**Chapter 7: Fractured Trust**

As the days turned into weeks, Arya's physical health continued to improve, but the emotional scars of her ordeal still lingered. Gendry remained by her side, offering a gentle presence and a listening ear, but she still struggled to open up to him. The memories of Cersei's henchmen haunted her, and she couldn't shake the feeling of being a victim, of being powerless. One evening, as they sat together in the great hall, Gendry began to tell her about his own experiences during the war. He spoke of the battles he had fought, of the friends he had lost, and of the struggles he had faced as a blacksmith. Arya listened intently, her eyes fixed on his face, and for the first time, she saw a glimmer of the man he had been before the war. As Gendry spoke, Arya found herself drawn to him, to the kindness and compassion that radiated from him. She began to see him in a different light, as a man who had been through his own struggles and had come out stronger on the other side. But despite her growing feelings for him, she still couldn't bring herself to trust him fully. Gendry, sensing her hesitation, didn't push her. He knew that trust had to be earned, and he was willing to wait for her to come to him. Instead, he shared more stories about his past, about his family and his friends, and Arya listened, her heart slowly opening to him. As the evening wore on, Arya began to share her own stories, about her life in Winterfell, about her family and her friends. Gendry listened intently, his eyes never leaving hers, and Arya felt a sense of connection that she hadn't felt in a long time. But just as she was starting to open up, a memory would flash into her mind, a memory of Cersei's henchmen, of the pain and the fear they had inflicted on her. She would flinch, her eyes would cloud over, and Gendry would know that she was struggling. He would pull her close, holding her tightly as she trembled, and Arya would feel a sense of safety, of security. She knew that she was in his care, that he would protect her from harm, and slowly but surely, she began to trust him. As the night drew to a close, Gendry walked Arya back to his chambers, his arm around her waist. She didn't resist, didn't pull away, and Gendry knew that she was starting to accept him, to accept his care and his concern. As they stood outside his door, Gendry looked down at her, his eyes searching hers. "Arya," he whispered, his voice soft. "I'm here for you. I'll always be here for you." Arya's eyes met his, and for a moment, Gendry thought he saw a glimmer of something, of a connection, of a spark of attraction. But then, her eyes clouded over, and she looked away. Gendry didn't push her. He knew that she needed time, that she needed to heal at her own pace. But he also knew that he would be there for her, waiting for her, no matter how long it took. As he opened the door and led her inside, Arya felt a sense of relief, of safety. She knew that she was in his care, that he would protect her from harm, and for the first time in a long time, she felt like she could finally start to heal.