The castle was completely empty and quiet. The new king had yet to make it his. The halls that once had been so fancy were now filled with rubble from fallen walls and furniture. Columns had fallen and curtains had burned. The red carpet of the throne room had turned grey from dust. What had once been a symbol of power was now broken, shattered, burned. A symbol of how easy power can be taken from you.

This was where Meera Reed had ended up after leaving her father. She hadn't planned to go there, she had just ended up there. But it made sense after all apparently this was what it had all been for. Everything they had done up north, everyone who had died. It was for this. For the torn kingdom. For the broken castle. For the throne that was gone.

She sat on the wide stone railing of the balcony attached to the throne room. Her legs were hanging over the precipice. She wasn't going to jump. Don't worry about that. Meera Reed didn't come this far just to throw herself off a balcony. She didn't fight just to end it all. She was overwhelmed, confused and angered, but not defeated.

Darkness was overtaking the capital for the night. The streets of the capital were empty, not a soul was there. Moonlight shone through cracked facades. The stars were as bright as ever since no light from the city disturbed them.

She had been sitting there for hours now. Not knowing what to do. Not being able to go back. Because she couldn't tell anyone what she knew. Yet she felt like she had to tell someone. Before the kingdom fell apart because of the truth she couldn't tell.

That's when she heard a sound behind her. Someone was coming up the stairs to the throne room. She turned around, grabbed her spear and hid behind a pillar. There might be looters or robbers around. The fallen city wasn't safe for lone women at night. At least not for most lone women. But Meera Reed wasn't most lone women.

A shadow appeared in the doorway. Someone was about to walk out onto the balcony. She raised her spear.

"Who are you? What are you doing here? Please leave!" she shouted.

The shadow raised its hands and turned towards her. She recognized him.

"Lady Reed... Meera? What are you doing here?" he said.

Gendry Baratheon. The handsome man she had made fall into the swamp. The kind man who had held her hand. The nervous man she had helped with his jacket. Who made her feel like she mattered when he looked at her, with his darn beautiful blue eyes.

"Can you please stop pointing that spear at me every time we meet?" he continued. "I'm getting worried that one day you will actually use it on me."

"Sorry," she replied, "I hope you know I wouldn't. And you don't have to leave."

She put her spear down.

"What are you doing here?" he asked.

"I needed to get away... "

"What do you need to get away from, Meera?"

"I can't tell you."

She put her spear away and went to sit down on the railing again. He remained in the doorway for a little while, looking a bit hesitant. Like he wasn't actually sure she wanted him there.

"You can sit next to me," she said.

She was happy he was there, and she didn't want him to leave. She never wanted him to leave.

He didn't leave. Their legs touched as he sat down right next to her. And he put his hand on top of hers on the stone railing. His hand wasn't as cold as it had been last time.

"Why can't you tell me what you need to get away from?" he said and gave her hand a light squeeze as he did.

Meera gazed her eyes on the ruins of the city below. Avoiding to meet his eyes, afraid she would blurt it all out if she did. Like those beautiful blue eyes of his would tear down all her defenses if she let them.

"It's too late anyway", she said, still looking down on the ruins. "What are you doing here yourself?"

She needed to steer the conversation elsewhere.

He sighed. Apparently something was bothering him too.

"I came to find my father, or at least feel close to him. And this felt like the right place to do that. I lived in the city down there all my life, but I've never been to this castle. I've never seen the city as he did."

Gendry glanced down on the city as he said that. Almost like he saw it for the first time.

"And seeing it from here..." he continued. "We must have all seemed so small to him. Like ants, just working away day after day."

She nodded. From there the city did seem so small. Like it wasn't actually real.

"So why tonight, why do you come here now?" she asked.

"Because I choose him tonight... I had to choose between love and being a lord. And I chose my house, I chose my castle, I chose my father. I guess I wanted him to know I made that choice. I choose House Baratheon. I wanted him to be proud of me. I wanted him to see me. But sitting here now I don't think he ever would have, he wouldn't have seen me. Because I was just one of the ants down there."

He got quiet for a moment, seemingly pondering what he had just done, what he had just said.

"If he had known about you I'm sure he would have seen you, Gendry. He would have been proud of you. You made the right choice. You are the last of your house, just like me, and you can't walk away. I see that, and I'm sure he would."

She looked at him now, even though she had been avoiding it. Because she wanted him to know that she saw him. If that made her tell him the truth, then so be it. His blue eyes looked so sad now.

His hand searched for her palm and as he found it he clasped his hand around hers. His grip was tight like he needed something to hold on to.

"You're right," Gendry said with a tone of determination, but a look of hesitation. "I can't walk away. I have to choose my house. I have to be more than one of the ants down there. So I had to walk away from her instead."

"Who was she?" Meera asked.

"Arya... Arya Stark. I knew her a long time ago when we were just kids. I loved her then but was too young to know it. Then I found her again when we were old enough to understand love. But she wasn't the same anymore, and neither am I. I realize that now. She couldn't be mine, and I can't be hers. Because we have chosen different paths."

Another Stark. Another young innocent love that could have been something more. Another journey that had ended in heartbreak.

That's when Meera knew. She knew she could tell him. She needed to tell him. Because she knew he would understand.

So she looked into his blue eyes, letting herself get swept away by them. And she started to tell the truth.

"I loved someone once too. When I was too young to know what love was. He was kind and sweet and I think he loved me too. But he was also too young to know it. We traveled up North together. To find something. And when we found it... it changed him. He became someone else. Someone who is not kind and sweet. When I looked into his eyes before I used to see light, but now I don't see anything. His eyes are just empty and dark. And it scares me. He scares me."

Meera continued to look into Gendry's eyes. They had the same light in them as she had once seen in Bran's eyes. They comforted her. She could see that he was honest, true and good.

"Who was he?" he asked.

This was it. This was the moment. This was when she had to tell the truth. The truth that no one was allowed to know.

She inhaled. She looked away briefly. Pondering if she should really tell him. Then she looked back, she looked into his eyes again. And she couldn't hold it back any longer.

"Bran Stark", she said. "He was Bran Stark. But he's not Bran Stark anymore."

He looked confused, startled, unsure of what to do. Then he loosened his grip on her hand and instead put his arm around her shoulders. It felt safe and comforting to have his arm around her.

She realized that she was crying. From the relief of finally telling someone and the sorrow of reliving it all again. She leaned against his chest as she sobbed.

"So that's what you wanted to get away from," he said.

She just nodded.

"I voted for him," he said, "So what do we do now?"

"It's too late," she said, "We can't do anything. And you can't tell my father. My brother died on that quest, and my father needs to believe that it was for a good cause."

"But what about the kingdom? What will happen to it?"

"I don't know... I don't know what he is or what he wants. But I know he's not good."

"Whatever happens Meera, I'll be here. If you need me to do something I will. If I can."

"I know you will, Gendry. But I don't think there's anything you can do. I don't think there's anything anyone can do. He planned this long ago and he got exactly what he wants. Now we can just wait and see. Right now I just want you to sit here with me."

She was wrong. There was something they could do. And they were doing it right now. They were breaking free from the grip he had on everyone's faith. They weren't supposed to find each other, but they did. And it mattered.

"I will, of course I will. We'll sit here, for as long as you want."

He kept his arm around her and they sat there together. Huddled tight on the stone railing.

They sat there all night.

They watched the stars in the sky.

They told each other who they used to be, before everything..

He told her about the city. About the orphanage where he grew up, about his mother with the blonde hair who he barely remembered, about grueling work in the blacksmith workshop from a young age. He pointed out where all the places used to be, even though they were now all gone.

She told him about growing up in the swamp. About her brother who could see what no one else could. About a childhood filled with frog hunting, climbing cypress trees and playing with crocodiles.

As the morning light started to seep in she had fallen asleep against his chest. The rays of the sun in her eyes woke her up. She sat up and looked over at him. He seemed to be almost asleep as well. She touched his arm lightly to wake him.

"Gendry, I'm ready to go," she said. "I need to get back to my father. I can't let him worry for too long."

"As you wish, Meera," he replied.

He released his arm from around her shoulder and swung his legs over the railing to get up. Then he stretched out his hand towards her, to help her over as well. She didn't need the help but she still took his hand. Because she liked holding his hand.

She swung her legs over the railing and stood up. Right in front of him. Just like she had stood that day in the swamp when he fell in front of her. Just like when she helped him with his jacket the day before. She had walked away those times but she didn't walk away this time.

She stayed there. So close to him. She almost could hear his heartbeat. She could feel the warmth of his body. She could smell him. He smelled like firewood, salt, and pine. His hand was still in hers and she stroked it lightly with her finger.

He didn't walk away either. He stayed there too. So close to her.

She reached up slightly to get at an even level with his face. His blue eyes still mesmerized her. Dammit, he was so handsome! And so darn kind and honest. Where had he come from and why did he have such an effect on her? Why did her whole world spin when their eyes met his?

And she kissed him.

She put her lips against his. She felt his breath, his pulse, his taste. His lips were soft against hers. She felt his beard against her chin. She had never kissed anyone before and it was a weird feeling. But not an unpleasant one. Like a tingling sensation spreading from her lips all throughout her body. Like the whole world around her was vibrating. Certainly something she could get used to.

The kiss lasted only for a moment, but for that brief moment the world around them seemed to disappear. All her troubles and sorrows became unimportant because it was only them in the world. The only thing that mattered was his lips against hers and that tingling sensation.

The moment was over too soon. But it also felt like forever. Because when it was over everything had changed.

He looked surprised, but not displeased. His hand remained in hers.

"What was that for?" he asked.

He sounded uncertain like he couldn't quite believe that someone would want to kiss him just to kiss him. Maybe no one ever had. It made her want to kiss him again.

She smiled at him. His face was still so close to hers.

"Because I wanted to. Because I've never kissed anyone before. And I wanted it to be someone handsome, kind and honest. I wanted it to be you. I wanted to know what it felt like. Before I leave. Before whatever will happen happens. Before it all falls apart. Before the world shatters. Because it might."

"And what did it feel like?"

"Like nothing else mattered. Only you and me."

He nodded. He had felt it too. He must have.

His hand let go of hers. Instead, he put his hands on both sides of her face. They stood there looking at each other for a second like they weren't really sure what to do now. Around them the world stood still, yet everything seemed to vibrate.

"Let it all fall apart. Let the world shatter. But please don't leave," he said.

Then he kissed her. He pressed his lips against hers and the whole world became a blur around her. It wasn't important anymore. It could fall apart, it could shatter, it could burn. But she never wanted to leave.

The first kiss had been soft, careful, trying. This one was more intense. It had a desperation, an urge, a longing to it. Like they both had been looking for something and finally found it. And now they were afraid it would disappear.

His body pressed against hers. His fingers intertwined with her hair.

Her hands were on his back. She could feel his muscles moving under his shirt. She could feel his presence, his movement. So close to her. The tingling sensation was back. It was all over and inside of her.

But they couldn't stay. Not forever and not even longer than a few moments. But those few moments felt like forever, while still not being long enough.

Because on the streets below Meera heard a familiar voice. Her father's voice. He was calling out for her.

She reluctantly pried her lips away from Gendry's. Her father was not a strict man but it was probably for the best if he didn't see her kissing lords on balconies. She didn't want him to start distrusting Lord Baratheon.

She put her hands on Gendry's chest and pushed him inside. They ended up embracing each other against a wall. His arms were around her and she leaned her head against his chest.

"My father is out there, he's calling for me. I need to go," she said and looked up at him.

Gendry nodded in reply.

"You should. He's probably worried about you," he replied.

But yet none of them moved. She felt his heart beating. It felt like her heart was beating to the same rhythm. Like their bodies were singing in tune. She didn't want that song to stop.

"I know you said that there's nothing we can do Meera," he said as they stood there, unable to move from each other's embrace. "About the king and who he may be. But if there ever is something that can be done... if there is something I can do. Come to me. I'll help you."

"I know you will, Gendry," she replied. "And I will come to you. Because you are the only one I've told the truth," she replied while trying to sink further into his embrace. Pretending she didn't have to leave.

She believed him. She believed he would help her if he could. Because those blue eyes seemed unable to lie.

"Before I go," she said.

And she reached up and kissed him again.

Just a quick kiss this time but a kiss nonetheless. One last kiss. Her lips against his one last time. One last moment of tingling and vibration.

Then she forced herself away from him. She forced the song to stop.

Meera ran down the stairs to find her father. And Gendry was left standing there alone.

She had come to the castle to find what her journey North was for. He had come to the castle to find his father.

They hadn't found what they were looking for. Instead, they had found what they needed. They had found each other. They had found hope.

Author's Note: Squeeee!!!! Yep I'm fangirling my own story... I made up this ship, I can totally do that. And now the ship has freaking sailed!