Valyrian Steel

Chapter 28

Gendry Waters

Gendry knelt in the cold snow with Jon and the wolves. While the Skaggossi, Umber and Seagaurd men watched the shoreline for any sign of Arya and the hostages Gendry watched Nymeria. She was still and had not moved since her howl a few moments before. They held back behind a copse of trees by a hillock. More men from camp had wanted to join but were told to hold back so that the Frey scouts would not spot a large force moving. Jason Mallister and Jon were watching the shoreline closely while Shaggy-dog, Ghost and Nymeria were listening, smelling and watching with their heightened senses. Gendry didn't know much about wolves but he did know that they would sense Arya long before any of the men did.

The men were on edge, everything was riding on a girl who barely surpassed five feet. She went into a fortress alone and was expected to come out with the hostages. No word had been sent in the three days since she disappeared. Jason Mallister and Mors Umber were doubtful of Arya's abilities.

"I say we march in the morning, they could have set up a cell for your pretty sister and we wouldn't even know it." Mors muttered.

"I still don't understand how you could send Ned Starks daughter in that nest of vipers." Jason Mallister added.

Gendry resisted the urge to snort in derision, Jason Mallister obviously had no clue what kind of girl Arya was. Jon watched the water's edge and didn't say a word, his hands were buried in Ghosts white fur.

"It's colder than the Strangers tits!" Brynden Tully grumbled.

Before Gendry could ask how the older man knew what the Stranger's tits felt like Nymeria bolted forward. Gendry followed carrying a cloak and boots for Arya. Jon had the dress, Pate had suggested a change of clothes for everyone who had been in the icy cold waters. They could not light a fire so close to the keep without alerting the enemy forces of their presence.

Arya was helping a man so large that he could only be Greatjon Umber, a man with the Mallister look was helping him up from the other side while a sickly looking blonde man followed with chattering teeth. They all had blue lips and were shivering. Greatjon could barely hold himself up and Marq Piper looked half dead. Nymeria allowed Greatjon to collapse on top of her.

"My lords and lady, remove your wet clothes at once" Pate ordered

Arya began to strip and Gendry held up the cloak to shield her from her men. She snorted but Jon held up his own cloak to block any possible view of her. She rolled her eyes and stripped while Gendry avoided looking at her. He handed her some warm socks he had placed inside his shirt to keep warm. She dressed quickly and snatched the cloak from him when she finished.

"They were warm, thank you." She muttered before leaving. She shoved a bag at Jon and told him to hold it open while she shoved snow in the satchel to keep it fresh. Gendry didn't have to ask what was in the satchel. Jon mussed Arya's hair and she smiled she made a motion to give him the satchel but he shook his head.

Jason Mallister was hugging his son tightly while Mors joked with his nephew about getting him a woman. Marq was being tended to by maester Pate and Brynden Tully who informed him of his father's death. The man looked blankly up at Brynden and nodded taking the extra blanket he was offered. Patrek stormed towards Arya who had taken a seat in between Ghost and Nymeria to get warm.

"Where is her body? Her family will want it back."

"I'm not in the habit of leaving evidence, there is no body." Arya said from her seat while Nymeria and ghost watched him closely. Shaggy-dog joined them, the three…four wolves watched Patrek Mallister who seemed unafraid. Whether it was courage or foolishness he stepped forward and started arguing with her.

"You kill a good woman and didn't have the decency to return her body to her loved ones. What kind of monster are you?!"

"The kind that doesn't leave a mess." Arya said coldly Shaggy stepped forward with growl. "I'm sorry for your loss but I will not apologize for what I did, you are free and Walder is dead."

Patrek was about to argue more but his father held him back, "Thank you my lady for returning my son, excuse us." Jason Mallister said with a slight bow. Gendry let out a sigh, what did she do this time?

Pate approached her and she handed him what looked like a mass of red hair, "Valar Morghulis"

"Valar Dohaeris" Pate responded as he slipped whatever Arya handed him into one of his sleeves. He handed her a bit of the tea he had kept warm inside and insulated flask and moved on to the other men.

"Should I ask what that was all about?" Gendry said as he approached her.

Arya shrugged her shoulders, "You can ask, but I won't answer." Gendry let out a sigh and sat next to her, Nymeria nuzzled him momentarily and went back to keeping Arya warm.

"Your mother was worried, you should see her once we get back to camp." Jon said as he approached them.

Arya nodded and smiled a little. "I finally did it."

Jon nodded and ruffled her hair, "Yes you did. Let's head back. We have a big day tomorrow."

They all headed towards the horses to get the former hostages something to eat and celebrate their safe return. Venison stew was served and Greatjon ate six bowls on his own. Arya dumped some of Dornish pepper oil into her stew with some bread. The men asked the former hostages and the Lady Stark to regale them with the tale of their escape. There was silence as Patrek Mallister glared at Arya and Marq Piper sullenly looked at his feet. Greatjon was the first to speak up.

"This little lady disguised herself as a serving wench and took out two men before releasing us. Then when we went down the tower we ran into thirty Frey men and she turned into a wolf, I turned into a bear and carried them out."

A few of the men jeered while others laughed good naturedly. Gendry was sure that the truth was far darker. Arya had killed someone precious to Patrek Mallister to reach Walder Frey.

She rose while Gretjon's tale got progressively taller and went to her tent. Gendry didn't know what to do or say. He was never good with words and before he didn't need to be, at least not with her. While they were on the road they trusted each other enough to do what was necessary and watch each other's back. Now…

Gendry finished his share of the stew and went into his tent, he stared up at the roof and couldn't sleep. He had searched, every farfetched story, every skinny brown girls face. It's why he looked after Jeyne and Willow for so long, why he didn't see how Jeyne looked at him. One night while he was working the forge she had shown up in a long cloak with only a shift underneath and tried to kiss him. He had shoved her back so harshly out of the surprise that her back hit the wall behind her. Since then she wouldn't look him in the eyes. Lem and Tom had laughed at him and called him a steer. After that Gendry was glad to go to Riverrun. The large keep kept them far enough apart and he was happy when she took up with a knight. Jeyne deserved to be happy with someone who actually looked at her and not at the ghost of some girl who might never come back.

Gendry sat up and looked at the bundle at the corner of his tent. He snatched it up and made his way towards Arya's tent. When he stormed in Arya looked up momentarily from sharpening her blade beside Nymeria.

He was never good with words so he tossed the bundle at her feet and paced while he waited for her to open it. He knew every piece in there by heart. He had worked the metal and the leather every night, tossing his mistakes and adding wolf emblems to the ones he liked. Bracers and shoulder pads and a ribbed leather chest piece. Necklaces and rings, bracelets and anklets, all with compartments. Gendry knew she liked to be sneaky, he knew she liked to move quietly. He wanted the metal in her armor to shine but she would not like it if it caught the light at the wrong time. Everything was darkened to hues to gray and blue, save for the jewelry. In case she ever wanted to play the lady.

"I didn't know how tall you'd get or what your measurements would be, Tobho told me a little about Valyrian Steel and the Queen asked me to have a go at some of the ingots she brought back. I used those on the bracers and chest piece, the lighter ones with the fur lining, since it's winter." He stopped pacing and looked at her. The other ones I made with good steel, there were a few blades, daggers and throwing knives. You always liked the lighter quicker weapons. I left them behind since you seem so fond of your needle." He clenched his fists and waited.

"Is this how you've spent your years. Making weapons and armor for a dead girl?" She asked with a raised brow.

"You weren't dead, not to me." Gendry held his ground and stood straight.

Arya stared at him, for the first time in a long time she actually looked at him. Gendry held her gaze and she nodded, biting that damnable lip. She picked up some of the jewelry and scowled.

"The necklace folds out into a blade and the gem is removable on that comb. The bracelet and anklet have removable lock picks, and the ring has a little compartment." He added hoping to wipe that scowl off. Arya actually smiled and set the jewelry gently aside. She picked up the chest piece and twisted it to test the flexibility. She looked closely at the studs and the dire wolf on the chest and shoulders.

"I thought you were a knight?" She said quietly.

"I like making things when my mind is troubled, it was always troubled. I didn't know where you were." He kept the emotion out of his voice and watched her face for any indication that he was reaching her.

"I was fine, you didn't have to worry." Arya said gently then she looked up at him and snapped. "Stupid!"

She was back, truly back. Calling him stupid was the closest thing he's ever get to forgiveness. Gendry bowed with a grin. "My lady" and left dodging a shoe Arya tossed at him. He slept well that night.

)O(

The next morning Gendry woke to Nymeria jumping on him and licking his face. The heavy knocked the wind out of him and he shoved her off with a breathless laugh. She hopped about him for a while acting like an oversized puppy while he changes and bolts out when Arya calls for her.

Gendry strapped his sword to his side and his blacksmiths hammer to the other. Shields got in his way, he preferred broad swords, axes and on occasion maces. In a bind he used his hammer when his other weapons were lodged in someone's chest plate or lost in a scuffle. He was good with most weapons and found some skill with the war hammer but he dropped it as soon as he was compared to Robert.

The camp was in a frenzy with men arming themselves and saddling their horses while Arya spoke with Greatjon and Jon Snow at the center of it all. Arya was wearing the armor Gendry had made for her and he felt a stupidly broad grin spread across his face. She looked good. Arya looked up at him for a moment and realized why he was grinning like an idiot. She scowled at him and flashed him a very unladylike hand gesture that drew her brother's attention. Jon snow motioned for Gendry to join them as they looked over a map Arya had scrawled messily onto a sheet of paper.

"Mallister already knows the drill we approach from the Eastern gate while they watch the Western gate. His men are taking their boats across the river. I want no bloodshed unless absolutely necessary." Jon said motioning towards the crude map as he spoke.

"You're the Lord Commander of the Nights Watch not of the North." Greatjon said with a glare. "My Lady, what are your orders." He said with a nod towards Arya.

Arya looked to Gendry who held her gaze and nodded. "No harm to the servants, women or children. I want a complete surrender, we have dragons that can be here within two days. If Black Walder and his family don't give me their unconditional surrender they die. I will give them one chance."

"It's more than they deserve." Greatjon said sullenly.

"My father would make the attempt to spare bloodshed. Anyone who does not give up their weapons dies." She looked up at Greatjon. "Anyone that my mother identifies as having been complicit in the Red Wedding will be beheaded or sent to the wall to be thrown at the wights."

Greatjon nodded "Good, those do not deserve mercy. Your corpse mother will be pleased." He looked over at the veiled woman who was waiting for her horse to be mounted. Gendry knew that the Lady did not sleep or eat, she simply planned. When Greatjon heard about Lady Stoneheart he had knelt before her as if she was still the Lady Stark.

"Have we finished with the boring military drabble." Tyrion asked as he waddled towards them with Willas and Pate.

"What took you so long Lord Tyrion," Arya asked with a slight inclination of her head.

"My lovely wife was not here to rub my sore legs on this cold morning. They cramp often, Pate graciously offered to help. I found Willas sleeping on a makeshift desk."

"Sorry, I started writing a letter to my brother and sister when I dozed off."

"You have ink on your face." Gendry said spotting writing on Willas' cheek which the man immediately started to wipe clean.

"Damn it Waters, I was hoping it would stay there during our peace talks." Tyrion muttered his fun dashed.

Arya grinned at the small man. "He would have been taken very seriously."

"Of course a man with ink on his face has to be serious." Willas said defensively as he rubbed his cheek and beard. The men chuckled but Greatjon glared at Tyrion.

"I still don't understand, what is a Lannister is doing here."

"He killed Tywin and his daughter is a dear friend of mine." Arya said with a shrug.

"Besides I owe Arya a debt that cannot be repaid." Tyrion said as he pulled his red knit cap snuggly over his head.

"You mean the lives of her family?" Greatjon said aggressively

"Did I lop of Ned Starks head? No. Did I plan the Red Wedding? No. My debt to her is personal and precious." Tyrion said with a derisive tone that ended the conversation.

"We'll move out, Ser Gendry I want you Willas, Brynden and Tyrion in the diplomatic party with Arya and me." Jon said as he rolled up the maps.

Gendry remembered why Jon brought him and nodded, he didn't think it was necessary anymore, Arya had been sated and did not wish to cull the whole of the Twins. He agreed anyways just to watch her back.

Arya mounted her wolf tossing her cloak over Nymeria's back. She looked like a character out of some legendary song or old North tale. Her mother mounted the Dornish steed who seemed jittery with the new rider.

They moved out at a decent pace for the men on foot and arrived at the Twins shortly before noon.

Black Walder Frey stood behind the portcullis with Elmar Frey and his men, the marksmen on the ramparts had their arrows trained on them. Arya rode ahead on Nymeria's back and called out to Black Walder.

"In the name of Queen Daenerys Targaryen, breaker of chains and about a dozen other title I don't very much care to list, I Arya Stark, Wardeness of the North call for your surrender. Be quick about it before the dragons arrive." She dismounted Nymeria and tapped her feet with a smile. "But please resist, that sounds like infinitely more fun."

Gendry didn't know if he should smile or groan so he kept his face as still as stone. Arya was no diplomat.

"I have some conditions."

"Of course, but I have listed the only conditions the Queen and I have agreed to accept. The Freys will surrender their titles and lands to me. Members of your family and household will be released once they have been found innocent of participating during the events of the Red Wedding, and your servants will be allowed to leave with whatever goods they can carry. Simple enough for you?" Arya said with a victorious smile.

Black Walder went red in the face and his men looked at each other in worry.

"Or do you want to tempt the dragons." She added with a satisfied smirk.

"Do you truly think that the Freys of the crossing will give in to your demands so easily. How do you suppose you'll verify who is guilty and who is innocent? And who will answer for the crime of my great-grandfathers death and dismemberment?" He yelled

"I killed him, but it was no crime. It was justice." She said tossing her braid over shoulder in derision.

"They aren't even asking about the poor lass." Greatjon mumbled sadly.

"As for verification who better than the victims to testify." She turned with warm grey eyes.

"Mother, if you could please point out any familiar faces." The Lady Stoneheart stepped forward and lowered the veil covering her face glaring at Black Walder and his ilk. Black Walder took a step back.

"The dead walk, dragons are flying towards your steps and wolves have caught your scent." Arya stepped forward. "Surrender and your people will survive, your sisters and cousins will live to see the end of this winter. Fight and I will feed you to my wolf."

Jon stepped forward and placed his hand on Arya's shoulder. "If any of you or any of your men wish to avoid my sister's wrath all your crimes will be cleared if you join the night's watch." The Lady glared at him but Arya nodded in agreement. Gendry was close enough to them to hear Arya whisper to her mother, "Winter will have them, and the dead as well." The lady nodded in agreement and veiled herself once again.

"Decide Lord Frey, will you live at the Wall or die in your keep." Arya finished while she looked up at him.

Elmar Frey stepped forward, "I surrender, but please I need safe passage for my sister." Walder shoved the younger man back.

"Shut your mouth you fool, do you really think they'll keep their word?!" he snapped.

"Our word is greater than yours."Arya growled. The wolves joined her and their heads lowered and snarled at Black Walder.

"I surrender!" Elmar called out and a few more agreed. The men seemed to be divided over who to side with. Arya turned towards Jon to say something when Black Walder snatched a crossbow from one of his men and fired it at Arya. Gendry pushed her out of the way but was knocked back when he felt the arrow hit the side of his neck. Warm sticky blood spilled down his side and her heard Arya cry out his name in a desperate tone. He turned to look at her and saw the same expression she had when he knelt and received his knighthood. He had seen it only for a moment and thought she had been angry, now he realized he really was a stupid bull headed boy. She was scared.