Arya

The Eyrie didn't have many places to hide in, yet Arya managed to find a hidden room where she could practice her sword skills without being bothered by her sister and her evil accomplices. Sansa had made everything possible to make Arya feel comfortable in the Eyrie. Everything but letting her be her wild self. Arya had to go around in these sill dresses, making it even harder to move. Arya's leg and right arm were still aching, but she was almost healed and she even managed running and riding a horse (though when Sansa saw her trying to ride, she almost fainted). She had to practice with her sword, or else she will lose the last bit of sanity that was left in her.

She started stretching her legs, waiting for Gendry to come. He promised her that he would practice with her today. Gendry was free to move around the Eyrie as he pleased, no one even noticed him. She used him to get her some ingredients for her special medicines and potions, the kind that the maester didn't know how to make, anoher one of her many skills. She needed to go back in shape, and soon. Connington was pushing Aegon to leave as soon as possible, and she was afraid to be left behind, with her sister, the lady of perfection. He is going to dismiss me anyway, why not now? She thought bitterly. Aegon hadn't brought up that subject since they got to the Eyrie, yet she hadn't forgotten. She was still pissed at him. Every time he looked at her with his beautiful violet eyes she just gave him a cold stare, every time het ried to talk to her she found something better to do. Sansa wasn't helping, she kept telling Arya how good and kind he was: helping the orphans of the Eyrie, saving an injured deer, playing tag with her son, helping a maid carrying buckets of water. She told Arya how he seldom left her bedside when she was unconscious, and how he tended her wounds himself. And he's a good kisser too. Se coughed herself smiling and smacked herself on the head. He doesn't care, he wants you gone, so you will not tempt him and he can be the perfect prince once again. And why did she care, anyway, she could be free at last. She pulled out her sword from its scabbard and slashed it left and right, she liked the Swoosh it made when it cut through the air. She stabbed her airy foe right through the heart.

"Who's the poor bastard?" Gendry appeared, leaning in the doorway, a small smirk on his face. He had a scar on his forehead that reached to his scalp; he got that from trying to save her. A wisp of white hair was starting to grow there, laying in a perfect contrast to his jet black hair. She hasn't seen him smiling since the day of the battle in the woods, she assumed he took Haldon's death very hard, the half-maester was like a father to him, and now there was no one to teach him how to be a lord. She knew that Gendry thought that he wasn't yet ready to be a lord, that he wasn't good enough. Arya knew that he will the best lord that the storm lands had ever seen. Come with me, we could be the worst lord and lady that the seven kingdoms have ever seen, he said to her that night. She wished she could.

She smiled back at him, " Sansa", Arya sheathed her sword, "let's see now if she tries to make me wear another dress!"

Gendry laughed, he had such a joyful laugh, it didn't suit his serious and solemn face, "I rather like you in a dress, m'lady. Especially that green one", he looked fondly at her, "it reminds me of our time in Acorn Hall". It took Arya a moment to remember that experience, but when the memory came to her mind: the dinner, that awful dress, the fight in the forge, Tom's song and kind lady Smallwood, she felt genuinely happy for the first time in many days.

She chuckled, "even when I was eleven I could still beat your blacksmith ass", she waved her fists teasingly at him. He took a tiny step back and grinned back at her, "I bet you coldn't beat me now, I bet you're just a dainty little lady. I am stronger and larger", he stretched up to his full height and made a great show of his muscles, grinning stupidly at her.

"well, you still stink." Arya shoved him back against the wall and made to run, but Gendry caught her arm. She stuck a foot between his legs and tripped him, but he yanked her down with him, and they rolled across the floor of the small, dusty room. He was very strong, but she was quicker. Every time he tried to hold her still she wriggled free and punched him. Gendry only laughed at the blows, which made her mad. He finally caught both her wrists in one hand and started to tickle her with the other. Arya tried to slam her knee between his legs, but it seemed that he had learned his lesson. He got up quickly and was ready for a second round. Arya's leg was starting to hurt, but she was ready for the challenge. They spent another few minutes wrestling and laughing until he bent down and magically managed to pull at her feet and she fell down with a great thump. He pointed his axe to her throat, when did he get the axe back?

"Yield, Dainty little lady!" he smiled down victoriously at her. She raised her hands in surrender, "you've gotten better, bull", she said to him. He smiled and held out his hand to her. She took his hand and pulled him down to her, swiftly taking his axe, she straddled him and pinned the weapon to his throat.

"Never trust a lady!" she shouted at him and they both burst out laughing. She got off him and lay by his side, still smiling. He took her hand in his and squeezed it softly. He turned on his side and just looked at her; she could feel his breath on her ear. She rolled to face him and found his face inches from hers. She closed her eyes, savoring this rare moment of peace in her life. When she was with Gendry, she could put the world behind her. She was in an alternate universe where a highborn lady could wrestle on the dirty floor with a bastard blacksmith, where she could be as wild as she wanted and no one judged her, where she was free to be herself. What's so different about Gendry? What makes him safe? She asked herself. You trust him, a small voice answered to her.

Gendry kissed her. A small, chaste kiss, just the meeting of their lips. She opened her eyes, her heart beating fast, and saw his blue ones, borrowing into her soul, a soul that she thought that she left in Bravos.

"Choose me", he whispered in her ear.

The door slammed open and Duck was standing there, breathless. "My lady!" he called anxiously, he then spotted Gendry lying next to her and frowned at him. "What is it?" she asked, annoyed. Why does something terrible have to happen every time Gendry kisses her? "My lady, it's your sister, she called for you, she's having the baby!" she go up slowly on her feet. Stupid Sansa, always have to ruin everything. She looked down at Gendry, who looked miserable, and gave him an apologetic look. "alright, I'll come", they left Gendry sitting there in the small room, staring after them.

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Her sister got into labor an hour ago, the midwife old her, "we were searching all over for you, m'lady". The woman had a giant mole on her cheek and Arya couldn't take her eyes off that thing, it looked a little bit like Connington. "Well, I'm here now. How is she doing?" Arya came close to her sister's head, Sansa was busy screaming, her eyes shut. Arya gave Sansa her hand and her sister squeezed it tightly, nearly breaking Arya's long fingers. "Seven hells!" Arya cursed, pulling her wounded hand back to her lap. Sansa opened her beautiful blue eyes and scanned her sister, breathing loudly.

"Arya!" she yelled, and puffed a few more times " . The. Seven. Hells. Are. You. Wearing?" Her sister screamed. Classic Sansa, her body is being ripped open and all she can think about is me not being dressed properly. Arya smiled and did a little curtsey showing off her dirty tunic and breeches, "Why, my sweet sister, what else can distract you from your pain but my unladylike clothes". Sansa grabbed back Arya's hand and gave it another deadly squeeze. They both screamed loudly.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o

Sansa was in labor for ten more hours, and in the end she bore twins, a girl and a boy. Harry came and went, happy as a clam, and Arya was charged by the mole who was a midwife to take care of the babies while their lady mother rested. "Just try to put them to sleep", the mole ordered her, and rushed to take care of Sansa.

Arya stared at the two bundles that were screaming in their little crib. She supposed she should pick one of the things up and cradle it in her arms or something. She took the one she thought was a boy and held it in the air. Why couldn't Sansa just have puppies, it's so much easier, and cuter. You don't have to clean them or feed them, and they learn to walk on their own in a week or so. Babies were so… smelly, and needy. She wrinkled her nose and cradled the drooling being closer in her arms. It had blonde hair, like his father. It was crying, should she sing to it? She couldn't sing if her life depends on it. So she tried to hum a Bravosi song about pirate, the kid didn't have to know what it's about anyway. It seems that the baby liked it because he opened his eyes. They were grey like a storm cloud, like winter, like father. She smiled at the little thing.

"You're a natural" Aegon said, obviously he was standing there watching her for a long time, the baby's yelps hiding his presence from her sharp ears. He smiled his famous big smile at her and gave her a dreamy look. She rolled her eyes and put the little monster down, now the other one started crying. She hated babies.

"Am not. I was humming him a song about drunken naked pirates". Aegon laughed loudly, his laughter was so natural it lightened up the room, and she couldn't help but smiling back at him. The girl baby's yells ruined the joy. "Arghhh! Make that thing shut up already!" she put her hands to her ears. Aegon went to the crib and held the baby. He made some silly noises and funny faces and the baby finally stopped crying. "Oh, thank the gods. A few more seconds and I would have thrown myself out that window!" she sat down on a chair and sighed deeply. Aegon kept his everlasting smile, "look, she has little auburn air, like your sister", she held the baby out to her so she could see. And blue eyes, like mother.

She took the baby and put her back in the crib. She leaned softly on the crib and looked down on her new nephews. She felt Aegon behind her; he put his hands around her waist and his head on her shoulder, and pulled her back close to him. He gave her a little kiss on the back of her neck; it sent shivers down her spine. "You'll be a great mother" he said softly.

She let herself lean back in his arms, just for a few moments, then pushed him back from her. She turned around to face him, seeing so much affection in his eyes. She would not return his stare, she lowered her eyes. "Why are you here?" she asked quietly, he means to leave you too, you can't trust him.

"Your sister called for me" he answered her; she could hear the hurt and disappointment in his voice. Better you than me, Dragon Prince. The little beasts started crying again and lady Mole stepped out of her sister's room. "My prince, my lady. Lady Sansa asked you to come in; I'll take care of the little ones". Arya was relieved to get away from the wailing. Her relife was short as the ugly midwife came along with them and brought the screaming things with her.

Her sister looked like she was ran over by a big horse, her hair was stuck to her face and she looked very tired. "My prince, Arya. My newborn children have no names yet. It would be an honour if you two would name them". She smiled at them her most beautiful smile. Aegon smiled back, filled with joy.

"Well Arya, you'll name the girl and I'll name the boy, what do you say?" when Arya nodded, his smile got bigger, if that was even possible.

Arya looked at her niece, "She will be Catelyn", and she kept her gaze on the baby, trying to hold back the tears.

"Then I suppose that this little man have to be Eddard" Aegon said joyfully. Arya looked up at him, and felt like crying and laughing at the same time. She wanted to hug him. She wanted to kiss him. She wanted to be his forever. She knew it was forbidden, but she thought she might love him, just for a moment.

Sansa smiled at them, very pleased with herself. "Cat and Ned, then".