Dockside Romance

The day was overcast just like his mood as Gendry Baratheon stood on the slightly swaying docks with Arya Stark calmly poised before him. He had found it odd that she would use a random guard to summon him right before he left Lannisport instead of coming to him directly, but here they are. And with the scenery behind her, it was easy to figure out why. Gods, he wasn't ready for this. Would he ever be ready?

"You're leaving."

It's a statement not a question, because Gendry can plainly see the ship behind her with its able-bodied crew of men and women and dire wolf emblazoned sails. He was possibly never going to see her again and it hurt like the seven hells.

"I am," Arya simply tells him, and he watches her face remain as passive as ever as she adds, "We're headed to find out what's west of Westeros. I plan to map it all along the way."

Why did I come here, he thinks, why couldn't I have refused? She doesn't care. Maybe she never cared. Maybe she truly did use me just to cast me to the side like everyone else in my sorry life has.

But then she's speaking again and he hates his weakness, hates that he can't stop himself from hanging on her every word.

"I left Winterfell and came to King's Landing intent to kill Cersei. I intended to die to finish my list … but Sandor convinced me otherwise. His last words to me were to turn around and live. And this," A nod toward the ship, "is how I intend to do just that."

Gendry, wholly surprised by her words, could do nothing but silently nod in return. He knew she had left her home before the late Dragon Queen's armies had even begun marching south. And he had rightly guessed her reasoning why, but to think it was The Hound of all people who had talked some sense into her, had made her embrace life instead of stubbornly clinging to death. Even stunned, Gendry sent a silent prayer of thanks to the departed man wherever he might have ended up.

"But," Arya boldly continued, staring deep into his eyes and into his very soul. "If I'm going to start living the life that I choose, there's something I have to fix," After a steadying breath, her eyes slowly softened and so did her tone. "I rejected your proposal but I could never reject you. I can't leave here without you understanding that I love you and a part of me always wi-"

"Marry me!"

"What?" Arya was stunned and so was Gendry.

Oh, gods he had done it again, but he didn't care. Gendry didn't care. She was going to leave and he couldn't let it end this way. He couldn't let them end this way, not after he finally knew that she truly loved him back! His words poured like a torrent of water from his mouth and his anxious heart and mind just let it happen.

"Before you set sail, let's take our vows. This way you can be free, I can keep my name and still get to be with you, and, while you're gone, they won't try to marry me off to anyone else! It's an agreeable situation for all involved and we can do it right now if you want. We can do it right now so that way no one can stop us!"

"Gendry, what are you-?"

"All I ask is that you come home to Storm's End to visit every once in a while, obviously when you're able, and maybe write to me, whenever you can, to at least let me know you're still alive. I mean, I'd love to hear about all your adventures and everything you find. There's got to be loads for you to find since no one's been out that way that we know of."

"Wait. Gendry, there're only seagulls at sea, not any ravens and-"

"Train a seagull. I don't care."

"—what if I die during my journey?"

"Then I'll be a widow."

"What about an heir?"

"If we don't have one, I'll just adopt an orphan and legitimize him or her if I have to."

"You're talking madness."

Already wholly committed to his hastily fabricated plan and stubbornly unable to let her go again, Gendry bellowed, "Madness is the two of us actually loving each other and not doing a godsdamn thing to keep us together!"

"But we won't be together," Arya shook her head, still trying to recover from her shock and yet still trying to make him see reason. "Not really. Do you really want that?"

Chest still heaving, but trying to calm himself down, Gendry gave a deep, serious tone. "I'll have your letters, your visits, and everything else in between. As long as your kisses and smiles are mine alone, that's enough for me. You're enough for me. I'm fine with it."

"You say that now," Arya angrily countered—completely feeding off his own chaotic emotions, "but you'll come to regret it."

"I won't," Gendry refuted, defiantly standing his ground.

"If you let yourself try, you'll forget all about me in time."

"Never."

"How can you be so sure?"

"Because I've never been more certain of anything in my entire life."

"But-"

"Arya," Gendry angrily cut her off. "You already told me that you love me and that's more than enough armor to ward off any words you or anyone else could ever say to try to sway me otherwise. You're the only one for me. Deal with it. I already have."

"You are such a stubborn bull," Arya grumbled.

"So you keep saying," Gendry growled right back. "Marry me."

"You're impossible. You know that?" Arya accused, more than a touch exasperated. "Why are you so set on giving me freedom and restricting your own?"

"What you call restricting, I call happiness. I told you before, nothing I have matters if you're not with me." Eyes already starting to water, Gendry pleaded unashamed, "So, please, just—Gods just—whenever you can—I beg you, Arya, please… on your own terms, just be with me."

The broken look in Gendry's eyes reminded her of herself when she had said I can be your family so many years ago. She knew that feeling, knew how much it hurt, like fistfuls of salt being shoved in an open wound. She's doing this to him. This was her fault. Arya couldn't stomach the thought and her own emotions propelled her feet forward. Her chest hit his, hard, as she wrapped her body around his middle. She clung to him and he to her, like two lifelines caught up in a frothing sea.

"You don't play fair," She lamented with a face full of his robes as he gave her another tight squeeze. "You never have."

"I'm not sorry for it," Gendry whispered back.

"You made me fall in love with you as a girl and then again as a woman and now you say things that make me want to never let you go."

"Then don't," Gendry implored, his words muffled by the top of her hair. "Not really. Sail the seas and be free, but leave your heart here with me."

"It's always been with you, stupid," Arya quietly admonished. "Always."

How long they stood together, wrapped up in each other for every guard and sailor to see, Gendry couldn't tell and he didn't care. However, it was Arya who pulled away first. Fortunately, she only pulled back far enough so that she could look up into his own tear-stained face.

"You know," She said with a red nose and a hoarse throat, "You know sometimes … sometimes you could come out on the water with us too I suppose."

"I could," Gendry agreed, hands cupping either side of her face, using the pad of a thumb to wipe the remnants of a tear from her eyes.

"And, you know," Arya added, bringing her own hands up to grip his wrists. "you could write me back and tell me all the boring stuff the Lord of Storm's End would be stuck doing while I'm out making maps and having fun."

"I would," he agreed, looking down at her soft expression and the red tinge of her lips.

"And I suppose we could celebrate every time I come hom—"

He sealed his approval with a long, slow, deep kiss; it was the kind that says everything words could never convey. When they finally pulled away, Arya dropped her forehead to his chest and gave a rather long drawn out tragic sigh. After a few heartbeats more, she finally pushed away with both palms to his sturdy chest.

"Well, alright then." Standing unsupported and actually feeling like it to boot, she scrubbed her face with her hands and gave him her answer. "You wanna do this? Let's do this. But I have to warn you, we'll have to take our vows and consecrate our marriage rather quick because this ship is already set for its maiden voyage."

Before she could change her mind, Gendry was already flagging down the nearest guard. "If you would be so kind, please have Maester Tarly meet us in the Captain's Quarters for a wedding."

"And who shall I say is getting married, my lord?"

Eyeing his wife-to-be, Gendry proudly proclaimed, "We are."

Arya watched the guard scurry off with a raised brow. "We're doing it on my ship?"

Meaning the wedding and the consummation, Gendry laughed. "That's a yes to both. And If the Maester takes his sweet time getting down here, we might be doing one before the other."

"Or we could just do the one thing twice," Arya shrugged unabashed.

Gendry returned her shrug. "I like your idea better."

"Thought you would," Arya smirked, before waving him aboard. "Come on then. I'll show you below deck."

In front of anyone who cared to watch, she smacked his bottom as he walked toward the plank leading up.

Gendry gave the smallest jump and a questioning look.

"What?" Arya said unapologetically back. "I'm the Captain of the ship and about to be the Lady of Storm's End. I can pretty much do with you as I please." Following behind him, she teased. "Not wanting to take back your proposal now are you?"

Gendry just laughed feeling freer than ever. "Never."

"Good," Arya smiled, leading him further into the bowels of the ship.

As they walked with creaking boards beneath their feet, Arya thought back to the words her lord father had once told her as a child.

You will marry a high lord and rule his castle and your sons shall be knights, and princes, and lords.

Well, she mused, she was about to marry a high lord but Gendry wasn't just any man.

Gendry will rule our castle just fine, father, while I rule the high seas.