Arya had just finished bathing when Jon stepped in to check on her. He knocked and walked in immediately not thinking of asking if she was decent or not. When Jon saw her with only her robe he blushed and turned away. Arya smiled at her brother's shyness. When she had the dress on and the top layer laced up she called for him to turn back around. Jon looked awkward not knowing how to handle situations.
"Did you need something?" Arya questioned. Jon seemed to remember what he came to tell her and the uncomfortableness subsided. Once it was gone however Jon became series. Arya wondered what was causing her brothers' solemn mood change.
She laced the last of the dress and motioned for him to sit but Jon shook his head, "Arya, I have informed Sansa of your discovery. She wants to see you." the raven revealed. Arya didn't know why she was so surprised by that. They were sisters but before their fathers death, the two girls never did care for eachother.
Stupidly Arya asked, "When will she arrive in Bravos?" Jon looked perplexed. Arya wondered if Sansa was expecting her to go back to Kings Landing with them. For a moment she almost believed that she really could. Maybe not Kings Landing but home, to Winterfell. To Bran being King of the North and to see baby Rickon be a young boy with their mother's curly hair. To see Sansa's auburn hair in the snow. To see Jon as Lord Commander.
The reality struck her once again that she was here, in the palace, in a embroidered dress, only to eliminate Gendry. Arya ran her hand finger over the acorn on the sleeve. Just a memory and seeing him again would be a dream after tonight.
Jon moved forward to clarify what she already had in her mind. "I'm asking you, if you want, to come back to Westeros with us in a month. I know you've been gone for some time and have a life here but, you have a family at home." he explained. Arya looked down from his gaze no knowing how to respond.
He would want her to say yes. Arya knew it. Before she ahd a chance to give a straight yes or no, Jon spoke again, "You have until the moment we leave to make a decision. Whichever you choose, the choice is yours." her brother assured her.
Arya ran up to Jon and hugged his neck. When she released, he left her to finish getting ready for the feast. She made two braids and joined them behind her head as her mother once did. How she missed her. Catelyn had been the perfect wife and mother. Arya's father never left her side unless forced. The love that couple had for eachother was what had goven Sansa her fanciful songs.
Arya remembered that whenever she and her sister got into disagreement that her mother had sat Arya down and said, "You and Sansa may be as different as the sun and moon but you need her as she needs you. You're like two sides of the same coin." Lady Stark had the wisdom of the old gods and the new.
Gendry made it a point not to work in the forge that day and focus on matters of state. He was regretting that decision now that he had been driven mad with paper work. Gendry wished it was time for the feast. Some music and dancing was just what he needed and he hadn't hosted a feast in nearly a year.
When he saw that Jon had arrived, Gendry dismissed his small council. None of them looked rather pleased, especially Thoros who was pushing Gendry to negotiate a dragon from the Targaryen girl. Gendry had met her once and had no wish to upset her or her dragons. He had promised her that no one from his kindgoms would go anywhere near her dragons and Gendry had meant it.
Jon beant the knee, as was custom then came and sat to the right of Gendry. "I spoke with Arya." he said. Gendry knew Jon was planning on doing it soon but he hadn't counted on the afternoon before the feast.
"What did she say?" Gendry eagerly asked. Their conversation at the forge had given him hope that Arya wasn't truly angry at him. She had at least remembered and acknowleged their adventure's together.
Jon didn't seem to look as confident, "I told her not to answer right away. She seemed conflicted. I think this will be more difficult for her than we originally thought. She's still Arya but, her eyes are darker. She is someone attached to Bravos." he explained.
Gendry knew Jon was right. Arya had changed. Whether it was for better or worse, Gendry couldn't say. One moment she was turning him away and the next she took a trip down memory lane. Gendry nodded his head to show that he understood.
He needed to talk Arya himself. He left Jon in the Great Hall without explanation. Gendry headed towards Arya's chambers only to see a figure sneaking down the hallway with a cape and a sword. When she turned the corner Gendry knew it was Arya, but where was she going? He knew he would kick himself for it later but he didn't care. Gendry had to follow her.
On the way out of the palace, Gendry grabbed a cloak of his own. Arya was smart enough to check for tails multiple times along the way causing Gendry to dart behind people and street carts.
When he saw her go into the temple, Gendry was confused. The Arya he knew didn't believe in any god but the god of death. Gendry waited outside of the temple patiently but the longer he waited, the more worried he became.
The only people entering the temple had severe malformations or diseases and none of them had come back out. After waiting ten more minutes, Gendry was going to barge in and grab Arya, no matter how pissed off she was. Just as he began to move across the street, Arya walked out looking exactly the same as she had before only with a small leather pouch. Gendry hid behind a pillar to avoid her seeing him. He didn't know for certain but assumed she was headed back to the palace.
Instead of following Arya home, Gendry went up to the temple steps, curious to know what Arya wanted from this place. When he entered Gendry saw something far from what he was expecting. In the center of the circular room was a tall fountain that had seven different faces and was painted red.
Everywhere around the fountain were old or sick people praying. The one's drinking from the fountain seemed to fall asleep and lining the walls were beds. Some had people in them, others didn't. It was poorly lit in there and smelled of rotting corpses.
A steward ina white and black robe had been walking around collecting what seemed to be dead bodies in a cart. Gendry tapped his shoulder to speak with him and the man seemed thoroughly ticked that he had been interrupted, "I'm sorry I know your busy but, what is this place?" he asked.
The young steward acted like Gendry had asked the dumbest question in the world but still obliged, "This is the home of the Faceless Men, Temple of the Red god of Death." he revealed.
Gendry felt as though someone had gutted him. What was Arya doing with the faceless men? Before the steward could walk away Gendry asked if a man named Jaqen Hagar served her but was only told that there are no true names here.
Frustrated from his lack of answers, Gendry decided to go back to the Sealords' palace. THere was nothing more he could do here and the feast started soon. On the walk back, Gendry pondered every possible scenario he could think of and didn't like any of them. He would simply have to speak with Arya at the feast tonight.