The Baratheon bull

Chapter six: Taking the Highroad

POV: Gendry

Gendry departed the next morning and prepared to take the high road. He was all packed up and ready to go when Hot pie came running out if the inn "wait wait!" He yelled. He ran up to Gendry, panting and sweating. "I baked this for Arya. Please give it to her if you see her." With those words he handed him a bread, shaped like a dire wolf bread. "I will" said Gendry and with that he started on his way to the Vale. It would be a week and a halts walk from here but he didn't have anything better to do. He had never been to the Vale of Arryn. Before he joined the Watch he had never left Kings landing. Now, he did want to go back. There was nothing for him there.

He was a night in from the arduous walk to the Vale and all was going well. He almost forgot how much he was wanted by many of the Lords and Ladies of Westeros. He was tired and so he was about to sit down in the shade of a tree when four men jumped out of the overgrowth, all armed. Gendry had no weapon. "End of the the road." He thought. He lifted his arms above his head. Bandits, a common occurrence while traveling. They blindfolded him and tied him up. They set him on a horse that they rode gods know where.

A while later, he was forced of the horse and the blindfold was removed. He knew where he was and who's men had captured him; the brotherhood without banners. He had trie to join once, when he was desperate for a family. "I can be your family." He recalled those words that Arya had said. Lady Arya of House Stark. He loved her then. All he had wanted to do was protect her. This was the one time that his own selfish interested had gotten in the way and the gods had punished him for it. He had learnt from his mistakes. He had to find her and protect her. Once he found Arya he would never left her go.

Suddenly, two of the men grabbed him and dragged him before a familiar face; Thoros of Myr. "You idiots!" He yelled at the men "this one is a friend, he doesn't pose a threat. If one of you gained good judgement then the Brotherhood would be a much stronger organization and not just a band of outlaws!" A silence swept the room and Thoros broke it to address the captive. "Gendry, I apologize for my men. They aren't the sharpest tools in the kit but they are all I've got. Come, let us eat. You have some explaining to do." The young traveler hadn't eating since he was at the inn and so was starved. They had bread and stew for dinner and Gendry talked about hi experience with Melissandre. It was only then that Thoros personally apologized for the way that he had treated Gendry. "I'm sorry" he said "brothers should stick together and it was wrong of me to to sell like livestock. You were not mine and I had no right to do what I did." Gendry was sure that Thoros was the first real knight that he had met. "Don't worry" Gendry started "I learnt some valuable lessons. All is forgotten."

Before long, dinner was adjourned and Gendry was outside talking with Thoros. "So where were you going?" The Myrian man asked. "The Vale." Gendry replied. "And where is your lovely lady. You two were such a sweet match." Thoros continued. "She was never... I lost her. It's a long story but I made a mistake and I lost her. I'm going to did her. And her sister." Gendry said. "What was her name?" Thoros asked. "Arya" Gendry said with a smiled on his face. "I will find her and her sister Sansa. Both sisters of House Stark. I must make things right with Arya." Suddenly a voice said "my girls, you know my girls my sweet daughters". "Who was that?" yelled Gendry. Then a black hooded figure came out of the shadows. Thoros fell to his knee. "My lady" he whispered, bowing his head. "Rise dear Ser" she said. She de cloaked herself. She looked like a ghost, or a person of the undead or one if the legendary white walkers. "Speak child. Do not be afraid of me, I only want to find own." Gendry was horrified. "Who are you?" He asked , mustering up all his courage to do so. "I was the Lady Kathyn Tully. I became a Stark by marriage. My husband was the good Lord Eddard Stark. I had.." Gendry then interrupted "Your Arya's mother." And with that he fell upon his knee.