GENDRY POV:

Winterfell:

They walked in silence, the only thing you could hear was their footsteps crunching on the snow. At night with the moonlight shinning bright above the Godswood looked like another world, a small wooded area within the walls of the castle filled with magic and enchantment... a perfect fit for Arya!

Gendry wasn't shy of outwardly looking at Arya, she had killed two men in front of him. You can't exactly go into the normal rules of etiquette after that!... Right now she was silent, with nothing but the moonlight to guide their path her hair looked dark as night and her skin glowed like the moon itself, her red lips matched her bloodied clothes that smelled like death. She was a suave deadly cocktail Gendry was eager to taste. 'Think with your head, not with your cock'; his Uncle Jaime had told him after seeing yet another side of Arya's personality. He knew tomorrow he would have to deal not only with him but with his mother and father so he wasn't too keen on that part but he really did need to find out what the hell happened tonight.

He walked further ahead and took off his coat, setting it right under the same heart tree his cousin had gotten married mere hours ago. In a silent agreement Arya sat down leaning against the tree with her eyes closed. Gendry followed suit with his legs stretched as he began to draw random patterns on the snow. She was the one that interrupted their little bubble of silence.

"I think this is the time you comment on the weather"-

"What?" Gendry asked, she still had her eyes closed.

"Well you said you wanted to talk. We've been here for a while not talking and you are five seconds from building a snowman"- He chuckled, at least she wasn't feeling awkward or unsure. Why would she? Wolves have strong footing!...

"Forgive me if I am having trouble approaching the topic of the fact that you kill people for a hobby and that you go inside your direwolf's head" He meant it as a witty comment but it came out with a bite.

"Hunting and warging my Prince; you can call them by their names... And I don't kill people for hobby, those lowlifes drew the first blood from men who guarded my home. They only got what they had coming..."-

"See? That is what baffles me the most. You talk as if a human beings life is nothing! How can you just sit there looking so serene?" She finally opened her eyes as she looked at him and sighed.

"Gendry... from what I know you haven exactly seen action in battle am I correct?"-

"No, but not because I shy away from it, the kingdom has been at peace for years!" This time she rolled her eyes.

"Maybe Kings Landing but the other regions? Gendry things have been hard, you don't have to move an army to find a fight! Your council has been holding things from you. Did you know that Storms End is filled with riots from villagers? Lannisport as well? You can ask your Uncle Stannis about the situation in the Wall, I am just built to defend myself, to defend what is mine. I have no regret whatsoever in what I did tonight."-

"What exactly did happen tonight?" He asked gesturing to her bloody clothes.

"4 more men trying to get near the castle. We just finished the job, you can't exactly have a civil conversation with a man who want's to slice your throat. Rob was right though, they knew how to fight. Not like they had a chance against us but still, you can tell when a man has had proper training. We had a bit of a go before the last one was standing"-

"And when you say 'a bit of a go' you mean?..."

"Rickon is a bit wild"- His eyes went wide but as if reading his mind Arya was quick to explain herself.

"He won't wake up in the middle of the night to kill Shireen so don't worry"-

"Thank the Gods!... wait, did you just read my mind?" She rolled her eyes yet again.

"No stupid, you just have a really expressive face. And you care about Shireen, you are very protective towards her, I get it"- He nodded in appreciation.

"Anyway... Rickon is wild in his form of attack, he was a ward to House Magnar for a few years and you know how the skagosi can be; somewhat savage, little more than tribes of raiders who are thought to be cannibals or some people say... the thing is that I always pair with Rickon, I can hold him back and Nym can take care of Shaggydog. When I said 'a bit of a go' I meant that Rickon never says no to a fight and sometimes he ends up dragging it longer than intended."-

"And Ramsay? What does he ad to the mix?"

"He rides with me as well, he always does. If Rickon is wild Ramsay is more...effective, dare you say. Bolton's just have a more cutting way of solving things. I don't mind it, he is a good warrior and father seems more comfortable with him by my side to protect me... not that I need it."-

"Ok..." He said, he was definitely going back to that topic later, but first "And the warging? How does that work? Are all Starks wargs?"

"No, just us. Father says that the blood of the first men runs strong through us. Jon has it as well so it must be a second generation kind of thing."- The Targaryen boy is a warg as well?... Arya continued talking.

"Like everything in life you have to work to master it. Rickon and Rob only warg into their direwolves; Rickon too sloppy to concentrate on another animal and Rob to perfect his bond. Sansa focuses on small things; birds, squirrel's...she's is content with Lady by her side. Bran and I have more reach if you can call it like that, we pretty much can warg into anything we want, Jon as well but he's still learning to focus his mind. That was how we found out about the attacks last night, Bran saw it!"-

He remembered Shireen's pleas: 'Promise me you'll always love different... Once I'm married, once I become a Stark...' She knew! Of course she knew and she wasn't afraid so that has to mean something, she trusted the Starks and so did he. Gendry also remembered how last night Bran, Rickon, Rob and Arya stood with their eyes white sniffing the air with their noses up, like a wolf; he though. Another important question popped in his head.

"Nymeria has dark, golden eyes..."

"Yes, last time I checked"- Arya replied.

"The other night when we were... In the library... your eyes turned red for a second. Did you warg into something?" Arya broke for a millisecond eye contact with him but quickly recovered. She was biting her lips debating on something but she didn't seem defensive to all of his questions, she willingly had answered them all.

"Ghost!"-

"Uh?"

"Ghost, Jon's direwolf is named Ghost. Our strongest connection is with our direwolves so when we warg we do it through their eyes. Ghost has red eyes..."-

"Wait... what?" His mind was working fast "Did your cousin warg right then and there? He saw me...? He saw us...?"

"Yes... and could we not dwell into that? It's embarrassing enough that I am going to face Jon after that!"- Arya said fidgeting with her hands.

"So you can warg into another human." It was a whisper but Arya heard him. Both said nothing, Arya letting him absorb what he found out. They can warg into another human being, enter their mind, bend their will, make them do anything they wanted. A dangerous, dangerous gift.

"Yes. Only Bran and I can do it. Jon can only warg into my mind but it's not like we do it freely Gendry. A human mind is far more complex than any animal and you can always tell when someone is messing with your head. We rarely do it, and when we do it is always with consent from the other person"-

"Who knows of this?" He said standing up and walking back and forth.

"That we are wargs? The whole North! It's not like it's a secret!"-

"No, that you can warg into another human!" He said, he rolled his eyes at her. How can she be so nonchalant about this?

"Well, us; obviously. Syrio, Jory and Sandor Clegane. No one else!"- Really? No dear old Rams? Seems like she doesn't trust him so much after all...

"Good, make it stay that way. I need to keep you safe!"

"Excuse me? Keep me safe from what exactly?"-

"From what? From the world; that's what! Have you any idea the power you hold in that pretty little head of yours? Hell, the rest of the Real is already scared shitless of the North and your alliance with the Ironborn. How do you think they will react when they find out you can pick their brains out?!... No, not a possibility! No one will know about this, that way I can keep you safe by my side..."

"Gendry?"-

"... And my father, he most definitely mustn't know! I mean, I think I can get mother to warm up to the idea but father will freak out like he always does when it's something he doesn't understand! Joffrey can't know either, that boy cannot shut his mouth for his own life-sake and Uncle Jaime as well, he'll have the entire royal army here in a day! Maybe, maaaaybe Uncle Tyrion..."

"Gendry?"-

"... well, he'll just probably try to learn how to do it too, but other than that he's no danger. I also need to remind the men not to harm the wolves, especially Nymeria. I don't want you hurt at any level so first thing tomorrow I'll..."

"GENDRY!"- Arya shouted as she stood up and walked in front of him stopping his ramblings.

"What the hell are you talking about?"-

"Well... if I am to ma... to court you..." His tongue was tied as Arya narrowed her eyes at him.

"Oh for God's sake woman! I like you! You know it, I know it, they probably already know back in Kings Landing! I want to marry you but I also know that we have a lot to know each other better; I don't have incredible mind power just so you know, so I'll be damned if something happens to you before I marry you since I am doing my very best to respect you and your ideals by not dragging you up a Sept and marrying you this very instant!" Oh fuck, did I just said that out loud? Gendry froze, talk about brain to mouth connection, wait! Maybe that was it, she entered his mind and forced him to reveal his feelings... Yeah right, because the puppy eyes and the drool didn't betray him first. Gendry was already cursing all the gods when Arya Stark laughed at him. Not a smirk, a shy smile, no. A full on laugh that he was sure could be heard all over Winterfell! She actually fell back to the floor grabbing her stomach.

"I'm sorry but...(laughter) you think that you can... (laughter) that is just... (laughter)"-

"I am glad to see you take my feelings so seriously My Lady" He said plopping down next to her in defeat. This girl was just impossible. She continued to laugh as Gendry's mood took a plunge, was it so far fetched for her to love him back? They had a connection, he could feel it. He knew she could feel it as well! Why was she laughing? She took pity on him and sat up again composing herself.

"I'm sorry Gendry it's just that everything that you just said was just..."-

"Ridiculous, I know. I got the message" He muttered, he was going to stand up when Arya grabbed his arm back motioning him to stay.

"Do you always decide to marry a girl you barely know? I know that was not the case since your father was willing to set foot again in the North..."-

"What do you mean? I... I... well I must say that yes, I even surprised myself with my little outburst minutes ago but that doesn't mean my feelings aren't real"

"Gendry you've known me for exactly three almost four days and you want to marry me?"-

"Why shouldn't I? Why couldn't I? You are far most the most interesting, spirited girl I have ever meet!" It was the truth, Gendry spoke from his heart but the words didn't seem to go well with Arya. She shook her head and lowered her gaze for a couple of seconds. When she finally spoke Gendry could have sworn her words alone made the temperature drop.

"Gendry... I could kill you 4 different ways right now, quick, in a blink of an eye and you wouldn't see it coming. You would not shout nor move before your heart stops beating and no one will ever know. I can make you disappear and no one will ever find out it was me. You want to know why? Because I know how to kill Gendry, I know the dirty, gritty details that entail not only in taking a life but of the aftermath"- Her voice was cold and Gendry actually felt scared for the first time. He pulled back a little.

"Why are you telling me this?"

"Because you have this idea in your head that you want to marry but now, after what I just told you? I can smell your fear Gendry. The point is you don't know me, how can you marry me, claim to love me if you don't know me? Also, you assumed that I was going to agree, you just made big plans without even consenting me. You clearly do not know me if you think that I would be happy being queen! Why agree on taking responsibilities I can and want to live without?! My place is in the north, it has always been. There is a reason people say Starks don't belong in the South and I am more than starting to believe them. You are acting like a green child showing just how much the court has had you sheltered away"-

Gendry felt as he had been struck! No one had ever dared talked to him like that and Arya wasn't even looking to hurt him, she just spoke with the truth and she was more than right. 20 years doesn't give you right to be King, the people give you that right; throughout the love and respect you give them and his father had made that mistake, Gendry had made that mistake! Just because eager girls wanted to marry him and fantasized about the throne didn't mean he would come and Arya Stark would be a puddle at his feet! She was even more knowledgeable, traveled and skilled than him, if anything he was the one that was considered a lowly match for her. She was right, all those years pampered and primed upon inside the Red Keep had weakened him. What a catch he was! Gendry Baratheon; first of his name, never has seen live combat, has never traveled outside his families lands and was stupid enough to still be utterly and hopelessly in love with a girl who just like she just had said; could snap his neck in a heartbeat.

"My feelings are still true though..." Gendry was surprised at how small his voice came out but even more surprised at how Arya put her hand atop of his. He turned around to see her and saw no judgement in her eyes.

"I am not immune to your charms as well my Prince. You are tolerable, but not handsome enough to tempt me"- She smiled trying to light up the conversation.

"Tolerable?"

"Well you may be impressively tall but then again everybody is to me, I guess your face isn't that ugly to look at and I must admit that you do have the most distinctive shade of blue eyes I have ever seen"-

"So you like me eyes uh?" He said winking at her, making them both laugh again talking with ease and without tension. He held her hand...

"I'll admit that I do like you but I don't know you Gendry, sorry but I cannot lie to you. I cannot act on impulse, you cannot act on impulse"-

"So what do you propose?" His mouth went dry, what good would his feelings do if Arya decided right this instant that she wanted him gone?

"What's already is on the table. I already agreed with my father to get to know you in a months time, I'm sure he already talked to your father as well. So what do you say? Think you can spend time to really get to know me before you go on another marriage proposal spree?"-

"It depends; do I get to kiss you in that months time?" He teased her, never thinking Arya would say what she said next. I'll never get to know her, she will forever be a wild card.

"Of course, in fact since this is an agreement I think we should kiss on it instead of shaking hands but you have to close your eyes first. Agreed?"- How in the world they ended from a wedding, then a carnage, her declaring she didn't want to marry him to kissing? He would never know but what Gendry did know was that he would never say no to kissing Arya Stark! It was the greatest pleasure he had ever felt, it was like a dying man claiming for water in the middle of an unforgiving summer.

Gendry closed his eyes and waited for her plump lips but was awarded with lips far more slimmer and smaller, Arya smelled like snow and the earth but his nose picked up a spicy scent from the kitchens. His hands move at their own accord and as they went strait to Arya's long hair, what he found was short hair wrapped up in a small ponytail.

"WHAT THE HELL?!" Gendry yelled as he pulled back so fast he hit his head against the heart tree, old carved faces mocking at him and clearly playing tricks on him.

"What is this? Where is Arya? Whatever have you done girl?" He said standing up. He had been kissing little Beth; the blind girl from Winter Town.

"I did nothing M'lord! You said you wanted to get to know me and here I am, right in front of you"-

"What do you mean? Arya!" He shouted frantically looking around "You are just a child, why did you trick me into kissing you? It's late, you shouldn't be alone at this hour with a stranger"

"Oh you propose to me 5 minutes ago and now you are a stranger?"-

"What?..."

"This is me, letting you get to know me..."- As Beth spoke her face became like a misty cloud, Gendry truly couldn't find a better way to describe it. Like a fuzzy image as her features began to change, her body as well. Suddenly Beth was Arya.

"For fuck's sake...!"- He yelped feeling dizzy. Gendry didn't know if it was because of the blow to the head or because of what he just saw. He sat down again on the ground.

"You want to marry me? Ok! Other than a warg I am also shapeshifter"- Arya said as if taunting him to run away from her. He almost did truthfully.

"What... you... I... How..." 'Think with your head, not with your cock' his uncle's words sprang again to his head. Again; she was a warg, an assassin and a shapeshifter. What in the seven hell's do they teach ladies in the North?! Gendry's first reaction was to reach for his absent warhammer probably in his room. She won't hurt me, she said it herself; she can kill me but she hasn't...

"I trust you..." He said to her standing up and walking around her, Arya remained seated looking up at him saying nothing.

"I trust you..." He said it again more for his own sanity than for her assurance. What did he get himself into? For the first time in possibly his life he though of Lollys Stokeworth; simple, placid and dull Lollys Stokeworth. She was one of the many ladies in court that craved for his attention, chasing him night and day around the castle. One particular day after hearing her say she already knew what their grandchildren's names where Gendry found himself hiding inside the Red Keep's library; the last place Lollys would go to. Not because she didn't suspect he would be there but there where far too many steps to walk. You see, dear Lollys was a bit... of ample proportions. Anyways, The Hand of the King; Jon Arryn found him there and asked him why he was hiding. After hearing his reasons he just shook his head and said something that only today Gendry fully understood:

'Any intelligent fool can make things bigger, more complex, and more violent. It takes a touch of genius — and a lot of courage to move in the opposite direction...'

Translation? Gendry wasn't a genius, he was the intelligent fool! Lollys; dear simple, placid and dull Lollys represented the opposite direction while Arya was the big, complex and exponentially more violent alternative. One of the main reasons Gendry rejected any candidates for his bride other than love was because he really did think about the kingdom and what kind of Queen it deserved. His mother was the perfect example, then again his mother was always the image of perfection when Margaery Tyrell fucked everything in sight, when Myrcella Lannister had a habit of eating her own hair and when Brienne of Tarth was even more manly than him!... What must Lollys be doing know? Her most urgent worry must be what she would wear tomorrow for court while Gendry was here in front of the girl he rushed into claiming his bride. Would Arya make a good Queen? Would people warm to her or shy away in fear? She said it herself; the kingdom must be united again and marrying a Northern Princess might do the trick but will she agree? Did Gendry want her to agree?

"Not so sure you want to marry me know aye?..."- He heard Arya smirk with an edge and the ever present dare on her voice.

"I trust you... my feelings remain... but I do not know you!" Gendry said in defeat and he plopped down next to her. A spark of hope remained as he saw Arya flinch a bit from his words.

"I hope you find what you are looking for my Prince"- Arya said standing up and this time it was him who held her back.

"We are both right and we are both wrong Arya"

"Whatever are you rambling about now Gendry? Look, it's late and this conversation is over. Why don't we..."- Jaime said 'think with your head, not with your cock', Gendry said 'fuck it'!

He yanked Arya back with such force that she landed on his lap and before she could protest Gendry kissed her lips, returning the force, the hunger and the want she showed him last night in the library. Feeling like this couldn't possibly be wrong when it felt so right, Gendry felt a sense of completion and fullness he never though he lacked until he met Arya, he would change for her, he would be a better man, a better prince, a better king. It was her decision in the end if she wanted to join him in his journey. She moved her legs so she could straddle him as her hands grabbed his hair and pulled his face down deepening the kiss. His tongue passed her lips without problem as his hands pulled her as close as he could to his body, she moaned when he sucked on her tongue involuntarily jerking her hips making him more crazed, the spark of lighting and thunder still present at their every touch. They worked physically, it was the personality part that needed fixing. Gendry leaned back against the weirwood tree as they both gasped for air, still craving for contact leaning against each others foreheads. Leafs began to fall, a couple of them landing on Arya's hair as Gendry plucked them out.

"I get it when you said red wasn't your color, I don't care in what you change as long as you return just the way you are and that you return to me"

"Is this your grand plan? Kissing me into oblivion and locking me in your room so people can't see me? I assume your Hand will take care of the Realm"-

"No..." He said kissing her nose making her giggle. "BUT just so you know I plan to kiss you every chance I have but if I want, if we want, if you; Arya Stark agree, I want to court you. I want to know everything there is about you and I want to you to know everything about me in return. I know this can work Arya, we can make this work"

"I won't change Gendry... I"-

"I don't want you to change!"

"I don't want to be queen!"- Silence followed her statement.

"Could you please grant me that month before I decide to relinquish my claim to the throne?" It was a bold move but it felt right.

"Gendry!"- Arya said outraged. She tried to get up but he wouldn't let her.

"How could you even consider that?! It is your duty, it is your destiny! I would never force you to do that not to mention that would be a craven path to take!"-

"As I would never force you to do anything either but I am serious about you Arya. Let's give this a chance. Appropriate or not; you are what the God's put in my path for some reason. I am not going to shy away no matter the outcome, even if you end up rejecting me in the end..." His heart skipped at the possibility. Yet again Gendry was amazed of his quick attachment to Arya.

"Gendry..."- She said touching his face tenderly.

"Please Arya, please give me that chance. I promise you that I will honor whatever you decide in the end, I give you my word just don't give up on us yet" He looked into her grey eyes pleading his case but Arya wasn't looking at him. She reached out and touched the Heart Tree, blood-red sap covered her fingers.

"You cannot make idle promises in front of a heart tree Gendry, the old gods know when men are lying"-

"I am not afraid of their wrath as I am not promising to them, I am promising to you my Lady of the North, you represent them and I do not intend to fail you" This time it was Arya who leaned in to kiss him. It was sweet, it was gentle and Gendry felt it with so much force as a gust of wind flew over rocking the heart tree behind him. Even only having kissed twice Gendry already knew that sweet and gentle wasn't their style, as the kiss started to escalate he broke it off embracing Arya in his arms has she returned the sentiment snuggling in his chest.

"I am not easy..."- She mumbled pressed against his chest.

"Easy is overrated"

"I will not yield"-

"I'm stubborn, my mother says it is my best trait"

"You may not like what you find out about me"- She said sitting up, looking him strait in the eye.

"You can warg and you can change your face. Is there any other kind of special talent you are hiding from me My Lady?"

"Don't call me a Lady"- She said punching his chest "But no, nothing major from me..."-

"Good, fine details that I shall learn to tune in as we go. Now come here Wolf, I plan on making good on my promise to kiss you..."

Gendry Baratheon had one month, one month to really get to know Arya Stark and one month to get her to agree to be his wife. The sole fact that after everything he saw last night he still wanted to pursue her spoke volumes about his love for her. Tomorrow he would start his quest, tonight? He would kiss his wild girl under the heart tree.

Hello FanFic Friends!

Another quick update, yet again thank my BF and his services for this one ladies and gents.

So happy and in awe of your reactions towards Ramsay! I had a hard time writing him so it's nice to see that you appreciate my efforts. (LottieDot: Tooooooootally with you on the actor who plays Ramsay on the show, you deserve an Oscar anytime you make people lust for you the same time they're scared shitless)

Did you read that quote from another book and it's latest movie I wrote in there? C'mon, it's an easy one! The quote Jon Arryn said is by E.F. Schumacher.

Ok People: One month, one girl and two men. Who do you put your money on; A stag or a bastard with sharp blades?

Leave your reviews and remember to favorite / follow

Read you next time and have a great week!

XOXO