Game of Thrones: Kindred Spirits
Chapter 12 of my Game of Thrones story.
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Now onto the story.
Disclaimer: Game of Thrones belongs to George R.R. Martin.
Chapter 12
Standing up from the desk where she had finished dealing with her homework, Arya stretched and yawned.
"Urgh, finally." She muttered.
Gendry grinned upon hearing her and approached. "That bad?"
She shook her head. "No, just boring."
He laughed and rolled his eyes at that; typical Arya. He wrapped his arms around her waist, still behind her and she smiled, relaxing into him. He was the only person she let down her walls around; the only person she let touch her like this. They just understood each other so well.
'Of course my family doesn't and never will, considering they refuse to accept me and Gendry together.' She reflected to herself. 'It'll be even worse now that we're engaged.'
Gendry noticed her deep thoughts and queried. "Arry?"
"I'm fine just...thinking. We still have a lot of planning to do for the wedding." She explained. "Also I was, thinking about my family."
Gendry's expression dropped; he bit his lip and seemed worried.
"Arry, you know I never wanted you to...be hurt like that." He said. "I just wish you could..."
She turned in his grasp, looking at him steadily. "Don't Gendry, just don't. I'm fine. I made my choice, so have they. I am happy and if they can't accept that, it's their problem."
With that she softly kissed him and he relaxed; together they then left Gendry's room, heading downstairs to the kitchen.
When they entered they both smiled as they noted they weren't alone. For inside was Gendry's mother, Alyssa and also his paternal half-sister, Mya Stone.
"Hey." Arya greeted them, grinning.
They both turned and smiled upon seeing them.
"Hey guys." Mya greeted, hurrying over and embracing both of them.
As they all stepped back Alyssa spoke up.
"So, how is everything going with you two?"
Arya and Gendry shared a smile before admitting. "Slowly, in terms of planning the wedding."
Mya grinned. "You know you can always ask us for help, right?"
Alyssa nodded. "Yes, Mya's right; we're here for you both and will gladly help you out."
"Thanks, I think, I think we might just do that." Arya replied.
Gendry smiled warmly. "Thanks mum, we'll do that...Only right now we um..."
"Something wrong?"
"No, we just..." Arya cleared her throat and explained. "There's still some people we haven't told..."
Alyssa nodded, now understanding and so it was that Arya and Gendry hurried to get ready; it was time for them to go and tell Gendry's father, Robert Baratheon, about their engagement. As they were heading over to the Baratheon mansion, Gendry seemed lost in thought for a moment.
Finally he spoke. "Arry...I don't know if you heard, about your brother…?"
"You mean Bran?" She asked and he nodded. "Yeah, I heard. Gods, never imagined mum would freak out like that towards anyone but me?"
Gendry nodded slowly while Arya sighed; she felt for Bran and his plight. But the way Sansa had told her about it she knew; their mother wasn't really against Bran, but she was going to struggle to try and fix things; it had been, after all, a huge shock to her and she wouldn't likely still be recovering.
Having called ahead the couple were warmly received at the Baratheon house and shown through to the living room where the family were all present. Robert grinned jovially and stood.
"Gendry, Arya, good to see you both again." He greeted in his usual cheerful fashion.
They both smiled; returning the greeting as Arya noted the others present. Robert's wife Cersei, his eldest son and Arya's hated enemy, Joffrey and then of course, Myrcella and Tommen.
'Myrcella knows as I showed the ring in school.' Arya mused. 'I don't know about Tommen...but I'm positive none of the others know.'
So it was with those thoughts that Arya sat down next to Gendry and Robert smiled.
"So, what brings you here?" He asked. "Said you had something you wanted to tell us?"
Arya nodded to Gendry who took her cue and smiled.
"Well, dad, we just...We thought you should know. Arya and I are now engaged."
The effect was almost immediate, Myrcella's knowing grin. The way both Robert and Tommen gasped in surprised before also smiling It wasn't long before all three of them were congratulating them warmly, Robert clearly ecstatic.
Arya caught Joffrey rolling his eyes and glared at him, as if daring him to comment. But he wouldn't, not with his father there to reprimand him. But it was clear he was as dismissive as ever. Still, she didn't care, it wasn't his approval she wanted anyway. She didn't need it, neither did Gendry.
They had stayed talking for a while and Arya had paid a quick trip to the bathroom; as she was leaving and about to head back to join the others, she found herself face to face with Cersei. Again Arya narrowed her eyes.
Her relationship with Cersei wasn't the best; she had noted how Cersei didn't seem to react to the news. But then, much to Arya's surprise, Cersei gave her a small smile.
"Congratulations Arya." She said, sounding genuine. "You and Gendry are very lucky to have each other."
Arya bit her lip, but replied, just as honestly. "I know."
It was as good as they'd get, but it certainly showed that Cersei at least was happy for them. While surprising, Arya was glad of that; while she still stood firm in regards to her family's reaction to her being with Gendry; she was getting tired of fighting.
She was glad of having to deal with one less battle.
End of chapter, hope you enjoyed it, read and review please.
