He was still in shock, couldn't make himself talk back to Arya while she leapt off the bed, ran towards him, and jumped on him, encircling her arms around his neck.
Whatever different nature she was, it did not matter to him at the moment. She was his Arya again and he treasured it foremost; her sincere action raised him out of his stupor and he lifted her up to make it face to face for the kiss. Arya's legs immediately went around him.
As his hands were holding Arya's buttocks, he felt aroused right away, but that was not a priority at the moment, it was something more that simple desire in Arya's eyes, he was overwhelmed with the realization.
"She probably had heard my revelation," he thought with a strange mixture of embarrassment and relief; "how much could she possibly remember afterwards?"
She met his lips with unusual tenderness and he just deepened the kiss.
He did not want to frighten her with questions, he would be in an awkward position as well, plus the peace between the two of them and their interrelations were too fragile for such disclosures still.
He forgot about Nymeria for the moment, but luckily she did not move from her place, just kept her yellow eyes trained on them.
With all his will power he stopped the temptation to ask Arya to relocate her direwolf outside the room and continue with her for the next half hour.
Instead he set Arya back to bed reluctantly, dreading her reaction, "I should go and rule the kingdom, my love, unless you want to leave this privilege to her majesty,"
"I understand, and I know, how busy you will be from now on. I promise, I will not attack you against your will," she smiled.
"I promise, there will be some time for us tonight," he gently cupped her cheek, "But before I go, just let me clear a couple of things for you," he tried to sound less commanding as usual, probably an impossible attempt.
"You can skip the court today if you need more rest, we all do, but if you will make your appearance, you are more than welcome, and I'll make sure you will be treated with respect."
"All right, I'll make the effort to look presentable, but half of the court ladies already had been briefly acquainted with me last night," Arya smirked,
Good, she was not shy or intimidated by their judgmental glances. He just could imagine their reaction at her boy's outfit.
"I will even wear the "compromise" dress for you," Arya winked to him.
"I am sure they will not recognize you then," The deep crimson dress with silver embroidery and dark gray mirish lace made her look a couple years older and as regal as any queen.
"One more thing," he continued, "convince lady Brienne to not leave the tower today. She is not a prisoner, but ser Loras is blaming her in killing Renly.
As Joffrey's death is similarly mysterious I will right it off on Stannis' witchcraft and Brienne will testify about what she had witnessed in Renly's tent. But I am not sure I'll have time to make this statement today, and I do have problems enough besides protecting your friend."
Arya nodded to him. Her expression turned blank the same second he brought up the issue of Joffrey's death.
"And don't be hard on your sister, she has suffered a lot already," he said before exiting the room. Arya would find out about Sansa's abuse sooner or later, so if he could warn her first, she probably wouldn't attack him with accusations afterwards.
Before leaving for the palace, he went to the tower's big hall, where all the serving staff was waiting having been summoned by his earlier command.
He was brief about the matter, "If any harm will come to my lady wife or her direwolf, all your heads will be on spikes.
If someone tries to bribe you to do some harm, or even just asks you to spy here, you will be rewarded greatly for such information. Whoever this person would be, I want to know it,"
After registering their face expressions, he knew, Arya and her "companion" will be safe here. He was not Eddar Stark, he could protect, that which he holds dear.
Strangely he had already developed some liking of the direwolf, maybe because of her bond with Arya, and as she was not a threat to him, he couldn't rob his wife of her happiness.
He was sure his daughter would try to kill Nymeria as soon as she would learn of her reappearance. "Lannister's way's definitely," he though bitterly, remembering Arya's words. He will make sure Arya would change her opinion about him soon.
He couldn't change who he was, but for Arya he wanted to be a better man, he was open for some compromises to win her ultimate respect, it seemed that the biggest compromise he ever afforded himself in his life would be the peace offering to Robb Stark.
He had showed her Frey's letter and instead of well-expected gratitude from her for his rejection of so tempting an offer she had looked at him; her huge gray eyes even wider, with disbelief.
"What, if it wouldn't be for me, you could possibly agree to reward them for committing such a dishonorable crime?" she had asked him.
She wouldn't like his honest answer any way so he just had ignored her remark. This damned Stark honor was always sabotaging her acceptance of him. Probably his "conversation" with Nymerya would be helpful to some degree.
On his way to the palace he was wondering who actually had killed Joffrey? Stannis's Red witch was just the one of the suspects, although the most suitable for his purposes.
He smirked to himself, although the escaped Stannis is done as a king, who would have ever supported a leader who used black magic, was a kinslayer, burned people, temples and godswoods?
He would think about sending out his own letter, all these revelations about Stannis would be more appalling than this flimsy filth written by Stannis.
When he went to see Cersey, she was already up and ready to be taken to her son's body.
Before leaving for the Sept, Cersey suddenly turned to him, "Father, as a Queen Regent I officially declare you the Savior of the City, it is the least I can do to thank you for your deed. We will be grateful if you will except the honor from our new king."
So this was his daughter's sweet way to show him who was actually in charge. He would see to a change soon enough.
"I will ride in as the old custom dictates," he said dryly, swearing silently to himself that he wouldn't get off the damned horse, as the old custom perfectly permitted so.
Removing Cersei from the position of the queen regent wouldn't be an easy task; she was a lioness after all. To confront her with accusation of an incestuous relationship with Jaime would be useless, as they both knew he would never use it openly. But if he would have something more against her…Everything together would work.
The last night, drunk and devastated with grief, Cersei had been so angrily surprised Tyrion was still alive…So this morning he went to check on his son before the Small Council urgent meeting.
Tyrion was sill unconscious. His squire Podrick, who actually had saved his live, was sincerely concerned about him. He asked the shy lad to enlighten him about what had actually happened.
It was not easy to break the boy's stubborn fear, but seven hells; the boy actually had his reasons to be afraid to speak…
So his royal daughter was using the White Cloak as a cat paw to eliminate her own brother while he was fighting for her. Although he did not love Tyrion, he was disgusted by such a ruthless attempt against her own blood.
He should watch out for Arya's safety even more carefully now, there could be someone else beside ser Mandon ready to strike Cersei's enemies for her.
He left Podrick a big purse of gold promising to elevate him to the Knighthood as soon as he will reach the adequate age; the boy was faithful and not a coward after all. He took the lad's word to not confess the unfortunate event to anyone else.
….
The last night when Arya threw her hateful words to him, she couldn't even think Tywin would stop what he was doing…
As angry as she had been, she would fight him of course, but as she recently discovered to her own surprise her mind and her body could have totally opposite desires.
"So my treacherous body wants to submit even in spite of my angry mind; and the inevitable climax that happens afterwards calms my mind down?" she could not resolve that puzzle, she just had learned now that crying alone would feel much worse.
His words to Nymeria made her think differently about "Aggressive-possessive" Tywin's, advances. Maybe he did it for love, not only for dominance?
Sure, he was The Lion, and dominance was his nature, but who was perfect in this world after all? His words to Nymeria were obviously honest, and that mattered to her foremost.
"He does love me for real," this realization made her heart skip a beat. "Am I a silly romantic like all girls are?" she did not want to be like that.
Seven hells, the words "I love you, Tywin," almost spilled from her when she was in his arms just minutes ago…
But the life with Nymeria by her side again and that piece of shit Joffrey dead at last seemed too good and thus it was too soon to be upset with her own sentimental weakness.
"Who had killed Joffrey, Jaqen or Stannis's witch?" her curiosity picked, but the voices and knocking the door interrupted her pondering.
"Come in," Arya invited her maids in.
Arya chuckled at the sight of the faces of her two maids, when they saw her Nymeria. They were already in the middle of the room, and just froze on the spot probably trying with all their might to not drop the tray with food and the pitcher.
"She bites only by my command," she reassured the girls, she sounded probably ominous again, or at least not so convincing, as they both remained petrified.
Definitely she will not be the servant's favorite person here.
"Just put everything on the table. I need the hot bath and help to get dressed afterwards. And I'll pay you extra for wolf troubles."
"Thank you, Milady," they said sheepishly.
"And bring some meat for my girl," she commanded before they hurried away.
They will overcome the fear eventually, and if she would pay them good for the additional work, they probably wouldn't mind Nymeria around.
She critically observed the dirt and some dark gray hair on the bed cover, she probably should brush her girl sometimes, Arya signed, what had been an almost impossible task even long months ago when Nymeria was still a pup…
After they both ate, Nymeria the lamb leg, and Arya some bread, eggs and bacon with milk, she put on her yesterday's outfit and took Nymeria back to the enclosure to not intimidate her new handmaidens, she would need help with her dress and her hair afterwards.
When she was already all clean and done in her sumptuous dress and one of the girls,
Sally, was still working on her hopeless hair; trying to pin the uneven strands down so they wouldn't stick out; in order for her to cover her head with a dense net, she sent the other maid with one of the guards to fetch lady Sansa.
Sansa, her sister, she felt the butterflies in her belly again, and some anger too because of Cersei's words, and concern recalling her husband's last words, that probably implied the abuses Sansa had suffered here from Joffrey.
She would try her best to keep her temper in check… "And I do not look like a horse face any more, at least in this dress," she told herself. Why lately has she started caring about appearance any way?
Sansa entered the room and her maids discretely left. Arya got up and made several steps forwards.
Sansa did change a lot, her form was more womanlike now, and her dress was obviously small for her. But what really struck her were Sansa's eyes, they lost their sparking shine and her older sister did not regard her with her usual confident supremacy look that so irritated Arya in the past.
"Arya, sister, you are alive, thank the gods," managed Sansa in small voice with relief and disbelief while moving slowly towards her.
"Sansa," Arya exclaimed and ran towards her first, forgetting all negative feelings in that moment.
"Are you well, Arya?" was Sansa's first question after they separated from embrace and sat down on a divan.
"More than I have ever been, seriously, Sansa," she smiled while her sister examined her with disbelief.
"You do look older, but still a child, I can't believe it, did he wed you for…real?"
Her sister still couldn't express herself frankly, which was not a surprise.
"If you are asking about sex, this is the best part of the married life," Arya smirked, observing how uncomfortable Sansa became with her choice of words.
"Arya, you are a real lady now, but just the same…improper…"
Arya laughed out loud now, "I am and I always will be."
"How do you get along with him? He is so old, and so reserved…people say he never smiles. It seems everyone are so afraid of lord Tywin, even the queen is probably intimidated by her father."
"Unfortunately not too much when she is drunk like a skunk," she chuckled.
"What, did you meet her last night?" Sansa's voice trembled a little.
"Unfortunately yes, sister, I had quite the welcome by her already. She doesn't know about Nymeria being with me yet," Arya gave away the triumphant smile.
"What, do you have Nymeria back? And your lord husband did not harm her?"
"Tywin is very protective towards me and towards what I do hold dear, this is the good side of the lions, I guess."
"Unfortunately not all lions are like him," said Sansa gingerly, the sadness in her eyes.
"And I am so sorry about everything," she managed, but kept the silence for a while after saying it, "if I would tell the truth, my Lady and this butcher boy would be still alive, Robert would not have listened to Censei and would not have done this injustice.
"What else are you sorry for, sister," Arya couldn't help it any more, it would be better for both of them to get to the bottom of the things as soon as possible.
"So you already know…Cersey was bragging about it, was she not?" Sansa looked down under her inquiring look.
"I was on the way to you room, but I couldn't make it in afterwards," Arya lowed her gaze as well…
"I was so stupid, I thought I was in love with Joffrey and did believe he loved me too, and I had wanted to become his queen, like in the perfect fairy tales," Sansa was sobbing now, "but there are only monsters in this real life," she started crying now.
" I had regretted my stupidity every single day here, and I dreaded the day I would become his wife…"
"What had this little prick done to you, calm down, Sansa, he is dead for good now. Calm down and tell me everything," Arya asked as she placed her hands on Sansa's shoulders.
"I'll make sure everyone who ever laid a hand on you will be punished," the truth was more devastating that she had expected, she knew Tywin wouldn't let her kill the White Cloaks, but at least they wouldn't be the White Cloaks any longer…
Sansa did not surprise Arya with her restrained astonishment when Brienne walked in wearing britches and tunic, without her armor, but with her sword belt on along with a sword of course.
"Our mother's sworn shield is more true and noble that any knights of your silly songs, sister," she said after introductions were made.
Brienne blushed, "Arya, stop it, why are you teasing me?"
"I don't believe in the songs any more," Sansa uttered in low voice.
Brienne agreed reluctantly to Tywin's request to stay in the tower until being summoned, "It would be a big relief for me if my innocence would be officially proclaimed, and I truly appreciate lord Tywin has concerns about it."
"Concerns," Arya suppressed the smirk, her lord husband is a cunning politician. Could Brienne be so hopelessly naïve?
Before heading for the court, Sansa turned to her favorite matter at last, the appearance. She complemented her dress, adjusted Arya's net with her deft fingers,
"Your hair will grow, Arya, but it probably will take couple of years or so. You need a wig. Some poor woman will be happy with couple of gold coins I guess…"
"I would rather not wear someone's hair on my own head, sister. Plus half of the ladies already saw my haircut, so they just would laugh harder on the wig," she firmly rejected the idea.
"Nobody would dear to laugh at you now, but you are right, most ladies here are shallow mean creatures," Sansa did not press the subject any more.
In the throne room Arya decided to watch from the gallery first, instead of playing her rightful role: Lady of the Hand. What exactly her new status would require from her she did not know and she was not in a hurry to find out, that she was sure off.
They reached the front of the gallery with help of Arya's two guards who cleared the pass for them through the thick crowd.
Noble lords and ladies were gathering close to the throne, she could see a couple of White Cloaks behind the Iron Throne, and the little form of Tommen carefully seating on it, he looked around perplexed and scared. The golden crown on his head gave him obvious discomfort as well.
He did look like one of his little kittens in the ominous monstrous trap; the spiky chair actually looked such. She did not see Cersei by him. Tywin was nowhere around too. She recognized Littlefinger and Varys at the council table among several more lords she did not have any idea about.
"Enlighten me who is who, the names, the houses, the titles, you know, I had never paid attention to such boredom before," she asked Sansa who nodded back to her and started whispering vigorously while pointing from one lord or lady to another.
After fifteen minutes or so Arya felt her head would blow. Sure she should better learn all this soon or later, Tywin wouldn't tolerate any incompetence from her.
Suddenly the blast of trumpets announced the entry of lord Tywin Lannister. The silence befallen when with a start there were sounds of the clatter of the horse hooves.
Her lord husband in his full golden armor and enormous cloth-of-gold cloak was approaching from the entrance on Thundercloud's back.
She had noticed earlier this morning he had been still tired, but his seat on the horse did not give it away, it was impeccable straight and so masculine graceful, while he was riding slowly towards the throne.
"He does look like a king, and he is so handsome in spite of his age, I do understand you now," whispered Sansa with awe.
He sister was right, Tywin was her Lion, whatever ruthless beast he was; despite his growls at her sometimes, he was her love and she was proud to be his wife.
They were almost by the throne as Thundercloud relived himself with his usual enormous dung. "That's my favorite horsy," smirked Arya.
Tywin stopped by the throne but did not dismount to her surprise. Lord Belish approached and said something to Tommen.
The little boy tried to do his best to speak as loud and as distinct as he could, when he proclaimed The Lord of Casterly Rock, "Savior of the City" and asked him to assume his position of The Hand.
Lord Tywin solemnly agreed and rode away. Arya could swear he glimpsed her while passing by. So she expected he would send for her soon.
She did not expect when about twenty minutes later her lord husband walked towards her by himself. His guards were cleaning the passage for him through the crowd. The people bowed low as he passed. He took off his armor and already wore the black doublet with the Hand's chain.
"My lady wife, would you care joining me," it sounded like a command of course, as most of Tywin's words sounded any way.
But the fact that he came to her by himself, did not just send the squire or a guard instead, made her just simply take his extended hand with a little smile, "Gladly, my lord husband."
So she had mastered some manners already, Sansa should be proud of her now.
"Lady Sansa, I assume," Tywin slightly nodded to her sister.
"Lord Tywin," Sansa curtsied deeply of course, "Your bravery saved us all!"
"Just did what should be done," said Tywin dismissively and proceeded with Arya towards the Throne Room.
Her husband was not into returning courtesies and compliments; Sansa should get the idea soon enough.
When they reached the throne, Arya knew all eyes were on her now. She could see the state of shock on the faces when Tywin introduced her as his lady wife.
The noble ladies did not dear to whisper with each other, and she got only smiles and curtsies, but she already hated the attention and obviously oncoming gossips.
Good for her, the ceremony of greeting heroes of the battle continued as soon as lord Tywin took his seat at the council table.
Titles and lands were handed out as a reward; three hundred new knights were made. Arya did her best to pay attention. The little king got obviously tired and did not seem to enjoy all this kneeling and bowings made to him.
Cersei never showed up, apparently was pretty emotionally distraught over her monstrous prick's death, without Cersei and Joffrey, to attend the court was almost bearable.
After three something hours Tywin eventually replaced his grandson on the Iron Throne.
They did not contradict each other; her lord husband sat on the spiky chair with ease, as ominous looking as the throne itself.
Her Lion, her lord husband, her man, her mate, The King all but name… She felt tingle and warming in her abdomen.
They were dealing with the prisoners now, she was glad they took Tommen away, as the procedure was not for a gentle boy like him.
Those who asked pardon or swore fealty were forgiven and restored to all their rights. But there were several defiant ones, who even shouted insults.
Lord Tywin gave the command to take their heads off with a flat, but strong voice, and the men were taken out immediately with Ilyn Payne to accompany them.
Arya desperately wanted see ser Ilyn's head removed from his shoulders, but she did not have any idea how it could be possibly done. So she should sacrifice her vengeance list for now at least.
…..
They ate later dinner in his solar in the Tower. Arya's wolf was by her feet under the table. He did not mind her presence, as Nymeria did not move and did not make a sound.
"Tomorrow I'll write parchment to your brother, you can write your own letter to him as well, think about the most convincing reasons you could point out to him," he asked Arya.
"Well, as Joffrey who had ordered father's execution is dead now, Robb shouldn't have the same resentment as before, his desire for revenge should be satisfied, at least partially.
He is the last and only Stark to continue the line, so he should be responsible about his life. And his position is not as strong as before, he should be realistic about it.
And you are his good brother now, would he like it or not, he should be concerned about my well being, and I would feel miserable if the war between you two will continue."
"My smart girl," he couldn't help but been impressed.
"So your desire for revenge was not completely satisfied with Joffrey's death?"
Arya looked him straight into his eyes, but without her usual defiance, "Not of course, but I gave you my word already, I wouldn't try anything towards Cersey. But understand, what I feel as I see Ilyn Payne around."
Tywin thought for a moment, "Arya, I can't punish him for obeying the king, but as the peace with your brother will be made I will send Ilyn Payne away, I promise."
"Better that nothing," Arya bit her lip.
"I could do some justice for your sister though. As ser Meryn was the most ardent one in beating your sister, I am striping him from The White Cloak."
This was an easy decision to make, not a compromise at all, as he disliked the coward right away, the man had showed his true nature under questioning.
Arya's face brightened, "I was about to ask you to do so, thank you, Tywin."
"How is your son recovering?" Arya asked him after a little pause.
"Still unconscious," he replied shortly. Although he never cared about Tyrion before, he strongly wished him to get well. Firstly, he did a right thing this time, had showed his ability and bravery.
And foremost, what bothered Tywin, if Tyrion would die now it would be on Cersei's hands, that would make his daughter a kinslayer, he wouldn't want it for her and for himself, even if nobody else would learn about it.
"Ii is very sad, Tyrion was the only one here who did protect my sister and had stopped her abuse," Arya explained her concern.
After dinner he sat to his desk. It was already full of parchments that needed his replies.
"So you will be busy now," Arya signed and turned towards the bookshelf to search for something to read.
"I am just sorting them for tomorrow morning, go take Nymeria outside," he could see how Arya's eyes sparkled at his words.
Arya was different than before when they made love, did not rush the pace, followed his lead, that helped him to hold longer. He loved it the most, slowly pulling in and out, enjoying her tightness, caressing her body, changing the positions.
He made her climax two times already, and still could hold back his release, so Arya should learn the benefits of trusting him.
At the end he was on his back placing Arya on the top, but controlling her hips with his hands. For that position his girl had tried to fight with him before and he had not gave up easily just in spite.
As Tywin increased the speed Arya got wild of course, she was his wolf girl after all. They finished simultaneously the third time, and both went limb, spent but completely satisfied.
"It was wonderful, Tywin, my love," Arya murmured, cuddling to him afterwards and soon was fast asleep in his arms.
...
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