Aris hungrily ate her warm stew with a piece of bread on the side. She didn't take anytime to breath as she scoffed down the Inn food. Aris wasn't sure she's ever felt this hungry before. But here she sat squashed between Gendry and HotPie at a table in a Inn with three of the Brotherhood men on the other side of the table.
"Slow down." said Gendry with a chuckle.
Aris paused for a moment as she chewed the bread inside her mouth. She eyes Gendry before returning back to her stew.
"I never liked the skinny ones." Thoros rambled. "It's like drinking from a puddle. Not that I'm adversed from drinking from a puddle every now and again."
Thoros poured Arya a cup of Ale. "I don't drink ale." she informed.
"There's no story so good a drink won't make it better." explained Thoros with his own mug. "You see? They all suffered through my pats of sobriety, it's very mischievous for all concern. Now, how did three children..."
"We're not children." Arya stated firmly at the end of the table.
"How did three young persons such as yourselves, untrained in the art of war, escape from Harrenhal?"
"Gendry's a Smith." Arya informed. "He was an apprentice in the armoury."
"A Smith, ey?" Thoros questioned. "Where'd you train?"
Gendry looked to Aris wondering if it was a good idea to tell him. Aris returned his silent questioned with a shrug. "Kings Landing." replied Gendry. "Tobo mugshot."
"That criminal!" Thoros exclaimed. "He charges twice as much as every other armoury in the city."
"That's because he's twice as good."
"Aha!" Thoros laughed pointing a finger at the smith. "A Smith and a salesmen."
"Gendry stole his weapons." informed Arya.
"Ah? fortuares of Harrenhal, I see."
"He knows how to use his sword and so do I." said Arya. The men around all laughed loudly, it was unheard of that a little lady learnt to wield a sword. "My brothers taught me."
The men laughed louder. This angered Arya so she stood up and pulled her sword on Thoros. All the men in the Inn howled at the motioned. Aris looked between Arya and Thoros, wondering what he'd do or if she had to step in.
Thoros drew his sword with speed and twisted Arya's sword from her hands and she stumbled back as her sword clanked to the floor. Surprise struck her face, he could move so fast and with agility.
Thoros picked up a drink as the men all cheered. "To your brothers!" Aris chuckled lightly to herself. Arya picked her sword back up and sat back at the table.
"You can finish your meals before you go." Thoros informed. "It may be awhile before you see another."
"You'll free us?" Aris questioned.
"I give you my word." replied Thoros.
Arya stood up to usher HotPie up, followed by Aris who had already finished her meal and then Gendry. HotPie tried to take as much as he could fit in his hands. Thoros rose with them and raised a cup, "But before you go, allow me to raise a cup to..."
Anguy then returned howling as he came into the Inn with a few others who brought back a rather large person tied up with a sack over his head. All the men in the Inn cheered at the sight of the person they captured.
"That is a rather uncommonly large person," said Thoros approaching. "How does one manage to seduce an uncommonly large person?"
"One way is to let him drink till' he passes out." said Anguy.
"Poor man. You have my sympathy." Thoros ripped off the sack from the person's head to reveal half his burnt face. Arya and Aris recognised him as the Hound and both turned away in fear of being recognised, they casted each other a look.
"Aha!" Thoros announced. "Not a man at all, but a Hound!" The men all barked and howled in response. "So good to see you again, Clegane."
"Thoros." replied Sandor Clegane. "The fuck you doing here?"
"Drinking and talking too much, same as all."
Aris pushed HotPie forward motioning for him to move. Aris stepped out and allowed Gendry before her, she held an arm around Arya and walked beside her, using her body to block Arya from The Hounds view.
"A pretty prize, lads!" Thoros announced.
As Aris and Arya passed the Hound, he recognised the Stark archer and the little girl beside her. "Girl!" he called. Both came to a stop.
"What in seven hells are you doing with the Stark bitches."
➵
Aris angrily carved into the wood of her bow, creating Celtic patterns with the blade of her dagger. She was angry at The Hound, angry at Thoros for not letting them leave, angry at Gendry for willing to help the Brotherhood.
"If I had a proper forge I could make it good as new." said Gendry tying a plated chest armour to Thoros.
"I don't need it to look pretty, just need it to keep the arrows out of my heart."
"Why are you helping them?" Arya asked, also angry with Gendry. "He takes us prisoner and now he's our friend?"
"You're not our prisoner little Lady." Thoros replied.
"What am I?"
"A guest. Or i'd put chains on you."
"So I can walk away?"
"These woods aren't safe for Ned Stark's daughters. You're lucky we found you."
Arya jumped off the barrel she was sitting on and marched away. Aris' eyes followed her as she walked around the inn where Anguy and The Hound argued.
"What about you Lady Stark?" Thoros asked capturing her attention.
"Don't call me that."
"What are you doing all the way out here?"
"Obviously going home." she stopped carving the wood of her bow as Gendry strolled past towards Arya to pack his things.
"You any good at that bow?"
"The best in the North."
Thoros chuckled. "I'd say just as good as Anguy?"
Aris looked over her shoulder as Anguy put a sack of The Hounds head and escorted him into a cart, hitting his head on the top of the canopy on the way in. She sighed and strutted towards Arya who watched the cart ride off with The Hound. She knew Arya hated him for what he did to her friend on they're way to Kings Landing.
"He'll get what's coming to him."
Arya remained silent. She was angry. She had every right to be. Gendry followed in pursuit, rolling up what belonging they had in a bag on the ground at Aris' feet. Aris noticed Hot Pie approach with nothing packed.
"What are you doing?" Arya asked as HotPie as he approached. "We're about to leave."
"I'm staying." he said firmly.
Aris raised her eyebrows. Gendry stopped, "You're what?" he stood up.
"I baked some brown bread for the Inn Keep, she said she never had better. Told Thoros she'd keep me as payment for the free meals she's given. Anyway, it's not me the Brotherhood wants. My brother aint no king, I'm not a Stark of Winterhel."
"Winterfell." Arya corrected.
"You sure?"
"I'm sure."
"I made you something." HotPie handed Arya a baked... shape?
"What is it?" Arya asked just as confused.
"A wolf."
Arya casted Aris a glance to find she was smiling. HotPie looked at Aris and Gendry wondering if they were making fun of him. "Yes it is." said Gendry.
"That's the tail?" Arya gestured to a very fat tail.
"Yeah..."
"Well, be safe." said Gendry.
"Yeah, you too. Don't get stabbed."
"You don't... burn your fingers."
Aris snorted at his remark as Gendry awkwardly patted him on the shoulder and picked up his things to follow the Brotherhood.
"You're safer here than with us." said Aris. "Stay out of trouble."
"I'll miss you." he said.
"Goodbye." Aris saluted and followed after Gendry. She found him waiting by a horse.
"Do I get a horse?" she asked.
"Sorry, m'lady. We've got none to spare." Thoros said. "You can ride with him."
Gendry looked at Aris with amusement. He could tell by the look on her face she wanted her own horse. He mounted the horse first and extended his hand to her.
Aris huffed and slung her bow around her body, she took Gendry's rough hand and used the stirrup to hoist herself up on the saddle behind him and wrapped her arms around his torso feeling him tense under her touch.
Arya was then helped up onto the horse saddle behind Thoros and they were on the move. Arya took a bite of the wolf HotPie baked for her and yelled back.
"Hey, HotPie! It's really good!"