Just as Sansa did, Arya knows Robert wanted a Stark-Baratheon match. She takes a deep, perverse pleasure in that it will happen, just not the one Robert expected.
She takes more pleasure in Targaryens living under his nose. Jon, Aede, Dany, they don't look Targaryen, but they are, and it pleases her.
What pleases her more is that Jon was able to find Gendry. Find him and bring him back to her. Of course, she had to help Sansa arrange the fostering of several people, even if she didn't really want to, and she had to make certain her brothers would stay out of trouble. That was what had led to Bran climbing people- Theon, Hodor and Jon, mostly, but sometimes Robb- and Rickon clinging to his siblings when he wasn't training in the yard. Osha's reappearance had been a blessing, especially when she remembered enough to be comfortable in Winterfell, minding to young lords.
Gendry had adjusted quickly to smithing for the Lord of Winterfell and his family, training on Robb's command. He had also adjusted quickly to the Brotherhood Without Banners coming and swearing fealty to him as a Captain of the Wolfsguard.
Tom of Sevenstreams and Thoros of Myr had taken different positions at Sansa's command. Tom did his work as a bard ought, singing and playing, but also teaching the young ones who wished to learn music. Thoros, on the other hand, taught about Rh'llor, and why it was so dangerous to practice the Red God's faith.
Arya and Sansa had obeyed their brother and left the Sept of the Seven alone, though they wished to tear it down.
"Father built that for your Lady Mother," Jon had said sternly, reminding them
"It's not fair to destroy a gift because you are at odds with the recipient." Grudgingly, the girls had called for a Septon, but only after installing a priest of the Old Gods as caretaker of the Godswood, themselves the tenders of the Heart Tree.
With Jon's instructions, Arya mused, Winterfell had bloomed like a winter rose. The foster children had brought wagons of gifts and gold, or trade agreements. Robin Arryn had corresponded with his father and the lords of the Vale about improving trade with the North further.
But the most genius idea Jon had had before he left was suggesting a Peacemeet. All the foster children would gather to practice negotiation and to become familiar with each other. It had only taken two letters- copies sent to every Great House in Westeros- explaining the Peacemeet, the attending parties, and what had been discussed in each Meet for more fosterlings to come to Winterfell.
So that the Meets were not crowded, Sansa spoke for the North, Dacey and Smalljon with her. Arya oversaw the guard, as she intended to be the Winterwhisperer, Master of Whispers for all Winter touched. Trystane always brought whichever cousin felt like coming.
Myrcella, who was fast growing to take her desired title of 'Lioness of Kings Landing', spoke for the West, her recently arrived brother Tommen and little Ash Marbrand spoke for the Houses there.
Beyond that, Arya wasn't really interested in what was going on. Sure, one day she would be the Spymaster of All Winter Touched, but that was a long ways off. Robb, Bran and Rickon all intended to be Arms Masters, Robb serving Jon, Bran serving Theon, and Rickon serving their cousin Robin. Bran and Rickon practiced every day because they had to, but she wasn't the Spymaster yet.
When Jon, Robb, Theon, Gendry and whoever else went Ranging with them return to Winterfell in her fathers' wake, Arya sees Roberts' expression. He looks… old and defeated and very fat.
Fighting a sigh, Arya tightens her grip on Gendry's neck. Catelyn, Robert, Rickard, Rhaegar, even Lyanna had their parts to play. Hoster Tully, too, and Petyr Baelish certainly spurred the war when it suited him.
The Gods had given them- the Starks, Theon, Trystane, Myrcella, Tommen- the chance to change their lives without the threat of the Others. Only because, Arya reminded herself, Jon had defeated them in that life he wouldn't live again.
She was definitely too young yet to masquerade as one of the Faceless, but when she was ready, Cersei, Stannis, Joffrey, Robert, Viserys, they were all on her list. Trystane intended to assist Sandor in toppling the Mountain, and Myrcella wanted her grandfather gone.
Her Gendry had promised she wouldn't do this alone. Sansa had asked her to wait until she and Theon were going to take Pyke so there would be Chaos to hide in. Jon had decreed that he and Aegon would be the ones to take out Viserys. Tommen had grimly promised to rule Westeros long enough to solidify alliances and put his uncle on the Rock before putting Aegon on the Iron Throne. Who had in turn promised his brother and Cousin that the North and Dorne would be the first kingdoms to have their freedom.
It had been amusing, how much of the Peacemeet notices were lies. Tommen and Aegon had spent hours plotting before bringing a plan of Kings to them. They had called it the 'March of Kings'. Margaery, guarded by her brother Loras, had conceded that they would consider it.
Tommen had bared his teeth in a smile and called his 'Uncle' Renly North. Few besides Arya had witnessed the lovers reunion, as they hadn't met yet in this life. Renly had gathered Loras close, shushing his tears and kissing his face gently. Gendry had just as gently informed Renly of their plan to relieve him of Storm's End, and mentioned that it would let his lady wife rest easy if he was trailed by a pair of strong knights.
Renly and Loras both had immediately and enthusiastically sworn their swords to Gendry, the 'Rightful Storm King'. Sansa, a smile on her lips, had suggested that Renly take Loras as his squire, if Margaery would permit a Stark man to guard her. Also smiling, Margaery had agreed she needed to get used to not being guarded by her brothers'.
Arya had to fight back a snicker at the looks on the knight-lovers faces when Bran mentioned that in the North, it was common for a sworn sword and his apprentice to spend time in the Wilds together, where wolves howled and rabbits screamed.
So Arya wasn't really surprised when her promised husband's uncle dragged Loras away the first chance they had. Theon had sighed, but shaken his head when Sansa waggled her brows. Jon had rolled his eyes and offered Dany his arm, Aede a step behind as they walked back into the keep.
Once Robert and his entourage left, life went on, Myrcella eventually gave birth in the seclusion of the chamber she shared with Trystane. Catelyn had been sworn to secrecy as they all had been, pressed to keep the secret after explaining the tradition of Sand Snakes.
Nymeros Sand, Arya mused, would give his parents no end of trouble. Though his birth hadn't been easy, he was a handsome babe, his father come again.
She wanted at least one son who looked like his father. Sometimes, she detested how like her mother she sounded, and others… She understood Catelyn Tully Stark a little better. However, she already knew that unlike Catelyn, she would encourage her daughters to be the first She-Wolves of Storm's End. Gendry, she knew, would teach their boys not just to be lords with his Uncle Renly's help- that relationship was set in stone- but also to be good knights like his Uncle Loras, and the best blacksmiths the world had seen for an age.
If one of their girls wanted to enter the smithy, she would fight him for it, Arya decided then and there. It was dangerous, yes, but she knew Gendry would not permit harm to come to their children.
And maybe, she reconsidered as Gendry taught a young girl from Winter Town to take care of her blade, she would not have to. No matter how strong they were, he would never want their children to fight if they didn't have to.
With a satisfied smile curving her lips, Arya walked over to her Bull, intent on teasing him.