Chapter 16

ARYA

Arya was bored.

It seemed there wasn't much to do in the Red Keep despite the changes that came with her father being named the new Master of Coin after the man called Littlefinger (Arya had been amused and curious as she didn't understand the meaning behind the name) had been executed by the king after it was discovered that he had been stealing from his gold purse. And that was after he killed her Aunt Lysa, who had decided to call her, Sansa, their mother and their late aunt Lyanna, who Arya was told by many people she resembled her in both appearance and personality, and was thought to have been kidnapped by the dragonprince before Lysa revealed she went willingly to run away from her marriage to the king, who was so furious he killed her with his bare hands despite having his executioner kill her lover.

Arya did not tell anyone, but she was glad that both of them were dead, for they insulted her mother by calling her a whore and Littlefinger looked at Sansa with lust in his eyes, like Theon did whenever he fucked a girl in Wintertown. She may not get along well with Sansa, but even she couldn't stomach the idea of some creepy man old enough to be her father looking at her with hunger. As for her annoying cousin who still fed at his mother's teats (Arya shuddered when she heard the rumors after her aunt's death) who was revealed to be their bastard, the Hand and his guards had found him one day attempting to jump off the balcony before crying that he wanted to fly and be with his mother. The next day they had sent a message to their uncle Edmure to escort him to Riverrun. He was supposed to arrive in a few days.

As for the rest of her family, Bran was mostly away doing his duties as squire for Ser Barristan, and would constantly spar in the training yard as did her brother Jon with Lord Jaime. Arya was still puzzled why their father allowed Jon to squire under the Kingslayer, especially after he called him a man without honor and an oathbreaker, and Jon was originally going to go to the Wall before finding out about the White Walkers. She was glad that he didn't go, after all she feared he would end up getting killed by them, a Wildling, the cold, or even worse, his fellow recruits. After all, they were mostly thieves and rapers, or so she had heard.

As for Sansa, she was having a ball sitting with the ladies of court, sewing and gossiping while drinking tea as the future Queen of Westeros was set to arrive from Highgarden real soon. She once heard Lord Renly, the king's brother and heir apparent, say that she resembled Lyanna before the king gave him a black eye and broken nose for his comment. Arya couldn't help but hear the servants and maids gossip on Lysa's revelation, the rumors surrounding Lord Jaime's twin, the late Queen Cersei, which had been dismissed but most likely held a bit of truth in them as King Robert loved to spend more time in the whorehouse than Theon and the late Imp. What they all agreed on was that this marriage should be at least better than the first, considering the fact that the new queen didn't sleep with her brother as he was more likely to draw his attentions to Lord Renly. Arya didn't know what to feel about that, but quite frankly she could care any less to the gossip of the court.

She had tried finding Mycah to spar with, but apparently he was nowhere to be found, so she decided to roam through the Red Keep without anyone seeing her. She had heard that there were skulls that belonged to the Targaryens' dragons hidden in the dungeons below, so she might as well go and investigate.

When Arya found them, she stared in awe. The skulls varied in different sizes, starting as small as a cat to large enough to swallow an entire horse. All of a sudden, she heard voices, a dim light coming from the nearest exit, and immediately hid behind the largest skull, thinking it was guards who would most likely recognize her and inform their father of her activities. Instead what she heard surprised her.

"What information do you have for me, old friend?" asked a fat man, whose face was hidden well under his cloak, although Arya swore his voice sounded very familiar.

"Not the best ones, I'm afraid. The dragon queen is set to give birth at any moment now," said his companion, his voice thick with the accent of the Free Cities.

Arya gaped in shock. Dragon queen? She knew the events of the Rebellion well enough and the king would rant about the last Targaryen, who was born during a storm escaping to Essos along with her older brother Viserys, who died of the fever. Obviously these two were talking treason and Arya needed to tell her father about this.

"Which will only make her more desperate to take back her family's throne," the first man sighed. "It's such a shame what she did to Ser Jorah. I had hoped his secret wouldn't come out long enough for him to advise her on taking back Westeros. Much more now that she succeeded in hatching three dragons from mere stone."

Dragons? Actual fire-breathing dragons?, Arya thought as she listened more closely.

"And what about her nephew? The one Lord Stark claimed as his bastard?"

Arya's ears perked up as her hands shot up to her mouth as she smothered the gasp that came from her lips.

"He lacks the madness his ancestors did. Even more, he has brought up well under his Northern values. It was a good thing Ned Stark hid the boy well. The gods know Robert would have killed him as a babe if he had found out Lyanna loved Rhaegar passionately to get married."

Jon was a Targaryen? The boy she loved more than her other siblings and confided in wasn't her brother, but her cousin? Arya's eyes watered as she finally put the pieces together. Now it made sense why Jon had so wanted to join the Night's Watch. Robb had told her once their mother insulted him before she changed her behavior and later demanded he be legitimized. The more she thought about it, the more her heart broke.

"Does he wish to take up the Iron Throne?"

"Unfortunately not. Although Prince Oberyn swore fealty to him if he ever decided to take it."

"What are our plans for the Targaryen girl?"

"There is no hope for her. She is a lost cause. After all the work we made, we cannot allow to replace a mad king with an even more mad queen, much less his own daughter?"

"And the king?"

"His rule will end soon enough. The Riverlands are outraged at the manner in which Lady Lysa was killed by the king, despite facing the truth of her crimes. As for Littlefinger, thank the gods he is dead. Had he lived, he would have wrought more chaos upon the realm, especially with the Long Night returning."

"Any news beyond the Wall?"

"They're still recovering from the attack on the Wall, but with the new recruits they've received, they're going to need more help than that. Apparently the king is to send the Lord Commander and many lords on a great ranging expedition beyond the Wall. Jon Stark has volunteered, along with Lord Jaime, the Hound, Prince Oberyn, Beric Dondarrion, and Thoros of Myr."

Arya closed her eyes angrily as tears were starting to run down her cheek when she heard Jon was going beyond the Wall.

"Who else does the king have in mind to join?"

"Loras Tyrell is a consideration, although Lord Renly is unlikely to let that happen due to their mutual feelings for one another. Then there's Randyll and Dickon Tarly from Horn Hill, along with a second cousin of Ser Ilyn sent by Lord Kevan to watch over his nephew."

"So many wars on multiple fronts," the second man scoffed. "Gods help us all."

Then like that, they disappeared while Arya moved from her hiding place and began to sob. Damn King Robert for wanting to kill Jon. Damn father for lying to their family. And damn Jon for going off to the Wall without saying good-bye to her.

She wiped her tears angrily with her fist before going through the gates where the two men left. Damn it, it's locked! She would have to find some other way to get back to her father--

On second thought, let her father worry with fear for a day. She did not wish to speak with him as he had tolerated her mother to insult Jon before she was born. Arya went the other way.

She came out at the end of a tunnel when she saw blue skies and saw water hitting the shores. She must be on a beach near Blackwater Bay.

Arya made her around until she traveled through the Street of Flour. She didn't have any gold on her being, as she had left it in her chambers. So she continued walking through the alleyways despite catching the eye of several men who were looking at her weird. She felt them coming closer, so she turned a corner before another man stepped right in front of her.

"That's a fine, looking sword you got there, boy," said the man. "Do you mind if I have a look at it?"

Arya then unsheathed her sword, while the men behind her 'ooohed' in mockery. The man simply frowned.

"Do you know who you're speaking to, boy?" the man said.

"I couldn't give a shit what your name is, cutthroat," Arya said.

"Just kill him and be done with it, Karl," said one of the man's friends behind her.

"I will," said Karl. "But not before I properly introduce myself first. My name is Karl Tanner of Gin Alley. I'm a fucking legend around here, if you must know. I've never a lost a fight since I was nine." Well shit, Arya was screwed. The man must have noticed her apprehension, because he then leaned closer. "I can take on any knight that comes at me. Fucking cunts in shining armor. Do you know how much they pay me to kill a man in King's Landing?" Arya shook her head. "Seven silvers. They tell me a man's name and that man never sees daylight again. None of the cocksuckers get away from me. And now..." He removed his sword. "...neither will you."

At that, Arya was then thrown to the ground by the men behind her while Karl paced back and forth.

"Don't start a fight that you can't finish, boy," said Karl. "Especially with half a dozen men."

"Oy, Karl," said a man who had pushed her to face upwards at them. "This one's a girl."

That caught Karl and the others' attention. Fuck, Arya thought. Fuck, fuck, fuck. Now she was beginning to regret her decision to leave the safeties of the Red Keep.

"How can you be sure?" Karl asked.

"She smells like that whore that I just fucked in the brothel last night, that recently came from the North."

"Really?" Karl narrowed his eyes dangerously at her. Arya shuddered under his glaze as he knelt down towards her. "Now what is a pretty little highborn girl from the North like you doing out here in the far South, eh? You left your daddy's castle looking for trouble, didn't you? No dresses for you. You like it rough, don't you? You like it in the gutter, don't you?" His hand ran through her hair.

"Don't you dare touch me," Arya growled to hide her fear. "Do you know who my father is?"

"I couldn't give a shit who your father was, even if he were the king," said Karl, who smiled coldly at her.

"Well you should," she spat. "My father is best friend to the king and Warden of the North. And when he finds out about this, he'll have your heads on spikes at the Red Keep."

"We're so scared," Karl said. "We're quaking in my boots. You talk too much. What do you say, boys? Maybe a good long fucking should shut her up for a few hours."

"No," Arya shouted before one of the men's hands covered her mouth.

"Don't say a word," Karl spoke softly. "We'll make this quick as we can for you. By the time we're done with you, your father will pay us fine gold when we bring you back to him."

Arya's eyes started watering again when she felt them tearing at her clothing, before instinctively kicking one of them in the balls.

"Northern bitch!" the man shouted as he pushed the others aside and punched her in the face, cutting her lips. "Now I'm going to be the first one to fuck you."

He proceeded to loosen his breeches, before he gave out a moan as he fell forward with a knife buried deep in his back.

"Nobody fucks her unless I say so," Karl said. "Hold her down."

"Let her go!"

Arya and the others turned to find a strapping, tall young boy, whose hair was dark as a raven, and eyes as blue as the waters of King's Landing itself. What caught her eye, though was that he was carrying a smith's hammer.

"Get out of here, you bastard!" one of Karl's men said. "Walk away while you still can."

"Why?" the boy said as he locked eyes with Arya, who felt like she could drown in those eyes. "When it is obvious you are hurting the lady. Now let her go before you regret it."

"Fuck you," said another man as he and three more of Karl's companions charged at him. The boy merely waited as they got closer, when they did. He swung his hammer at the man's face, smashing it against one of the walls, then ducked the second man's sword just as he kneed him to the groin before his hammer landed on the man's back in one powerful blow. His hammer then caught the third man's blade before tossing it upwards and smashing his hammer into the man's chest, his body being tossed back to Karl, who looked at the boy with a growing annoyance before grabbing Arya and held her out in front of him while holding a dagger at her throat.

"Don't move or she is a dead girl," Karl said.

The boy hesitated as his eyes darted between Karl, the dagger and Arya.

"Do as he says," Arya said.

The boy seemed to hesitate before saying words that infuriated Arya more than the men who wanted to force themselves on her: "Are you sure, milady?"

"Do not... ever... call me... a LADY!" Arya yelled as she elbowed the man in the stomach, causing him to give her enough space to escape before Arya attempted to stab Needle through him.

Unfortunately however he caught it with his sword before butting his head on hers, causing her to fall to the ground before tossing his dagger at the boy, who blocked it with his hammer before Karl strode towards him swinging furiously, causing the boy to jump back. Arya could only watch as her vision blurred as the boy seemed to narrowly avoid getting run through until Karl finally managed to slash upwards on the boy's left leg, gaining the upper hand. The boy fell to his knee as Karl kicked him in the chest, causing him to let go of the hammer and land on his back.

"Send my regards to the Stranger, bastard," said Karl as he drew his sword back to stab into the boy's chest.

At that moment, something snapped in Arya as she strode forwards and ran Needle upwards through the back of his throat. As she pulled it out, Karl dropped his sword and turned around and looked at Arya in shock as did she, for this was her first kill. He grasped his throat with both hands, while Arya stared at the blood pouring down upon them. Karl then glared at her before pushing her back up against the wall with one hand attempting to choke the life out of her, before pressing his whole body against her as he fell to the ground, dead.

Arya kept staring at the man she had just killed before looking down and realizing her torn clothing was covered in blood from the neck down, not counting her cut lip.

"Are you alright, milady?"

Arya's eyes shot up at the boy who had rescued her, shooting him a glare.

"Of course I'm fine, no thanks to you," Arya snapped.

The boy tilted his head at her. "No thanks to me? I just saved you from getting raped by half a dozen men, four of whom I just killed? If anything, you should be thanking me."

Arya knew the boy was right, but she was too stubborn to understand that for she felt it would take away her independence so she continued to argue with him.

"If anything, you nearly got yourself killed, and if it hadn't been for me, you'd be pinned to the ground with a sword, and that man would still end up raping me," Arya said.

"If you were just like any other normal lady," the boy argued before speaking softly. "But you're not like any other normal lady, are you?"

"I'm not," Arya said. "And for the last time, don't call me a lady."

"Whatever you say, milady," the boy grinned.

Arya glared at him before raising Needle to hit him upside the head, but the boy's quick thinking made him jump up and grab her sword arm before forcing her face up against the wall.

"You really shouldn't fight with people much bigger than you, much less people who just saved your life," the boy spoke seriously.

"Let me go," Arya said.

"Not until you apologize to me first," the boy said.

"I'll apologize only if you still stop calling me a lady," Arya snapped.

For a moment, they didn't say anything as they stood there in that position before he let her go.

"Fair enough," the boy said, before his eyes came upon Needle.

"That's castle-forged steel," the boy said. "How'd a lady like you end up stealing a sword without her father noticing it?"

"I didn't steal it," Arya said. "It was a gift."

"You must be a special kind of girl if you can wield a sword, let alone kill a man like that," the boy said. "What's your name?"

"Arya."

"M' name's Gendry," the boy said as he grabbed her hand to shake it. "And it's a pleasure to meet you, my lady."

Arya glared at the boy as he grinned like a bloody fool.

"Will you please not call me a lady, but most importantly will you please stop holding my hand?"

Gendry seemed to realize he was holding her hand, as he let go immediately. "Apologies, milady."

"Do you have a death wish or something, or are you just plain stupid?" Arya said.

"You really shouldn't insult people bigger than you," Gendry said.

"Then I wouldn't get to insult anyone," Arya replied.

"How can someone so small be such a huge pain in my ass?" Gendry sighed. "We best be getting you back where you belong, milady. Master Mott's going to kill me if he finds out about this."

"DO NOT CALL ME MILADY!," Arya spat.

"As you command, milady," Gendry smirked even as Arya punched him hard in the shoulder. "Well, that was unladylike."

"Let's just go," said Arya, who rolled her eyes at how annoying her new acquaintance was starting to get on her.

As they arrived at the Red Keep, two guards stood sentinel outside. When they got closer, the guards looked at them in disgust.

"The king doesn't hold court until the morrow," one guard coldly spoke at them.

"I'm just returning her to you," said Gendry.

"Fuck off, boy!" The other guard spoke up. "The local orphanage is back where you've fucking came from."

"I'm here to see my father," Arya finally spoke.

"And I want to fuck the Queen, even if she is dead and did fuck her brother, for all the good it does me," said the guard.

"You want to see your father, girl?" the first guard spoke, staring down at her. "Probably lying in some tavern, getting pissed on by his friends just before they fucked you."

"Watch your mouth around the lady," said Gendry, who glared at the man.

"Fuck off, you bastard!" the guard said while he and his companion unsheathed their swords. "We don't need any more beggars around here."

"What is going on here?"

As Arya and Gendry turned around, they saw Prince Oberyn Martell and a Dornish woman with him behind them. The Red Viper looked at the guards, and then looked towards Arya before stopping on Gendry, who he gave a critical stare before narrowing his eyes and for some strange reason Arya felt Oberyn would have killed Gendry on the spot.

"Nothing, my prince," said the guard that told them to go away. "These peasants were just leaving."

Prince Oberyn then turned to the guard before glaring daggers at him and his companion, causing them to share ft uneasily.

"This is Arya Stark of Winterfell, daughter of the Master of Coin who just so happens to be best friend to your king," hissed Prince Oberyn, before turning to Gendry. "And what is your name, boy?"

"Gendry Waters, m'lord," said the boy who also shifted slightly under the Red Viper's gaze.

Prince Oberyn nodded before staring at the boy and humming. "You will escort Lady Arya into the Red Keep."

"I really couldn't, m'lord. Master Tobho will yell at me if I stay away too long."

"I will pay him a visit on the morrow and explain your absence," said Prince Oberyn. "Flea Bottom, yes?"

"That is correct, m'lord," Gendry said.

"You make excellent armor," the Red Viper grinned. "I will discuss your apprenticeship with Master Tobho, before taking you in as my squire and ward."

"M'lord, that's really not necessary," Gendry stammered. "I'm just a bastard."

"So is my paramour here," Oberyn said as Ellaria waved to Gendry, while Arya couldn't help but feel jealousy over her new companion. "We have eight beautiful daughters together, who are also bastards themselves. Being a bastard is nothing to be ashamed of. Even Lady Arya's brother here was a bastard before the king legitimized him." Arya was the only one who heard the emphasis on bastard as Prince Oberyn spoke. She wondered if he too knew Jon's secret. The question was whether he was ally, enemy, or both. If he was an enemy, then Arya would not hesitate to kill him as she did the man who attempted to rape her. "I'm sure however you can explain how Lady Arya got her clothes so bloodied."

"Of course," Gendry said.

"Good," Prince Oberyn said. "Now come along now, we have a missing lady to deliver." He looked coldly at the guards. "With your pardon."

The guards quickly let them pass through.

"Now, Lady Arya," said Prince Oberyn. "How did you get your clothes filled with blood, may I ask? Your father sent half his guard looking for you."

"I'd rather not talk about it," Arya said.

"Six men had been--" Gendry began.

"Arya, there you are!"

They all turned to see Jon and Ser Jaime arriving along with Sansa, Ser Barrustan, Bran, King Robert, Jon Arryn, Lord Renly... and Father. Arya swallowed as she saw them stop when they saw the blood on her clothes.

"Arya, where have you been?" Father said. "I sent half my guard looking for you. And now you've come back with blood on your clothes. What did you do?"

"If I could explain, m'lord," Gemdry said, causing the others to turn to him, and when they did, nothing but shock was on their faces. Jon Arryn and Jaime had gone pale, Father, Ser Barristan and Lord Renly looked like they had seen a ghost, while the king touched the boy's cheek with his hand.

"Who are you?" the king spoke as if he'd seen a ghost.

"This is Gendry," said Prince Oberyn. "Your son..." Arya looked to Gendry in shock as he and the king stared at each other like looking in a mirror. He's King Robert's son?!? "...and my new squire."

That caught Robert's attention as he stormed over to Prince Oberyn, looming over him. "You DARE?"

"Yes, I dare," Prince Oberyn smiled coldly. "It's not like he'll be next in line to the throne."

Renly breathed a small sigh of relief while Father spoke up.

"You can finish your argument later," he said causing the two to glare at him. "For now, I like to where know my daughter has been."

And then Arya reluctantly told them everything that had happened to her, while Gendry gave his account as well. When they finished speaking, Arya had never seen her father so angry.

"Have you lost your mind?!?" Father shouted. "What were you thinking, you foolish, stupid girl? You know that going out in the city by yourself is too dangerous. This isn't Winterfell, where you can roam around as long as you please. If you wanted to go out into the city, you should have gone with Nymeria, or asked Jory or one of the other guards. Instead you went by yourself and gods know what could have happened between you and those men if Gendry hadn't arrived and killed those men."

"I killed the one who led those men," Arya argued.

"STOP!" Father shouted. "I am talking here. It was bad enough that those men could have hurt you, but what's worse is that your recklessness and impulsive actions have grown each day and caused you to act like a wild child." He sighed. "You did what you had to do to in that situation, but that doesn't mean it could not have been avoided. The next time you be sure to inform me or Jory where you're heading."

"Yes, father," Arya murmured.

"I will have to punish you, do you understand that?" Father asked.

Arya nodded while his eyes came upon Needle.

"What I like to know is where exactly you got a sword?"

"She said it was a gift, m'lord," Gendry spoke.

"Is it now?" Father raised an eyebrow.

"It is, Father," Jon said. "I had Mikken make it for her."

Ned looked to Jon and gave him a critical look. "Jon, you should know that this isn't a toy for her to play with."

"I know that, Father." Jon said, while maintaining eye contact with him. "And she wasn't playing with it. You know as well as I do that Arya doesn't want to be a lady."

"It doesn't matter, Jon," said Sansa, who had to be an annoying little twat as always. "She's a girl. Girls shouldn't play with swords."

"I wouldn't say that," said Lord Renly, which caused the others to look at him.

"And why is that, brother?" King Robert asked.

"I heard that Lady Brienne of Tarth had been practicing with swords, with the intention of being a knight, shortly before her death," said Renly.

"And how does that help? It just comes to show that ladies shouldn't play with swords," King Robert said while Sansa looked pleased.

"Oh she didn't get herself killed in action, Your Grace," Renly said. "The fever took her as well."

Sansa's face fell while Lord Jaime spoke up.

"Your Grace," Jaime said. "You may not want to hear this from me, but I think Lady Arya should at least continue her training with swords under supervision of a professional swordsman."

"What?" Father and Sansa looked horrified.

"My sister, the late Queen Cersei, and I used to trade clothing with each other, so that she would practice swordsmanship. She would have become an exceptional fighter had our father never found out and forced her into the role society laid out for her." Sansa looked shocked in disbelief as she tried picturing the late queen holding a sword. "Lord Stark, if you force the same fate on Lady Arya, she will become just as miserable as my sister was until her death. Besides that, Lady Arya is determined and had it not been for her skills with a sword, she would never have killed the raper in charge or intervened long enough for King Robert's son to arrive."

Father appeared deep in thought while Prince Oberyn spoke up.

"Lord Stark, if you won't mind, I would like to personally train Lady Arya myself, with the future prospect of fostering her in Dorne."

Bran gasped and Sansa looked like she was about to faint while Arya couldn't help but feel excited at the news.

"Please, Father," said Arya. "I promise never to run away like that again and to take my lessons with the Septa more seriously." Arya didn't care much about sewing, but it was the only way to convince Father, who sighed before looking to her.

"After you've been punished," Father said. "I will consider Prince Oberyn's offer."

"Thank you, Father," said Arya who jumped and hugged him as tight as she could.

Father smiled sadly, while King Robert spoke up.

"Yes, now that is all settled, Gemdry Waters, step forward."

Gendry did, while King Robert continued. "As a reward for rescuing Lady Arya Stark and displaying the true qualities of a Baratheon, from this day forward I hereby declare you Gendry Baratheon, my legitimized son until the end of time."

Gendry stumbled back in shock before composing himself and kneeling before the king.

"Thank you, Your Grace."

"Please call me Father."

"Thank you... Father."

"And to make things even more better, I hereby announce the joining of House Stark and House Baratheon once again with the betrothal between my newly discovered son, Gendry Baratheon and the Lady Arya Stark of Winterfell."

What the fuck? was Arya's last thought before she fainted into Father's arms.