A/N: I hope you guys leave reviews because they help. Or maybe in this case, say goodbye to this fic :(

Only two more chapters to go.

Thank you, everyone for reading and reviewing this right from the start. I'm hugging everyone right now, are you feeling it?


"Do you have news of my son?"

Cersei's voice was soft as a whisper,and Yoren would have not heard her at all if it wasn't so quiet in the study. She stood there with her back to him, looking out into the sparkling deep blue waters of the expansive sea.

"King Gendry is safely hidden in Winterfell, Your Grace," replied the knight. He had traveled to Dorne to protect the Queen and lead what remains of the Kingsguards.

"Are the Starks treating him well?" she asked again, an almost desperate tone coming out of her whispered query. "Ned Stark is a most honorable man, that I am sure of. But a grieving wife and mother must know that her son is safe from harm."

Yoren nodded. "He poses as an apprentice smith for Stark,"he explained, an amused grin appearing on his face. "He wields a hammer in his hand like he was born with it."

The queen laughed. It was a most delightful sound, considering it had been weeks since that fateful day, and all that was heard of the queen were her quiet sobs and sometimes heart-wrenching cries in the middle of the night. She finally turned to face him and flashed a smile; something that was rarely seen these days.

"I still have that brooch he crafted for me. Have you seen it?" she asked, tilting her head to the right as she recalled the gifther son had given for her name day. "It was a lion's head, in honor of my family's sigil. He snuck into Tobho Mott's smithy from time to time until he was able to make something out of those irons and metals. Robert did not understand why his son found it necessary to run him ragged with acting so unlike an heir to the throne, but I think I did. I understand what it is like to be constrained with duties and responsibilities and how it feels to wish that I were out there exploring the world."

The sad look in her face returned, amd Yoren couldn't bear to look at her. She looked about ready to cry with all this talk about her son.

"Take me there, Ser Yoren," she said as she walked towards him. She surprised the knight by grabbing both of his hands and pleaded.

"I beg of you, Ser Yoren. I need to see my son...to talk to him. He's all I have now, and I long to feel him in my arms again. My son is all I have.."

Yoren didn't know what to do whe the queen started crying. With sad, tearful eyes, she begged one last time.

"Take me to Winterfell."


"You're supposed to relax your arm. Here, I'll show it to you."

Gendy took the bow and arrow Bran was holding and got into position. They were all spending the rest of the day dallying out in the fields, climbing trees and playing with wooden swords and eating everything Catelyn had prepared for the noon meal. Robb and Jon were watching as Gendry taught their younger brothers how to shoot with a bow and arrow. The girls, on the other hand, were picking flowers and berries. Well, Arya was picking out berries while Sansa picked flowers and weaved them together into a garland.

"Your bow arm should be towards the target, like so," Gendry went on to focus on a particular spot at the tree a couple of feet away from them. He had the most perfect archer stance they had ever seen up close; he drew the string towards his face at an anchor point, just right around his ear. When he was focused and ready, he released the string and the arrow shot straight onto the middle of the tree trunk he chose. It was a clean release, and everyone was visibly impressed. Bran and Rickon clapped enthusiastically, and Gendry's face split into a grin from ear to ear.

"You have very skilled hands, Your Grace," Sansa said, in that soft melodic voice of hers.

Arya looked at her sister as she sat there weaving flowers, looking over at Gendry with shy, hooded eyes. And then she looked at Gendry, who in turn gave Sansa a small smile. When his eyes met hers, she gave him an eyeroll. He laughed at that.

"Thank you, Sansa," he said. He returned the bow and arrow to Bran, who was actually very eager to try it on his own. Gendry walked over to where the two sisters sat, making sure he sat nearer the older sister just to annoy the youngest one. "You seem very skilled with your hands as well."

Sansa's head bowed lower as a blush crept across her face; tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear in what appeared to be a very feminine move. Arya, on the other hand, grunted and rolled her eyes before shifting so her back was turned away from them.

"You have very soft hands. Do you mind if I touch them?" Arya heard Gendry ask Sansa.

What in seven hells is he doing?

"No, Your Grace," she heard Sansa say. "But why would you want to touch my hands?"

Arya didn't want to hear his answer, so she stood and walked over to where Robb and Jon were sitting under an oak tree.

"What's got you seething?" Jon asked as Arya sat between him and Robb.

"Nothing," Arya muttered.

"Arya's in love," Robb said with a laugh.

"Am not! Take that back!"

"She's in love with King Gendry Baratheon, the First of His Name and Ruler of the Seven Kingdoms," Robb said to Jon.

"Why are you saying that? I am not!" Arya exclaimed in anger.

Both her brothers ignored her, though, because Jon laughed right along with Robb. "I think so, too. Imagine Arya sitting beside the King and popping out royal babies!"

They were expecting Arya to fight some more, but she surprised them both when she started crying instead.

"Hey, Arya," Jon said as he took hold of her arm. She tried to pull away, but Jon's grip was strong.

"Leave me alone!" she sobbed. She sat there with knees bent, her head resting over her arms as she cried softly.

Robb and Jon looked at each other and instantly regretted teasing her. Maybe their guess was right. Maybe Arya really is in love with the young king.

"Arya," Robb whispered into her ear as he leaned closer. "I was just teasing you, I'm sorry," he said, putting an arm around her curled-up form. "Seven hells, you mustn't let Gendry see you crying."

Arya sniffed as she straightened up and ran a hand over her face to wipe the tears. She looked over to Gendry and saw that he was still conversing with her sister, and the miserable feeling she felt turned into a flash of jealousy.

"So are you…you know…in love with him?" Jon asked warily, as he watched her try keep her emotions under control. He wondered what caused this sudden shift in her mood from sad to angry, but then he remembers that love can cause unexplainable things to people.

Arya never got to answer it though, because they noticed Ned and Catelyn were walking over to where they were.

"Mother! Gendry taught me how to shoot a bow and arrow! Watch!" Rickon cried out proudly, as he got into the best archer's stance he could muster.

Catelyn gave him a smile, somewhat distracted though, and ruffled his soft curly hair. "I'd love to see that, my love, but right now we need to talk to King Gendry."

They all noticed how she put stress on his title. Even Gendry noticed because he sulked a little.

"What is it?" Gendry asked as he stood and walked over to follow them.

Ned's face was filled with worry. "Gendry, come with us now. Someone's paid you a visit."


The Queen is even more beautiful up close.

They all stood by the sides as they watched mother and son's tearful reunion. It felt wrong, though. No one should be witnessing something as private as this moment, but they all stood mesmerized by the bittersweet moment of it all.

Arya had never seen Gendry cry before, and her heart ached for him at this moment.

"I thank you all for taking care of my Gendry," Cersei said when she and Gendry finally let go of each other. With a final kiss to the top of Gendry's head, she headed over to Ned and Catelyn and surprised them with a warm embrace. "I don't know how he would have survived on his own during the past weeks, but I see that he's being taken care of.

"We were happy to have him here in our home," replied Ned.

Gendry frowned. "Why all this talk of gratitude now? It's not as if we're leaving Winterfell on the morrow."

Cersei's face was sad. "Oh, love. But we are leaving on the morrow."

Everyone gasped in shock, except maybe Arya whose eyes suddenly started to water.

Gendry was leaving her too.