He hadn't expected for Arya to grab her things and travel all the way to the capitol just to have a conversation, but given the circumstances it had been the most practical solution. Jon couldn't even understand why that felt like a surprise. She had acted exactly as she always had. Once confronted with a problem or a difficult decision, Arya would simply act.
Not that she would give an answer right away without giving it a proper though, but it wasn't in her to think quietly about the matter until the end of days. If she needed information, she would ask and be absolutely blunt about it. The real problem was that he wasn't prepared to deal with the awkwardness between them.
He had never felt so dumb. She stormed her way into the Throne Room and he just panicked. Jon didn't know what to think. Arya was there and she was nothing like he remembered. Breathless and dressed in male travelling clothes, she almost looked like a wildling. Sam came after her out of exasperation, while she acted like a force of nature.
His first reaction was to feel like a green boy of six-and-ten again for the chance to finally have her near. His second reaction was the youthful joy of been accepted by her, even when he knew that this marriage would never be a romantic and delightful affair. Jon was probably just enchanted by the possibility that she still trusted him enough to accept what he had offered her.
That room had never been emptied in such a slow pace. Jon wanted everyone gone, out of his sight so he would be able to dedicate to her all the attention Arya needed from him. He was probably being ridiculous and selfish for ignoring his subjects in order to listen to whatever she had to say, but that was a thought for another time. For now she was Arya Stark, his future queen and probably the most extraordinary political decision he would ever make. She was there and she had accepted him. That was all that mattered.
But Arya wasn't there to happily tell him that she would be his wife. No, that had never crossed her mind at all. What she wanted was answers, and to be honest it was a fair request. Jon did his best to answer the questions she had. At least she had told him that if she was to consider his proposal seriously, than she would need that piece of information.
That had helped Jon to believe that his quest wasn't lost. Not yet, at least. Arya had given him no estimative of how long it would take for her to have an answer, but she would only be allowed to go back home when she had made up her mind. In the meantime, she would remain in the Red Keep, close enough for him to present all the advantages of such union.
Now, that was a tricky business! Jon had never needed to woo a woman before. The gods knew that Ygritte had been the one to pick him and not the other way around. He would probably still be a virgin if it wasn't for her endless advances.
What he had learned from songs about how to conquer a woman's heart would be of little help, he feared. Arya had never been swoon by the things that most girls her age liked. The only thing he truly remembered that she liked and didn't involve sword fighting and horse riding was flowers.
Arya liked flowers. She would usually pick them in the woods, or the glass garden at Winterfell to give them to people she liked or just put them in her tangled hair. He could not tell by the way she looked like now if she still cared for flowers, but he would try as soon as the gardens were able to produce them again.
She accepted to have dinner with him and Jon considered it to be a good start despite of her opinion on his looks. He truly looked like a crazy old bear with that messy beard and tangled hair. He hadn't had much time to take care of his appearance in the last months. With all the things that needed his attention, the reforms he had already made and the ones he had yet to put in motion, his beard had been his last concern.
He could only imagine what kind of thoughts were in Arya's mind while she ate looking at him every now and then. The last time she saw him, Jon was just a boy. His face was smooth back then and he had no scars to show, but he had never thought about himself as an attractive man back then. And he certainly didn't think so after the war. Jon had no idea of what she favored in a man, and in matters of looks he was no Tyrell. He was a northerner through and through, just like her.
That was just unfair. He looked like and crazy bear while she had grown into a true northern beauty. When she was a child, she was considered plain and even ugly in comparison to Sansa, whose southern beauty was indeed remarkable. Jon never thought that, though. Sansa had never been really appealing to him, while he thought Arya to be charming in her own way. Now she was just stunning, even after a long journey and in male clothes.
"Is it true that a bard composed a song about me?" She finally broke the silence between them. "I've never heard it. It happened to Robb too, but I don't remember the tune."
"It's true." Jon said it in the most pleasant way he could. "It was how he convinced me to hire him. He is the official bard of the court now."
"Oh! That good? I don't remember you being fond of songs and things like that. You used to favor Old Nan's stories."
"That's right, and they helped me quite a lot at the Wall, but I do like songs. I found it to be relaxing after a long day. Since I no longer hear the sounds of war, I needed something else."
"Do you miss it? The war, I mean." She asked before sipping her wine.
"I don't miss the war, but I miss the action. I haven't held a sword in a while and there was always something to be done in the camp and at Castle Black, something dynamic I mean."
"I know what you mean. It's strange to adjust now, as if there was no place where I could fit. At least you have kingly things to do and keep you busy, for all that I've seen."
"What you've seen was just a sample of how tiresome and boring my days became."
"All the petitions come to you?"
"Only the ones presented by nobles, or against a noble. I truly hate it the way it is. It's not efficient and many demands are excluded from appreciation."
"I've heard Bran talking about your ideas for a reformation on the legal system. I also heard many complaints from lords about it. They fear it will make them equal to the peasants."
"That's exactly what I want, at least in which concerns the law application. It will also solve the demands quickly. What do you think about that?"
"I like it very much given what Bran had told me about it and your reasons to do it."
"I feel there's a 'but' somewhere after this sentence." She smiled carefully before answering him.
"But…you sound a lot like Aegon V. You should be careful about it." Arya looked at him with genuine concern.
"Aegon V didn't have a dragon and his sons failed to help him by refusing all of the important marriage alliances he had planned. I'm not willing to commit the same mistakes." It wasn't his intention to highlight how vital his marriage to her was in order to fulfill his plans, but Arya seemed to ignore it.
"You should also consider that your main goal is to feed the people until the first spring harvest and hope that the harvest will be a good one. You haven't seen much of the realm since you've been crowned. What I've seen is pessimism everywhere. The food supplies are at its limits and we will have a few months, maybe a year until the land is defrosted and able to produce again. King's Landing was a surprise. I've never imagined that you would be able to employ so many people in such a short notice. I guess the money came from the Faith. Another bold movement." She made a pause. "You put an end to the Long Night. You and Daenerys put an end to what would have been a dreadful winter, but that does not mean that the consequences of it are over. It will be years until we recover. You can't afford a rebellion, no matter how small it might be. If you keep angering people as you are doing now, it might come a time that you'll need to actually use a dragon. If I know you at all, that's not something you are looking for. Aegon V was a good king, but he hasn't known a day of peace until his death. We do not need another war."
Now that was a surprise indeed. It startled him to notice that Arya knew much more about his politics than he would have expected from anyone who wasn't directly involved. She sounded very much like Tyrion, and that was something one could be proud of. More than that, it was as if he could hear Maester Aemon's voice again. The same concern and the same outstanding wisdom. Kill the boy and let the man be born. The king was officially interested in what Lady Stark had to say on the matter.
"I shall take your opinion on account. I guess Lord Tyrion will enjoy having someone that thinks so much like him around, especially one that I tend to hear more than other advisors." Jon said with a smile. "Would you accept accompany me tomorrow?"
"On what?" She asked curiously. His grin got wider.
"Horse riding. I haven't had a decent companion in ages. I hope you still know how to get on horseback."
"Of course I know, stupid." She replied immediately as if even the sound of his voice had been an insult. At least was relieving to talk with someone who never cared about his status and was also bluntly honest. "But can we leave it for another day? I've spent almost a month on horsebacks and I'm sore."
"As you wish. I'll need to think on something else to keep you entertained." He felt really stupid for not thinking about the time she spent traveling.
"Jon, you are the king. You don't have to worry about entertaining me." She said immediately. "I can perfectly survive court without you serving as my fool. I'll have all the fun I need, if I your master at arms agree to help me in my practice." Now that was something tricky. He had no problems with Arya practicing sword fighting, but if anyone of the court found out it would cause him some trouble.
"My master at arms might find it awkward to assist you in your practice, but I know who will be gladly do it. The King's Guard can live without Lady Brienne for a few hours."
"That will be perfect." She seemed satisfied with his suggestion.
When their private dinner was over, Jon noticed that they haven't talked not even once about his proposal. For the moment, he would consider it a good sign. He wanted her to feel comfortable around him again, and maybe when she gave his proposal a second though the weight of the political reasons would be almost irrelevant. Arya was terribly intelligent and clever, but if he would never win her by her mind. Arya was all will and heart. If his guess was right, she probably relied on her wits during the whole war in order to survive and what he wanted was to allow her to follow her instincts and her heart for once. The gods knew he was doing the same.
"May I accompany you to you to your quarters?" He asked.
"I really don't know why you are acting as if I was anything but family. Really Jon, you don't have to worry about me. I can find my way around just fine." She said it in a way that almost made him forget that she was probably his most important political maneuver. He never wanted to think of her in such a way. He only wanted to hold her as he used to and hear her laugh. He wanted to feel part of her family again, and maybe the loneliness of his days would vanish away.
"I just want to take every opportunity to spent time with you. Besides, I've moved you from the room Sam had picked for you to somewhere else. You will stay at Maegor's Holdfast. Your things have already been moved."
"I'm not a member of the royal family." She insisted.
"But you are one of the king's closest relatives and a lady of the highest rank. It's only proper for you to have decent apartments." He rose from his sit and offered her his hand. "Come."
She accepted his hand. His heart almost failed a beat.
They walked all the way to the quarters that he had ordered for her. Arya held to his arm while noticing all the changes in the place since the last time she had been in the capitol. It felt just right to have her near, although a part of him would never feel completely at ease with their shared past if she ever ended up being his wife.
It was his quest to fall in love with that young woman and make her happy if she ever became his queen.
They stopped at her room's door and the awkward silence fulfilled the air for a second.
"So…Good night, Jon." She said unsure.
He took all the courage in him to kiss her on the cheek. Jon never expected for such a thing, but he found it lovely to see how her face blushed.
"I'm really happy to have you near again. I'll make time for you tomorrow, I promise." He said with a shy smile. "Sleep well."
Jon left her at the door with a strange feeling that maybe he was being too bold. Kissing her on the cheek, what a thing to do! If anyone had seen it would certainly send the wrong message. The virtue of a possible future queen should never have reasons to be doubted. On the other hand, it was Arya and they have been kissing each other on the face since she learned how to do it.
Maybe he should just sleep and try to calm down. On the morrow he would try to think about a way to impress her. Some kind of celebration, or even a gift. Tyrion should be able to help him with that sort of thing.
His sleep had never been so resting. Jon woke up feeling alive as he hadn't in ages. He was already dressed and breaking his fast when Lord Tyrion Lannister was announced in the king's chambers.
Tyrion came in as fast as his short legs allowed and judging by his face, he wasn't exactly happy.
"Good morning, Tyrion." Jon greeted him. "Would you break the fast with me?"
"I'm not hungry, Your Majesty." He said immediately.
"To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit?" Jon asked before having a gulp of his strong ale.
"May I ask you what in the seven hells Lady Arya Stark is doing at the courtyard crossing swords with Brienne?!" He almost spat. "Wasn't she supposed to become your queen, or something of the sort?! What do you think that the Small Council will think of this match when they see her like that?!"
To the seven hells with the small council and all the old crones he had to endure. Everybody knew that she fought during the war. It shouldn't be a surprise at all.
"That I appreciate her skills and I value a woman able to defend herself and the children we might have if the need ever arise. I was the one to give Arya her first sword when she was nine. Let the Small Council know it. At the end of the day she is still connected to several important houses and they can't overlook that." He said resolutely. "Now, if you excuse me, I have promised her that we would spend some time together. I'm eager to see how good she is with a blade in hand."
A.N.: It was nice to see a bit of Jon's thoughts on the matter and how he intends to try to convince Arya of accepting his proposal. Their conversations is also a way to show a bit of Arya's thoughts on politics and let them get reacquainted. I hope you liked it.
The reviews made me very happy and motivated to write so...Give me more! XD
This fic is also being posted at Archive Of Our Own, if anyone prefers to read it there.