Gendry slipped under the covers with a sigh. The bed not only looked comfortable, but it smelled clean and the sheets and covers felt fresh. He could already feel the beginnings of sleep settle over him as his torso cramped up a bit before slowly relaxing.
He could hear the shower running, and music and singing from down stairs. Tom, no doubt.
Gendry still didn't know what to make of the men that held him and Arya captive. From what he'd gathered, they were not evil men, but they were not clean either.
No one who works in a scrawny pawn shop in a dodgy neighborhood could afford to fix up a house as this one was. Then again he didn't know much about the pawning business.
He knew about trusting your gut, and his gut told him there was something fishy going on with these men.
His eye lids were growing heavier the more his head filled with thoughts. He'd spent most of the day running that he had not allowed himself to think. His thoughts were catching up with him now, and instead of robbing him of sleep as his thoughts always did, they lulled him.
But he wanted to wait for Arya to come out of the shower. She knows Spanish. Perhaps she understood what the men had been whispering about. He let his eyes close, exhaling softly. He was a bit nervous about sleeping in the same bed as her.
It would be the first time he ever had to share a bed with a girl.
When he used to live at the home, after his mother had passed, he would sometimes have to share a bed. But that happened less and less as the years went by.
That had been so long ago though, and he had long ago grown used to having a bed all to himself. It wasn't too late to set up some covers on the floor.
But the bed was just too comfortable, and Arya said she didn't mind... He would just stick to his side of the bed. The bed was large enough to fit three, maybe even four people, and Arya was small.
I think I kick though. I'm almost certain I kick.
He turned on his side so he was giving his back to her side of the bed. This way, I won't kick her. He blinked a few times, trying to shake the sleep off.
The shower was still running, and the hiss of the water was soothing, as was the music coming from downstairs.
Just rest your eyes. Just for a few minutes, he told himself as he slipped his arm under the pillow, enjoying the familiarity the coolness between the pillow and the bed brought in this otherwise unfamiliar place and situation.
As soon as he closed his eyes, he was gone.
The drapes on the window were too thick to allow any light in, so Gendry wasn't sure if it was morning when he woke up the first time.
He was about to move to stretch when he felt it.
Warmth pressed against his back, and even warmer breaths fanning his back. It was Arya, snuggled closely against his back.
He froze.
The bed was huge! She was a little spit of a person. And yet, she took up most of the bed, leaving Gendry so far on the edge, that with any small move, he would fall off the bed.
He twisted his neck carefully, looking over his shoulder.
It took a few moments for his eyes to adjust to the dark, and when they did, all he could see was her shoulder.
Gendry sighed and pulled the covers off himself, careful not to stir her bit of the covers, and slipped a leg out. It instantly filled with gooseprickles.
The room was freezing.
He slipped out from under the covers quickly, before he had time to reconsider, and ran to the toilet.
After he took a piss, he walked back into the room crossing to the window. He cracked the drapes a small fraction to look outside. It was snowing. A good layer of snow covered the fields that stretched on for miles. They really were in the middle of nowhere.
The sky was thick with clouds so he couldn't tell if the sun was out yet, but there was a soft light.
Gendry opened the drapes the whole way, turning to see if the light woke Arya.
It didn't.
He yawned and dragged himself back to bed, taking the side Arya was suppose to be on. It was cold. As cold as an unused side of a bed should be.
He gave Arya his back once more, and laid his head on the pillow. It din't take long before he was asleep again.
The second time he woke up, it was to heavy banging on their door, followed by singing.
"Wake up in the morning!
I don't feel blue!
Cause I know . . .
I've got you!"
Gendry sat up quickly. Tom and Anguy were in the room and it was Tom who was singing. Anguy had the most idiotic smile on his face.
Gendry turned to Arya who was unsteadily sitting up, squinting her eyes against the light.
"We leave after breakfast." Tom told them as he draped a heavy jacket over the bed. "This is for you. The snow is falling heavy and fast." he told Arya.
Anguy crossed to the dresser and took the tray with last night's uneaten food.
"Guessin' you weren't hungry?" he crossed out the room.
"You'll want to eat breakfast." Tom told them as he started towards the door. "We have a long drive and a long night ahead of us." and with that he left too, closing the door behind them.
Gendry and Arya exchanged a look before he rolled out of bed. He stretched as he yawned feeling the pull of muscles and hearing a pop on his neck. Out of the corner of his eye he noticed Arya yawning aswell. For some reason, it made him chuckle and she noticed.
"What's so funny?" she asked as she rubbed her arms for warmth.
"Were you cold last night?"
"Huh?" she made a face.
"It's just that, well . . . you were cuddling last night."
That fully woke her up. Gendry smiled cockily, turning to walk lazily into the bathroom. From the room he could hear Arya fussing with the covers and stomp her way to him. He leaned over the sink, splashing running water on his face.
"I don't cuddle!" she snapped urgently.
Gendry turned to face her, water dripping from his face. He raised one eyebrow and turned the water off.
"Well, you did last night." he tugged a towel off the rack and pressed it to his face a few times.
"It was probably just your stupid weight on the bed. It made me roll over to you or something." she said.
Gendry tilted his head to one side, taking in the sight of her. Her hair was sticking in every direction. Her eyes were swollen and tired. Her brows creased in that expression he'd grown too used to. He smiled. "Perhaps that was it." he said and he tossed the towel on her face.
xxxxxxxxxx
Sansa opened her eyes and a tear rolled down, all the way to her ear.
She turned on her side, so that her back was to Joffrey.
Her skin burned everywhere he had touched it, even after she had stood under the hot running water in the shower for over an hour.
More tears well up on her eyes at the memory.
A part of her didn't know why she had given in to him. Why she had allowed him to take her. And then take her again, and again.
After the third time, he had fallen asleep, like a baby and Sansa grabbed her pillow wanting with all her might to just kill him right then and there.
Instead, though, she'd rolled out of bed, sore an disgusted, and dragged herself to the bathroom, where she turned the water to the hottest point, and tried, with little success, to wash away the memory of his touch.
Why didn't you leave with the Hound, you fool!
"You know why." she answered herself, forgetting Joffrey was in the same room as her.
Behind her, he stirred and rolled closer to her, so that his chin rested on her neck.
Sansa quickly wiped her tears away with her thumb.
"Good morning!" Joffrey whispered with a sour breath that made Sansa nearly gag.
"Morning." she whispered sweetly.
She didn't fool herself. Not one bit.
Every time she spoke, she could hear how artificial her words sounded, and feared everyone else could hear it too.
Joffrey began kissing the back of her neck. "Last night was great, wasn't it?"
"Mmm hmm." she agreed and she quickly crawled out from under his embrace, sitting up on her side of the bed.
"Where are you going?" his hand slid up her back and under her arm to cup her bare breast.
Sansa clenched her jaw, taking in a deep breath to calm herself down.
"I'm starving." she said as she stood and turned to face him with a smile, holding out her hand to him. "Breakfast?"
xxxxxxxxxx
They left right after breakfast, just as Tom had promised.
During breakfast, Arya had demanded to know where they we're going, but no one answered her.
Gendry asked for their stuff back, but all they returned was the bag with their toiletries, their gloves, scarves and hats, keeping both their money, and their documents.
Lem was once again going to make them ride in the camper, but Harwin spoke on their behalf and they rode on the back cabin with Anguy, giving Gendry and Arya no privacy to talk.
Anguy chattered on most of the drive, quickly getting on Gendry's nerves.
They stopped at a rest stop to use the toilet, and Gendry made sure he sat himself between Anguy and Arya, hoping that would give Anguy a hint, but if he took it, he didn't seem to care, for as soon as they were on the road again, Anguy leaned foward on his seat and continued to tell Arya tales, almost as if Gendry were not sat between them.
Eventually Lem shut him up with a wack on the head, cursing him in Spanish.
Thank you! Gendry thought.
It took them almost 7 hours before they finally made it to the snowy city.
"Welcome to Madrid!" Tom said as he glanced back at them through the rearview mirror with a smile.
Arya and Gendry both slid to one side to look out the window.
The city was truly beautiful.
Arya turned to Gendry when they drove by a park that had a large Christmas tree. "It's almost Christmas." she told him tonelessly.
He tried to meet her eyes, but she quickly turned back out the window, so Gendry couldn't read her.
Tom stopped the truck infront of a large white building called Splendom Suites and turned to face Arya and Gendry.
"Don't try anything stupid. Everyone here know us already. We're all friends here, so it would be pointless to make a scene."
"Friends?" Arya asked.
Tom simply smiled and unlocked their doors.
Harwin and Lem got off first, then they opened the back door for them and they each slid off, one by one.
Anguy, being the last, closed both doors and Tom drove off.
"Where's he going?" Gendry asked warily.
"To park the truck." Lem answered and they all walked into the building.
Everyone inside greeted the men, and smiled courteously at both Arya and Gendry.
The walked straight to the lifts, not stopping at the front desk.
Their suite, which was on the 6th floor, reminded Gendry more of a posh flat than a hotel room.
Lem led them to a bedroom. "You two will stay here." he told them, and Arya walked to the bed, sitting on the edge.
Gendry closed the door behind them and set their bag in the closet.
"What are we doing here?" he whispered, more to himself than Arya, which made Arya rise from the bed and storm out of the room.
"Now can you tell us why we're here!" she demanded.
Gendry walked out after her.
Tom was already in the room, sitting on a sofa with Anguy. From the sounds of it, Lem was in the toilet, and Harwin was in one of the other bedrooms, talking on the phone.
"You'll find out tonight." Anguy told her.
"I don't want to find out tonight, I want to know now."
"We're here so you can meet someone. Someone who will help you."
"Who?" Arya asked. "Just tell me. I'm tired of all the ambiguity."
She sounded so exhausted. It made Gendry want to punch Tom.
"Look, you said you're trying to help, and you've dragged us all the way over here, the least we deserve is a forwards answer!" Gendry said, stepping next to Arya.
"Like I said, he's a man that can help. He's like our leader, if that helps."
"Leader?" Gendry said.
Tom just nodded. "And don't ask how he can help, because I don't know myself. This was all Harwin's idea. It's best to wait for him to explain it all to you when you meet him tonight."
There was a knock on the door. "Perfect timing!" Tom cried as he shoved Anguy, who in turn rose to get the door.
"Buenas tardes. Sus trajes de la tintoreria, y el vestido que Tom le pidio a Gabriela."
"Gracias Santi." Anguy said to the young man, taking some garment bags from him.
"I think you're closer to me in size." he told Gendry, "So you can try on one of my suits."
At that, Anguy handed Gendry one of the bags, which he took by the hanger.
"What is this for?" Gendry asked moodily.
No one answered him.
Lem walked out of the toilet, air drying his hands.
"I suggests you all use the other toilets if you need to." he said.
Arya made a face.
"Give Arya the small bag." Tom told Anguy. "Yes, that one."
"What is this?" Arya asked as she took the bag from Anguy. The bag looked heavy, and Gendry realized there was a pair of heels inside.
"Your dress for tonight." Tom said.
"Stop asking so many questions!" Lem said in his deep voice.
"Get some rest. It'll be a long night. I need you two to be ready 15 to 2300." he told them and Gendry led Arya back into the room, closing and locking the door behind him.
Arya layed the garment bag on the bed and unzipped it, revealing a satiny green dress.
Arya turned to Gendry, looking petrified. "I don't know how their suppose to be helping us, when they seem to be taking me further away from where I need to be." Arya said, as she zipped the bag up again, and hung it on the closet next to where Gendry had hung his.
Gendry shook his head. "It'll be late tonight when we go to wherever it is we're going to. If the place is full of people, which I'm guessing, since we're dressing up, we can make a run for it."
"Yes." Arya said quickly, as if she had already been planning just that.
Gendry nodded and patted the empty spot on the bed next to where he was laying down.
"If we're running, again, we need to rest." he told her.
She crossed to the bed, laying belly side up.
For a long while neither of them spoke.
This morning, there was so many things Gendry wanted to say and ask, but right now the only thing on his mind was that they would try to escape. Again.
The thought of running made him anxious.
He was exhausted.
Not just physically. That usually ebbed after sleeping.
He was emotionally exhausted. He never thought he'd be this exhausted at 22.
"It'll be my birthday in a few days." Arya spoke softly, startling him.
Gendry turned his head to look at her, but she was staring up at the ceiling."When?"
"the 8th." she whispered.
Gendry looked away, thinking he had lost track of the days. He had no idea what day it was. He just knew it was December.
The incident had happened on a Sunday. November 30th. He remembered having the exam the next day. It was a re take too. The professor had gone out if her way and offered Gendry a second chance, telling him she'd make arrangements to meet him.
Well, I've failed that class, Gendry thought.
"I think today is the 4th. I'm not sure." Arya said.
Gendry turned to face her once again. Her large eyes were still fixed on the ceiling.
He suddenly became very aware of how close she was.
His eyes glanced down at her hand, less than an inch away from his.
If he moved his pinky . . .the tiniest movement . . . they would touch.
He took in a deep, shuddery breath, bringing his eyes to her face once more, before exhaling loudly and sitting up, brushing his hands over his face.
He couldn't believe she was doing this to him.
They had only met some months ago. Sure, they had spent about a week together, but that surely wasn't enough to make someone feel this way.
He admitted he cared for her. Cared for her well being. They we're friends.
But there was other feelings too.
He was intrigued by her.
Perhaps at the fact that, if he ever tried anything affectionate towards her, like a hug or caress, she' punch him.
Perhaps at the fact that she fought with her emotions, yet they still managed to seep out.
She was stubborn. Violent. Impulsive . . .
Gendry looked over his shoulder, stealing a glance at her.
He looked away, and rolled his eyes at himself.
She was also brave, and strong. Clever. Beautiful.
He crawled off the bed, angered.
"I should shower." he said and stormed to the bathroom.
He felt like punching something. The wall. The mirror.
He couldn't though.
He couldn't even scream, cause she was right on the other side of the door.
"What are you doing to me Arya." he whispered as he turned the shower on, turning it to the coldest possible.
At first the water made him shudder every other second, but once he grew used to it, he decided he liked it.
It made him gasp in lungfuls of air, but it calmed him, and the cold was a nice contrast to his warm skin, and by the time he was done, he felt better.
Way better.
He wrapped a towel around his waist and grabbed the pile of clothes from the floor and walked out.
Arya was sitting, cross legged on the bed with what looked like hotel stationary.
She was writing a list.
Gendry crossed to the closet, where he'd set their bag and pulled out their pajamas.
"I was a washing machine in the kitchen. I'm going to wash everything." he told her.
She looked up from her list and nodded.
He raised an eyebrow. "So take that off." he pointed to what she was wearing.
She made a face. "And wear what?"
He rolled his eyes. "There's a bathrobe in the bathroom."
She rolled her eyes right back at him, but stood on the bed, quickly jumping off it, and running into the bathroom.
Gendry's eyes fell on the list.
He was too far to read it, and his toes twitched.
If he took a step closer, he might be able to read it.
But Arya hadn't bothered closing the bathroom door, and she was quick about undressing and slipping into the robe.
She walked out of the bathroom with her clothes in a tight little bundle.
Gendry took them, and walked out of the room.
Harwin was out in the balcony, smoking a pipe.
Lem and Anguy were on the sofa, watching the television, and Tom was in the kitchen, fixing three drinks.
He moved out of the way, so that Gendry could reach the washing machine, which was next to the stove.
"I don't think we have soap and all that stuff." he said as Gendry opened the small round door and stuffed the clothes inside.
"I'll call Gabriela."
"Gabriela! Gabriela!" Anguy gasped out mockingly, turning to Gendry. "They're lovers."
"She's half my age you booby!" Tom cried as he crossed to Lem and Anguy with their drinks.
"That's never stopped you before!" Lem laughed, taking the glass from Tom.
"It's not my fault the young one fall for my charms."
"You mean your sing-songy bullshit."Lem said before taking a sip.
"Just cause you don't have any bullshit to throw at them." Anguy elbowed the large man at his side, who in turn raised his hand to smack the back of the red head's head.
"What about you?" Tom crossed back to the kitchen counter and took the last drink. "Are you a little casanova?" he asked Gendry as he handed him the drink and walked to the phone.
Gendry took it with a shrug.
"Of course he is!" Anguy raise his drink, "He's handsome."
Tom was already on the phone, but he stil let out a hearty laugh at that.
Lem was shaking his head at Anguy.
"What? He is! I'm just stating the obvious." Anguy took a sip from his drink before setting it down on the coffee table.
"I'm an ugly guy. I can say that because it's true. I have red hair and too many freckles, and I'm too skinny. It's the truth!" he turned to Lem. "You're ugly. You have a face like an ass. That's the truth too. Arya, she's pretty. Gabriella, she's pretty."
"She's very pretty!" Tom cut in before he turned his attention back to his phone call.
"She's very pretty." Anguy repeated with a smile. "And He" he pointed at Gendry, "Is handsome."
Lem was still shaking his head at Anguy. "That's gay. You're sleeping with Harwin tonight." he told the red head before he stood from the sofa and crossed to the balcony doors.
Gendry smiled and took a small sip from his drink. It was strong.
Tom ended the call and told Gendry washing supplies were on their way up before he started fixing himself another drink.
The afternoon passed by fast after that.
Gendry finished washing, and Anguy and Harwin started dinner.
This was one of the most surreal situations Gendry had ever been in. Arya showed up on his flat door and his life took the most bizarre twist.
But this . . . being over a thousand miles from home, washing clothes and sharing dinner with the oddest group of friends; cause there was no doubt they were friends, not to mention, a group of friends who had him captive . . .
That had to be the oddest thing that would happen to him in a while, Gendry was sure, and this was the last place he expected to be at after the week Arya and him had had.
After dinner, everyone started getting ready.
The suit Tom had lent him was a bit tight across the chest, but Gendry decided it woudn't be so tight if he left the jacket unbuttoned.
This would be the first time Gendry would wear a suit.
He looked at his reflection in the mirror and it felt like someone else was wearing his face rather than him wearing someone else's clothes.
Arya walked out of the shower in the bathrobe and Gendry left the room so she could get ready.
Harwin and Lem both sat in the table playing dominos. Gendry was surprised at how well they both looked in a suit.
He sat next to Harwin and watched as they played.
"How's our little lady doing?" Tom asked Gendry from the sofa.
"Don't let her hear you call her that." Gendry told Tom with a smile.
"Well why not. That is what she is. A delicate, flower."
"Bloody Hell!" Arya yelled from inside the bedroom, most likely at those shoes, Gendry thought.
"Delicate flower indeed" Anguy snickered as he handed Tom a drink.
"Get the Bull one too" Tom said and he tipped his head back on the sofa and started singing.
Anguy fetched Gendry's drink and sat across from him, next to Lem.
His red hair was sleeked back, making him look older.
Gendry took a sip, still not used to the burn.
"This game always bored me." Anguy said as he inspected the tiles Lem had.
"I've never played it." Gendry admitted.
"We'll have to teach you how then." Harwin said with excitement.
Gendry just nodded and took another sip.
The bedroom door opened and Arya stepped out.
At the sight of her Gendry began to choke on the liquor in his mouth.
Harwin started wacking him on the back, but it still didn't help. The liquor had gone to his nose, and it burned like hell.
Gendry tried to say something, but instead he started coughing again so he pushed the chair back and rose, crossing to the kitchen sink.
He grabbed handfuls of water and started washing out his nose and mouth, swallowing a bit to try and cool the burning.
In the background, he could hear the men complimenting Arya in spanish.
He reached for a kitchen towel and dried his face turning to the others.
His eyes went straight to Arya.
She looked amazing.
The shade of green on the dress was perfect against her pale skin and went well with her dark hair.
It was a strapless, and very simple short dress, and it gave Gendry a good sight of her legs.
The shoes elongated them even more.
He tore his eyes off her and cleared his throat, still feeling the burn.
"I'm not too sure about the hair." Tom said as he walked up to Arya. In those heels, she was almost as tall as him. "Anguy, where do you keep shit you use on your hair?"
"It's on the dresser." Anguy answered, and Tom walked to the back of the room, towards one of the other bedrooms.
"Tom got you these!" Anguy said cheerfully as he took a small box off the table and lifted the lid up. "They're little pear earrings." he smiled.
"They're acorns you idiot!" Lem said from where he sat.
Arya took the box from Anguy.
She looked miserable. Her eyes met Gendry's and he could tell she was pissed at him.
She probably mistook his chocking for laughter. Good.
Tom returned into the room with his open palm held before him.
When he reached Arya he rubbed his palms together and began combing his fingers through her hair while she slipped the earring on.
Tom turned to Gendry when he found a strand of hair longer than the rest. "Did you do this to her?" he asked accusingly.
Gendry just shook his head.
When Tom was done, Arya's had a messy look to it.
Gendry liked it.
"Enough of that!" Harwin said as he rose from his seat and crossed to a closet to fetch their coats. "Let's be on our way."
Gendry walked into the bedroom him and Arya shared and took their jackets from the closet, giving himself on last look in the mirror.
Everyone was already out in the hallway except for Arya, who waited for him by the door.
She was holding one arm, so that the other crossed infront of her chest.
This was the most skin she had ever displayed, he was sure, and she looked very uncomfortable.
He gave her her jacket, about to say something, but Anguy interrupted them by offering her his arm.
"Get away!" she snapped at him, bringing hysterical laughter from the others.
Harwin locked the door behind Gendry and they all started down the hall towards the lifts.
Arya and Gendry stayed a few feet behind. Arya seemed to be getting used to the shoes, although he was surprised at how well she was walking given the fact that she probable had never used heels before.
"You look different." he whispered to her, earning an evil glare from her. "You actually look like young lady."
Arya scoffed. "I look like an oak tree, with these damn acorn earrings!" she snapped.
Gendry smiled. "Nice though. A nice oak tree." he said as he leaned into her a sniffed at her hair.
Why the hell was he smelling her?
The hair product that Tom had put in her hair smelled like strawberries, and Gendry was beginning to wonder if Anguy really was straight.
"You even smell nice for a change." he teased, and that was the last straw, for she whirled to face him and slammed her hands against his chest.
Her foot twisted though, and Gendry found himself catching her by the arms before she hit the floor.
He felt a current of electricity pass through his at the feel of her skin against his.
He wasn't sure if it was the dress, or the lighting, but her eyes looked green.
She bit her lips nervously and looked away, and he cleared his throat and pulled her to her feet, picking up their jackets from where they had dropped them.
"Tom, imbecil! Quieres que se mate con esos zapatos!" he heard Harwin yelled from the elevator.
"She's fine!" Tom said as he held the elevator doors open for them. "She has her bull to catch her if she falls." he winked at Arya and Gendry pretended not to notice.
The air outside was like knifes against their faces, and the jacket he had was not enough to keep his teeth from chattering.
Tom turned on the truck heater full blast as soon as eveyone was inside, but before the cabin began to warm, they were already parking outside a large building.
There was a long line of people waiting outside, despite the cold and Gendry laughed at the stupidity of it.
Harwin walked right up to the doorman and he unclipped the cord, letting them all walk in with out even checking if Arya had an ID.
They walked inside a dark hallway that led to a small cloakroom. Arya and Gendry hung their jackets side by side and followed Harwin and the rest up some stairs, towards the music.
Arya held on to Gendry's arm as they walked up the stairs to keep from falling.
When they reached the top and walked into the large club, Gendry couldn't believe his eyes.
It was a nude strip club.
Arya's grasp tightened at the sight of all the women walking around and dancing on poles at the center of the room, and Gendry quickly grabbed her face and pulled it against his shoulder.
"What is wrong with you!" he yelled at Tom, pulling him by his jacket.
"What?" Tom yelled, twisting his face in confusion.
The rest were a few feet ahead of them, and Gendry knew this was the only chance he would get.
He grabbed Arya and turned towards the stairs.
Thanks to Arya's shoes, they only made it a few steps down before Tom and Lem caught up to them.
"What do you think you're doing!" Gendry snapped at them, his voice echoing in the stair well. "She's 16 years old!" he spat out.
"This is where he works. Where he maked his deals. We come to him, not him to us. " Tom explained as he moved aside so Lem could grab Arya.
"Let go of me!" she yelled, trying to free herself from Lem.
"Let her go." Gendry yelled, but Lem had already dragged back inside the club.
"Come, come" Tom said, putting his hand on Gendry's arm, which he pulled away violently.
He followed close behind Lem and Arya towards the back of the room.
Several girls came up to him, but he shugged them off rudely, keeping his eyes on Arya.
They walked into a door, that led to a smaller room full of cigar smoke that had beds in the shape of booths, where men laid with naked women.
The rage came boiling up again, but thankfully Lem crossed the room quickly and they came to door with two guards outside of it who let them walk through without question.
They walked up another flight of stairs.
When they reached the top, they walked down a short corridor to a door, where Harwin and Anguy were waiting.
Lem nodded at them and Harwin opened the door and they all walked in.
It was a large office.
An entire side of the room was a window that overlooked the city.
There was a leather sofa one corner occupied by a man and a girl half his age. On the opposite side of the room was a glass desk a man with long hair and a young woman stood by.
He was leaning over the desk, looking over some documents the woman held out for him.
He noticed them and leaned in to whisper something to the woman, bringing a smile from her before she closed the folder and left the room through a back door.
The man wore all white from head to toe, and reading glasses, which he took off as he walked towards them with a smile on his face.
"Harwin." he said in a thick accent, unknown to Gendry. He acknowledged the rest of the men with a nod, resting his eyes on Gendry briefly, before looking at Arya.
"This is the Stark girl?" he asked, and at that Lem walked her closer to the man, and returned to his place next to Tom.
"Who are you?" Arya asked boldly, making herself as tall as she could.
This brought another smile from the man. "A man who can help."
"That seems to be a broken record with you all." she said bitterly. "I don't see how you can help me, when all I was trying to do when your men kidnapped me, was find my mother."
"And buy a gun." Anguy said, and everyone turned their attention to the red head.
"What?" the man asked Anguy.
Anguy didn't seem intimidated by him. "She was also trying to buy a gun."
"Now why would a lovely girl want a gun?" the man asked Arya, taking a careful step towards her, as if she were a wild animal whose trust he had to gain.
"To protect myself from scum like you." Arya said.
That made everyone in the room laugh. Everyone except Gendry. He was just waiting. Waiting for any sudden movements from any of the men.
"The girl has more courage than sense." the man told Harwin.
"I'm here." Arya yelled, bringing all the laughter to an end. "You say you can help me, then tell me how it is you plan to help me."
Arya surprise Gendry.
He knew she was tough and brave. That was the first side of her he had seen.
She had no idea who this man was though, yet she talked to him with such authority.
"You are Arya Stark, are you not?" the man asked, taking another step towards her.
Arya simply nodded once.
"Then I can help you." he touched his hand to his chest and slightly bowed his head.
"Who are you?" Arya asked him.
He looked up with a smile. "This man has the honor to be Jaqen H'ghar." he said serenely, bowing once again.
"Jaqen," she said mockingly and took a step towards him, catching him by surprise. "And how does Jaqen intend to help me?"
They shared a long intense stare, before he turned away and headed towards his a chair, which was situated in the same spot you would expect the throne to be in a court.
He sat himself, and took a deep breath before he spoke again.
"You and I have something in common." he told her, and raise his hand to stop her from asking anything. "Lannisters." he said in a sinister tone that made Gendry shudder.
"Lannisters." Arya repeated. From where he stood, Gendry couldn't see her face, but he could hear it in her voice that this was a game changer for her. Already this Jaqen guy had her attention.
"Yes. The Lannisters. You are Arya Stark. They murdered your father. Stained his name. The name Stark. They are your enemy. They are my enemy. And, well, the enemy of my enemy is my friend."
Arya exhaled sharply.
"Yes. You already suspected it. Your father was innocent, and they killed him. All for a will. All for money. All for money they owe me. That is why they felt the need to kill your father. For money."
Gendry could see Arya's body tense up.
"Stop it!' he yelled, stepping forward, but Lem crossed quickly to him and pulled him back.
"Stop telling her that!" he yelled at Jaqen.
This was the last thing Arya needed to hear.
Gendry was sure Arya hadn't even had a proper cry about her father's death, and now this asshole was telling her all this shit.
Whether it was the truth or not, it was still fucked up.
"It's the truth. The Lannisters are vermin. Why hide it?"
"It was for a will?" Arya said, her words composed. "For money? But Lannisters have money!"
Jaqen shook his head. "Lannisters are nothing but a name now. Tywin Lannister had been running on empty for years. That is why he married his daughter to a Baratheon." he smiled chuckled. "Yes, arranged marriaged still happen in the 21st century."
"My father . . ." Arya began to say, but Jaqen cut her off.
"Tywin was indebted to me, and well, 'Lannisters always pay their debts', so he marries his daughter off to Baratheon, and he pays the debt . . . but when you fall in business with someone like me, you're bound to fall again." he stood from his chair and started towards Arya. "Luckily, he had Baratheon still . . . that is, up until it came to light that all of Robert and Cersei's little offspring were in fact Cersei and her brother's"
Gendry felt his stomach drop to the floor.
"That's not true." Arya said, shaking her head.
"There's more!" Jaqen smiled at her, enjoying every moment of this revelation. "Robert has a bastard son laying around somewhere. A certain, Gendry Waters."
At the sound of his name, Gendry felt every pore in his body open, and he fought very hard with the shudder that threatened to make him twitch.
"Robert becomes interested in finding him, and then he begins meeting with his lawyer, and with his most trusted friend, Eddard Stark . . . and all the while, Cersei is just a few steps behind them."
It was true. It was all true.
Yoren had old him so, but just now, on this very moment, was it all becoming real.
"So she started getting rid of all the pieces in the game she didn't need. The lawyer. Dead. Ned, the witness. Dead. Robert Baratheon, laying on a hospital bed, with her in full control of whether he lives or dies. The only two things that are missing for her plan to be complete are the bastard and the will. All she needs to do now is find both the bastard and the new will and make sure no one ever sees either again."
"How do you know all this?" Arya said stiffly.
Jaqen smiled again. It made Gendry want to punch him.
"I had someone stay close to the Lannisters, watching over their every move . . . But she went missing the same day your father was killed. Which is why I need you know. If we work together, we can stop Cersei. We can stop the Lannisters."
The room fell silent.
No one spoke, no one said anything for what felt like minutes.
Finally, Arya rose her gaze to meet Jaqen's. "If you stop Cersei, she won't be able to pay you. Why would you want to stop her? What's in it for you?"
"Clever girl." Jaqen said sweetly as he reached to caress Arya's face.
For some reason, that made Gendry's blood boil. Thankfully, she stepped back, breaking away from his touch.
"If it's taken me as long as it has to figure the Lannister's out, it won't take long before someone else find out. She's paid off some of the police, but the truth may still surface.
Cersei is desperate, and so she's careless. If the authorities find her out, they'll trace everything back to me."
"So you want to cut that link." Arya stated.
"I'll lose money, but I'll gain more by washing my hands of the Lannisters."
"And how am I suppose to help you?" Arya asked.
"You would be bate." Jaqen said transparently.
At that Gendry pulled away from Lem. "Who do you think you are!" he pointed a finger at Jaqen.
The man that was on the couch with the girl was quick to cross over the Gendry, but held a hand up, and the man stop where he stood.
"We're leaving." Gendry said, grabbing Arya by the arm. She pulled away, giving him a stern look.
"No harm will come to her. We just need her to lure Cersei in." Jaqen said soothingly.
Gendry looked down. They could use me.
He glanced over at Arya, and it was as if she read his mind, because she said, "No."
"You don't have to use her!" Gendry said to Jaqen, ignoring Arya.
She already had a hold of his arm though, and she was pulling him back. "Stop." Arya pleaded angrily.
He turned to face her, his expression just as angry as hers. "No." he said, holding on to her shoulders.
"Get him out of here." Jaqen said, and the man from the couch walked up to Gendry, as did Lem.
"No. Use me! I'm..." but the they had punched the air out of him, and he collapsed on the floor.
He could hear Arya screaming at them to stop.
With one hand he pushed himself up, and when someone reached over to grab him, either Lem or the other man, he swung his fist at them, which gained him a hit across the face with something hard.
Possibly the back of a gun.
He saw a flash of green. What looked like Arya running up to him, before he lost consciousness.
xxxxxxxxxx
Jaime's tongue swept her mouth hungrily as he moved to slip his hand under her dress, bringing a small laugh from Cersei.
He pulled his mouth free of hers, and began kissing his way down her neck.
Cersei gasped. "Jaime."
"Mmmm." he moaned into her neck, nibbling at the collar bone.
She closed her eyes, letting out a little moan.
"Jaime . . . . . I had brunch . . . with Margeary Tyrell today. . . . . . I'm . . inviting her over to dinner . . ." she moaned again, louder this time.
"Mmm hmm..." he said, as his hand traveled up her thigh, and his mouth kissed his way lower.
" I want you to seduce her." Cersei whispered.
Jaime pulled his mouth away from her skin, his half lidded eyes blinking, so that he could focus. "What? What the fuck?"
Cersei sat up straight, fixing her dress. " You heard me. I need you to seduce her. Make her fall in love with you. Propose to her. Marry her."
At that Jaime rolled off her and crawled to the edge of the bed.
He had been looking forward to this night for so long, she knew. He had even gone out of his way and arranged for the children to get out of the house.
The room had been filled with candles, and the bed with petals. He had done every possible cliche in the book, it almost made her laugh when she walked into the room.
He was so silly sometimes. But she still loved him.
She hated ruining this for him, but she needed to get it over with.
"I'm sorry, but it has to be done." she told him as she crawled over to him and wrapped her arms around him.
"You're with me, yet you're asking me to seduce . . . hell, to marry someone else."
"It's a sacrifice we need to make. I made it too, remember!" she said as tears began to well up in her eyes.
"I made that sacrifice for us all once. Now it's your turn."
Jaime pulled away from her, rising from the bed to face her. "Why can't you wait. We can still find that will."
"How?" she yelled, "We've tried everything!"
"What about Cat?" Jaime offered, trying to soothe her. "Ned and her were close. I'm sure she knows something. Her children are missing, she's here, I know it. She's vulnerable. She has that weakness."
"It can also be her strength. Her love for her children." Cersei said, looking away from her twin.
"I'm still looking the bastard. I've been moving in slowly, but I know I've got something going."
"I can't afford for you to move in slowly." she rolled her eyes at him.
"What do you expect. They're fucking cops, and not the ones you've bought. Give me a bit more time. I'll be on his tail soon, I promise you. I know how important this is for you."
"One week, Jaime. I give you one week to find out what you need. To find the boy, and to kill him." she said as she rose from the bed, no longer in the mood.
Jaime looked away and nodded, clearly angry.
"One week. I want Gendry Waters dead in a week. Or we do things my way."
xxxxxxxxxx
Someone splashed cold water on Gendry's face, waking him.
"Arya." he mumbled as he turned on his side.
He was on the bed, back at the hotel.
"She's on her way. Lem just called. He dropped her off at the front." Harwin stood over him with an empty bottle of water.
Gendry sat up, a little too fast, and a sharp pain bit into his skull.
"Who hit me?" Gendry asked as he began to unbutton the wet shirt.
"Lem. With his gun. He won't be back until sunrise, no doubt. They all stayed behind at the club. He just came to drop Arya off. You can settle the score then." Harwin laughed and walked out of the room.
"I will." Gendry told himself as he pulled the shirt off and tossed it to the floor.
There was a knock on the front door. "There's our girl." Harwin called as he unlocked the door.
"Where is he." Arya asked.
Gendry blinked up and saw her walk into the room, heels in hand. "Are you ok?" he asked.
"Yes, I'm fine. You're bleeding." she told him, throwing the heels to the side and crawling on the bed, and towards him.
She pulled his head to the side, inspecting right above his eyebrow. "You need stiches." she told him as she slid off the bed and out of the room.
Gendry slid to the edge of the bed, and walked over to the dresser.
Right above his right eyebrow was a large gash.
She was right. It needed stitching.
On the other room she could hear her arguing with Harwin.
"I can't call a doctor." Harwin told her. "I can get you a first aid kit. Maybe some needle and thread. You can sew him up, if you like. It's all I can do for you."
Gendry walked into the restroom and carefully washed the cut.
Maybe it wasn't so deep.
But the water only exposed it more.
"I'll stitch you up." Arya said, walking into the restroom.
"You will?" Gendry asked dubiously.
"Unless you want to."
He smiled and grabbed a towel from the sink, drying his face, careful with the cut. "I trust you." he told her.
She nodded and walked out, leaving him to follow.
"What happened tonight?" he asked her.
He could feel fresh blood begin to well on the wound again. She noticed it.
"Stop moving." she said, forcing him to sit on the bed.
He did.
There was another knock on the front door and Arya left the room briefly.
She returned with a first aid kit, a small sewing kit, and a bottle of vodka and headed to the bathroom. "I'll do it in here." she called to him.
"Arya. What happened tonight?" he asked her again as he walked into the restroom and sat himself on the toilet lid.
"I made a deal with Jaqen. He's going to help us." she opened the sewing kit, taking out a thick needle and some thread.
"Smaller needle. What kind of deal?" Gendry asked as he pointed to another needle.
"He helps us, we help him. Like he said." she said as she began threading the needle.
"By turning you into bate." Gendry shook his head. "We could use me."
"I knew you were going to say that. It's a good thing Lem knocked you unconsious." She stabbed the threaded needle into the towel around Gendry's shoulder and uncapped the bottle of peroxide that was in the kit.
"Really? It's a good thing, is it?" Gendry said sarcastically.
Arya rolled her eyes at him and tilted his head to the side, carefully pouring the peroxide on the wound. She poured a bit more a second time before she capped the bottle and uncapped the vodka.
Holding the needle over the sink, she poured vodka over it and the thread.
"Hold still." she said as she leaned into his face.
"Arya we can't trust him."
Arya placed her fingers under the wound carefully and slid the needle into the flesh.
Gendry groaned in pain, but kept himself from moving.
She pushed the needle further in until she saw it break through the skin, then she slid it out easily.
"I do trust him. We need him." she said, as she pulled the thread through.
"We need him?" Gendry let out bitterly.
Arya moved to start on the next stitch. "Yes. We do." she said as she pushed the needle into his skin.
This one hurt more than the first one, for some reason, and Gendry involuntarily grabbed the first thing he reached, which turned out to be Arya's thigh.
She pulled away quickly, careful not to mes up the stiching. "Don't" she said gravely, looking into his eyes. "I'm ticklish." she admitted.
Gendry couldn't hold the smile back.
He thought he saw her face begin to flush, but she turned away to grab one of the smaller hand towels, rolling it up one handedly.
"Bite down on this instead." she said leaning into his face once more.
She was blushing!
He couldn't say anything though. Thanks to the towel.
"Look. He proved himself. Sorta. But I trust him."
"How?" Gendry managed to say through the towel.
Arya ignored him, making him spit out the towel to ask her again.
"How did he prove himself?"
"He just did. Stop moving. This is already looking awful, without you moving and messing it up more."
"Great." Gendry rolled his eyes, before he groaned in pain as Arya slid the needle in again.
"I used to suck at embroidery." she teased.
"Just . . . shut up. Shut up Arya." Gendry told her with a smile.
xxxxxxxxxx
It had taken her longer than she had expected to get to Sheffield, but she had finally made it, and the first place she went to was home.
She was surprised to see the dogs were gone as she walked in through the back door.
It was night already, and she couldn't see a thing, but she felt too afraid to turn on any of the lights.
She couldn't explain why, but she was.
The house was as it should be. Everything in place. But iwas just that now. A house.
An empty house.
She began to weep, collapsing on the kitchen floor.
The last time she had been in this kitchen, it had been with Arya, right before Ned drove her and the boys to the station.
"Ned." Cat gasped out. "Arya."
That day, they were all still a family.
Whole.
Happy.
Cat pushed herself up, and she went straight to her husband's office.
She had to find the number of their attorney. Even if she had to wake the man up, she would call him, and force him to meet her.
As soon as she walked in, though, she let out a scream.
Someone was sitting on her husband's desk. "The god's must be on my side." said a familiar voice, before Cat had any time to react.
"Cersei?" Cat gasped out as she walked towards the desk.
"I came here to see if I could find out where I could find you, and instead, I find you."
"Get out of my house!" Cat said, her words like steel.
Cersei didn't make a move to rise.
Instead she let out a laugh, and turned on the small desk lamp.
She was wearing a night robe, and her hair was a mess.
But what Cat couldn't keep her eyes off of was the gun she held.
"I need that will." Cersei said.
"You need to leave my house." Cat said coldly, but it only made Cersei throw her head back with laughter. "I'm calling the cops." Cat said, turning for the door.
"You'll do no such thing." Cersei said as she cocked the gun. "If you want to see your children, you will tell me where that will is."
Cat froze at that.
"I know you know where it is. So tell me."
Cat turned slowly to face Cersei. Tears welling in her eyes. "You're a mother. How can you do this. After taking my husband. Splitting up my family. How can you threaten to hurt my children."
"The will Catelyn. I have no time for theatrics."
Cat closed her eyes tightly. Shaking her head delicately. "I don't know." She sobbed out "I don't know." she said sincerely, hoping Cersei would believe her.
The expression on her face let Cat know that she did believe her.
"You're not lying." Cersei said closing her eyes. "You really don't know where it is?"
Cat shook her head.
"That's a pity. You're useless now." Cersei said and she pulled the trigger, the shot ringing loudly in the air.
Translation:
Hotel Delivery guy/Santi: Buenas tardes. Sus trajes de la tintoreria, y el vestido que Tom le pidio a Gabriela = Good afternoon. Here are your suits from the dry cleaners, and the dress Tom asked Gabriela for.
Anguy: Gracias Santi = Thanks Santi
Harwin: Tom, imbecil! Quieres que se mate con esos zapatos? = Tom, you imbecile, do you want her to kill herself in those shoes?
AN
Ok. I have a lot to say. First off, to get it over with, There are pictures of Arya's dress, shoes, hair style and even the acorn earrings on my profile.
Please go check them out. They're great.
I also posted pictures of another pair of earrings.
I was debating with myself whether or not Arya should even have pierced ears, but I asked "gendrybaratheonn" on tumblr, and she said she should, and even sent me a link of a badass pair of wold earrings that i think Arya might have worn before she became Arry.
Thanks for that "gendrybaratheonn" :)
Moving on. I'm replying to all of your reviews, and as always, thanks you for them, and I really hope you can all leave a review for this chapter. If you read, it, review it. It doesn't take long, and it really helps me.
Now for those guest, whom I cannot reply to, I'll answer anything you may ask in my AN
Now, I still had the same reviewer, miss "Not So Cool" saying my spanish was off, and wondering if i get offended.
I don't. I appreciate any constructive criticism! :) And I will double check with my love translator "egaara"
NOWWW! to the chapter.
This was my longest chapter yet. Even longer than the epic chapter 10.
I know I was suppose to update until after Vegas, but i couldn't help myself.
It's literally 4:44 am and Im suppose to catch a 10:30 plane. So I apologize if there are a few mistakes, I just skimmed through it.
SO yea... all for you guys!
SOOO this chapter
A lot going on. FIrst (and this is not the order of how the chapter went)
Sansa lost her virginity to Joffrey. And she hates him now, incase I didn't make that clear.
Also, she hates herself for not leaving with the Hound, but she has a plan!
Now! Arya and Gendry!
A lot more subtle flirtishness in this chapter. Gendry is beginning to admit to himself how he feels.
They go to Madrid. and yes, Jaqen is the BwB leader.
I know, major twist, but I think it works.
and finally
Cersei! I hate you! Youre sick. I hope you die!
Yea, a nasty Cersei chapter, with that scary awful Cat cliffhanger.
Please Please please review! You have no idea how happy reviews make me!
This was a big chapter, so there should be some thoughts you may want to share.
I love you all!
Vegas, here we come