Harwin had been one of Ned Stark's men at Winterfell. Arya felt safer knowing he was there to look out for her and Gendry. Tom, Lem, Harwin and the others had been good to them. It almost made Arya forget that they planned to ransom her. Ever since the night that Gendry had told her he loved her, Arya's spirits had been unusually high. The men were starting to notice that she did not sulk or curse at them. Tom had made a few comments about 'young love', but Lem and Harwin had kept a very close eye on her when she and Gendry practiced swords. She had seen Lem pull Gendry aside more than once. Lem always had a terrifying look on his face, and Gendry always stared at the ground. Gendry would always be in a particularly bad mood afterwards. When Arya tried to ask him about it, he would say shake his head in anger and walk away from her.
It had been four days since that night and their group was still at the Peach. Even though the men had further to travel, now that they were going to the Twins, they seemed reluctant to leave their beer and women. Arya had woken so happy each morning. The men watched her and Gendry in the day and evening, but by the time night came they were so in cups that all Lems treats were put aside and no one seemed to care that they were alone together. Each night Arya had gone to bed first, a little earlier every time. A few minutes later Gendry would follow. Again, like every night, he slipped into bed beside her. Nervous tension and longing radiated from both of them. Gendry knew he had to be sensible. Arya could not be delivered to her brother dishonoured in any way. He had Lems words ringing in his ears as he lay next to her.
'Why is Lem so angry with you?' she asked as she turned on her side, facing him.
'He can see that I love you, and he keeps warning me not to touch you... he wants to remind me that you are a princess of sorts, a highborn Lady regardless. I am not to touch you.'
Arya bit her lip. She might blush and giggle now, at times, but she still felt like an idiot when it came to being a 'woman'. She wanted to kiss Gendry. She had never kissed anyone, and did not know how to go about it. He had not tried to do anything other than hold her hand, and she was not allowed to stroke his chest since the first night.
'You will have my head on a spike' he said when she tried to touch him the next night. 'I will have to sleep with the horses if you do that again'.
She had tried to reach over the following night too and he had said the same. Then he repeated 'I will not dishonour you Arry'. He was so stubborn. Arya longed to see what kissing him would be like, but she had no idea how to start. She knew she would never sit on his lap and kiss him like the girls downstairs. They all had buxom figures, long hair and some had comely faces. She was skinny with only slight curves. She had not even had her first moon blood yet. She was not as secure as them in her womanhood, so she could not act like them.
'You haven't touched me, so to hells with Lem and his stupid threats' she said harshly. Her frustration was starting to show. 'He has fucked every woman downstairs, so he should mind his own business'.
'Arry... you shouldn't talk like that.' Gendry said. 'He is right. Your brother will flay me' he said in a whisper.
'No he wouldn't. You do not know Robb... What does it matter?' she spat. 'You are so stubborn and bull-headed you won't touch me anyway, now that you have made up your mind about it'. Arya instantly went red. She did not mean to get so angry and show how frustrated she was, lying next to him every night, and he not trying to kiss her.
Gendry chuckled 'Angry about that are ya?' It was a source of great pleasure to him that Arry was as irritated by their sleeping arrangements as he was.
'Shut up stupid... I just don't like being told what to do'.
Without warning Gendry turned to his side and faced her. Arya heart stopped and her body froze. 'What is he doing!' she thought. Gendry put his hand on her cheek and moved his lips to hers. They touched softy. Gendry moved his head back and looked at her.
'Was that you first kiss?' he asked. Arya nodded. She knew that if she tried to speak, her words would make no sense.
'Do you want a real kiss? He asked. Arya nodded again, although a little quicker than before which made Gendry smile.
He moved his lips to hers again, soft and gentle pecks at first. Then he began to part his lips. He flicked his tongue against her lips and she opened them a little. His tongue slid into her mouth and Arya gasped. When Sansa and Jayne talked about kissing, the idea of a man sticking his tongue in your mouth sounded disgusting. But now Arya felt heat move up her body and allowed herself to lean into Gendry as she grabbed the back of his head and moaned. Arya moved her hand down his neck and shoulder. Her fingertips gently traced down to his stomach and back again. She could feel Gendry tense when she did this. He pulled his head away and took her hand off his chest. He moved his body back a little from her.
'What?' she asked. 'Did I do it wrong?' Arya looked down from his gaze as she asked. Her cheeks flushed and tears began to form in the corner of her eyes. Gendry laughed and Arya embarrassment turned to anger and she punched him in the chest.
'Stop laughing at me'
'I'm sorry Arry... but you're so silly sometimes'. Arya was about to scream but he leaned in and pecked her lips with his. Arya looked at him confused.
'You did nothing wrong my wolf... but if I kept kissing you I would not be able to stop... and then... well we know what happen.' Arya blushed again but only for a second. Not only did kiss Gendry. But he had enjoyed it so much he had to stop. Suddenly she felt powerful, not like she did with a sword, but a different kind of power, a confidence she had never felt before. She propped herself up on her elbow so that she was looking down on Gendry and used her other hand to cup his face. Before he could protest, she met his lips with hers and opened her mouth to allow her tongue to explore his. Gendry hadn't tried to fight. He didn't think he could get harder, but the sensation was almost painful. As her kiss became more and more forceful, her fingers knotted in his hair and she was pulling him to her, moaning into each movement. In the intensity, Gendry wanted to grind into her, move his hand down and cup her breast, slide his hand inbetween her legs. His mind was racing with all the things he wished to do to her. And then she stopped. She looked at him with black, hungry eyes. Gendry placed his hand on her shoulder and moved her back so that she was lying down again.
Then he sat up and said simply 'I had better go sleep with the horses tonight'. He got out of bed slowly and got dressed, aware of the throbbing between his legs the whole time. He tried to catch his breath while sitting at the edge of the bed.
'Are you really going to sleep in the stables?' Arya asked when her breath returned.
'I need some cold air. You have to be sleep when I get back. If one of the men had walked in...'
'I know' she cut him off. 'I'm not sorry thought' she said defiantly.
Gendry chuckled 'Neither am I... it was almost worth losing my head over', with that he walked out.
Arya lay there examing all the fluttering running through her body. She sighed and turned over as the hot feeling between her legs subsided. 'There is as much power in a kiss as there is in a sword' she thought. 'Who would have guessed?'
The next day more new men arrived at the Peach. When everyone sat down to dinner, Arya could see that Gendry was looking more guilty than usual whenever Lem or Harwin gave him a look. Arya felt a little guilty too because Gendry would be one who got into trouble if they found out about last night's kiss, not her. She sat beside Gendry and one of the new men, Kal, sat beside her. He was telling the men all the news he had heard along his travels. 'The Kingslayer has escaped' he declared. At once everyone said it was not true.
'We had word that the King was on his way to the Twins and that he had married, but no mention of the Kingslayer escaping.' Tom said.
'That's because it was kept quite to stop men from King's Landing looking for him... to give the Wolf King time to find him again', Kal answered.
'How can you escape from the Riverrun dungeon? Lem said. 'It's impossible'.
'Not if you have help', kal said with a smile.
'Who helped him?' Tom shouted.
'One of the Riverrun women I'd wager' Tansy laughed.
'Ohh... it was a woman, but not from Riverrun'. Everyone looked at Kal, waiting. 'It was Lady Stark'.
Arya nearly choked on the bread she was eating. She could feel the men look at her for a second before catching themselves. Gendry looked from the corner of his eye, trying not to be obvious.
'Lady Stark and her woman knight were in with him all night, with skins of wine, and in the morning, he was gone' Kal claimed with a loud laugh. Tansy joined him.
Without thinking, Arya grabbed the bronze cup in front of her and swung it with all her power, smashing it into Kals face. It was not expected and Kal fell back off the bench and to the floor. Arya jumped up before Gendry could stop her and shouted 'Liar... you're a bloody liar'.
With that, Kal rose to his feet and slapped Arya across the cheek with the back of his hand. She fell to the ground like lead. Kal was not particularly big, but Arya was tiny in comparison and fell to the floor awkwardly. Rage exploded in Gendry when he seen Arya fall. He drew back his right arm and thrust his fist into Kals face with all the strength he had. There was a loud crack, and blood began to pour from Kals nose as he slumped backwards. Gendry grabbed his tunic with his left hand and drew back his right fist again, about to strike, but Lem was on him, holding his arm back. Harwin held his left. Together they pulled Gendry away from Kal. Gendry fought them. He was seething with rage at the man who struck Arry. He thought in that moment that he would kill him.
Arya had been helped off the ground by Bella. She could see the anger on Gendry face and for the first time, she seen his real strength. It was taking everything Lem and Harwin had to hold him. Tom had to help in order to restrain him.
'Gendry... stop!... please', she shouted. When he heard her voice he looked over to her. The pleading in her eyes broke him from his hate for long enough to calm a little.
'Listen to the girl, boy' Lem said. Gendry relaxed. He stopped fighting his brothers. Arya walked over to him and took his hand, which as red and swollen looking. Kal was half unconscious. He was bought to the far corner of the room and attended by Tansy and another girl.
'You too had better go upstairs... I don't know how I'm to explain that, girl' Lem said.
'That was a stupid move, Arya. Do you want to be ransomed by some sellsword to King's Landing?' Harwin cut in.
'He was telling lies' Arya spat.
'Aye, that may be child, but what will his words matter when Queen Cersei has her hands on ya? Tom said in a whispered tone, sounding genuinely concerned.
'I'd do it again' Arya shouted as she turned and ran up the stairs.
Lem smacked Gendry in the head. 'And what about you, boy... you near killed a man with a single punch'.
'He hit Arry' Gendry shouted 'He deserved more than one punch'
'Never mind boy, he'll live I'm sure' Tom said. 'But best watch yourself next time you lose your temper... you're a lot stronger than you know.'
Gendry went upstairs. The men looked at each other shaking their heads. 'He's a bull alright' Tom said. 'If you had not dragged him off, he would have killed the man'.
'Aye... and how do you think he'll fare when we have to hand the girl over to her brother?' Harwin said.
'I don't care.' Lem cut in. 'He is one of us now. Best we get them away from each other before he takes her maidenhood and all are heads are put on spikes'.
'He won't Lem. He's a good boy' Tom said.
Upstairs Arya sat on the edge of the bed. 'What have I done? They will know I am a Stark. I have put everyone in danger'.
'We are always in danger Arry... don't upset yourself.'
Gendry walked over and knelt in front of her. 'Let me see your face', he said. Arya tilted her head.
'I should have killed him'.
'For a minute, I thought you were going to'.
'I'm sorry, I...'
'Don't Gendry, it was not your fault. Please don't..' But Gendry cut her off by kissing her swollen cheek. 'I love you my wolf',, he whispered.
'I love you', she said.
Arya stood and undressed. Gendry did the same. The both climbed into bed. Instantly Gendry's arm was around her, pulling her into his body.
'It will be okay Arry, I promise. Tom will tell some tale and I will not let Kal near you again'
'I'm not worried about him, I just hate the lies about my mother. She would never get drunk and lie with a Lannister. It is a disgusting lie' she spat.
'I know and the men know. Forget Kal's lies. You will see your mother and brother soon and all will be well'.