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Rodo, 2022

Chapter XV: Gendry I – Visiting the City

“Welcome, Lord Baratheon!” Ser Davos said with a proud smile when Gendry rode into the main courtyard of the Red Keep. Gendry had almost gotten used to the horses and the name, but the city would take a while. He’d grown up here, knew some parts of Fleabottom and the Street of Steel like the back of his hand, and now they were gone. Replaced by busy construction work and new streets.

Ser Davos spread his arms when Gendry dismounted and he hugged the man gladly. Then they looked at each other, and Gendry figured Davos was contemplating just how odd it was that they, who had both been born in this city, had both ended up here as well.

“We’ve come quite far for two boys from Fleabottom, aye?” Davos asked.

Gendry nodded.

“How are the Stormlands?”

“Recovering,” Gendry said. “Not quite used to a bastard for a lord yet, but for the most part, they seem to think it’s better than the alternative. Thank you for recommending the councilors. I wouldn’t know what to do without them.”

Davos smiled. “You’re welcome. And I think that’s enough politics for now. You’re a guest. We can negotiate lumber shipments later. It’s time for supper soon, and you’ll sup with our other guests.”

Gendry silently groaned and wished there was a way to say no. He hated meeting other nobles. They either wanted something from him or wanted to watch him embarrass himself.

“Don’t worry, you’ll like these,” Davos assured him, but Gendry was skeptical.

He shouldn’t have been, Gendry realized later, when they were all sitting around the table, eating venison. The other guests, it turned out, were Lady Tarly and her mother Lady Melessa, Samwell Tarly’s family. And while Lady Melessa had eyes only for her newest grandchild, Gendry was seated between Lady Tarly and Gilly, who mostly helped her other son eat.

“It’s nice to meet you,” Lady Tarly told him, while her brother kept an eye on them that felt more threatening than it should. “I’ve heard good things about you.”

“You have?” Gendry asked, trying not to focus on the fact that she was a young lady saying genuinely nice things to him. A pretty young lady.

“Oh, yes, the usual stuff, you’re a hero who fought at Winterfell and went beyond the Wall with King Jon, of course,” she said between bites. “But my mother is a Florent, you know, and after everything, my family still has ties to the Stormlands. My mother’s cousin says you’re doing a good job of it so far. More of a Stannis than a Robert.”

“I’m not sure that’s a compliment,” Gendry replied with a frown.

“I don’t mean it like that!” she cried, then laughed. “You don’t look like I heard he did. Quite the contrary. You’re a much more exciting prospect for a young girl than my fiancé was, for example. He’s old and barely has any teeth left! I suppose I’m lucky I don’t have to marry him now.”

Gendry didn’t quite know what to make of that, and going by the blush on her cheeks, she hadn’t meant to say it quite like that either. But she seemed nicer and more real than the other noble girls he’d been introduced to so far, and so Gendry smiled at her.

And when she smiled back, his breath caught in his throat.

Fin