Arya jumps down from the wagon and after unhooking the pale horse, leads her into the stables. "Good, girl. You rest now. You there, boy! Take good care of her; she rescued me." Arya instructed the young stable boy as she left to find her sister. She hadn't gone far when she realized he was there. "Stupid bull," she thought to herself. He looked as if he wanted to pull her into his embrace, but he stopped just short. "So, you're alive, then?" Gendry asked not quite meeting her eyes. She knew he was still hurt from her rejection. "I guess so," she answered as she leaned against a wooden post. "You're still here. I thought you would have gone South to Storm's End, Lord Baratheon." He looked as if her words just pierced his heart. "You know, I never asked for the title. All I ever wanted was to be a Smith. Then I get sold off like trash and I meet you, and we become friends; protecting each other, ya know. As soon as I found out you were a lady, sorry, high born, I began to feel like I was never going to be good enough to be your friend. Then I found a purpose with the Brotherhood and we were going to go our separate ways soon. You asked me not to leave; to be your family. I should have just said yes, but I knew, deep down, I was just a bastard from Flea Bottom." Arya started to interrupt but Gendry put his hand up to stop her. "As soon as the Red Woman took me, I wanted to kick my own ass for not going with you. Then she was taking my blood and I thought I was going to die. I probably would have if Ser Davos didn't save me. I just knew I needed to find you. But then I heard rumors that you had been killed and my heart broke. My dearest friend in the whole world, gone forever." At this, he met her eyes and she could see them glistening with tears. "And then years pass and I finally make it to your home in Winterfell, and the ghost of you appears in the smithy; still trying to protect me after all these years, and my heart stopped. But, you weren't a ghost, you were real and not a kid named Arry anymore, but a woman. A fierce, intimidating as Hell, woman," he walked up to her and grabbed her waist to pull her closer. Arya released a shuddering breath. "Whom I am in love with even if she doesn't feel the same way." Gendry lifted his right hand to caress her face and Arya closed her eyes at his touch. "Gendry, I could never be a proper lady." At this, Gendry placed a soft, chaste kiss on Arya's lips. "I don't want you to be. That's not you. I want my warrior, my friend, my love. Come with me to Storm's End. I cannot and will not do any of this without you. There is no other woman out there for me. Please, Arya." Arya kissed Gendry and let him know she would give him an answer soon. As she walked away, she could feel his eyes burning into her skin.
She made her way to Sansa's solar and when she got to the door she heard a man's voice. Listening in she realized that it was Tyrion's voice. "Lady Stark, she knows it was you that told me. I thought she was going to kill me as well, but instead she burned Lord Varys alive after having me tell him it was I that betrayed him to her. I told him to stay in her good graces. She had told him before if he betrayed her, what would happen." What did Sansa tell Tyrion that caused the Spiders demise? Arya knew as soon as she questioned it, that her sister broke their promise not to tell another living soul about Jon's true parentage! Arya was getting ready to kick open the door when she heard Sansa speak finally. "Lord Tyrion, I apologize for putting you in that position. If I had known the implications of my actions," Arya heard Sansa let out a small whimper before the Imp spoke. "I am glad you told me, Lady Stark. I feel we have a certain trust in one another. I shall miss seeing your face once I go to The Wall." That's when Arya decided to knock. She heard her sister inquire who it was. "It's me, Arya. May I enter?" "Of course, enter." Sansa greeted her sister with a warm embrace and Arya caught the smiling eyes of Tyrion Lannister watching them. "Lord Tyrion. What are you doing in my sister's solar, all alone?" Tyrion cleared his throat and Sansa blushed crimson as Arya let loose a sly smile. "Just catching up with my former wife, Lady Arya. Very innocent. Shall I come back later, my lady?" Sansa nodded to Tyrion, "Yes, please. I must speak with my sister about some pressing news. If you wish, you may make yourself at home in the library, and I shall join you shortly." Tyrion nodded his head in agreement and closed the door behind him
"Arya, look at your head! You should really have the maester take a look at you. I'm so relieved you are home safe and sound." Sansa stared at her sister in amazement. "Sansa, you broke the promise, didn't you?" Arya watched her sister look away in shame. "I really thought I was helping by telling Lord Tyrion, Arya. Not my best moment. I thought if people found out that Jon was the true heir to the Iron Throne, Daenerys would have no choice but to stand aside. I was wrong, dead wrong." "Sansa, where is he? Where is Jon?" Arya asked wwith her brows knitted together in worry. Sansa bit her lip and met her sister's eyes. "He is here for a few more days, but then he is leaving for Castle Black, 'to think clearer', he says. Personally, I think he just cannot stand the sight of me after breaking his trust, and I don't blame him." If Sansa was looking for pity from her younger sister, she was disappointed. "Probably." Sansa looked shocked and then Arya cracked a smile at her and they laughed. "Listen, Sansa. Jon could never hold a grudge, you know that. He thinks clearer up there. You really fucked up though, but at least you know you did. Now, I came to you because I need some counsel. You know Gend...I mean Lord Gendry right?" Sansa smiled, "I knew it! I kept wondering why he was still here spending every hour of the day in our smithy and not heading to his land! He's in love with you!" Sansa looked to her sister for confirmation and got it with a blushing Arya. "Is that a blush on your cheeks, sister? Did he ask for your hand? What did you say?" Arya rolled her eyes at her sister and started, "Breathe! Yes, he is in love with me, Gods know why, yes he asked me to be with him at Storm's End and I told him that I am not and will never be a lady. But, I don't want to lose him either." Sansa looked at her like she was a wounded dog, "Arya, you're right. You'll never be a proper lady, but I have a sneaking suspicion that Lord Gendry will take you and love you no matter what. The question is, are you in love with him?" Arya looked wistfully out the window. She felt her sister place her hand on her shoulder and she leaned her head against it. "I love him. I truly love him with all that I am." Sansa smiled, "Then go to him."