Real quick before I start I wanted to just talk address something I forgot to before and I am not sure how I forgot but, I see Arya being about 14 or 15 in these stories. Gendry is the same age but just for obvious reasons Arya is older, older but still with that sort of oblivious girl strong willed personality.

So with that enjoy!

Chapter 7

Gendry woke before Arya. Every part of him wanted to lay there and just watch her sleep but he forced himself to stand and stretch. It was just beginning to rain so he scooped up his fur and laid it over Arya. He stayed bent low near her taking in her peaceful face before blinking himself back to reality and making his way out behind a tree to piss. The camp was oddly quiet that morning he noticed. He heard no voices, no crackling of campfire. Gendry finished and made his way toward the cave, where he assumed they were all huddled to get out of the rain. It was still odd to him that so many of the men were awake so early and being so silent. The sun hadn`t even come up yet and usually the only people awake at this hour were Arya and Beric. As he entered the cave he could hear whispers, faint voices. He followed the path all the way to the entrance of the part of the cave that the Brotherhood was using as a meeting room. He was going to walk in and join them when he heard something that forced him to stop dead in his tracks.

"It`s not right! We could use him he already agreed to make those tips for me arrows, and our weapons need fixed. We can still ransom the little lady off but please don`t do this to Gendry. He`s a good lad."

"You really think the little lady is goin to stick around when she finds out we done sold off her bull. She`ll likely kill us all in our sleep." Gendry could tell that was Rownan speaking.

Gendry could hardly breathe. What had the man meant by that?

Then a woman`s voice began to speak. It was a sultry low kind of voice and it sent chills down his spine, but not in a good way. "That boy has a much higher purpose than polishing your sword. The lord of light has a task for him."

Beric`s voice was scratchy but clear as always as Gendry heard him raise his voice over the murmuring.

"The Lord of Light needs this boy and we are not to question that. We will keep the girl and take her to her aunt in the Veil as planned. Lady Melisandra will take the boy."

The betrayal and confusion inside Gendry was threatening to erupt. Without thinking he stepped into the rock room.

"So," he made his voice as clear and strong as he could make it so he had everyone`s attention.

"Do Arya and I have a say in this?"

Beric turned to face him and Gendry noticed the owner of the female voice for the first time. The crimson color of her cloak matched the color of her hair. Her eyes however seemed to match the coal black color of Gendry`s own hair.

Beric began to speak but the red lady interrupted.

"The Lord of Light needs you boy, you would be wise not to question him. God`s you do look just like him."

Gendry was confused. "Look like who?"

Before he could answer he noticed her dark eyes leave his and look passed him instead. Gendry turned and saw Arya making her way toward him. She stopped just a few inches away from him and looked around at all of the men and finally up at Beric and the Red Woman before looking at him in confusion. She broke her eyes away to look back up at the Red Woman

"Who is she?" Arya blurted.

"My name is Melisandra child. I am a red priestess, and you must be the Stark girl. I have heard stories of the similarity but I can see now just how true it is you could be your aunt born again child."

Arya had been told before she looked like her dead aunt Lyanna and it always gave her a sense of pride whenever she heard it, but for some reason this woman made her blood run cold and her hand move instinctively to Needles hilt. Gendry noticed her hand resting on the small sword and took a step closer to her to have a better chance at grabbing hold of her if she decided to do something stupid. Arya didn`t move however, even as the Red Woman smoothly made her way to Arya and Gendry Arya didn`t move a muscle. Gendry however instinctively took another step toward Arya so there was no space left between them now and his hand gently brushed hers, but his eyes never left the woman as she stood before them.

"I am taking your friend child. The Lord of Light needs him"

"Like hell you are." Arya`s voice was cold and Gendry could feel her tense up beside him.

"He will change everything child, we need him, the kingdoms need him."

"Stop calling me child and why is a bastard blacksmith`s apprentice so damn important to the kingdoms, more importantly to you."

"She serves the Lord of Light, he needs this boy and we do not refuse him what he wants."

Gendry caught Beric`s one eye before looking back and Melisandra.
"Sorry I don`t exactly believe in your Red God so he`s just going to have need another bastard."

Gendry grabbed Arya`s hand and began to pull her behind him out of the cave.

"You are the last Baratheon bastard boy, you are the one I need and the lord will have you."
Gendry stopped, he didn`t breath or move for what seemed like an eternity. Finally he turned his face to see Arya`s eyes looking up at him wide with surprise.

"Baratheon?" she whispered.