A Portentous Reunion? Chapter 7 - The Godswood

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Note:

More SanSan Shipping. I can't seem to stop the flow of scenarios.

Sunday night was an aberration. I will not be influenced by D&D beyond the passionate kiss shown in the Episode 4 promo. I will continue to write these relationships as I would imagine it.

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Previously, in Arya's featherbed:

Arya stretched herself out to cover his body, her head lying on his chest, as she stroked his chest hair, "I was mainly annoyed with you during that time, but once I saw you shirtless at Harrenhal, I began to imagine what it would be like to kiss and touch you. I would never have admitted it, but it is true."

He kissed the top of her head, "We are lucky to have found each other. We must take pains not to die and lose one another again."

She looked into his eyes and simply replied, "Aye."

Gendry shifted, fondling her round arse, and patted the mattress with his other hand, "I like this bed," he smiled, "I never want to leave it!"

Arya kissed his cheek and adjusted her position to cover his stiffening cock with her damp center. "We do not have to leave," she purred, and began to demonstrate once again her affection for the young smith, avoiding for the moment, the necessary meeting with her siblings.

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Starks Family Meeting

When Arya and Gendry emerged from their tryst, the siblings gathered in Lady Sansa's solar, as the Lord's solar had been commandeered by the dragon queen. Jon had invited Daenerys to the meeting, and the sisters frowned. They had several reasons for not liking the dragon queen, but Jon told them they must consider her as part of the family now for decision-making, and that she was a necessary participant in the proceedings. The solar was quite crowded with the four siblings plus Daenerys and Gendry. There were not enough chairs, and Arya japed that she would sit on Gendry's lap, but Jon scowled and motioned for Gendry to help him pull out a chest for them to sit on. The lovers were sitting too close together for Jon's eyes, but he said nothing.

Jon uncomfortably observed that the pair had their fingers entwined, were freshly bathed and dressed in clean clothes, their cheeks ruddy and their lips puffy, glowing from their recent lovemaking. Since everyone's eyes seemed to be on them as they settled on the chest, Arya decided that it was a good time to start. "I would have all of you know," she began, "that Gendry and I are a couple, and hope to join our lives. He claimed me when I had but two and ten namedays, while we were traveling on the Kingsroad, both of us fleeing the Lannisters, following our lord father's murder."

She paused as some of this news was not known to all and their eyes went wide and they shifted in their seats. Arya continued, "We suffered through many dangers and adventures together and grew closer all the time. Gendry decided to leave me because he believed that he must improve his station in order to be worthy of me, a concept that angered me greatly, but that was a moot point because the Red Woman stole him and we parted anyway. It was ironic that at that time he learned that he was the King's bastard. Now we are pleased to be reunited and do not want to part, ever."

Arya paused again to allow this to sink in and because now her announcement was going to become awkward. "Jon is firm in the belief that it is urgent that we wed soon, especially because I have plans to leave Winterfell immediately. The urgency is due to the fact that I may be carrying Gendry's babe."

Daenerys gasped, Gendry blushed, Sansa smiled, and Jon frowned, "Aye, your behavior indicates that you are trying to insure that is true!"

Now both Arya and Gendry blushed and gripped their hands tighter.

Daenerys filled the awkward silence that followed, "Well, Arya has been hailed as our savior, and I believe that we owe her any agreement to her desires. You mentioned the fact that he is not highborn. Gendry has proven to have been most important to our victory, both with his skill as a blacksmith and his courage defending the castle. Seeing as he is the only living male heir to House Baratheon, I would be pleased to legitimize him as the Lord of Storm's End, providing he give fealty to me and swear that he will never challenge Targaryen rule, as his father had."

Gendry nodded his head and got down on one knee, "Thank you, your grace, you will never have cause to question my loyalty. In truth, I never had any desire to be a knight or even a lord, I just wanted the opportunity to remain with Arya." He rose and squeezed Arya's hand, and she smiled and kissed his cheek.

"Very well," the queen replied, "I will have the papers drawn up."

Now Jon interjected, "I suggest that later this afternoon Arya and Gendry be wed in a small private ceremony in the Godswood." The pair appeared a bit uneasy at how rapidly things were moving, but Jon gnashed his teeth, glowered at the now self-conscious couple, and continued, "I will not have my little sister traipsing around anywhere with a swollen belly and unwed!"

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An Impromptu Wedding

Later that day, the family reconvened in the Godswood for the spontaneous wedding. It was to be conducted under a massive weirwood tree that dominated a clearing and a pond. It was their lord father's favorite place in the castle, and all the siblings were sentimental about it. There was a need for haste in all their activities, because the armies were to move out shortly.

Arya and Gendry fidgeted around awkwardly, occasionally making eye contact and smiling shyly at each other. They had been holding hands since the family meeting.

A Stark cloak meant for a woman was easily found in Sansa's closet. Surprisingly, a Baratheon cloak was also found in the castle. During the War of the Five Kings, after Lady Brienne of Tarth executed Stannis, she took his kingly cloak, but had no idea what to do with it as he had no family. Her squire Podrick Payne had packed it among their things and it was still in Brienne's chest. The cloak was brought out, cleaned and brushed. Queen Daenerys frowned at the sight of the crowned stag, but Sansa told her that she would have her handmaidens pull the golden threads of the crown out following the ceremony. Arya insisted on wearing her leathers, moodily whining, "If we must wed in haste, I will not take the time to change into a woman's attire."

The Northern wedding vows were to be exchanged in the Godswood, and Bran took charge. He ordered the couple to kneel in front of the heart tree and intoned dramatically, "Who comes before the Old Gods this day?"

"Arya, of House Stark, comes here to be wed. A woman grown, true-born and noble. She comes to beg the blessing of the Gods."

"Who comes to claim her?"

"Gendry, of House Baratheon. Do you take me, Arya of House Stark?"

"I take this man," Arya replied emotionally.

Jon removed her Stark cloak, and a smirking Sandor placed the folded Baratheon cloak into Gendry's trembling hands. The smith shook it out and draped it over her shoulders. Arya gulped when Gendry accidentally brushed her cheek as he fastened the ties around her neck.

The bride stood up and the newlyweds kissed, taking more time to do so that Jon was comfortable with, and turned to the witnesses, raising their entwined hands into the air. With whoops and hollers, hugs were exchanged all around.

Daenerys announced, "Let us all withdraw to the Great Hall now, for we have much to celebrate!"

Arya immediately countered, "Forgive us if Gendry and I do not join you. We have much to do as we are preparing to leaving Winterfell very soon. Besides, we prefer to celebrate our wedding in, er, private." Jon rolled his eyes, Sansa giggled, the newlyweds blushed, and Daenerys smirked knowingly.

Daenerys could not help but inquire, "Where are you off to?"

With a dark expression, Arya retorted, "I have unfinished business in King's Landing."

Noting how concerned the Stark siblings looked, and recalling rumors she had heard, the queen replied with shock in her voice, "You mean to kill Queen Cersei! Do you really think you can do that?!"

Her eyes flashed as she spit out, "I have been prepared my whole life to gather the skills I need to do so. I am a trained assassin. Anyone who saw me fight against the Army of the Undead would not question my talent for killing!"

Daenerys gasped, and Bran added, "It was her extraordinary stealth that saved our lives. No ordinary fighter was capable of sneaking up on the Night King nor possessed the means to kill him."

"Aye, and I will do the same to Cersei, if I can," Arya said forcefully.

Now the dragon queen looked at Gendry with concern, "And you will accompany Lady Arya on her quest?"

"Aye," Gendry sighed, kissing Arya's entwined hand, "I will not be parted from her again. Life means nothing to me without her."

"Well, I wish you both good fortune," Daenerys replied, "You will certainly need it. I needn't advise you to be safe, as I know that is not possible. Just try to stay alive for there are several who love you and desire that no harm to you."

Gendry and Arya both nodded in acknowledgement, and beat a hasty retreat before any tears could fall. They had much to do.

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Knighting the Hound

Several days after the wedding, and after Arya and Gendry had left, the rest of the family reconvened in the Godswood under the same weirwood tree. The Hound was twitching uncomfortably as he waited for the knighting ceremony to begin and he appeared self-conscious for being the center of attention. Sansa presented the Stark cloak that she and her handmaidens had prepared, grey with a black direwolf embroidered in the center. Bran was by Jon's side as he ordered the huge man to bend over, and then Jon placed the cloak over his wide back and told him to fasten it at his throat.

Jon said, "Lady Sansa, stand next to me. Sandor, kneel before us." The Hound knelt and lowered his head.

The Lord of Winterfell stiffly recited, "Sandor, do you swear before the eyes of gods and men to defend those who cannot defend themselves, to protect all women and children, to obey your captain, to protect your companions, and your liege family, to fight bravely when needed, and do such other tasks that are laid upon you, however hard or humble or dangerous they may be?"

Reminding himself that he was only suffering through this shite for his little bird, he answered, "I do, milord."

Lord Jon stepped forward and rested his broadsword on Sandor's shoulder. He moved the sword from his right shoulder to his left and said to him, "Arise, Ser Sandor, knight of Winterfell. He added, "Ser Sandor, I appoint you sworn shield to the Stark family of Winterfell, to protect their lives with your own. Rise and bow to your Lord and Lady."

Sandor stood up, bowed to Bran first, and when he was upright again, he gazed into Sansa's eyes with pride. Sansa admired how noble he now appeared. Lady Stark was a tall woman, but she still had to stand on her tip-toes to kiss Sandor's cheek. She kissed the left first, murmuring, "my shield," and then kissed the right, now murmuring, "my protector."

Jon observed that Clegane had turned beet red and his hands were clenching into fists and then opening with much nervousness. The dragon lord was uncomfortable and he wondered, does my sweet sister have any idea what she is doing to him? He caught Sansa's eye, and she smiled and winked at him. Now Jon was concerned, Sansa is discomfiting the Hound on purpose! She is playing with him for her own amusement! Jon was not sure if making Clegane her sworn shield was a good idea.

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Note: I am still distressed at how D&D have torn our OTP apart. If they are not reunited onscreen by the end of the show, I will be sad, but will focus solely on fan fiction. The show will be dead to me following Episode Three and the promo for Episode Four where they seemed to indicate a passionate reunion. The Gendrya 'fix-it' ficlets have helped my regain some hope. I thank all you authors who wrote 'fix-its'.

All I know is that our Gendry would NEVER let Arya disappear from his life again! He would argue and plead and accommodate and do anything to be with her. And I believe that our Arya would want him with her, regardless of what she does.