While we rode on with the men, I found the days coming and ago very swiftly and suddenly, like the leaves falling from the trees in the summer mornings. But we trekked on, sticking to the road we were on and going through the green forests. I have never seen so much green around be before, the tinted green of the leaves shading us from the sun and giving me protection from the rest of the world. I felt the coolness of my cheeks as I rode on with the band go Brotherhood men, the smell of the dew from the morning haunting my senses and having me look around in wonder. If I thought the Wolfswood was green and luscious, it was blown out of my mind as we went through the Rivverlands to wherever we were going.

One of the nights where we were all sitting around a couple of fires we stared to keep warm, I heard a haunting but beautiful song being heard from one of the Brotherhood members. I was making arrows, Anguy taught me one of the days we were riding, and I as holding a long stick in my hands to fix it tup with my dagger. His voice was raw and soothing as he sang into the fire, the rest of us listening to him as he said the words of love:

"My featherbed is deep and soft, and there I'll lay you down, I'll dress you all in yellow silk and on your head a crown."

I looked and saw Gendry sitting down next to me on one side and Arya on the other side, having me look over at him. I haven't spoken to him since we left the Inn, knowing that he was giving me a odd look and unusual feeling in my chest since I was spending time with Anguy and not with him. Was that why he was asking odd with me?

"You okay?" I asked him aloud as he looked at the fire then over at me. I was waiting for him to answer, but he only pointed to the stick in my hand and my dagger on it, about to shave it.

"Anguy taught you that?" He asked in almost a bitter tone, having me eye him with annoyance as the song went on.

For you shall be my lady love, and I shall be your lord. I'll always keep you warm and safe, and guard you with my sword.

"You have been a sour mood since Anguy befriended me, why is that?" I asked him aloud, not wanting to be delicate with the matter. I kept my voice down and not wanting the other members to hear, but it was short and not sweet with him at all. He looked back at the fire, the same stern look was on his face.

"You shouldn't be befriending him when I see the way he looks at you." Gendry said in a calm tone, but I could tell immediately he was agitated by it. It took me a minute to realize what he meant. He was under the belief that Anguy was taking advantage of me, trying to seduce me in some way with his kindness and his sincere way to talking to me. I eyed him, seeing him look at the fire and do nothing. He wasn't going to move from what he thought about me, and I sighed, shaving the stick some more.

"He's nothing but kind to me." I reassured him in my level tone, seeing him eye me as I finished shaving the tick and stared back at him.

"He could take advantage of you." He warned me.

"And you think I would be easily swayed by him. Do you not know me?" I asked him in a shrug of my shoulders. Gendry only eyed me, saying nothing as I gave him one intent stare with my eyes, "I'm not easily swayed by men, Gendry. The only ones I can trust with my whole life, are the two friends whom I left Harrenhal with and are here with me today." I saw his stiff sitting positing next to me soften as I said this. I wanted him to know the truth: out of all the people around me now, Gendry and Arya were still the only ones I would trust and follow to the ends of the earth. I looked away from him back to the man who was singing the same song but went to a new verse. At that point, I wanted to listen to the words and let them haunt my mind as I was dealing with this situation with Gendry.

And how she smiled and how she laughed,

the maiden of the tree. She spun away and said to him, no featherbed for me.

The words sunk into my mind and under my skin, having me think of the simpler times of who would of written something so beautiful, Was their life in chaos, like my own since I had no no clue what my future was going to hold? Or was it filled with joy and happiness for someone whom he fell in love with. Who was she, the one whom he wrote about? Was she a fair maiden, someone whom he would die for? I watched in awe as the man sang, and he sang it in such a way that it sounded like he was in agony or his heart was breaking.

Gendry and I said nothing that night, but I could see out of the corner of my eye Gendry at me with a softer look in his eyes, a softer yet protective look in his eyes. I was developing feelings for him, day by day as we were traveling with the Brotherhood together. I hated knowing that I was feeling this towards him, because who knew if we were going to be alive in the morning or if we were ever going to end up together. There will be a time when we would be separated and never to see each other once more, but when I closed my eyes and heard the last verse of the song in my head, I was pictures myself with Gendry in my head. The two of use, holding each other and having smiles on our faces. It was a mere dream and fantasy, but I was selfish enough to think it was real.

I'll wear a gown of golden leaves, and bind my hair with grass, But you can be my forest love, and me your forest lass."

The next day we were riding through the woods, I was told by Thoros that we would have to wear hoods over our heads in order for us not to know where we were going. I was hesitant, but with Thoros reassuring me with kindness and we were not going to be harmed, I had the hood on, riding the horse and a Brotherhood member leading my horse so that I would only have to sit. I tried to listen to what was going on, since I was no blinded by the hood and could only see blackness.

"Can I take off the hood yet?" Arya asked from in front of me. I smiled, her stubbornness was through and through.

"I apologize, little lady, but it's beet if you don't se where we're going." Thoros answered her, having me sigh from my spot since I had no clue as to where we were going and what was going to happen to us.

"Halt!" My horse stopped moving, having me grasp the saddle I was in to make sure I didn't fall off.

"What is it?" I heard Arya asked aloud.

"Blackstrap rum." Thoros replied. But I tried to hear what was going on. Everything was flooding my mind at once: my thoughts on what was really going on with the Brotherhood, the thought that I had no clue if I was safe or not, and if Gendry and Arya were going to be safe as well. I had to remain calm, since Anguy taught me that if I worked myself up, I would be in trouble. Sure that was meant for shooting a bow, but I had a feeling he meant the same thing in real life. I had to be strong. I had to represent Thedra and our sigma. I will survive evil.

I will be a survivor.

The hood was taken off of me, and I blinked a few times to see that I was in a cave next to Gendry and Arya, whom lost their own hoods as well. There were torches and huge fire in the middle, having me look around in confusion. We were in a cave, a large cave that housed at least twenty bodies, all whom were around the huge fire and and looking with intensity.

"What is this place?" Gendry asked aloud.

"Somewhere neither wolves, nor lions, come prowling." Thoros said to him from his spot, making his way around the fire slowly as I was drinking in all that I saw.

"You look like a bunch of swineherds." The Hound growled from the opposite of us, having me see his face in the light of the fire, which intensified his scars and grueling face.

"Some of us are swineherds," Anguy answered back at him, "and some of us tanners and masons. That was before."

"You're still swineherds, and tanners, and masons. You think carrying a crooked spear makes you a soldier?" The Hound asked aloud to the group.

"No," A new voice was heard as we all looked to see a new man coming out from the shadows, "fighting makes you a solider."

"Beric Donadarrion." The Hound growl at him, a sneer on his face, "You've seen better days."

"And I won't see them again." The man replied.

"Stark Deserters." The Hound said louder now, "Baratheon deserters. You lots aren't fighting in a war, you're running from it."

"Last I heard, you were King Joffery's guard dog." Beric said aloud in a calm tone, "But here you are a thousand miles from home. Which one of us is running?"

"Untie these ropes and we'll find out." The Hound snapped at him, "What are you doing, leading a mob of peasants?"

"Ned Stark ordered me to execute your brother." I saw Gendry look at Arya, having me look from my spot with my eyes as well. Arya kept her eyes on the conversation as Gendry moved over to stand closer to Arya, having me do the same. I knew the mention of her father's name was going to be hurtful for her, "You're fighting for ghosts."

"That what we are, ghosts. Waiting for you in the dark. You can't see us, but we see you. No matter who's cloak you wear, Lannister, Stark, Baratheon, you prey on the weak of The Brotherhood Without Banners will hunt you down."

"You've found God, is that it?" The Hound asked aloud amused.

"Aye, I've been reborn in the Light of The One True God. As Have we all, as would any man who's sen things we've seen." I then saw the Hound look over at me, having me hold my ground and then seeing his eyes go wide as she saw something in me. I feared, not knowing who this man one as he pointed to me with his shackles.

"That bitch." he said aloud, pointing right at me as I was frozen in my spot, "She would be dead with a spear in her neck." Everyone looked at me, both with confusion and wonder as to why he was saying this. It clicked in my head then, having my eyes go wide in horror as I felt Gendry move over to me, Arya as well. It was as if they wanted to protect me from him, would they?

"She is not to be harmed." Thoros said to him in a low tone, "She is under our care now."

"The Queen Regent is under the belief that this dressmaker there is dead and in the sea." The Hound explained as he eyes drilled into my own, "She's clearly important, so much that this simple Dressmaker's head was needed on a spike."

"Why her?" Anguy asked aloud, almost protective of me, moving towards me around the fire as well.

"I don't ask those kind of questions, I only do as I'm told, which was trying to find her and kill her." The Hound said back to him in a snap. I eyed him, moving away from Gendry and standing in front of him across the fire and showing him I was no longer afraid of him.

"Clearly you failed." I said back to him in a low tone, seeing him eye me with hate in his eyes. I saw Thoros look at me with determination. I wanted the Hound to know that I was not gong to die easily from someone like him. I came too far for someone to think that they could kill me easily, but it was not going to be hime.

"Anguy, take her outside. A lady shouldn't be in here with what's going to happen." Thoros ordered aloud, bringing the focus back on him and what was going on. I kept my stare on The Hound, seeing him eye me with rage that he didn't kill me. It must of been killing him, seeing me alive and knowing that he was now a failure. Anguy walked over, placing a hand on my lower back and gently started to usher me out from the group. Everyone watched me as I left the circle, but I saw Arya and Gendry watch me with worry and concern. Arya looked petrified that I was away from her, but I saw how big Gendry's eyes went as I moved away from him. I nodded at him, seeing his eyes stay on me.

"It's okay." I said to him, seeing him nod his head as Anguy lead me out of the cave. I didn't want to be separated from the two of them, they were my safety net and my peace of mind. But then again, I had no clue what was going to happen since they wanted me to leave since I was a Lady. Something brutal I'm guessing.

"Stay over here, lass." Anguy said aloud to me, leading me over to a small area away form the cave. I sat down at the small fire that was set, having me look up a him with wonder and confusion.

"Should I be worried with what you're going to do with him?" I asked him aloud as he got back up to his feet, looking back at the cave a grave look on his face.

"There are something things that even strong women such as you should see. I don't want you to have one more nightmare when you sleep." Anguy explained to me in a sincere tone, though I could tell he was bitter about the situation. I knew he was meaning to be well with me, he knew that Harrenhal was not pleasant to me, and the last thing he wanted me to go through was another nightmare. I nodded my head as he walked away back to the cave, having me wonder even more, what the future was going to hold for not only the Hound, but with Gendry, Arya and myself. The Hound was supposed to kill me, that much for certain. Why him, there personal guard to King Joffrey, why was he assigned to kill me? It made the mystery of my life according to the Lannsiters even more frightening and interesting at the same time.

People were coming out of the cave, having me watch them and see them say nothing. Something was wrong, very wrong, I could feel it when they had the look of both defeat and nonchalance. Something happened in the cave, but I said nothing as the men filed out and went back to their business. But there was no sign of Arya or Gendry, they didn't leave the cave. It made me more confused, having me see and hear nothing for awhile after the Brotherhood filed out and left the cave. There was silence once again, having me stand up and become hesitant before I walked over to the cave.

Where was Arya and Gendry? Why were they still there when the others left? What happened to The Hound? Did they kill him? I had no clue. But as I walked into the mouth of the cave and down the small walkway into the bigger room, I saw the one person that I needed to see: Arya. I smiled, but I saw that she was almost running away from something with tears in her eyes, real tears. For so long she was trying to be strong about what was going on around her, and I could see she was coming from something that broke her heart.

"Arya?" I asked her aloud, seeing her stop in her tracks and look up at me, her fresh tears on her small cheeks. I rushed over to her, seeing her look down at the floor and shake from the tears.

"What happened? Are you hurt?" I asked her aloud, looking at her body to make sure she wasn't harmed from anything. But she said nothing as I stared back at her eyes, seeing them downcast. Something really shook her and I felt as though I wanted to find whoever or whatever did this to her, load my arrow, and kill. She was close to me now. But she finally looked at me with her big gray eyes.

"He means to leave us." She said in a soft, broken tone, having me look at her with confusion. it took me a moment to know who she meant, having me feel my heart dropping to the floor and my breath no longer in my lungs.

"Gendry." I said it like a statement more than a question.

"He's staying on with the Brotherhood as their Smithy." She said in a bitter tone, almost filled with raw hate, "He called them a family, saying he had no family!" At this point, I saw more tears on her face as she was trying to calm herself. I felt betrayed at that point too, since I thought Gendry would want to come to either Winterfell or Thedra Ascent for a new life. Did he not know his impact in our lives?

"How could he do this?!" She aloud in almost a shout, but I watched her as she looked over her shoulder at the direction of where she was running from. I looked as well, thinking that he was there. I moved away from her and walked over to finding him, feeling the hate towards him coming over me and making me want to punch and smack him for what he did to not only Arya, but to me. Arya said nothing as I walked away from her, having me feel as though she kept walking to be alone.

I turned the curve, seeing him sitting on a stool with armor on his lap. But he wasn't doing anything, not working on the metal with his hands. No, he was looking at the ground what looked like a blank face. He must of felt bad, good. I wanted him to feel bad for what he did to Arya, to make her cry. But as I stopped a bit away from and saw him look at me, his sitting stance straightened up as he saw me. He even shot up from the stool, the metal crashing to the floor as he faced me with a desperate face.

"Nora—"he started, walking towards me, but I shook my head.

"How could you." He stopped when I said it to him, my hands fisting my dress at my sides as I glared at him. He saw my stare, heard my voice, and I saw the look of defeat and pain in his eyes.

"How could you even think of staying here, when you know full well where we are trying to go." I said to him in a low tone, almost like a threat. He sighed and looked down for a moment before looking back at me.

"You don't understand what is going on with—"He started but I stopped him again.

"Oh I think I do." I yelled now, seeing him shake in his spot as he looked at me with sadness, "You are going to leave us when we are going back to our homes?! You could stay with us remember, be safe and have a new life? And after all we went through together, you're going to throw it away? Don't, don't you even dare."

"I have no choice, Nora. This is what I need." He argued with me.

"You've always had a choice. But we needed you!" I said to him in a desperate tone now, feeling tears in my own eyes as I said the next thing without realizing it:

"I need you."

He looked at me full then, seeing the pain in my eyes and then having me see his shoulders slump in defeat and pain. I hated him, at least I wanted to. He was going to be out of my life now, and that felt like a stab in the chest and right in my heart. He was so willing to leave me, and here I thought we could of had something together as more tun friends. But now I was looking like a fool, a foolish girl who fell in love with someone who never loved me back. Tears were on my cheeks now as I looked away from him and walked away, hearing him take a few steps towards me but stop from following me. I didn't want to look at him anymore, not that now I was fuming and still feeling my heart breaking over and over again on repeat.

I walked out into the cool night, out of the cave and clutching my cloak I was wearing close to my body. The fresh tears rolled down my cheeks onto my dress, though I was still crying over a stupid Blacksmith and his impact on my life. Where was I going to go now? There was really no need for happiness, since he was now leaving me and taking his happiness from him. Why was this so painful, since I knew that I should be strong for both myself and Arya. But Gendry, for some reason, was making things complicated for me now. Ever since I met him, he shifted things in my life and I hated it at that moment. I knew then, that I loved him. But he broke my heart.

I was too much in thought to feel something hitting me hard in the head, right over my eye and having me fall to the floor, darkness flooding me and having me hear nothing.