Hello FanFic Friends :)
This is an early update because I won't be able to log in tomorrow. The chapter is a hectic, multiple pov's, long one so I am already eager to find out what you think. I also need to say that there is going to be a lot of physical violence. The story is M people, not only for the fun times.
After a long time I heard this song again, I love it and found it fitting for the chapter. Have you been listening to the songs? I link the lyrics and feelings to the characters and the situations they find themselves in so I urge you to hear the songs after you finish reading each chapter.
Without further ado, read away...
ARYA POV:
Cold... I feel cold. Not the normal feeling, I embrace frosty temperatures but this is different. It chills me to the bone as if something foreign is trying to invade me...
My body hurts! My body aches! And more importantly why am I so dizzy?
The last thing I remember was walking outside the tent where I was with Gendry... Where is he? I... I... I need him. I… Cold, so, so cold. I feel so dizzy.
Time had passed... Arya didn't know how much since she suddenly found herself forcing her own eyes to open. Lights were swaying and old wooden floors cracked. Other than the cold, she could smell rain, her nose was impregnated with the smell of wet ground all around her and something else that made her faint.
Gendry... Gen... She thought or spoke, she didn't know. This was definitely not the absinthe. Arya could hold her liquor but she could tell that something else was messing with her system. There were many things in this world that you could slip a person so they would lose all bearing of their surroundings. The thing was when did that happened to her?
I want to focus but I feel so weak... Gendry... She says again, this time actually voicing it and not imagining it. She felt a sharp pain on her hip, a vice grip on it followed by a brusque shove to the side. Again the floors cracked.
She was actually on the floor, lying on the floor. The floor was made of wood and it was wet, it also smelled old, like that musky smell you get out of unoccupied houses or abandoned buildings. She heard footsteps afar...
"What to do? What to do? Father always did say I don't think things through. She isn't supposed to say his name!"- Said a questioning voice.
Who is that? That isn't Gendry! What about my brothers? Jon? Jon is that you?...
"Fuck!"- This time the voice sounded frantic and also sounded closer. "Shhh... its ok my Love. Just breathe, be a good girl and drink some water"-
Arya found herself being lifted up so she was in a seating position. She felt the glass pressed against her lips but she refused to drink anything resulting in liquid being spilled all over her.
NO!; She said with as much force she could muster. Touch... the touch was foreign and cold. Someone was touching her. Cold hard hands were the ones responsible for making her feel so uncomfortable. It wasn't Jon's reassuring touch nor Robb's playful pats and it was nowhere nears Gendry's loving caresses, it was someone else and she was pissed off.
Open your eyes Arya... OPEN ... YOUR... EYES!
Strangely enough this wasn't the first time Arya had found herself in this type of situation. Not that her siblings needed to know and by now she pretty sure knew that Jojen and Meera had a good degree of suspicions that Arya was somewhat well versed in the topic of drugs. Back in Braavos she had a pretty eclectic roommate that was even worse than Jojen, also Jaqen had taught her to broaden her senses in case someone tried to slip her something which was the current situation.
Whatever it is it wasn't injected. It's strong but not quite. If only I could tell what time it was. How long I was out...
By now the stranger wasn't touching her anymore but he was still close. She could feel his breath on her and the floor gave him away, screeching everywhere he moved.
Male, definitely big... then again everybody is big next to me!
He seems agitated and eager... Pick it up Stark!
Fighting the extreme urge to throw up Arya moved her arms around and nearly spilled the glass of water. The man stopped pacing the room.
"Please, it's only water. I never meant to get you so sick"- The voice said.
She was leaning against what she assumed was the wall but her eyes still didn't obey her. She took the glass and held it closely to her face. To anyone it looked as if she was about to take a sip of it but was Arya was really doing was sniffing it and quickly dipping a finger inside the glass.
Doesn't have any kind of smell and it doesn't have any kind of consistency or texture but it still could be anything. I already can't see so what is the worst that can happen?... Arya quickly splashed the remaining water that was inside the glass over her eyes lifting the fog and heaviness behind them.
"What are you doing? You're so clumsy, come here"- The man was by her side again brushing her hair off her face and straightening her off. It was meant to be reassuring but Arya only felt aversion.
Her eyesight was slowly coming back and she could see the man hovering all over her, touching her at every opportunity.
"Stop" Her voice was no longer a whisper but it was still weak.
"Just let me help you! The faster I help you the faster we can get out of here"- The man said but Arya refused to stay still.
While trying to push him away a glimmer of light caught her attention and she managed to stand up with the help of the wall. It was a window and the moon shined proudly across the room. It was nightfall and Arya had the immediate feeling that she had to run.
"Where am I?" Make him talk Arya. Keep him busy while you shake whatever it is you have off.
"We're alone if that's what you are asking..."- The man was kneeling by the wall where she was previously lying and looking at her expectantly, as if waiting for her to make the next move. He had somewhat dark hair from what she could tell. Her vision was still blurry.
"I know we're alone since none of my calls have been answered" Arya immediately bit her lip. She needed to sound open and not spiteful, she needed to keep the man talking so she could figure out a plan.
"Your bastard squad isn't coming anytime soon Sugar"-
Arya was already regretting getting her eyesight back the moment her eyes cleared and saw Ramsay Bolton's ugly smear flash upon his face. He looked even more manic with makeup smudged all over his face and he was also wearing a clown outfit. The clowns, Gendry was worried about the clowns; she thought.
"I took care of them so I could sort you out and then we could leave together. So if you could please be a good girl and come sit with Ramsay..."- He was still sitting on the floor but only after he pointed them out Arya saw an old wooden table with a single chair in the room. More importantly she saw the handcuffs and the bottle of chloroform that was on the table. So that must have been how he knocked me out. But when?
"Ramsay; let's just walk away; both of us and no one gets hurt. You already have a police record and you're not a kid anymore so don't look for any more trouble"
"So? You also have a police record and aren't a kid anymore"- Ramsay's statement made Arya realize that she wasn't going to get out of this by reasoning with him. Things were going to get physical. Fast.
"Ahhh yes... sweet 18 long and gone. Finally legal, FINALLY! And you certainly grew up well not that I didn't find you somewhat alluring before. The police record doesn't hurt either. How can you go to the police if the police is actually looking for you? Ohhh what a pickle you are in Miss Stark"- He said in a mocking tone while playing with his discarded blue clown wig. There were other clowns, she remembered.
"Ramsay what did you do to my family? What did you do to..."
"Your precious Gendry?"- Ramsay spat. His demeanor changing in seconds, his shoulders squared as he stood up. "Have you any idea how gut wrenching it was for me to see you let yourself be fondled like a common whore by that bastard? But God loves me and everyday he sent me his willpower and prevented me from smashing my car into yours and taking back what is mine! Oh yes... I've been following you since you left Winterfell, even before that, but that god damned bastard wouldn't leave your side"-
"You were following me?" Keep him talking Arya, keep him talking. Holy shit; he was following me? Who does that? There was one door, the only visible way of escape since the window was nailed shut. Her head was getting clearer by the minute but still, she was no match for Ramsay. He was strong, fit and was also a dirty fighter.
"Of course I was. Why wouldn't I?"- Ramsay said like it was the most stupid question ever to be asked.
"Uhm I don't know, maybe because I hate you and you've made my life impossible ever since I was little" Arya said incredulous, even more so after Ramsay started laughing.
"Darling that was only tough love! I mean how many girls could rise to the task to be with me? Only you! It was just fun and games really, I was going to ask you on a proper date when you went and ruined everything and left for another country. You broke my heart"- The sick fuck actually looked sad, is he for real? And just like that Ramsay's mood changed "But that is all in the past. I've been a good boy taking my meds and you are finally here. After the night we spent dancing we can finally be together!"-
"Ramsay again... it doesn't have to be this way. Just walk away before anything else happens" Arya knew her time for talking was up. Ramsay knew it as well. He started to walk towards her.
"Arya, sugarplum? Please just be a good girl and do what you are told. I'm tired and hungry and quite frankly I've been more than a gentleman than you deserve. Do you know how much I've waited for you?"- He was looking at her salaciously up and down her body. She cursed herself for buying that dress but it was all for fun, it was supposed to be for Gendry's enjoyment. Ramsay seemed to read her thoughts.
"The Baratheon Bastard isn't going to come. I made sure of that!"-
"What did you do to him?" Arya cursed herself for sounding so desperate, she needed to be strong to get out of there but the mere thought of something happening to Gendry... His he thinking about me? Where am I now? I just wish he was here!
"Don't worry, after a very excruciating debate I decided to leave him alive. That way it's more fun seeing him squirm after I lay my hands on you..."- He was getting closer. Arya was nowhere near capable of fending him off.
"You won't even have a chance you sick bastard. You know?" She laughed "For someone who is an actual bastard you seemed to throw the name around a lot" Arya Stark refused to go down with a fight.
"Arya cut the tough guy charade. Wake up Sweetie and face it, it's just you and me in the room. Your loverboy is somewhere in a tent unconscious while the rest of your family is probably tucked away in the back of a police car."-
"Fuck you Ramsay" She had her mind set... Arya knew what she was going to do but it was still difficult. Fear cuts deeper than swords; she remembered. Means to an end Arya. Tough it up!
"Oh some level of fucking will happen my dear. Hard fucking"- And he launched at her.
Arya tried to move fast but her body was still groggy so she ended up stumbling against the wall hitting her head. Ramsay took the opportunity to yank her by her hand and hold her against his body. She was disgusted to find him aroused, excited to fight her.
"You don't disappoint Arya... this is just like my dreams!"- As Ramsay lowered his head to kiss her Arya moved fast and head-butted him but it was useless. She was too weak to make any kind of damage. She felt the hit before she saw it. Ramsey had slapped her square in the mouth, leaving her disoriented and with a bloody mouth. Ramsey dragged Arya by her hair and lifted her up like a ragdoll on to the table. Before she knew it Ramsay was kissing her. Kiss was a far too gentle word. He was biting her lips and actually slapped her so she would open her mouth. His tongue was like a sand saw while his hands prevented her from hitting him. Just wait for it Arya... wait for your chance. He'll come, you know he'll come.
She bit his tongue earning another slap in the face from Ramsay who was tired of 'playing' around.
"Come along my pet. It's time for the handcuffs and some fun time"- The last slap was a hard one that Arya definitely felt strait to the brain but that was her chance. Ramsay was confident that she was nearly knocked cold so when he reached for the handcuffs to do God's know was when she hit him square in the balls with her knee sending him to the floor. This was her chance.
She had to be quick, so tossing aside the incredible pain in her head and increasing nausea she got off the table and kicked Ramsay in the ribs then smashed the chair in his head. As she predicted it was an old wooden chair that smashed to pieces so she grabbed a piece of the discarded wood, this way she at least had something to defend herself with.
She staggered over to the door but didn't have a chance to react when she found it locked by her own weight. Ramsay had smashed her head against it and then threw her to the floor with such force that she ended up at the farthest side of the room.
"Enough with this"- Ramsay said in a bored tone walking towards her as if they were in the middle of a chess match and didn't want to play anymore but that was only his tone. His eyes and body had other intentions.
He dragged Arya by her feet and no matter how much she kicked and screamed she was no match for Ramsay, she never stood a chance after being sedated. He was all over her groping her, biting her, kissing her and she couldn't help the tears from falling down her face.
"Gendry... Gendry..."- She was full out crying. Crying for Gendry to fulfill his promise, to never leave her alone and to always be with her but Arya Stark was a realist. Gendry was probably beaten up somewhere in Castamere or arrested, she was going to get raped. Best case scenario.
She closed her eyes and tried to think of Gendry. Of his hands, the way they felt on her body, the electricity they sparked or how his eyes changed by looking at her. She still tried to fight Ramsay off especially when his hands yanked her corset off showing her bra.
"Gendry. Is. Not. Going. To come. I AM!"- Ramsay said groping her breasts to the point of pain. She spat him on the face but that only seemed to fuel him more. "Keep on crying Baby... I love how you cry for me!"- He said while cupping her under her dress.
Arya was shaking. Impotence was the worst emotion ever. Ramsay took off his belt so he could tie Arya's hands and was unzipping his pants...
"C'mon Arya... I know you want it, I bet you soak yourself when you let the bastard fuck you. Don't worry, you won't remember any other man once I'm done with you"- Ramsay said while he licked her neck and hiked her dress up. Arya felt like she was having an outer body experience since she wanted to keep fighting but she couldn't, her arms and legs just wouldn't follow her orders. She was too tired and hurt.
Ramsay ripped her underwear off. She felt the tip of his cock right at her entrance but the door bolted open. Her eyes were too slow to follow the movement so her head hit the floor once again no longer feeling Ramsay's body weight over her. Brown curls filled her vision... Meera!
"Gendry... Gendry, stop it please! You're going to kill him"- Meera screamed. Is Gendry here? She was so weak she couldn't even turn her head.
"Gendry please stop it!"- Meera was frantic as gun shots were heard. After a few seconds of silence Gendry spoke.
"Don't touch her. I'll take her"- He said finally appearing in front of Arya. Whatever strength she had left was to cry and put her arms around his neck.
"You came...I knew you would come" It wasn't a dream, Gendry came as promised. True to his word he wasn't going to fail her again.
"I'm here Baby. I'm here... I'm never leaving you alone ever again"- He said while he took her in his arms and ever so tenderly lifted her with the intention of leaving the room but stopped cold after Jojen's scream.
"Gendry look out!"-
The gun barrel was aimed straight at Gendry's head.
A gun was shot.
GENDRY POV:
"This is going to hurt...me most of all. Just try to be subtle, I have a very tender bone structure"-
"What the hell?" Gendry yelled as cold water ran over his body and someone covered his mouth. Instincts came over and he grabbed the hand and pushed it the farthest he could revealing a flying Reed. "Jojen?"
"Hey Gendry... sorry to wake you up, please don't make any noise and please don't hurt me more in the process"- He said while gathering his breath back.
Mother fucker... Not Jojen, but his head! Gendry had the most massive headache known to mankind and he had a pretty nasty bump in the back of his head. He even had some dried blood. He was lying on the floor still inside the tent he was with Arya. She left and then a clown, a motherfucking man with makeup and weird clothes hit him and knocked him unconscious. Gendry had some clown hunting to do but first he needed his girl safe and by his side.
"How long was I out and where is Arya?" It is never a good sign when the other person doesn't want to look you in the eyes. "Jojen... I asked you what happened!" He said while turning around to leave the tent but Jojen blocked him.
"First of all; low your freakishly loud voice, the police is looking for us! And second: a good 15 or 20 minutes, I don't know. Shit hit the fan faster than I expected"-
"Where's Arya?" He said while lifting Jojen up by the collar of his shirt. Jojen was a nice kid but slightly weird. Gendry didn't do weird. He never understood why someone so smart like Bran would hang out with the town stoner; Meera probably being the reason but still. He was weird and made Gendry uncomfortable, right now add pissed off to the mix.
"Gendry put me down, I'm one of the good guys. Someone took Arya so we have to go get her"- Wrong answer. Gendry was going to strangle him.
"What do you mean someone took her?" Panic attack mode ON
"Hulk angry. Hulk put Jojen down! Look, the cops are here. Sansa, Theon, Bran, Jeyne and Robb are under arrest. I saw Edric hide literally under a woman's skirt, Jon is missing, my sister as well so we need to find a way out of the tent without being seen and go get Arya!"-
"What happened?" Arya... Arya... Arya... Please be ok! Gendry recited like a prayer while he finally let go of Jojen.
"Someone called the cops while a clown took Arya away"-
"Why didn't you stop him?" Gendry was ready to ring Jojen's neck this time for real.
"I told you that the place got hectic really fast. When I finally found you the tent was cornered and I can't just go out and talk to the police can I?"- Well Jojen did have a point.
Gendry took a peek outside the tent and indeed, the place was swarming with policemen looking like a stampede had happened. Everything was trashed but more importantly, in the middle of it all stood Theon, Bran and Robb handcuffed and watched by at least 8 officers. Sansa and Jeyne were inside the back seat of a police car.
"As I was saying; when things got nasty I searched for you and found you here unconscious and tried to wake you up. We can't do anything for the guys so we need to focus on finding Arya"- Weird but loyal. Gendry as always let his anger get the best of him and nearly punched Jojen out of sheer frustration. Arya Stark had shook Gendry to the bone and without her he was left stranded with love all on his own. He was back to being that silent man that had a close group of friends with no interest of gaining new ones; let alone meeting women. Arya was it for him and he knew it, the idea that she was out of his reach was his worst fear made reality.
"Pssss - psssss Purple!"- Someone hissed from outside the tent. Again with the silly codenames; Gendry though. But his heart clenched a bit hoping to hear the color gray.
"Green 1 and Blue" Jojen whispered. The tent slightly opened up to reveal a much disheveled Edric.
"Thank the Gods you guys are here... Where's Arya?"- Asked Edric while dusting himself off. He was still dressed in his Prince Charming outfit but was dirty from head to toe.
"Some clown took her while the others are under arrest"- Replied Jojen. Edric's eyes went wide and landed on Gendry. I guess it's official that I lose my shit if she's not with me. Edric just gave him a sympathetic look.
"I need to get out of here and find her" Gendry said to no one in particular but was rewarded with a reply ever the same.
"We need to find her Gendry. We're in this together"- Said Edric reassuringly.
"Ok, first we need to get out of this tent without being seen but the question is how do we hide the blue eyed giant?"- Said Jojen gesturing towards were Gendry was standing. No doubt being the most recognizable after the Starks, sought out by the police as well. Let's not forget he was the heir to Baratheon Corps. Joffrey must have a pretty good price on his head.
"I'm doing this for Arya but I'm still getting a pretty fat paycheck from your newly acquired trust fund Gendry"- Said Edric while slipping out of the tent again, only to return two minutes later.
"Gendry get inside one of the baskets"- Edric said pointing to the many wicker baskets that just a mere hour ago served as a shield for Arya and Gendry's 'activities'. I'm coming to get you Stark, just hold on. I'm coming!
Gendry got inside of the basket and couldn't help but wonder how in the world where Edric and Jojen going to lift him up? Edric seemed like he could at least move the basket an inch but Jojen was a lost cause, clearly lacking in the muscle department. Gendry suddenly missed Hot Pie dearly but was grateful that his old friend wasn't caught up in all the drama, even Sansa was more fitted to be on the run than Hot Pie was.
"Remember; I did this for all of us, we needed the money"- Said Edric opening the tent and calling for someone. What the...? In came a very, very, extremely large on the size scale woman. "Guys this is Walda. Walda? These are my friends Gendry and Jojen, we need to get them out of here"- Said Edric blushing and looking at everywhere but them. So she was the one who was going to carry the basket.
"It's soooooo nice to meet you all. You look even more dashing in person than in pictures"-
"Jojen where did the clown go?" For Gendry there was no time to waste, Arya's safety was at stake.
"Far east side over the woods"-
"Ok... Uhm, Walda? You think you can handle my weight?" Gendry said from inside the basket.
"Oh Honey bring it on. I can take you any day any time!"- Did she just winked at him?
"Well I can help with the basket as well. Jojen can walk out front, just pull your cape a bit higher and we'll be good. We have to be quick and not draw attention to us. Gendry; no peeking until we tell you, got it?"- Said Edric. It was a simple task but dangerous if they were to be caught. Even more dangerous for Arya.
Gendry felt the movement and the noise signaling they were outside of the tent. He had a mild heart attack when a police officer asked them to stop and his heart actually gave up for a few seconds when he heard that he was asking Jojen for some pot which of course he sold to him. In the end he didn't know if it was 10 minutes or 10 hours that had passed when the basket finally landed on the ground again and Jojen told him to get out.
"Where to?" Gendry asked wasting no time to search for Arya.
"Sorry Gendry, this is all I know. I saw them coming this way and then disappear into the woods. Wait, where are you going?"- Jojen asked while Gendry was practically running amongst the trees. It wasn't like they had a plan, it was a freaking forest! The sooner they started looking the faster Arya would return to his side.
"Hey guys wait up"- Pleaded Edric who was left behind giving Walda a proper goodbye. He had lipstick all over his face.
...
"ARYAAAAAAAA! ARYAAAAAAAAAAA!"
"Gendry don't scream so loud, the cops are going to hear you!"-
"And how the fuck is Arya going to hear us if we don't call out for her?"
It was dark and desperation had caused mayhem in Gendry's head. A good two to three hours had passed and there was no sign of Arya. Not that they would know; it was nightfall, rain was falling from the skies and none of them knew the woods. They could be running around in circles and never notice.
Gendry's voice was hoarse but he didn't care, he was going to find Arya at all cost. Jojen and Edric were silent by his side cautious that he was slowly losing it and was near a nervous breakdown. Just when he thought that he had Arya safely by his side something happened and messed things up. She was tough but Gendry just couldn't shake the horrid scenarios that were playing in his mind as to what could happen to his little wolf.
"ARYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA... ARYAAAAAAA!"
"Gendry please"- Said Jojen urging him to quiet down but this time it was Edric who told him it didn't matter. If Arya was gone and left for good she was taking with her Gendry's heart and soul, leaving a shallow man behind. Gendry was screaming and fighting against that. He was shouting so hard that he didn't hear the leaves rustling nor the footsteps approaching. It wasn't the Stark he was looking for.
"Thank God you managed to get out"- Said Jon embracing him with a hug. Gendry noticed he had his gun out and looked flushed.
"The rest are arrested back at the fair but Arya is gone Jon. Someone took her, we need to find her!" Under the hard gaze of the moon Jon looked stoic like Eddard Stark himself, which only made Gendry feel ashamed... He had promised Eddard that he would take care of his little girl.
"I know Gen. Meera saw it and we're tracking the guys down. We're over to the right a few miles ahead. I came looking for you once I heard your voice"-
"Meera is with you?"- Asked Jojen clearly more relaxed after learning of his sister's whereabouts.
"She's the one who is following the trail. Come on, we need to move fast!"-
Just like he said Meera was waiting for them a few miles ahead but she wasn't alone. To their surprise she was joined by a police officer but Jon was quick to reassure them that he was one of the good guys. He was a young man named Olyvar and was actually Roslyn's cousin. Over the years he had gotten to know and care for Robb so he helped Jon to flee from the scene when the police arrived.
"Jon... you said you were tracking the 'guys' down. What did you mean by that?" It was something that was making Gendry sick. Jojen specifically said that a clown, one clown had taken Arya away. The mere thought of Arya being at the mercy of strangers made his blood boil. He was going to kill anyone who dared put a finger in her. Hold on Beautiful, I'm coming for you. Just hold on...
"From what I can tell there's three of them"- Replied Olyvar. "I was already at the fair because someone had called saying that the clown company that was hired for the event was missing. We found them a couple of miles ahead tied to a tree. They had been stripped down of their clothes. Miss Reed said there were 3 clowns at the fair and she saw two dragging Arya away. That still doesn't mean there isn't more."-
"Wait up, I only saw one guy take Arya. She was walking over to where Jeyne was when he gagged her with something then carried her away. He had a blue wig on"- Said Jojen.
"I know, I saw it too but when he left; the clown with the yellow wig was following close behind... and about that... Gendry?"- Said Meera looking back at Gendry while she led the way. She looked wary but convinced.
"I think the guy dressed as a clown with the blue wig is Ramsay..."- That alone made Gendry stop dead on his tracks. If he was pissed off before you had to invent a whole new different emotion for him right now. Ramsay Bolton was a medically approved psychopath that was obsessed with Arya. One finger, one finger on Arya and he was as good as dead! "I just saw glances of the guy at the fair but I'm pretty sure it's him"-
"Take me to her Meera" Gendry said in a voice so full of hate that Olyvar quickly reminded him that whatever happened the perpetrators had to respond to the law; not him. Gendry could not care a flying fuck.
After God knows how long the trees seemed to clear a little, showing an old abandoned cabin in the middle of the woods. Arya was clearly inside since just a few meters away stood Ramsay's personal insane clown posse: The Tickler, Rorge and Biter were hanging out sharing jokes and passing around beers. All but Meera had to pin Gendry on the floor to prevent him from running over to the cabin.
"Let go of me. Arya is inside, she needs me!" He spat.
"You have to be smart about this Gendry. You can't go in alone. Remember those guys can fight and we don't know if they are armed"- Said Edric but he didn't care. Arya was there, just a few more steps... What was that fucker doing to her?
"I think we should split up. Jojen and I will go with Gendry while you guys handle the rest. Gendry is right, we can't waste any more time. I don't want Arya to spend more time with that creep either"- Exclaimed Meera. No doubt a welcomed surprise to their journey. She had balls.
"That sounds like a plan. We'll go first and try to lure them to the back while you guys go to the front door... Gendry"- Jon didn't need to say more. 'Get our girl back at all cost' was the message silently passed between two old friends.
Time refused to move fast enough as he waited for Jon, Edric and Olyvar to lure the thugs to the back. After that it was a blur. Gendry knew he was running since he could feel the cold night wind hit his face but he didn't feel his legs. He assumed his shoulder would be hurting since he had to force the door open but he was fine. He was perfect in comparison to the state that he found Arya on the floor. She had a bloody mouth and nose and had bruises all over her face, her hair was a mess and was half dressed on the floor while Ramsay was on her, touching her, touching his Arya...
For the first time in days Gendry was focused in a different thing other than Arya and sadly for him; the subject in case was Ramsay Bolton. Again Gendry assumed his hands would hurt since his fists were making direct contact with Ramsay's face and had heard bones crush a couple of times but that wasn't the case. He didn't feel anything! You could say he lost all reason and sense when he saw Arya on the floor, her underwear discarded next to her and with tears in her beautiful eyes.
"What was that? You're going to have to speak more clearly" Gendry said, he couldn't tell if Ramsay wanted to speak or that he was just trying to open his mouth to cry or spit out some of his teeth but Gendry didn't care. Showing no mercy he hit Ramsay again and again. He wanted to bleed the fucker out.
Meera was screaming at him to stop but it was useless, it was only when he saw Arya trying to get up when he finally stopped his assault. His hands were a bloody mess but was satisfied of their work. In a matter of seconds Gendry had made Ramsay's face unrecognizable and was sure he broke his arm and at least two ribs. It was the perfect way to vent all the pent up anger from these previous days.
"Don't touch her. I'll take her"- He said finally appearing in front of Arya. His heart broke to see his brave girl so fragile and beaten. He was crying in a matters of seconds out of joy of having her in his arms again.
"You came...I knew you would come" - She said while wrapping her arms around his neck and taking her rightful spot by his side.
"I'm here Baby. I'm here... I'm never leaving you alone ever again"- When the sun rises in the west and sets in the east, when the seas go dry and mountains blow in the wind like leaves not even then will I leave you Arya Stark. Never again!
With the most delicacy he could gather; Gendry lifted Arya in his arms and headed towards the door to take her away as fast as he could from Ramsay but stopped when he heard Jojen scream at him.
He turned around and saw that Ramsay had somehow managed to retrieve a gun from somewhere and was aiming straight at him. He could only turn around and shield Arya from the gun but was still in firing range for Ramsay. Gendry held Arya tight in his arms and braced himself for the impact when he heard the sound but he never felt the bullet. Nothing.
Gendry didn't dare to move not risking another shot but never expected to hear Arya laugh. He broke her; he thought. She had scrambled up in his arms and was looking over his back.
"You know of all the people that I could expect to find here; never in a million years would I think it would be you!"- She said.
"Well it's not like I enjoy coming to Westeros and rescuing you from kidnappers and find you in another man's arms"-
By now Gendry couldn't resist and turned around and was met with yet another clown. This time it was the one with the yellow wig but the man took it off almost instantly revealing very long and blue electric hair with his eyes fixed on him.
"The Baratheon kid? Really? You couldn't shack up with someone else?"-
ARYA POV:
"The Baratheon kid? Really? You couldn't shack up with someone else?"-
"Since when do you care about my dating life?"
"I don't. But what exactly do you want me to report back to the boss lady and her nephew?"-
Ugh... I know I should be grateful to him for saving my life and Gendry's but it's not like we liked each other in the past; Arya thought. "Gen... you think you can put me down? I think I can stand" Gendry was rotted at the spot eyeing suspiciously their newest visitor. He had a death grip on her body that wasn't helping at all to soothe the blows Ramsay had given her.
"Who's that?"- Gendry asked while putting her down but securing his arm around her waist for balance. Or so he says...
"A friend from Braavos. Daario met Gendry. Gendry this is..."
"Oh so now we're friends? A Stark and a Baratheon; what a cliché!"- Daario laughed on.
Arya and Daario had never seen eye to eye with each other. He was kind of the unofficial second in command of The Three Head Corporation but Arya still hated him. He was a pompous self-entitled asshole that did not know how to follow orders.
"You know what? You're right! We aren't friends! So, what are you doing here? By the way, thanks for helping me when I was a second away from being raped" She felt Gendry stiffen after the comment.
"Ends to a mean Stark! I had to make sure he was working alone. No dick was going near you... can't speak for little Robert over here"- Why does he have to be such an antagonistic ass?
"And was he? Working alone?"- Piped in Meera.
"Now you I don't know. Daario Naharis; always at the service of kind and fair ladies like yourself"- Daario said while kissing Meera's hand. She actually giggled.
"Arya... are you ok?"- Said Jon entering the room, instantly enveloping her in his arms. He was followed by Edric and another guy she didn't know. Is that a police uniform?
"Arya your face! What did that animal do you?"- Jon asked while inspecting her face. Remembering that Ramsay was still alive; unconscious and shot in the leg but still alive, Gendry turned around to kick him a little more just to make sure he wasn't going to get up again.
"Enough with the kid gloves! I've seen Arya in worse situations. Anyhow; I take it that you took care of the three stooges outside?"- Asked Daario while fixing up his hair. "Damn wig messed my hair up..."- He muttered.
"I'm sorry but who are you?"- Asked the policeman with his hand on his gun, wary of the new face.
"I'm friends with her boyfriend"- Daario smirked.
"EX-boyfriend..." Arya was quick to correct. God, she was tired! She needed a nice bath and a good comfy bed to snuggle with Gendry. She needed to wipe Ramsay's hands off of her.
"Whatever... I shot the guy when he drew a gun at them."-
"What about the others?"- Asked Jojen. Somebody needed to stop Gendry from kicking Ramsay if they didn't want murder on their hands. No one really bothered.
"They were too drunk to do anything but even before they tried Jon scared them off with gunshots. Guess loyalty for their fearless leader isn't a priority!"- Replied Edric standing closer to Arya to inspect her as well. She felt suffocated and the only one that seemed to notice was Daario. He was the first to spring into action.
"You should get going. Someone must have heard the gunshots and if the police are near they are bound to show up at some point."
"What about the others? We can't leave them!"- Exclaimed Meera.
"I'm ashamed to say that the Castamere Police Force is as corrupt as it can be. I'm pretty sure that with the right incentive I can get them released. That is if someone hasn't called my Uncle Walder, then you're screwed! I'm sorry; my name is Olyvar, Olyvar Frey. I'm friends with Robb. Roslyn is my cousin"- Said the policeman to Arya after he saw that she was looking at him with mistrust. To say that he was a Frey didn't help his cause but then again Roslyn was ok, so not all of them can be bad.
"We can give you the money we made at the fair. I don't know if Sansa and Jeyne still have their parts" After getting beaten up and almost raped the news that she was about to be penniless again didn't help Arya's state of mind.
"That will do. Edric mind coming with me? The rest can stay here, we have to play it safe in case someone else sees you"- Said Olyvar.
"I'll go as well... keep on the outskirts so I can reach the cars and wait there till you come back with the others." Replied Jon.
"That sounds like a plan. Gendry I'm going to need you to step back, I'm going to take Bolton under arrest"- Said Olyvar.
"Wait a sec..."- Said Gendry while he scrunched down and punched Ramsay five more times in the face. Ramsay was beyond unconscious and had lost a lot of blood. "Not quite what I really want to do but you can take him now."- Gendry shooed everyone away and held Arya in his arms again calming her with his touch.
"You can't take him. What are you going to say, that fairies beat him up? You can't take him without involving yourselves"- Said Daario.
"But we can't leave him here, he'll just twist and turn everything and say we beat him up for no particular reason. We might as well let Gendry finish him off"- Said Jojen clearly rooting for Gendry.
"You won't... I'll deal with him."- Casually replied Daario but it was his cool detached demeanor that chilled everyone to the bone. Arya wasn't going to question his methods. She knew what they were and didn't spare a second pitying Ramsay.
...
Olyvar, Edric and Jon left quickly after that, hopefully to return with the rest of the family. The rest where left inside the cabin in a bizarre silence but Arya wanted out. She just needed to get away from the walls that still held a promise of danger in her mind. Just looking at Ramsay lying on the floor made her stomach turn. The chloroform that was still on her system wasn't helping. The Reeds were huddled up in a corner while Daario was searching Ramsay's pockets. Gendry was sitting on the floor with her on his lap, neither of them talking just basking in each other's warmth.
"Gendry... I want to go outside"
"I'm not sure that's safe Arya. It's also raining, I don't want you to get sick"-
"Gen pleeease? I just don't want to be here anymore" She said while giving him her best puppy eyes, not that she needed it; Gendry always ended up caving in to her.
"As m'lady commands"- He replied while standing up. "Hey Jojen, think I can borrow your cape?"-
Jojen took the cape off and gave it to Gendry who put in on Arya while opening the door for her.
"For the rain and coverage"- He said. She looked down and saw that her dress was in shreds and that everyone was aware of her bra size by now.
Just like Gendry said it was raining outside, it was dark but the moon reflected on the millions of raindrops around them was a beautiful site that helped her relax. Holding hands they walked in silence till the heard Daario call Arya.
"Hey... think we can talk? Alone"- Daario said dismissing Gendry which of course didn't like it. Arya wasn't keen on letting him go but she knew that Daario wanted to say something important to her and she also had a couple of questions of her own.
"Sure... Gendry will you give us five mi..."
"I can't let you leave again... I won't leave you again!"- Gendry quickly said cutting her off. The look on his eyes made Arya's heart break with love. Is this it? Finally love? With Gendry?...
"My car is just up a few more steps ahead. You'll be able to see you precious little girlfriend the whole time"- Said Daario in a mocking tone but was quickly ignored. Something changed today between them, not in a bad way but just the way that Gendry looked at her made Arya feel like she was the only girl in the world.
Just like Daario said his car was near hidden behind trees. He kept on walking while Arya and Gendry hugged each other under the rain, refusing to break contact. Both acting as if they were parting ways to never see each other again.
"I'll be real quick, I promise" She mumbled buried in his chest.
"I'll be right here waiting for you"- Gendry replied while giving her a kiss on the top of her head. Daario started to honk. What a dickhead!
As she went inside the car Gendry took shelter from the rain under some trees nearby, never letting his eyes off the car.
"You must be beyond amazing in the sack Stark because I swear, the level of near godlike adoration that you inspire on these idiots is unbelievable"-
"So you wanted to talk alone about my bedroom habits? How romantic! I wonder how on earth did Dany manage to refuse you?"
"That was uncalled for!"- Daario said clearly not amused about bringing up his infatuation.
"Was it really?" The car was silent for a few minutes...
"You are aware that I was never going to let anything happen to you back there?"- Daario said in a serious tone, drooping his antagonism for the first time in the night.
"It's done. Nothing happened. The bruises will heal..." She just shrugged it off. It was the psychological part that had Arya reeling but she had to put it aside for the time being.
"What are your plans? Where do you go from here?"-
"I honestly don't know. We came to the fair to make some money that we don't have any more so I don't know. Just roam around and see what my father's lawyers can do"
"You need to leave Westeros Arya. I've asked around and it's not going to get better. The Starks are being picked apart and people seem to enjoy it"-
"And where should we go? We don't have any money or reliable connections! It's best to just lay low and wait. If I could just get in touch with Jaqen; I have some money that could come in handy"
"It's not your money Arya. It's the money of the Faceless Men. Have you even heard from Jaqen at all?"- Daario hit the point right in the nail. Arya had a bit of money courtesy of her jobs in the house of Black and White but it was in various bank accounts under different names. She needed to talk to Jaqen and although she didn't have a phone Jaqen would have still found her but just as Daario said; he was m.i.a.
"You need to come back to Braavos. We'll all have your back and God knows Aegon would stop acting like a little bitch moping around all day!"-
"How is he doing?"
"The kid has seen better days... But He seems good; in a very passive aggressive way!" Daario said gesturing towards Gendry.
"He's family." Was all Arya could say. It was still Daario, she wasn't going to pour her heart out to him. From out far she saw the two cars they were traveling along with a police car; Olyvar's she assumed.
"Your best option is to come back to Braavos but it's your call. I think our woman to woman time is up. Hurry up to your jacked up boyfriend, you don't want him to catch a cold"- The asshole was back.
After being fussed about by Sansa and Jeyne and everyone else yet again, they were all ready to leave. As suspected they were left penniless after bribing half the police force for their release, Olyvar was the first one to leave not before telling them to stay within the old roads as much as possible since the Riverlands where now swarming with police looking for them. Lannister money would always beat them.
Sitting in the back of the car with Gendry she felt exhausted, ready to close her eyes and be magically transported back to Gendry's apartment. To the first night they had spent together since she came back. Where none of this had happened and she would wake up in his arms and then simply go back home to her father.
Lightning and thunder made their appearance signaling an even greater storm. She cuddled in closer to Gendry. Hopefully it wasn't an omen for the Stark family of worse things getting closer.
DAARIO POV:
As they left Daario couldn't help but stare with curiosity at the fleeting characters...
A scared boy with impossible shoes to fill, a girl that was lost inside her own head and the other one; the dark one that knew nothing were just the tip of the iceberg... don't even get started on the large one. Was is it with Baratheon boys and Stark girls? He thought.
"Why must she play with a child when she is surrounded by men is beyond me. She'll figure it out eventually. Now it's my turn to have a little fun"- He said to Ramsay's figure still lying on the floor.
"You and I are going to have a field trip that just reeks of joy!"
So, what did you think? I never really did say it was Aegon did I? ;) Clues People, by now there's lot of little clues scattered around the chapters as to what's really happening. Brownie points for those who catch on.
Remember to REVIEW - FOLLOW and FAVORITE!
My Ramsay is just like Game of Thrones and not the books. Scary / hot is a good combo.
Song: Closer by Kings of Leon.
Next title song: Criminal by Britney Spears.