The Old Bear's Daughter

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"If I had a proper forge, I could make it good as new," Gendry commented as e helped Thoros into some armour.

"Doesn't have to look pretty. It just has to keep the arrows out of my heart."

"Why are you helping him?" Arya asked her friend, "He takes us prisoner and now he's our friend?"

"You're not our prisoner, little lady."

"What am I?"

"Our guest. No one's put any chains on you."

"So I can walk away, then?"

"These woods aren't safe for Ned Stark's daughter. You're lucky we found you."

Arya walked away and Gendry turned to look at were Juliana was readying a horse, "What about her?"

Thoros chuckled, "She's from Bear Island. They say every man from Bear Island fights with the strength of then mainlanders."

"But she's not a man."

"Aye, but you shouldn't let that fool you. I have fought with her brother and he used to tell me of the little girl that would sneak out and train in secret when she thought no-one was watching and let's not forget about her gift."

"Her gift?"

"Well, she's a warg."

"What's a warg?"

Thoros went to explain but was interrupted by a yell from one of his men, beckoning him over. "I'm sure she can explain it better anyway," he told him before walking towards his comrade.

*****

"What are you doing? We're about to leave," Arya asked as Hot Pie approached the group of friends with some baked goods.

"I'm staying," the boy told her.

"You're what?" Gendry and Juliana asked.

"I baked some brown bread for the innkeep and she said she never had better. Told Thoros she's keeping me as a payment for all the free meals she's given him. Anyway, it's not me the Brotherhood wants. My brother ain't no king. I'm not a Stark of Winterhell.

"Winterfell," Arya corrected him.

"You sure?"

"I'm sure," she chuckled.

"Well, I made you something," he said and handed two loaves of bread to the girls. Arya's was formed like a wolf while Juliana's was a bear. 

"Thank you," Juliana chuckled as she packed it into her bag. 

Arya looked at her bread questioningly, "What is it?"

"It's a wolf."

"Yes, it is," Gendry nodded.

Arya patted the back of it, "That's the tail?"

"Yeah."

"Be safe, Hot Pie," Juliana told their friend.

"Yeah, you, too. Don't get stabbed."

Gendry nodded, "You don't...burn your fingers," he patted him on the shoulder and Juliana gave him a nod before the two of them went to join the others, leaving Arya to say her good-bye.

Thoros pointed to a horse, "That one's for you."

Juliana nodded and mounted it, stretching her hand out for Gendry.

"I can't ride," he admitted.

"Just hold on to me, I'll do the rest."

Gendry took her outstretched hand and used the stirrup of the saddle to further help himself up and then sit behind Juliana.