CHAPTER #11
As they rode on, Anguy tried to explain once more about why they had to give Gendry to the red priestess. "Lord Dondarrion does whatever he must to serve the Lord of Light. We do what he says."
"I don't serve the Lord of Light, my god is Death I already told you that." Arya said coldly and then nudged her horse into a trot, catching up with the rider in front of her.
Shaking his head Anguy gave up. He realized for the first time, Arya was just a child. She was acting her age and he couldn't fault her for it. He hoped she would forgive him at least and become his friend again. Then when she was a little older, he'd make her his woman. His god had heard his prayers to get rid of Gendry, it had just happened a lot sooner than he had predicted.
Arya had to wait for the right time to escape. They needed to trust her again, then she could runaway and chase after the red haired witch. She'd find Gendry one way or another. Even though she wasn't tied to her horse, she knew if she took off now, they would capture her easily and tie her up. She'd behave for now and escape at night. Although she didn't talk much, her mind was plotting and planning. The men thought she was sulking.
Now that they had coin, the brotherhood were heading towards a town. They needed swords and food. It had begun to rain, so shelter was also on everyones' minds. Since the girl was behaving, no one paid attention to her. It was not a town they came upon, but instead it was a bunch of dead bodies. Smoke had attracted them to the area. The people of the homestead were all dead, brutally slain. There was a dead red cloak among the bodies and that told them all they needed to know. The house was still smoking, as the rain had put out the fire. A corner of the roof was gone and a wall was black from the fire, but it was still sturdy. The barn was also still standing, but no livestock could be found.
"We'll make camp. Anguy take a few men and check the area. Arya take our horses to that paddock and see if there is any feed and water," Beric said. The other men, removed the bodies and dumped them on a heap.
When Arya went into the barn, she found another red cloak, he was still breathing, but unconscious. His pants were around his ankles and he lay on top of a girl. She was dead, his hands still clasped around her neck. Asking no help from the men outside, she grabbed his ankles and dragged him out of the barn. She then used the pitchfork she found in a stall and repeatedly stabbed him with it, until the dirt became soaked in blood. Next she finished dragging the girl outside too. It was little justice for her and Arya couldn't find a shovel to bury her. But with the bodies out of the way, she was able to get into the barn. It would be used to shelter the men, who couldn't fit into the house. All the horses went in a paddock beside the barn. She found hay bales to give to the horses and there was a little grain for her horse also. Arya kept some of the grain in the coin pouch of the red cloak. The coins she took to Thoros.
"Found these by the barn," she said flatly.
"Trying to buy your freedom?" Thoros joked.
She gave him a disgusted look, with narrowed eyes. "That should buy burial for the girl the red cloak killed."
He nodded, then added. "Take some bread and stew. Then bring some to the men on watch."
Arya did as she was told, but only ate half the bread, tucking some into her shirt. The bowl of stew was licked clean. Having to deliver the meal to the first shift of men watching the camp, that gave her knowledge of where they were. When the change of watch happened, that's when she'd have opportunity to escape. Her horse she'd have to lead out of camp quietly and that's where the grain would come in handy. When Anguy returned, he hovered near her. Getting rid of him wouldn't be so easy.
Meanwhile, Melisandreexplained to Gendry that she was taking him home. "You have noble blood, that is why you jump into a fight instead of running away."
Gendry grunted. "I'm low born, I'm a bastard of a tavern wench from Fleebottom." He couldn't help noticing her beauty. There was something about her that just drew him to her.
She untied his hands and feet, "you are a blood son of Robert Baratheon, who was King of the Iron Throne. That is why the Gold Cloaks were hunting you. You have rightful claim to the throne."
He blinked and was shocked, not really believing her and yet hoping she was right. If he was Robert Baratheon's son, then he could answer Arya's love for him. He could be with her in an honourable way when she was older. But why did this woman want him, was she going to sell him to the Gold Cloaks?
"You are my guest and I expect you to act as such. Don't try to run, the Lord of Light will become angry." It was a threat that she issued, but in a nice way.
For now he would wait and see what happened, but in his heart he vowed to find Arya and tell her the news. "I understand my Lady," he replied.
They eventually took Gendry on to a ship and set sail. Melisandre made sure to spend as much time with him as possible, as she was slowly seducing him. She had use for him in many ways, but he needed to be willing to let her close. His blood was king's blood and that made him valuable to the Lord of Light. Having worked as a blacksmith for most of his life, had given him a physique that she admired. Her hand rested on his bicep as the boat made it's way back to where she had started this journey.
Gendry was flattered by her attention, but also remained wary. This was all too good to be true. And why did he have to go back? If it hadn't been for Arya, he wouldn't be alive. Thinking about her, made him feel guilty for wanting Melisandre. His mind was in turmoil. He was a bastard, but now a royal one. The way the red priestess was explaining things to him, he had more right to the throne than Joffery, but did he really want it?
"Where is this place we go to?" Gendry asked.
"We go to Dragonstone, in Blackwater Bay."
"Isn't that the ancestral seat of House Targaryen?"
"And current stronghold of House Baratheon. Lord Stannis is who you will meet once we arrive. It won't be too much longer, the winds have blessed us, thanks to the Lord of Light."
She was right and as the sun began to set, they left the ship in a smaller row boat and headed for land. Gendry followed her, flanked by knights. He may be her guest, but he was also still her prisoner. She brings him into the castle, right to Lord Stannis.
"M' Lord," Gendry says and bows.
Lord Stannis looks at the boy before him, roughly grabbing his face. "Another one of Robert's bastards I see. His eyes…."
Until that moment, Gendry hadn't been convinced that Melisandre was right. But if the brother of King Baratheon deemed it so, then it surely was. The priestess took Lord Stannis aside and they talked quietly. Then she ordered a chamber to be made up for their guest.
"I'll take him there personally," she said to the guards in dismissal.
Gendry noticed that the walls and decor had dragon motifs throughout. He was impressed with the forged iron that made up the light fixtures. The masonry skill was not lost on him either. The room she brought him to was lavish, he'd never been in such a royal room. The light was dim, almost romantic.
"Come in, don't be shy. This is all yours by right, by blood." Melisandre coaxed him. She saw him looking at the iron work of the fire pit. He was nervous around her and she liked that.
She touched him intimately, slowly removing his clothing along with her own. His caution and nerves were overrode by his desire, that she unleashed. Melisandre pushed him onto the bed and took control. She could tell he was a virgin and enjoyed taking that from him. He let her bind his hands and was unaware when she began to tie up his legs. It was too late when the veil of passion lifted from his eyes.
"What are you doing?" Gendry asked alarmed.
"Trust me," she whispered, kissing him again.
His eyes grew fearful, when she left him to get a box. Leaches were taken out of the box and he begged her not to use them. But his pleading and struggles were disregarded. The leaches were placed all over his body and Melisandre took great pleasure in putting one on his genitals. As he screamed in pain, Lord Stannis and Davos Seaworth enter. They watch the naked priestess remove the now fattened leaches. Lord Stannis moves forward, says a chant and dumps them one by one into the fire.
"I don't need him again… for now. Keep him in the dungeon until I call for him," Melisandre orders.
Gendry is roughly taken away and dumped in to a cell. He is all alone in the world and once again his life is at risk. This time Arya is not around to save him. She'd been right about the priestess, he should have listened to her.
"I hope you're better off than I am Arya," Gendry whispered.