Summary: Elmar becomes more determined.
Arya
Right now Arya was walking with Bran, who was unwavering in his decision to leave his bed. Maester Luwin had tried to stop him but her brother wasn't listening. He had not left his chambers in over four days and was determined to get out, if only for a little while. Summer and Nymeria easily kept pace beside them, seeming to enjoy shuffling through the deep layer of snow that had laid over night.
"Can we stop?" Her brother asked, his breath coming out a white puff of mist in the still air.
"Is your leg hurting?" Arya helped steady Bran as he rubbed his thigh.
"No, I just want to rest it for a moment."
"If you want to go back we can." He glowered at her and she instantly stopped talking.
She didn't mind the rest one bit. Arya had woken that morning feeling achy all over. She and Gendry had duelled for hours last night after the banquet. This time he had beaten her. She still didn't know how he had managed to do it. One moment she was blocking his low parry, the next she was on her back, Needle rolling out of her hands. Gendry had laughed above her, his smile broad. She hadn't actually minded him winning, which was unlike her. This was after their kiss of course.
Arya she knew that her fondness for Gendry was growing and forming into something very sweet. She could feel it when she looked at him. Arya looked up from her brother and saw that she was directly opposite the forge. Someone was in there working and by the heat that was radiating from it she would have guessed it was Mikken rather than Gendry. She sighed heavily, just wanting to see him again.
Gods, Arya thought, shuddering. I sound more like Sansa everyday. What is wrong with me?
"Um, Arya could you let go of me please?" Bran laughed, glancing down to her claw-like grip on his arm. Instantly she released him, feeling her face heat. Stupid Prince. She grumbled mentally.
"You don't seem yourself today, are you alright?"
"I'm fine brother." Just distracted... very distracted. She thought.
"That's good because I thought you were thinking about the Prince again." He said matter-of-factly. Bran smirked knowingly after catching the guilty shine in her eyes.
"Shut up. I wasn't thinking about him at all." She lied, a blush spreading across her cheeks.
"You are such a bad liar Arya." He chuckled, grey eyes shimmering with mischief. "Besides, Jojen said that you dragged the Prince from the Great Hall and-"
"And I said shut up."
Again she felt like last night had been a very bad idea. Not at the time, but looking back perhaps she shouldn't have allowed Gendry to kiss her like that. But it had felt so good, after all the guilt, worry, frustration, anger... Gendry shared those feelings. Arya was sure. She was a little annoyed that Meera had come to find her, but rather her than Bran.
"-you go again." Her brother cocked an eyebrow at her expectantly. "Did you hear a word I said?"
"No, sorry. I can't concentrate today."
"That's alright... Are you sure that Pr-"
"If you're going to say something else about Prince Gendry then I would reconsider if I were you. Or else I may enlighten Meera of your intentions towards her." Arya warned and her brother had the courtesy to redden. He also mumbled incoherently under his breath. He knew that his sister would quite happily see her threat through. She sniggered at his expression.
The rest of the morning continued like this. They continued to walk, Bran even more resolute to get out of Winterfell's high stone walls than usual. Arya was quite content to indulge her brother, enjoying his company more than she ever had. Another result of almost losing him, she was sure.
The direwolves seemed happy too, leaping and playing with one another, despite their sizes. Brother and sister like her and Bran. It made her smile to think of it like that. A family. A pack. Jon had come back too and they were all together. Except for Sansa and her direwolf Lady. Arya still missed her sister even though she had annoyed her to no end. Her giggle, her silly manners, her proper speach. Everything about her older sister was Tully and perfect. Some aspects Arya envied whilst others she laughed at.
Arya was no Tully. She was a Stark, like Lyanna. Like her father. She had a different dancing style, she preferred horse riding to sewing and she hated wearing dresses and being kind to people who didn't deserve it. Like the Queen. Sansa had idolized her, yet Arya saw Cersei Lannister for what she was. Cruel and ambitious. She wished that she never saw the blonde woman again. Yet that was inevitable now. Now she would become Gendry's wife, a princess and she would have to live in the Red Keep.
Suddenly all of Arya's amusement and serenity slipped away. Her smile left her face.
Nymeria looked up and released Summer from her grip, bounding to her mistress. Her glorious yellow eyes were suddenly concerned as she gazed directly at Arya. Bran followed the direwolf's eyes and he placed his hand on her shoulder, squeezing softly.
"It'll be alright Arya. I'm sure the Prince will look after you." There was nothing condescending about his tone, only a gentle reassurance.
Nymeria wrapped around her legs, nodding her head against Arya's hand. Summer whined softly, it was an agreement to Bran. Yet all Arya could think was that she would be in a place where Sansa had been abused. It was where Joffrey lived. Where the King ruled. Where Cersei plotted. She trusted Gendry with her life, but that place... she hated the heat, the smells and the people.
She remembered what her father had said to her when he and Robert had argued about Sansa. Lord Eddard had been furious when he received a raven from her sister, telling of her 'mistreatment'. Arya still didn't know how she had managed to send the letter without the Queen finding out.
"She's a wolf isn't she?" Robert had said. "They're strong."
"Yes, when she is with her pack. Whereas Sansa is a lone wolf in a lions den." Ned had replied.
What he hadn't said was that Sansa wasn't only a Stark. She was a Tully. Gentle and sweet. The Hound had never been wrong when he called her 'Little Bird'.
Arya however was very different. Alone or with her family, she wouldn't cower. But it didn't mean that she would survive. And she doubted very much that Cersei would bend to her threats as Elmar had done.
She sighed, shrugging away those unwelcome thoughts. Arya would deal with those problems when she arrived and not until then. Right now she didn't have the patience to think through all the things spinning in her head. They were all demanding serious attention but Arya couldn't focus. It was wrong of her and she knew it, but she would rather think of Gendry and his wonderful kisses. The way he had held her, it was so possessive yet he hadn't been rough. His embrace had been warm and secure. Arya had never felt anything like that before. All hot and shivery as Gendry trailed his lips over her mouth, down the line of her jaw and back. When she had felt the first touch of his tongue she had almost melted. She was very grateful that he had held her up, no matter how it looked to any bystanders.
They should mind their own business. Arya thought smugly.
If it hadn't have been for Meera, she didn't know what would have happened. Though Arya suspected that Gendry would have stopped before things got out of hand.
"What is Rickon doing up there?" Bran asked, bringing her out of her daydream. A deep frown replaced his former serene expression. Her head snapped up and beyond the steady flurry of snow, she could see her little brother. He was perched on the inside of the abandoned tower, gazing out of the window. His little hands were white as he clutched frightfully at the ancient stones.
"Oh Gods." Arya muttered before she belted for the tower. "Rickon!" She screamed, warning him not to move with her tone.
The deep snow was difficult to negotiate through, particularly when she came across a bit of uneven earth or a cobble. She tripped a couple of times, but it didn't slow her pace. Arya stormed up the tower steps, taking longer strides to quickly reach the circular room at the peak. When she arrived, she was panting heavily and sweating with the sudden exertion.
Rickon turned and ran into her open arms.
"What are you doing up here?" She asked desperately, hugging him against her.
"Lord Elmar said he wanted to show me something." He said innocently, his voice muffled against her shoulder. She sighed.
"Rickon I want you to go down to the court and stay with Bran until I get there. Alright?" She pulled back and he nodded, brilliant blue eyes staring at her earnestly. She cupped his tiny face. "And promise me you will never come up here again."
"I promise." He vowed before running off, the sound of his feet becoming more distant as he descended the tower.
"I thought I told you to stay away from my family!" Arya seethed and flickering a murderous glance towards the Frey. He gave her a pleasant smile in return. That notched her anger higher.
"I never harmed your youngest brother. I just needed him to get you up here is all."
Faster than she ever thought possible, he reached out with long hands and captured her left wrist, yanking her to the window. He wrenched her hand back and somehow twisted her arm so that she was immobile. She grunted as a sudden bolt of pain lanced up her arm. Arya regretted not wearing Needle that morning. The freezing wind blew in from the crumbling window, bringing a gust of snow into her face. It blustered around her face, whipping her hair up and around them like a dark curtain. Elmar pulled harder so her back pressed to his chest.
Arya glanced down and saw Rickon run towards their brother. Once there he clung to Shaggydog as if the creature was no more than a stuffed animal. The direwolf however looked like a beast from nightmares. He always had been the most temperamental of the litter, yet he was always there for Rickon. Shaggydog's dark corse fur was a stark contrast to the delicate flutter of snow around him. His green eyes still blazed like Wildfire as he pressed closer to little Rickon.
Nymeria then barked happily as Gendry walked up to them, long legs easily closing the distance despite the thick snow. Arya smiled and it didn't go unnoticed. Elmar shoved his head in the crook of her neck and followed her gaze down to the trio. Their laughter rang out, a cheerful warming sound.
"They look so nice down there, playing in the snow don't they my little lady?" Arya felt a surge of heat through her body, a wash of anger. "Oh don't worry I've taken your... threat, quite seriously." His face turned into her neck and she felt him smile against her skin. He nodded towards Gendry and chuckled.
"What are you talking about?" She growled, feeling another shot of pain up her arm.
"You don't have to pretend with me, little lady. I saw you last night. I saw the kiss you shared." Her eyes widened in horror. "It seemed you quite liked his attentions." His other hand started stroking down her side, tracing the curve of her waist. Suddenly furious, Arya spun in his grip and slapped him. It was a good hard slap that echoed in the small room. His head snapped to the side, blood welling up under his pale skin. Slowly he turned to face her. "If you didn't like him, you wouldn't let him-"
"You don't touch me. Ever." Arya snarled, cutting off his remark. Her left hand stung fiercely, yet she would quite happily smack him again. Elmar just continued giving her that sardonic smile, though his eyes hardened.
"You love him, don't you?" He asked, obviously determined to get an answer. She was just as determined not to give him one.
"Well I would say that you love too many people. And the more people you love the weaker you are." Arya suddenly understood his words. "You'd be amazed at the things you will do to keep them safe."
He grinned again and spoke over her as she tried to stammer a reply.
"I've expanded my horizons; it is you who allowed me to do so. See, I realise now that I acted too rashly for hurting Bran. He wasn't the right person. As you quite rightly said, he's your brother. Yet the Prince is not your family, nor is he a Stark and you obviously love him as much as any one of your brothers."
Faintly she heard her own words. 'You will never get to me by hurting my family, Frey.' He had now taken her words literally.
"No." Arya gasped as understanding dawned. He was now threatening Gendry. He was trying to threaten a Prince.
It took her a few moments to steel her nerves. The wolf does not cower. She told herself and took a deep breath, taking in the Northern air, feeling it cool her raging emotions.
"No." She repeated sternly and he rose an eyebrow at her defiance. "I will not let you hurt him. I won't. There is nothing to stop me from telling him what you just-" Elmar squeezed her slender wrist even more, the delicate skin twisting under his fingers. Arya turned her head to meet his gaze. "I. Won't. Let. You."
"We'll see. After all, he didn't believe you when it was your own brother. What makes you think he will this time?" He sneered, visibly enjoying the discomfort he was causing her.
What really annoyed her was that he was right. Neither Gendry nor Jon had trusted her judgement when Bran had almost been killed. This would be even harder to explain. Even to her own mind it didn't make perfect sense.
"Why are you doing this Elmar?" She asked, biting her lower lip. "You cannot want to marry me this much, surely." He released her hand and left the tower, his laughter ringing out from behind him.
Arya didn't understand that twisted boy. All she could do now is hope that Gendry would believe her. If not for her sake, but his. And if he didn't, then she would have to save him another way.
