Chapter Text
"You should practice more with your right hand"
"I'm left-handed" Arya spat "I can't do anything about it"
That day training had been more tiring than usual and she was exhausted. She didn't feel like listening to Syrio's complaints.
He simply shook his head, taking a step forward and raising his wooden sword again.
A cough came from behind them and they turned.
Her Father was standing in the doorway, his hands behind his back and a boy by his side.
"My Lord" Syrio bowed.
Lord Eddard came down the stairs and gestured for the boy to follow him.
Arya studied him.
He was tall and had big arms. He kept his gaze fixed on the ground but she could see bright blue eyes hidden beneath thick black locks of hair that fell on his forehead.
"This is Gendry" her Father announced "He's going to be my protegee from now on. Syrio, if you could, I'd like you to train him along with my daughter"
Arya made a face at him "I thought these lessons were for me" she protested.
Her Father glared at her, clearly disappointed in her rudeness. Her Mother would have already pulled at her ears to punish her.
"Nobody's taking away your lessons, child" he said, his voice deep "But the boy will be training with you and attending the same lessons as you and your sister. I don't want to hear any complaints on the matter"
Arya looked down, embarrassed.
"It would be my pleasure, Lord Stark"
She didn't look up but she heard her Father excuse himself and leave the courtyard.
"I'll go fetch another sword for you, boy" Syrio said "Wait here, both of you"
When his footsteps could no longer be heard she looked up.
The boy was watching her with squinted eyes.
"I'm sorry if my presence bothers you, m'lady" he said.
His words sounded sincere, but she could sense a bit of anoyance in his voice.
Arya bit her tongue.
"I'm not a Lady, don't call me that" she hissed.
He frowned "But you're a Lord's daughter and-"
"I said I'm not a Lady" she repeated.
He blinked, clearly taken aback by her behavior. He tilted his head to the side, watching her from head to toe with a curious expression.
"I'm sorry" she said shyly "Your presence doesn't bother me, I'm just very jealous of my sword fighting lessons"
She extended her hand, biting her lip.
"I'm Arya"
The boy looked at her hand with a torn expression.
"You're supposed to shake it" she said, almost impatiently.
"That's not how I was taught to interact with high born ladies" he said in a low voice.
She was about to correct him again and say she wasn't a lady when she realized it.
He wasn't a high born like her.
She felt bad for treating him coldly. He'd probably been treated like that by nobles his whole life and she had been no better than the people she despised so much.
She wanted to slap herself.
"You're low born" she whispered.
He nodded, looking down.
"Armorer's apprentice" he explained "But your Lord Father insisted that I should be under his wing"
"Why?" she asked.
He shrugged "I don't know, m'lady. He didn't tell me the reason"
"I told you not to call me m'lady"
He sighed, rolling his eyes.
She raised a brow at him, looking down at her still extended hand.
Uncertain, he slowly took it and shook it.
"My name is Gendry" he said.
She smiled faintly at him.
"We started on the wrong terms, I'm sorry" she said "We'd better try to get along if we're going to spend most of our time together"
He looked a bit wary and guarded but she could understand why. Surely nobles like her weren't very trustworthy in his eyes.
In that moment, Arya decided she would make him change his mind and make him see just how different she was from them.
Despite his suspiscious look, he smiled back at her.
"Yes, I guess we should try"