A Proposal Refused

The war was finally over, the Night King's army defeated, and the realm was at peace. Arya Stark, once a faceless assassin, had played a crucial role in the Great War, killing the Night King himself. As she walked away from the ruins of King's Landing, she felt a sense of relief wash over her. But it was short-lived. Gendry, the blacksmith who had captured her heart, approached her, his eyes filled with emotion. "Arya, from the moment I met you in Braavos, I knew you were different," Gendry said, his voice trembling. "You're strong, brave, and beautiful. I want to spend the rest of my life with you." Arya's heart skipped a beat as she looked at Gendry. She had grown to love him, to cherish the quiet moments they shared, the laughter, and the adventures. But she couldn't shake off the feeling that she wasn't free. Her vendetta against Cersei still lingered, a burning fire that needed to be quenched. "Gendry, I...I appreciate your proposal," Arya said, her voice soft but firm. "But I have to go after Cersei. I have to make sure she's punished for what she's done." Gendry's face fell, but he understood. He knew Arya's motivations, knew that she couldn't just walk away from her quest for revenge. He nodded, though his eyes betrayed his hurt. "I understand, Arya," Gendry said. "I'll always be here for you, no matter what. But know this: I'll be waiting for you, whenever you're ready to leave the killing behind." Arya smiled, a pang of sadness in her chest. She knew that she might not be able to come back to Gendry, that her path was fraught with danger, and that she might not survive. But she also knew that she had to try. As they parted ways, Arya felt a sense of loss, but she steeled herself for the journey ahead. She had a goal in sight, and nothing was going to stop her. Gendry, on the other hand, watched her go, his heart heavy with sorrow. He knew that he had to give Arya the space she needed, but he couldn't help but feel that he'd lost the love of his life. Months went by, and Arya disappeared into the shadows, her quest for revenge her only focus. Gendry, meanwhile, returned to Storm's End, where he threw himself into his work as a blacksmith. He crafted beautiful pieces, intricate and deadly, but his heart wasn't in it. He was just going through the motions, trying to distract himself from the ache in his chest. As the days turned into weeks, Gendry couldn't shake off the feeling that he'd lost Arya forever. He wondered if he'd ever see her again, if she'd ever come back to him. The thought haunted him, but he held onto hope, a glimmer of light in the darkness. Little did he know, fate had other plans. Arya's journey was about to take a drastic turn, one that would lead her back to Storm's End, and to the arms of the blacksmith who had captured her heart.