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Mine is the Fury - 11: The Forest Lass

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Gendry woke up with the first rays of dawn shining faintly through the golden curtains. He got up from the bed, carefully not to wake Arya who was still fast asleep beside him, and went to the window to greet the new day.

The black clouds had drifted away leaving a clear blue sky and the scent of wet soil was filling the air, giving Gendry a dream of spring.

He looked back to the bed where Arya was lying sprawled out, her hair a furious mess of tangled wisps. She looked calm, her face serene and pure. Her lips were parted slightly. He wished they could forever stay like this. He wished he could wake up every day to this face, to her warm body next to his. If only she would agree to marry him.

A few days ago he had taken her maidenhead and saying he did not regret it would make him a liar. Arya deserved better than this. Even if she did not see it that way, she was still a highborn lady. The daughter of Lord Eddard Stark, who had been Hand of the King. And Gendry, who was born a bastard, had lain with her out of wedlock, mayhaps filling her with a bastard of his own.

Then again lying with her had been the greatest pleasure he had ever experienced in his life. Sinking into her soft warm flesh, linking their hungry bodies, giving in into each other's desires.

He could not imagine being closer to anybody else, to share the same proximity he had shared with Arya. He knew it was her. So long as he was existing it would always be Arya.

Gendry envisioned the moment he was lying on top of her, when her grey stormy eyes were staring back at him. Their vividness would always fill him with euphory, with love, with lust, with vitality and with a sense of home.

He wanted her as his wife, as his lady of Storm's End. He wanted her to be the wolf of the Stormlands, the mother of his children. He could not help but imagine it. A girl with brown hair and blue eyes, wild and fearless like her mother. A boy with black hair and grey eyes, the wolf who would be his heir. He yearned so much for this idea, that he felt a clenching pain in his chest.

He had yet to express his wish, out of fear of being too greedy, out of fear of scaring her away and losing her for good. But the past few days had been the best of his life and with each new happy memory he was creating with her, the fantasies of what might be one day were increasing.



Arya stirred in her sleep and Gendry knew she was going to wake up soon. He sat next to her on the bed and savoured the last moments of her tranquillity, indulging himself in his visions of a future with her.

Her eyes opened slowly and as she caught sight of him her lips formed into a smile. Gendry felt the pain inside his chest yielding to a growing warmth as he saw her smiling so carefree. Last night she had told him of her experiences in Braavos. She had told him of everything she had done.

He could not deny that listening to the extent of her actions had shocked him. It was beyond belief how much blood were on her small delicate hands. How much her silver eyes had seen.

But he had loved her all the same, if not more for she had finally decided to trust in him. Whatever Arya would do, Gendry would love her, of that he was certain.



“Good morning,“ he said and brought the palm of her hand to his lips.



“Good morning,“ Arya replied, her voice still drowsy from the sleep. “Why are you up already?“



“I just woke up myself. The weather's nice today. I can show you the castle, the bay, the forest. We could ride out later if you want to.”



Arya scrunched her nose and reached for Gendry to draw him to the bed again. “Come back here,” she purred. “It's still early. There's plenty of time for riding out later. Until then I'd rather stay here with you.“



“If that's what m'lady wishes who am I to refuse her?”, he pulled away the bedcovers and lay himself down next to her. Arya giggled as he placed kisses on her neck. She was ticklish there and he adored the sound of her giggles, so he did not bother to stop.



“Why are you still calling me that?”, she asked with much less indignation than usually. “Would a lady lie with you out of wedlock?“



Gendry did not care if she acted like a lady or not. She would always be a lady for him, the highest of all. He considered calling her his lady as his own sweet prerogative. Calling her that made him feel blissful and proud. He kept it as his secret though and let his hands wander over her hips. She bit her lower lip and looked at him through her lashes, while she traced her fingertips over his chest.  Whatever duties he had could be delayed for another hour, Gendry decided.




***


The two of them had broken their fast and went to the courtyard. It did not seem like it would rain for another few hours and Gendry planned to show Arya around. He wished to show her the place where he lived. The place where she would hopefully stay.

Around them he heard raised voices and he realised that men had come to Storm's End. He recognised one of them as his castellan and went to greet him with Arya following behind.

“Davos,” Gendry said. He had not expected Davos to return for another few days. His early return made him feel nervous. Before Gendry could proceed to ask whether Ser Davos' assignment had been successful, a young man with black hair appeared next to Davos. He was staring past Gendry, his distinctive blue eyes fixed on the castle. The famous ears of House Florent and his sharp facial features were unmistakeable. From Arya's look he could tell that she too had recognised the boy for who he was. “You must be Edric then,” Gendry addressed him. “I am glad that you decided to go with Davos. I am Gendry, your half-brother.” It was odd looking at him. The mouth was the same as his, the nose as well. But the eyes were what really intrigued Gendry. It was as if his own eyes were staring back at him.



“I know who you are,” Edric finally said. Gendry flinched slightly with the sharpness of Edric's voice albeit he had suspected that their first encounter would not be easy.



“We sailed to Lys, as you instructed us to do, my Lord,” Davos began to explain. He laid his left hand on Edric's shoulder as if to soothe him. The tension left Edric's body and Gendry realised that he trusted Davos. “I knew where he was hiding and he and his protectors recognised me. They were aware of what has been happening the past few years. I told Edric that Lord Gendry, his brother, wished for him to return to Westeros, where he shall henceforth carry the name 'Baratheon'.”



“My words were true. You shall be legitimised, such as our sister Mya has been,” Gendry took another step towards his brother and offered his hand for a shake. To his surprise Edric accepted. “You're free to go wherever you want to but I welcome you to live here in Storm's End with us. You may take a wife if you like, whenever you like. You're not forced to stay but know that I bid you welcome here as a Baratheon, as my brother and my heir until I have sons of my own.”



Edric nodded and looked around the courtyard, an inscrutable expression on his face. “I grew up here, you know,” Edric began. “I've spent my childhood here in Storm's End, until Stannis came. Until Stannis and his witch killed my uncle Renly, who fostered me. Until they killed Ser Penrose. Until they took me, this castle was my home.”



Gendry pursed his lips, unsure of what to say. He had expected Edric to be discontented and angry that Gendry, the baseborn bastard that he was, was now Lord of Storm's End. He understood his resentment. Edric was, after all,  the one that had been acknowledged by their father. His mother had been highborn, as well. He was the one to grow up among nobles. He should be the Lord of Storm's End.



“So?”, Arya interjected before Gendry was able to reply. “The Lannisters had tried to kill Gendry, too. He survived. He fought, at the Riverlands, at the Wall, at Winterfell, while you were hiding in Lys. You're no better than him, just because you were wearing silk since you were little. Stannis decided to make him Lord of Storm's End. Also he's older than you.” Gendry had to restrain himself from kissing her in front of everybody. He took her hand in his instead, squeezing it to show his gratitude.



Edric glared at her but turned his eyes to Gendry when he replied. “I don't want to challenge you for your right as lord. I acknowledge you as my older brother and my Lord of Storm's End.”



“You must be Lady Arya then,” Davos said and bowed his head to her. “I apologise for not greeting you earlier my Lady. I am Ser Davos, Lord Baratheon's castellan.”



“Good to meet you, Ser Davos. I've heard a lot about you from Gendry. Jon also told me, that you were the one to go look for my brother Rickon.”



“At Skagos, yes. I could not find him, but I hear he has returned to Winterfell safely.”



She smiled then and Gendry realised that Davos had won Arya's favour. “That he has. The Starks are back in Winterfell.”



“Is she your betrothed?”, Edric interrupted their conversation and beside him Gendry saw Arya rolling her eyes.



“No. She is... Well,” Gendry cleared his throat. “This is Arya Stark of Winterfell and my friend. We fled King's Landing together when the Gold Cloaks were sent after me.”

It was apparent that Edric did not believe that Arya was a mere friend to him. It was apparent to anyone. However, he was thankful that Edric did not comment any further. Only Davos looked at the two of them, at their entwined hands, with a satisfied smile on his lips.



“Davos tells me that Shireen is Lady of Dragon Stone now. I want to visit my cousin soon. I've missed her,” as soon as he brought up Shireen, Edric's features softened. Gendry remembered that Shireen too had spoken fondly of Edric. They had spent some time together as children and despite their different nature Shireen had seen Edric as her brother.



Gendry nodded. “Of course. She sometimes visits here and you are free to visit her whenever you like.” Edric thanked him and gave a small smile. Involuntarily he smiled back at his little brother. He could not deny the joy of having kin inside his castle. Perhaps it won't be so difficult, he thought. Perhaps we'll be true brothers one day. “I hope Alester did well?”, Gendry asked Davos.



“He did, my Lord. He was very excited to see one of the free cities. He also did really well on the ship, although he told me he preferred the life of a knight to the one of a sailor. He's still at the harbour. Helping with the ships.”



“He admires you a lot,” Edric chimed in. “I taught him playing cyvasse on the ship. He would not stop talking about you.”



“Cyvasse?”, Gendry asked with surprise. “The boy learned to play it? I'm amazed.”



“He's smart, my Lord,” Davos said.



“Will you teach me, as well, Edric?”



Edric smiled again, less distant than the first time. “Of course.”



“You must be hungry and tired,” Gendry said as it occurred to him. “We have prepared your chamber. It's bigger than your old one. Will you show Edric to his room, Davos?”



“Yes, my Lord.”



Edric thanked him again and they left Gendry and Arya alone in the courtyard.



 



“Who is Alester?” Arya asked.



“He's my squire. Why? Did you fear I had a son?”



“No. You told me you had no other woman before me,” she watched as Edric and Davos entered the tower.“He's nothing like you. He shares your looks, but he seems different than you. I hope that he stays truthful to his words.”



“I believe you intimidated him enough to refrain from doing otherwise. By the way, thank you for that,” Gendry kissed her then. If only on the cheek. He still remained reluctant to show his affections openly. He did not want to disgrace her, even though he knew that Arya did not care about that. “I'm happy that he's here now. It feels strange though. Having a family I mean.”



“You'll get used to it.”



Her sanguinity made him chuckle. He offered her his arm which, to his surprise, she took for a change and they began walking around. Most of Storm's End was contained in the huge drum tower, however there were locations which could only be reached from the courtyard. He wanted to walk up the battlements with her, to show her the view over the Stormlands and the sea. Even after years the sight did not cease to captivate Gendry. He was sure that Arya would like it, as well.

“You remember when you said that you could be my family?”, Gendry smiled at the memory and the image of her scrawny and dishevelled appearance. “At the Hollow Hill. When you wanted me to smith for your brother.”



“I remember. And I'm also aware that we'd most likely be dead, if you'd accepted.”



He had never thought of it, but she was probably right. He recalled the way he felt when he thought that he had lost her. He remembered his dread and his anguish when he had believed that Arya was gone. But for once the gods had been merciful. She was alive. And she was here with him. “I might have a family now. Siblings and cousins. But you're more family to me than they could ever be, Arya.”



Arya suddenly stopped walking and furrowed her brows. She was staring at the small copse surrounded by walls. “That's a godswood. You told me it was burned down.”



“It was Stannis' doing, yes.” He followed her when she entered the sacred site. It was nothing like the godswood of Winterfell. It would take many years before the trees would grow tall enough to loom over the walls. Solely the weirwood tree with his red crown was visible from outside. As Gendry had ordered a heart tree was brought from the Isle of Faces and planted at the centre of the grove a few weeks ago. However, it was one that had no face carved in yet.



“You rebuilt it”, Arya stated. It was not a question but a conclusion. She stared at him with astonishment in her eyes. The disbelief and glee pictured on her face were endearing and as a response Gendry cupped her face in his hands and lowered his head to kiss her. Arya's lips immediately responded turning his chaste kiss into a demanding and fervid one. Her hands wandered over his chest, to the back of his neck and she pressed her body against him. When Gendry broke their kiss, he encased her small frame into an embrace. It pleased him to know that the godswood had made Arya happy. “Let's go away, Gendry,“ Arya murmured against his chest and put her arms around him as well. She turned her eyes up to meet his. “Let's leave Westeros. I want to go away with you. We could travel the Free Cities. I could show you Braavos. Show you the places where I spent these last years. We could travel across the red desert, to Yunkai, Meereen and Astapor. I want to see Valyria, I want to see Asshai. We could even travel to Sothoryos. We could take a ship and travel all the seas. There's so much more to see than plain Westeros. Let us leave, Gendry. Let us leave and go somewhere, where it's just you and me. Arya and Gendry. No lords and ladies, no titles and no castles. We'll be Arya and Gendry. We'll be free.“



Somewhere along her lines Gendry's heart had begun to tighten in his chest. Her words had stirred him up and had filled him with sadness. Gently his fingertips were caressing her cheek and his thumb was tracing along her bottom lip. If only he was able to fulfil her wish. If only he could leave everything behind and go with her. He wished for nothing more than to make her happy, than to spend his life with her in freedom. But they could never leave. She had family here and Gendry now had family, too. The both of them had obligations in this plain land they called home. Not for the first time did he curse his decision to become a lord. Arya would have accepted him as the baseborn bastard that he was. But a part of him knew that he would have never stopped deeming himself unworthy of her. He still did, although his title was the Stormlord. Her grey eyes were boring into his. Expectantly and hopeful.

“I wish I could,“ his voice broke a little. “I wish I could leave with you. But I can't, Arya. I can't just do what I want to do. Not yet. Perhaps one day.“ She huffed and rested her head against his chest where his heart was thumping wildly. “We could still leave, albeit not forever. We can travel, but we need to return,“ he waited before he continued, afraid to ruin the peace with what he wanted to tell her next. “If you would only become my wife, Arya. Davos is my castellan. He will stay while we can travel. Show me Braavos. Let's see Pentos, Volantis, Myr and Lys. It's possible.”



As Gendry anticipated Arya wriggled out of his arms and shot him an indignant look. “Don't you ever tire of discussing this? Why is it so important to you that we marry?”



“I don't want to father bastards, Arya. And don't tell me there is moon tea, I know there is. I want children. I want them with you. But they would be bastards, they would live without any claim.” Arya ignored his words and began to walk away. “Where are you going?”



“Home. To Winterfell.”



Gendry let out a growl, his frustration with her growing beyond all bearing. He grabbed her by the wrist and forced her to stop. “No you're not. You're not going anywhere.”

Arya turned around and stared at him wide-eyed. “What was that?”, she asked incredulous.

Gendry knew that his forcefulness would merely serve to spark her anger. However, he was running out of patience with her demeanour. He could not let her go. Not like this.“You really want to go and pretend that this never happened? You want to leave me and forget about me? Was whatever you told me a lie? Did whatever I tell you not matter to you at all, Arya?”



All at once the anger left her face and she looked to the side, chewing on her bottom lip. “Of course it matters, you stupid.”



“Then why do you want to go, Arya?,” he let go of her wrist and instead intertwined their fingers. She did not protest. “Are you not happy with me here?”



Arya met his gaze again and her lips formed into a sad smile. “I am. But you don't understand. I don't need all this. I don't need a title and gold and silk and featherbeds. Do you remember the song, Gendry? The song Tom Sevenstrings had played?” Of course Gendry remembered. He had brought up the song on the night when he had kissed her for the first time. He remembered every verse of it although Tom had played it only once. He had pictured them many times as the ones the song was talking about. Her as the forest lass and him as her forest love. He thought it funny that the words had become true. “You want to gift me things, that I don't need,” Arya continued. “I want to be with you. I want to be Arya and I want you to be Gendry. I don't want us to be lord and lady. I am here with you, am I not? Why does it matter if we marry or we don't?”



Instead of arguing against her words Gendry pulled her into another embrace and kissed the top of hear head. “Why is it that we always fight whenever we are in a godswood?”

His question made Arya chuckle. “I don't know. Might be because you're so stubborn.”



Her resistance hurt him. It hurt him that she refused to become his wife. It hurt him that she was denying his wish. But he knew that losing her would hurt him even more. He had her here, in his arms, in his castle, in his bed. She had told him she was his. And he was hers. Nothing was more important than Arya, thus he tried to be satisfied with what she was willing to give to him. “I can face everything as long as you're with me,” Gendry whispered into her hair.



“I will go home one day.”



“Just promise me that you will visit. That I will see you again.”



“I promise,” she breathed. A quiet pledge in front of the heart tree. Words that ought to be  the truth. She herself had told him, after all. She had said that no one can tell a lie in front of a heart tree. So he tightened his hold on her and breathed in her smell. She was his and he was hers.

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believeinheaven's avatar
Wujuuuu first comment!!!! Ok first nice chapter i must say i hate Arya a little bit i mean common darling you can't be that childish i can't always get what you want.....but anyway can't wait to hear more about your story is so wonderfulEpic clap Epic clap Epic clap Epic clap