The banging intensified. "Open the door in the name of King Baratheon!" his voice commanded. Cat wished she had time to change her face but Marchesa was already at the door. Cat slid behind the curtain and listened to the locks unhatch.
Marchesa gave one quick glance behind her to make sure Cat was well hidden. "May I help you sir? This establishment is not yet open." Marchesa lied. She had closed it when Cat came running in asking for her help.
"I am here for Arya St-. Cat of the Canals." Gendry corrected. His voice brought back a flood of memories as well as confusion. Gendry a soldier in the Kings army? The last time she had seen him, Gendry said he was done serving. How did he find Nymeria? Cat wondered if Jon knew him.
"Cat is not here and even if she was she isn't one of my girls." the whore explained dumbly. Gendry mumbled something under his breath, too quiet for Cat to hear. He was getting angry, that much was clear. "Would you mind if I took a look around just to make sure?" he qustioned. Marchesa stood her ground,"Not without a warrant from the Sealord. Your King has no power here."
Cat could hear Gendry's feet shuffling. Marchesa tried to close the door but suddenly Gendry's hand caught it with a thump, "I know she's in here," he said, his voice rising, "I'll be back with your warrant." he threatened. Cat heard him call Nymeria's name and the door relatched.
When Cat came out of her hiding place Marchesa looked furious "I am so sorry! Thank you a thousandfold!" Cat told her. Marchesa's expression did not change. It was cold, cold as stone. "I don't know who you are, but I don't want you coming to my house anymore." Cat was struck by the sudden harshness. "Marchesa, please let me explain I- the dark haired whore raised her hand to stop Cat's apology, "Go back to your temple and don't return here. You have put me and my girls at the hands of Westerosi oafs!" she yelled.
Cat felt a pang of guilt. She hadn't forgotten the cruel things soldiers had done to girls like Marchesa. She had put them at risk coming back here. Cat headed to the door and kept her eyes low. Just as she stepped outside Cat said, "Valar Morghulis." and waited for a moment before she heard, "Valar Dohaeris."
When No One reached the temple, she knew the Kindly Man wouldn't be happy about the king's soldier making her. Hopefully he would hear her out and maybe approve of her changing her face.
"Is your mission complete girl?" the Kindly Man questioned. No One wanted it to be over more than anything. "Not yet." she replied honestly.
The Kindly Man only shook his head at her. His facial expression blank. No One didn't like him conceiling his emotions from her, "Then why are you here?" he asked in an unchanging voice. No One bit her lip inspite of herself. She thought she saw a flash of anger in his eyes, bu if she had it was gone as fast as it had come.
"The King's soldier recognized me. Or rather my old direwolf did." she said. The Kindly Man didn't hide anything then. She realized her mistake. No One was gone. " 'My direwolf'; the biting of the lip. I'd say Arya of House Stark is here with me now." he said. Arya could feel her throat ger hot with tears. She didn't want to be Arya. Arya was a princess. Arya had loss. She wanted to be No One, free as a bird with no pain or family.
Arya swallowed the teard back. "I need to change my face. I cannot continue as Arya." she explained. The Kindly Man stroked his head, deep in thought. "No, being a Stark gives you a way in. A way to get close. You will keep your face and seek out this soldier friend." he ordered. Arya half wanted to scream at him that this soldier wasn't her friend but that was a lie. Before Gendry had abandoned her, they had been good friends.
She took her orders and went to a local inn to get a room for the night under the name Cat. It was sloppy but he would find her. Arya had no intention of give herself up to Gendy. She would get close, but she wasn't going to make it easy on him.
Gendry had been explaining to Jon the events of teh day frantically. His guards probably thought he was crazy but Gendry didn't care. It was Arya. After nearly four years he had finally found her and what does she do? Run! "Jon I know it sounds ridiculous but if we ask around, I'm sure we can find her! Have you ever known Nymeria to take kindly to strangers?" Gendry asked.
Jon sat down calmly and thought before he opened his mouth to speak," How did Arya find her way to Bravos? I doesn't make sense that she ould leave Westeros." Jon pointed out. Gendry hadn't thought of that. There were only two Bravosi Gendry knew of that Arya had access to. One was dead and the other's face melted right off of him. Thats when it his Gendry, "Jaqen Hagar! Right as we left Harrenhall he gave Arya a coin and told her if she needed him to give that coin to a Bravosi and say 'Valar Morghulis'! Thats how she got here! Jaqen! Gendry shouted.
The two men devised a plan on where to ask questiones. "So I'll take no more than thirty men and start the search at first light." Jon offered. Gendry realized Jon meant to leave him out of this. "Oh no you don't. I'm coming with you." he insisted. Jon shook his head. "You spooked her off once adn besides, a king shouldn't be out on the streets!" Jon argued. Gendry clenched his fists and hit them hard on his chair, "I am the king, what I say goes! I lost her once, I won't do it again Jon." That ended the discussion once and for all. Gendry went to his bed. He didn't sleep a wink though. All he could think about, was that tomorrow, he would see those pale, grey eyes, he had grown to love.