Chapter 17

Bran

When Bran received the letter from Jon, he summoned the new captain of guards at once and ordered him to send fifty men to the wall to bring back his sister and her friend. The men had left the same morning.

He had also received a letter from his lady mother, where she told him she would return to Winterfell in a few days, which, judging by the date of the letter would be today or tomorrow. He knew his mother would be disappointed in him for losing control of Arya like this, but it wasn't entirely his fault. If he had been able to move his legs, he would have hurried after her and forced her to stay. But his legs were lamb, and he was chained to the chair for the rest of his life.

"Did lady Catelyn say anything about Robb?" Talla asked for what had to be the seventh time that day. Bran shook his head patiently.

"And you've received no letter from him or your father?"

"I'm afraid not," he replied shortly. Talla was more worried about her husband and his wellbeing than she had ever been for Arya, but Bran knew it wasn't fair to hold it against her; she was pregnant with Robb's child. If it was not a boy, Talla's place at Winterfell would mean nothing if Robb died. Unless she married him instead, of course. Bran frowned by the thought and rolled himself to his chamber. He was merely a cripple; no woman in their right mind would ever wish to marry him. He could not walk, had difficulty dressing himself and could certainly not breed. Any possible wife of his would have to seek company elsewhere, and then what was the point? No, the only thing Bran could do was study and use knowledge as his weapon. As maester Luwin once had said: knowledge is power.

Arya

The days they spend on the Wall were one of the happiest days Arya had had in weeks. She weas allowed to train with the newcomers, and to her amusement, she beat almost every one of them. Gendry on the other hand, had trouble with his leg, and would simply sit and watch as she danced around the new recruits. From time to time, Jon would stand on the balcony, watching her with a smirk on his lips. The knights of the night's watch were oblivious to her real identity. Well, except for the three men who found her and Gendry in the woods of course. And then there were the maester who would frequently summon them to see how their wounds were healing. But other than that, Arya and Gendry were treated like any other recruit, and Arya loved every minute of it. When Jon had brought them to the top of the wall and let them gaze at the view, she had decided that if she hadn't been a girl, she would have done as her brother and taken the black. She could see that Gendry was thinking the same, except he could do so if he wanted, and the thought scared her. What if he left her? What if he decided he'd become a part of this strange family and wear nothing but black? Take no wife and father no children, the vow said.

They were eating supper in the great hall when she finally found the courage to ask him. Gendry had watched her closely, hesitating before his lips twisted into a smile.

"Don't worry, Arry. I'm not leaving you just yet."

She bit her lip, wondering what he meant about 'just yet', but didn't get the chance to ask as a boy called Hot Pie sat down next to them and the men were soon in deep conversation about swordfights and old knights. Arya lost her appetite and escaped to the room they were sharing with other recruits who were too injured to start training yet. Jon told her that the knights usually slept in cells beneath the rookery and only those who needed frequent tending slept in the small room at the second floor. Except for Arya and Gendry, three other men occupied the beds, but Arya rarely saw them. They were either fast asleep or with the maester.

"I want to show you something," Gendry suddenly said, standing in the doorway looking at her. She helped him down the stairs and followed him as he hurried as quickly as possible on his wounded leg across the yard. He disappeared through a small archway leading to a heated room. She smiled as Gendry lit a torch and hanged it on the wall.

"The maester says I'm well enough to start working again," he told her, his eyes beaming. She looked around the forge, and stopped by the unfinished swords hanging on the wall.

"They lack blacksmiths. I believe your brother wants me to stay."

Arya turned toward him, grimacing. "You won't, though?"

"No, I won't. But I might as well help out while I'm here," his fingers ran across the tools placed on a wide counter and she could see the longing in his eyes. It had been weeks since the last time he had worked, and she hadn't realized how much he missed it until now.

"It must be great, making something so beautiful out of nothing. Like magic." She clutched her fingers around the necklace he had given her so many months earlier.

Gendry smiled widely, a hammer in his hand. "We make most of steel, but I see your point. There's nothing like it."

"They're coming to take us back home, you know," Arya said quietly. She had considered running away again, but with Gendry's bad leg it would be impossible without a horse. Besides, she was certain Jon had someone watching her at all times, and she knew he would stop her if she tried.

"I know," Gendry replied, leaning against the counter with his arms crossed. "Don't you miss home?"

Arya bit her lip. Of course she missed home. But she still had no intentions of marrying Dickon Tarly, and unless her mother realized that, she would run away again until the betrothal was cancelled.

"I miss Bran, and Rickon, and Robb and Sansa. And even Talla," she admitted. Gendry stroke her arm gently. It was the only caress they dared share at Castle Black in fear of someone catching them, and Arya's fingers itched to touch his hair and stroke his beard. She wanted to feel his arms around her and taste his lips against hers.

"Gendry?"

"Yes?"

"Why did you come to Winterfell?"

Gendry shrugged, shaking his head. "I honestly don't know. Why do you ask?"

Arya bit her lip. "I believe father traveled south because of you," she said quietly. Gendry snorted and gave a little chuckle, but when he saw her serious face he fell silent.

"Why?"

"I don't know why, I just think it's got something to do with you. It's a bit odd, don't you think? A strange blacksmith comes to town, father talks to Mikken, and then he's off to king's Landing, just like that?"

Gendry scratched his beard, his brows furred. "You seem to have given this a lot of thought."

Arya nodded. "I first thought of it when father left, but I told myself it had to be a coincidence, but I'm not so sure anymore. Are you sure you don't know who your father is?"

"I've told you before, it could be anyone."

Arya sighed and pulled away from his touch. "We should head back before they start calling us cocksuckers," she said. Gendry nodded and limped after her. But as she froze in the archway, Gendry walked right into her, groaning.

"What?" he asked. She turned and looked at his face, half conceal by the shadow from the archway.

"If mother do still intend to give me away to Dickon, you'll fight for me, won't you?" she asked. Gendry smiled and nodded.

"Anything for m'lady," he said, winking.

Catelyn

Catelyn almost ran across the yard and through the entrance hall, only to find Bran awaiting her in the great hall.

"How could you let her get away?" she asked, her voice trembling with anger. Bran flinched in his chair and looked apologetically at her.

"She ran in the night," he started, but Catelyn cut him off.

"I left you in charge, Brandon. I expected more from you," she gave him a sharp look and swept past him, leaving him with a sulky expression on his face. She knew it wasn't Bran's fault entirely, but the worry blurred her judgment, and she let all of her frustration out on him.

"Mother," he started, rolling after her. She turned and looked at him, forcing herself to calm down. "We've located Arya and the blacksmith. They're at the Wall with Jon."

Catelyn did not know whether to be relieved or furious. At least Arya was alive, but she had gone to seek her bastard brother, the place she knew Catelyn would disapprove of the most.

"Is she hurt?" she asked. Bran shook his head and handed her a note with delicate writing on. She recognized it as the bastard's at once.

"The smith took a spear to the thigh, though," Bran said. "He was cornered by wildlings while searching for her. Nymeria saved his life."

Catelyn silently thanked the gods for the wolf pups who kept proving their use over and over again. Summer had saved Bran's life when he fell from the tower, Nymeria had saved Arya from being stabbed by the prince, and now the gray wolf had once again kept Arya and her friend out of harm's way.

"I've sent men to take them home. I believe they will return by the end of this week."

Catelyn nodded gratefully, but wished her son had sent a raven to inform her about the newest turn of events. Then she wouldn't have had to scold him for letting Arya escape.

"You've done well, Bran," she told him, patting his shoulder.

"How's Sansa?" he asked. Catelyn sat down by the table across from him, folding her hands.

"She seems happy," she told him earnestly. "Although she seemed a little disappointed at first, she and Edric got along well enough. I believe we will receive a raven concerning our expected grandchildren soon enough."

Bran smiled. "Was the wedding everything she had imagined?"

"The wedding was wonderful. Seventeen courses! Sansa looked so beautiful in her dress; an early wedding gift from her husband. She beamed as they exchanged cloaks. Oh, Bran, everything was perfect."

She could not find words for how relieved she had been when everything worked out like she wanted. Sansa seemed to have forgotten everything about Jory, and lived happily as the lady of Starfall.

"She asked me to remind you all to write as often as you can. Although there is more Tully in her than Stark, I believe she misses the north as much as any of you would."

Bran hesitated. "Arya misses her too, you know. At first, I thought she had gone south to visit Sansa in Dorne. Obviously, I was wrong."

Catelyn sighed and took his hand in hers. "Arya has always been difficult. I don't blame you for what happened, Bran, and neither should you." She paused for a moment before continuing. "This smith she's with. It's the black-haired boy, isn't it?"

When Bran nodded, Catelyn felt her stomach twist. "What do you know about the two of them?"

Her son rubbed his cheek with his hand, deciding whether to answer or not. In the end, he took a deep breath and said, "I believe they are in love, mother."

Gendry

They were fast asleep when a sudden yell tore them from their dreams. Gendry sat up abruptly in his bed, looking around. The men that usually slept with them were all gone. Arya where awake, and had already jumped out of her bed and was starting to get dressed.

"Gendry, come on," she urged. Gendry obeyed, but wondered what was going on, when the door opened with a loud crack and Jon stood in the doorframe.

"Arya, you need to leave, now!" he said, throwing a pair of thick woolen cloaks at them.

Arya shot her brother a confused look while struggling to get her feet in the right leg of her breeches. "What's going on?" she asked. "I heard noises."

"We are being attacked by wildlings. The two of you need to leave at once. We can't wait for Bran's men to come for you. Castle Black is not safe anymore." He pulled Gendry to his feet and handed Arya her arms.

"I can stay and fight," Arya offered, but Jon shook his head determinedly.

"There are two mounts ready for you in the yard. Go now while you have the chance." His voice was shaking with worry. "And Arya?"

The girl froze and looked up at her brother.

"Promise you'll leave and do not turn around. I have no men to spare, and can't make sure you'll return to Winterfell, but as your brother, I beg you."

Arya bit her lip, considering his words. "I promise," she said quietly. Jon nodded in relief. When he urged them to hurry, Arya put her arm around Gendry and supported him down the stairs. Gendry felt weak and vulnerable in this state, but knew he needed all the help he could get. Although the maester had done what he could to heal the wound, his treatment had made his leg hurt even worse.

"Gendry," Jon said, holding him back. Arya sighed impatiently, but stopped to listen. "Take care of my little sister."

Gendry nodded, forcing a smile. "I will, don't worry."

Although they saw nothing but the yard beneath the Wall, they could hear yelling and screams of agony. Jon motioned toward a pair of horses tide up outside the stable, and hurried to give Arya one last hug.

"I have to go," he said. "They've held the Wall long enough without me. I love you little sister." And then he ran. Arya stared after him for a moment, her face expressionless.

"We have to leave too," Gendry told her, remembering Jon's words. "The sooner the better."

Arya nodded, and half-carried him to the horses, before pushing him atop the biggest one. They left through the side-gate which was heavily guarded with knights of the night's watch. They shot them strange looks as they left; Arya and he were, after all, supposed to be new recruits.

"Cravens!" some yelled after them, just as a rain of spears flew through the sky. "They'll behead you for this!"

Nymeria came running up beside them as they rode through the pitch-black darkness. Although the wolf did not like him much, Gendry felt a lot safer with her by his side.

I know the stay at Castle Black wasn't very long, but don't worry, there's still a lot of action coming your way!