the end of his small cott And poked at it for a while lost in his memories of earlier that day.
He entertained the thought of just going to bed to avoid getting into trouble buh the growling in his empty tummy had convinced him otherwise. Slowly he opened the lightweight wooden door leading down a dark and narrow stony corridor till he reached a door that was warm to the touch. It was made of stone and much heavier. The back doorway that led directly to the forge.
As he approached he heard soft whispering on the other side as well as some muffled grunts and a hard thump. Odd. The forge had closed its doors for business at sun set, it was now well into the night. About the time old man Mott would count out the days earnings, and although the Mrs was always present for such things she was hardly ever quiet and far from soft spoken or a whisperer.
Perhaps they were angrily deciding his punishment. Gendry decided, but the suspense was too much, he'd much rather know what they had in store for him then to be caught by surprise.
With little to no effort he pushed the door open and stepped into the muggy room. This triggered a string of peculiar events both sealing his fate and setting everything into motion.
As he walked into the room he noticed that Toboho was sprawled across the floor, specks of blood covered the ground, his wife crouched on the floor kneeling over him protectively. Her face was streaked with tears. Looming over them was a man dressed in all black. His face almost completely covered except for his eyes and sandy blonde hair. He held a large curved blade in one hand and a small wooden chest decorated prettily with colorful paint in the other.
He recognized the small wooden chest instantly. It sat above the Misses side of the bed on a mantel in Mr Motts bedroom normally, and though he'd never known what was inside it he'd never asked.
SHINK!
The man raised his blade into the air over his head.
"Valar morghulis"
THWACK!
The door handle slipped from his small clammy hand and swung into the wall, his young mind racing as he began to panic, fearing for his guardian.
Suddenly all eyes turned in his direction and he froze. A chill slithered down his spine when the man's lifeless eyes met his own. Then just like that, almost faster than his mind could process the stranger swung his blade down over the Motts heads, Misses Mott screamed.
*CRACK!*
*BANG!*
The stone door that sealed the forges entrance hurled at the assassin at breakneck speed. He didn't even have a chance.
Mr mott gasped wetly gazing up at the small boy by the door with one good eye.
Everything went completely still.
"Boy!? Wha..? What have you done!?"
The old man gasped again, slowly rising to his feet. Reaching over he snatched up both of the young boys small hands. Small pieces of debris fell from his now open right palm as his guardian check over his otherwise unblemished little hands.
"IT WAS AN ACCIDENT!"
a young Gendry suddenly cried out. Blue eyes pooling with big fat tears as he glanced over at the crumbled rock bits and oozing blood at the far end of the room. The stranger didn't get up.
"The door just popped off! It must have already been broken!" He cried. "Im so sorry!"
He sobbed into Mr Motts tunic. He may have been young but by the looks on his guardians faces he knew he had done something VERY BAD.
"Lad look at me." Mr Mott said after a long pause.
"You didn't do anything a man isn't supposed to do to protect the things he cares for. I aint no soft hearted fool neither! But lad, I think your different. Special, I reckon. You were born with a gift. Not many grown men coulda done what you just did so effortlessly. You saved us Gen."
The old man said with his normal crooked smile.
"So why don't you go off to bed, and me and the Misses will take care of this mess, its nun a child should have ta' see"
"Is he...is he dead old man?" Little Gendry asked brokenly.
Mott sighed softly before settling a heavy palm on the boys small shoulder.
"Sometimes, a man has to shed blood to stop the bloodshed, Gendry. It's inevitable. Just like this unlucky fellows fate was inevitable. T'was just his time." "Now off you go, before the misses remembers that little vanishing act you pulled this morning."
Mr mott always knew how to make him smile but as he glanced back at the bloody mess he'd created and then back to his own hand a chill ran up the boys spine.
Had he really just...killed a man with his own hands! What had happened? He just remembered being afraid and then the door felt like paper right then. Did he really do that? Could he do it again? Why was that stranger trying to hurt the Motts? And what was inside that box?
He didn't have any answers right then. He didn't know it would be years later before he got any at all.
*****************FLASHBACK ENDS**************
After that incident the old man began to take him on hunting trips and fishing, just to watch at first.
A year after that he began to teach him the art of hunting, in which gendry had adamantly refused claiming he didn't want to make another mistake or kill anything at all.
The young boy was terrified of himself. So Tonoho looked for ways for Gendry to be comfortable with the idea of the hunt without using his brute force,
So he started bringing the boy into the shop. Showing him all the various weapons he had made, to his surprise the lad was very interested in how such fine weaponry was created. Thus his apprenticeship as a black smith began.
To say the old man was surprised when he had finally allowed the lad to craft his own blade was an understatement. Because of his sheer strength and agility his first blade was a simple throwing knife. The quality was impressive with its simple sleek design and perfect weight and deadly sharpness.
Toboho decided to give the boy another shot at hunting. That night they caught 3 bucks 2 rabbits and some quail. It seemed the child was more comfortable using his own forged weapons, he claimed they were better made to channel his strength making them more effective.
The old armour could honestly say the little lad amazed him at times. He had a special talent for hunting. It was almost like he was born with the talent to execute. He was a born natural at strategic planning and when he went for his kill He never missed his mark. Whether he was using a bow, staff or his trusty dagger. The way he stalked and captured his prey looked graceful, yet sadistic. Like the two were playing a deadly game that he always one.
Soon there was no need for Toboho to join the lad as he took to hunting alone in the early mornings, bringing back more than their little family could eat. So the rest they sold making a pretty penny from the great game provided to the mechants.
Gendry sighed softly wringing out his now wet tunic. Raking a large hand through thick black curls the young man pondered his next move. The rain had stopped a little while ago helping to rinse the bloody dear as well. He supposed he should head back before the streets start to crowd. He could already feel the heat starting to lick at his skin now that the sky was clearing up. The young man frowned, it was so hot already. Forgoing his tunic the lad instead draped the clothing over his shoulder and then proceeded to shoulder the carcass of the large buck as he made his way back to the city.
As he arrived back amongst the streets of steel he could see merchants already setting up their shops. Many waving at him as he passed. He was well known by the villagers since in kings landing not only did he grow up there but they often paid mott for his help. When word got out about his abnormal strength the village would line up with a lust of things they needed help with. Whether it was to fix a gutter or be an extra hand on a farm. He was well enough known.
Sharp squeals and giggles brought him out of his musings and he looked up and frowned.
The one thing he'd tried to avoid if he could, he had just unknowingly walked right into. Village girls. He groaned internally and gave them a slight nod while passing by. They batted their lashes prettily and waved at him. Since Gendry had turned 13 he noticed women in general had started to act weird around him. They would blush and start giggling a lot or always have their hands on him. The young man was quite unnerved by this. Even would chuckle anytime she gazed upon him for too long, claiming he was a trophy in this village and that she couldn't wait to have a grandchild. He would blush every time.
When he finally arrived in front of the shop he unlocked the heavy wooden door shifted the animals carcass and trudge inside dropping the animal off in the kitchens for Mrs. Mott to tend to for dinner tonight he made his way to his room. He began filling the small brass tub in the middle of his room with water, before giving himself a quick scrub, to remove any excess dear blood and dirt. When he was done he grabbed a worn out looking pelt and began to dry himself. He could hear commotion coming from downstairs as the Mrs rushed around preparing dinner. Mr Mott was not home yet. Earlier that day Ma had informed him that the hand of the king had requested his presence in the capital. She hoped he be back before nightfall.
As he laid on his straw mattress and began to drift in and out of sleep he could vaguely hear the sound of thunder rolling through the darkening sky once again. His last thought was of how odd the storm was and yet how calming of an effect it had on him. He really did enjoy thunderstorms. Before his eyes closed for good Gendry thought he heard the sound of wolves howling in the distance as the wind picked up outside his window. A passing thought took over his groggy mind as he slipped into darkness.
There was a strong icy smell on the wind. Things were about change he could feel it. Dread settled in his chest.
