Hello and welcome this chapter!
So I'm back! Good news is, there will be many updates over the next couple of days, as I am also trying to focus on my crossover story with AnabellaHunter13. Again, please check out the story on her profile.
Anyway, Termin8r once again was the only one to submit a question. C'mon guys, more than one person needs to do the lifting here!
The question is: What would you say in YOUR opinion makes Steffon and Arya work as a couple? Not to make you look back at how others stated in the past, but what do you think the two share that they love about each other? What is their reason for saying "I love him/her"?
A great question, mate. My personal opinion is that it has a lot to do with two main things. The first is Steffon's nature. He's a kind, caring young man, but at the same time, he's no pushover. When he does get angry, he gets really angry (as you'll see soon enough). I did mention earlier in the story that he was drawn to Arya because of her tomboyishness, rather than repelled.
The second is Arya's own nature. She's the sort of person who doesn't give up easily, and is more of a I-don't-like-it-but-I'll-make-do type of person. That's originally how their relationship started. She was also impressed with his willingness to forgive (reference chapter 6), as well as his disdain of the so-called moral superiority of the nobility and his concern over the poor and his desire to improve their lives. The big one though is Steffon's progressive ideals for the time he's in. He believes that everyone really is created equal, regardless of gender, skin colour or sexual orientation. We saw earlier in the story that he's more than willing to facilitate Arya's desire to be a swordfighter. In a medieval society like Westeros, which, let's not kid ourselves, is a very much a sexist, homophobic, autocratic society, his views would be considered to be very far left, and this loops back to my Caesar inspiration. Caesar and Steffon both genuinely believe that the lives of the poor need to be improved, but as we will see, there are those who view them as making a cynical play for support among the commoners.
All in all, the two were finally able to reconcile their difference and are beginning to fall for each other. I say that because when you're at their age, you tend to think that your first boyfriend/girlfriend is going to be the one. Now obviously they're betrothed to be married, but it's more that they think they're in love, when they don't really understand what it is. Sansa did have a point in chapter 12 when she said that Arya and Steffon didn't understand love. Bear that in mind.
Whew, long answer. Anyway, onto the story. Now a quick warning before we start: There is going to be some smut early on in this chapter. It's not plot critical, so feel free to skip it. However, I believe that it is a natural escalation for Steffon and Arya's relationship at this point.
Dragonstone, the next morning
Light gently filtered in the room Steffon and Arya were sharing. They were grateful that Stannis and Eddard had given them permission to share a room (Ned had done it via Jon). Although, Steffon was beginning to have second thoughts about that now. Seriously, there was no way Arya didn't feel that.
"Did you pull your dagger on me in the night, Steffon?" She asked teasingly. So she had felt it. Steffon shook his head frantically, his face turning bright red in embarrassment. They were in a fairly awkward position; well, it was awkward for Steffon. Arya's rear was pressed tightly against his groin, making the whole situation rather embarrassing for him. Then the worst possible thing happened.
She started moving against him.
Arya began moving her backside around his cock in tantalising circles. Steffon grabbed her hips tightly in response.
"Do you want me to stop Steffon?" She asked, not stopping her movements.
"No." Steffon managed to grunt out. She continued grinding against him, as he tentatively began returning her thrusts. Eventually, Arya, frustrated that Steffon was being so gentle, turned to face her betrothed and kissed him hard, before moving her kisses down his neck. Steffon groaned in pleasure, giving Arya enough of a window to climb on top and straddle him. "Whoah, Arya!" He growled out, his hands drifting instinctively to her hips.
"I'm not a porcelain cup Steffon; I won't shatter." She rasped in his ear, causing him to groan again. In an unthinking moment, Steffon thrust his hips upward, his clothed erection hitting Arya's center. All that was separating them was two pairs of thin breeches, and Steffon could clearly feel the warmth radiating from her, which sent vibrations all the way through him. Arya winced in pleasure, before grinding her hips downward. The couple both groaned quietly, as they began to speed up. Arya, taking control, set the pace, their hips rocking wildly against each other.
Minutes later, they both felt the pleasure building; both developing coils in their bellies. This only made them speed up though; lost in their world of pleasure. Moments later, Arya moaned his name, the coil in her belly shattering as she released. Steffon followed soon after, growling Arya's name as he released against his breeches. They hadn't had sex of course, but this was still . . . they both thought it unbelievable.
"That . . ." Steffon said, unable to string together a sentence.
" . . . was amazing." Finished Arya. The two lovers turned to each other, Steffon's blue ones meeting Arya's grey. They smiled, before kissing once again, in a tender, loving fashion; a sharp contrast to the hungry kisses that happened mere moments ago. The two broke apart, looking at each other lovingly. This was it; they wanted to spend the rest of their lives with each other now.
Just as the two were getting lost in each other's eyes, a knock on their door sounded.
"Steffon! Arya! Breakfast!" Shouted Jon from the other side, no doubt wanting to shield himself. The young lovers turned each other before breaking out in laughter. They took turns getting dressed behind the obscuring screens that had the Baratheon sigil as decoration (when it was Arya's turn, Steffon couldn't take his eyes off the silhouette of her body). Once they finished, they headed down to the Chamber of the Painted Table. The exact same group as last night was there. Right down to Matthos Seaworth. Jon, Barristan and Syrio kept an obedient guard outside the entrance.
"So, my Prince. Any plans for today?" Asked Davos.
"I was thinking I might just relax today. The crossing's beginning to hit me now." Steffon replied. Shireen giggled.
"Steffon, you get sick every time! Remember when we went on a trip around Dragonstone? I think you threw up about 9 times!" She said, causing Steffon to cringe inwardly. He'd hoped that she'd forgotten that.
"He wasn't much better this time!" Said Arya, "He vomited about 8 times. It was a miracle he didn't during our swordfighting!" She finished. the entire table, save for Stannis, Melisandre and Selyse laughed. It was a happy moment. Minutes later, they had finished their breakfast, only for a letter to arrive. The aide carrying it handed it to Stannis. After a few seconds of reading, the stone-faced Lord of Dragonstone spoke.
"It's from your father, Steffon. It would appear that Jaime Lannister has attacked Ned Stark." He said.
"That's not right! He can't do that!" Arya shouted, causing the entire table to look at her. "He can't just attack the Hand of the King in public! That's a crime!" She continued. As she was getting ready to shout again, Steffon gently placed his hand on her arm. She sat back down, albeit with a sour look on her face. Stannis continued.
"It appears that it was over Lord Tyrion being seized by your mother, Lady Arya." He said. Steffon, unlike Arya, was able to restrain himself, but was now seething with anger. She can't just seize my uncle! That's a bloody crime, too! He thought. Furiously, Steffon left the room. Arya, having calmed down somewhat, chased after him.
"Steffon, wait!" She called. But Steffon wasn't listening. He marched into their room, and locked the door behind him. Gods, he can be such a child, Arya thought. She sighed, and turned around to find Shireen behind her.
"Steffon usually acts like this when he's upset." The greyscale-afflicted girl said. "He doesn't like to take his anger out on others, so he locks himself in a room to be alone. You see, he doesn't trust himself not to hurt people. It may sound queer, but it's for the best. He tends to be very volatile when he's upset." She finished. This was punctuated by the sound of smashing glass in the next room.
Maybe I'll give him some time
2 hours later
Steffon finally emerged from the room to be engulfed in a massive hug from Arya. He wasn't sure what for, but he wasn't going to argue. He hugged the girl back, gently stroking her hair.
"Steffon," She began, "I . . . I do apologise for my mother. She can be a bit headstrong at times."
"What? Like you, Wolf Girl?" He asked, causing them to chuckle slightly. "Well, I'm sorry about my uncle Jaime, too. He knows he shouldn't have done that." Steffon replied.
"You sound like a scolding parent, Steffon." She said, smiling.
"Just practicing for the future, Arya." He said. Arya's eyes widened, as did Steffon's. "Let's pretend I never said that."
"Agreed"
King's Landing, evening
Eddard Stark sat at the desk in his room, and opened the massive book that Pycelle had given him. It had been the last book Jon Arryn had read, and Ned had wondered why. Something was wrong here, and Ned intended to discover what it was.
He opened to the entry on House Baratheon, and began reading.
"Orys Baratheon, black of hair . . . Axell Baratheon, black of hair . . . Lyonel Baratheon, black of hair . . . Steffon Baratheon, father of Robert, Stannis and Renly, black of hair . . . Robert Baratheon, black of hair . . . Joffrey Baratheon, gold of hair." Ned stopped there, the realisation of the horrible truth hitting him with about as much subtlety as a battleaxe to the head.
The seed is strong. Those had been Jon Arryn's final words. The seed is strong. Ned had wondered what it had meant, until now. All Baratheons had been black of hair, right down to Robert's secondborn son. Joffrey, Tommen and Myrcella though, were golden-haired instead. Ned paused there for a second. The black hair was clearly the dominant trait of House Baratheon. The eye colour had varied, but it was always black hair. Except for Joffrey Tommen and Myrcella. There was only one house worthy of marrying into a King's line who had golden hair as their main trait.
Oh Gods . . . it's true. It's all true.
And I'll end the chapter there. More will be coming over the next few days, so don't go anywhere. Also a reminder that the Q&A's still open until the end of next chapter, so please put up your questions in your review and I will answer them.
Auf wiedersehen, folks!