Game of Thrones: Crossroads

Chapter 29 of my Game of Thrones story, enjoy.

Reviews

Wolfgirl2013: Thanks.
Veridissima: Yeah, it sucks for them right now; glad you enjoyed the chapter though.
Boris Yeltsin: Yeah, well, read on and find out what happens next.
Marina Ka-Fai: Glad you liked it; yeah, it sure is :)
rubini25: Thanks, glad you enjoyed it, I know; well to be honest, it was just pure coincidence. It was actually people from Gendry's group looking for him, particularly Dany and Margaery, wanting fresh news on her rumour regarding Dany, had her followed. Well, do remember that most of the issues in the Arya/Gendry pairing, the age gap, their birth status and such, aren't present in this; the main issue the family members would have, at least her parents, would be Arya keeping it a secret.

Now onto the story.

Disclaimer: Game of Thrones belongs to George R.R. Martin.

Chapter 29

Arya remained quiet the entire ride home; she kept glancing out the corner of her eye towards her mother. Catelyn however didn't say anything and her face was perfectly neutral. Arya knew she had heard the argument with Aegon, not only that, she was fairly certain that Sansa, Bran and Rickon had been there too. Arya wondered just how Sansa would react to the news and what she would tell their father. Sansa had picked the boys up and was driving them home. She was more likely to get home first; but Arya wasn't sure if she or the boys would tell their father, would they leave it, knowing that Catelyn knew. They pulled up into the driveway, Sansa's car was already parked. Arya waited but her mother still didn't say anything; so she got out of the car and they both headed inside. Once inside Arya didn't wait or even look at anyone but darted straight upstairs. Once in her room she closed the door and locked it. She could only wait now, it was only a matter of time, soon her whole family would know about her dating Gendry. Just then she received a text; she knew it was from Gendry, he was the only one who would text her now. She picked up the phone and read it, prepared to give some answer that reflected her anger back.

However when she read the text she stopped:

'Hope everything's okay with you and your family. I don't know what's worse for me, mum being worried and trying to lecture me, or Mya and Edric's teasing.'

She bit her lip, she had been so worked up about this she had forgotten Gendry would be facing the same issue at his home. She sighed and texted back; her initial anger forgotten.

'They've not said anything yet, but it's only a matter of time, soon they'll all know. Guess I'll just have to deal with it when it comes.'

She sent the text and Gendry replied promptly wishing her good luck. Just then there was a knock at the door.

"What?" She called out, she wasn't in the mood for conversation right now.

She heard Bran's voice on the other side of the door. "It's just me Arya."

She sighed but got and unlocked the door, opening it and allowing Bran to wheel himself in. "What do you want Bran?" She asked quickly.

Bran smiled kindly and explained. "I just wanted to hear about you and Gendry; before all the rumours and such begin clouding things. I want to hear the true story, from you."

Arya sighed and sat down on the bed. 'I can't tell you the true story Bran…Even though I know it.'

However she simply shook her head and told Bran more or less how she and Gendry got together, leaving out the blackmail part. In the end Bran seemed satisfied and was about to leave when he warned her.

"Mum is telling dad just now…It's gonna be the main topic at dinner."

He then left, giving Arya time to prepare herself for dinner and her interrogation.

Meanwhile, downstairs Catelyn was talking to her husband, telling him about the incident at school and Arya's revelation.

Ned shook his head. "I don't believe this; she never told us, she never told us she was dating. She's too young for this."

Catelyn laughed softly at that. "Ned, she's sixteen. I understand where you're coming from, she's still our baby girl, but she's growing up, we can't stop or change that."

Ned sighed.

"This boy, Gendry, he's the one she used to hang around with before she joined Sansa's group of friends, right?" He asked; Gendry had after all been at their house before and had met them.

Catelyn nodded. "Yes, he's Robert's oldest son from Alyssa."

Ned remember the boy well and managed a small smile.

"Well, I guess we'll just have to talk to Arya, see what's going on, at dinner."

Catelyn agreed and began working on dinner. Meanwhile Ned went to finish up on his work in the study. As he worked his thoughts wandered to Arya.

'Catelyn's right, she is growing up, even if we still see her as our baby girl. Still, I have to talk to her, make sure she's safe at least.' He pondered to himself.

Finally, sometime later, dinner was ready and the family all gathered to eat.

Arya was extremely nervous now; it seemed everyone at the stark house had now heard about what happened at school in that day, and it seemed she couldn't run away from it, even it was the last thing she wanted to talk about. They were at the dinner table, when her mother brings it up - surprisingly she noticed her mother didn't seem mad. Her only point of contention was that her daughter didn't tell her she was dating, but she didn't have anything against Gendry personally, she knew him quite well, since he used to hang out around the house. After a few careful looks from his wife, Ned revealed that he agreed, he liked Gendry, he just didn't like that his youngest daughter was dating.

"So how did that happen?" Catelyn asked.

Arya bit her lip and replied quickly, wanting to end the subject before it got too far. "It was normal, mum. Nothing special."

"Are you sure?" Cat asked again.

Arya rolled her eyes and replied. "Yes. Can we please not talk about it; there's nothing more to say really."

Catelyn understanding Arya's tone and put the issue aside. Instead she turned to Bran and started talking about the maths test he had done that day. Arya knew this was only a reprieve, she knew her parents wouldn't approve of the blackmail that had been used, but somehow couldn't bring herself to mention it, even if they could find some way to get her out of it. She didn't know why but she just couldn't bring herself to mention it. Besides, while her parents seemed happy with her dating and Bran didn't mind, she knew Rickon and Sansa would have something to say, not to mention Jon and Robb when they found out.

It was later that evening, that both of her siblings came to her. First was Rickon; he and Arya had been told by Cat to do the dishes. She noticed her youngest brother didn't seem happy about the relationship.

"Rickon; aren't you going to say anything about me dating; I can tell you want to." She said quietly.

He glared at her and then responded. "Okay, fine, tell me, what are you doing with Gendry, Arya? Are you going to hurt him like you did Shireen?"

Arya glared back; she should've guessed. "Shut up, Rickon." She snapped. "I've know them for much longer than you, I know what I'm doing."

Rickon rolled his eyes and was about to reply.

"Just shut up; it's between me and Gendry, nobody else." she told him seriously, and he glowered at her and once the dishes were done he left without even a backwards glance.

Later that night, before bed Sansa, who seemed to share Rickon's views about the relationship, came to her room. But Arya noted she wasn't worried about Gendry, but her group and Arya's 'betrayal'.

"How could you be with Gendry? You know you shouldn't talk to him. He and his friend are always so cruel, especially to us." Sansa exclaimed, really
believing it - it was true Gendry Had been cruel to her with the blackmail, but none of them had ever been cruel in any other time, to anybody, it was Sansa's group that were the cruel ones.

"Sansa, I'm with him and I just can't change that, okay?" Arya explained with a sigh. "Let's just leave it, there's nothing you can do." So Sansa dejectedly left.

Arya fell on her bed and finally, allowed herself to cry upset at her lost chance, her inability to now help Sansa. She cried until she fell asleep, more confused than ever.

End of chapter, hope you enjoyed it, read and review please.