After buying passage for the three of them and their horses, across the Bay of Crabs, they rode south. It was the second day since leaving the shore across from Saltpans and they were riding at a walk. Gendry and Aulix were chatting about swords; types and the damage each kind inflicted. Part of Aulix was watching over Arya. He'd noticed she was unusually quiet. At the same moment she began to fall out of her saddle, he was beside the horse and on the ground to catch her.
Alarmed Gendry asked, "is she sick?"
"No. We are stopping for a bit. Can you take care of the horses?" Aulix asked, more to get him out of the way, than because he thought the horses would take off.
Arya was having a premonition. What surprised Aulix, was the seizure that came after it. He knew what to do, until it ended. Even after she opened her eyes, he didn't let her go. He touched her temple with one finger, then her neck and finally wrist. When she tried to talk, a shake of his head stopped her. Not because of Gendry, but due to checking that she was okay.
"Drink some water, then tell us."
Whatever he'd done, Arya felt almost euphoric. Even the taste of the water, seemed heightened. This was something she'd never felt before, even during sex with Gendry. "Why?"
"Quick fix for pain. It wears off in a bit."
Gendry kneeled down beside her. "How are you feeling? Should I get a fire started for warm food?"
She sat up. "I'm fine now and no, but thanks." Still her hand went into his, before Arya told them what she'd seen. "I…saw…I can't remember. Is it because of what you did?"
"No." Aulix stood up and looked around, eyes narrowed. "If you're better, let's get moving."
Gendry picked her up, ignoring the protest and put her into the saddle of her horse. "Does that happen a lot?"
"I can see things sometimes, with my mind, but the uncontrollable body shake thing is new."
"Are there any warnings when it happens? Aulix caught you quickly, but I don't want you getting injured if it happens again."
"Not really…. it rarely happens and I can't just do it or force it on…. does that make sense?"
"Yes. I'm glad Aulix knew what to do, I felt so helpless watching you. It's been a long time, since I've felt that way."
She put a hand on his cheek, then leaned over and kissed him.
"Do we need to make camp for you two, or what?"
Gendry laughed, "not now, we can wait." He got on his horse and winked at her.
Aulix didn't continue his conversation that had been interrupted, by Arya's incident. Instead, he continued to search for a bird. Even though she couldn't remember the images in her mind, it reminded him of something from the past. If he was right, knowing what was going to happen would be best for them all. Confirmation is what he wanted. When he saw a speck high in the sky, his mind launched outward.
"Is Aulix having the same problem as you just had?" Gendry nodded at Arya's friend.
"No. He's connecting with a bird or something, scanning what's around us. One of his talents."
"Oh right, he's a warg," Gendry acknowledged.
"Yes. Have you met someone like that in the past?"
"No. Just heard about it and I remembered what you'd said about him when we reunited."
"I forgot about that… Anyway, it's great for preventing us from being ambushed, as we ride into dangerous territory."
Aulix suddenly spoke. "There's nothing around us for a while. But if we ride a little faster, we'll reach a cluster of trees by some rocks, that would make a good place to camp for the night."
After putting a heel to her horse and sending it into a canter, Arya said, "what are you waiting for Aulix? Lead the way!"
As the sun began to set on their second day of travel, the threesome was just dismounting from their horses. While Arya and Aulix took care of the horses, Gendry made a fire.
"Think you can figure out a way to roast some meat?" Aulix asked Gendry, even though he already knew the answer.
"Show me what you've got."
The meat was unwrapped and handed over. It didn't take long for it to be ready. Gendry pulled out a knife and cut off equal chunks. "This reminds me of travelling with Hot Pie… do you think he's still at that tavern, baking bread?"
"I bet by now he's the owner of that place," Arya grinned. She glanced at Aulix, to see if more explanation was needed, but saw he wasn't really listening to them anyway.
With a flick of fingers she asked, 'is everything okay?'
'You know what I'm like in wide open areas. Don't worry, relax with him. I'm watching over us tonight.'
To prove his point Aulix said out loud, "I'm going for a walk. I'll be near the horses, if anyone needs me."
Gendry said, "I don't care if you watch us."
Arya grinned, "me neither."
"If I get bored, I'll keep that in mind."
As Aulix walked out of hearing range, Gendry asked, "did I offend him?"
"Not him and not me. Aulix just sometimes needs to be alone." She then gave him a kiss, changing his focus to just her.
Even though being intimate with Gendry was her original intention, Arya decided to make it a quick union, without stripping off all their clothes. Those body shakes earlier in the day, made her cautious that night. Arya couldn't relax completely, even in Gentry's arms and with Aulix close by. She was uneasy. After Gendry fell asleep and her list had been recited, Arya put more wood on the fire. She felt Aulix return, before he came into hearing and sight range.
"Shouldn't you be asleep too?"
"I can't… for the same reason you're not dozing. Even though it's a nice night, I can feel something… weird."
"There's nothing around; no threat." His eyes connected with hers, reading what was unsaid. "I'll massage your shoulders, if you do mine first."
Arya smiled, "same as like on the ship?"
He nodded in reply. As the massage continued Aulix added. "I like Gendry and he's not as small town as I thought."
"That's probably because his best friend for years worked in a brothal…. experience that taught him well." Arya smiled affectionately at the man they discussed. "You were right about him. He's more accepting of who I am, than I thought."
"Love can do that."
"Aulix, that thing you did earlier to block my pain… is there a way to make me sleep?"
"There is, but not in a good way. Do your breathing exercises, while I massage you. If you nod off, we're beside Gendry, where you want to sleep anyway."
She put a hand on his cheek. "Thank you Aulix… for taking care of me and for travelling with us."
"It's not free, I'll collect one day." His voice was teasing.
That, more than the massage, put her at ease. If he wasn't worried, then neither would she. Because of her relaxed state, the dreams that ran in her mind, were vividly real. Arya didn't vocalize any of it, nothing gave away that a vision was in progress, yet Aulix was awake and watching her closely. Since there were no body shake after affects, he let her sleep. In the morning, he hoped she could recall the dreams.