Near Hardhome
"Don't tell me I just missed him." Jaime Lannister jumped of his horse that was sweating profusely.
His eyes wandered from the dragons that were nothing more than small dots on the horizon to the small group who stood there looking as forlorn as he felt.
"You just fucking missed him." Sandor was the one to point out the obvious. "Get used to it. He does that all the time."
"Doesn't seem as if any of you is used to it yet." Jaime eyed the group curiously. "Lord Loras of House Tyrell and Lady Brienne of House Tarth, it is a pleasure meeting you." He bowed in their direction and then acknowledged the others. "Tormund, Edd, Sandor, Gendry and this lady might be?"
"I am not a Lady, I am a spearwife, Sandor is my husband." She hooked her arm through Sandor's to stake her claim.
"Then you must be the Ygritte. Your reputation precedes you. Pleased to meet you as well."
"Stop with the courtesies already. We have no need of your company, Lannister. Crawl back to Castle Black." Lady Brienne bristled.
Jaime chuckled inwardly. The only thing missing was smoke coming out of her ears and nose. He couldn't help but admire her though. She looked formidable. Once more jealousy hit him when he was reminded that she would soon serve as a Kingsguard to King Aegon and he would be stuck at the Wall.
"Brienne," Loras admonished her. "He saved Prince Jon's life. Your Prince will not have us disparage his saviour."
Brienne gritted her teeth. "I apologize. But don't expect any thanks from me."
"None needed." For some reason Jaime wanted to rattle her and at the same time he felt the need to redeem himself in her eyes. "Earning the gratitude and forgiveness of our soon to be King Aegon the Sixth of his name is all I could ever ask for. Just remember when he sends you news of his success, that I had some small part in making it happen. And now I need to find something to drink. Excuse me." When he passed Loras Tyrell, he unobtrusively slipped a scroll into the man's pocket.
"I'll join you." Tormund clapped Jaime Lannister's shoulder and both men left a bemused looking group behind.
"Tormund and the Kingslayer drinking and toasting together, this is a strange world indeed." Loras looked at Gendry when he said that. His right hand slowly moved to his pocket and touched the bump. His heart thumped in his chest. Jaime Lannister had come all the way from Castle Black and had slipped him a message in secret. He kept his face blank and did his best to follow the rest of the conversation.
"The Free Folk admire strength." Gendry remarked. "You weren't there. You didn't see what he did. Thousands of us tried to get to Jon and didn't succeed, but Lannister, he found a way. And when he did, the man didn't hesitate to jump right in the middle of hundreds of wights to reach Jon who was desperately trying to make a last stand. I never saw anything like it. The two of them protecting each other's back, standing their ground for what felt like ages. They must have killed at least a hundred wights before the tide turned when they slew two White Walkers."
"Hundreds of wights and two White Walkers? I didn't know." Lady Brienne stammered.
"Well Lannister's appearance just now certainly distracted us from our moment of self-pity." Gendry remarked. "What do we do now?"
"Exactly what our Prince ordered." Loras answered, his hand still resting on his pocket so he could feel the contours of the thick message that was hopefully written by his lover. "We head for Eastwatch, brief the Commander there and commandeer a ship. Lady Brienne and I will sail to White Harbour soon and from there to King's Landing or Dragonstone. You on the other hand will do some sightseeing in the North before joining all of us in King's Landing. I know the Prince asked you to take the men from Winterfell home and Ghost will probably prefer to travel with you to avoid having to board a ship."
Gendry looked around. "Has anybody seen Ghost?"
"Aye," Sandor who had been quietly talking to Ygritte had apparently picked up this last question. "The white direwolf raced after the dragons. I reckon he must be halfway to the Wall by now."
"Dammit," Gendry exclaimed. "I will miss his company."
"Nobody else to keep your bed warm?" Sandor teased the younger man, his arm encircling Ygritte possessively.
"Not all of us are used to the cold here. Besides he is a loyal companion and I felt safe having him near me." Gendry clarified. He had a slight blush on his cheek and attempted to ignore the couple's affectionate attitude they were flaunting in front of him.
"Come on. Let us help the others break up camp. I am eager to head home." Sandor released Ygritte's shoulder and took her hand instead. Together, the two of them walked back to the encampment.
"Home," Lady Brienne sighed watching the couple walk away. "I don't know where that is any more."
"I do." Loras tried to comfort her. "Lady Brienne of Tarth is needed in the capital where she will be offered a home in the White Tower and become Ser Brienne, going down in the history books as the first lady knight and wear a white cloak. Songs will be sung about you, Milady." Loras bowed.
When she didn't reply he tried to get her moving. "Come on, we are both impatient to get to King's Landing. You are not the only one eagerly anticipating a knighthood." Not daring to mimic Sandor's gesture, he gave her a compelling look and set off toward the encampment knowing she had no other choice than to follow since Gendry and Edd were already well ahead of them.
Gendry had indeed walked away no longer willing to hear the others banter. He hadn't been able to shake the feeling of abandonment yet and had followed at a safe distance behind Sandor and Ygritte. He was about to embark on a long trek with men he barely knew. Even though Robb would be glad to see him and probably Arya as well, he had practically invited himself for a stay at the home of the Warden of the North. What had he been thinking, he, a mere bastard of the Crownlands, imposing himself on the esteemed Lady Catelyn of House Stark?
He remembered Jon's parting advice. After conferring with his dragons, his friend had opted to delay his trip with half a day. A good meal and some extra rest was what Rhaegal had needed before attempting to fly across half of Westeros. His dragons had been given several horses to eat. They had been able to take their pick from the poor animals that had to be put down since they were too severely wounded to make the trip home.
Jon had used some of that extra time to advise Gendry on how to behave. "Find some decent clothes in the first town you encounter. Dress the part. By the time you arrive, chances are that your legitimization has already been made known throughout the realm. Do not cower before Lady Catelyn. You will be her equal if not her superior because you are a male. Be respectful but do not demean yourself. You are a close friend to the new King and distant cousin to boot. And don't linger too long in the North. I am eager to start the testing of the recipe for Valyrian Steel."
Gendry doubting Jon's statements had asked him how he could be so sure that everything would change that quickly. Jon had merely smiled and answered. "Don't bet against me this time, my dear cousin. Just give me a few days, a sennight at most and I will be King Aegon the Sixth of my Name."
***
Against all expectations, Gendry had enjoyed travelling at a leisurely pace along the Kingsroad towards Winterfell. At first he had kept mostly to himself and had savoured the relative anonymity to be had in the company of almost two hundred men. He had used it to slowly adapt and learn the best way to communicate with these men of the North.
First they had lost the Umbers but not before Gendry had been able to acquire a brand new outfit and a fur coat in a small settlement near the stronghold. Lord Umber himself had helped Gendry with the negotiations. Gendry would make a customised sword for House Umber and they in turn would see that the tailor received his due. Soon after they had left the Last Hearth behind, a group of the mountain clans had left them and so it had continued until only the small contingent of men from Winterfell were all that remained of his companions during the last days of their journey.
He had gotten to know these men fairly well and these last few days Gendry had felt happy and free. After exchanging life stories around the bonfires at night, all the men knew of Gendry's origins. The easy-going manners of the young man and his close friendship with the Targaryen-Stark Prince had gone a long way to ensure the men's goodwill. It also helped that there were two soldiers called Snow in their little caravan who were well-liked. Nobody seemed bothered by him being a bastard.
When they had heard of his wardrobe predicament, one of the men had given him directions to a well-known tailor in winter town. Their last day of their travels they had insisted that Gendry put on his only decent outfit he had acquired with the help of the Umbers and had urged him to ride up front. Gendry had not needed further persuading. He had been studying the horizon ever since to catch his first glimpse of the uniquely shaped towers of Winterfell.
That is why it was no coincidence that Gendry spotted the outriders first. Three men on horseback were racing towards them at great speed. Gendry's heart hammered in his chest. Were these men coming here to bring him the news that his visit had been denied or did they carry better tidings? To avoid torturing himself with such thoughts, he admired the way these men rode their horses. He would never be as good an equestrian as any of these men.
"I bet it is young Hullen and young Cassel. I don't recognise the third one." Poole, a nephew of the steward of Winterfell spoke up.
"How can you tell from such a distance?" Gendry asked the young man.
"Because I recognise their style of riding, the way they sit their horse and the kind of mounts they ride. I don't need to look at their faces." His eyes kept watching the three horsemen while he spoke.
"Except for the third one." Gendry remarked drily.
"Except for the third one. Give me some time. Let them come a bit closer." Poole squinted his eyes. "He looks small, perhaps it is one of the younger stable boys."
"Could it be …," Gendry stammered then stopped.
"I thought you had never been to Winterfell?" The man remarked.
"He hasn't." One of his fellow travellers joined the conversation. "I would know. I know everyone who has entered through our gates. I have been a guard at the gates for several years now. Besides, we are always briefed well in advance which visitors to expect."
Gendry gave him a challenging look. "I have met Lord Robb and his little sister before. Only not at Winterfell. Can it be Arya Stark, the third rider I mean?"
"The Gods be with us. You might be right. She rides as if she was born on a horse. It could be her. Even though it is strange to see the Wild Wolf without Nymeria, her direwolf." Poole's excited look turned sceptical when he uttered this last sentence.
Gendry smiled. "If it is her, then she will have received the message heralding my visit."
"More like Lady Arya saw the opportunity to sneak through the gates. She often tries to pull such a stunt, no matter the destination of the party that leaves the keep." Poole remarked. "More than once we were punished by Lady Stark because we let her precious daughter escape.
"Wanna bet she came out to welcome me?" Gendry spurred his horse. 'Come on, let us meet them halfway."
Soon the two groups met. Arya sat atop her horse, her hair in disarray, her braids having long escaped the confines of the knot they had been arranged in so carefully that morning. Big excited eyes immediately fixed on Gendry. Her small mouth couldn't host a larger smile.
"Gendry, Jon is King! Jon is King! He left an important message for you. Robb said you needed to get it before you saw mother." She yelled the words the moment they had halted their horses.
"Jon is King?" Gendry's face broke into a wide smile as well and Arya nodded enthusiastically.
"King Aegon of House Targaryen, Sixth of his Name, King of the Andals, the Rhoynar and the First men, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms, Protector of the Realm, The Prince of Dragonstone, Rider of Dragons and Friend of the Free Folk. I learned all of his titles by heart already!"
"Praise the Old Gods." Poole said and the other men agreed with a resounding 'aye'.
"Hail King Aegon, long may he reign!" One of the men shouted.
"Long may he reign!" It seemed everyone seemed to welcome the news.
Gendry meanwhile had gotten of his horse and helped Arya dismount. "Nice to see you again, Lady Arya."
Arya made a move to embrace him and Gendry impulsively lifted her up with his strong arms.
"I am no lady, I am a Princess now. But don't call me that, only in front of mother. She smiles each time she hears someone say the word Princess." She told him this quietly close to his ear.
"And will a Princess still be allowed to speak to a blacksmith?" He teased her.
Arya smiled and wiggled her legs. "Put me down so I can perform a very important task. Normally Hullen was supposed to do it but I persuaded him to let me handle it."
"Used your authority as a royal Princess, did you now?" Gendry chuckled.
"Mmph," Arya was trying to reach the buckle of her saddlebag. Since her mount was a very large one, she didn't succeed right away.
"Allow me." Gendry opened the clasp and lifted her up so she could reach inside the bag and take out a thick scroll with a heavy seal.
As soon as her two feet were back on the ground she held the scroll out to Gendry. "See? Jon even has his own seal. He put a direwolf on his sigil! A large eagle flew it to Winterfell."
Arya's spoke loud enough for the entire party to overhear. She thrust the scroll into Gendry's hands who eagerly examined the large wax seal. When the men pleaded Gendry to show it to them, he held out the scroll in front of him but didn't release his hold on it.
"The new King honours the North." Poole who stood closest to Gendry remarked as soon as he spotted the small direwolf head below the three headed dragon imprinted in the wax.
"The blood of the Kings of Winter flows through him and he displays it proudly." Another chimed in.
"To King Aegon, long may he reign!" They picked up the chant again.
"Open already." Arya tugged on Gendry's sleeve.
"Hey take care. I am wearing these clothes for the very first time." Gendry said it teasingly but was glad that she released him instantly and that his sleeve was no worse for the wear.
"Sorry." She kept her voice down so he alone could hear her. "I guess you want to impress my mother. She likes it that people dress up to meet her."
Gendry bowed towards her and whispered confidentially in her ear. "I know. Jon told me." He broke the seal and started to read. His eyes widened. Not only was he legitimized, he travelled to Winterfell as a royal ambassador and his first duty was to deliver an official invitation from the King to Lady Stark. He was to hand her a personal letter from King Aegon.
"What does it say?" Arya made a move to grab his sleeve again but refrained from it at the very last moment.
Gendry bowed. "Princess Arya, Lord Gendry of House Baratheon, heir to Storm's End and next in line to become Lord Paramount of the Stormlands is pleased to make your acquaintance."
"You're a very important Lord now?" She made a face.
"Jon just made me one. But I promise I am not going to be a stuck up one. Just as you are not a stuck up Princess." He smiled remembering one of her rants when they were at the Stony Shore.
"Good, keep it that way." She replied brusquely. "Come on. Act like a High Lord and help a Princess on her tall horse. What are you standing around for? Let us hurry back to Winterfell."
Gendry smiled and lifter her up so she could slip her right foot into the stirrup and lift her other leg over the back of the horse. "There you go, Princess."
"I am no," she stopped. She looked at him with her big grey eyes and continued quietly. "You can call me Princess. It sounds nice when you say it." She blushed but did not avert her eyes. "Perhaps that is because you are my second best friend."
"Thank you, Princess." He smiled and quickly mounted his own horse. She was a delight to be around. He looked forward to his stay at Winterfell even more now.
The men all congratulated him but acted more reserved. Gendry sighed and remembered his promise to Jon. He was to treat everybody as friendly as ever but should respect the fact that they had to adhere to the rules of protocol. He should allow them to address him by his new title when the occasion called for it. It was more for the benefit of the people he would interact with than for himself. Jon had given Gendry several examples of how he himself had struggled with the same situation for as long as he could remember. 'Act kind and just, Gendry. Remember that in private you are still free to behave as before. Just make sure that you spend enough private time with your friends and loved ones. That way you might survive this terrible fate of being a close friend and cousin to a soon to be King.'
When he got tired of the stilted conversation with his fellow travellers, he spurred his horse onward until he rode at the front of their caravan next to Arya Stark.
She smiled when she noticed him. "Are you really a Baratheon?" She asked innocently.
"Robert Baratheon was my father. I never met him though and I doubt he knows that I exist." He shook his head to chase away the bitter mood that always came upon him when he spoke about his birth father. When he saw her biting her lip, he regretted his outburst. He took a breath and leaned closer to her. "Did you know that Jon calls me cousin?"
"You are also his cousin? Does that make us family?" She was animated once again.
Glad that his distraction had worked he replied. "A distant cousin to Jon. We share a Targaryen ancestor. No relation by blood to you, I am sorry. We just kind of have a connection through Jon. But as far as I am concerned we can be very good friends and claim we are both a part of Jon's family."
"Jon is my very best friend and I am his first cousin. I am to visit him soon. I am going to King's Landing and will be able to see him sit on the famous Iron Throne with my own eyes. Mother says he will be wearing a large crown."
"I am glad to hear that you are allowed to accompany your mother to King's Landing. In the message you brought me, Jon orders me to accompany Lady Catelyn to the capital." He smiled to himself recalling the last paragraph of Jon's letter in which Jon asked him for 'the favour' of escorting his female kin safely to King's Landing.
***
The large gates of Winterfell opened and Gendry looked around with big eyes. From a distance Winterfell had seemed impressive but so had the Red Keep. He had never set foot inside the walls of a large castle though. The most luxurious place he had visited was the villa where Princess Daenerys had lived in Pentos but that had not prepared him for the sheer size of Winterfell.
Stable boys appeared out of nowhere and took the reins of their horses. Gendry dismounted quickly but was too late to assist Arya. She already stood beside him. Servants helped him untie his small bag with personal belongings. The scroll from Jon was safely tucked beneath his belt.
An older man that Gendry surmised to be the steward due to his resemblance to young Poole bowed to Gendry. "Lord Baratheon, welcome to Winterfell. Prince Stark and his mother, Princess Catelyn Stark are ready to receive you in the Great Hall. Allow me to show you the way."
"I can do that, Poole." Arya intervened.
"You are of course welcome to join us, Princess Arya. However, I would advise you to change first." Poole said in a warm fatherly tone.
Arya made a face. "Dratt. I so wanted to see mother's face. Will you wait for me?" Her eyes looked pleadingly at Gendry. "I can be real quick."
Gendry turned to Poole to surmise what protocol dictated in such cases.
"Lord Baratheon can fill you in later, Princess. He better not make your brother wait. And might I suggest you do something about your hair as well?"
Arya touched her braids and found they were mostly undone. She turned to Gendry and all but ordered him. "Go on in then. I'll be there soon." She turned around and sprinted away entering the main building by a side door.
Poole looked a bit worried. "I apologize if the behaviour of the young Princess caused you some discomfort, my Lord. Please don't take offense."
"She was no nuisance. To the contrary, she was charming company and made a boring trip a bit livelier. Don't worry about it and don't tell on her. I sure won't." Gendry reassured the loyal man.
"Of course, my Lord. Thank you." The steward studied the young Lord with a bit more interest. "You were already acquainted with Princess Arya?"
"I had the pleasure of meeting her and Lord, I am sorry, Prince Robb Stark at the Stony Shore a couple of moons ago." Gendry had been so proud he had used the correct formal phrasing only to spoil it by forgetting that Robb was a Prince now."
"Don't worry about it, my Lord. Many of us are not entirely used to the new titles either. You might hear others make the same mistake. It is quite a change, isn't it?"
"It is indeed. When I met Jon, I mean King Aegon of course, he was posing as an small Lord from the Driftmark. We became close and now I find myself to be an intimate friend to the King of the Seven Kingdoms."
"I know what you mean. He was introduced to us as Lord Celtigar as well. We should have known though. He is the spitting image of his mother. You on the other hand have the true look of a Baratheon, if you don't mind my saying."
"The former King was my father." Gendry looked around and saw several servants were gawking at him. "Shall we go in though? I do not want to make a bad first impression by making them wait."
"Don't worry, my Lord. The King himself announced your visit. You will be treated with all the respect due to your new station." Poole appreciated the fact that the young man stayed humble and friendly instead of acting all haughty and arrogant.
They had crossed the courtyard by now and Gendry looked around once more. Suddenly he realised what he had subconsciously been searching for. "Aren't there supposed to be direwolves running around?"
"Princess Catelyn ordered them to be locked up in the pens so as not to scare you away before you had reached the main building." Poole explained. "She is not very keen on them and uses every opportunity to keep them out of her sight much to the chagrin of her children. Luckily Prince Robb can get her to see reason most of the time."
Gendry looked at him thinking of what Jon had told him about Robb's mother. Apparently Poole misinterpreted his silence when he added nervously. "Better forget what I told you just now. I overstepped."
"I didn't mind." Gendry reassured him. "I am just nervous about meeting Prince Stark's mother."
Poole nodded and they entered the building. They stopped before a large door. "Here we are, my Lord."
Gendry looked at the man and nodded. "In case I do not get the opportunity in there, thank you, Poole. It was nice meeting you."
"Likewise, my Lord." Poole made a bow visibly relieved the new High Lord had been so accommodating and signalled the guards to open the heavy doors. "Lord Gendry of House Baratheon!" Poole announced their visitor at the top of his voice.
"Gendry! Nice to see you again." Robb immediately rose from his chair and met Gendry halfway. He embraced his friend. "I'm glad you decided to come visit." Then he whispered in his ear. "I know it was not on Jon's orders as mother thinks."
"Glad to see you too, Robb." Gendry released his friend and looked nervously at Princess Catelyn of House Stark who had risen and strode towards them in a dignified manner.
He bowed. "Princess Stark, I am honoured to make your acquaintance. You have a lovely home here."
Gendry tried to stay calm under Catelyn Stark's formal look. Jon had predicted this reaction. He had told her that Robb's mother considered herself a lady of superior birth and education and that she would not allow herself to let any resentment she might harbour to shine through. She would probably not be friendly and might act rather cool and haughty. However he was sure that she would not dare to let anyone notice that she looked down on Gendry for being a former bastard from a dethroned King. She would make sure that the only reports that would reach King's Landing would mention that Princes Catelyn of House Stark had offered the royal ambassador sent by her dear nephew, King Aegon, all the courtesies due to his newly bestowed station.
"Lord Baratheon, we are honoured to receive a representative of King Aegon in our home. You are welcome to enjoy everything Winterfell has to offer. You may address me as Princess Catelyn." She held out her hand for the bastard to kiss.
Gendry nervously put his dry lips shortly on the offered palm. "I thank you, Princess Catelyn."
She nodded coldly and gestured the servants who brought salt and bread.
Gendry almost refused the food by stating that he was not hungry when he remembered in the nick of time that this was the customary offering to make clear that a visitor was under the protection of guest rights. Sweat broke out on his forehead. He hoped there were no other things he had overlooked. He really didn't want to offend his hosts. He accepted a small piece of bread.
However, the exact moment that he was about to dip it into the salt, the doors swept open and Arya burst in. Still half in a panic due to his near mistake, the commotion she made startled him and he dropped the piece of bread in the bowl with salt most certainly making the cursed thing inedible. He swallowed thickly but was saved by the fact that Princess Catelyn shifted her attention away from him to scold her daughter for her impudent manners.
"Just select another piece, Gendry." Robb tapped his shoulder reassuringly while he whispered these words in his friend's ear. "And relax. A few more moments with my mother and we can escape to my solar where we can talk in private."
Gendry nodded gratefully and plucked the small lump of bread that had salt sticking to it on all sides out of the bowl and put it to the side. He was still chewing on another piece when Princess Catelyn approached again.
"I believe you are already acquainted with my youngest daughter, Princess Arya."
Gendry put on a formal face but couldn't hide the hint of a smile in his eyes when he looked at Arya. Her eyes danced with barely contained mirth when her mother uttered the word 'Princess'. He clenched his jaw to stave off the burst of laughter that bubbled up when Arya winked. She had not exaggerated. Her mother had a very special intonation when she pronounced the new title of House Stark. He breathed through his nose and attempted to stay serious when he replied rather stately making sure to use the new title of House Stark several times in his reply.
"I already had the pleasure, Princess Catelyn. However I look forward to meeting the two younger Princes and Princess Sansa. King Aegon was so kind as to tell me about them and so was Prince Robb when I was introduced to him at the Stony Shore." He felt the sweat trickle on his forehead and prayed that Robb would tell them to adjourn to his quarters soon enough. He noticed Princess Catelyn purse her lips.
"The Princess Sansa and the Princes Bran and Rickon are with the Maester for the moment. You will be introduced to them before dinner." Her tone was not very inviting and an uncomfortable silence ensued.
Gendry coughed. "Princess Catelyn, if I may?"
"Yes, my Lord."
Her cool formal tone made Gendry even more uncertain but an encouraging look from Robb helped him gather his courage. "I uh, I just wanted to reassure you that I am not intimidated by the direwolves. You do not have to keep them locked up on my account. At the Stony Shore I met with three of them already and since then I have grown quite fond of Ghost."
"Ghost is the name of the King's direwolf." Robb quickly interrupted, noticing his mother quizzical expression. "Don't worry, I'll handle this, Mother."
Robb nodded in the direction of Poole who stood discreetly near the door at the other end of the room. The man smiled and left quickly.
"Mother, Lord Baratheon has a message from the King for me. We will retreat to my solar. I'll make sure we return well in time for dinner so you will have ample opportunity to introduce him to my other siblings."
"Robb?" Arya touched his arm, her eyes pleading with her brother.
Robb glanced toward the door to make sure that his mother was already far enough so she could not overhear them. She was indeed walking away rather swiftly. Princess Catelyn was probably glad that she no longer needed to remain in the presence of a former bastard. She had warned Robb not to be too familiar with the upstart new heir to the Stormlands. Robb however had cautioned her not to offend the legitimised Lord. In doing so they would go against the instructions of the new King. Lord Gendry of House Baratheon was a very close friend and distant cousin of King Aegon. He also was the future Lord Paramount of the Stormlands. They better pay him the respect he was due. Father would not be best pleased if his wife soured the relationship between the Stormlands and the North.
Robb leaned a bit lower and whispered to his little sister. "Give me some time with Gendry first. I'll have a servant fetch you later with some pretext."
Gendry intervened. "We don't need a pretext. I happen to have a very good reason to require her presence later. I might have brought a letter and a gift from the King for her." He thumped his head and frowned suddenly. "I'd have to check though. I remember when I bought those new clothes that I had trouble fitting everything in my saddle bag. I might have left her gift at the Last Hearth." The mirth in his eyes and his broad grin betrayed him though.
Arya was about to burst out or squeal in delight but Robb put his fingers to his lips to signal that she should keep silent. "Don't alert your mother." He whispered.
Arya nodded, stood on her toes and kissed her brother's cheek. "You two are the best. After Jon of course," she added hastily and let her brother leave with Gendry without further protest.
"I am sorry if my sister bothered you. I heard she sneaked out again." Robb looked at his friend while they walked towards the solar.
Gendry smiled. "Why do people keep saying that? I enjoy her liveliness. She makes things interesting, I mean not boring, I mean uh."
"Stop being nervous, Gendry. I know what you mean." He opened the door to the solar and let his guest enter first. "Look carefully, Gendry." Robb closed the door with an exaggerated gesture. "See that. It is just the two of us now."
Robb gave the example by relaxing his stance. "Gods I am ever so glad to see you. It has been rather boring here lately. At least the times I was not in the company of my younger sister." He smiled teasingly at Gendry when he added that last bit.
Gendry's eyes took in every detail of the stately room. His eyes lingered on the cosy chairs near the fire.
"Go on, take a seat." Robb offered. "I am just fetching a pitcher of ale. Or do you prefer wine?"
"Ale, please." Gendry folded his hands in his lap and continued to study his environment. "You have a lovely home, Robb."
"Thank you. I know I am blessed. Now tell me how are you doing?" He offered Gendry a pint of ale.
Gendry took it and immediately drank half of it. "Better now," Gendry smiled. "Gods this is fine ale."
"Home made." Robb answered proudly. "You did well back there, Gendry. You look the part too."
"I had help and got lots of advice. The formal words sound weird coming out of my mouth though." He admitted. "It all feels rather strange actually. For all I am some important Lord now, I still feel like a blacksmith. Luckily Jon told me he will still have need of my skills in the forge. I wouldn't want to give it up."
"And of course, you will obey your King." Robb's seemed tense all of a sudden.
Gendry looked at him strangely. "Of course I will help my 'friend'. And I am glad I can make myself useful that way at least. I am a rather skilled blacksmith and I enjoy creating things."
"I'm sorry. That was uncalled for." Now it was Robb that looked a little uneasy.
Gendry leaned a bit closer to Robb. "Nothing to be sorry about. How are you doing, Robb? Except for being a bit lonely the times that Arya is not shaking thing up. Are you coping with all your duties?"
"I am getting the hang of it. It was difficult at first though. I freely admit that to you but don't go repeating that to anyone. Certainly not to Jon." Robb stressed that last part.
"I won't if you ask me not to." Gendry answer was a simple and forthright. "I am aware that I will need to learn a lot from Lord Renly Baratheon if I am ever to rule the Stormlands."
"I can teach you a few things if you want." Robb offered. "How long are you staying?"
"A sennight at the most. I am here to issue the formal written invitation from King Aegon to your mother and siblings. Jon also wants me to escort them on their journey. A royal letter to confirm all this was included in the scroll the outriders handed to me."
"I don't know if that is a good idea." Robb remarked a big frown had appeared on his forehead.
Gendry's face fell. "Because I will not always know how to act as a real Lord and your mother will feel insulted?"
"Gendry, you are a real Lord now and you act just fine. It is just, no matter how hard you try, my mother will never treat you as an equal because of your origins. She was raised by Septas you see. The Faith of the Seven looks down on bastards." Robb explained patiently.
"But almost everyone in the South worships the Seven." Gendry looked panicked now.
"Southern Lords also are very protective of their status. You only need to mention you are a cousin and intimate friend of the King. Emphasize that you have been a part of his inner circle long before he became King and they will all want to befriend you."
"But these same arguments will not sway your Lady Mother?"
Robb looked thoughtful. "Actually they might if we go about it the right way. We'll combine forces and make mention of King Aegon every time you feel she wants to snub you. Stress what intimate friends you and Jon are. Drop a few times that you have his ear. Mention that he addresses you as cousin and considers you a part of his small Targaryen family. I will do the same at every opportunity."
Gendry looked uncertain.
"These are not a lies, Gendry. Use the truth to your advantage. You said yourself that Jon has need of your skills. But do not mention you are a blacksmith to mother." He raised his tanker, drank deeply and placed it on the table with an exaggerated gesture to make it obvious that it was empty. He encouraged Gendry to do the same. Then he proceeded to fill both tankers again. "Now let's see, a sennight for me to enjoy your company. We must organise a hunt. You will of course join me in the training yard. What else can we do?"
"Tour the castle, visit the Godswood and allow me some time in the forge when your mother is least likely to notice?" Gendry offered shyly.
"Of course. We can explore the environment as well and visit Winter Town."
"Yes, I will need to visit Winter Town at the first opportunity. I plan to buy some new clothes. I only have this one outfit that is decent enough for a Lord."
"Well then Winter Town tomorrow and a hunt in three days' time. I will need to organize a larger escort for that."
Gendry studied Robb closely now. Except for the tiny part of his finger that was missing he saw nothing out of the ordinary. There were no dark circles under his eyes, no visible bandages although he could not be sure about that because the cold weather called for long sleeves. Robb looked lively enough. "How is your arm, Robb?"
"The Maester has allowed me to resume training. It is frustrating though. The long period of inactivity has apparently made the muscles in my arms non-existent. And it takes time to remedy that. The scars are ugly but they are proof that I survived and am the stronger for it."
Gendry saw the determined look in Robb's eyes. "You look strong, Robb. I am glad." He hesitated not knowing if it was polite to enquire after the scars.
"What is it, Gendry?" Robb was grateful for the young man's company. In Gendry's presence he felt like a protective older brother. Gendry needed his guidance. It felt good to have a purpose, to feel useful.
Gendry gathered his courage and spoke up. "Your scars, do they hurt? Can you describe them to me?"
"You want to see them?" Robb asked softly. Curiosity was better than pity.
"Only if you are willing. I apologise but you see I never, I have never..." Gendry stammered.
"It's okay, Gendry. I'll reveal just a small part. You are not the first to ask and you will not be the last either. Somehow I am glad you asked. I can't explain exactly why your interest touches me. When others ask, I find myself getting irritated."
He carefully rolled up his sleeve a few inches and then lifted the thin bandages. Angry red lines formed an orderly pattern of rectangles. Not a single patch of rosy skin remained though. Thick crusts and strange looking raw red flesh made up the rest of the area Robb had revealed.
"I am so sorry Robb. Not for how it looks, but for the pain you must have endured when he, when he…" Gendry looked away. His eyes turned back to Robb's face when his friend spoke the f-word.
"Flayed me? It is okay. It took me a while to be able to say it out loud as well. Maester Luwin has been instrumental in helping me talk about it." Robb had no trouble looking Gendry in the eye.
"I am glad for that, Robb. And if there is any way I can help while I am here, just say the word. I am at your disposal."
"Just keep me company as much as you can. Soon everyone is going south and I will be stuck in the North being the Stark that has to remain in Winterfell." Robb's expression darkened a bit.
"Your turn will come I am sure. Your father will return to Winterfell and then it will be your turn to travel to King's Landing. And when you do, we will all be there and can sneak into a room, the five of us and have lots of fun."
"You forget that Jon will be married by then." Again Robb's tone changed when he mentioned Jon.
"Jon told me that when we meet in private everything will still be the same and that he looks forward to our reunion, of all five of us. I am sure that Princess Daenerys will spare him for an evening. He can always return to her side afterwards."
"I guess." Rob sighed. "You have met her in Pentos. What is she like?"
"Young, beautiful and kind, I guess. I didn't see much of her but she didn't strike me as a stuck up royal. She was nice to me and you must keep in mind that when I met her, I was just an insignificant bastard who happened to travel with a few Lords."
"Do you think I will like her?" Robb looked doubtful which Gendry really didn't understand.
"You should ask Jon that but as far as I understand, she was nice to me because Jon introduced me as a good friend. She will certainly try to befriend you. You are not merely his friend. Jon considers you the brother he never had. Don't worry, Robb."
Robb kept his doubts for himself for now and walked to the door. "The sun will be setting soon. I will let the servant fetch Arya. When he returned from a quick talk with a servant in the hallway he asked, 'Do you really have another present for her?"
"I do. Dragonglass daggers for all of you, customized with the Stark sigil."
"Don't show mother yet. Let me prepare her first. She wasn't happy when Arya came home with her sword."
"Well these daggers are a present from his royal Highness, the esteemed King Aegon, the Sixth of his name. You can't refuse such a thoughtful royal gift." Gendry said in an imperious manner. Both young men laughed out loud at the exaggerate speech.
Arya stood still in the doorway with Greywind and Nymeria by her side. The three of them watched both men with big eyes. Her brother was laughing freely with Gendry. It had been a long time since she had seen her brother this carefree and heard him laugh out loud. Gendry rose even higher in her esteem. After supper, she would write a short message to Jon. He would be very relieved to learn that Robb was doing so much better.
***