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Arya's New Guard

   Gendry sucked in a heaving breath. Ned looked their way and put a hand to his forehead as Sansa gave a disapproving look. Arya's face was as red as scarlet, and Gendry's was the shade of deep crimson. He embarrassed himself enough on a daily basis, but this took the cake. He had never felt more awkward in his pitiful life.
  A loud cough sounded from the iron throne, followed by a booming "Carry on!" With a waving hand from Robert.
  Everyone went back to scurrying and speaking about themselves. Gendry gulped as King Robert made his way towards them. "What is this?" Robert asked, gesturing towards the two wet rats.
  "I think I can handle this." Ned said, a meek smile on his face as Robert nodded. He stuck around in the background, though. He knew he had some part to play in this show. Sansa bowed to her king as they entered light conversation.
  "Arya." Ned said in a warning tone. "What is this?" He asked, repeating the same words as Robert in the same tone, only his voice was softer. "Father, please. Let me explain." Arya pleaded. Gendry closed his eyes tight. He couldn't rid the lump in his throat, no matter what he did.
  "I couldn't sleep so I headed to the docks. I like to go there when sleep doesn't come easy, it clears my mind." Arya said quietly, almost as if she way shy. Ned remembered when he was a boy. When he couldn't sleep, he would walk the porches of the castle. The snow would kiss his face tenderly, almost as a welcome. He understood Arya perfectly, only he wished she found comfort in the cold rather than the waves.
  "When the storm sounded, I got scared. I started running towards the castle, but I got lost in all of the commotion." Arya hated sounding like a scared little sheep. She had to make her friend out to be even more a hero than he already was, though.
  "Then, as I was running, I fell in the mud," That part was most definitely true, and Ned could tell from her mud-stained silk nightgown.
   "I couldn't get back up, I was too deep in the mud and the rain was only making matters worse!" Arya cried out through the castle, a few nearby heads turning to look. "I was starting to lose hope. That is until Gendry here," she motioned towards Gendry, pushing him forward a bit. "M'Lord" he spoke softly through gritted teeth. "He brought me to my feet just as a wave was going to crash over me and take your youngest daughter to live with the fishes!" Ned couldn't help but smile. He also couldn't help but think the story to be a lie. He knew how strong Arya was, she could get out of the mud herself.
  "He swooped me up over my shoulder, and I told him how to get to the tunnels!" Arya whispered the second part. Ned's thin brow furrowed. "The tunnels?" He asked, concerned. "Yes, the tunnels. Please father, speak no word of this, but I found them while chasing cats like Syrio. I noticed they led to the docks.. And.." Ned put a hand up as to stop her. "I knew about the tunnels. I just.. Didn't expect you to know, that's all." Arya couldn't tell if her father was fibbing, but she decided to believe him. She was tired of speaking of the dreadful night, anyways.
   Ned looked at Gendry. His long hair was stuck to his forehead by rainwater, his blue eyes seemed to have sorrow inside of them. His large arms were crossed around his body as if he was cold, and he was looking down at the gorgeous tile as Arya and Ned spoke.
  Ned knew Gendry was Roberts's son. There was no doubt about it. The stubbornness, the same blue eyes.. The only difference was the weight. When Robert was younger, he was nearly the spitting image of Gendry.
   "Let me have word with Robert.. And fear not, son. The worst that'll happen to ya is going back out in the storm.. And I'll try everything in my power to make sure that doesn't happen tonight." Gendry looked up towards him, and suddenly he couldn't help a grin. Once he saw Ned smiling, he smiled too. "Thank you, m'lord." Ned nodded as he walked towards Robert and Sansa.
  "I told you." Arya smirked as he looked down at her. He noticed the sea had soaked Arya's dress, her small breasts obviously budding through the sticky fabric. "You'd think we'd get to change or something." Arya said as she picked the tight silk away from her skin. Gendry looked up from the dress. Who knew he could become any more red?
  Arya and Gendry sat for many minutes. A while ago, Robert and Ned disappeared. This led Arya and Gendry vulnerable and alone. They sat awkwardly in silence, both pondering over what was going to happen. As Arya opened her mouth to fill the silence, it seemed she didn't have to. Sansa came strolling over in her beautiful gown, done up hair, and complimenting blush. Arya looked down at herself in her soggy night dress, bare feet, and slicked hair. She rolled her eyes and sighed deeply as Sansa approached.
  "M'lady." Gendry was quick to note, obviously irritating Arya. Sansa smiled, but it was more devious than genuine. "Are you Gendry?" Sansa asked sweetly. Arya's eyes widened as she looked up at Sansa. "That's me.. I'm sorry m'lady, but I'm surprised you recognize my name?" He asked, almost as a question. Before Sansa could speak again, Arya spoke up. "Yes. She does. Um, she wanted to know who I got my sword from.. She quite admired it. I told her you forged it." Sansa looked at Arya and cocked a brow. Arya knew Gendry would never believe her words. She'd told him too much about Sansa for him to think she would admire a sword. "Why, thank you m'lady." Gendry looked at the ground. Sansa rolled her eyes, and was quick to bud into Arya's embarrassment. "Arya, look!" Sansa tugged Arya's arm. "Look, its Tommen Baratheon." Arya looked the way Sansa was so gracefully gesturing. Tommen sat with his sister, Marcella, and they seemed to be playing some silly sort of game. They were both laughing and smiling, happy as some doves. This surprised Arya, for even she was a bit frightened from the storm that rage on outside. Perhaps they knew they were safe inside the sturdy Keep.
  "Why don't you go talk to him?" Sansa asked so sweetly it gave Arya a toothache. "No." Arya said disgusted. Gendry, who was still looking at the floor, fought back a laugh. He hadn't grown up with siblings, and how different these two were made him hysterical inside. "Why don't you?" Arya started. Sansa tore her attention from Tommen. "Why don't I what?" Sansa asked, confused. "Why, I think it was be splendid if you went and talked to Tommen! Then you can have both the Lannister boys! I bet Ser Jaime is next, watch out!" Arya chirped in her highest, most Sansa-mocking voice she could manage. Sansa's face turned scarlet as she stomped away, angry as a bull.
  When Sansa was gone, Gendry let out a loud laugh. Again, a few people in the castle turned to look at him, for he had a Flea Bottom laugh, not a pleasant cackle.
  After hearing Gendry's laugh, Arya couldn't help but laugh, too. There they were. Some lowborn fool and Arya Stark sharing a laugh, leaning on each other for support of their aching bellies. It was a sight many hadn't thought they'd ever see, but there they were. A few people began laughing, too. The sight was just so odd. Soon the entire Keep was laughing, even Sansa. You could even catch Cersei smirking a bit, trying to stifle a giggle. Had Gendry won their hearts or were they just poking fun at him?
  Not much later after, both Robert and Ned returned. "Your Grace. M'lord." Gendry smiled a shy smile. "Father, your Grace." Arya repeated as she bowed in his presence. Somehow she held a beautiful curtesy. Perhaps it was the strength in her back from all the training. The men nodded their way. Robert was red in the face, as was Ned. Arya hoped on everything they hadn't fought, but after Ned started smiling, she knew they most likely just had friendly conversation.
  "Gendry Waters," Robert began. "I have the pleasure of assigning you Arya Stark's personal royal guard." Robert didn't sound too enthusiastic about welcoming such a lowborn boy into his castle, but he wouldn't have done it unless he didn't know he was his father; According to Ned.
  As Robert looked at Gendry, he could tell, though, he was in fact his. Gendry looked up to meet the eyes of Robert, the same colors as his. "I..Accept." Robert looked at Ned mercifully. Ned just smiled at Robert and nodded, who shrugged and returned a smile. Robert stuck his large hand out, and as Gendry strongly took it, their hands fit together perfectly.
   The men talked for a while, Gendry being Robert's son never came into mention, but Ned could tell there could be a possible bond between them.
   Later, when the storm began to pass and people started shuffling out the doors, Arya turned to Gendry. "You're going to be my "personal guard"?" She asked wearily. "I guess so. I don't know much about guarding anyone's life, though." Arya made a sickly face, yet she was hiding back a smile of excitement. "I don't need a guard." Arya looked up at Gendry, still in the same blue silk dress. "Trust me, I know it." Together they smiled as they made their way up towards Arya's chambers. She told him she just had to get out of the still wet dress, and Gendry had to be fit for his armor. He didn't want to leave the forge behind, yet he was willing to for Arya. Besides, how many Flea Bottom citizens have the chance of becoming a guard for a beautiful princess such as she?
This would be interesting.

Really fast A/N!!
Trust me! I know! It's sooo far fetched, but I was sorta at a loss! I hope you like it anyway, I think I could make it work in a way that might seem at least a little more realistic?
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Sadie