Arya scurried back into the city through the River Gate, better known as the Mud Gate to the people of King's Landing. The ship she'd need to board didn't leave until tomorrow at first light, which was all well to her considering she'd yet to say any goodbyes. Not to mention Bre would be holding her a seat tonight at Woodies, and she still had to secure a place for Deke.

King's Landing was the most populated city in all of Westeros, at least half a million people stuffed in between every ally, and it showed. There were signs of life everywhere one could look, children running about, merchants yelling their best prices, whores whistling from windows or standing outside brothels. So many people and so much noise, as much as Arya loved it, she hated it. It was odd how much you could appreciate the life of a city, but crave the deathly quiet nights in the North where the only sound breaking through the silence was the wind whispering in the trees, or a wolf calling to its pack.

Arya tried to push away those thoughts as much as she clung to them, memories of a castle that only brought a hollow hole to ache in her chest. She felt that way long before she'd met that witch in the North, but she wasn't sure if knowing her family was alive made that hole more shallow or deeper. Knowing they could still laugh, enjoy namedays, train and learn, fall in love and start families of their own could bring a smile to her lips, but knowing she'd miss every moment of it could bring tears to her eyes.

Deke ran ahead of her suddenly, chasing a pigeon that flew faster than he could run. Muddy water flew in his wake, and Arya covered herself with her cloak as fast as she could. "Seriously?" she scolded.

"This city ain't no place for a wolf, girl." A merchant growled from the side of the road, his sun-kissed skin wrinkled and his eyes full of scorn.

"Trust me, I know." she glared back and continued on, a hollow pain echoing in her stomach...no not hers, but Dekes. "Next time you're hungry, just tell me." She told him before taking a different route home.

Arya could hear the person she sought out before she saw him, "Hot pies!" his cry rose above a dozen others in the market, "Hot pies! Get your hot pies here!" She grinned, at the very least her trip to the past had made his life simpler.

"How much are they today?" she asked, stopping by his cart.

"Madi." The fat boy smiled but eyed Deke cautiously. Hot Pie had never felt comfortable around animals, not even the ones he and his mother cooked into their pies. "Five coppers."

Arya frowned, "Five coppers? That's near twice as much as they were last I saw you."

His brown eyes were full of sympathy, "Nothing I can do, mother makes the prices, not me. Everything's more expensive with autumn taking it's toll, not to mention the Fat King's hoarding all the food for himself."

One to talk. She thought, eyeing the pump boy up and down before noticing a shimmer of golden armor at the side of the market square. "Watch what you say." she muttered, "and I'll take two."

Hot Pie's eye's followed hers and he nodded seriously, "You've got a sixth sense for when those gold hatted guys are roaming about." he said as he wrapped up two pies, and she pulled her coin pouch from under her cloak.

"Look with your eyes" she teased and he rolled his instead.

"How's the Bull?"

"As stubborn as he ever is...ugh, make it three pies."

Hot Pie grinned, "He'd starve faster than your wolf if you forgot to feed him."

Arya chuckled as she handed him the coin, "He better learn." she took the pies and cleared her throat, "Listen, I'm going on a bit of a trip so you won't be seeing me for a while."

The baker boy's eyes grew wide, "What? Where are you going? Have you told Gendry? He won't be happy, you were gone almost a year last time."

"East, no, and no. but he'll understand" she gave him a small smile despite the sour taste of the lie. "Make sure he remembers to eat for me?"

Hot Pie nodded, "Will do."

"Goodbye Hot Pie."

"Goodbye Madi."

Deke ran into the shop before Arya had the chance to stop him, and the cursing of Tobho Mott had her cursing under her own breath. "How many times do I have to say it? This is a forge! Not a bloody kennel!"

Arya pushed herself through the door, a forced smile on her face. "Tobho" she greeted and lifted her arm, "I brought pies..."

"Pies." he repeated, "Your bloody wolf just left a trail of mud everywhere!"

Her eyes followed Tobho's brown ones, and indeed Deke had left a trail of paw prints all along the floor, yet there he sat beside Gendry with his tongue lolling out, oblivious or apathetic towards the mess he'd caused. "I'm sorry, I really am." she opened her bag and offered up a pie, "Here."

Tobho shook his bald head while taking the pie, "You're cleaning this up, you or Gendry, matters not to me as long as it's fixed."

Arya nodded, "Of course." she watched him leave and sighed once he went into the back, "Why do you insist on working for such an ass?"

Gendry smiled under a mop of black hair, his blue eyes glowing with humor. "Because he's the best ass in this city at forging steel."

Arya grunted in response, "Well you get to clean up Deke's mess." she informed him.

"What? And why would I, he's your wolf, remember?" Gendry raised his eyebrows, his tone implying he was the first to inform her of her ownership of Deke.

"Because..." she put the bag down, "I brought you pie. And also, I don't work for that ass, you do."

Gendry inspected the contents of the pie before him, "Ah, fine." He was covered in a sheen of sweat, dark hair sticking to his head, and shirtless with skin tones darker than hers. Even if the two of them spent the same amount of time in the sun, he'd always come out darker, and her with a sunburn. "Is something the matter?"

Arya shrugged, pulled out a pie and laid if before Deke. Should've gotten four. "Nothing, just figured you'd work the whole day without eating...someone had to feed you." she averted her eyes from his and watched Deke devour his meat pie in moments.

"You sure? That's not exactly your nothing's the matter face." Gendry's eyes bored into hers, seeing right past her lie. Arya was exceptional at telling lies, her name only one of many examples, but Gendry had a talent for catching her in them. She supposed anyone could become good at reading a person if they lived together a couple years.

"Will you be working late?"

"I don't think so, seriously though what's wrong?" Arya hesitated in answering. Hot Pie was right about Gendry's feelings towards her leaving. It was different last time she'd left King's Landing, she'd known him for less than two years, and they never shared the same roof then, it was never really his business where she went or what she did. But when she'd come back, twelve years old with nowhere to stay, it was him who offered her a bed. Now two years later he knew Madi better than anyone in the city, and even if Madi was only a misshaped shadow of who she really was, he was the person who that shadow best.

Arya swallowed her regret and just blurted the truth, "I'm leaving."

"What do you mean you're leaving?" his eyes completely left his pie. "Do you mean you're...moving out?"

"No...sort of, I'm going East for a while-"

"Well how longs a while?" one of his arms flew up in frustration.

Arya reached out and gently put his arm back down, "Listen, we can talk about it tonight, alright?"

"Madi-."

"I'm coming back you know, it's not forever-" he tried to cut her off but she continued, "And don't give me any of that it's dangerous out there crap, I can take care of myself."

If he wanted to beg her to stay, his pride surely would have gotten in the way. And even if it didn't, he knew how stubborn she was, that once she made up her mind there was little chance in changing it. Which was why he stood there, the blues of his eyes shades darker with anger and what she thought might be fear. "When?" he asked, voice cold.

"We'll talk about it later." she insisted, "Deke, come on." she turned to leave, "I'll see you tonight."

"Madi." The iron in his voice stopped her once she reached the door, she turned to face him. "When?"

A moment or a year passed before she confessed. "In the morning." They stood there, the store between them, for what felt like an eternity. Finally, he threw his forging helm down and stormed to the back of the store, leaving her and Deke at the entrance, the clamor of the city calling from behind them. You're alive and well, not starving in the woods or caught up in a war for the Riverlands. You're better off now than you were before. Better pissed off at me than dead in an unmarked grave.

Truth be told, Arya had no idea whether Gendry was dead or alive in the time she was from, but she knew of the horrors he faced then, the ones they had faced together. The Gendry in this time never lived through war, never bore the scars or faced the nightmares he did before. He was a shade softer now, and a little less angry at the world, he even despised the High Born slightly less. But to her discontent, he was still as bull-headed as he ever was.

As darkness fell over the cobblestones of Kingslanding Arya was making her way back to Woodies, preparing herself for more goodbyes and overthinking what results her actions might cause. As she walked into the crowded brothel with offbeat music and drunken voices bounding off the walls, her mind was all quiet apart from a single voice. Arya would never know what Madysen sounded like, or what had become of her in the end, but her words had a way of echoing through her mind before any relevant decision.

"My father always told me to consider my choices carefully, the simple and profound, that life was a set of choices and each and every one mattered. I always trusted him, with everything, but I never should have trusted him with my truth. Some burdens we must carry ourselves, lest we let them burn the world down around us."

"Madi" She turned her head and gave Bre a smile, the women was dressed in one of her finer garments, red silk that shimmered as she moved. The fabric was flayed in a few places, but other than that the dress was stunning.

"Bre, business seems promising tonight." She noted, the room was nearly full and the few serving girls were rushing to fill men's cups.

"Yes, the gods cried all their tears yesterday and left the sun smiling down today." The women grinned and took the girl's hand as they walked. "There are few nights like this in left Madi, nights with fresh crisp air. I know you're too young to have seen a true winter, but when the real cold comes the air's tasteless, bland. It's terrible, though men still come and seek the warmth we offer." she grinned knowingly.

Arya had to disagree, real winter air was pure and clean, whereas in this city with the heat you could smell something foul from around every corner. "If you say so, I've hardly seen anything beyond the city walls."

"You could change that if you wish, you're smart and clever. You could make your way anywhere you desired."

"About that..." Arya took a breath, "I'm leaving, to see the free cities."

Bre stopped, brown eyes wide with surprise. "You're leaving Kingslanding?" Arya nodded, "The free cities..." the women shook her head, "I know men say girls of four and ten and grown, but it's lies, the world's a dangerous place for you, for even a boy your age."

Arya laughed "Should we throw everything you just said before out the window?"

"I was being kind! You're the most resourceful girl in this part of the city, no doubt, but who would you stay with? How would you find coin there to eat? You do know they speak a dozen different languages over there!"

"I'm a fast learner, I'll come back in a year with another few tongues under my belt." she teased.

Bre sighed, "I suppose there's no use in telling you how stupid you're being. When are you leaving?"

"In the morning."

The older women's head tilted and her expression mirrored that of her once unimpressed mother. Lady Catelyn would spend an hour on Arya's hair some mornings, and when merely a few hours later she'd return with leaves and sticks caught up in her braids, her mother would give her a single look that spoke a dozen rebukes. "Did I mention rash and reckless?"

"I've been called worse just working with you." Arya shot back.

"Well I guess you'll have to explain to your new admirer why you're leaving." she waved a hand to the table they'd stopped at. Arya turned and fought back a frown, there sat Tyrion Lannister, nursing a drink of wine with a Cyvasse board in front of him.

"Leaving?" he piped in, "Where are we going?"

Bre leaned in to whisper in her ear, "His rings are worth more than this building." she stepped back with a look and walked off, leaving her alone with the Lannister. His mismatched eyes looked up at her expectantly and she resisted the urge to roll hers, instead, she sat down across from him.

"Enjoyed losing your coin so much you came back?" Arya had no interest in whatever his intentions with her were, she'd avoided anything connecting her to royalties so far and she planned to keep it that way for a while yet.

He shrugged, "I like a challenge." He began setting up the broad, placing the pieces in position. "So where are you going?"

"Essos."

His eyebrows rose, "May I ask why?" he said pouring her a glass of wine from his pitcher.

"After you tell me why you care."

In all honesty, he seemed offended, "You know last night you were much more interested in conversation, though I suppose that was just for my money wasn't it?" He shook his head. "Figures...you know what, enjoy the rest of the wine." He went to leave.

"Wait. I'm sorry." He faced her once more, not looking very convinced. "But you accuse me of only speaking to you for money, tell me, were you interested in more than my body?"

"To be fair, I did meet you in a brothel. But I'm not the monster half this city thinks I am, I didn't come back here to convince you to sleep with me."

"Then why come back at all?"

"I enjoyed the game." She considered him a moment, he was telling the truth. "Few things in this world bring me joy Madelyn, and I seek out the things that do."

Arya gave in, reaching over and taking a drink of her wine. "Fine." she began placing the black pieces in position from her end, "Since I'm leaving tomorrow anyway, I'll indulge you one last game. My Lord."

Tyrion smiled, though he was far from comely, there was something about a true smile that could bring out the beauty in anyone. "It doesn't have to be just one game."

"You're not the only one who wants an explanation for why I'm leaving, and that's a conversation I can't avoid." she sighed, "No matter how much I might want to."

"People don't just up and leave without reason." he ventured.

"No, they don't." she agreed, trying to ignore his impatient curiosity, "You start."

He nodded, moving one of his soldiers forward, "So what is the reason?"

She pondered her strategy for the game before answering, "Have you heard about the dragons hatching in the East?"

His eyes sparked with interest, "I've heard the rumors, I've also heard they're false."

Arya let herself smile, mischief in her voice. "Oh I highly doubt that." she glanced up from their game to continue, "Do you believe in magic?" she teased, one of her favorite questions over the years.

"I believe in the things I can see, things that I know are real...but I've always dreamed of seeing dragons."

"Well they were real, everyone knows that, Harrenhal, the skulls under the Red Keep, there's evidence littered everywhere. Who's to say they can't be born again?"

"The maester's for one." He countered after a drink of wine and she scoffed. "So you're traveling to a strange country to steal a dragon?"

Her eyes darted up, "Steal? No..." she cleared her throat, "Just want to see one is all." Tyrion hummed before making his next move. "Don't worry, I'll come back and let you know how it goes...though if they are real, I doubt they'll stay in Essos forever."

"More of your perceptiveness, I presume."

"Do you think I'm wrong?"

"No, might be this Daenerys will try and take Westeros one day, but..." he glanced down, a hint of sadness in his eyes. "That's only if she gets the chance." He knows about the assassin.

"I think she will."

He glanced up, a question in his eyes. "Do you want her to?"

Arya pondered over the board, "If I said yes, would you have me arrested for treason?"

"So you do?"

"If you're asking me about politics, I've always hated them...and I don't care much for who's ass sits on the Iron Throne, but as for Daenerys..." she paused as she watched him move his Queen. "I think there's a reason she's finding power, a reason those dragons were born."

"Ah" he smiled as if learning a secret, "so fates your game? What's meant to be will be."

"You're way off your mark Lannister, nothing's meant to be."

"On the contrary, I think you're wrong. Some things are inevitable, there is no way around them. From Westeros to Essos stands the Sea, there's no way around it. Somethings in life must be faced, you just have to sail through it no matter how rough the waters."

"Not if I had a dragon." she grinned, "Then I could fly over the Narrow Sea, avoid the water altogether."

"Aye, I suppose you could, if you had one." he grinned back. The bustle of the room filled her ears as she planned her next strike, one that would set her up for a win. "So you're going to Essos to find a Dragon?" Tyrion concluded.

"I do want to see a Dragon." she agreed, "but there are lots of other things to be sought, The Titan of Braavos is one of the largest statues, there's the Long bridge of Volantis; the greatest bridge ever built, the great pyramids in Mereen and Ghis...and so on and so on."

Tyrion nodded as he stared at the game pieces, "I did always want to see The Wall."

"Why don't you?"

"Never got around to it I suppose."

Arya shook her head, making a tisk tisk sounds with her mouth. "Half the people in this city would have traveled all over the world with the kind of money you have." she scolded.

"Half the people in this city don't have the type of father I do." She tilted her head thinking back on the old world and her brief encounter with the man, he'd just been the Lord who'd never paid the servants any mind. Though one thing that would be hard to forget was the news of his death, and the hands he'd died by. "What is it?"

She looked up, blinking out of her lost thoughts. "Nothing. It would seem most people in this city have terrible or absent fathers."

"And yours? Was he terrible or absent?" Tyrion asked, a knowing look in his eyes.

"Neither" she countered, a little too harshly.

"My apologies, a sore subject it would seem..." Arya ignored the sympathy written around the lines of his mouth.

"My father was never terrible..." she spoke without thinking, it'd been a long time since she'd told anyone about her family. "He was understanding and had more honor than any man in this city has in his pinky finger. And he'd never leave his children, he'd give his life to protect them if it came down to it."

Tyrion nodded slowly, "Well I'm sorry then."

"For what?" she frowned, confused.

"You said he never left...and the way you spoke of him made it sound as if he were gone..."

"Oh." I made it sound like he was dead. Arya sighed inwardly, I'm the one who's "dead". "No he's alive and well, I hope well at least."

It was the little Lord's turn to look confused as he frowned down at his wine, "Your story doesn't make much sense if your father was-is such a great man, then why aren't you with him?"

Arya pondered over her answer a moment, the truth not an option as per usual. "I was the one who left...you could say I didn't quite fit in the family I was born into. I miss them... but I know it's for the best."

Tyrion's face was lit with understanding, "You could say the same about me, to say I don't fit would be an understatement of the year Madelyn. Even if my father didn't hate me for being a dwarf, he'd hate me for killing my mother." His words caught her off guard and he could tell. "It would seem we're getting too personal for a game of Cyvasse, but since you're leaving on the morrow, what of it? My mother died birthing me, a crime I'll never live down."

"I'm sorry..." and she was, "It's stupid that anyone would blame you for that." she shook her head, "I've no doubt Cersei would hold it over you too."

"And what would you know of Cersei?"

"I don't." She said quickly, wishing she could hit herself over the head. "I've seen her, once or twice...she looks...rude." Arya faked a weak shrug.

Tyrion snorted, not looking very convinced. "Most women just think she's beautiful."

Arya spoke coolly. "I'm not most people, Tyrion."

In the end, Tyrion bested her in the game and managed to get her to play another. She mostly played because she was a sore loser, and wanted to win the next one, and she almost did before it got cut short.

"Madi." There stood Gendry beside their table, blue eyes as serious as his voice. His stance was stiff, and he surveyed the room briefly. Arya knew he had little interest in brothels and was never very fond of where she spent most her time.

"Gendry, you're off work already?"

He nodded, "I wanted us to talk..." he glanced at Tyrion, "If you can spare the time."

Arya cleared her throat, pushing down the dread of their approaching goodbye. "Yes I do." she stood but glanced back at the Lannister and paused. Gendry was already moving toward the door, head down so no one would attempt to approach him.

Tyrion hummed with a sly grin, "I can see why you don't bother working here." he nodded towards Gendry's back.

"Wha-" she stopped, stunned. "That's not, we're not..."

He put a hand up to stop her from continuing, "I was teasing you, but now I think I might have been right." he chuckled lightly.

Arya shook her head, annoyed. She had no time to even ponder that kind of life, those were the dreams her older sister had, dreams for ladies and children. "I'll leave the complicated relationships to the lords and ladies, I've enough to worry about." She muttered.

She re-tied her cloak around her neck as he answered, "Everyone is worried about something Madi, you have to make time for the things that matter most."

"Is that your parting advice?" she smirked.

"I suppose it is, but also...do be careful around those dragons, and don't get burned."