Chapter 8

Not a man spoke, no one blinked. Every man`s eye was on Gendry. Gendry`s eyes however held Arya`s, they stared at each other as though having a silent conversation.

"Well that explains things doesn`t it." Arya said quietly, "or at least why the gold cloaks are after you."

"Yeah." Was all Gendry could manage to say.

Melisandra moved next to them stepping forward laying a hand on Gendry`s shoulder causing him to tense.

"It is the truth the blood of Robert Baratheon runs through your veins. We need you boy, you will help end this war and help to assure that the rightful King sits upon the iron throne." Gendry could feel her eyes on him but he refused to look at her. Choosing instead to look past her at Beric.

"I`m sorry son, but the Lord of Light needs you."

Before Gendry even saw her move Arya was between him and the men advancing on him with Needle unsheathed.

"Did the Lord of Light tell you that or did she." Her voice was more like a snarl.

Melisandra made her way back toward Beric and nodded to two men that brought forward two bags of gold.

"You lying bastard!" Arya stepped forward screaming. Gendry put a hand on her shoulder to keep her from going any further. "You aren`t doing this for a god you are doing it for gold!"

Suddenly there were hands on Gendry`s shoulders. Large hands began to pull his arms behind his back and tie his wrists together. Even with all of his strength he could not fight them off.

He wiggled and kicked trying to get them off of him but it was no use.

"Get off of me!" Arya shouted. Gendry looked up to see Rowan wrapping her up in his arms so that she could not move. "Let him go you lying.." her voice trailed off as she fought against Rowans large frame.

Gendry knew Rowan would not harm Arya but seeing her being man handled like that made him want to kill someone.

"Take him to the cart." Melisandra told his captures.

Gendry was shoved out of the cave. Rowan went ahead of them carrying Needle in one hand and Arya over his shoulder kicking and screaming at him.

Gendry could do nothing but watch her struggle as he was led out of the cave into the morning light. Past the place where he and Arya had slept.

They continued until they were into the trees where the red woman`s horse waited along with a mule and an open hay cart.

"You can stay here." One of the captures said to Rowan.

Rowan turned and looked down on the man. "The girl will want to say goodbye, so I will let her say goodbye." The man didn`t argue so with that Rowan turned and continued to the cart where he put Arya on the ground. He bent down close to her ear whispering quickly.

"I will take out the men you get Gendry and get yourselves the hell out of here. That woman is bad news and I couldn`t live with myself if I let her leave with him. He`s a good lad. There is a town not far from here. Don`t stay at an inn find shelter in a home if you can and only for a night then go as far away as possible." He slid a dagger into her breeches before winking at her.

Arya shook her head indicating that she understood.

"I`ve told her to behave or her punishment would be worse than what you lot are going to do to that boy. I have to excuse myself so let the girl say her goodbyes and I`ll be back for her quickly."

Arya watched him walk away before returning her attention back to the Gendry who was now being tossed into the cart. The men checked his bonds before mounting their horses. They didn`t even so much as glance back at Arya as she climbed up next to Gendry. Her heart was racing and her body was shaking slightly.

"Arya look at me." Gendry moved his face directly in front of hers. "I will be fine, don't worry about me. Stay here with Beric they don't want to harm you they want to take you to your aunt."

"I don`t care what they want with me that woman is not taking you." Arya began to force herself to cry. She knew to pull this off she would have to put on a show.

One of the men turned his head to look at her. She knew it had to be now she had to distract them.

Arya looked back at Gendry.

"Arya please don`t cry." He shifted trying to get as close to her as possible.

Arya shot a glance up at the man that was watching, he was turning back around. She had to keep his attention. Without thought she grabbed Gendry`s face and smashed her lips against his.

All of a sudden everything was gone. The men were gone the red woman, the cold the forest her dead father her lost wolf. Nothing else existed but Gendry. She moved her mouth against his biting his lower lip pulling it into her mouth until he let a small noise escape him. She should make sure they were watching she should stop but she couldn`t, something inside of her wouldn`t let her break away from him. Gendry`s tongue slid along her bottom lip before slipping into her mouth tasting her. That was the breaking point she gasped and her mind became clear again. She grabbed a fist full of his black hair pulling her body into his getting as close as she could to him in an effort to hide her other hand pulling the dagger out of the top of her pants.

A yell reached her ears and she forced herself to pull away from Gendry. Her mind was still fuzzy but she looked around to see the guards. Rowan had already knocked one off of his horse he lay unconscious on the ground. Arya knew she had to move quickly, she jumped behind Gendry sawing off the ropes.

Once his hands were free Gendry stood jumping over the side of the cart to aid Rowan.

"Rowan ripped the helmet off the man and slammed it into the side of his head. Knocking him unconscious as well."

The fight was not quite and Arya knew someone had to have heard it.
Rowan turned on them. "What are you two still doing here go!"

Arya grabbed Gendry`s arm and pulled him away. "Gendry hurry up come on!"

Gendry just looked at Rowan. "Thank you." He said as Arya pulled him away.

"Go boy! Take care of her." Was all Rowan said as he tossed Needle at Gendry.

Gendry nodded and turned giving the sword to Arya where she sheathed it adn sprinted off into the trees Gendry right on her heels.