The days ran into each other, as the three travellers walked their way always further north. Arya was eating very little and it eventually caught up to her. The starvation caused her to become weak and finally her body had enough. Hot Pie was grumbling constantly about having to carry the bag of food. Gendry stopped walking, waiting for the fat boy to catch up. Then without a word, he took the bag away and slung it over his shoulder. By the time they started walking again, Arya was further ahead of them, as she didn't even notice they'd stopped. They saw her stumble and then fall down on her hands and knees. When she didn't get up right away, both guys looked at each other, then rushed over to her side.
"Ary are you okay?" Gendry asked.
Her voice was scared, "I… I can't see."
"What?" Hot Pie and Gendry said in unison.
"I was feeling dizzy earlier, that's when I tripped and fell…. Are my eyes open?" She looked up at them.
"Yes." Hot Pie answered.
Gendry was concerned, he helped her sit down and crouched beside her. "Drink some water."
She did as he said. "I'm still blind, what's happening to me?"
They shrugged, which of course Arya couldn't see. When they didn't answer, she put out her hand and found Gendry's shoulder. Using him she stood back up, but her body would have none of that. She fainted and only Gendry's quick reaction, saved her from falling face first to the ground. Alarmed, he picked her up in his arms.
"We need to find shelter; trees, a cave, something." He began walking again.
She regained consciousness a moment and thought it was one of her brothers carrying her. Then she passed out again. As they walked, Gendry was worried about how light she felt in his arms. "She's just a bag of bones," he commented to Hot Pie.
Feeling guilty now for always asking for more than his share of food, Hot Pie confessed. "She's been giving me half of her share of food."
Gendry stopped walking and turned slowly around, blocking Hot Pie's path. He was furious. "Ary's been doing what?" He said with a dangerous undertone.
Hot Pie couldn't stay looking into the older boy's angry eyes. "She's not been eating much, she said she wasn't hungry and gave most of it to me."
"You're lucky I've got Ary in my arms, or I would've punched some sense into you." Gendry barked at him. "You're going to give up today's share of your food, you selfish idiot."
Hot Pie hung his head in shame. He knew of the three of them, starvation wasn't an issue for him. He'd been greedy and now the one who'd helped them escape, was on death's door. "I'm s…sorry."
"Just shut up." Gendry turned around again and marched off. He scanned the horizon, looking for shelter. They would have to wait a while for Arya to regain her strength. He needed to make a fire, give her food slowly and get her to drink water. He kicked himself for not noticing that she hadn't been eating.
Eventually Arya awakens, her eyesight is blurry, but she realizes that it is Gendry carrying her. She begins to struggle, "put me down!"
"Relax, if you keep doing that I'll end up dropping you."
"I'm no ones burden! I can walk on my own," she protested.
He stopped and bent his head to look down at her. "You haven't been eating. You're body is telling you that if you continue to be stupid and feed the fat boy, it's not going to work for you."
She tried to explain, "you're both bigger than I am. I felt bad taking the same amount of food."
"See I told you," Hot Pie added.
"Shut up both of you. Ary, I at least thought you had a brain." Gendry said harshly.
"Don't be angry with me Gendry. I'm sorry," Arya said, no longer struggling.
He took pity on her. "I'm taking us to a bunch of rocks, sort of north east of where we are. Then I'm forcing us to make camp, until you're better."
The girl in his arms heard not what he said, as she'd fainted again. As they walked, a loud crack of thunder smashed across the sky. Black clouds rolled in quickly and it began to rain. It washed the grime off their faces.
"Open the water bag, maybe we can capture some rain in it." Gendry commanded of Hot Pie.
Arya's lips parted and the rain gave her body, much needed moisture. He too opened his mouth and stuck out his tongue, hungry for every drop of water. Finally they came to the rocks. He kneeled and gently lowered her to the ground. It was an hour or so later, who could truly tell, when she opened her eyes. Gendry was relieved and helped her sit up. She couldn't help it, but had to lean on him. He gave her a little piece of cheese.
"Eat slowly, or you won't be able to keep it down."
She did as she was told. He gave her more and had her drink as much water as she could handle. Finally she shook her head that she couldn't take any more. Since he was satisfied with what she had been able to keep down, he let her stop.
"Lie back and just try to get some rest. If the rain lessens, I'll be able to make us a fire."
"Gendry…." She tried to thank him.
He nodded, "I know. Hush now, save your strength for tomorrow."
The rain did fade away and eventually stopped, but it was already nightfall. Gendry checked their water bag, pleased with what they'd captured. Hot Pie was amazed that a fire could be made, when everything was so wet. But he was glad for the heat it gave and that it helped dry their cloths.
Arya woke again and was able to sit up on her own. She ate what Gendry gave her and raised an eyebrow that he was watching her and Hot Pie like a hawk. "I promise on my mother's life I will not share my food with Hot Pie. Now will you stop watching me eat? It's creepy."
Gendry snorted, "alright."
He kept the fire going, mostly with clumps of grass, some dried up horse shit he found by the road earlier and a few twigs between the rocks. Eventually it ran out of fuel, but it had done the job of drying Arya's clothing. That night he slept closer to her than usual, wanting to keep an eye on her. He fell asleep when he was sure she'd be okay. She slept with her back against his, taking some shelter from the wind that had blown up. In the early morning, before the sun had even begun to crest the horizon, she had to go pee. She tried to stand without waking anyone. But in her weakened state, even using the support of the rocks, her knees buckled. Gendry felt her movement and woke up. He waited to see if she needed help.
Frustrated with her unresponsive body, Arya had to ask for help. "Can you help me around to the other side of these rocks, I have to pee." She whispered, careful not to wake the other boy.
He just picked her up and carried her there. Then gave her some privacy, until she told him she was done. Then he picked her up again and took her back. Hot Pie slept on. She couldn't sleep, but was happy her eyesight was back to normal. She struggled to pull herself upright so she could lean against the rocks. Gendry sat up with her.
He voiced what was bothering him, "we have maybe a day's worth of cheese left. Do you think we will come across anyone or a town soon?"
Before she answered she asked a question of her own, "how many days has it been since we left Harrenhal?"
"Five or six," he said quietly.
"There are some cruck houses, that should be coming up soon. They're used when the farmers are out harvesting the wheat, straw, hay and corn. Corn harvest usually is still going on. Maybe we can work for some food." Arya said with hope.
"You're not going to be in those fields. Hot Pie and I will do that alone…. just this time," he added, when he saw her cross her arms in defiance.
"I hate it when you're right," she said.
He smiled and she could hear it in his voice, "then you're going to be hating me a lot, my lady."
She tried to push him over, instead lost her own balance and landed with her head and upper body in his lap. She quickly got out if his lap, flustered, embarrassed, blushing like crazy and glad he couldn't see it. He laughed at her feeble attempt to push him over, not even paying attention to the fact her face was in his lap.
"Maybe when you have your strength back, we'll have a wrestling match… my lady," Gendry chuckled, knowing she'd be ignoring him now and going to sleep frustrated.
His grin got bigger, when she lay down and turned her back on him. What he didn't realize was that Arya was beginning to notice him on a level, that wasn't just about friendship. Her body was slowly changing into a woman. It was much more gradual, than it should've been, due to malnutrition and circumstance, but it was happening all the same. She was wise beyond her years, having seen much more in life, than she should have ever witnessed. Even though she was just twelve, she was developing a crush on Gendry. She fought it, but Arya wasn't immune to his kindness, his strength and how physically fit he was. He was much older than her, she guessed he was around eighteen. But if Lords and Kings could take wives ten or more years younger than them, then when she was seventeen, it wouldn't be wrong for her to be with a man that was 23. Arya pushed those thoughts out of her mind, beginning her nightly prayer ritual. Gendry heard her mumbling the names of people she wanted dead. He shook his head, saddened that revenge was all that kept her going. Well, that and the driving need to reunite with her family. He lay down and shortly fell asleep.