Gendry
"Where are you going? You will not defeat the Mountains men, boy." Lem yelled as Gendry mounted his horse.
"Aye... and she is probably near enough to the Landing by now." Harwin put in.
"I am not going south... I am going north." He said sternly.
"North... you're going to attack Winterfel alone, are ya?"
"I'm going to the Wall... I have to tell Jon. Together we will find a way to get her back."
"He's a man of the Watch now... they can't leave the Wall. He won't be able to help ya."
Gendry glared at the men. "What would you have me do, so? Should I just stay here and do nout?"
"No, boy." Tom said. "Go to her brother... he seemed a decent sort... you will find a way, I'm sure of it."
Gendry nodded and they gave him looks of encouragement back, but he could see the doubt in his Brothers eyes. They thought she was lost, but he would never believe that.
He rode all during the days and most of the nights. He was exhausted. I will never bloody reach it! How much further can it be! he screamed to himself, daily. He had no food and his horse was about to collapse. He did not want to risk stopping at a tavern again as he had gotten into a fight with a man who tried to rob him. Gendry nearly killed him with a few punches. He was so mad and frustrated. He saw the man as Ramsey Bolton, even though he had never seen Bolton before and did not know his face. He had hit him so hard he heard bones crack. The Brotherhood were right, he did not know his own strength. It was only when Arya was threatened that he lost control and seen the damage he could do. He was growing weaker and was frozen solid, but he would not give up. Gendry was used to the heat of the South and the fiery temperatures of the forge. He was sure he would lose a toe or two before he reached the Wall. He was rewarded for his determination one day, when he looked up and seen the most amazing sight he had ever encountered. A seven hundred foot high wall made of ice. He stopped to marvel at it. Then, remembering why he was there, he kicked his horse and they both gave their last breaths to reach the Wall.
Arya
Arya was to be held in her chambers until Lord Ramsey came to claim her. It was decided that he should make the moon long journey to Kings Landing to collected her himself. His father had insisted.
"I've heard she is wild, son." He said. "Just teach her obedience. She will have learned it by the time you get to Winterfell. I want no trouble. It cannot be known that you swapped wives. Marry her quietly before the Queen and take her straight away so the marriage is consummated. Make sure you deal with that other girl when you get back."
"I will father." He replied simply. "Winterfell is secure."
The Queen had insisted that Arya dine with her every evening. She enjoyed telling Arya tells of Ramsey's hunting games.
"And if they have pleased him... he will slit their throats before flaying their skin!"
Cersei was always in cups, Arya noted. It was only late afternoon when she was called to eat with her, and every day she was drunk. Arya held her resolve at all the disgusting stories the Queen threw at her. She was determined not to show her fear, though inside her stomach twisted with every detail of her 'husband'.
"You have turned into a cruel drunk, Your Grace." Arya said on the forth evening. "You were a bitch sober... but drunk... well, I can see were Joffery got his... ways."
Cersei laughed a drunken cackle. "It was not from Robert, I can assure you."
"Well, that would have been impossible..." Arya said as she rolled her eyes.
"Your father should have kept that to himself." Cercei answered, as she leaned over the table in an effort to speak quietly.
"Was that the reason for all of it, Queen? This whole damn war! Just to keep your dirty, incestuous secret."
Cersei fell back on her chair and lifted her wine glass, shrugging.
"My father, mother, brothers... your son! Was it worth it, Cersei?"
"I am Queen." She said between sips.
"Aye... and alone. You bring me here every day because you have no one else left. Trying to torment me is your only entertainment. I do not see what is so great about being Queen."
Cersei stiffened. "Guards... take this savage back to her room." she demanded. "I am bored of her."
Arya smiled. Cersei is broken... it is only a matter of time before Stannis overthrows her.
Jon
They had taken wildings as captives. Thousands of them. They had no way to feed them or care for them, but Mance was captured, so they had to give those who yielded a safe place to go.
The men of the Night's Watch were saved by Stannis and Jon and his friends were grateful. They would not die... Sam, Pyp, Grenn, they would all live. One morning a few weeks after the battle ended, he was asked to report to Stannis. He had no idea what the man wanted him for.
"The King wants you, Lord Snow." One of Stannis's men had said.
"I'm no Lord." Jon replied.
"Regardless... the King wants you... now."
Jon looked at his friends. Sam was encouraging, but Pyp and Grenn seemed to hold his fear. He rose from the table and followed the Kings man. He was led to the Commanders room. Inside Mormont, Stannis and the Red woman were waiting for him.
"You are Ned Stark's Bastard?" Stannis asked without polite introductions.
The Commander looked at him with a weary expression.
"I am."
"Your sister is married to the Bolton Bastard, and they are in Winterfell."
"So I have heard." Jon said, trying not to give anything away.
"I want you to leave the Night's Watch and return to Winterfell as Lord Stark. I will legitimise you, Snow. You can take back your home from the turncloak who caused your brother's death, and free your sister."
Stannis's manner was straight and without embellishment. Jon could scarcely believe his ears.
"What do you say?" Stannis asked.
"I... I don't know..."
"Give the boy time... it is a lot to take in." Mormont remarked, trying to give Jon some reprieve from Stannis's glare.
"I would have thought it a simple choice... but come back tomorrow if you wish."
Jon went to is bed in a daze. He had always wanted to be legitimatised. He had dreamed of a different life where he was Ned Starks trueborn son, held his name and was heir to Winterfell. In those dreams, however, all his kin was alive and living there with him. Arya was safe in Acorn Hall and he had no idea where Sansa was. By revealing Arya identity, he might put her in more danger, but Sansa might be able to come home if he held it. Cersei Lannister would definitely attack Winterfell if she heard Sansa had fled there, causing more death. And he has sworn an oath to the Night's Watch. He would lose his brothers, the only brothers he had left. As he sat, contemplating his choices, his friends joined him.
"What did the King want, Jon?" Pyp asked eagerly.
Jon told them Stannis's offer. The three stood wide eyed.
"You'd be a bloody fool not to take it, Snow... suck up here, or Lord of your own castle... it would be the easiest decision I ever made." Grenn said.
"And you could marry and have children... I miss girls." Sam said sadly.
"What do you know of girls?" Pyp asked sarcastically.
"I know how to look at them." Sam said with a smile and they all laughed.
"Did any of them look back at ya?" Grenn asked.
"No."
"What will you do, Jon?"
"I don't know." He said as he got up and walked out of the room.
"Can I talk to you Commander?" Jon asked as he poked his head around the door.
"Aye... I've been waiting for you. Come in, boy."
"What should I do?" he asked straight. Jon's eyes were pleading for answers.
"I can't tell you what to do, lad."
"I am sworn to the Night's Watch... can't I be killed if I accept Stannis's offer?"
"I can fix that... Stannis can legitimise you and give you an army to reclaim Winterfell in your father's name... the only question, lad, is if you want to be Lord of Winterfell." Mormont said simply.
"What of my brothers?"
"Your brothers will understand if you go... no doubt they would run to Winterfell if they could. What of your sister's?"
"Arya is safe where she is. I have no idea where Sansa is... but I could make Winterfell a safe place for her to come back too."
"Stannis will want an answer tomorrow... take the night to think on it."
"I will feel like I have dishonoured everyone, if I turn my back on my vows... I swore before the god's."
"That is not a reason to stay... we are safe now with Stannis's men to help us. Mance is caught. You are not abandoning us if you go, Jon. You are helping the King secure the north from the people who betrayed your father and brother... and I know that girl at Winterfell is not your sister, but I am sure she needs saving, along with the rest of your fathers people. Stannis will claim Winterfell with or without you, however. Sleep on it, lad."
Jon got up and left. He went to his bed, ignoring the looks and questions from his friends, and tried to find sleep. The next morning, Stannis called for him straight after they broke their fast.
"Well, what answer have you, Snow?" Stannis asked in his usual forthright manner. He really was a humourless and disagreeable man to talk to, Jon thought.
"I have decided to decline your request, Your Grace."
It was easy to see that everyone in the room had not expected that answer.
"You're going to stay here, and leave your sister to rot with Bolton? It is true what they say of men with Bastard blood." Stannis said revealing his anger.
Jon swallowed his and looked briefly to the Commander and back to Stannis.
"Your Grace, I believe my sister is more than capable of looking after herself. She has survived this long, after all. My father lost his head because he thought you to be the rightful heir, so my refusal is not meant as a slight on your Kingship, but I will not claim Winterfell over the bodies of my murdered family. I may have bastard blood, but Robb, Bran and Rickon were my brothers and I loved my father, but they are dead. My home is gone. The men of the Night's Watch are my brothers now, and the Wall is my home."
Stannis slammed his fist on the table. "Fine, be gone with you, fool."
Jon looked at the Commander who gave him a slight nod of respect, before turning and leaving the room. When he told his friends he decided to stay they thought he had gone mad.
"I'm glad you're staying though." Sam had said. "I was sure you'd be gone when I woke up."
The Lord Commander made no further comment, though Jon thought him as surprised as the rest. It was within the week that Jon was called for by one of Stannis's men and bought to the Commanders room again.
"Maybe they want to give you King's Landing too." Grenn said laughing.
"Be sure and say bloody 'Yes' this time, Jon." Pyp said with humour, but he was not joking.
When he entered the room his mouth fell open and fear gripped his heart.
"Gendry... what are you... Ohh God's, where is she?"
"You know him, then? He came to the gates asking for you." The Commander asked.
"He is a friend of Arya's... where is she?" Jon demanded.
Gendry was exhausted, starved and frozen. He looked at Jon with heavy eyes, shivering and sweating.
"Acorn Hall was sacked when we were gone helping the villages of the Riverlands."
"God's... no," was all Jon could say.
"They were looking for her, Jon... they knew who she was. The Mountain and his men took her to King's Landing."
Terror griped him. "The Mountain has her... How did they find her?"
"I don't know... I am sorry Jon. I thought she was safe. I know you have taken vows here, but you must help me find her. I need her back! I need her, Jon." Gendry slumped down on the floor, shivering. The Commander ordered men to take him and give him warm clothes and food and see to his fever. When they were gone, he said,
"Is that the boy you told me about, who travelled with your sister these past years?"
"Yes... he is hopelessly in love with her, as you can see."
"He must have rode fast to get here. He looks like he has not slept in weeks."
"Like I said, hopelessly in love... I trusted him to keep her safe." Jon spat.
"It's not his fault lad." The Commander said, feeling sorry for Gendry.
"I know... I know."
"It may have been from here... a lot of questions were asked when you left."
"Who would... Slynt... that traitor, it was Janos Slynt!"
"Aye, I'd say you are right... he is probably in contact with the queen, hoping to get out of his vows, but we have no proof, so keep your head." Mormont warned.
"I need to see the King." Jon said.
"Aye, I thought you might say that."