Game of Thrones: Accidentally in Love
Chapter 3 of my Game of Thrones story, enjoy.
Reviews
Veridissima: Thanks; glad you enjoyed it, glad you liked the girls and Gendry :)
Boris Yeltsin: Thanks :)
canonman89: Thanks, glad you enjoyed it :)
Marina Ka-Fai: Glad you liked that; yeah well, as she said, he's the only good thing that came out of the marriage.
ForeverAndADayJustReadAway: Thanks :)
Wolfgirl2013: Thanks :)
hawaiiangirl: Thanks, glad you enjoyed it, oh, we'll see some of Arya's more overt rebellion too.
ESO: Okay, glad you enjoyed it, but I see I have to explain things. I'm sorry, but I won't be doing that pairing at all, ever, it's not a pairing I like. Yeah, Podrick is actually totally believable, they're sweet together, plus, in the series (books) there's a hint he has a crush on her.
Now onto the story.
Disclaimer: Game of Thrones belongs to George R.R. Martin.
Chapter 3
So it was that, the following day, the entire Stark family gathered and Eddard revealed Robert's plans for them. He revealed the betrothal arrangements, as he expected they were surprised by Robert's choices. Yet he could see the looks on the girl's faces and waited, wondering what was going through their heads.
"Be betrothed to someone who I've never met?" Arya whispered; her eyes wide.
Ned wondered if Arya was just shocked; that the storm was about to hit.
Sansa however was smiling widely. "Oh, that is wonderful father, Arya and I will be princesses in the capital."
Arya rolled her eyes and replied predictably. "Wonderful for you, for me, it's a nightmare."
There were gasps from Catelyn and Sansa, the boys sighed, knowing all too well what was coming.
"Arya." Sansa snapped.
"I don't know the man at all." Arya complained. "How can I marry him; it's like my own personal feelings don't matter, that nobody cares about them."
Catelyn then stepped in. "Arya, that is enough, how can you be so ungrateful, you are marrying the heir to the throne. You will become Queen someday…"
"Exactly." Arya cut across her mother. "That isn't me, you know I don't…"
Sansa leapt up. "Enough; if it was nerves, I'd understand, but it isn't. Arya, you have to learn, you are a lady, you're going to be Queen. Now enough, you are not ruining this for…"
Arya didn't hear the rest; because she had leapt up, knocking her chair down.
"Why do you hate me so much?" She snarled at her mother before storming out ignoring Sansa calling after her.
Silence followed before Ned sighed and quickly dismissed everyone else.
When it was just him and Catelyn, she turned to her husband, her eyes wide.
"How…why would Arya?" She choked out. "How could she say that?"
Ned shook his head. "To be honest, I'm not surprised Cat; when is the last time you complimented Arya on anything?"
Catelyn froze. "What, Ned; she isn't even trying anymore, she's acting wilder than ever."
"Maybe so; but still; think about it, she has no real support except for Jon. You and Septa Mordane heap praise on Sansa for just about everything; yet never once say anything to Arya, not even for trying." Ned explained. "When they were being taught how to keep a household; all Mordane said to Sansa, you recall hers wasn't very good, was she just needed to keep working at it. She didn't say a word to Arya, who was much better at that than Sansa."
Catelyn gasped. "What, she…Arya never even told me about that, why?"
Ned stood up and shook his head. "Why shouldn't she hide it? You've always agreed with Septa Mordane. She thought you would react the same."
Catelyn sighed; she was shocked by this, all the same, that did not mean Arya's behaviour was above reproach, she had to do something about this outburst, but still, she had to fix this gap that she hadn't seen forming.
She knew however that this wasn't going to be easy; as she was heading to Arya's room, she found herself joined by Septa Mordane, who had been informed of what had happened by Sansa.
Arya sat in her room; glaring still, looking out of the window. She bit her lip and began to slide her hand under her pillow, but quickly pulled back when she heard the knock at the door.
"Come in." She said, forcing herself to remain calm.
However her mood did not improve; she froze in place as her mother entered, followed by a clearly angry Septa Mordane.
"Arya." Her mother said; her voice surprisingly calm.
"Mother, Septa Mordane." She replied, carefully.
Mordane glared however, clearly angry. "You have much to answer for young lady; your behaviour was just deplorable."
"You don't understand." Arya replied, exasperation in her voice. "Being a queen, a proper lady, that isn't who I am, that's Sansa, not me."
Mordane however shook her head. "Sansa is your sister, you should learn from her; oh you should be more like her, being a proper lady. Just stop this nonsense and act like it."
"Sansa isn't me!" Arya screamed.
Catelyn however stepped in. "Arya please, calm down. We need to talk, but first, listen. Your behaviour just now and back with your father, if any of the Royal family saw that. If would reflect poorly on all of us and they would view it as ingratitude. Send the wrong message to the King."
Arya bowed her head; shaking it as she tried to calm down. She had noticed something different in her mother's tone.
Catelyn continued, after Septa Mordane left at her instruction. "Arya please; at the very least, make the effort to get to know Prince Gendry and…conduct yourself properly around him."
Arya sighed; not wanting any more arguments, she was tired of them after all.
"As you wish, mother." She said tonelessly.
Silence followed, yet surprisingly, Catelyn did not leave.
Arya looked up, surprised as she saw her mother had approached her, was now standing right in front of her.
"Arya; what you said back there…It's not true." Catelyn said softly. "I don't hate you…I just, everything you do, I just don't know, how to react. I suppose, I was so used to Sansa being a proper lady, I wasn't expecting it."
Arya bit her lip, already regretting her words to her mother.
Catelyn continued. "Your father told me, about your…capabilities, at keeping a household. I understand now why you didn't tell me. But...I am proud of you for that."
Arya sighed and when her mother hugged her, she responded. "Thank you mother. I…I'm sorry about what I said. I didn't mean it."
Catelyn smiled gently and released her daughter; Arya pondered briefly before continuing.
"I…I'll try and get to know Prince Gendry; but mother, I can't just…stop, I mean I…"
Catelyn merely shook her head and left the room. Arya waited until nobody was nearby and reached under her pillow again, pulling out the gift Jon had given her; her own sword, Needle.
'Sorry mother; but I can't change who I am, if Prince Gendry sees me with this…that's just what happens.' She thought quietly.
Then, hiding Needle from sight, she left her room, heading for the training ground where no one else would be at this time of the day.
Sansa however; was unaware of all that had occurred, merely thinking that, after speaking to Septa Mordane, things would be sorted out.
'Hopefully if they scold her properly, she'll learn her lesson this time.' She thought quietly. 'If not, it'll ruin everything, my chances with Prince Joffrey amongst them.'
She smiled widely as Joffrey approached her; as part of their arrangements she was due to meet him. After the formal introductions were over Joffrey smirked.
"Father tells me your sister will marry my older brother." He remarked.
Sansa nodded, smiling. "Yes my Prince, she will."
Joffrey also nodded. "Good for them, we shall be wed soon as well."
As he said that, Joffrey internally smirked. 'Gods, my poor brother; he has to marry that ugly little animal while I get the pretty one.'
Sansa sighed as she looked around, the two other people who were supposed to be here, were not here.
"Where could my sister be, or your brother?" She asked. "I thought we were all to meet here?"
Joffrey snorted. "Gendry said something about getting extra practice at the training field; everybody always goes on about how he's such a great warrior."
Sansa missed the sarcasm however as she smiled excitedly.
"Oh, how exciting, has he been in any tourneys?"
Joffrey sighed, but admitted. "Some, he's won every one of them."
Still, it was curious, Sansa felt, even if Gendry had an excuse, Arya still wasn't present as she should be.
End of chapter, hope you enjoyed it, read and review please.