Hello, lovelies!

No, this is not a hallucination! This is a new chapter from me indeed!

I'm so so so sorry! That was the biggest delay ever! Life really got on the way and I had some major priorities (like moving and setting up a new house!), so I didn't have time to write at all, let alone reply to the reviews (thank you so much for all of them by the way!). But now I'll be able to go on with the story.

I'm not really happy with this chapter, but I hope you guys enjoy it anyway. ;)

(Also... Season 4 is coming! Yay!)

Gendry woke up to the sound of his door being closed, and then he noticed that his breakfast had been placed on the table. He still felt a little sleepy and almost let himself be dragged back into the furs, but then he remembered what day it was, and then his lips curled into a smile.

It was Arya's name day.

Renly had helped him with the gift, even not really agreeing with Gendry's choice. "Are you sure she will like this?" he had asked when Gendry told him what he wanted to give her. Gendry had assured him that yes, she would like it, but the truth was that he wasn't so sure. He was eager to see her reaction, but he was nervous nonetheless.

After breaking his fast, Gendry made his way to the Tower of the Hand and sent for Arya, who had apparently just broke her fast as well. He waited for her at the solar, and he did it for quite a long time.

When Arya finally appeared, he nearly lost the ability to speak.

"I'm sorry I took so long, but Septa Mordane insisted I should wear another new dress to meet you," she said, rolling her eyes. "No, actually I'm not sorry. This is your fault anyway," she said, giving him a side look.

"I should thank her then. It's beautiful. You look beautiful," he said, and it was true. She seemed to be turning prettier each day, even if she didn't want to believe it. The dress was slightly low-necked and fit her perfectly, highlighting her body in all the right places and revealing delicate curves he wasn't even aware she possessed. He was struggling not to stare.

"Stop that! I look stupid!"

"Look, I know you hate dresses, but you need to learn to believe in compliments, you know. The fact that you hate dresses doesn't change the fact that you look pretty in a dress," he said matter-of-factly. "Actually, you are pretty, whether you wear dresses or boy clothes," he said, stepping forward, and his voice sounded softer than he had planned. She looked at him with wide eyes. "You are pretty, and I don't understand why you think you're not."

"When I was younger, they used to call me Arya Horseface. I don't think it was meant as a compliment," she said pointedly.

Gendry chuckled.

"I honestly have no idea why they called you that. But I believe in your father when he says that the more you grow up, the more you look like Lady Lyanna. And from what I've heard, your aunt was a very beautiful lady. If you don't believe me when I say you're pretty, you should at least believe your father," he said softly.

She kept looking at him, her cheeks beginning to flush, and she opened her mouth and closed it again, as if trying to figure out what to say. Then her eyes dropped to the package he was holding. "What's this?" she asked, clearly taking the opportunity to change the subject.

"Oh," he looked at the package, suddenly remembering why he had came to see her at first place. He smiled awkwardly at her and offered it to her. "Happy name day!"

"A gift? For me?"

"Who else is turning four-and-ten today?" he asked teasingly.

She ignored his question, but smiled at him nonetheless, taking the package from his hands and opening it quickly. She got a serious look on her face at some point, but when she finally looked at the gift, she grinned.

"Gendry, I can't believe it!" she said, not taking her eyes from the three piece garment in her hands: a tunic, similar to the old one she used to wear for her dancing lessons and that she had stolen from Bran, a leather bodice and a pair of trousers, also made of leather.

"I thought you might like some new clothes for your dancing lessons. I had it made especially for you," he said sheepishly.

"They're perfect! Gendry, they're perfect! I always wanted to have something like that, but my mother never allowed me! I had no other choice than to steal from Bran… Thank you, thank you!" she said before placing her gift on a bench next to them and jumping on his arms, hugging him tight. He hugged her too, beaming, very content with himself.

A wonderfully good feeling warmed his heart and he held her even tighter. He wouldn't complain if he had to stay like this for hours.

There had been a special dinner at the Queen's Balroom to celebrate Arya's name day. Arya hadn't been exactly thrilled about it, but King Robert had insisted in celebrating the future princess' name day, and she knew better than to refuse.

The dinner had flowed on pleasantly, despite Arya's worries, and afterwards Gendry had managed to take her outside, so they could stay a little away from all the noise.

"Gods, I thought I was going to suffocate!"

"Me too," Gendry said, not taking his eyes from Arya while she closed hers, feeling the soft breeze kiss her face. His stomach fluttered slightly, and he was suddenly startled at what he had just felt. But he didn't have time to wonder, as they both heard someone approaching.

"Lord Stark," Gendry said half nervously, which fortunately went unnoticed.

"Prince Gendry, Arya… May I have a word with you?"

"Of course, Lord Stark. Is there anything amiss?"

"No, there's nothing amiss, fortunately. I only have some news that I need to share with you both, especially Arya."

"News? What is it?" Arya asked curiously.

"I've already talked to King Robert, but I want to talk to you as well," Ned said, turning to Gendry, "since Arya is your betrothed."

Arya looked at Gendry with wide eyes, and then to her father. Whatever it was, she didn't seem to have any clue of what he would talk about.

"I think it would be good for Arya to spend some time in Winterfell with her mother and her brothers before the wedding. My lady wife misses her very much, and Arya's presence would do good to my son Bran, too."

"Yes, Arya has told me about his condition," Gendry said politely.

Then he looked at her and her eyes were shining. He knew how much she loved Winterfell, and by the look on her face, she was about to explode with happiness. He couldn't say the same about himself.

"Is it true, father? I'm going to Winterfell again?"

"If Prince Gendry agrees, you will leave in two days."

Gendry couldn't refuse.

"I agree, of course. I think you are right, Lord Stark. It will be good for her."

"What about Sansa?" Arya asked, barely holding her excitement.

"Sansa will stay. I have other plans for her," he said, and Arya nodded with a knowing look, apparently understanding what he meant.

"Thank you so much, father", Arya said, embracing him. "I miss Winterfell so much! And mother, Robb, Bran and Rickon too!"

"I know, I know…" he said, smiling.

Arya let go of her father and looked at Gendry, with a smile so bright that he was sure it could lighten the whole King's Landing. He felt his stomach tighten again.

He wished he could meet her happiness.

"Now if you excuse me," Lord Stark said before leaving.

"I will see Winterfell again, Gendry! I can't believe it!"

"I'm going to miss you," Gendry blurted out.

Arya smiled sympathetically.

"I wish you could come too, I know you would love Winterfell! And you would be far away from all this madness and we could escape on the way back to King's Landing! It would be perfect!"

Gendry frowned.

"Arya, you will not run away alone, will you?"

"Don't be stupid! We are together in this, and I would never leave you behind. I'm going to Winterfell, and when I'm back to King's Landing, we leave. I won't go without you," she promised, looking straight into his eyes, and he knew she was being sincere.

Gendry smiled weakly. The prospect of not having Arya around for a long time was upsetting him, but he was trying his best to hide this from her. She was happy, and apparently not bothered even the slightest that she was going to be away from him for so long. He knew why, but he couldn't help feeling a little bit jealous.

His affection for her had grown a great deal, and he cared for her like a brother would – or at least that's what he was trying to convince himself of right now. But, unlike him, she did have actual siblings. Sansa would stay in King's Landing, but Arya was going to see Robb, Bran and Rickon again. And she would be closer to her favorite brother, Jon – she might even be able to see him, if he happened to visit Winterfell while she was there.

Arya would be surrounded by her brothers, and Gendry was sure she wouldn't even have time to spare him a thought, let alone miss him.

But he would miss her, and he didn't even want to start imagining how much he would miss her.

Gods help me...