Gendry I
He was making a couple arrow steel pointers and minding his own business, when his life changed course once again. The crossroads Inn had been a good home to him and his friends, except for when visitors came around. This time they came around with troublesome news. He remembered it clearly that the sweat was already running down his neck as he focused on making the pointers perfect, when that familiar face entered through the door joyously singing. Tom of Sevenstreams, Gendry thought frowning. He would know that mischievous man by only the sound of his voice. It displeased him greatly to have his blacksmith work interrupted by such likes as the brotherhood without banners.
Yet there the small man was and the information that came out of his mouth had almost made Gendry puke back then. They were looking for Arya, she had been spotted by a couple people wondering through the river lands. The young man thought about the young girl he had once known and his heart filled with warmth. A good friendship they had formed when both were shunned away from the capital, he missed her he realized and the wheels of his head turned upon thinking that she might be in danger. That is when his mind changed and once again he left home and became an outlaw. What a dull notion that had been. Gendry cursed himself for it; the Brotherhood was not the same as before.
Now he was stuck with this bloody lot, he joined the quest to find Arya Stark, but this bunch of weird people made him regret it. Since he became once more a part of the brotherhood, not a day had passed when they did not hang someone. It seemed all they did was hang and hang and hang people and not only evil people, but women and children too. Their new leader was nothing like Bedric and that made Gendry sad. He could barely look at Lady Stone Heart, it bothered him tremendously that she was said to had been once Arya's mother. He could not see it, Arya was just a kid, but she was beautiful, her eyes filled with spirited fire. She was good person that he missed terribly, not in anyway like this monster.
It was because of her daughter that he joined, so he did what he had to do. However, the hanging he opposed it did not matter to him if they were Frey's or not. He did not see reason to more death at the Riverlands, so he kept to his own sometimes sitting with Brienne and Podric. The lady of Tarth reminded him of Arya, a girl with a boy's spirit, but it bothered him that she was always looking at him as if he was a ghost. However, tonight she was nowhere to be seen, so Gendry sat next to Podric by the fire and punched his arm. Both of them listened as Tom of Sevenstreams sang to men. Podric was a good lad, he kept to himself and did not get in the way, he wondered what had happened to the boy that had brought him to the company of the brotherhood.
Lady Brienne stepped out of Lady Stone Heart's tent dressed in woman's wear and followed by a blonde tall man. Gendry remembered when he learned that Arya was a lady… and also back when they forced her to wear a gown; he had almost choked on his ale that night. The truth is she made him smile, when nothing else could. He realized that the tall blonde man was looking straight at him now with recognition. Was his face so similar to that of his father? Did this people know that he is Robert Baratheon's bastard son? He thought facial hair would hide the features? Did he have to run now? All this thoughts ran through the young man's mind, but he remained unmoving. The blonde man gave him a short nod and turned away, but Brienne walked directly towards him.
His heart was beating strongly in chest when she stopped by him and said: -'Lady Stone Heart has ordered us to King's Landing. It will be dangerous, so you may stay with the Brotherhood if you like Podric Payne.' Gendry breathed in relief, his identity was safe for now, but he was about to loose his only friend. In a sudden outburst he says: -'Podric stays.' The small squire and his big Knight lady looked at him with question and Gendry tried to amend: - 'I mean, if you stay it will be safer… and I will make you a sword and a good one at that I promise.' The big woman nodded in agreement, but Podric said: -'But I am your squire, I must keep you safe.' Lady Brienne laid her big hands upon the young squire shoulders and said: -'Jaime will keep me safe. I free you of your oath Podric. You take care of Gendry now'
Gendry did not need help taking care of himself, he had grown it a big man, well skilled at the arts of using an axe and thanks to Thoros of Myr, he was now a knight. He did not believe the title counted for anything, however, Podric did and he knew the boy needed to have a reason to stay, so he said: -'Yes Podric. I could use your company in my rides. You be my squire and also a friend I can trust'. The small squire nodded and gave him a half smile. It would do right now, for the kid to stay by his side. This mission that Lady Stone Heart had thrust upon lady Brienne seemed to be a dangerous thing. One way or another, being on the road was far safer than being on King's Landing these days.
The blue eyed man laid down with arms behind his head and looked up to the dark skies as the woman of Tarth left them. The stars were shinning brighter then usual in the last week and the weather did not seem so cold. Gendry was glad for this at least, he thought about Arya once again, would they ever find her…wind blew softly against his clothes, he worried that they were to close to the capital now. They had entered the crownlands and by morning would be arriving at the holdfast of Briarwhite. He remember stopping there when he was going to the wall with Yoren, he learned that Arya was a girl there and now he was going to pass once again through the fields of corn would he find her peeing there once again.
His train of thought was interrupted by Thoros of Myr: -'On we march my brothers for such is the will of the God of light'. The red priest was drinking harder these days, Gendry noticed, the execution by hanging were taking a toll at him, but he knew that the priest hoped to find less Frey's now that they were on the King's territory. However, the young boy knew that Lady Stone heart would never stop even if she killed all people responsible of her husbands death. The woman was out of control, Gendry just wanted to find Arya soon enough and get her safe as quick as possible. He considered if she would want to go back with him to the Crossroads Inn, but that was a foolish thought.
Quickly, he mounted his horse and extended his hand to Pod. They had fewer horses than when they started, but they were holding up. The men marched in disconnected wave paths that slithered inside the woods to cover more terrain and also confuse the trackers. Gendry was glad for that, at least he did not have to look at Lady Stone Heart the whole way and not talk to anyone either. But another whole day had passed and they had not found Arya, so he was felling tired, sore and moody. So much that he snapped at Pod, when the squire asked him a stupid question: -'Is that Briarwhite?' What kind of question was that Gendry thought as he responded: -'Are you stupid? Thoros said we were going to Briarwhite, so of course it is Briarwhite!'
He felt bad almost as soon as the words left his mouth and more bad when Podric responded: -'I am sorry sir.' He wanted to tell the boy that he was no sir, but he remained silent. He would make up to the boy by making him a good sword. When they got to the holdfast he told Payne to find him a blacksmith rock, but the squire told him that maybe it was not such good idea. In the morning there would be plenty of time, Gendry consented. He was too tired; tomorrow he would make the best blade in the word for him. Dismounting his horse, he watched as ten riders scattered around the holdfast. There must always be man on the look-out for lady Arya, Thoros once told him. How could a good man succumb so much to the will of an evil woman?
Gendry shook his head and pat Podrick's shoulder twice whilst saying: -'Let's find somewhere to sleep.' They were lucky to get a room filled with straw that probably was cellar before the war. As soon as they laid down, their eyes were closed though light still shone bright against their faces. Before long they were being woken by the loud sound of knocking at wooden door of the cellar. The young man cursed and squinted his clear blue eyes at the door as it was swung wide open. Sunlight poured in directly at them and at his side Pod grumbled and covered his face. A fat looking man shouted at the men get up you useless fools, Lady Stone Heart wants everybody up on their feet. Angry and deprived from sleep Gendry asks without thinking: -'What is it now? It is too early to hang people.'
The fat man eyes him mistrustfully as if considering if he needs an answer. It infuriates Gendry to high levels that nothing can be said against the Brotherhood, he feels that freedom has been taken from him so he stands up abruptly. His height makes the overweight scumbag take a step back and say: - 'They found her.' As the man turns to leave, the young black haired man fears not getting an complete answer, so he rushes foward to question again about what was going on. His heart beats strongly on his chest as he demands: -'Who? Who was found brother?' Recomposing himself, the man answer shortly: -'Milady Arya Stark, Thoros found her. She is coming now to see her mother and Lady Stone Heart wants everyone awake to greet her.'
Gendry's head hurt and he felt out of breath as the wheels of his mind turned wild in thought. They had found her, he would see his friend again. Would she even recognize him? He had grown taller and stronger then before. Taking his coat from the ground and kicked Podric foot while saying: -'Wake up, Pod. My friend was found!' He smiled as the squire got up and began again thinking about his own appearance, he had a beard now and his hair was in desperate need of cutting he thought running his fingers through his unruly black hair. But there was no time for that, she was here he had to go meet her. Would he even recognize her? She must have grown by now also and become a true Lady. One that will not even look at his dirty common face.
However, there was still something he had to do for their friendship. He needed to tell her about her mother, before she was shocked beyond tears. So determined the bull started walking towards the place the brothers where gathering at the center of the holdfast. People were shouting and being organized to separate groups in other to make a feast to receive the daughter of their lady, moods were up and some of the men were even laughing. Gendry could not laugh, he was anxious and concerned looking around for a glimpse of Arya. But he had not seen her yet, Thoros also was no where to be seen. He turned to Pod and said: - 'Follow me.' He walked straight to Tom, who was playing sweet song in his guitar as if nothing was happening, and said: -'Where is Thoros?'
Tom stopped playing and laughed at his face saying: -'You mean where is Arya? That is secret information not for the likes of you.' By impulse Gendry held the small men by the front of his garment and asked: -'Where?' With his feet dangling in the air, Tom responded: -'Worry not Lad, your girl friend will soon be here.' Gendry threw him to the floor, drew off the long axe he carried nowadays and said: -'Tell me where or I will cut your tongue off.' Podric looked at him in a pleading manner, the boy wanted no trouble. But the blood was pumping fast in the bull's veins and he had no time to waste, so he twirled the axe in his hand waiting for the singer to come around. However, he felt a hand on the back of his arm, turning around he saw Thoros.
Dressed in a red crimson coat, the priest looked at him directly and said: -'Fighting on her daughter return will not please our lady. Gendry, I think you know Lady Arya Stark'. The young men looked behind Lord Thoros and suddenly saw her. A slim curvaceous young woman, which could not be her, Arya is just a child. His eyes were blurred for an instant and then he looked deep into her grey eyes. Out of impulse he strutted towards, held her up and twirled her around. Oh, yes she had grown. Smiling the young bull said: -'It is you. Is really you!' The girl remained staring at him as he lowered her down and Thoros said: -'Of course is her, do you think I wanna be hanged.' The girl frowned a little at the priest comment, but remained silent.
Concerned, Gendry remained looking at the girls eyes as Thoros continued speaking: - 'Maybe you can convince the lady here to put on a proper dress, so she herself does not hang'. The young man thought she might have lost her tongue, for the girl said nothing. Was that needle that she carried? Was this really the fiery Arya he had know? Disquieted by her behavior, the boy mustered his courage and told her: - 'Look, Arya we have been searching for you for a long time. I do not know what troubles you faced, but I must tell you… Your mother is different… She died melady.' He did not expect what happened next, Arya slapped him in his head and said her first words to him: -'Don't call me melady, idiot.'
With his mouth wide-opened, Gendry watched as Arya turned around and started walking away while saying: -'I know she is dead. I will meet her now, Thoros. My clothes be damned.'