Arya

The ground was cracked and cold, but there was a warm glint to the frost. The sun shone brighter than it had in years, glowing against the sparkling ice, dusting everything in a golden sigh of light. 'With such beauty it's easy to forget how ugly everything is', Arya thought to herself as she walked through the woods, the whispers of snow fall and early hour making everything silent. The only sounds were their crunching feet and icy breath.

It had taken the maester a whole month to let her out of Winterfell's walls, and whenever she did leave, it felt like she was transcending into paradise. Even the most familiar places were a whole new world, full of new discoveries. Everything changed out here, and yet stayed the same. She lived for these walks in the woods.

But, of course, she would not be allowed to go without a companion; and who better to tag along than Gendry? She had been unsurprised and pleased when he had offered his services readily. She had thought it would be nice, to have some time with him all to herself. She enjoyed Lawna's company immensely, more than she would hardly let on, but it wasn't the same. She missed having her blacksmith all to herself.

Or, rather, she had missed having him all to herself. When they started their short and slow walks through the forest, Arya had hoped that it would be like it always was. In fact, she hadn't hoped, she had expected it to be. Pleasant walks and conversations, laughing together and teasing each other just like they always had. But, to her surprise, her companion was far from a laughing mood. In fact, Gendry hardly talked at all.

Even now he walked in silence, as he had for weeks now, leaving Arya confused to as what she had done to draw him into such a brooding state. At first, she had racked her brain for something, anything that she might have said, and came up with nothing. Perhaps it was their fight, but she had thought they had resolved that by now. No, it must be something else. But what?

What had she done?

"It looks like spring's finally on its way," she said, her voice cracking from lack of use. It seemed to ring five times louder than normal in the stillness of the forest.

Gendry grunted.

"Winterfell's beautiful in the summer," Arya went on, looking at Gendry, who was refusing to look at her, bundled up to the nose in furs. "Remember those little blue flowers that Lawna and I found the other day? They grow all over the place in the summer."

Gendry flinched but didn't say anything. He merely walked forward alongside her, his hands shoved beneath his furs for warmth. Arya sighed. It was time to confront whatever was nagging at him.

"Have I said something?" She demanded. "Or done something?"

"No," Gendry snapped, his first word of the day.

"And by no you mean yes," Arya snapped right back. "I know you when you're like this. You're upset about something-"

"I'm not upset," he cut across her.

"Yes you are," Arya countered right back, "and I think I have a right to know why."

Gendry didn't respond. He merely scowled at the forest. Frustrated, Arya ceased walking.

"What are you doing?" he demanded.

"I'm not moving another inch until you stop brooding and tell me what's wrong," Arya declared.

"I'm not brooding," he said sourly, kicking at some snow.

"Stop acting like a child," Arya shot back, annoyed. "How can I possibly make it right with you if I don't know what I did wrong?"

"You didn't do anything wrong," Gendry waved her off, but she could tell he was lying.

"Then why are you being so insufferable?" She cried out.

"Begging your pardon, milady, I never meant to displease you," Gendry spat, his voice mocking.

Arya felt as though she had been slapped.

"Stop it!" She yelled. "Stop being such an ass! It's not fair! I've done nothing wrong-"

"You've done nothing wrong?" Gendry repeated, choking out an angry laugh. "You... No... Oh no of course you haven't done anything! Not Lady Stark!"

"I'm going back to Winterfell," Arya said, tears stinging her eyes. "I don't want to hurt the baby."

"You say that now," Gendry said darkly, "but what happens when it's born? What happens when you place it in my arms and leave again?"

Arya blinked, shocked. It wasn't Gendry's anger that surprised her. That she understood wholeheartedly, and expected. What surprised her was the fact that she hadn't wanted to, or even thought about, leaving in weeks. A month or so, if she really thought about it. It had never even crossed her mind.

She opened and closed her mouth, the words in her head not really making their way to her mouth. She wanted so badly to tell him that she hadn't thought of leaving in ages. That she didn't want to leave. She wanted to stay.

But for some reason the words wouldn't come out.

"Arya! Gendry!"

They both gave a start and turned around to see a huffing Jon and a scrambling Lawna running towards them.

"What's this?" Arya said as Lawna all but ran into her, the child gasping for breath. "I thought you were learning your letters."

"She was," Jon puffed, his face flushed, "but she wouldn't sit still and... Well.. I decided that it might be easier if we called it a day."

He looked exhausted despite the early hour.

"I'm sorry," Lawna gushed out at once. "I just wanted to see if we could find those flowers again Lady Stark. They were so beautiful, do you remember Father?"

Gendry didn't say anything.

"Perhaps we should conclude our walk," Arya offered. "I'm a bit tired for flower searching."

Lawna didn't look upset in the least. She just beamed up at Arya.

"On that note," Jon said, "I think I'll leave you. I've got some business back at Winterfell."

Arya sighed. She hated Jon to leave her alone with an angry and hurt Gendry, but she wasn't entirely selfish, and it was obvious Jon was exhausted.

"Thank you Jon," she said, taking the little girl's hand, and they turned and continued to walk.

It was a silent affair on Gendry's part. Lawna prattled on and on and on about the history she had learned, and the songs Lady Sansa had started to teach her, but Arya, though try as she might, barely heard her. All she could seem to do was try to catch Gendry's eye, but he would have none of it. He didn't even raise his head.

They neared the farm, but it appeared that the inhabitants were inside, their shutters closed and all the animals put in their proper places.

"It's because Ruben's sister's ill," Lawna said, and for the first time Arya saw her give the house a sad look that was beyond her years. "It's been bad, she's been sick so long..."

Arya gave Lawna's hand a squeeze, and Lawna brushed her tears away.

"She is your best friend?" Arya pressed.

"No," Lawna sighed. "But she's good, and I like her ever so much."

"She might pull through yet," Gendry said gruffly, putting a hand on Lawna's shoulder.

"I just don't want Ruben to be sad," Lawna said in a small voice. "I said some mean things to him, and now I've made him sadder."

"Don't worry," Arya said, running a hand through her daughter's thick black hair, "you can always apologize. He'd like that, I think."

"Aye, that he would," Gendry echoed, and Arya wondered, for a split second, if they were still talking about the farmer's boy.

"Perhaps when it's a better time we'll go and you can talk to him," Arya said gently.

"All right," Lawna sniffed. There was a long pause. "I just... I don't want him to think he's alone."

Arya gave a sharp intake of breath. Something about the words that Lawna said, and the way she said them made her think about Gendry, and that night that she had left. The night they had held Lawna close to them, and he had told her he loved her.

And she had been too afraid to say it back. And she was still too afraid.

"He's not alone," Gendry said for her, and in that moment he looked up at Arya, meeting her eyes.

And then, slowly, tentatively, she reached out and took his hand as well.

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