"The Honored Guest" Chapter 55 Back in Business

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Previously: "All right, I'll wait until we are alone," she purred mischievously while fixing her bustier which had been unlaced just enough to reveal her small but enticing cleavage, and Aegon realized that he had become aroused. "Come," Arya added while taking his hand, "let us go to my pavilion."

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Arya led the prince to her pavilion by the hand. As they entered, Lord Jon and Lady Nym were just leaving, both with smiling faces. Nym's mouth was puffy and her makeup was in slight disarray, and Jon's cheeks were flushed, with traces of makeup on his face, and he looked embarrassed when he saw the youngsters. "My lord," Aegon caught his attention, "You might want to wipe your face before going out," and offered him a hand towel he found draped over a chair. Jon took the cloth and rubbed it over his face, and when he saw the color deposited on it, hurriedly returned it to Aegon's hand, blushing intensely. Nym looked back and grinned, and when the adults were gone, Arya and Aegon exchanged glances and giggled. "We almost caught them smooching! That would have been funny," Arya grinned. Aegon had no idea what to think about his mentor now, but suspected that their next meeting would be awkward.

The she-wolf seated Aegon on a bed and stood confidently in front of him, remembering how much his expression showed admiration when she first appeared in her new garb. "Well," she ventured, "you haven't seen me in almost ten and eight moons, what do you think?" and she twirled around once more for him.

The prince was admiring her, and he replied, "Well, your hips are wider and you have a real waist, and," he gently turned her around, "your arse is even rounder, very nice," and returned her position to face him again.

"Is that all you see?" Arya inquired expectantly.

"Um, nae, you have breasts now," he added with a rush of breath.

"Would you like to see them?" she asked with flashing eyes and a grin.

"Aye," it sounded more like a prayer than affirmation.

Arya made a show of removing her bustier, slowly opening the laces and spreading the boiled leather, while still screening her bosom. Finally in one rapid flourish, she pulled the bustier over her head and stood boldly facing him, her breasts inches from his nose and quivering slightly. Aegon gulped loudly and visibly marveled at the sight, exclaiming, "Arya! You are beautiful!" His hands reached out to hold the inviting globes, he cupped them gently, and applied gentle pressure, awestruck at how round and soft they were. Aegon had been acquainted with her pointy raspberry teats, and was now pleased to see 'the twins' on the top of two precious little hills. He murmured reverently, "I can hold your whole breast in the palm of my hand!" The prince was becoming captivated and continued to stare at her bosom.

The she-wolf's eyes grew dark and she scowled, "Humph! I wager you would prefer to fondle that cow Margaery's huge breasts!"

"Nae, I like yours, because they are yours!" Aegon replied dramatically.

"Then prove it!" Arya demanded.

Aegon merely moved his face forward the few inches that separated their bodies, and began to suck on one breast, while caressing the other and squeezing the teat, and then duplicated his efforts on the other one. He was breathing heavily and making slurping noises, obviously enjoying himself.

Arya clutched his head and moaned, "Oh, I have wanted your mouth on my breasts for so long! I wrote you that I liked to be fondled, but I craved your touch most of all, and I was right. I need your attention!"

They remained in that position for some time, Aegon seated on the bed, worshipping her bosom, Arya, naked to the waist, leaning into him, head back and moaning. One of the lad's hands was stroking the breast not presently in his mouth, and the other was squeezing her firm round arse.

Suddenly they were interrupted by Haldon, who abruptly rushed in without announcing himself, urgently proclaiming, "Your grace! There has been a raven with news from Essos! I came as soon as I read the missive! Oh!" He stopped and stared, "I am sorry, Prince Aegon, I should not have entered without warning! Forgive me!" and turned his eyes away with some embarrassment.

While Arya giggled and made no move to appear more modestly, Aegon removed his mouth from her breast and fixed his eyes on the half-maester, saliva still dripping from his lips, and said, "Well, you are already here, so you might as well relate your report." He removed his hands from the she-wolf's body, and she covered herself with a robe that was draped over a nearby chair.

Mortified, and still avoiding eye contact, Haldon said, "We received a message from a reliable source that your aunt Daenerys has been seen leading a large army in Essos, and there are rumors that she has dragons, too!"

Aegon replied, "That is very interesting! We must go discuss this information with Lord Jon. Lady Arya, would you join me?"

Arya nodded her head and said, "Aye, I will go with you." Then she directed a smirk at the half-maester, saying lightly, "Haldon, there is no need to be ill at ease. You are our maester, and at some time in the future, Aegon and I will be discussing family planning with you." To the wicked girl's delight, the half-maester blushed even more at her words.

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After the evening meal, Arya told Aegon to expect a visit from her later, as they had unfinished business. In trying to avoid any further scandal, Arya slipped into his tent late at night when everyone should be sleeping. Ser Rolly was dimly aware of her entrance, but only grunted and rolled over in his alcove.

Aegon sat up in his bed when he saw her. He was bare to the waist. Arya moved to him and ordered, "Kiss me like you really missed me," pressing her body against him, and he could feel her hard teats through the silk robe. Her tongue snaked into his mouth and the prince became excited as she boldly explored, realizing that she had gained much kissing experience while they were apart. Aegon's hands cupped her breasts and fondled them through the silk. Her hand slipped down inside his smallclothes, and she murmured, "I want to see if you have grown into a stallion."

At the touch of her hand on his cock, Aegon exclaimed, "Oh!" and immediately became aroused.

"Well, let's see what we have here," Arya said as she pushed his smallclothes down and critically examined his package. "Hmmm," she commented after a moment, "You have grown larger, and thicker, methinks. Sarra says that is a very good thing, and I cannot wait to find out what she means by that. Now, can you grow even more?" and she began to stroke his member.

He panted, "Arya, be careful, I fear that I am losing control!"

"Don't be a green boy, your grace," she snickered, but removed her hand. "We will have lots of time for losing control later."

Now she stood back and capturing his eyes, announced, "Now I want you should see me," and carefully loosened her silk robes, sliding them first off of one shoulder, then the other, and finally let them fall slowly to the floor, exposing her pert breasts fully to his view. Aegon also admired her lacy, feminine silk smallclothes, saying, "You should always wear those."

Arya grinned wickedly and retorted, "You will like me better without them!" and loosened the laces and let them fall slowly to the floor with a wiggle of her hips. Aegon smiled and recalled how after the wedding at Harrenhal she had come to his bed and done a little strip tease as Lady Nym had coached her. It was cute even though her curves had not developed yet, and there was no hair on her mound when she slipped on her nightie, but now, he was quite stimulated by her body. Earlier that day, he had marveled at her hips, waist, and arse, but now her mound was prominently on display, covered in soft delicate brown curls, and at the tempting sight, his cock immediately stood up at attention, catching Arya's eyes, which became very wide, and she exclaimed, "Oh, my!"

"Arya, I think we both should put on some clothing," Aegon choked out the words as beads of sweat appeared on his forehead, "as I confess that I have become overcome with the desire to make love to you right now, and that would not be wise!"

The wolf girl was still staring at his cock, which seemed to be demanding her attention, and she responded, "Aegon, I think you are right, because in another moment I may impale myself on you and care nothing for the consequences!" She only tore her eyes from him after he pulled up his smallclothes and hid his privates, and then slid a nightshirt over his head, as Arya grabbed her robes from the floor and hastily dressed.

They were still staring at each other and panting, and Arya ventured, "Even if we do nothing more tonight, I would like to kiss you again." Fully clothed now, they moved closer, embraced gently, and focused solely on tangling tongues, both thinking about their time apart, and how they had longed for the intimacy they were now enjoying. As they shared the warm and tender kiss, both lovers noticed a powerful reaction developing in their emotions. Arya thought, I have kissed so many boys since leaving Harrenhal, but not one affected me even half as much as Aegon! The special bond I felt in Harrenhal is still present!

For his part, Aegon became startled and drew back, his eyes glazed staring at her in confusion and wonderment. He blurted out, "I felt something unusual! I need to kiss you again." They resumed kissing and the sensation was repeated, a tingling from head to toes, a mixture of sexual desire and familial affection, more comforting that a favorite meal, as cozy as being wrapped in a flannel blanket on a cold night with the wind howling outside the window. He realized that he had missed her touch more than he ever could have imagined.

Arya was trying to make sense of her feelings. She reflected on her kisses with other boys. With Gendry, they had been pure passion. The young smith had lit a fire in her belly when he had embraced her, and at the time she was reminded of how she and Aegon had witnessed Lady Nym riding Ser Rolly, urging each other to a mutual explosive release. Although she had been so young, she had imagined coupling with Gendry and seeking that pleasure. When Nestor kissed her, he tenderly held her and fondled her hair, as though he worshipped her, murmuring that she was a special princess. Her trysts with Arron mirrored their shared classroom lessons; they explored each other's body with almost academic curiosity, learning about sexuality by way of experimentation. She really wasn't crushing on him, but enjoyed their time together. Ned Dayne's kisses gave her comfort when she most needed it – learning that her beloved brother Jon was actually her cousin, surviving her first battle. When she had needed an embrace and a kiss, he was there to console her and assure her that everything would be all right. Now she realized that Aegon's kiss was a combination of all these experiences, and the one that she cherished the most.

She abruptly recalled Sansa gushing, oh so long ago, about some tale she read about a Princess Giselle of Andalasia, who after a series of adventures, recognized her perfect prince by his 'true love's kiss'. Sansa had swooned over the story and jabbered on endlessly about how she wanted to find her predestined prince and experience that special kiss. Stunned, Arya thought, No, Sansa could not have been right! This is not a fairy tale! The thought was much too romantic for her, and she almost gagged and brought up dinner. The bold wolf-snake banished the notion to the deepest dungeon of her mind, and thought, if I ever tell Aegon what I was just thinking, he will laugh and tease me for the rest of my life!

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Arya had been eager to meet Tyene Sand, the third Sand Snake. Whereas the two older bastard daughters were much like their father, Prince Oberyn - tall and olive-skinned, with dark eyes and hair; Tyene took after her septa mother. She appeared small, soft, and delicate, with a pale complexion, blonde hair and blue eyes. Nym had told Arya that Tyene appeared innocent, but was as experienced in the erotic arts as her older sister, and a master at mixing poisons. Although Tyene had seen ten and nine namedays, she was scarcely taller than Arya.

Tyene eyed the Sand Snake bracelet on Arya's arm. "Wolf girl, we have something in common, a hatred of the Lannisters and contempt for Joffrey Baratheon. I heard you caused much turmoil when you wounded and humiliated him, and as a fortuitous result, met our cousin Aegon. I find it amazing that such a small girl could cause such a commotion."

"I am not a small girl!" Arya protested, "You are not much larger than I and yet you managed to secretly poison Joffrey and escape the Red Keep!"

Tyene smiled, "That proves my point. It is not the size of the girl in the fight, but the size of fight in the girl. Welcome to the Sand Snake sisterhood, Arya Stark," and she hugged her tightly. Then her face displayed a wicked grin much like Nym's when she meant to say something shocking, and japed, "Although you are not of the seed of the our father, I believe that you are intimately familiar with his seed. I understand that you also craved and received a variety of kisses from Prince Oberon."

Arya blushed a deep red color, realizing that Lady Nym had told her sister all the sordid details about her tryst with their father, and she was very uncomfortable. Tyene smiled, "Not to worry, wolf-snake, my dear sister must have taught you very well if you were able to seduce the Red Viper at your tender age. Nym told me that he confessed his guilt like a green boy when she confronted him. I would love to have been a witness to that conversation. You will certainly be a formidable threat to your enemies."

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After his disastrous late night tryst with the she-wolf, Ned Dayne lagged behind the main party and did not rush to King's Landing, as he wanted to create some distance between Arya and himself. Lord Ned finally reached the site of the siege forces, and was lucky enough to arrive well after the turmoil about Arya and Margaery was over.

Arya and Aegon were holding hands as Lord Dayne approached and introduced himself as the Lord of Starfall, then bent the knee to his liege lord. Aegon returned the greeting and formally added, "This is my betrothed, Lady Arya Stark."

"We became acquainted on the roseroad, your grace," Ned replied carefully.

Arya grinned and said, "We celebrated the victory over the Tyrells together."

The young Lord of Starfall was blushing as Aegon eyed him with a bit of resentment in his voice, "I'm sure you did."

Ned excused himself, backing away politely and hastily making an exit.

Aegon studied Arya, "I find myself uncomfortable meeting a boy you have kissed."

"In that case, prepare to be uncomfortable often," she responded with a gleam in her eye.

"I suppose that wherever we go in Westeros, I will meet boys that you have kissed?"

"I suppose you are right, but I did not kiss every boy I met!"

Aegon shook his head, "Lord Jon had it right, you are a challenge for any boy foolish enough to love you."

Arya smiled, nibbled his throat and dragged her tongue around the shell of his ear, sending jolts of electricity right down to his cock. "Do you regret taking me on as a challenge, your grace?" she breathed into his ear.

"Never in my life," he responded, and pulled her in for a sweet kiss.

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Ned Dayne, watching from a distance, sighed, and walked away. Sarra observed him, tapping her foot, and wondering if she should 'console' him. "Lord Dayne, do not pine for the wolf princess. You know that it will do you no good. Mayhaps I can comfort you," giving him a wide smile and stroking his cheek, lowering her sensuous eyelashes.

Ned smiled appreciatively, responding, "I thank you for your concern, Sarra. You are a lovely girl, but I would only value intimacy with the girl I would wed. I love Lady Arya and am heartbroken knowing that she could never be mine."

"You would not consider courting me?" Sarra asked curiously, seeking to know more about this sensitive and handsome lad.

"Any boy would be most fortunate to have you in his life, but I am afraid that I would be too boring for you. You lead the exciting, adventurous life of a Sand Snake, and I could never keep you happy," he volunteered sadly.

"Well, I like you, and urge you not to worry about all that," Sarra replied, moving closer and purring into his ear, "Cannot we become 'friends with benefits'?" while giving him an inviting and sultry smile.

"I am afraid, my lady, that I would regret that action once I meet my true love," Ned shook his head and declined.

Sarra sighed, "All I want is some lusty lad who has no misgivings about taking me into the stable and pounding me against the wall until I pass out with pleasure, and lately all I meet are you honorable young men!"

"I am sure you will get what you want eventually," Ned smiled, "there are few men who could deny a beauty like you anything."

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The Dornish wagon train finally arrived at the encampment, and Arya's chest was delivered to her pavilion. She sent a message for Aegon to join her there. When he arrived, he noticed with distaste that it was a horrid mess as usual, with clothing all over floor and hanging over chair backs, and piles of possessions on the seats. Lady Nym and Sarra apparently didn't seem to mind the clutter. Arya had no use for organization; her clothes lay wherever she discarded them. When dressing, she would pick up an item from the floor, sniff it, and put it on. Aegon recalled what a mess Lady Ashara's pavilion was when Arya first moved in. The prince was appalled by her lack of neatness, as he was very fastidious – he liked his shirts spotlessly white, and the laundresses knew to fold and put away freshly cleaned clothing in his chest. Looking around the chaotic tent, Aegon thought, when we are wed and sharing a chamber, I am going to paint a white line down the center of the room and insist that she keep her rubbish on her side of the line, and not leave any on mine. I don't know how I will be able to live with her!

Aegon turned his attention to the wolf-girl, who was standing by a pile of books, parchments, slates, and a box of chalk, ink pots, and quills. She said, "As I wrote you, I plan to improve Golden Company's artillery. I have no desire to sit around doing nothing during the siege. Come, help me carry these goods to Haldon and we can begin working." Then she grinned, "I want to drop a rock on a Lannister head."

Arya told Haldon that Maester Caleotte had taught her about projectiles, and showed him the books of geometry and trigonometry that the Dornish maester had loaned her, looking for all the world like a mother about to sacrifice her children, extracting a promise from Arya that she would take good care of his treasures. Arya explained that she had learned how to improve the range and accuracy of the war machines. Haldon listened closely and shook his head, reluctantly saying, "I know little of this subject. In this situation, my lady, you are the maester now, and I am the student." Arya smiled and liked the feeling of power that his words gave her.

Using the slates, parchments, and images in the books, she explained and reviewed what she intended to do, until both Haldon and Aegon nodded that they understood her plans. Arya was very serious with her calculations and had Aegon check her sums frequently. The prince noticed that the messy girl had become so absorbed in her efforts that there was chalk dust and ink everywhere she touched. Aegon thought that she was so adorable with an ink smudge on her rosy cheek and her hair coming loose from her braid that he went closer to kiss her, and she got annoyed at the distraction, scolding him for not being serious. Haldon smiled at their interaction.

When they were ready to approach the artillery men, Arya decided to counter the stereotype, dressing in delicate silks which enhanced her modest figure, and decorated herself with her Sand Snake arm bracelet, direwolf brooch, and Aegon's necklace. She wore her hair loosely and drawn back from her face with two small braids gathered behind her head, applying light makeup as a finishing touch. Sarra suggested a modest shade of pink lip wax and just enough kohl to make her eyes appear even larger. Arya gazed into the glass and laughed, "I look as harmless as one of Sansa's porcelain dolls!" She reckoned, if the innocent act works for Tyene, why not me? The soldiers looked wary, thinking that her presence must be a jape, as the demure maiden in front of them had no business being anywhere near instruments of death. The she wolf inspected the catapults and trebuchets carefully, and made suggestions for improving their construction. The carpenters looked doubtful, but since this girl obviously had the ear of the Prince, they followed her orders.

Arya tested the weapons, making notes and recalculations, and adjusted the settings on the war machines, painting marks on them after observing the results. As she experimented, the crew bounced exploratory rocks against the walls of the city, right below a group of jeering guards who started taunting the artillery crew sarcastically for their faulty aim. Arya distinctly heard one derisive soldier shout, "I fart in your general direction!" The wolf-snake's eyes narrowed and she pursed her lips in anger. Arya made a few more calculations and reset the adjustments, and then had the soldiers reload the bucket, shouting, "Let it fly!" The rocks landed directly on the mocking guards, and Arya was satisfied to see one rock land on the most offensive one, splitting his head open like a ripe melon. As Arya watches his blood splatter all over his alarmed neighbors, she smiled evilly and said, "Serves him right, the arsehole!" She shouted up at the dismayed Lannister minions, "Fuck you, you cowardly lions!" One of Prince Aegon's artillery men muttered "The little lady appears as innocent as my guileless daughter, but looks can obviously deceive; she is really a bloodthirsty wench!" The crew looked at Arya with new respect, and now jumped quickly when she gave orders.

Under Arya's direction, the artillery crews continued to target the manned parapets of the city's walls, and landed some loads in the bailey directly behind the walls, also. The she-wolf was curious as to the damage caused by the rocks falling within, and decided to see if she could warg into any of the numerous pigeons flying around the city. She found that the pigeons were not very smart, but had very good eyesight. Using the pigeons as spies, she was able to determine the time of changing of the guards, and dropped a load of rocks on a surprised troop of soldiers as they marched across the bailey. Even when they altered the time of changing, Arya knew and reacted aggressively.

The Lannisters soon learned that their walls could only protect them so much, and were wary of artillery attacks. Suspicious Lord Tywin Lannister suspected that there were spies among his guards, and some unfortunate men suffered torture and death as he unsuccessfully tried to discover the secret of the timely strikes on his soldiers. Their problems increased when flaming bundles of oil-soaked kindling started landing on the Lannister catapults, and destroyed several of them. If the castle artillery strove to counterattack, Golden Company simply moved their war machines out of range. Arya was very pleased with her combat effort, thinking, I have to send a raven to Maester Caleotte and thank him. Lord Jon praised her at an evening meal, as Aegon gazed at his consort with admiration and affection, and it went right to the she-wolf's head. I must tell Father! she thought with pride.

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General Obara Sand was leaving a dinner council with her captains and saw her sister Nymeria at a distance talking to a tall soldier. Lady Nym noticed Obara and motioned for her to approach. When she was close by, Nym smiled and said, "Honey, let me introduce you to my redheaded friend!"

The soldier's name was Ser Rolly Duckfield, or 'Duck' to his friends, and he was of a formidable size, very tall and muscular, with a thick head of hair and beard of a shocking red color. He had even teeth and the wrinkles around his eyes implied that he was a man who smiled often. His outfit and weapons indicated that he was a tested and successful soldier. Nym informed her sister that Ser Rolly was Prince Aegon's master-at-arms, his sworn shield, and a valuable member of the prince's entourage.

The two warriors sized each other up coolly. Obara was impressed with Rolly's proportions and obvious strength, as she seldom met a man she considered her equal. Duck certainly seemed to fill the bill. For his part, Ser Rolly gazed at General Obara with frank admiration. Obara was unusually tall for a woman, and her shoulders were as wide as a man's – she looked strong enough to pull a knight off a horse with the bullwhip she wore at her belt, and she had a huge greatsword strapped to her back. Obara had a mass of unruly dark hair, and her features not nearly as attractive as her sister's, but rough and tough. Rolly thought, she would look pretty enough after two goblets of wine, well, mayhaps three.

What Duck didn't know was that the eldest Sand Snake's appetites were such that she had left many a virile knight a quivering mass of self-conscious man flesh, begging for another opportunity to prove his masculinity to her. Her liege soldiers japed that few of her partners even survived to describe the act of making love to their general. They said that Obara was lethal, and were proud of her strength.

Lady Nym slyly added that Ser Rolly was a mountain of a man in more ways than one, and Obara laughed harshly, inviting Duck to accompany her to her pavilion.

Passers-by to Obara's pavilion soon heard extremely loud grunts and moans, as though two angry aurochs were fighting inside. After a while the whole pavilion began to vibrate and shake violently, and suddenly the tent imploded, collapsing completely on the couple inside, almost suffocating them. As a crowd gathered, Obara and Duck fought their way out from under the heavy canvas, naked but unashamed, to the hoots, laughter, and applause of their amused audience. The couple bowed, smiled, and disappeared under the canvas again, and together managed to raise the center pole so they could continue their vociferous amorous activities.

The next morning, Duck woke up out of deep sleep, and with his head still spinning, realized that there was an iron clamp around his ankle, connected to a chain attached to Obara's bed. The Sand Snake entered and smirked at him. "Oye! You are my prisoner and I am going to keep you as long as you are a worthwhile lover. My sister tells me that you are also quite skilled with your tongue, so tonight you will prove that you deserve the praise. If you please me, I will allow you limited freedom."

With a panicked expression, Ser Rolly asked, "Is there any chance that you would accept a ransom for me?"

Obara gave him a wicked grin, "Mayhaps, but only when I am done with you."

The captured knight was crestfallen, "So I am doomed."

"Not to worry. If you die, you will have a smile on your face. For the moment, satisfy me this morning and I will serve you breakfast in bed, as attentive as a meek kitchen maid," the lusty Sand Snake assured him as she began to pull her tunic over her head.

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Note: Yes, I know. I had the audacity to allude to a favorite Disney oeuvre that often serves as an inspiration for my writings. I hope no one was offended. If the reference actually amused you, please let me know. As I have said before, be glad there are no talking animals in this fic. Actually, there are quite a few anachronisms in this chapter. I guess I got carried away. Sorry. (Not really!)

Speaking of anachronisms, Lady Nym gives thanks to Jackson Browne for a song title reference.