"What a pretty girl, ya are," Jon said softly petting the mare gently on the head. She was black and small, yet a bit skittish. Jon liked horses, they never made fun of him and looked at him oddly. The thing he liked best is that they never called him a bastard.
The bright-eyed horse seemed to understand him, he feed her a bit of an apple. She seemed calm in his presence. The stable boys usually brought the horses to the people who lived in the castle. Jon hadn't spent much time in the stable. He liked it here, it seems very orderly. Mayhaps he would try to come back more often. Robb suggested they come down here as Ser Rodrick was off with Eddard doing some kind of inventory for winter.
They didn't have many days off, except for feast days and hunting trips.
"Let us ride off, then. Just the two of us, far away to the Summer Isles or some such," Jon mused with a small smile. It would not be possible, but it was nice to think of. This horse was valuable and rare. Some Northern lord had sent it as a girl, one who wanted his son to marry Sansa. Jon knew she still had a few more years before his father would even think of that for her. The mare had to go back to its owner.
"Oh, Snow, has himself a girlfriend, eh! She's a pretty one. Maybe she'll even kiss yer pretty face," Theon teased. Robb was trailing behind him and he laughed softly. Jon glared at them both.
Robb seeing that Jon was not in a jesting mood said, "Forget him, Jon, he's just vexed that his pretty kitchen maid wed that guard. One lass less for him to flirt with and try to grope."
"Oh," Jon said glaring, "I thought he was just being a right prick as usual."
"Come on, Jon, don't..." Robb started, as Theon stepped forward.
"What did you say to me? Are you still pissed about last month? I bloody said I was sorry ten times. Aye, I got our bare arses skelped, but get over it, man," Theon said irritated that Jon could not or would not move on.
Jon, now moving away from the mare, went on to say, "Oh, it wasn't just us you got "skelped" as you say, the girls got it, too. Poor Jeyne Poole got whipped twice! Because of you."
Robb tried again, "Is this about Jenye, Jon? Theon has nothing to do with her anymore."
Theon had to defend his honor, "That is true, Robb, but because I do not fancy traitors. That one, spilled the beans before they even asked her a damned question. What a blasted coward."
"Do not call her that, Greyjoy!" Jon threatened.
"Or what, Bastard, you are going to stare me to death with those sad eyes? Are ye getting angry? Sorry, it must be your bloody moon time again," Theon said with disgust. In the Iron Isles, men took strong women, he wouldn't want the Poole girl to be his salt wife. Jon acted like a woman half the time.
"Lads, stop...I am going to get Hullen!" Robb said leaving the stables.
"What did you call me, you arse? You always have a smart remark, don't ya, Theon. You are disgusting. Well, take this," Jon said lunging at Theon with all his might.
The mare, who was upset by the voices, was dancing excitedly. Jon had left her stall open.
Theon raised his fist to slam it into Jon's brooding face. As he did, the mare crashed out of the stall and ran past the almost fighting boys.
Robb came back with Hullen, the stablemaster, and almost got knocked down. That mare ran as fast as a stallion.
"Giant's toes, what the seven hells is going on? Did ye lads let her out? I will have yer, hide. So will ya Lord Father," Hullen shouted, he was a bear of a man.
The stable boys were all out running around trying to catch the wild mare. The wall of Winterfell were 80 feet high, but that mare could trample a good number of people before they caught her.
Robb turned to Jon and Theon fuming, "This is what I was afraid of. I am tired of this fighting. You two have gone and gotten your dumb arses in trouble again. This time, keep me out of it." Robb stalked off to help catch the mare. He was an accomplished rider and had already broken a few wild horses. Jon noticed some of the stable boys showing to each other, "Get the mare or we'll all get the bucket after!" What did that mean? Odd.
Hullen was out shouting orders. Jon and Theon both looked grim. Theon whispered, "Here we go again."
Jon just nodded, his anger replaced by fear and regret.
A few hours later, the boys were standing in front of Lord Stark in a sitting room off the Great Hall. Hullen had reported them to Ser Rodrick, who had marched them here. He cuffed the two of them on the back of the head when they started bickering again.
"You two are damned lucky that mare did not kill anyone. Then again, if I was Lord Eddard, I'd probably kill the two of ya," Rodrick chastised. "I guess ya didn't learn yer lesson after the whore house ordeal. Gods help you both, if the Lord Warden lets me deal with you insolent whelps!"
"Sorry," Jon and Theon both muttered.
"Save it! I cannot even look at the two of ya," Ser Rodrick said, stalking out angrily after telling them to face separate corners. They stood there for a long while, mayhaps even missing supper. Not either had any appetite.
Finally, when both boys imaginations had them being boiled in oil or worse, doing kitchen duty, Lord Stark appeared.
"Father," Jon muttered.
"Lord," Theon followed, unable to meet his eyes.
Eddard took a deep breath. He was tired from a long day of preparations for winter. It was coming and there was never enough time.
"Boys, you can turn around," he said heavily, sitting down.
"Robb and Hullen filled me in on what happened. I do not even have the words. What if the girls or Rickon and Bran were playing out there? That wild mare could have killed someone," he started.
"I left the door open. I was fighting with Theon," Jon admitted.
"Theon, is this true?" Eddard asked looking the boy in the eye.
"Yes, but...I was goading Jon and making fun of him. I called..." Theon started.
"Yes? Go on, Theon," the Lord of Winter prompted him.
"A bastard. I called him a bastard when we were fighting," Theon said blushing and starting at the ground.
"Father, I was angry over what happened last month. I started it," Jon said, feeling like an arse for the whole incident.
"Thank you for telling me the truth," Eddard said. "I can tell that you both know what you did. You are not going to like the consequences."
Both boys nodded. They might never sit again.
"First of all, you will work in the stable after your lessons and training every day. Hullen will be in charge of you. You will obey him and do as he bid," Eddard started.
Jon and Theon looked at each other, this wasn't what they expected.
"Second of all, you will not be joining the hunting trip this month. I know you were looking forward to it, but you will be here working instead," Lord Stark said firmly.
"But Father, we..." Jon started to protest.
"Yes?" Eddard said with his eyebrow raised.
"Nothing, Father," Jon said with resignation.
"And thirdly," Eddard started, "you two will make up with one another."
The boys looked ashamed.
"Do you know where I was today?" Eddard asked them.
"No, Father," Jon said timidly.
"I was inspecting the stores of winter grain and other food stuffs. As you both know, winter is coming. My father used to say, 'When the snows fall and the white winds blow, the lone wolf dies but the pack survives.' If we are all at odds, we won't survive. We need each other. I know you two do not get along, but you must try. Will you?" Lord Stark asked tiredly.
"Of course, Lord, but aren't you going to..." Theon started.
"Thrash you within an inch of your life?" Eddard laughed. "I feel like missing the trip and working for Hullen will be punishment enough. You know, one time my brothers and I got into some mischief and...Well, let's just say, Hullen does not suffer fools. Well, that was the elder Hullen, the younger one is much the same. Behave and you will not feel his wrath-that much."
Eddard said, "If you hurry, Cook Gage will give you a plate. I know you missed supper. Remember what I said boys, winter is coming."
Theon and Jon were given bowls of stew and some black bread to sup on. They didn't quite know what to say.
Theon started, "Can you believe..."
"...that we are sitting right now? Honestly, nay, I thought we were in for the strap for sure," Jon confessed.
"I mean, Ser Rodrick himself, wanted to clobber us," Theon muttered.
"Theon, I am sorry about, you know, blaming you," Jon apologized. "It was all of us. I guess I was jealous that Jeyne likes you and never looks at me."
"Jon, with that pretty face, all the girls are watching you. Your moping kind of puts them off, ye know." Theon said, trying to help. "I should not have said what I said about you. I am an arse."
"You said it, don't plummet me face! You know we still have to face Robb. He is not happy with us, rightly so," Jon said sadly. He noticed Theon staring behind him, Jon glanced and saw the lovely Ingrit across the kitchen. She was quite shapely and Theon's mouth was open for a moment because he got control of himself.
"I know. Let's go face him now, before we lose courage," Theon said finishing his stew. He wondered if Ingrit made it. She would probably spit in his bowl if she could, he really was an arse.
Robb was reading by the fire when they came in. He pretended not to hear them.
Theon cleared his throat, Robb looked up with a withering glare. At times like this, Jon could see him as the future Lord of Winterfell, Warden of the North. It used to bother him, as he was his father's eldest son, but now he had accepted it. A bastard could not rule the North.
"Well, you two seem in fine spirts," Robb said wryly.
"Aye, look Robb, we are sorry about today," Jon said,"we were stupid and petty."
Theon nodded, "If it makes you feel better, your father sentenced us to work in the stables for a month."
"And miss the hunting trip..." Jon continued.
"But no strapping? I noticed that you two are walking just fine," Robb pointed out.
"Nay, we didn't get anything but a clout on the head from Ser Rodrick. And Robb, you know I really wanted to test my new hunting bow on the trip," Theon admitted.
"Well, I dare say you did not get off all that lightly..." Robb smirked.
"What do you mean?" Jon said carefully.
"I guess you never heard Father's story about the stables?" Robb asked lightly.
Theon answered, "Well, he made it sound like he did the same and Mullen can be a right bastard..."
"Hullen, he is called. Mayhaps I should not even tell you, lads," Robb said, now wondering if he should not have let them find out for themselves.
Jon exclaimed, "Robb, you are scaring me. What is this Hullen going to do?"
"Well, the way father told it, any stableboy who makes a mistake or angers the master..." Robb started.
"Seven hells, what?" Theon exploded.
"You will find out!" Robb laughed.
"He is messing with us, Theon!" Jon said, tackling Robb onto the fur rug. Theon joined in and soon the boys were wrestling and frolicking like they had no cares in the world.
The next day, Lord Stark led the party through the Hunter's Gate without Jon Snow and Theon Grayjoy. Lessons were cancelled because Robb and Bran were gone. There was no training since Ser Rodrick and several of the guards went on the trip. The wayward boys were told to report to the stables after they broke their fast. They were also instructed to bring work boots and gloves.
The day was cool and crisp. The boys were a bit nervous as they assumed the stable staff with not really want them there after the last time. They were correct.
They were greeted by a big lad with shaggy brown hair who seemed to be waiting for them.
"Hullo, I am..." Theon started.
"We know who ya are, my Lords," the lad spit out,"I am to show ya yer duties. You need to change out of them fine clothes and into this."
The clothes he tossed at them were plain spun wool trousers, there was a rough tunic with a direwolf emblem on it.
"We did not wear good clothes, if you please, we could just..." Jon started to explain.
"Do you want me to report ya to Hullen already? Eh? I know things might be different for fancy castle folk, but if ya like sitting, you will strip and put on them clothes fuckin' quick!" the rough boy exclaimed.
Sitting? What did he mean? Surely, he wasn't threatening their behinds already. He was just a worker.
"Calm down, man. We'll change. Just show us where," Theon agreed.
"Where? Where? Get your fucking clothes off before I rip them off. Change right here, gods damn ya. If I get the bucket for this two fancy fuckin' twats..." the lad screamed, starting to try to undress Jon.
What was this bucket?
Theon and Jon were scared now. They stripped down to their small clothes and started to redress. The big lad was gathering up their old clothes and taking them inside the one stable.
A few moments later, the big lad came back and said, "Follow me."
"Do you have a name?" Theon asked.
"They call me Pig," the big lad said plainly.
"Okay, um, Pig, what are we going to be doing here?" Jon asked nervously.
"Are ya daft? You are going to be trying not to let the fucking horses loose, my Lords," said Pig, sneering.
"Aye, we can do that," Theon agreed, "probably." Jon snickered a little before Pig turned his glare on him.
"First thing I will should you in how to muck out the stables," Pig said. There were other stable boys moving around quickly doing chores. Some were rubbing down horses, others carrying water or bags of feed. Everything seemed fine. The boys learned how to clean the stalls out. It stunk and seemed unpleasant, but it wasn't all that bad.
"Ya Lords need to have this done before Master Hullen gets back from Wintertown. He went there for supplies. If it isn't to his liking, just do it like I showed you," Pig said with an angry scowl.
Jon and Theon worked hard for the first hour or so. Then, they got a bit thirsy and went to find a drink. Theon ate some of the apples for the horses while Jon relaxed for a bit. Theon sat down beside him and the next thing he knew, he heard, "What in the Seven Bloody Kingdoms is this?"
Both lads jerked awake to see Hullen looming over them.
"You fancy lords don't do much work up at the castle, eh? Well, we are going to remedy that. Get the bucket, Pig!" Hullen roared out loudly. They saw a few other stable boys peek in the door and through the slats.
"Ah, sorry, Master, we were working and then we..." Theon tried to explain.
Hullen grabbed him roughly and said, "Your first, Lord. Didn't Pig here tell you to muck out this here stable? Less than two hours and ya already disobeyed."
"Well, aye, but we got a bit tired," Jon said, "sorry, Master, we will finish now." Jon saw Pig come in dragging a large wooden bucket. He flipped it over in front of Master Hullen. Hullen sat and roughly grabbed Theon. He said, "We don't do things like ya do up there in the Lord's castle, see here, we are a bit more hand's on."
The stable master grabbed the waist of Theon's trousers and yanked them down. Theon was too shocked to try to pull them back up.
"What in the bloodly fuck is this?" Hullen said pointing at Theon's small clothes.
"Ah, my under trousers, master," Theon said he face coloring.
Hullen laughed roughly and said, "Pig, did I not tell ya to dress them just like the rest of ye boys?"
"Yes, Master," Pig said plainly.
"Well, your after the pretty one,"Hullen said as he brought his huge paw down over Theon's small clothes. Crack!
Theon howled and his hands immediately went to his rear. Hullen grabbed his hands and swatted his behind hard again.
Crack!
"I am going to keep doing this until you lose them small clothes, understand?" Hullen said as if amused.
Theon had never tried to remove his small clothes so fast when he wasn't at the brothel. In a moment, his backside was bared. Jon saw that the few smacks he had gotten had already left his behind slightly pink. Oh gods, he guess he was in for the same treatment.
The master sat heavily on the bucket and pulled Theon over his knee. He braced his left leg on a small rail to raise his leg up.
Was Theon really going to get spanked in front of all these stable people?
Smack! The answer was yes. Theon clamped his mouth shut and promised he would not cry out. Spank! Spank! Spank! He could not control the kicking of his legs though. The big master clamped his right leg over Theon's legs to keep his quickly reddening behind still.
Swat! Swat! Swat! Theon's resolve broke with tenth whack on his bare bottom. Theon looked up through his tears to see Jon's white face and a bunch of other stable boys in various places, watching the show. They had never seen a lord soundly spanked. He howled just like they did when the bucket came out. He thought he had been humiliated when Lord Stark paddled him over his knee in their chambers last month. That was nothing to this horror.
"Let's see if a good spankin' can make these lord brats into good stable boys, eh. Lord Stark told me to treat you just like the other boys. Hey Pig, get the wood. We will not have no nappin' on the job, eh," Hullen bragged.
Wood? Gods be good, this man's huge hand stung mightily. He was trying to shift out of range, but with his legs pinned, he could barely move.
Pig handed the master, a wooden slat about two feet long and an inch or two wide. It was thin and had a bit of a bend to it.
Whap! Whap! Whap! Whap!
The light stick begin to blister Theon's behind at a rapid pace. Theon was howling and screaming, but no understandable words came out. Theon's hands were gripping the bucket. He wanted to reach back but knew that Hullen would have no problem whacking them with his handy slat.
Jon felt faint. He had seen many a lad and lass spanked at the castle over the years, but never like this. Hullen was covering Theon's behind with stripe after stripe of fire. Whack! Whack! Whack! Every time he thought the man would tire out his arm, Theon got another flurry of spanks.
Finally, after Theon's rear liked like a battered, raw piece of meat, the whipping stopped. Hullen gave Theon a moment to catch his breath before he marched him to the corner of the recently cleaned stall. With a hard smack, he told him to put his hands on his head and not to move. Hullen rolled up Theon's tunic to reveal his battered behind. Theon was sobbing and nodded.
With a gesture to Jon, Hullen indicated that he should take down his pants. Before Hullen could start swatting him, Jon removed his small clothes and stood there frozen for a second. Hullen swatted him on the thigh with the stick and said with a sneer, "Now, my young Lord." Jon vowed if he ever grew up he was going to come back and thrown this monster into the dungeon. All they had done was fall asleep after a long...hour of work!
Hullen arranged Jon over his lap and handing the stick to Pig, started warming up up with his large hand. The first spanks were loud pops and Jon's legs immediately started kicking. Unlike Theon, he didn't even try to silence his cries. Pop! POP! POP!
"Well, ya lords aren't too fancy to get a good ride over the bucket, huh. I guess they don't spank Lords like you up there, that is why you don't know how to behave," Hullen lectured. So that is what this is about.
"It was an accident!" Jon wailed angrily. Crack. Crack. Crack.
Jon's legs were kicking rapidly as the swats descended on his no longer white behind.
"An accident! Did ya ever see anyone trampled by a horse, eh? Woman, children, men? The lords die just as easy as us working folk," Hullen lectured paddling Jon's behind firmly. He held out his hand for the stick from Pig.
Whap, whap, whap!
"Arrghh, no more. Please. I am sorry. It was an accident," Jon wailed, now at least knowing why he was getting the spanking. Whack, whack. Whap. Pop. Did Father arrange this all to teach them a lesson? Did he know they would slack off their chores and get a thrashing in front of the whole stable?
As Jon's kicking and thrashing around escalated, Hullen told Pig to hold his legs still. Jon was paddled from the crest of his behind to the top of his thighs with the whippy stick.
Hullen spanked him a bit lighter and faster the next few minutes until Jon was sobbing incoherently.
"There are no accidents, young lord," Hullen said to Jon as he stood him up. "Do ya hear me, hmm?"
Jon's hand's went to his sore bottom like a magnet. Hullen grabbed his hands and swatted his behind with a warning to behave. Jon was led to the other corner and told to stay in position.
As the young lords wept in their corner, Pig got his spanking while "riding" the bucket. He had to lean over it with his pants down while Hullen swatted him with the stick. He got twenty whacks on the bare. Hullen then put his arm around him and told him that he was in charge of the boys the rest of the night. He was to feed them next, get them to finish the stalls. He made sure that both Jon and Theon heard him say, "If these young lords smart off or misbehave, or slack in any way, you are to give them a sound paddling over the bucket, do you hear? If not, you will get a worse licking tomorrow."
"Yes, Master," Pig replied obediently, wanted to rub the sting out of his rear, but knowing better.
As soon as Hullen left, Pig would have plenty of time to get his revenge on the uppity lords that got him over the bucket. Damn them both.