Gendrya

Arrival

The gates were close. Arya had only a few minutes to imagine what would happen when her mother and brother saw her face.

"They're going to be surprised," Arya smiled at the floor.

Yoren gestured the group of men and Arya. "The lot of you going to the wall, raise your hands. Right. There's a brothel down the street, you'll spent the night there."

No objections, unsurprisingly. With only a few of us left, the gate opened. Arya breathed deeply. They entered an empty courtyard, and Yoren flagged down two soldiers.

"I need to speak to Catelyn Stark."

The soldiers looked at each other. "What business do you have with the Lady?" One of them asked.

The men quickly turned and crossed the courtyard to the main building. After a few minutes, they returned, walking on either side of Arya's mother.

In that moment, Arya couldn't believe her own eyes. She blinked but had a difficult time seeing. She stepped forward, past Gendry and Hot Pie and Yoren. Looking her mother in the eyes, Arya waited for Catelyn to recognize her.

"Arya," she said, and ran towards her daughter. Cat took Arya in her arms and wept into her dirt filled hair. "I don't believe it," she cried.

Arya's mouth hung open in shock. Cat held her shoulders out and inspected Arya. "You're so old now," she said through a large smile. Arya laughed with her. Catelyn addressed the guards, "Oh! Get clothes, one of the Frey girls dresses. And, run a bath and cook supper." She looked at a man standing in a robe and chain, "And get Robb."

Catelyn looked to Yoren and the rest. "How rude of me," she extended her hand. "Catelyn Stark."

Yoren took her hand and kissed it. "I'm Yoren, my lady. And this is Gendry, the smith and Hot Pie, the cook."

Cat smiled at them. In unison, Gendry and Hot Pie bowed and said, "M'lady." When he raised his head, Gendry looked at Arya, who was giggling at him. He furrowed his eyebrows, jokingly.

The heard a rumble coming from the castle. It got louder and louder until a door on the second floor burst open, with Robb at its handle. He spotted Arya in the small crowd, and ran to her. She tried to meet him halfway, but he was too quick. He picked her up and spun her around and nearly squeezed the breath out of her. He steadied himself but kept holding her. When he let her down, he held her face in his hands. Gendry watched the siblings reunion with a smile.

"Gods, I've missed you," Robb said.

Arya closed her eyes and rested her face on his chest. "I never thought I'd see you again." She let go of him, and introduced Gendry and Hot Pie to him.

"Good, we need smiths more than ever. And a cook is always handy."

Gendry made a face and began to open his mouth, but when Arya looked at him, he stopped. The robed man whispered to Cat. She looked at the group, "You each have a room with a bath ready and clean clothes on the bed. Maester Willem will lead you there." She kissed Arya's forehead and said, to the maester, "Take them now please."

Arya was wrapped in a towel and standing over a dress her mother had laid out. Arya snarled at the embroidered flowers and birds. The pink coils made her cringe. Everything about the dress was infuriating, but she put it on anyway. She left her room, but had no idea how to get to the kitchen. She wandered the halls and eventually stumbled into the maester. He pointed her left, then two rights, and one more left. Arya heard the commotion in the kitchen and shuddered. The doors were opened for her.

Inside, the celebration had begun. The candles burned bright, the food was aromatic, and the conversation was contagious. Arya saw Gendry and Hot Pie, but before she could say hello, her mother was calling for her. Catelyn embraced her once again, then offered her a seat at her table.

"I want Gendry and Hot Pie up here with us."

Catelyn smiled, "Alright. Go get them."

Arya walked to the table where the boys sat. She surprised them from behind. "Come sit with us."

They looked at her dress. "I didn't know you looked like that." Hot Pie said.

"Like what?" Arya said.

"Like..." he paused. "That," he widened his eyes.

Gendry laughed and drank his wine. Arya eyed him. "Come on already."

The boys stood and followed Arya to their table. They sat, Arya, in between Gendry and Robb. They are and made small talk. Catelyn asked about Gendry's smithing and Hot Pie's cooking. Robb asked Arya where she had been.

"I've been with the brotherhood. Yoren brought me after father-" she looked up, "Gendry and Hot Pie, too. They helped, too."

Catelyn thanked them for getting Arya to her safely.

"She didn't need us," Gendry joked while taking a bite of stew. "She's a wolf."

Arya smiled at him for a moment and looked at her mother and brother, who were also smiling at Gendry.

"Yes, she is." Robb laughed, and pointed to Arya's posture. "A wolf with no manners, apparently."

Arya laughed. She noticed Hot Pie's face turning red. He sat up as straight as a sword. She leaned around Gendry and tapped his back. 

"He was only joking. Slouching isn't a crime," she whispered. Hot Pie let out a sigh and slumped back down. Gendry and Arya looked at each other and laughed. They laughed and drank and soaked in the warmth and nourishment they had been missing for months.