Chapter Eight

GENDRY

The rest of the journey down the Kingsroad was remarkably pleasant, Gendry thought, considering the incident at the tavern. The queen was mutinous, of course, barely exchanging a word with anyone save her brother and her children. Gendry hardly minded – it made a welcome change from the vitriolic murmurs he was used to.

Renly and Loras rode with Gendry for most of the way, joking and regaling him with stories. One particularly memorable day, as the cold lessened and morphed into warm southern sunshine, his royal father even rode at his side. He was sober for a change, having neglected the wine his squire had offered in favour of conversation with Gendry and his brother.

Gendry's one regret was that he did not see a great deal of Arya as the journey progressed. Her father kept her constantly within sight, afraid to let her loose in case there was another incident with Joff. Gendry found, to his astonishment, that his chest felt tight with the dull, constant ache of missing her company. He found himself living for the brief interactions they would have at meal times, or the rare occasions when she would sneak away to find him.

They were less than a day from King's Landing now, though, and Gendry couldn't help but hope that their time together would be less sporadic once they were back in the Red Keep.

It's not proper, Gendry reminded himself. I should not be pining for her company.

Unfortunately, his mind did not want to listen to his own advice.

As the sun sank low in the sky, Gendry caught sight of the city wall, pale and almost glowing in the orange light. His legs ached from riding, and he longed to soak his sore muscles in a bath. Wistfully, he thought of his modest chambers in the Red Keep, and the soft, downy bed that awaited him. A decent mattress was one of the few things that he would outright consider a perk of his elevated status. The mattress in his old quarters at the smithy had been as uncomfortable as a boulder.

A horse drew up to the side of Gendry's, pulling him out of his thoughts. He glanced over to see his hated half-brother, a self-indulgent smirk splashed across his face.

"Finally, we arrive back in civilised society, eh?"

Gendry would hardly have called King's Landing, with all its politics and power plays, civilised. He shrugged, however, sparing Joffrey a cursory glance. "I suppose you will be glad that all this riding is over."

"Indeed," Joff replied. "I despise it. What need should I have of sitting a horse? Riding is a pastime of stable boys and bandits and cavalry."

The pointed look he shot at Gendry left no mistake as to which of these categories he thought his brother belonged to.

"You're right, Joff," Gendry said quietly. "Why make any effort to acquire a skill when you are a prince? After all, the kingdom is at your beck and call. You ought never to leave the Red Keep."

Joffrey narrowed his eyes. He could tell that Gendry was insulting him somehow, but he lacked the wits to pinpoint exactly where the offence was intended. Nothing gave Gendry more satisfaction than the confused ire on his face.

"When we get back to the Red Keep," Joffrey said slowly, "Mother will start the preparations for my wedding. As soon as Sansa and I are married, she'll turn her attention to Arya. You will enjoy that, won't you, brother? Watching all the men come forward to win your wild little savage's hand?"

Gendry's hands tightened on the reins of his mount, but he forced his voice to remain even as he answered. "It's not my business."

"Really?" Joffrey raised an eyebrow. "After what that Stark girl did to my arm, I doubt that the little beast will have much luck finding someone who will be good to her."

Narrowing his eyes, Gendry exhaled slowly. "Is that a threat?"

"No," Joffrey replied. If an outsider were to hear his tone, they would think he was engaged in perfectly pleasant conversation. "But it is a promise."

"She's just a girl, Joffrey," Gendry lowered his voice, trying to ignore the sick sense of dread in the pit of his stomach. "Surely it's time to let go of what happened on the Kingsroad?"

"You defended her once. You won't get a second chance."

Without another word, Joffrey kicked his horse's flank and steered himself away. Gendry felt numb, listening only to the sound of the blood pounding in his ears. He knew that Joffrey, while unable to do his own dirty work, did not make idle threats. He was a Lannister in that regard, at least.

And Lannisters always paid their debts.

A/N: - This chapter is pretty short, but we need to be with Arya for the action when we get to King's Landing. Sorry that it's taken me so long to update! Arya's (much longer) chapter will be up in a few hours )