Arya was on the bed underneath the covers, with her eyes wide open and staring at the wall bathed in morning sunlight. She had tried to fall asleep but she hadn't been able to; her mind had kept her awake the entire night even though she felt very tired.
Gendry was behind her, and her back was pressed against him. She envied her husband because he had been able to fall asleep quickly after getting into the bed, and he had spent the entire night snoring while in a deep, deep, deep sleep. He was still asleep and he had one of his arms around Arya's waist and his face was buried in the a peace between her neck and shoulders. Arya felt his breath on her skin and the heat of his naked torso through the thin nightgown that she was wearing. She always found Gendry's deep breathing and his warmth comforting, and it was what had kept her from tossing around restlessly through the night. She wished she could be as peaceful and unworried as him at that moment.
She felt his hand covering her belly. Gendry had fallen asleep like that, touching her still flat stomach and smiling at the thought of their unborn son. He couldn't be more happy with the news of Arya's pregnancy. He was thrilled! Arya was happy that he was so full of joy, and she shared it deep within herself, but her worry was still strong. She knew that she had to be strong and overcome her fear. Everything would be alright, and in a few moons she and Gendry would have in their arms a beautiful baby. Apart from her worries, what had kept Arya awake the entire night was also the thoughts of what her new child would be like. When she was younger she didn't care about babies and she didn't wish to have any children of her own, but now that she already had one, a little boy that she loved and that in her eyes couldn't be more perfect, she wondered how would her second child turn out like. Would it be another baby boy, or would this time the gods send her and Gendry a baby girl? It didn't really matter to Arya, and she knew that it wouldn't matter to Gendry either. Arya tried to imagine him with a baby girl and smiled.
She sighed. She hoped that at least, no matter what the child was, he or she would have Gendry's eyes. Robb already had her eyes...
Gendry's breathing changed then, and Arya knew that he had woken up. She turned her head to the side to look at him over her shoulder and found him blinking, trying to get his deep blue eyes used to the intense morning light that filled their bedchambers. Gendry yawned and then he locked eyes with Arya and smiled.
"Good morning..." he murmured, sounding very happy.
"Good morning," Arya said as well, turning around so that her body was facing him and she could look at him more easily. Gendry in the morning was an interesting thing to see. His face was peaceful like that of a babe, his eyes were half closed and playful, his black hair was a mess, and his naked totes was the same glorious sight as it always was. Arya loved her husband in the morning. "Someone got a good night's sleep," she commented, raising her eyebrows a bit teasingly.
"Aye, I did that... But you look tired," Gendry said then, suddenly frowning. "Are you alright?"
Arya shrugged. "I couldn't sleep."
"Oh. Is it the babe?" Gendry asked, placing his hand again on Arya's belly in the most protective and loving way.
She shook her head. "No, I can't feel him yet... But I was thinking about him. Or her. I was thinking about the babe," she admitted.
"Don't worry," Gendry said then, seeing the preoccupation on her eyes. He had become much better at the time of reading Arya than he was years ago, when he was clueless. Now Arya actually had trouble hiding things from him. "You were worried before Robb was born too, remember? But you've seen you have nothing to worry about, you have proved to be a fantastic mother. And this time..." he took Arya's hand in his own and stared at her in the eyes. His expression had turned serious all of a sudden, "I'll be there for you. I won't go away again when it's close to your time to give birth."
Arya smiled a little bit, feeling a little bit relieved. Having Gendry there would definitely take away a great part of the fear that she would feel when that moment came.
"Are you angry with me?" he asked then, remembering how unamused Arya had been the previous day.
"No, I'm not angry. I was just not expecting this!" she said, and it was true. Having another child so soon wasn't something that she had expected, but she hadn't planned having Robb right after getting married either, so it wasn't really that surprising... She should have seen it coming, actually. "I still want to punch you, though!"
Gendry laughed, and Arya laughed too, amused by her husband's own amusement. They were both still laughing when suddenly Gendry grabbed Arya, surrounding her body with his strong arms, and he rolled on his back putting Arya on top of him. She gasped due to the sudden movement, but before she could said anything Gendry trapped her lips in a kiss.
Arya yielded to the kiss and kissed her husband back. She could feel Gendry smiling against her mouth. Then he playfully bit her lower lip, making her part her lips, and Gendry used that moment to deepen the kiss. Arya happily kissed him back, thinking that they should have more moments like that before she got as fat as a barrel and before a newborn babe kept them from sleeping at night.
Their sweet little moment was cut short when someone suddenly knocked on the closed door of their chambers, startling them. Arya returned to her original position laying down at Gendry's side, and both of them stared at the door.
"Who is it?" asked Gendry, clearly annoyed by the interruption. He didn't want to talk to or see anybody, he just wanted to stay in bed and kiss his wife... And Arya only wanted him to stay in bed and kiss her.
"It's me, my lord," maester Lambin announced. Both Arya and Gendry frowned, sensing that the maester's voice had a disturbed and nervous ring to it. "A raven just arrived with news. It's important, my lord."
"Let him in, it might be my siblings," Arya whispered to Gendry, and suddenly she felt worried sick. Over the years of her life she had learned that ravens did seldom bring good news.
Gendry got out of bed and put on a robe before opening the door and letting the old maester in. The man entered the bedchambers and greeted both his Lord and his Lady, and then he handed the message that the raven had brought to Storm's End over to Gendry. Gendry unrolled the paper and read the words written in it. Arya waited, still sitting on the bed, and wondered what those news could be. Had something happened to her sister, to her brothers? Were Sansa, Bran, Rickon and Jon alright?
A few moments later, Gendry cursed under his breath.
"Call the bannermen," he ordered to maester Lambin, returning the paper to him. "We must leave as soon as possible."
"What's wrong?" Arya asked.
"The Stormlands are under attack. Fawnton, Blackhaven, Felwood, Stinehelm, Gallowsgrey and Harvest Hall are under siege," Gendry told her. His voice was full of fury, and Arya could see the anger in his eyes. Gendry had just been a lord for three years, but he had learned to love his lands and his people and the Houses he ruled over as liege lord, and he was a fine warrior; he was not going to sit around and let what was now his home be attacked like that.
"Why?" Arya asked. It didn't make sense! Westeros had peace now, the war had been over for years and everything had returned to normality! They didn't even have quarrels with Essos anymore! Who was attacking cities all over the Stormlands, and for what purpose? "Who is it? Is it a House from the Stormlands?"
"They don't know, the attackers have no banners," Gendry muttered. He turned to face the maester again. "Has the Queen been informed of this?"
"I doubt it my lord. The Queen is traveling to Slaver's Bay, and she took one of her dragons with her. If only we could ask for assistance with the other two dragons, but Lady Sansa went with Jon Targaryen to Qarth on that diplomatic mission and they took the green dragon with them, and the Night's Watch has the third dragon now to fight the White Walkers that are near the Wall..."
"We are left to fight only with men and steel. Very well. Then we will fight with men and steel," Gendry declared. He was a true warrior, and he wasn't going to back down in the fight only because he didn't count with the help of dragons and their fire. "Call the banners. I want soldiers marching to all those towns immediately."
"Of course, my lord."
"But when the Queen returns, she must know of this."
"I'll send ravens to my brothers to Winterfell and the Vale, they can help," Arya said, getting out of the bed. Even though she felt exhausted she couldn't stay underneath the covers anymore while Gendry was talking about preparing to fight and her people were under attack by unknown enemies. She put a robe on and approached her husband and the maester. "Bran and Rickon have men to spare. So do Ygritte and Sandor, they can all send men, and you are going to need them. If whoever is attacking is laying siege on all those towns and castles it's because they have a large army that can be divided many times and still be threatening."
"You are right," Gendry murmured, nodding his head. "Each bannerman will be assigned a certain town and castle to go and fight there. An army for every siege. I'll divide my men and send them to command the attacks."
"What about you, my lord?"
"I'll go with one group of my men to Harvest Hall."
"No!" Arya exclaimed and she grabbed his arm, as if she was trying to keep him there even though Gendry wasn't going anywhere at that moment. "Don't go!"
"Arya, I have to. Those are my people, our people. I have to be there for them, I'm their liege lord!"
"Then I'll go with you!"
"You can't, you are with child!"
"It doesn't matter, I can still fight!"
"My lady, that would not be prudent," maester Lambin intervened, alarmed by her determination to go an fight in the war in the Stormlands despite her condition. "Something had could happen to you and the babe."
"I won't let that happen," Gendry muttered, glaring at his wife with a severe expression. He always let Arya do anything that she wanted to do, he had never stopped her whenever she said that she wished to do something or go somewhere. However, Arya knew just by looking at his eyes that it wasn't going to be like that at that moment, and that Gendry would not change his mind. "Arya, I know you can fight just as well as any soldier. Seven hells, I know you can fight better than many soldiers, and that you are strong! I know that I promised you that I would never stop you from doing anything that you please, but I can't let you do it this time. It's not only you that would be in danger."
Arya gulped and covered her belly with her hand, and she looked at it. Gendry was right, she wasn't alone now. She hated to stay in Storm's End while Gendry and the soldiers and the bannermen went away to fight, but she couldn't risk the life of her unborn child. She wasn't that cruel or stupid...
"Fine," she murmured. "I will stay... and I will take care of Robb."
It would be also cruel to leave Robb alone at such a young age. Arya remembered her brother Rickon, who had been that same age when both his mother and father left to go South, and they never came back. The thought of it pained Arya.
"Come home safe," she whispered to Gendry. She felt suddenly weak; she never felt weak, but those news had come in the worse possible time and she didn't know how to take them.
Gendry sensed her distress and took her chin gently with his hand and raised her head so that she would look at him in the eyes. His blue eyes were comforting, full of determination. Determination to go and fight, determination to win, determination to come back home to his wife and children...
"You know I would never fail you," he murmured.
"I know," she whispered.
Gendry kissed her forehead and sighed, and then he told the maester to leave them alone. Maester Lambin did as he was ordered and left the bedchambers, leaving Arya and Gendry some privacy. Arya helped Gendry get ready in silence; there was no time to lose, and after he was dressed she helped him put on his heavy armor in silence as quickly as possible. She was feeling a knot in the pit of her stomach that was terribly uncomfortable, and she didn't know how to interpret it. Was she nervous? Well, of course she was, but she had lived through worse things in her life and she knew that Gendry was a very good warrior, just like his father had been when he was young. She shouldn't have anything to worry about, but she couldn't help it. The uncomfortable sensation didn't leave her, and it left her unable to speak for a while. She sensed that Gendry wanted to say something and break the silence, but something was also stopping him from doing so.
When Arya finally finished putting Gendry's armor on he sighed again and put his arms around her, bringing her closer to him in a protective and loving embrace. She didn't resist it; she rested her head on his cold and heavy breastplate and took a deep breath.
"It will be over soon," Gendry promised.
"I hope so," she murmured. "When you find out who is doing this... Destroy them. We don't need more enemies."
"Don't worry, Arya, I'll take care of everything," Gendry assured her.
They kissed and then they left and walked towards their son's chambers. They opened the door and stepped inside the room together, hand in hand, and they approached the bed. Robb was still asleep underneath the warm covers of his bed, and he looked peaceful and quiet in his sleep. He was the most beautiful thing that Arya had ever seen.
He looks an awful lot like his father when he is sleeping, she thought, watching her son's face and the black hair that was all messy after a good night of sleep and happy dreams.
Gendry didn't want to wake Robb up, and he still didn't have to leave. The ravens had to be sent to his bannermen and his army from Storm's End had to get ready to leave with him to Harvest Hall. Gendry sat with Arya on the edge of Robb's bed and just waited there, expending the little time that he had left in his home with his family by watching his son peacefully sleeping free of any kind of worries. When Arya looked at Gendry's face she saw that he was much calmer than before, and he was even more determined to go to the war that had just erupted in the Stormlands and come back home as soon as possible. Robb had that effect on him, he made Gendry want to keep his promise more than ever.
An hour passed like that. Before the maester came back to tell Gendry that the ravens were sent and his men were ready, Robb opened his eyes. He blinked and yawned, feeling sleepy still, as rubbed his eyes with his little fists. He noticed his mother and father sitting on his bed, watching him, and he smiled and sat up on the bed.
"Papa!" he exclaimed happily, and Gendry chuckled and hugged him. Robb didn't mind that his father had armor on, he was using to him wearing it, and even his mother.
"M'boy..." Gendry murmured, with a bit of his former commoner accent. "Ah, I'm going to miss you, Robb. I promise to come back soon, aye?"
Robb just looked at him with his huge grey eyes and then he smiled. Gendry took it as a "yes" and smiled as well.
"Take care or your mother and your little brother for me while I'm gone," he said then. He kissed his son's hair and then he stood up from the bed and made his way towards the door.
Robb frowned and looked at his father confused. He raised his arms into the air, trying to reach his father, but of course he couldn't.
"Papa!" he called after his father. Gendry didn't look back, if he did he wouldn't have the strength to leave Storm's End.
"Sshh, papa will be back soon," Arya assured her son. She kissed his head in the same spot where Gendry had kissed him and then he left the room to go after her husband.
He said goodbye to her in the main entrance of Storm's End. He promised her once again that he would be back soon safe and sound, and he sealed his promise with a kiss. For the first time ever Arya watched her husband ride off to battle with his men, leaving her behind in the castle. She stood there outside the doors, watching as Gendry and his men galloped away from the castle to meet the people who had invaded their lands, their home, and being justice to their people. Arya still felt fear but she also felt calmer than before; she truly believed Gendry would return to her soon.
When Gendry and his men were far away from the castle but still in sight, not having yet disappeared in the horizon, Arya returned inside the castle. It was a cold winter morning outside, and she wasn't properly dressed for that weather. She just hoped it wouldn't snow; snow would make fighting more difficult, and she didn't want Gendry and the soldiers having to endure that weather in such harsh conditions.
"It's a dark day today," a voice said in front of her all of a sudden while she was walking alone in a hallway, and she gasped.
She looked up and found one of Storm's End's men in front of her; one of the sellswords at her service. He was actually the sellsword that had discovered her recovering after having been so sick after Robb's birth and told everyone about it. He was one of the best fighters and killers in the service of the Lord and Lady of Storm's End; he had lost no battle or fight. He was also kind of handsome, with long dark brown hair, tan skin, and brown eyes. He was mysterious and dangerous, and a long and thick scar ran from the left side of his forehead down to his chin, which only added to the mystery about him. He seemed like a very tough man, not one to mess around with. His name was Addam.
"My lady," the sellsword bowed his head with respect when Arya set her eyes on him.
"Addam!" she exclaimed, surprised. "How is it that you are still here, and not marching with my husband to war?"
"Your lord husband have me orders, my lady. He told me to stay by your side and guard you in his absence," the man explained with a soft smile in his lips. He appeared to be almost a little bit cocky whenever he did that, or so Arya thought.
Addam looked at her in silence for a long moment, a moment much longer than any of the men ever dared to look at her. Then he frowned.
"May I ask the same question, my lady?"
"Pardon me?"
"I mean to ask why you are not with lord Gendry. Ever since I've been in your advice you have marched with him everywhere, no matter how dangerous. Why is this time different?" Addam asked, and then he raised his hand in an apologetic gesture. "I'm sorry if my curiosity offends you, my lady."
Arya sighed and shook her head.
"Don't worry, Addam, it does not offend me at all. I wanted to go, but Gendry and maester Lambin actually forbade me to do such a thing."
Addam frowned.
"Forbade you? Why? My lady is as good with a sword as any of the men here and in all of Westeros."
"I know, but..." Arya put her hands on her belly then. It was strange to think of herself as pregnant again, but she was, and she had to get used to saying the words again. After all, even though she found it hard to say it she would be showing soon anyways, so she should get used to it. She smiled then and looked at her belly, then back at the sellsword.
The man wasn't looking at her eyes anymore. He was staring at the hands covering her belly, and Arya could see his eyes becoming wide with surprise and a little bit of shock. It surprised her to see such a curious reaction in the sellsword; she could swear that she could even see him pale a little bit. However, after roaming her body with his eyes, the sellsword returned his gaze to hers and smiled a soft half smile. It wasn't cocky anymore.
"I see," he commented. "In that case, my lady, you must rest. Take care of yourself."
"I will, Addam, don't worry about that."
"Is there anything that you require, anything that you need? Anything that I can do for you?"
Arya was surprised by the sudden urgency in his voice, like he was ready to do absolutely anything that she commanded as soon as the words left her mouth. She had seldom come across such a loyal and devoted sellsword, and though she had to admit that he had always been like that around her, it still surprised her very much.
"No, Addam, thank you very much... Though, there is something that you could do for me."
"Anything, my lady."
"I want you to take the fastest horse that is left in the stables, and gallop as fast as you can until you catch up with my husband and his party of men. Join them, stay by Gendry's side and protect him," she solicited as she took a few steps closer to the sellsword, who was staring at her with a frowning face at that moment. "Please."
"But, lady Arya, your lord husband already ordered me to stay in the castle and watch after you while he's away," he protested. "I can't go after your husband's wishes."
"But you'll go after mine?" she retorted, raising her eyebrows. "I want you to be by my husband's side. You are of no use to me here in Storm's End, and my husband will need as many hands as he can. You are our best sword, Addam. I can assure you I will sleep better at night knowing that's husband had you by his side watching after him I'm the field of battle.
"But who will watch out after you, lady Arya?"
"I can take care of myself very well, I can assure you that too."
She saw the man hesitating, and she watched him closely and studied his expression and his face while he took a decision. It was almost like she could witness the internal battle that was unfolding inside his mind to chose wether to follow Gendry's commands or Arya's.
"You want to protect me, you say?" she added, knowing exactly how to convince him. "Well. You can protect me by preventing me from going after my husband into battle. And you can prevent that from happening by going in my stead."
"If I do as you say, my lady, I will get in trouble with your husband," Addam pointed out.
Arya crossed her arms over her chest, not willing to give up.
"If you don't do as I say, you will get in trouble with me. Choose."
The sellsword threw his head back and laughed merrily. A small smile also appeared in Arya's lips.
"Well... A man would not want to get Lady Arya Stark angry with him."
Indeed, he should know better than to do that. She did have a temper and it was known among all those who were at her service in the castle, and she had a temper specially when she felt protective over someone. That someone right now was her husband, who she knew could be a fool at times and led himself into dangerous situations without thinking about the consequences. Having Addam at his side would maybe prevent Gendry from doing anything foolish, the sellsword had proved to be wise during his years in Storm's End.
Arya felt relieved and grateful that Addam had accepted to go after Gendry and his men to fight at his side. It did take a weight off her shoulders. She trusted the man.
"Thank you," she whispered, and the sellsword smirked.
"Don't thank me, Lady Arya, I'm just doing my duty... to you."
Arya frowned, confused by those words. Furthermore, she was confused by the way in which the man had pronounced them. She opened her mouth to say something, but in the blink of an eye the sellsword was gone. It was like he had just vanished in the darkness of the hallway, and no matter where Arya looked she couldn't find him.
Even though that had been a little strange she decided to forget about it. She had gotten what she wanted after all, more security for Gendry. Arya had more than enough soldiers and guards left in Storm's End to protect her if need be, Addam was of no use in the castle.
She sighed. She already felt lonely, but she was not going to spend her time waiting for Gendry doing nothing. She was no going to just sit in front of a window and look into the horizon waiting for his return like a helpless maid. Whenever she was alone she always sparred with the men, or went of for a ride with her horse. Now that she was with child she couldn't do much of both things, but she had other duties to attend to around the castle, and she had a son to care after.
She walked down the hallway towards the staircase that led to the boy's chambers. Arya felt sad for the poor boy, he was going to miss his father while he was gone, and he couldn't understand what was happening.
The second morning after Gendry and the men left to Harvest Hall, Arya was awakened by her son Robb. She had allowed him to sleep in her bed with her on those nights since Gendry left.
She woke up when she heard that Robb was already awake and calling for her.
"Mama," the little boy said. "Mama!"
"Ummm, why can't you sleep as long as your father does...?" Arya groaned, pressing her face against the pillow. She hadn't slept very well and she felt tired. She had had nightmares.
"Mama!" Robb insisted, making Arya raise her head from the pillow and sit up on the bed.
"I'm awake, I'm awake!" she exclaimed, yawning and rubbing her eyes with her hands.
Robb giggled. Arya looked down at his little chubby face and his bright grey eyes which smiled at her, and it immediately made her smile.
"You woke Mama up," she said, in a tone of voice which was supposed to sound reprimanding, but it only made Robb giggle more. "Aye, of course you find that funny..."
She got out of bed and took her son in her arms. She walked outside her chambers carrying her son and clef for the maids; she handed Robb over to his own maids, and ordered her maids to prepare her a bath. An hour later, when she was bathed and dressed and so was her son they both went don't to the great hall to break their fast.
"What shall we do today, Robb?" Arya asked her son, even though she knew that she would obtain no answer. "Do you want to play? Do you want to watch Mama practice with the men?"
Robb looked pretty bored, and Arya pouted while she thought of ways of entertaining her son that day. She herself wanted to do something new and interesting.
"M'lady, there's a mummer's fair not far from here," one of her maids said then, and Arya looked at her. "They came some days ago, they travel from town to town."
"How far away are they?" Arya asked.
"Half an hour away on horseback, m'lady. I went there three days ago with my sister and her children. All the little boys go there," the maid told her.
"A mummer's fair, you said?"
"Aye, m'lady."
Arya thought about it. A mummer's fair would be a good place to take her child for a bit of amusement. She did not want to stay stuck in Storm's End while everyone was away, and Robb needed to get out too. She was sure that the maester would try to convince her not to go, but she was with child, not crippled. She still could walk and enjoy a bit of amusement. She would have to take soldiers and guards, of course, given the current situation in the Stormlands, but there hadn't been any attacks or enemies seen near the castle.
"Go and tell the master of arms that Robb and I will be going out. We will need a few men to escort us. It will be only for a few hours."
"Yes, m'lady."
As she had expected, the master at arms protested about it, but nonetheless he have Arya the men she requested after he realized that there was no way of stopping his Lady from doing whatever she wanted. He wanted to go with her himself, but she commanded to stay in the castle in case he was needed there, which she really hoped wouldn't happen while she was away or even after she returned. She mounted in a horse and Robb sat in front of her. She had good care of holding him tightly and not let him fall as she set her horse on a steady trot. Her men followed; she had a group of five in total.
Just as the maid had said, half an hour away from Storm's End was the mummer's fair. Arya hadn't been to one in years, and she smiled upon seeing all the tents and the people and the mummers and the games that were going on in there.
One of the mummers looked in their direction as they dismounted their horses and quickly made his way towards them. He was recognized them because of the Baratheon stag embroidered in their clothes and cloaks, and the Stark direwolf in Arya's.
"M'lady!" my he mummer exclaimed. He was very ugly, with a very long and very thin face, and a huge and long and hooked nose. "Welcome, welcome! We are so honored..."
Arya smiled and greeted the mummer politely. She had never been a lady, never had. However she had learned a few things from her sister in the past few years, and she new that a bit of courtesy now and then was good. She should act at least a tiny bit like a lady sometimes, and smile like her sister did. It wasn't so hard, after all, and Arya liked being nice to people. It had been harder after the war, but she had always been nice to people that were nice to her. The mummer didn't seem to be bad.
"Come come!" the mummer said. "Bring the little lord! We'll show him our humble wonders!"
"Wait!" Arya exclaimed, going after her son who had started happily following the mummer towards the fair. "Don't go too far!"
She followed her son's fast and clumsy steps around the fair, smiled when she heard him laugh, and she also looked around while she walked behind him. She saw men spitting fire, men swallowing swords, men playing with knives throwing them in the air and catching them without cutting themselves. She saw women in impossible body postures, and storytellers that told stories while representing the scenes with puppets on a small stage; the commoners's kids were laughing and watching in awe.
Arya smiled, enjoying seeing all that around her. Seeing the children's happy faces and even the adults' happy faces made her think that perhaps things were not that bad in the Stormlands. Maybe Gendry would deal with whatever problems there were easily and quickly and he would return even before she knew it. She hoped for that, or else she would have to pick up her armor and her sword and go fetch him herself and kick the invaders from her lands herself as well.
Time passed quickly in that place, and she stayed by her son's side the hole time, though she was getting annoyed because she had to be follows by her guards the whole time. True, she had asked for them, but she didn't need them on her heels the entire time. She got distracted a few seconds while watching a man playing tricks with fire, and then she felt Robb walking away from her. When she took her eye away from the fire spectacle and searched for her son, she did it just in time to see Robb disappearing behind a tent. She sighed.
"Robb," she called while walking towards the tent. "Robb, come back here! I told you not to walk away!"
I should carry him in my arms if he's going to keep wandering off, she thought.
She reached the tent and turned around the corner behind it, hoping to find Robb there. But that place was empty, and there wasn't anyone there. She stopped and frowned.
"Robb?" she called him again, more wary this time. She looked around, searching for the little black haired boy. "Robb?!"
She listened carefully, but she didn't hear his laugher and giggles. She started to panic.
"Robb!" she called again, now shouting. "Robb, where are you?!"
"My lady?" one of the guards appeared at her side, alarmed by her voice.
"Find my son!" she cried.
"Aye, my lady!" the man exclaimed, and ran away to search the place and tell the others to do the same.
Robb, where are you? Arya asked in her mind.
"Robb!"
He was here seconds ago!
How could he have disappeared like that?! She had let him out of sight for only a second.
I should have stayed in Storm's End...
"ROBB!"
"M'lady?" one of the mummer's appeared and asked, concerned. It was the same mummer as before, the one with the long face and the ugly nose. He was very short, even more so than Arya.
"Where is my son?" she asked, gasping for air. She didn't recall the last time she had felt like that, she was literally lacking air in her lungs. She felt like a hand was closing around her neck and it would only go away after her son was safely in her arms again. "He was here mere moments ago, and now he's not!"
"M'lady..."
"Where is he?!"
"Don't worry, Stark, your son is in good hands," a voice hissed behind her.
She turner around and found a man sniggering there while looking at her. He was small black eyes, similar to those of a rat, and teeth just as ugly as the rodent's. He has taller than her, but his posture was strange. He was carrying a sword in his belt, though, and his hand was on the hilt, ready to unsheathe it.
Three more men appeared from behind a tent with their swords already unsheathed. They wore blue and grey colors, and Arya paled with recognition. She new those colors very well, more than she would like to know them. She thought that she would be already rid of that House...
They have taken Robb, she realized.
Horror invaded her, then terror. Then rage. How dared they touch her family again? With what right?
Mine of the men laughed lowly and approached her while pointing at her with his sword.
"Don't worry, little wolf, we'll take good care of you too..."
That would not happen. She had Needle well hidden beneath her cloak, and when she suddenly unsheathed it while yelling full of rage, they did not expect it. Quick as a snake, she buried Needle's pointy end in the man's throat. A river of blood came poring out of his mouth, and when Arya pulled Needle out of him he fell facedown to the ground. The other men attacked as well, but the did not expect Arya to be so quick and agile. She killed a second man by making lots of holes in his belly, causing him to bleed out, and she kicked another one between the legs. She ran away from the last one that was left standing. She ran and ran, returning to the fair to seek the aid of her men, but she found a complete different scenario than the one she had left behind merely five minutes ago.
Some tents were on fire. People were screaming and crying and running in all directions, terrified. Men on horses, dressed in blue and grey colors, were attacking everyone and setting the place on fire. They had come out of nowhere, or so it seemed. Perhaps they had been hiding inside the tents, waiting for her...
She found one of her men amongst all the chaos, but before she could run to him, his throat was cut by one of the men in blue and grey that attacked him from behind.
"No!" Arya screamed, and the man saw her. He pointed at her with the bloodied knife with which he had just killed Arya's guard.
"There she is! There's the Stark bitch!"
Lots of eyes belonging to the attackers turned towards her, and they looked at her with hatred and sadistic pleasure. It sickened her.
The smoke from the fire was making her dizzy and it also made her cough. It stung in her eyes.
Robb... I have to find Robb. I have to get him out of here...
She turned around and started running towards a tent that wasn't burning, and that wasn't surrounded by the enemy.
Maybe they are keeping him there... I need to find Robb, I need to take him to Storm's End. I have to tell Gendry... This is all my fault, they are coming for me... This is my fault.
"ROBB!"
It was the last thing she said. She was still running, searching for her son, when something hard hit her in the back of the head and everything became dark.