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Autumn around Winterfell was an explosion of colours. The tree tops and bushes ranged from numerous nuances of green to yellow, golden, brown, red and even rosy and purplish. It was breathtaking to stare at. The snow hadn't covered the whole landscape in white yet. It was just a thin layer that melted mostly in the midday sun. In a matter of a few weeks the weather would bring strong blizzards again after the respite of summer, and therefore everyone was outside in the yards and gardens, enjoying the beautiful sights and the fresh air before it was mostly impossible to spend time outdoors.
Arya and Gendry were visiting along with the Lannisters, the Paynes and the Tully boy, Brynden, who was a guest in Casterly Rock since he was eight.
Brienne, Sansa, Arya and Pod's wife, Lilianne, were sitting in a sunny clearing, chatting and watching their men and the children, who were playing and sparring together.
Annie and Brynden were the eldest at the age of ten, followed by: their cousin Ned; Annie's brother Tyrion “Ty”; Pod's and Lilianne's eldest daughter named Lily; Ned's brother Jaime “Jai”; Lily's sister Carinne; Ned's and Jai's sister Catelyn “Cat”; Annie's and Ty's sister Rosie; Ned's, Jai's and Cat's sister Brienne “Bri”; and Annie's, Ty's and Rosie's sister Sansa “Sannie”.
“Gendry is really good with the kids,” Sansa commented pointedly.
“He is,” Arya agreed with a soft smile.
The mentioned one was indeed carrying Bri and Sannie in one arm each, while Rosie aimed for his legs with her wooden sword. The poor man grimaced stoically in pain until Jaime scolded Rosie and made her be aware that she shouldn't hurt her uncle Gendry. Jaime explained that even though her uncle was a hardened warrior with ample experience in battle, just like himself, everyone hurt when they were beaten. The girl looked downcast for a while, until she asked Gendry for forgiveness and he accepted her apologies with his natural good spirits and with other two little girls trying to climb to his shoulders.
The women watched all these exchanges with smiles on their faces.
“You know, lately Gendry and I have been discussing children,” Arya said with her ever-present calmness. “After ten years traveling around the world, we've started to consider settling down and raising a family.”
Sansa looked at her sister in pleased surprise. “Wow, that's great news. I'd be very happy to be an auntie to your kids, Arya. They might live here and Tyrion and I would take care of them whenever you and Gendry are far away, when your duties or your longing for adventure call you. Though I hope you'll stay more permanently. Children need their parents.”
Arya nodded. “Years ago, Gendry agreed with me not to have children and he's never complained, but I know that deep down he wants them, especially now that we're older and we've lived so many adventures and seen so many things. We won't be young forever and since recently the prospect of having children looks appealing even to me.”
Sansa took her hands. “I'm sure it will be the best decision, Arya. This is your home and Gendry's and your children will always be cared for, you don't have to worry about that.” Sansa assured emphatically.
Arya hugged her big sister. “Thanks, Sansa. Mother and father would be so proud of you.”
Sansa grinned, her eyes bright with tears. “And of you, Arya.”
Right then, Arya stood. “Well, I can't let the men have all the fun. I'll join the shindig.” And she walked towards the thick of the ruckus, where she was welcomed with loud cheers.
The rest of the women laughed at the noisy and tumultuous scene before them.
“The kids truly look up to their aunt Arya,” Brienne remarked. “She's like their heroine from the tales, but instead of being imaginary, she's real.”
“You can say that,” Sansa agreed. “No matter how far she and Gendry are or how long they take to come back for a visit, the kids very often talk about them and practise the moves and tactics they have been taught. Have you seen Ned, Jai and Cat doing the water dancing stuff and imitating Gendry's fighting style? Even Bri is starting to mimic them.” Sansa looked proudly at her youngest girl, little Brienne, who was still in Gendry's right arm. She was a lively dwarf girl with golden hair and green eyes and she was growing up surrounded by love and encouragement.
“Mine are the same. Annie, Ty and Rosie mimic all those moves as well. And Sannie is stubbornly beginning to join them too. Ah, and don't forget about Bryn. He's a total fan,” Brienne added.
Sansa laughed. “Oh, how could I forget? My uncle Edmure had been complaining to me about it via messages for a long while, until Arya herself made him shut up, remember? That exhibition she and Bryn performed in front of Edmure the last time he, Roslin and their other children visited Casterly Rock showed him the great warrior his son is becoming. He wrote me after that and he had changed his views on the matter quite radically.”
“I remember,” Brienne confirmed with a chuckle. “Edmure's face was a sight to behold.”
The women giggled knowingly. Lilianne spoke then. “Arya and Gendry are my daughters' absolute heroes as well. They have around other examples to follow, like their father, you Ser Brienne and Lord Jaime, and my girls indeed admire you very much. But no one has so much success with them as Arya and Gendry. It's as if Lily and Carinne have been bewitched.” Lilianne shook her head in amused wonderment.
“That's the word. Bewitched. Imagine my situation, with Arya being my kids' true aunt by blood,” Sansa replied with mocking resignation.
The sitting women's cackles didn't stop for the better part of the afternoon, as well as the racket caused by eleven rascals in addition to Arya and the four men playing and sparring exuberantly in Winterfell's yards and gardens.
Eleven moon turns later, Arya gave birth to a boy named Jon, and a year after that, to another boy named Benjen “Ben”.