STRANGE TRAILS ━━ gendrya

Love Like Ghosts

I don't feel it till it hurts sometimes
oh, go on, baby, hurt me tonight
I want ours to be an endless song
baby, in my eyes, you do no wrong

The night was alive with the celebrations of those left living and Arya could still feel the heat of Gendry's hands on her body. It was such a distraction that she almost didn't hit the bullseye of her target. Almost. She took a deep breath, nocking an arrow and drawing from the strength in her back to aim at the target again. The very man on her mind happened to walk into her line of sight just as she loosed the arrow. He flinched back from the thud it made as it hit right next to the other arrows and then quietly chuckled to himself.

"Good shot." He called out, walking towards her with warmth in his eyes.

Ayra couldn't help the smile on her face as he walked closer, butterflies in her stomach at how he was looking at her like there was no one else in the world he could possibly think of a single day in his life.

"What are you doing out here in the cold?" She asked, lowering the bow and giving him all her attention.

"I could ask you the same thing." He retorted. "It's nighttime, it's freezing and everyone else is celebrating. You should be celebrating with them."

"I am." She paused, looking down before grabbing another arrow and nocking it into place. "In my own way, I suppose."

"Yeah, me too." Arya could sense his nervous energy and faced him again with concern written on her face. "I'm not Gendry Rivers, anymore."

"How much have you had to drink?" She tilted her head at him with a growing smile. "You've never been Gendry Rivers. You're Gendry Waters. Crownlands, remember?"

Gendry looked out into space for a second, looking like he was trying to overcome the embarrassment of forgetting his own damn name.

"Right... Yeah... Well, my point is-what I'm trying to say is that-..." He stopped taking a deep breath and looked at her again in seriousness. "I'm Gendry Baratheon, Lord of Storm's End. By order of the Queen."

"What?" Arya put the bow and arrow down, looking at him with wide eyes. "Congratulations, this-this is amazing. I can't believe-"

Gendry cut her off with a passionate kiss, cradling her face in one hand and bringing her closer with a strong arm around her waist. Arya had an arm around his shoulders, the other pressed against his strong chest, feeling his heart trying to beat its way out. They were smiling like idiots into the kiss, giggling even as Arya's feet came off the floor when he stood up straight and twirled them. When he put her back down he took her face in both hands this time, giving her one last soft kiss before pulling back enough to actually speak, and moved his hands to hold hers.

"Marry me." He begged making Arya's heart stop. "Marry me. I love you and you're fucking beautiful-and I know-I know I love you. I know nothing about being a Lord of anything, I hardly know how to use a fork."

"Gendry-"

"None of it will be worth anything if you're not with me." He paused, his eyes shifting between hers and her lips before he went down to one knee. "I can't even begin to imagine the rest of what my life is going to be now without you. Marry me, be my wife."

Arya couldn't form words so instead she went down with him and held on tighter to his hands. So many questions were running through her mind. What was the castle like down there? Who would be their servants? There can't be anyone left in the Baratheon household staff. What would life even be like in a place like Storm's End? The thoughts about how big the castle forge would have to be went through her mind next. And once she got through those questions she knew what she wanted to do. She settles her eyes back on Gendry, realising only a second had passed in reality.

"I don't know how to be a Lady. I don't think I ever had a flying hope in all the sevens hells of being a proper Lady." Gendry's smile turned into an infectious laugh.

"Gods know I'm a witness to that." He leaned in and Arya met him half-way, pressing their foreheads together and closing their eyes.

"I can't guarantee it will be smooth sailing." She said softly.

"Then we can crash and burn together." He reassured in a loving whisper.

They opened their eyes, giddy and wide smiles adorning their faces. Arya went back in, kissing him, and holding his face in both hands, and she felt like she could stay there forever pressed up against him and breathing him in.

"Yes." She mumbled against his lips with a smile. "Yes, but-"

He interrupted by going back in and pulling her closer.

"But what, my lady." He teased.

"You-" She giggled, pulling back and tracing his bottom lip with her finger. "You have to be the one to tell Jon and Sansa."

There was a moment of abject fear that crossed his face before he nodded, seemingly making up his mind and squaring his shoulders.

"Alright." He said, completely convinced now. "Let's go."

yes, I know that love is like ghosts
oh, and the moonlight, baby, shows you what's real
there ain't language for the things I feel
and if I can't have you, then no one ever will