Chapter 36
Time of our lives
Ok, so this took me a bit longer than usual, but it IS a bit longer than usual and I guess it doesn't matter anymore, because this is the last.
I was overwhelmed last week. What an out pouring of feelings! It was also an eye opener as I had thought there could be NOTHING worse than giving up your child (perhaps because I'm finally getting back into the mental groove required to finish – Sansa The Mother). However, seems I'm in a very small minority so it's probably just as well I asked!
For the record, opinion was divided as follows…
50% of you are bloodthirsty, vengeful, would-be Margaery killers.
35% of you are slightly more reasonable and were happy with no bloodshed but absolutely no way should Margaery be pregnant (and what the hell was I doing even thinking such a thing?!).
10% of you thought 'giving up baby Renly' was the way to go (seemed to be my fellow authors – sensitive souls that we are)
and
5% of you are either mad, think I am mad or wanted something totally different.
I was impressed by the research that went into some of your reviews, particularly the Wolf pack ones and the people who could quote the Bull's Helmet Epilogue back at me. Wow. I'll need to go back and read it myself.
So, to all my super reviewers, who care so much, this one's for you…
Arya's heart was in her mouth as she followed Willas and Jeyne into Highgarden. They walked through the most elegant white marble passageways with elegant columns and arches, open to courtyards bathed in sunlight and filled with fruit trees or fragrant flowers.
Nerves and adrenaline meant Arya was struggling to stay in control. She remembered Gendry's inability to control the wolf inside during the early days after his bite. She had to hope she could do a better job. Everything depended upon this. Everything could change in a heartbeat.
Willas knocked on tall, slim door and, without waiting for a reply walked in.
Arya was holding her breath as the door opened. She suddenly realised she had to inhale in order to smell anything and took a great gulp of air, causing Jayne to shoot her a wide eyed, panicked look.
Stay calm Arya, stay calm.
Nothing that smelled like Danni; only lavender, mint, rose soap, the faint smell of Margaery and another, stronger, unrecognised human scent.
As they stepped into the room, Arya saw only Lady Redwyne, sitting atop a pile of cushions on a carved wooden chair that looked very like a throne.
"Girls! Girls!" she shrilled, "excuse me if I don't get up but my arthritis is bothering me again. Come here and let me see you!"
Arya thought her heart was going to explode out of her chest. How well did Lady Redwyne know Sansa? Surely she couldn't have come so far to fail at the final hurdle? What if she never even got to see Margaery?
Arya stood behind Jeyne as Jeyne kissed Lady Redwyne on both cheeks.
"Oh, you never change Jeyne. Plain Jeyne, so aptly named."
Jayne blushed furiously, whether with embarrassment at the old witch's comments or with apprehension, Arya wasn't sure. Jeyne's heartbeat was racing, but Arya wasn't experienced enough yet to confidently interpret the multitude of new, alien signals that bombarded her wolf senses.
As Jeyne moved to the side and 'Sansa' was presented to Lady Redwyne, the old lady pursed her lips and narrowed her eyes as she looked 'Sansa' up and down. Arya thought she was about to expire with nerves and frustration, so near, yet still so far. Would the old woman see through her disguise and ruin their plan?
"Have you been putting on weight Sansa?"
Arya was taken back by Lady Redwyne's ill manners, but also overcome with relief. Perhaps she had overdone the padding, but she wasn't discovered. God knows what the real Sansa would have said, probably not
"The new me is fat and happy; must be all that hot sex I'm getting. Has Margaery told you about my new man?"
As Arya leaned in to kiss the soft, wrinkled, cheeks, she could feel the, still vital, life force of the old woman; the warm, slow pulse so close to her jaws. Arya could end that long life now with a single bite, her mouth watered with a new power and hunger.
"Actually she has mentioned it. A Clegane, but not the Lannister one." Lady Redwyne said disparagingly. "A poor match, if I say so myself Sansa. You could have done so much better. I always thought that you and my Willas would have made a good match."
Arya didn't have to pretend to blush as she automatically looked across at Lord Tyrell, who looked mildly amused by his Grandmother's antics and simply raised one eyebrow towards 'Sansa'. Wait until Sansa hears this!
But Lady Redwyne wasn't finished yet.
"As your sister Arya will be back on the market once Margaery comes to an arrangement with Lord Baratheon, perhaps I might consider her for Loras. It might be convenient, seeing as they're both without the Baratheons they thought they had. What do you think of that Willas?"
Arya jumped in with both feet before Willas could reply.
"I think Lord Baratheon might have something to say about that and Ser Loras told me himself how much he loved cock! I really don't think he'll be prepared to marry a woman, even one as stunning as my sister."
"Sansa Stark!" Wash your mouth out with soap!" Lady Redwyne shrieked, while Willas tried to stifle his laughter.
"She's got a point Grandmother. None of us have ever been able to get Loras to do anything Loras didn't want to do and I doubt you'll manage it now!" He winked at 'Sansa', obviously delighted by her nerve.
"Loras is totally gorgeous though," 'Sansa' continued, enjoying this far too much, "He and Arya might have made a handsome couple, in different circumstances…if he didn't like cock and she wasn't going to marry Lord Baratheon."
"I won't tolerate this talk a moment longer! Margaery will be Lady Baratheon and that's the end of it! As for Loras liking…ooh…you vile girl!...Everyone knows that Loras and Renly were just best friends and I'll not have you spread malicious gossip to the contrary!"
"Shall you tell her Willas or shall I?" 'Sansa' snarled.
Willas groaned and said apologetically to 'Sansa', "she knows fine well that Loras and Renly were lovers. She still thinks we're living in the dark ages and that everyone would be appalled if they found out who Loras fucks."
"But it's ok to fuck someone else's fiancé is it?"
"Now that's not what Margaery told me!" Willas said firmly, defending his sister as Lady Redwyne screwed up her face and turned an awful shade of puce with anger.
"Where is she? Let's ask her shall we?... Margaery! Come out come out wherever you are!"
"You leave her alone! She's in a delicate state and I'll not have a tramp like you vexing her!" Old Lady Redwyne hissed, looking more like a wrinkled prune with every passing moment.
Arya stalked around the room. She knew full well where Margaery was. The past 5 minutes had given her time to process all the smells and Margaery had been here, very recently and Arya would have bet she had been sitting beside her Granny until they heard the girls coming, when it was time for the 'poor me I'm pregnant act' to begin. At least Arya hoped it was an act.
She yanked open a door leading off the room, sending Margaery, who had obviously been crouched down, spying through the keyhole, sprawling.
"Oh you poor thing!" Arya wailed sarcastically as she bent down over Margaery.
Arya closed her eyes, inhaled and…nothing…nothing that reminded her of Danni anyway, just the growing acrid smell of fear.
Arya hadn't appreciated how tense she had been until she had her proof. Relief was like a wave breaking over her. She took a few seconds to savour it, before yanking Margaery upright by the back of her dress, which tore with a satisfying ripping sound in the process.
Lady Redwyne was on her feet, Jeyne had both of her hands clasped over her mouth and Willas was hurrying over towards them from the opposite side of the room.
"Stop!" Arya yelled, holding an upturned hand towards Willas, at least she intended to yell, but it came out as more of a ferocious growl. It certainly stopped him in his tracks.
"Margaery has something to tell us all!" Arya declared loudly to the room, then more softly and menacingly to Margaery, "tell them the truth or I will."
"I …I don't know what your talking about!" Margaery wailed.
"Fine. We'll do it your way!" Arya hissed through gritted teeth. "Margaery wore my dress, stole and wore my dirty underwear (Lady Redwyne's face was a purple picture of shimmering hate) to trick my fiancé…"
"Your fiancé?!" Margaery blurted out, swivelling around to look at 'Sansa'.
"Yes my fiancé" Arya snarled, ripping off her auburn wig and sunglasses and throwing them on the floor to a collective gasp of disbelief.
Jeyne cried out in an excessively theatrical way "Oh…look! It's not Sansa! It's her sister Arya! How did you manage to fool us all?"
"Because you are all obviously easily fooled!" to illustrate her point, Arya yanked off Margaery's already ripped, flowing 'maternity' top from neck to hem in one fluid motion to reveal a little, strap on, padded bump.
Willas was obviously genuinely shocked. "Did you really lie to me Margaery? Lie to us all?"
A panic stricken Margaery looked to Lady Redwyne for support. The old lady was looking skywards, avoiding Margaery's pleading gaze.
Seeing where Margaery was looking for support, Willas raged at lady Redwyne, "Were in on this as well?! You made me look like a fool in front of my peers! My own sister and my Grandmother! I can't believe it!" He ranted.
Arya turned her back to Willas so she was face to face with Margaery. She held up one hand and willed one vicious, obsidian claw to appear at the top of her index finger. Margaery's eyes opened wider in horror "Don't mark me! Not my face!"
But nothing happened. Arya stared at her finger. Come on. Still nothing. Come on. This is the bitch who tried to steal your man.
Wolf came upon her in one hot gush.
Too much, she knew. She could feel her teeth grow, her lips curl, and all five fingers had sprouted vicious, curved claws. No doubt her eyes glowed orange.
"I'm going to make you pay!" Arya sneered. Margaery's twisted with panic and fear.
Right on cue an effeminate voice shrilled "Unhand her!"
Arya swivelled around to see Joffrey and Tyrion Lannister standing in the doorway. Joffrey had a bouquet of red and yellow roses in one hand and was pointing dramatically towards Arya with the other. She snorted. Joffrey and Jeyne would embarrass even the most 'amateur' of amateur dramatic societies.
"Looks like we arrived at an opportune moment nephew!" Tyrion cried, with much more conviction than Joffrey could ever manage. Arya wondered if she was the only one who noticed Tyrion elbowing Joffrey in the back of the thigh.
Joffrey moved stiffly forward. "Yes uncle! Unhand her! You mad woman!" he cried, still pointing at Arya.
"Thank God!" Lady Redwyne gasped, holding the back of her hand to her forehead, as if she was about to swoon, causing Willas to rush over to her as fast as his bad leg would let him. As soon as her Grandson was within touching distance Lady Redwyne 'fainted' dramatically with an operatic shriek. Arya hoped Willas might have missed, but he caught his Granny deftly as she fell.
Joffrey was making his way warily towards Arya and Margaery, squeaking "Don't worry Margaery, I'll save you!"
Arya turned away from him with a sneer and looked into Margaery's eyes, wild with terror. Margaery wasn't a fool. She knew Joffrey couldn't save her.
"You ever go near my man again and I'll kill you." Arya vowed with absolute conviction. Margaery nodded, the stink of fear rolling off her in waves.
Before Margaery knew what was happening, Arya slashed a neat 'A' on the top of her left breast, with one obsidian claw. Arya licked her lips as crimson blood oozed out of the wound. Deep enough to leave a nice scar for Margaery to remember her by. Perfect.
"She's all yours Joffrey!" Arya sneered as she spun around and stalked off. Joffrey slunk back, hugging the wall as she passed him, growling.
"And let that be a lesson to you Arya Stark! Don't mess with the Lannisters!" Tyrion yelled, shaking his fist angrily in her direction.
"Don't push it Tyrion." She hissed as she strode past him.
When Arya reached the door, she turned to survey the scene she was leaving.
Jeyne was sitting chewing her nails. Joffrey was crouched over Margaery, trying to unfasten the fake baby bump while leering at her tits. Margaery was trying to scrabble away from Joffrey, a look of shock and horror on her face. Arya wondered if that expression was caused by what she had just done to Margaery, or whether it was caused by such close proximity to Joffrey. Willas was fanning his wicked old Granny with a copy of 'The Lady' magazine as she lay prone on a chaise lounge. Tyrion winked at Arya, before he waddled over to the Tyrells to cut the deal that would join them with House Lannister. Arya had no doubt he would succeed.
She allowed herself a smile of satisfaction. She had her revenge and her child would be heir to Storm's End.
-o-
Gendry and Jon sat waiting in one of the black Range Rovers. They had been waiting a long time.
"I wonder how Arya's getting on." Gendry muttered.
"That's the seventh time you've said that." Jon replied, his tone betraying the increasing exasperation he felt.
They'd had the radio on, the radio off, chatted for a while, sat silently for longer. Surely the confrontation with Walder Frey couldn't be long now.
When Robb had told Freya the wedding was off, she had at least pretended to be devastated. Robb had told in person, but he had declined a face to face meeting with the patriarch of the Frey family. As a result, he and received a visit from a couple of heavies who had tried to persuade him to change his mind. So far they had only threatened him, but they all knew that was only the beginning.
Gendry and Jon had decided if that was the way old Walder Frey wanted to play it, then they'd play his game.
They'd been sitting in his golf club car park for 4 hours. It was getting dark and the old git had finished his 18 holes 3 ½ hours before.
"I wish Loras was here."
"That's at least the seventh time you've said that." Gendry muttered.
"Well, can you blame me? I know the theory, but I've got no experience at this, whereas he had all those years in the SAS."
"Look on the bright side – you've got me." Gendry teased. Jon groaned.
Gendry decided maybe a bit of encouragement was needed. "Come on, don't be too hard on yourself, you're a natural. Look at that time in my flat, then when we were in Tyrion's house, even the pub when you took on those bankers single handed."
"Yeah, I forgot to thank you for your help that night." Jon muttered sarcastically.
"Only because you didn't need it mate! Very impressive."
They sat in silence for a while longer.
"Did I ever tell you about the time I rode shotgun with Loras when he went to fetch Petyr Baelish?" Gendry asked.
Jon shook his head.
"He was fucking impressive that night. Kicked down the door, had that little sleaze ball by the scruff of the neck. Littlefinger's pants were down at his ankles and still Loras hauled him backwards out of there, cool as you like."
"Unfortunately there are no doors to kick down here." Jon pointed out sarcastically.
"I suppose you could rip his car door off its hinges?"
"Yeah, I suppose." Jon said half-heartedly. "A bit show-offy though isn't it?"
Before Gendry could answer, Walder Frey finally emerged from the clubhouse with a young girl in a very short skirt.
"Christ! Will you look at that? I didn't think they allowed hookers in the club house. She must be 50 years younger than him." Jon snorted, wrinkling his nose in disgust.
"Come on, let's do this…" Gendry muttered.
They had parked in the farthest, darkest corner of the golf club car park. Walder Frey's obscenely large Mercedes was parked nearer the middle, but still outwith the area lit by the club's meagre lights.
Jon and Gendry quietly got out of the car, immediately catching the nauseating mingled scents of dirty old man and nubile young girl.
"Makes me want to puke." Jon whispered, before Gendry silenced him with a low growl.
They moved stealthily towards the Mercedes. The young girl, who couldn't have been more than 18, opened the driver's door for Walder to get. Then she walked around the huge car to the passenger side. Still Walder didn't start the engine.
"Let's go do this before he leaves" Gendry muttered. Jon put a hand on his arm – wait.
Walder reached up and switched the car's internal light off, not that it made any difference to the wolves.
The young girl swept her hair back over one shoulder, licked her lips and dipped her head down over Walder's crotch. He gripped her hair, his mouth sagging open in a sickeningly lewd expression as she bobbed her head up and down on his lap.
"Christ! I can't stand and watch this!" Jon snorted. "Let's go."
Jon stomped over to the driver's door and, true to his word, ripped the door back on his hinges as the metal screeched in protest. The girl's screeches weren't far behind. Gendry had opened the passenger door, had hold of the waist band of her skirt and had hauled her out of there before Walder had managed to utter a word.
"Pay her!" Gendry snarled. Walder looked bewildered as the girl struggled uselessly against Gendry. "Pay her!" Gendry repeated "And give her another 100 quid for the trauma of having to suck that shrivelled old cock."
Walder finally gathered up his wits.
"She's my wife you fools!"
Gendry let go of the girl so suddenly it was as if he'd been stung. She collapsed onto her knees in the gravel of the car park, wedding band and huge diamond ring sparkling in the moonlight.
"Oh!" Was all Gendry could manage, looking down at the girl, who grinned slyly up at him, licking her lips.
"Never mind that" Jon snapped, grabbing a handful of Walder's Argyll golf sweater and jerking Walder so he hung out of the door of the Mercedes, or rather the gap where the door used to be. Walder's suddenly limp cock sat in his lap like a shrivelled chipolata sausage.
"Know who we are old man?"
Walder gave Jon a knowing smirk. "Batman and Robin?"
Jon slapped Walder across the face with the back of his hand. Walder's false teeth flew out of his mouth, landing in the gravel several feet away.
"See, I've already knocked your teeth out! Don't fuck with me old man! You're playing with the big boys now."
The girl kneeling in front of Gendry giggled.
"Do you want what Tywin got? You threaten another Stark and we'll give you what we gave Tywin. Understand?"
Walder nodded.
"Say it!" Jon demanded.
"Yefff" Walder said, his lack of teeth making it difficult to talk properly.
"So we understand each other?"
"Yefff"
Jon shoved Walder back in the car, picked up his false teeth and threw them as far as he could across the deserted golf course. Someone would have an unpleasant surprise waiting for them on the 10th hole in the morning.
Gendry helped the girl - Walder's wife, to her feet. "Umm, sorry to have assumed you were a hooker Mrs Frey." He muttered.
She shrugged and winked at him, letting the tip of her tongue flick out from between scarlet painted lips. Gendry tried not to think of where those lips had just been.
Jon stood, arms folded glaring at Walder. The old man started the Mercedes up before trying to threaten Jon,
"You've not heard the last of the Frey's!" only it sounded like "Yoof not whffed the left of the Fref's."
Mrs Frey climbed in and Walder drove off, his driver's door scrapping along the ground in a shower of sparks and teeth grinding screeches (if you were lucky enough to have teeth).
Jon and Gendry stood and watched the tail lights of the car disappear down the drive.
"So? What do you think? Are we the new Loras and Renly?" Jon asked with a smile.
"Well, the teeth were a nice touch. I think Loras would be proud." Gendry patted Jon on the back and then grabbed his shoulder, playfully cuddling him and tying to kiss the top of his head.
"Oi! Get off me!" Jon yelped.
"It was you that wanted to be the new Loras and Renly mate!" Gendry chuckled.
Another problem solved.
-o-
"So how did you get on?" Gendry asked, throwing his jacket on the back of the chair and sitting down to unlace his boots.
Arya was immersed in their huge bath, up to her neck in bubbles.
"Hmm…" she mused.
The suspense was killing him. He had assumed that she would have phoned if it was good news. Maybe she would have only phoned if it was bad news. Shit, he had no idea.
"Why didn't you call?" he inquired calmly, as he stood up and started unbuckling his jeans, resisting the urge to demand he tell her immediately.
"I wanted to tell you myself."
"So…here I am." His jeans were off, the shirt followed.
"So…I think I'm going to enjoy this wolf thing." She smiled.
"I told you so!" A smile was good news wasn't it? "And…is Margaery or isn't she?" His underpants were discarded now too. It occurred to him that it wasn't often he was naked in her presence without having at least a semi-erection. Probably the last thing he should be thinking at the moment, but there you go.
"Isn't."
"Thank fuck for that!" He needed a drink. Fuck! Life could begin again. He ran his hands through his hair. He really need a drink as he'd decided, one way or another, he had to come clean about this last little headache once he knew about Margaery.
"The Champagne is on ice!" she purred, sticking one elegant leg out of the bubbles and stroking her thigh. Fuck Champagne. He needed something stronger. So might she. He went into the other room and came back with two large glasses of whisky. He handed her one. She raised her eyebrows, but never said anything.
He sat on the edge of the bath and dangled his feet in the water.
"I've got something else to tell you Arya…" He took a slug of the whisky. She did too, no doubt worried about what might be coming next. She waited for him to continue. He swirled the peaty, amber liquid around his glass and took another slug.
"There's something I did that I'm not proud of, but it was something I had to do…for the good of The Pack…and for us."
She sat up. He noticed her tits emerge from the water, all soapy and begging for his attention. Christ he'd better get this over with or else he would have to tell her about Cersi with a raging hard-on.
"Cersi Lannister was blackmailing us and Loras came up with a plan to blackmail her back – neutralise what she had on us, if you like. I had to…let her give me a blow job and we filmed it." He had rushed all of that out, speaking as fast as he could, hoping she wouldn't ask him for any details.
Arya just started at him, her face a blank mask. There was a long pause. He finished his whisky. What the fuck was she thinking? He didn't want to say any more in case he dug himself a bigger hole, but if she didn't say anything he didn't know if he should try and explain some more, or if she already understood.
"Did you come?"
Fuck! What kind of question was that? It wouldn't have been much of a blackmail tape if he hadn't come would it? It was bad enough that so many people he trusted had seen it; Loras, Jon, Renly, even bloody Brienne. Imagine if they had to show it to the Lannisters… here's the sex tape Lord Baratheon made with Cersi and, by the way, he couldn't even come. For fuck's sake Arya! Why did you have to ask that? There was only one answer.
"Yes."
"What was she blackmailing you with?" Still no expression on her face, voice calm and measured. Not even her heartbeat was giving anything away.
"Photographs of you, me, Jon and Danni on the rooftop of the Dorchester."
"Oh."
"Did you enjoy it?" she asked, her voice emotionless.
She could have been asking if he enjoyed a sandwich. Fuck! Cersi was a pro and she'd been very proficient, but had he enjoyed it?
"No."
"It was you that killed her wasn't it?"
"Yes."
He could hear her heart beating faster now. He wished he had another whisky.
"Do anything like that again and I'll kill you."
He grinned. "Of course! So am I forgiven?"
"Just keep your cock in your pants from now on Gendry – ok?"
He looked down at his, now stirring, cock. "What if I'm not wearing any?"
She scowled. "You'd fucking better be. Third strike and you're out Mister."
"Understood." He said solemnly. That hadn't been too bad.
"Where are the photos?"
"In the vault downstairs."
"All of them?"
He shrugged. "I presume there's a memory card somewhere that the Lannisters have."
"Make sure you get it back from Tyrion. We're all still here and Cersi isn't, so your tape isn't worth much now is it?"
Beautiful, sexy and smart. "No, you're right. I'll speak to him in the morning."
"Make sure you do and you can discuss an engagement present for Joffrey and Margaery with him at the same time."
They both smiled with satisfaction.
"And Gendry…I want to see those photos."
"Sure babe. You're the boss…"
-o-
There was still no reply from Loras, but all of the Starks and other close friends; Sandor, Rhaegar, Myrcella, Jeyne Poole and Stannis had been invited to stay at Storm's End on the night before the wedding, leaving Winterfell free to accommodate other guests. Jon had arranged for helicopters to ferry them to and from Winterfell. Only Stannis and Lady Catelyn Stark had declined. Stannis had declined the entire wedding invitation, claiming an unavoidable prior engagement. They all assumed it was really because he couldn't bear to spend time with the new Wolf Pack. Lady Catelyn had claimed she had to stay at Winterfell to oversee the arrangements.
Everyone knew that was a lie. Or at least a poor excuse. She had barely been involved in any arrangements since the double wedding had been announced.
From the moment they had first met, Lady Catelyn and Daenerys Targaryen had not seen eye to eye.
Danni's first words to her prospective new step mother-in-law were "I 'av 'eard so much about you Lady Catelyn, but you are not what I 'ad expected. I 'ad thought you would be tall and elegant like Arya and my Jon."
"I am a Tully Daenerys. Arya and Jon take their looks from the Stark side of the family." Lady Catelyn had explained with a tight smile.
"Ahh, zee fish from Riverrun." Danni had mused.
"Their moto is 'Family, Duty, Honour'" Jon had added rather sarcastically.
Lady Catelyn had agreed with an even tighter smile.
"Ahh…family eez first. As it should always be!" Daenerys had declared, looking Lady Catelyn directly in the eye, her unspoken question clear – if family comes first, why did you treat Jon so badly?
Lady Catelyn averted her eyes, looking as if she was ready to spit nails.
Sansa, ever the peacemaker jumped in with "I agree Daenerys! Mum always says family comes first too."
"And Jon – is he family or non?" Daenerys had asked innocently.
Sansa grimaced and stuttered "Umm...well…" and looked to her mother and Arya for support. Arya certainly wasn't going to help her mother out of the hole she had dug for herself.
Lady Catelyn replied coldly "He's not my family."
"Ahh…" Daenerys smiled sweetly. "Je vous comprends. He eez not your family, therefore you are not ours." She shrugged and gave Lady Catelyn her most charming smile.
Jon leant over, placing his hand gently on Danni's tummy and brushing his lips against her cheek. "I've got my own family now" he murmured.
Arya stood up walked over to stand behind Jon and Danni. She placed a hand on each of their shoulders. Jon covered Arya's hand with his own and grinned up at her.
Lady Catelyn stood up and walked out without another word.
As soon as her mother walked out, Sansa also stood up too, looking nervously from her mother to the group of three and then back to her mother, obviously torn. "I love you too Jon, but she's my mother." She muttered apologetically and ran after Lady Catelyn.
"I think that went well!" Jon smirked. "At least it's clear where we all stand…and thanks Arya." Jon looked up at his sister, eyes shining with admiration and love. Even if she wasn't his true, full blood sister, she was his Pack.
So it came as no surprise that Lady Catelyn Stark had decided not to grace Storm's End with her presence.
Gendry, Jon and the other men sat at one end of the long dinning table, while Danni, Arya and the girls were gathered at the other. It had seemed like a good idea at the time, a kind of mini hen and stag party that they hadn't had time for, but Arya found herself casting longing glances down the table towards Gendry at the other end. His eyes always seemed to know exactly when to find hers. Every time their eyes met she felt a new surge of wetness soak her panties.
The meal had started early and the champagne flowed. As a concession to tradition, the Brides and Grooms had decided they would all sleep alone the night before the wedding. Again, it had seemed like a good idea at the time, but now Arya wanted nothing more than to make love and fall asleep in his arms, but that wasn't what they'd agreed.
Just before 10pm, there was a commotion down at the boy's end of the table. Rickon had apparently started sneaking half finished drinks from the more 'well oiled' members of their party and Lord Stark, after making Rickon stand in a corner, while he gave him a stern 'talking to' decreed his youngest son must go to bed.
Rickon protested loudly, much to Ned's obviously embarrassment. How had they all let Rickon get so out of hand Arya wondered? Anyway, she decided to take Rickon upstairs to avoid causing her father any further embarrassment. Ned made a half hearted plea for her to stay and he would take Rickon himself, but as her father was obviously enjoying being in Jon, Robb and Gendry's company, Arya didn't want to end their, long awaited, bonding session. So she took Rickon (very) firmly by the arm and marched him out.
Her youngest brother was actually ok, once they were out of the dining room and he stopped protesting that 'it was so unfair!' Perhaps he calmed down quickly because he knew Arya wouldn't let him away with any shit, unlike Sansa and Lady Catelyn. He even happily told her,
"I'm glad you're marrying Gendry. It's like getting another big brother with the coolest cars and bikes…even if he is a bit scary." Arya had to laugh. Maybe she should get Gendry to speak to Rickon about his behaviour; Rickon certainly wasn't taking a telling from the rest of them.
Arya insisted on kissing him goodnight outside his bedroom door, as he struggled, moaning at her to 'get off'. He'd brought his X box with him, so she knew why he wasn't too bothered about going to bed so soon. No doubt he'd be up later than the rest of them; playing some inappropriate shoot-'em-up game.
As she made her way back to the dining room, she was surprised to first catch the scent of and then see Rhaegar near the top of the staircase, leaning against the ornate banister, gazing thoughtfully at the paintings of generations of Baratheons that lined the wall. She was sure he had been in the dining room when she had left with Rickon, seeming to be enjoying the company, but perhaps Rhaegar also felt it was time to call it a day.
She wasn't going to stop and talk, wishing him 'goodnight' politely as she passed, but he asked her which band would be playing at the wedding, so she had to stop and make conversation. She noticed they were standing in front of Robert Baratheon's portrait. After she told Rhaegar about the bands that had been booked for months; a traditional Scottish Ceilidh band (in keeping with the Scottish theme Freya had planned) and a more normal, 'wedding' band, the two of them stood and looked at the painting of Robert for a few moments in silence.
"Is that how you remember him?" Arya finally asked.
"Yes and the current Lord Baratheon is a chip off the old block isn't he?"
Arya, remembering the time she'd dressed Gendry in his father's suit and slicked his hair back 1980's style, had to agree.
"I was a fool to believe Robert when he came to me in France. You've no idea how much I've cursed myself for that over the past few weeks." He gave Arya a sideways glance and paused, as if expecting her to say something. She didn't and tried to ignore the subliminal messages his inner wolf was sending to hers. "While I'm not entirely surprised to find out Robert was a liar, I never, ever thought he would have killed her. How could you kill something you loved?"
"Maybe he didn't love her? Not really."
"We'll never know will we?" Rhaegar sighed deeply. "You remind me more of her each time I see you." He said wistfully, eyes still fixed on the painting. "That stunt with the Tyrells – that was something she would have done."
Arya smiled, but she didn't like the way the conversation was going and took a step down onto the next stair.
"You could do better than him!" Rhaegar growled, a hard, bitter edge to his voice.
This is why Arya had deliberately avoided being alone with him – she didn't want to have this conversation.
"You're wasting your time Rhaegar. Aegon's a great guy, but he's not for me." She said firmly, before turning and walked down another step, intending to draw a line under the conversation, but he grabbed her wrist, stopping her mid step.
"I wasn't referring to Aegon." He hissed as he held her wrist in a vice like grip.
If he wasn't meaning she could 'do better' with Aegon, then who could he mean? With a sinking feeling she realised he was talking about himself. She tried to jerk her arm away, but he was using inhuman force to hold her.
"Being around you is driving me wild Arya! I'm more of an Alpha than your pretty young Lord will ever be. I can teach you how to reach your full potential. Come with me and we'll start a new pack; you, me, Jon, Daenerys and Aegon. Come with me and the others will follow us."
Arya was rooted to the spot. It had taken Rhaegar to point it out to her – the others wouldn't follow Rhaegar, some of them wouldn't follow Gendry, but they would all follow her. As Arya realised she was the Alpha, her inner She Wolf stirred.
Rhaegar's eyes were wild with hunger and she could taste the hormonal secretions of his arousal, hear the effect his excitement was having on his heart. But he was bigger and stronger. Even with her new found wolf strength, she was no match for him physically. Power alone wasn't going to get her out of this. Wolf cunning would.
He wanted her and she would use that against him. She shook her hair back and offered her throat to him, eyes downcast; instinct telling her this was submissive behaviour, what this Alpha expected as his right. But arrogance was also his weakness.
She felt his libido spike as he accepted her submission, instinctively knew lust would dull his reactions and she moved. She brought one knee up, while simultaneously twisting her arm away from him. The shock of a knee in the balls, even wolf balls, and the jerking of his arm, was enough to make Rhaegar fold and loosen his grip. She was fast, too fast for him. In one sweeping arc, her wrist was free, her claws unsheathed and slashing across his face, sending blood splattering above them as his head jerked to the side with the force of her blow.
"I don't need you to show me anything." She spat.
She crouched into a fighting stance, the way she had seen Jon and Loras do as she felt her She Wolf surge through her, radiating from her cunt out with a sudden, instinctive understanding. So this was it, this was what all the fuss was about; a state of bliss, power, exquisitely heightened senses and wolf cunning all coursing through her veins, making her feel more alive than at any moment before, making everything that had gone before pale in comparison.
Rhaegar looked up with fevered red eyes, she smiled slowly and beckoned him forwards – bring it on.
Then they both smelled Him. Closing quickly, he would be here in moments.
Rhaegar stumbled to his feet, still clutching his balls.
"Bitch!" he managed to rasp.
"Tell me about it!" she sneered as he hobbled off in the direction of his room.
She swivelled around and headed down the grand staircase of her castle, already half way by the time Gendry appeared, running, panicked, desperate.
She grinned down at him, watching him race up the stairs towards her, taking them three at a time.
"I suddenly got this feeling you were in trouble." He gasped, looking her up and down; searching for signs that he had been right to be concerned.
"What's going on? I smell Rhaegar and blood. Are you ok? Tell me what happened!" he demanded.
"Nothing I couldn't handle. Just a misunderstanding, that's all." She gave him a sort of vicious, but contented smile; the She Wolf, now awoken, wouldn't be easily calmed. "I felt it Gendry, just as you described it." She wrapped one hand, still with obsidian claws, around his neck and pulled him down to her. She licked the side of his face from jaw to temple with her rough, wolf tongue. See, I'm like you now.
Words weren't needed; noses close, nuzzling, licking, almost telepathic understanding, seeing what they were reflected each other's orange eyes.
He scooped her up and carried her to their bed.
-o-
They'd fucked frantically twice in the immediate aftermath of her confrontation with Rhaegar, libidos amped up by wolf.
Arya was too excited to sleep for long. She'd woken Gendry up a few hours later, with an urgent need only he could satisfy.
He had been delighted the first time, but now as the first light of dawn began to break over the horizon and she reached for him again, he rolled away, preferring to stay asleep. Of course she wasn't having that and it wasn't long before he was participating as enthusiastically as ever.
She was desperate for sex. She simply couldn't get enough of him. At first, she'd put it down to the excitement of finally understanding what she had become. Almost immediately after they'd come together for the fourth time that night, he was asleep. She, still not quite satisfied, had gently squeezed his cock and wriggled against him again, hoping he would take her up on her offer. He'd opened one tired eye and groaned "Is this going to happen every night Arya? 'Cos I'm going to have to go to bed earlier if it is. I'm fucking knackered."
She purred. "Going to bed earlier sounds good to me." And wriggled some more.
But he turned his back to her and muttered. "I think you need to check your calendar. You must be in heat or something."
Really? She got out of bed and checked her diary; when she'd taken her last contraceptive pill, when he'd bitten her, when her last period had come. He might be right. She was mid-way through her cycle. Just to be sure, she googled 'ovulation in humans' and then 'ovulation in wolves'. Then, knowing it was true, understanding sleep wouldn't come; she lay back down beside his sleeping form to wait. The empty ache in her womb would soon be filled. Let him sleep and her patience would be rewarded come morning.
-o-
"I need to go Arya." He moaned as he lay, panting beside her, sticky with their mingled sweat and cum.
"Stay. Just once more…please." Her voice was husky with desire, her breath hot on his neck as she undulated against him.
"Dear God, I never thought I'd refuse you, but no. I've got shit to do and I'm sure you've got even more. We weren't even supposed to sleep together and instead we've fucked all night."
"Not all night." She murmured sliding a hand down his hip and across to his cock. He stopped her hand before she got there and sat up. He swung his legs off the bed as she playfully tried to stop him. He wasn't for playing, so she had to make do with watching him pull on last night's clothes, enjoying the play of muscles under smooth skin as he moved.
"I hope no-one sees me. I never thought I'd have to do the walk of shame from my own Goddamn room!"
"No shame in making love to your wife."She had never referred to herself as 'wife' before and the word felt alien on her tongue. "Next time I see you you'll be waiting at the alter for me."
He stopped buttoning his shirt and looked at her, blue eyes twinkling mischievously.
"You hope!" he teased.
She threw a pillow at him. He grabbed her ankles, pulling her forwards, so her bottom slid to the edge of the bed.
"Let me taste you one last time before I go."
She wasn't going to deny him. He nuzzled his face between her legs and gave out the most heart felt groan.
"What is it?" she raised herself up on her elbows.
"You…me…us. That scent; semen and cunt, DNA, new life. Maybe it's happening inside you now…"
Instinct told her not yet…
He kissed her, letting her taste what he had been describing.
Not yet…but soon.
-o-
Hair, make-up, dresses, Champagne. Everything passed in a blur. Arya had wanted to savour every moment, remember everything, but already it was 2 o'clock and she had no idea where the time had gone.
Sansa and Myrcella looked beautiful in their rose silk bridesmaid's dresses, their long hair curled and pinned, one auburn, one blonde, both faces shining with happiness and perhaps a little flushed from the champagne.
Danni and Arya had chosen to wear identical dresses. There had been no time to have wedding dresses specially made, but Danni had a definite idea of what she wanted and Arya, not much caring, had gone along with it; a designer dress from a magazine, an unadorned bias-cut silk sheath. Best of all it was available in silver and pale gold; echoing the bikinis that had so flattered their skin tones at the Dorchester. The dresses had been altered to fit, Danni's shortened and let out over her bust, which was growing more magnificent with every passing week, Arya, being of near model proportions, hardly needed hers altered at all.
They both wore their hair long, tumbling down their backs, Danni's pale and cool as moonlight and Arya's warm brown, subtly streaked with high and lowlights, making it shine.
Their flowers were white roses and purple thistles, long stems tied with matching tartan ribbon. The girls had long ceased bothering about these being Freya's arrangements. Everything had been bought and paid for months ago (by Winterfell – Arya was shocked to discover) and although money was now no object, neither Arya nor Danni saw any reason to waste what had already been done. So the Scottish theme remained and Danni in particular was delighted by the thought of kilts, the many tartan touches, bagpipes and the promise of Scottish Country dancing.
The only change Arya had insisted upon was that they were married outside, rather than in Winterfell's great hall. It was late summer and everything was green and lush. Winter was no doubt coming, but it wasn't here yet.
Sansa and Myrcella were hanging out of the window, watching the pair of Pipers playing on either side of Winterfell's grand entrance steps. The pipers were wearing tall bearskin hats, black dress jackets with silver braid, red tartan kilts, with long, hairy, black and white sporrans, black socks, white spats and a billowing tartan cape over one shoulder. The bagpipes they played were loud and although the girls couldn't name any of the tunes, they were vaguely familiar from televised Scottish New Year celebrations. The twin Pipers certainly created a magnificent first impression for the guests.
Arya and Danni took a last look at themselves in the full length mirror.
"We are beautiful Arya."
Arya had to stifle a laugh; Danni always said exactly what she thought. "Yes, I suppose we are, but you have a glow I envy. I wish I was pregnant. I would have loved us to share that too."
"Jon tells me 'eet will not be long." Danni smiled as she took Arya's hand, letting her sister-bride stroke her, still flat, stomach.
"I hope not." Arya sighed wistfully as the silk slid under her fingertips.
"We will 'ave beautiful bébés, non? I will 'av a girl, with Targaryen 'air and eyes and you Arya, shall 'av a big, bouncing, Baratheon boy. Maybe one day – 'oo knows, we shall 'av beautiful grandchildren together."
Arya wanted to believe it could be true, but Jaqen had only shown her so far. Oh dear! What was she thinking?! She was beginning to believe everything Jaqen had said was true.
"First we have to go and get married."
Arya called over to Sansa and Myrcella "Ready girls? Let's go get these men in kilts!"
-o-
Winterfell was surrounded by forest, but most of it was now evergreen pines, grown for commercial purposes. Only small pockets of the ancient forest remained, where oak and ash, birch and spruce still grew together. This was where Arya wanted to be married and Jon, always more at home in the grounds of Winterfell than within its walls, had been delighted by the idea.
White silk bows had been tied around the trunks of the trees and tartan ribbons fluttered from select branches. Their guests sat on white chairs, set out on the grass meadow. Arya had deliberately asked for the grass not to be cut, except for the strip in the centre which would form their 'aisle'. The carpet of lush grass under their feet was decorated with patches of daisies, buttercups and tiny pink geum.
None of them being particularly religious, the ceremony was to be performed by the local registrar, who now stood in front of the oldest tree in this grove of ancient woodland.
Lords Stark and Targaryen were to escort Arya and Daenerys down the grassy aisle to their future husbands. Rhaegar looked exceedingly uncomfortable as he accompanied the two brides and their bridesmaids from Winterfell house to the magical place where the ceremony would take place.
The red marks on his cheek where Arya's claws had raked him, were almost totally gone already, such was the supernatural power of wolf healing, but they both knew they were there and why they were there. Rhaegar avoided all eye contact. Who's submissive now? – Arya thought smugly.
Lord Stark, in contrast, seemed in an extraordinarily ebullient mood. Gendry's offer of financial backing appeared to have lifted a weight from his shoulders and Gendry himself had gone from being persona non grata to 'a welcome addition to the family' almost overnight. Arya knew the money was part of it, but by far the larger part was seeing how happy Lord Baratheon made his youngest daughter. Arya did feel full of 'joie de vivre' and she'd found herself singing aloud recently, much to Lord Stark's delight. She could never remember having done that before.
Lord Stark seemed to prefer not to mention the Werewolf connection between his daughter, her almost husband and Jon. He had been told Arya and Jon were in Maester's hospital after the last Full Moon and why, but when Gendry had confirmed they would both make a full recovery, Ned had declined to visit and had never mentioned it since. Arya doubted it would ever be mentioned again. Her father had chosen to adopt a parent's selective blindness towards anything wolf – if I don't see it, if I don't talk about it, then it can't be happening. That arrangement suited them all fine.
So Lord Stark escorted Arya from their ancestral home to the wood where she was to become a Baratheon. Jon was also losing his Stark identity (if he ever officially had one) by taking his wife's name of 'Targaryen'. Those that mattered knew this to be a convenient fabrication and bugger what anyone else thought.
Arya had assumed she would be nervous as she waited on her father's arm, for the Piper to lead them down the grassy aisle, but she wasn't in the slightest. She couldn't think of a single reason to be nervous. This is what she wanted. She had made her decision under the light of the Full Moon and this was simply a formality expected of humans. Gendry was her wolf mate and that tie bound them tighter than any ceremony ever could.
She first saw his back, ramrod straight, broad shoulders, short black hair, tartan plaid over one shoulder, hands clasped behind his back. God he looked good in a kilt.
Jon stood beside him, identically dressed, standing just as straight, then Robb and Edric as Best Men. As Jon and Robb had patched up their differences, Gendry and Jon had argued over who should 'get' Robb as their best man, before Gendry magnanimously gave in and asked Edric. The girls hadn't even had that conversation. There were two brides, two bridesmaids and no-one needed to think beyond that.
Edric, at the end of the line, was the first to turn around as the piper marched down the aisle. He nudged Robb, who looked around, nudging Jon, who also turned around. Arya grinned as she saw the blissful expression that appeared on Jon's face as he caught his first glimpse of his bride, glowing and pregnant with his child.
Gendry was nudged by Jon, but resisted the temptation to look until Arya was standing beside him. Only then did he allow himself to glance across at her. Even his eyes seemed to be smiling and conveyed everything he felt; you're beautiful, my love, my wife, my mate.
Not one of them could stop grinning for the whole of the wedding ceremony.
After the formality of the photographs, the endless congratulations, the speeches, the Scottish wedding banquet of smoked salmon, venison and wild raspberry dessert, came the fun.
"Ladies and Gentlemen the Brides and Grooms!"
Everyone clapped excitedly as the band began the First Waltz and the two brides and two grooms stepped out onto the dance floor.
"I know we're supposed to swap partners, but I don't want to let you go. I've had to share you with enough fucking people today and now I've got you to myself I'll be damned if I share you again" Gendry growled to his wife.
She punched his chest playfully.
"You know it's tradition. I need to dance with the other groom, the best man, my dad, the father of the other bride…well maybe not Rhaegar"" she laughed, "What do you think? Someone is going to steal me away from under your nose?"
"Let them fucking try" Gendry snarled and pulled her tighter, hand on her arse, marking his territory, pushing his hips into hers.
"Ow! Watch my dress on that sporran!"
"Sorry. I forgot about that" he muttered. "I just want you so much. Can we not leave now?"
"No we can not! It's only a few more hours and then you'll have me all to yourself and, more importantly…I'll have your big cock all to myself." She whispered against his ear. All afternoon, whenever he moved, his kilt swung from his hips in a way she found very erotic. She now understood why he liked being behind her when she walked up stairs. She wanted to find out what else was swinging under that kilt. "That outfit you're wearing is really turning me on."
"Hmm, I can tell" he murmured against her ear, licking the side of her face with a tongue that felt shockingly long and rough – a wolf tongue.
"Put that away! We're in the middle of the dance floor and get your hand off my arse too, or my dad will think you're feeling me up in the middle of the first waltz."
"But I am…"
"Well stop it!"
She lifted his hand off her bottom and put it on her waist. He immediately slid it down her dress again to cup her bottom.
"You are incorrigible!"
"If I knew what that meant I might agree." He growled and licked her again.
She pushed him away.
"Get off me!" she said – only half joking. It was time to swap partners anyway and Gendry very reluctantly let her go to Jon.
As Jon took her in his arms and swept her around the dance floor, she found herself thinking of Aegon for the first time in weeks and about his superb dancing. She looked at Gendry, stiffly waltzing Danni around the dance floor, jaw clenched in concentration. She could tell he was counting 'one, two, three, one two, three' and she had to smile. She had no regrets about her decision.
Next, Gendry and Jon took it in turns to dance with Sansa and Myrcella as Arya and Danni waltzed with Edric and Robb.
Arya knew Jon had ideally wanted Aegon as his best man. Arya thought how lucky she was that he couldn't come back from his American tour for the wedding. They had sent an invite to Aegon (at Jon and Danni's insistence) and to Loras. Aegon had contacted Jon immediately to regretfully confirm he couldn't attend, due to his prior tour commitments and Arya had been very relieved. Having Rhaegar around was bad enough, but she didn't think Gendry could be in the same room as Aegon without some kind of jealous pissing competition going on. However, no-one had heard from Loras. Arya had been disappointed he hadn't even responded, as she really had hoped he would have made the effort. The absence of Loras and, of course Renly, was the one blot on an otherwise perfect day.
She sensed him well before she saw him; another wolf in the room, his scent wild and familiar. She looked around, searching the crowded room and dance floor for him as Edric wheeled her around. He was already behind her, growling
"I'll take over from here Edric" before she had registered where he was.
"You came!" she squealed, "I had given up hope!"
Edric initially objected and Loras had to snarl at him, pulling wolf rank, before the best man reluctantly relinquished the bride, allowing Loras to take her in his arms. He held her like an expert, moving like a panther, guiding her round the floor with more finesse than any other man she knew (except perhaps Aegon). She relaxed and let him lead her in the dance.
He was one of the few men not wearing a kilt. He had on a suit, as usual, but it wasn't the same plain, black style he usually wore. It was silver and shiny; much more 'Renly' and made Loras look 10 years younger, or perhaps he looked younger because he was smiling, not just smiling, but grinning at her.
"You look beautiful Miss Stark, but your scent is sublime."
"You don't smell too bad yourself Ser."
He laughed. "Eu du Wolf - does it every time, but seriously, you smell … different…still wolf, but different to anything else I've ever smelled before."
He lowered his head, pressing his nose against her neck and inhaled her scent, reminding her of the many times she'd done a similar thing to him. It tickled and made her giggle with embarrassment. Being sniffed by Loras Tyrell was a strange, but far from unpleasant experience.
"Hmmm. I've never known a She Wolf before and I have to admit, there's something about you I'm finding rather exciting."
She leaned back a bit, so she could look him straight in the eye. Was Loras Tyrell really saying he found her exciting? He didn't even look as if he was joking..
He smirked at her. "I've never had a lady move me in the slightest before, but it seems there's a first time for everything. Now why do you think that would be Miss Stark?"
"Because I'm ovulating?" she muttered, flushing with embarrassment. What a conversation to be having with Loras in the middle of the dance floor.
"Ahhh!" he smiled. "You're in heat. My inner wolf knew it, I just never recognised the…ah…signs." He looked pointedly down at the crotch of his trousers and smirked again. "That explains why you smell so…enticing and why Lord Baratheon looks like he wants to rip my throat out."
The two of them looked across at Gendry, dancing with Myrcella, but glowering back at them. Arya blew him a cheeky kiss and watched him try and not snarl back.
She and Loras didn't talk for a while, as Arya tried to get her head around what he had just told her. If being 'in heat' was enough to stir even Loras' loins then no wonder Rhaegar and Edric, not to mention Gendry, were acting the way they were.
She decided changing the subject was the best course of action.
"I saw your Granny recently."
"I heard." He smirked.
"Did you hear she thought you and I would be a good match?"
"Really?" he seemed genuinely surprised.
"Until I told her you only liked cock."
He laughed. "You've got some balls Arya. If you could grow a cock, I might even be interested!"
She gasped at his cheek, finding it very flattering all the same.
"You were wasting your time if you thought you could give Lady Redwyne a heart attack. She's indestructible!"
"None of us are indestructible." She said softly. Their eyes met, each thinking of Renly.
"How are you doing Loras? Really?"
He heaved a great sigh. "I don't know. Going to America, working with the band and Aegon has been great. They make me feel young again. It's all so… so much funI suppose. All I've got to do is to keep them safe from hordes of marauding teenage girls. Makes a bit of a change from Lannisters!" he chuckled "The boys party all night, sleep all day. They think they're so cool and they make me a laugh; the make up, the trousers so tight they can hardly walk and all of them, except Duck, get drunk on two beers because they eat fuck all." He laughed. "I'm being unfair. They work hard too, especially Aegon; sometimes 15 interviews a day and a gig at night. I haven't had time to think about Renly…much."
"You know you'll need to …someday."
Loras grimaced and changed the subject. "He really misses you, you know."
"Who?"
"Who do you think? Aegon! He's writing like a maniac, says 'music is pouring out of him'." Loras chuckled. "You broke his heart, but it's going to make him a star."
"Did I really?"
"Yes you did Miss Stark." He looked surprised that she seemed unaware of the effect their (disappointing – for her anyway) one night stand had on Aegon. "I hope that big bastard Waters knows how lucky he is."
"Oh, I think he does, but what's next for you?" she asked,
"I know I've got to come back… sometime." He sighed, his face darkening again, his shoulders sagging slightly. She hugged him a bit tighter, resting her head on his shoulder, wishing there was something she could say to make him feel better. He kissed the top of her head. "But first, we're going to California and Aegon's going to teach me how to surf!"
When she looked up he was grinning again.
"Ooh! Finally something Loras Tyrell can't do!" she teased.
"Don't you worry Miss Stark; I'll have it mastered soon."
"Hmm, I'm sure you will and in the meantime how long are you staying with us?"
"I'm on the 5am flight back to New York."
"So soon?" she gasped in disappointment.
"Yeah, I'm going to sleep on the flight and still be back in Chicago for the gig tomorrow, so you'd better make the most of me while you've got me."
"Ohh, I think I'd better share you. I don't think Danni, Sansa or Myrcella would forgive me if I kept you to myself all night."
"And I don't think Gendry would let me!" he laughed, taking a step back as the music stopped. Gendry was immediately making his way towards them, having abandoned Myrcella in the middle of the floor.
"Looks like I'd better go and rescue Myrcella," Loras snorted, heading off.
Before Gendry could get to Arya, Edric was by her side, offering his hand.
"Please may I have this dance?" he asked, very politely. Arya was about to say 'yes' when Gendry arrived.
"No you may not Edric! You had the last one – piss off!"
"Gendry, don't be so rude!" Arya yelled, punching his chest as hard as she could, while still trying to be vaguely ladylike. Her punch obviously packed more power than before as he let out an involuntary 'OOF!' as her fist connected.
"Sorry Gendry, but I can't help it." Edric tried to explain. "What's that perfume you're wearing Arya? I need to get Myrcella some."
"What you need to get is Myrcella bitten" Gendry muttered.
"Oh!" Edric exclaimed, suddenly realising what was going on. He was a smart boy after all. "Sorry." Then he grinned, "Would you be flattered to know I've already had to take Myrcella upstairs twice today Arya?" he flushed scarlet.
Arya tried not to look as embarrassed as she felt. This time next month she was going to hide herself away she decided. Being a man magnet, or rather a wolf magnet, was far too much trouble.
"Take Myrcella anyway you want, but leave my wife alone." Gendry threatened good naturedly.
Edric gave his big brother a sloppy salute and scampered off to wait for Loras releasing Myrcella, no doubt so he could 'take her upstairs' again.
"You're not really jealous of Loras and Edric are you?" Arya teased her new husband as they danced together again.
"You think I like watching fucking Loras lick your neck? Christ! This is torture. Your scent is driving me crazy. Let's just go. I want to go put a baby in your belly." He murmured, before kissing her suddenly and unexpectedly. She opened her mouth in surprise, feeling his tongue sneaking into her mouth, sliding against her own tongue. She lost herself in the kiss, before realising with a start that his hands were on her bottom, hers up under his jacket and they had stopped dancing to stand, snogging each other, in the middle of the dance floor.
She pulled away quickly. A few people around them started clapping. She tried to smile at them but was embarrassed by getting so carried away so publicly.
He tried to kiss her again, wanting to continue where they left off. She put a hand on his shoulder, trying to push him away.
"I want that too babe, you know I do." She said breathlessly, sliding her hand between them, giving his rock hard cock a reassuring squeeze through the rough tartan of his kilt, just to confirm it. She loved the deep, needy groan that rumbled from the back of his throat in reply,"…but not yet. Midnight. You can have me then, but until then you've got to be a good bridegroom and do your duty."
"Prick tease" he growled as she turned away.
"Midnight!" she promised, leaving him standing in the middle of the dance floor, his sporran sitting at a rather awkward angle.
For the next three hours she did what was expected of the bride; sometimes with Danni, sometimes with Sansa or Myrcella, working the room, chatting to everyone, dancing with all the old men.
Scottish country dances were played by the Ceilidh band and instructions shouted out for each dance; the 'Dashing White Sergeant', the 'Gay Gordons' and 'Strip the Willow'. Each one was greeted with great enthusiasm and danced with great gusto, if little skill. Hardly anyone knew what they were doing, but that just added to the fun. Of course Loras knew them all. Arya was spun around and twirled under the arms of a procession of increasingly sweaty men. Arya liked the 'progressive' dances best, when you, or your group, had to change partners after a short, set dance. She was able to talk to more people and escape the worst dancers quicker. It also gave her opportunity to crash into Gendry sometimes, as he was dancing with the old ladies while she danced with the old men.
Every time he'd try and cop a feel, then give her a countdown of the time left until midnight, to which she'd laugh and wink and tell him to be patient.
The Ceilidh ended, the disco started and she managed to dance with Gendry some more. The band played all the latest hits and some old ones for her parent's generation. The most fun was dancing to 'Blurred Lines'. The girls lined their men up in a row. By this time, jackets were off, bow ties undone and all the guys had to do was stand and shake their kilted arses a bit, while the girls did their thing, strutting and teasingly dancing around them. Arya though Gendry was about to explode with lust. Knowing, smelling and feeling him so turned on was having a similar effect on her. She was increasingly worried that a damp patch was going to appear in her dress, right at the top of her legs. But still she made him wait - Midnight.
-o-
At fifteen minutes to midnight, the band called for the last dance. Everyone in the room had to make a circle around the Brides and Grooms, in the middle of the floor, and sign 'Auld Lang Syne'. The band asked that everyone think of 'absent friends'. Although Renly was not specifically mentioned, Arya thought there couldn't be a person in the room who didn't think of him as they sung about 'old acquaintances never being forgot'. She felt her own eyes prick with tears. A glance at Loras told her he was feeling the same.
At the end of the song, the band announced "We're not quite finished yet! In a few moments you'll be invited out into the gardens for a final champagne toast and to watch the firework display, but first, we have a special request from the grooms…
An expectant hush fell over the room until the singer started crooning
Now I've had the time of my life…
Arya looked at Gendry, who had a grin like a Cheshire cat on his face.
"You've got to be kidding me!" she wailed.
He shook his head and mouthed the rest of the words to her
No I never felt like this before
Yes I swear it's the truth
and I owe it all to you
He held out his hand and as she took it, he twirled her around, into his waiting arms. Jon was doing the same to Danni. The crowd surrounding them went wild.
'Cos I've had the time of my life
and I owe it all to you!
Arya nearly stumbled as Gendry grabbed her around the waist and pushed his kilted knee between her legs, doing a sexy rumba thing that she vaguely remembered from the movie and he was doing it right, not just right…brilliantly. He'd turned into Patrick Swayze overnight! He had the rhythm and the moves dead on. Where the hell did he learn that?
As Jon dipped Danni backwards she heard Jon muttering 'dip now!' A-ha! So he'd learnt it from Jon. She found the thought of the two of them practising this on each other to be hilarious! She was laughing so hard, that when he dipped her, hand firmly on her back, the other on her hip, rolling her across his knee, she nearly collapsed, only his sure hands, saving her from landing in an undignified heap on the floor.
When he lifted her up again, his blue eyes were smouldering as he sang
Just remember
You're the one thing – she just managed to say in time
I can't get enough of So I'll tell you something –
This could be love because
I've had the time of my life
No I never felt this way before
Yes I swear it's the truth
And I owe it all to you
They sung together at the top of their voices, along with everyone else in the room. She silenced his awful singing with a hard, passionate kiss, to resounding clapping all around.
When she came up for air, various couples had started their own 'dirty dance'. She saw Sansa and Sandor doing it like experts, Theon looked like he was about to eat the girl he was with and even Lord and Lady Stark seemed to be giving it a go. She quickly averted her eyes from that.
Then to her surprise, Loras took off his jacket, flung it at an equally surprised Rhaegar and started doing the Patrick Swayze, crowd leading thing. Edric and Myrcella fell in behind him, followed by Jaime Lannister, dragging a bewildered Brienne. Then Tyrion grabbed Jeyne's hand, joining in too.
They all followed Loras' lead and, although he was doing it perfectly, his backing dancers were rather less proficient; Brienne turned the wrong way, nearly tripping over Tyrion and Theon's rhythm left a lot to be desired, but that all just added to the sense of fun and everyone who wasn't joining in the 'crowd' scene, or doing their own 'dirty dance', was having a great time watching and clapping.
Loras led his phalanx of dancers across the floor as the singer crooned,
'Cos I had the time of my life
No I've never felt this way before
Yes I swear it's the truth
And I owe it all to you
'Cos I've had the time of my life
And I've searched through every open door
Till I found the truth
and I owe it all to you
Gendry dipped Arya expertly again and this time, when he pulled her up, he muttered in her ear, 'get ready for the lift'
"What?! I can't! We've not practiced!"
Sensing her near panic, he said reassuringly, "Just run and jump. I'll catch you. You know I'll not let you down."
Of course he wouldn't.
"Right, here it comes… back up and then just go for it!"
She did. The crowd parted for her, clapping in time to the music, cheering, guessing what was about to come next.
She caught Danni's eye at the opposite end of the dance floor and they grinned at each other like maniacs.
"Now!" she heard Jon and Gendry say together, standing shoulder to shoulder, facing their brides.
Gendry bent his knees, held out his hands and beckoned – come on!
What the hell! She hitched up her dress and ran at him. He caught her hips, effortlessly lifting her into the air. She concentrated; back straight, toes pointed, chin high, arms flung out as if she was soaring.
He held her up, steady as a rock, before carefully bringing her down, letting her drop her legs, clasping her tight as he moved his hands from her hips to cup her arse, then very slowly easing her down until her face was level with his. There seemed to be no-one else in the room; only the two of them, gazing into each other's eyes; love, lust, understanding, everything.
The song reached its crescendo as he gently, set her feet on the floor.
Now I've had the time of my life 'cos I've had the time of my life
No I never felt this way before
No I've never felt this way before
Yes I swear it's the truth
They mouthed to each other, 'And I owe it all to you'.
"Ladies and Gentlemen! We hope you have the time of your lives!" the singer yelled over the clapping and cheering crowd. "A Firework show is about to start if you'll please make your way outside!" Before he had even finished, before guests had started filing outside onto the patio, Gendry had her by the hand, dragging her off the dance floor. She had to jog to keep up.
"Wait!" she dragged him back.
He turned impatiently. "You said midnight!"
"There's five minutes to go!"
She dragged him off to see Loras, who was talking, actually laughing with Rhaegar. They obviously smelled her coming as the two of them turned around, Loras with a grin on his face, Rhaegar with a petulant scowl. Gendry was dragging behind her, but that wasn't going to stop her.
"Hey Patrick Swayze! I can't leave without saying goodbye."
"So you liked my moves then?" Loras chuckled.
"I didn't know you were on this Dirty Dancing idea too!"
"He wasn't" Gendry growled.
"I've just seen the movie a few times – another one of Renly's favourites." Instead of looking miserable, Loras grinned "My God, if he had been here, he would have loved that! He would have wiped the floor with us all!"
Arya flung her free arm around Loras' neck.
"I think you're gonna be ok" she smiled and gave him a quick peck on the cheek. Loras gently nuzzled Arya's neck in return, making her giggle and causing Gendry to roll his eyes and fume silently.
"I've got an impatient man here!" Arya protested when Loras didn't stop.
"Oi Waters!" Loras snarled, looking up from Arya's neck.
Gendry groaned. "What now?"
"If she's not pregnant by the time I come back, I might have to do something about that myself! Time we had a few wolf cubs in Storm's End."
Gendry smirked and told Loras he needn't worry. Rhaegar folded his arms across his chest and gritted his teeth with a sour look on his face. Arya had to bite her lip to stop herself from laughing at the three of them.
"Come on" Gendry persisted, tugging her hand.
"See you soon Loras?"
"Not too soon." He winked.
"Goodbye Rhaegar." The Targaryen lifted one of his hands in a half wave, although his face stayed stony.
Gendry was already heading for the exit, pulling her after him.
As soon as they were around the first bend in the circular staircase, out of sight, he pushed her up against the wall, hands roaming all over the silk of her dress, nipping and biting her neck.
"Not here" she managed to pant. It felt so good, it was hard to stop. He didn't help by dropping to his knees, pushing her silk dress up and running his hands up her stocking clad thighs.
"I think I've died and gone to heaven!" he whispered hoarsely as he reached the top of her thighs, pushing the dress up further to reveal her bare cunt. "My bitch is in heat and she's not wearing any panties" he groaned as he buried his face in-between her thighs.
"Ahh…oh my God!…"she gasped as his tongue found her clit "... I couldn't wear any because…oh God!...because the dress was too sheer."
She tried to push his head back, but he wasn't for stopping.
"No Gendry!" she panted. "Not here. Up on the roof. I want to see the fireworks while we fuck."
That had the desired effect and he reluctantly stood up, wiping her juices away from his mouth with the back of his hand.
The two of them ran up the stairs. The last stair case, to the roof, was so narrow they had to go in single file, arguing over who should go in front and who got the best, rear view. Arya won as she declared she might never get the opportunity to put her hands up his skirt again. He led her by one hand while he swatted her wandering hands away with the other. She was trying to lift his kilt for a peek at his hairy arse.
As they turned the last bend, he chuckled, "Seems we're not the only ones with this idea."
As they opened the door out onto the roof, Arya caught the scent too; Danni and Jon and the unmistakeable smell of sex.
Arya couldn't immediately see them, but she could see Danni's silver silk dress hanging from an eye level, stone wolf's head. Jon's jacket was abandoned on a wall.
Once they turned the corner, Arya and Gendry could see Jon and Danni in-between two turrets. Danni's bare skin and silver hair shone in the pale moonlight of the weak crescent moon. She leant against the steel balustrade, with Jon behind, wrapping himself around her.
Arya and Gendry heard their ragged breathing and the small, wet sounds as Jon kissed Danni and worked his fingers around her slippery cunt.
Jon straightened up as he sensed their approach, whispering to Danni, "told you…"
Danni turned around, hands still playing with her breasts, the huge globes gleaming in the moonlight, dark, hard, distended nipples peeking through her fingers. She was naked except for her stockings and sky high heels.
"I 'oped you would come." She whispered sultrily, as she walked towards Arya, letting Jon's hands fall away.
She embraced Arya gently, kissing her softly on the lips. Arya could taste Jon there, but still she let Danni deepen the kiss, feeling her sister-bride's small, pointed tongue probe her own willing mouth. As Danni's hands slid up her arms, resting on her bare shoulders, Arya felt Gendry behind her, slowly unzipping her dress, until it slid off and pooled at her feet. Gendry's big warm hands were on her hips, stroking her stomach, sliding down, seeking her clit. His breath was warm on the back of her neck as Danni's was hot and moist in her mouth.
Arya ran her hands over Danni's soft, pregnant stomach, imagining the little life growing safe inside.
As if reading her thoughts, Gendry murmured "It's your turn tonight Arya. I'm going to put my baby in your belly."
The She Wolf inside her confirmed - yes, it was time.
Arya arched her back and pushed against her mate. Her cunt was heavy with need and he promised her so much.
Danni pulled away slowly, Jon encircling her in his arms again.
"Push your sporran to the side mate and just lift your kilt" Jon advised as he bent Danni over the railing again. "Great things for easy access, these kilts!" Jon laughed, giving Gendry a demonstration and, judging by Danni's hot little cry of joy, sliding his cock home.
Gendry gently moved Arya towards the balustrade, keeping one hand on her hip, while he adjusted his sporran with the other as Jon had suggested. Arya willingly gripped the cold metal of the rail and thrust her arse up and out for Gendry. She felt him move behind her, felt the rough material of the kilt against her thighs and her back, then felt the hard warmth of his thighs against her arse, as he instinctively sought her sweet, ripe centre.
She parted her thighs further for him, enjoying the sensation of his hands stroking her stomach while his big, blunt cock nudged against the entrance to her greedy cunt. She stuck her bottom out further, allowing him to slip inside. She groaned with need as he slid deeper and deeper in, enjoying that wonderful full feeling of being stuffed with his cock and the thrill of being naked under the moonlight, with hundreds of people below. Only their moon could see them and she felt aglow under its steady gaze.
Gendry began to move inside her, slow and deep, then hard and fast, slow and deep again, a delicious rhythm that had her panting for more.
Far below, they could hear the excited countdown as they came together. Gendry pumped his seed into her and with it, the promise of new life. An unfamiliar sensation pricked the back of her throat as her orgasm hit and her womb contracted, sucking him deeper in. A howl ripped unbidden from her lungs and, for a brief moment, before the haunting sound was drowned out by erupting fireworks, a Werewolf's howl was heard once again over Winterfell.
THE END
Oh how I've longed to type those two little words! But wait! I'm not quite finished yet. I've got a little epilogue to write about babies…