Chapter Text
It was Robb’s stupid cock that inadvertently united the last of the Seven Kingdoms by marriage. Arya had been walking behind Clegane and Dacey up the Serpentine Steps when her brother appeared naked as his name day and running as if the Others were after him.
“Excuse me!” he cried as he pushed through the trio and continued out of sight around a twist in the stairs.
A heart beat later Ser Loras appeared; his face was red and murder flashed in his eyes.
“My brother in arms, I beg of you to assist me in apprehending the man who besmirched my sister’s honor!”
Dacey and Clegane stared at Loras for a moment before bursting out in harsh laughter.
“You’re barking up the wrong dog, ser,” Dacey chortled. “Have you forgotten how Lady Sansa’s honor faired around your brother at arms?”
Ser Loras’s face twisted in rage and he let out a cry of frustration before knocking them aside and chasing after Robb (who by the sounds of shrieks echoing up the steps had made it to the courtyard).
“Was that necessary she-bear?” Clegane asked as he and Dacey continued up the stairs.
Dacey snicked. “Do not pretend you never had moments were you had to dodge people who would be very unpleasant if they knew what kind of honor besmirching activities you and your lady wife got up to.”
“I assure you, we took the utmost care to guarantee that no such incident would occur,” Clegane stated simply before pausing and adding, “Except for that time I had to hide in her wardrobe.”
Arya joined in Dacey’s mirth.
“Myrish lace is incredibly itchy, I will never understand how those ladies wear that shite,” Clegane stated thoughtfully.
***
And so it came pass that a moon turns later Robb Stark married Margaery Tyrell in the Great Sept of Baelor.
The High Septan had found an ancient law that allowed him to annuel Robb’s marriage to Jeyne Westerling. Arya was pretty sure the custom dated all the way back to the time Olena Tyrell handed the High Septan a huge sack of gold and told him to make it so.
Fifty grand ship sailed from Kingslanding to White Harbor a week later. Amongst the fleet where warships taken from the Ironborn and restyled with green and gold sails. Others where carrying fruits, vegetables, seeds as well as craftsmen and building materials to rebuild Winterfell. The Tyrells were particularly interested in the design of a grand glass garden. They had petitioned The dragon queen to bring over Myrish glass workers and Steelworkers from Dorne to build the largest indoor grow house in the world.
Clegane disclosed to Arya that she believed the grand structure would be built more to keep the southern Flower warm than to feed the masses.
Even with all the pomp and luxury the Reach’s newly out fitted ships could bestow upon Robb’s new bride she and Sansa were sick everyday from the moment they set sail on Blackwater Bay.
On the third day Clegane’s shadow blocked out the sun where Arya and Gendry had found a spot amongst the rigging for themselves.
Minisa was sitting on his hip clutching at his tunic as the deck rolled beneath him. He tossed a bag of herbs in her direction and snarled; “Do us all a favor and find a woods witch who has more of this when we get to Wintertown.”
Clegane then turned on his heel and stomped off. Minisa waved at them from over his shoulder and yelled “Bye bye Aunt Arya!”
Gendry tossed the moon tea from one hand to the other.
“Mayhaps you should have told him how I secured you and your sister and Lady Dacey plenty of this stuff through some new friends in Kingslanding,” he smirked.
Arya smiled at him over her shoulder; “And we are eternally grateful. But never call Dacey Mormont “Lady” to her face unless you want a boot to the balls.”
“Do you think your sister is with child again?” Gendry asked as he pulled his tunic back over his head and leaned back against a coil of hemp rope.
Arya shrugged. “The way she and Clegane carry on I wouldn’t be surprised.”
She snuggled against him, laying her head on his chest. “I’m positive Margaery is. I think Robb is scared it was his fault Jeyne’s belly never swelled and from the noise coming from their cabin he’s trying to prove himself ….” A thought passed through her head making her shiver all over.
Clegane’s voice came to her from long ago; You had a wife, two living brothers and an uncle when we wed!
“What’s wrong?” Gendry sat up nearly knocking her on the deck.
Arya sat up with wide eyes.
“I don’t matter anymore!” she whispered. “Robb’s married and his wife will bare him sons, Rickon is alive and could marry in five years. Sansa is married and apparently giving Clegane a litter…..” She leaned closer to Gendry; “Dorne is married to the Reach, The Reach is married to the North, the North is married to the Westerlands, the Westerlands are ruled by the Hand of the Queen, and the lord of the Eyrie will be soon be fostered in the Riverlands.”
Gendry curled his lip; “Huh?”
“That’s why Olenna wanted you to become Lord of Storm's End and us to marry!” Arya laughed. “Then the whole kingdom would be related in case the Queen decided to do something they didn’t like. Daenerys would have to face the entire land, not just one part.”
Gendry rolled his eyes. “I told you, I don’t give a fiddler’s fart about being a lord.”
Arya tweaked his nose. “Exactly. And I don’t have to be a lady anymore if I chose not to.”
"How so?" Gendry asked rubbing his nose.
“If anything happens to Robb, his children with Margaery will be Lords of Winterfell. If anything happens to them, Rickon’s family will take over. If anything happens to them, Sansa’s children will become Lords of Winterfell. And nothing is going to happen to Sansa or her children, Clegane wont allow it. Therefore anything I do doesn't matter. I'm the least of the line and can do what I wish!”
Gendry shrugged. Arya laid against him once more and signed contently, satisfied in the knowledge that she was getting what she wanted and no one could take it away.
Gendry smoothed her hair and spoke; “I think I’m learning to keep up with this highborn scheming. So I have to ask, wouldn’t it make sense to marry you to that little boy from the Eyrie?”
Arya’s eyes flew wide. She reached under his shirt to pinch his nipple and twisted till he shrieked.