History Has It's Eyes On Us ~ Gendrya

4

"You're... alive,"

Gendry nodded, unsure of how she'd react.

For a second, they stood, studying eachother. She had grown to be much more beautiful. His speculation of her appearance had not done her justice.

She sighed, "I don't have the time for broken memories,"

With that, she started walking away. Gendry stood, uncertain what to do. Follow her? She clearly resented him. Sty here? That would surely make things worse.

"Arya!" He shouted, but she didn't turn back. Her feet stayed firmly on the ground, "I'm sorry I left you. It was wrong of me. But not a single day has gone past that I haven't hated myself for it."

"My lady, I thought you'd be glad to see the boy," Tyrion said in a hushed tone.

"I would. But I'm not falling victim to this trickery again,"

"Who are you?!" Gendry exclaimed, "You don't even sound like yourself! The Arya I knew would never treat a friend like this,"

"Please," she whispered as a tear formed in the corner of her eye, "stop this torture. See reason." She pleaded with him, "let me wake, I don't care. I'd sooner go restless than have to endure this again,"

Gendry laughed slightly and dropped to his knees at her feet, "this isn't a dream!"

She looked unconvinced. He burried his head in his hands for a moment before standing nd brushig the snow from his calves.

"Look into my eyes," he said, taking her hand and pressing it against his heart, "feel that? I'm right here,"

She smiled, somehow knowing that this was the truth. Their eyes stayed stuck on eachother for a few moments before she broke their gaze. Cautiously, she looked around and saw the eyes of her people, like vultures, ready to begin picking at them. A highborn girl like herself couldn't been seen with someone like Gendry. It broke her heart to accept it, but she had been forced to. They were no longer children. Pretending they could run off into the night together would do them no good. There were rules surrounding such delicate matters. She hated them, but they had to be complied with. The winds of winter were vigorously howling and now was no time for political dispute. She cared for Gendry. But, she cared for her people and this distraction would put everyone in danger.

"Meet me in the stables at dusk," she said, more harshly than he had expected, "tell no one," she said, turning and returning to the castle. He followed close by her.

"What brings you to Winterfell?"

"Your brother has business with me,"

"Interesting. What does that intail?"

"He wants me to stand with him when they ride north of the wall,"

"Oh... I'd prefer it if you stayed here. We need good men to defend us in the absence of my brother and his party. You could teach the craftsmen a thing or two I'd wager. When you hit steel it sings," they smiled at the last phrase, "you shouldn't go," she said, looking down with a frown after a few moments silence.

"Why's that?" He smirked, "I may be hopeless with a sword but put a hammer in my hand and I'm more than fair,"

She was quiet as she tried to muster the best words to use, "A southern boy like yourself would freeze in no time,"

"I'm hardly a boy. You forget it's been 6 name days since we last saw eachother. My twentey-third was only two months ago" the rest of the walk was quiet, with nothin but the sud of crunching snow beneath their feet and the distant talking inside the castle.

Arya had changed. Very much. She seemed more the leader now she had returned to her home land. The clumsy girl Gndry once knew; a distant memory. She was formal now. It almost seemed as though she had lost her sense of emotion and it somewhat scared him. Her imulsive nature frequently got her into trouble. Maybe she went too far? Ended up payin the price...

Either way, he had to get to the bottom of it. He kept his bundance of questions shielded until their meeting that evening. In the mean time, he would need to focus on the small coucil meeting.