Arya
The dreams had started in Acorn Hall after Gendry and the Brotherhood left. At first she thought she just missed Nymeria more because she did not have Gendry to distract her, but they got more vivid as time when on. She remembered the first time she was able to taste the blood which dripped down the corners of her mouth, her teeth ripping into soft pink flesh and they way her stomach felt so satisfied when she was full. It was becoming more and more apparent that she was Nymeria in her dreams, that they were one.
She kept well away from the King's Road as she made her way north, hiding in trees whenever she heard riders approach or men in the distance. She slept in the trees too, tying herself to a branch high up with a small length of rope. She ate what she was able to hunt or trap, but lighting fires to cook meat was dangerous and could attract attention, so she only cooked once every three days and ate small rations in-between, with whatever roots and leafs she could find. Although she was prisoner of Kings Landing, she ate very well, as the Queen loved to jape her over dinner. Now, her fame was thinning again, as it did whilst she travelled with Gendry to the Wall. She felt weaker every day, but as she tied herself to the top of a new tree each night, she allowed herself to think of that blissful day and night in Acorn Hall.
She replayed Gendry helping her out of her clothes, the feel of his hard chest as she traced her fingers down and to his stomach. She remembered how his tongue played with her nipples and how her body clenched and her legs jerked as his fingers moved inside her and his thumb gently pressed her nub. Sometimes she allowed herself to cry for a minute as she remembered how he looked at her in awe and kissed her, mumbling 'I love you' and laying his head on her belly and telling her that she was his reason for living and that he would find a way to be with her, even if he was an unworthy Bastard. She missed how they laughed and japed about the Brotherhood downstairs at dinner, probably wanting to flay Gendry, knowing what they were up to in her chambers, but not being able to do anything about it. You will be the death of me he whispered in her ear as he spilled his seed in her hand for the third time that day, panting and moaning as he tried to catch his breath. She missed him, she needed him and she would not give in to her weak, tired body. She would find him and be with him.
She headed towards the Riverlands, hoping to find the Brotherhood somewhere along the way. It had been three weeks since she fled from King's Landing and she had only come across trouble once. A man, dirty and stinking of ale, had found her sleeping in the woods. She had sat down to eat and unintentionally fallen into a deep sleep, her body exhausted from travelling and lack of proper food. She had woken to find him lying on top of her, ripping at her breeches and fumbling at her breasts. It took a few second for her to realise what was happening, and then for the shock and fear to turn into rage. As her survival instinct kicked in, she searched for her knife with one hand and pulled his hand from her breeches with the other.
'I like it when you struggle, girl.' He hissed, allowing his stinking breath to flood her face, making her gag.
She could not find her knife in the struggle. She was too weak to push his weight off her frail body, but she kept punching and kicking as best she could. The man grabbed her hard in-between her legs making her cry out in pain. His hands were outside her breeches but he touched her as if she were naked and willing. She bit down on his ear, earning her a hard slap across the face. Then he was gone. His weight was not on her, his hands had left her body and his stinking breath no longer washed over her. When Arya managed to sit up her eyes focused on a large wolf tearing at the man's neck. Arya's ears suddenly began to work again and she heard the man crying out for help and the wolf's growl as she tore into flesh.
"Nymeria... Nymeria, you are back." She whispered, before falling backward and passing out.
When she came to a few minutes later the man was dead and Nymeria was standing over her, licking her face. She reached up and touched her fur, not sure if she was dreaming.
"I am so sorry... I had to send you away from Winterfel... I had to do it to save you. You understand don't you?" Arya asked her.
Nymeria rubbed Arya's cheek with her nose and whimpered. Arya sighed and sat up. She hugged her wolf for a long time, crying. When she finally stopped, she felt invigorated. Her anxiety and fear seemed to melt away with the tears.
"Okay, it's time to find my bull Ny and then we go to the Wall and you can see Jon and Ghost again."
Nymeria nudged her leg and they began walking. It was only a few days later that they were surrounded by a group of men. They held flags with the Lord of Light decorating them. Stannis's Men she thought.
"We are looking for Lady Stark... I have a letter from her brother on the Wall." A solider said far too late.
Nymeria had already bitten three men, leaving them with fewer fingers or gaping wounds in their arms and legs. Arya had stabbed one solider herself who tried to attack Nymeria.
"Jon Snow... now Jon Stark is looking for his sister Arya, who escaped the Queen's men in King's Landing... we are to take her safely to the Wall." He shouted, hoping to calm the girl with crazy eyes and the wolf with blood in her mouth.
"How do you know who I am?" Arya shouted.
She was filthy, in men's clothes. She did not look like a Lady.
The solider blushed. "Beggin' your pardon, Milady, but your brother and the smithy told us what to expect when we found you." He looked at her dirty breeches.
"And who else but a Stark would be protected by such an animal?" he nodded to Nymeria.
"The smithy... what smithy?" Arya gasped.
"Water's I think, Milady... he said he is your friend." He blushed again.
"Gendry is at the Wall, with Jon." She whispered.
"Aye... we can have you there in a few days if we ride hard... your brother said you were a better rider than any of us, Milady."
"I am." She said confidently. "You have a letter from my brother?" she asked, lowering her sword.
He handed her the letter and as she read it, the men tended to their wounds, throwing hate filled looks at Arya and Nymeria.
Sister, my little sis has escaped the Mountain and the Queen again. I am in awe of your strength, as is a certain blacksmith. Come to Wall as soon as possible, little sister. I fear Gendry will go mad if he does not see you soon. You have chosen a good man Arya. He is devoted. I cannot wait to see you again. As soon as you are rested, you can ride with me and we will take Winterfel back in father's name. I love you little sister. Jon.
Arya could feel tears welling up in her eyes, but she fought them. Jon was finally a real Stark. They were going to go home. He was inviting her to fight with him. Gendry was safe at the Wall and she would see them both in few days. Nymeria was by her side again. It was more than she could have dreamed of.
"Let us be off." She said to the solders.
"Would you not like to eat, Milady?"
"I will eat when I am at the Wall." She said flatly. "Which one is my horse?"
The Wall
"Arya... gods, your safe!" Jon called from across the yard.
She ran to him and jumped up to stretch her arms around his neck, squeezing as hard as she could.
"Jon! I thought I would never see you again, brother."
"I had feared the same, little sister."
After a minute, he set her down and looked at her.
"You are well?"
"Yes... where is Gendry?" she asked, looking over his shoulder.
There were men all around them, staring and gawking at her. Some seemed friendly, but others looked at her like she was meat. It was unsettling. Then she seen his large arms and broad shoulders, covered in furs, breaking through the crowd of onlookers.
"Get out of my way." He demanded as he pushed soldiers and Nights Watchmen aside.
"Gendry." She breathed.
Jon smiled. "He was nearly dead by the time he got here."
Arya smiled at Jon, but really she could only concentrate on the well built, black haired man who was walking towards her. His blue eyes looked at her with such relief that she could not move for a moment, lost in blue. She began to walk slowly towards him. Then she ran. When she was near, she jumped up and threw her arms around his neck. He scooped her up and squeezed her. She lifted her head and, without caring that everyone could see, she kissed him on the lips, grabbing his hair and his face, and mumbling, "I missed you, my bull... I missed you."
Gendry knew he could be whipped for kissing a highborn lady, but in that moment he didn't care. She was back with him, where she belonged and everything would be well as long as they never parted again. He kissed her back, causing some of the crowd to jeer and whistle.
"I am so sorry, my wolf... I will never leave you again, my love." He said in-between kisses.
"Enough!" someone shouted.
Gendry didn't have time to look before he felt a sharp pain to the side of his head. Lights flashed before his eyes and he felt the dizziness take over as he fell to the ground.
"Why... why did you do that, you sack of wine?" Arya roared as she grabbed her knife and pointed it at the soldier who had hit Gendry across the head.
It didn't matter, however. Nymeria had the man on the ground and was taking a large chunk out of his hand.
"Call your beast off, girl." Stannis shouted.
"The hell I will!" she screamed as she bent down to Gendry, cupping his head and begging him to wake up.
"Arya... call Nymeria before she kills him. This is Stannis Baratheon."
"I could care less who he is... why did you have Gendry hurt?"
"He is a bastard; touching a high born... he is lucky that is all I did." Stannis said with his usual aloofness.
Arya called Nymeria and she left the solider alone and walked over, licking Gendry's face to try and revive him.
"So, you are Arya Stark?" a woman, dressed in all red and with a skinny frame, asked.
"I am... you must be the red witch." She spat.
"Some call me that, child."
"Enough." Stannis shouted. "Come to my room, now. We all must talk."
Arya stood up, her fist clenched. "I will go nowhere until I see that Gendry is alright."
All the men gasped or snickered.
"You would speak to your king like that child?" the red woman asked.
"He is not the king yet... and he has no right to determine who can and can't kiss me, witch."
Jon could see Sam, Pyp and Grenn, mouths open, eyes wide. Sam looked as if he was going to wet his pants.
"Arya, please. My friends will take care of Gendry, I promise." He beckoned them over and they came slowly. '"Can you tend to him, Sam?"
Sam nodded quickly and Pyp and Grenn picked him up and carried him away. Stannis was looking at Arya with venom. She had disrespected him in front of everyone and he could not let it stand.
"This savage is your sister?" he asked, looking at Jon.
"She has been living on the road for years, Your Grace, please forgive her rudeness."
Arya was about to protest, but Jon walked over to her and took her by the arm.
"Please Arya... behave." He half smiled at her whilst nudging her a little.
"Of course, My Lord." She said as she curtsied. "Anything for the Lord of Winterfel. Do I get to meet your betrothed?"
"In time... I have a feeling you two will get along." He said, rolling his eyes.
"Up to my rooms, now." Stannis ordered.
Arya looked at Jon and smirked.
"He is a gentle and caring soul, I see." She whispered.
Jon snickered. "He is kind and full of compassion... he is also very funny when in the mood... he has us all aching in our sides with his quick wit."
Arya had to cough to cover her loud laugh. She considered that Stannis Baretheon might be the most miserable man she had ever met, as she climbed the stairs.
"Will you show me the top of the Wall, brother?" she asked excitedly, after remembering where she was.
"Of course, later. You will love it, but Gendry wanted to show you, so you will have to wait until he wakes up. He has been talking about showing you for weeks... over and over."
"He blames himself."
"Aye."
They walked into a large room. Stannis, the red woman, Lord Commander, Jon and Arya.
"Your brother will take back Winterfel in your family's name." Stannis began, without offering her food or a bath. "He is marring the Wildling princess. You will marry too, I will find someone soon."
Arya gasped before rage filled her belly and she clenched her fists.
"I'll not marry anyone you chose." She said, looking him in the eye, fists clenched and determination etched across her face.
"You will do as I bid, girl." Stannis replied, unflinching.
Arya took a deep breath before saying, "If you think I escaped the Queen... twice and The Mountain, twice... travelled the King's Road during a bloody war and made it through alive, with barely a scratch... all so you can marry me off to some old, fat Lord I've never met, so that you can acquire a larger army, you are mistaken."
The Lord Commander had to couch to suppress a small laugh. Jon looked at him, bowed his head and smiled.
"You will do as you are told, girl." Stannis declared.
"I will slit the throat of any man who attempts to marry me... be warned Your Grace... I will not marry any Lord... so unless you plan on holding me down and wrapping a cloak around my shoulders and having me raped... it will not happen."
Stannis slammed his fist on the table. "Have you no honour child? Your father would ashamed!"
"Do not speak to me of my father... you didn't know him. He died to protect your claim to the Iron Throne; I will not give my life for you too."
"You will do your duty." The red woman said.
"I will do as I please, witch."
"Have you no control over her, Snow?" Stannis asked Jon, annoyance radiating from him.
"My father would not have made her marry against her will, Your Grace. I will not do it." Jon said in a calm voice.
"Well, know this... you will not marry that bastard!"
"I have no intension of marring anyone... I am a Stark. I will never take another name, but I will be with Gendry if I please... it is none of your concern."
"Arya... you cannot mean..." Jon began.
"Jon, I have never wanted to be a lady, nor do I care about living like one. I love Gendry and we will be together, but I will not marry him. If that is a problem for you, I will go somewhere where I can be free to live as I please."
"You will live in Winterfel, little sister... Gendry can be our smithy. The rest... we will see." Jon looked at the Lord Commander for inspiration, but found none.
"You will marry who I tell you to marry." Stannis said, unyielding.
"I will not, you stupid fool!" Arya yelled.
"How dare you, child... you are worse than your aunt... do you want to bring to the realm the same destruction your selfish aunt caused?" he roared.
Arya and Jon looked at each other in confusion.
"Do you mean Lyanna, Your Grace?" Jon asked.
"You look just like her, too." Stannis said his voice lowering. "She was also wild and it caused a war."
"Lyanna was taken by the Rhaegar Targaryen, how..." Jon began to ask.
"Your aunt was not taken... as your sister has proved, no one can take a Stark girl like her for long. She and the prince ran off together... for love." He almost spat the words, as if the idea of love disgusted him.
"My foolish brother was so in love that he refused to believe she ran away from him, but we all knew that no one could keep Lyanna Stark against her will, not even the prince. It causes a war and the death of thousands of good men."
"My aunt did not cause that bloody war... it was caused by men who think they can use women as pawns in their quests for power. If Lyanna was able to refuse Robert and be with the prince, none of the bloodshed would have occurred... have you ever thought of that, Your Grace?"
Every time Arya addressed him, Your Grace, she emphasised the tile, mocking him. Stannis did not seem to notice, although everyone else in the room did.
"Foolish dreams, little girl." Stannis rolled his eyes.
"We will see how little I am if you try to marry me to one of your Lords." Arya threatened.
"Enough... get out."
"With pleasure." Arya said as she and Jon walked out the door to a waiting Nymeria and Ghost.
"You're Grace... if I may." The Lord Commander asked after they had left. "Why not legitimise the blacksmith and then marry her to Arya Stark... they will be loyal with Jon, I'm sure."
Stannis groaned. "Leave us."
The Lord Commander left the room wondering why Stannis had not told the boy that he was Robert Barethoeons son.
Stannis turned to Melisandre when they were alone. "If I did legitimise him, he would be loyal; I have no doubt, if I gave him the girl."
"He has royal blood, Your Grace. The Lord of Light rewards greatly for the offering of royal blood. We can awake the stone dragon, Your Grace."
"What are you saying?" Stannis asked her.
"Burn him... burn the blacksmith." She answered, rubbing the ruby stone around her neck.