The snow had started to pick up at the end of the day, but that didn't keep her away from the training grounds. Jon had sent a raven; he was coming home. Finally. She was anxious to see him, and ready to fight with him. That's why she came to the grounds every evening to train with needle and her catspaw dagger. The evening gave her more opportunity to water dance freely, since most training was done when the sun rose.
There were nights when Sansa and even Bran would join her. Bran would watch from afar, stoic as always while Sansa would practice with her own needle. So far she had made each one of them, including Jon, new cloaks and hoods for winter. Each one adorned with four proud direwolves, two on each shoulder.
Tonight however she was alone. She last saw Bran whispering with Sam Tarly, looking sullener than before. They spoke of Jon and dragon queen and their imminent arrival to Winterfell. Sansa was in her solar pacing. The last few days were a bit hectic. Sansa was busy preparing for the arrival of Jon and his company, she was busy responding to ravens from the Vale and Riverrun, she was busy preparing Winterfell for war, but mostly she was busy with the Northern Lords.
Arya had to admit her sister had come a long way politically speaking. All those things bored her to death, she didn't understand them nor did she try. But Sansa, she had a way with words, she was charming, confident, and always kept her head up high.
Even when they turned their attentions away from Jon and began to shower her with compliments of her beauty, she would remain poised. Lately, it started happening more often than not. Some Northern lord would pay her sweet compliments and then not so subtly pay even higher compliments to their unmarried sons. Sansa was not amused.
Arya became nervous when she started hearing her own name come out of their lips. A warrior wolf they called her, only fit for a true northern lord. Sansa again was not amused, "My sister is preparing for war, as should all your sons. Mayhaps if they impress her on the battlefield then she could have one of her own choosing…however my lords, don't hold your breath."
Arya had never smiled so brightly in the throne room. She nodded to her sister as she walked to the very spot she had slit Littlefinger's throat, the ground still stained red and gave all the lords her best curtsey.
Marriage, how preposterous. Sansa Stark the perfect Lady of Winterfell had no plans to wed anytime soon or even at all, so why would those idiot lords believe that she was willing to? No, she would not marry. Not now not ever. She was not meant to be a Lord's wife. She told her father as much once, yet he didn't believe her. She didn't learn much in King's Landing, but she did witness miserable ladies wed to miserable lords. It was different for Eddard Stark, he loved his wife and she loved him. The only people Arya will ever love is her family. Anyone else that might have had the chance was gone or dead. She would have no part in such a union. The lords did get something right, she was the Warrior Wolf and those green little northern sons couldn't handle her. Besides she had her sister's support and when Jon came back no doubt she would have his too.
Sansa didn't tell the lords about Jon bending the knee. "That's his duty, besides it will be better coming from him." She said simply. Instead she reassured them about their new guests. How they were all allies now.
"But she is a TARGARYAN!" Many proclaimed.
"A Targaryan helping Starks with a Lannister at her side. My Lords, the war between noble families is over, there is only one war that matters now." Still there was an air of distrust radiating from them, but they bit their tongue at Sansa's words. They respected her.
So that left Arya on the training grounds alone. Her dance started slowly, she placed her left foot in front of her right and let needle swing around her body. Each time she would end in the correct position, though this time she was incorporating her dagger in her motions. Like how she managed when sparring against Brienne of Tarth.
The nights were becoming frostier still she persisted to train. She needed to make sure to be ready to fight with Jon against the Night King when the time came.
She relaxed her pose, holding needle straight up the length of her body. She closed her eyes and breathed in deeply. She needed to concentrate on her skill. It was only her and her weapons. Those were the only thing that existed at that moment, that needed to exist. She needed to empty her mind of all distractions. The Night King, Dragons, the army of the dead, all that did not matter at this moment. All that mattered was her and her needle. That was how she would perfect her skill further. So once more she got into position not letting the snow drizzle bother her.
No matter how far they ventured from the wall, the brittle weather was always at their heels. Truth be told Gendry was beginning to resent the snow. What once enchanted him now aggravated him.
"No use for sour moods," Beric Dondarrion laughed at him, "soon the whole country will be covered in white." It was just four of them traveling now: him, Beric, and two wildlings. Tormund remained at Easwatch and Jon Snow left for King's Landing with the Dragon Queen.
What a waste of time. Gendry was there the day Cersei used wildfire to blow up the great Sept. that day was chaos, the smallfolk were terrified. So when she was crowned Queen of the Seven Kingdoms all he and everyone else could do was accept it. Accept it and hope that this one might be better than the last. It was never so. It would be a miracle, Gendry thought, if Jon could convince the Queen to join forces.
It had appeared as though Tyrion Lannister had his own doubts. It made sense, if anyone knew the queen it would be her brother. The hand of the Queen had sent a raven before they returned to Dragonstone hoping to have a few men travel to Winterfell to smooth over their imminent arrivals, or prepare them for the loss of their King. Jon had thought it a good idea, if only to warn his family of how close the threat really was.
In the beginning Gendry was not sure of he believed it. The white walkers and the Night King, perhaps it was just a matter of seeing it. When he did see it he almost prayed to the Gods for it to be a nightmare. For him to be startled back awake in the smithy of King's Landing, before Eddard Stark came to see him. Hells even before Jon Arryn came to see him.
How different his life might have been, if it was all a dream. He would be making weapons for the crown during the day, sleep soundly in his home at night, maybe even have a girl to keep him warm. Whatever the noblemen did were of no concern to him, he was just a nobody from Fleabottom.
But it wasn't a dream, King's Landing was a world away, and wonter was finally here, yet there was no girl to keep him warm. He wasn't a nobody from Fleabottom, he was the son of a King. He was on yet another mission and on his way to meet other nobles.
Noble blood ran through his veins too, and by some grace or cruelty of the Gods he was now in the thick of it. He promised himself he would make the best of it for as long as he could.
"For fuck's sake finally! There it is!" Gromm, the wildling explained.
Gendry prompted his horse up the small hill to where the rest of the group was, and there on top he saw it for the first time, Winterfell.
It was a large stronghold, with thick tall walls and great banners hanging from each tower. It wasn't as grand as the Red Keep, but it looked mighty he thought. The moon was large and yellow behind the Keep and there were large torches situated on the towers walls of the castle. Winterfell looked peaceful, even in the frigid cold of winter. This was the home of the wolves, Gendry thought and suddenly he felt nervous. As they drew closer to the castle the snow began to fall more rapidly and the wind picked up as well. Gendry swore he would hear it howling.
Like a Direwolf.
There were few soldiers outside the gates. One of them sounded a horn to alert the inhabitants of new visitors. They were left waiting outside for a couple minutes before the gate began to creak open. They were ushered inside only a few steps when one of the men held their hand up, "wait here, Lady Stark will be down soon." They took their horses to the stables so they stood in the middle of the courtyard waiting.
Lady Stark. That must be Arya's sister. She never did speak much of her during their travels, except to proclaim that the real lady in the family was her sister. Gendry asked Arya once what had happened to her sister and she simply said "she might be dead."
Yet she was not dead. One Stark girl had managed to make it home at least. Gendry wondered how closely Arya's sister resembled her. Was she also short, with grey colored eyes and dark tangled hair? Did she carry around a sword with her wherever she went? Probably not.
"Good evening, you are Baric Dondarrion?"
"Yes my lady, it is a pleasure."
The woman speaking with Beric was tall with hair like fire. Her eyes were crystal blue. And her manner was so poised Gendry felt as though he too needed to stand up straighter.
"And your companions are?"
The two wildlings spoke first, then when Lady Stark turned to him Gendry was looking past her, at the small figure walking up behind her.
Arya slowly made her way to the courtyard towards her sister who spoke kindly to the men in front of her. She recognized one. He was the leader of the Brotherhood without Banners, the other two wore wildling clothing, and then the last one…
Impossible.
She didn't stop when she reached Sansa, her feet wouldn't let her. Instead she walked right up to him slowly inspecting his face making sure her eyes were not deceiving her. They stood there for a moment in silence with nothing but the snow falling around them, but even the sounds of the weather felt muted.
For the first time in years Stark grey eyes met Baratheon blue.
***END NOTE***
Thank you so much for reading this latest chapter I hope you enjoyed it! So my plan at first was to have this be the whole reunion, but it didn't really wok out that way. I'm hoping to update soon, we shall see! Once again thank you for reading, I appreciate it!
Also I just realized I never left a note I meant for the first chapter! : So this is my FIRST fanfic ever and I'm just thrilled to be able to share it with Gendrya shippers/ GOT fans out there! It's not the most romantic or exciting, but it was just something i had to write ! Thanks again!