CHAPTER #10
The Brotherhood and their 'guests' had to take their time making their way to the Twins. There were a lot of scouting parties around, just itching for a good fight. Thoros could feel that something was amiss. A shift in power was coming and it had something to do with the Twins. Arya, Gendry, Anguy and a few others went ahead of the main group, moving quietly in the forest as they scouted the area. Arya and Anguy had sharp eyes and saw things before the others did. Anguy explained that this was the trait of a great archer. He smirked to himself when Gendry's eyes narrowed, as he saw Arya accept the small compliment. Any chance Anguy got, he tried to put a wedge between the girl and her smith friend. Yet in the evenings, she always returned to Gendry's side to sleep. So the following day when they came across a Lannister scouting party and fighting broke out, Anguy took the opportunity to put Gendry's life in danger. Once he bumped Gendry into a man with a dagger, but the boy dodged out of the way. The second time, he loosed an arrow at him.
"Watch where you're aiming! You almost shot me!" Gendry shouted at him, as the arrow sailed past his head, so close the feathers on it's tail tickled his ear.
"Sorry, I was bumped." Anguy shouted back in apology.
Gendry wasn't stupid, he knew that Anguy was a better archer than that. But would Anguy really try and kill him? Was he that jealous of Arya and him? There was no time for Gendry to try and answer those questions. The fighting around him, refocused his attention. The Brotherhood proved that even though they were a band of misfits, they knew how to dominate in swords play. The Hound also saw that Anguy the archer, had incredible skill and was one of the reasons why the Brotherhood had just won this little battle.
Arya had been made to guard the Hound. She hated him and wished that he too had been in that battle, so she could plunge her sword deep inside him. "No one left alive to rescue you," she taunted.
Sandor snorted, "I don't need anyone to rescue me." He snarled and barked at her, then laughed when she jumped back.
Gendry saw the taunting and Arya stab the man in the leg. He wasn't the only one though and Thoros went to remove the girl, before she did anymore damage to the big man. But he wasn't fast enough and the Hound grabbed the knife that was in his leg. He cut his ropes and then leaped onto his horse, riding into the forest. Thoros swore, but there was no time to pursue the man, as the battle continued. After a lot of blood shed, the fighting was over and the men picked off what they could from the fallen opponents. This scouting party wore chain mail that was castle forged. Gendry did some adjustments and a bunch of the men now had new armour. They moved on putting some distance between them and the battle ground, hoping that the sounds of the clashing swords, hadn't brought re-enforcements. But luck was with them, no one pursued. Cresting a hill as they came out of a forest, Arya and the people she travelled with, could see the towers rising up to meet the sky, in the distance.
"Another day or two ride and we should be at the Twins," Anguy said at Arya's side. "Bet you'll be happy to see your family."
She nodded unable to speak, it was a bittersweet moment. She'd miss Anguy's company, but her need to reunite with her brothers, had driven her for so long. The stories they would share, could fill dinner time for days. Would Gendry remain with the Brotherhood or come with her to Winterfell? Her heart hoped he would stay with her. Arya's thoughts were interrupted as the Brotherhood moved on down the hill. Thanks to the recent fighting, everyone now had mounts, so Gendry and Arya could ride on their own horses. She moved her horse forward until it caught up to Gendry.
"I'd like to meet your brothers," he said.
"Does that mean you'll stay with us?" She asked with a little bit of hope tainting her words.
"Not sure, but there are some within the Brotherhood I don't trust."
He didn't have to give names, she already knew he was talking about Anguy. Leaving it alone she changed the subject, just telling him the history of the Twins. They didn't run into anymore men that they'd have to fight and it was evening when they finally made camp. The scouts that the Brotherhood sent ahead had not yet returned. Arya was worried for Anguy, who was leading the scouting party. They were investigating the large presence of soldiers they had seen from the hill top. Was it a friendly gathering at the Twins or were they at war? This is what they needed to know, before riding too close into the area.
"We thank you Arya for this fine feast," Lord Dondarrion praised.
"Your welcome," she said simply and helped herself to another bowl of rabbit stew.
"Anguy has taught you well. You learn very quickly and are on your way to being as fine of an archer as he is. When you are older, you may even surpass his abilities."
Gendry nudged her and whispered, "wow that's some high praise… my lady." He grinned as she almost choked on her stew.
Just then Anguy and his fellow men, came into camp. The men headed to the food straight away, but Anguy went to report to Thoros and Beric.
"It looks like the majority of men are from Robert Stark's army, but there are a good number of men that are not, also amongst them. Apparently they are meeting under peaceful terms, forming an alliance." Anguy finally sat down and had a bowl of stew and winked at Arya.
Thoros heard something in his words, "but something doesn't feel right to you either."
Anguy nodded, "it's just a feeling."
Thoros narrowed his eyes. "You're feelings are usually spot on. Come one what is it?"
"The air of deceit is hanging heavily down there. Death is sitting down to eat and drink with those men. But whom Death is stalking; friend or foe, I don't know. What about the Lord of Light, has he shown you anything in the fire?"
"He is silent, but I feel that you are correct. Not everything is on the level with this marriage they speak of."
Gendry looked at Arya, she was done eating and was noticeably agitated. "You're family will be fine. Anguy said your brother had an army with him, he'll be okay."
She nodded, but said nothing. Then she went to the bushes to go pee, before finding her saddle and lying down with her head resting against it. Closing her eyes, she tried to sleep. She heard someone beside her and opened her eyes, to see Gendry putting his saddle down beside her and lying down too. He was a sleep instantly and his breathing is what she focused on, trying to match it. Eventually Arya fell asleep too. But her dreams were plagued by darkness. She felt like she was captured and whipped into a corner. A door closed and she could see nothing, but smelt fire and men all around her. She whimpered and then snarled.
Gendry woke with a start and realized it was Arya that he had heard and not some beast. She was having a nightmare. "Wake up Arya, you're okay." He shook her gently.
She bolted awake, breathing heavily. "Something's wrong, Anguy and Thoros were right."
"What do you mean? The camp is fine."
"No not here, my brother is in danger. I saw men and fire. I can smell it on the air," Arya insisted getting up and walking to the edge of their camp, trying to see the camp fires near the Twins.
He looked at her like she was crazy. "You can't smell anything from there, it's too far away."
"I was there Gendry. It was like Rob's wolf was showing me what was happening. Like I could see from Grey Wind's eyes. Someone trapped his dire wolf." Arya was anxious and her words were heard by another.
Thoros had not yet been sleeping and listened to Arya's warning. He looked into the fire and saw murder being committed over and over. He looked away. There was no honour in killing someone unarmed. He remained quiet about what he had seen and nudged Anguy. "Give the girl some of that apple cider. Her nightmares are keeping people awake."
Anguy got up and went to Arya's side. "We'll be there in a day and a half. You can't do anything now, so just rest. Have some cider, it will help you sleep."
Arya took the cider and gulped it down straight from the jug. Anguy and Gendry shared a look. For once their squabble was put aside, because both were concerned about her equally. "Easy, you want to sleep, not get sick," Anguy said taking the jug away from her.
The three of them went and sat by the fire. Gendry drank water, not in the mood for getting drunk. Anguy shared the cider, but didn't drink as much as Arya. He's the one who corked the bottle when he could see that she was drunk enough to get to sleep, but not to be sick. "She's all your's now," Anguy said and went back to his blankets.
Gendry lay down first, then Arya lay beside him. She rested her head on his arm, near his chest. "Do you think I was just dreaming?"
He shrugged and she felt it. "I don't know. But I believe you."
She moved up and kissed his cheek, then returned to his side. She rolled over, so her back was against him and closed her eyes. This time the cider kept the vision dreams away. But Gendry didn't sleep immediately. His mind was working overtime too. He didn't know what it was about her, but he had this need to be near Arya. Not to mention his affection would grow in proportion to her becoming a woman. But, he liked that he fit into the Brotherhood Without Banners. Like him, they were ordinary, people lost who now had found their place in the world. They felt like family to him, except maybe Anguy. But perhaps, they would resolve their issues, once Arya rejoined her family. Even if they stayed together, their social statuses were not compatible. He could never return her love when she became a woman and he had too much honour to deflower her. Soon he'd have to make his choice, but not yet.
What no one knew, was that later that day, Gendry's choice would be made for him. It was not long after they broke camp, that riders approached them in an open field. One of the riders was a woman wearing a long red cloak, which initially hid her face. Then when she dismounted and stopped before Thoros, she took off the hood. The men were awed by her beauty, even Anguy sucked in his breath, which Arya heard. Gendry's eyes admired the view that the woman presented. Personally she didn't like the woman and didn't see what the big deal was about.
"Valar morghulis," the woman said in way of greeting.
"Valar Dohaeris", Thoros replied.
Arya's eyes widened as she recognized those words. Thoros spoke and she realized these two were talking in High Valyrian. She didn't understand them, but she could tell by the reaction of Thoros, that this lady was a priestess. But to Arya she could tell the woman was a witch. Thoros began speaking in english again, so his friends could understand, and the woman in the red cloak did too. He took her to meet Lord Dondarrion.
"Wow, that's a woman. I'd like to see what's under her robe," John joked.
Gendry and Anguy agreed with him, to the disgust of Arya. "I guess when it comes to women, you guys don't think with the right head," she said snidely. Having grown up around a bunch of boys, and knew some crude language.
"Ouch, she spits venom," Anguy said.
"The little girl is as crass as a whore," John snorted. "She's jealous of that one, look out boys we may have a cat fight."
"She's poison, if they want her, they can have her," Arya said.
The red priestess moved to stand by her horse and waited patiently as one of her men, took two bags of gold and gave it to Lord Dondarrion. Then another two of her men, grabbed Gendry and bound his hands and legs, putting him in a cart. He protested and pleaded with the Brotherhood, explaining his intent to be one of them. His words fell on deaf ears. Arya ranted and tried to get to Gendry's side. The priestess grabbed her arm, painfully arresting her momentum.
"I paid for him, he's mine."
"He's not for sale! You witch let me go!" Arya screamed.
Thoros said, "she is a priestess of the Lord of Light. He is the one true God. When he speaks we obey."
"He's not my God!"
The woman grabbed her face and looked deep into her eyes. "I see death in your eyes, many deaths."
"My God IS Death!" Arya said defiantly.
Melisandre nodded, "we will meet again you and I. Now, we must go, the Lord of Light waits for no one." She mounted and rode off, her men and Gendry following.
Arya tried to run after them, but Anguy stopped her. She yelled after them, "I swear on my life I will find you Gendry and set you free!"
"NO Arya, I'm no one, don't you dare risk your life for me!" Gendry yelled back, but in his heart he knew she wouldn't listen.
Arya clenched her fists and yanked herself free from Anguy's grasp. Then she went to her horse, but Thoros shook his head. "You ride with me. Can't have you taking off after the priestess and causing problems."
"I won't, not until I talk to my mother and brother. I'd give you my word, but you have no honour, so it wouldn't matter," Arya said harshly.
They mounted and rode on. Anguy was secretly glad that Gendry was gone, now he could seduce Arya. Maybe the Lord of Light had heard his prayers to get rid of the boy. He tried to talk to her, but she remained silent and he gave up for now. Lord Dondarrion tried to explain why they had sold Gendry, as did Thoros, but Arya wouldn't listen.
"I don't talk to traitors," she said and then remained silent. Arya thought of how she could escape her 'escorts' and meet up with her family. She wouldn't let these men make a dime off of her. She would not be sold.