A new cub

Chapter 4

"Lord Baratheon you have a message from Winterfell.  It just arrived by raven."

"Thank you," Gendry said questioning why he would receive any correspondence from Winterfell.

He read Sansa's message a few times to try get all of the details. His mind couldn't focus.  Arya was back? And Sansa wanted him to propose again? 

Over the past few months he switched between feelings of anger and sadness. He Notreally thought Arya was going to be with him forever.  For some reason though as soon as he got a notion that he had another chance with her all of those feelings slipped away.  He was going to get his girl back, but he didn't want to make it too easy for her.  She did break his heart and all.  

Not even an hour later Gendry received a second letter from WInterfell.  He already knew this one was from Arya just because of the note that Sansa had written letting him know.

The note was brief and to the point.

"Gendry, I am truly sorry about how I ended things. I have returned to Winterfell. At your convenience, I would love if you came to visit. ~Arya"

"Prepare the horses, we are going to Winterfell."

"Yes my Lord, right away."

The journey wasn't terrible for Gendry, but his mind was racing. He wasn't really sure what to feel honestly.  As Winterfell was quickly approaching he still wasn't sure what his reaction would be when he saw Arya.

As he marched through the gates and the guards announced his arrival he saw one Stark sister, but not the one he was necessarily wanting to see right away.

"Hello my Queen, thank you for inviting me back."

"Of course you are always welcomed here. Please follow me."

He followed her through the halls of the castle, but it wasn't until he was outside of Arya's room that his heart was about to come out of his chest.  He couldn't breath. 

Sansa knocked on the door and Arya opened within seconds, clearly pacing by the door.  

"Well I'll leave you both to get reacquainted, but remember we will be dining together at 7."

He walked into her room slowly, both staring at each other not knowing how to react. 

"Hi," she said meekly, "thanks for coming." 

"Of course its good to see you m'lady," he said with a grin.  

She blushed, no matter how much she told him she hated that she liked it when he said it.

"Come and sit, I need to talk to you."

"A little ominous of you, but okay" 

She took his hand, "So I know we have a lot to talk about, but I need to tell you this first." 

She couldn't quite form the words, so just decided to blurt it out.  "I'm pregnant."

She stared at him, he stared at her, no one making a sound.

"I'm sorry I know this is a shock, I only found out about a month ago and wanted to tell you in person.  I know I was terrible to you in how I left things, so I understand if you want nothing to do with this child or me. I just needed to tell you and ."

Gendry cut her off with planting a kiss right on her lips.  All the thoughts he had previously about trying to make her work to get back in his good graces had gone right out the door. Never had he loved anyone this much before.

"Arya, this is wonderful. There's no way you can leave me out of this child's life. I'm not my father and there is no one I'd rather have as my child's mother.  I love you, I never stopped loving you."

"I never stopped either Gendry."

He placed his hands on her stomach and looked at her with his big blue eyes. She almost melted right there and then.  

After reacquainting themselves the same way they did the night before the battle they ended up talking for hours. Gendry stared at her and said, "if I ask you a question will you actually consider it instead of just saying no this time?"

"I know what you're going to ask and I think we need to figure more stuff out first, its not just about me and you anymore, but yes Gendry I will marry you.

He grabbed her again, "I love you"

"I love you too"

They wanted to stay in bed longer until Arya realized they only had 20 minutes before dinner. "We need to go or Sansa will be really annoyed."

"You're right can't be late for the person who invited me here."

Arya immediately looked at him and Gendry could feel himself getting red.  He wasn't supposed to say that

"What do you mean, I invited you here?"

Gendry was searching for words as Arya's eyes narrowed in on him

"I guess I shouldn't start this marriage off lying.  Sansa wrote me first saying you returned and that I should propose again and she would arrange a secret marriage for us."

"Why would she do that, this is my life not hers and she needs to stay out of it!!"

Arya stormed out of her room and right to dinner where her sister would be sitting.

"Sansa! What is wrong with you?"

"Arya what's wrong?"

"You know exactly why I am mad, why would you write and force him to propose to me.  Do you not think I'm capable of handling my own life? and a secret marriage are you really that worried about what people will say about you as Queen?"

Sansa tried to defend herself, but Arya rolled her eyes and walked away.

Gendry tried to stop her, but she pushed him away too.

"Both of you leave me alone tonight. You can talk to each other since it seems like you already enjoy doing that."