Hello and welcome this chapter!
I'm writing this from New York because I'm on holidays at the moment. So far though, I liked San Francisco the best. Though that might change when we hit Orlando in a few days.
By the way, I have a new movie recommendation: Hacksaw Ridge. Seriously, it's just awesome. Though I can't help but laugh that a film about Americans has a Brit in the starring role, Aussies as the main character's love interest, father, commander and enemy-turned-friend. Anyone else find that ironic?
In any case, we are quite literally coming to the pointy end of this story, if you'll excuse the pun. So enjoy this chapter, and I hope to see you hang around for this story, cause it'll be a long one.
I should also war that there'll be more smut at the end of this chapter.
The Stark soldiers frantically tried to conduct a fighting retreat out of the keep but were being cut down left, right and center. Sandor Clegane kept cutting his way through the soldiers. A few of them desperately tried to form a line to defend the escaping Stark servants, but they hadn't been expecting combat, and were only wearing basic armour and carrying basic weapons. The Lannister forces on the other hand were in full armour and carrying weapons of war. A handful of knights were even among them.
Sansa and Septa Mordane were walking down a hallway within the Red Keep while this was happening. "She's so stupid." Said Sansa, referring to Arya. "She doesn't know what love even is."
"I agree she is too young, but she did go with Prince Steffon to Dragonstone. That was-" Mordane started, before she was cut off by the sound of swords clashing. :Go back to your room. Bar the doors and do not open them for anyone you do not know."
"What is it? What's happening?" Sansa asked, confused.
"Do as I told you. Run." Ordered Mordane. Sansa obeyed, hurrying off and narrowly avoiding the Lannister men-at-arms the confronted her Septa. She raced up to her room faster than she thought possible. Soon, she reached it. She fiddled with the lock for it before she heard trudging steps. She looked up to see the terrifying burnt face of Sandor Clegane, the Hound, approaching her.
"Stay away from me!" She squealed, frightened. "I'll tell my father! I'll tell the Queen!" She screamed.
"Who do you think sent me?"
Ned was languishing in the Black Cells below the Red Keep. Gods, it was dark in here. He couldn't even see his hand when he held it up. How long were they going to keep him down here? How long had it even been? Hours? Days? He had no way to tell. He then noticed a small light approaching him. As the light got closer he could that it was a person holding a torch. Varys.
"Lord Stark. You must be thirsty." Said Varys, pulling out a water skin
"Varys." Ned greeted, looking pointedly at the skin.
"I promise it isn't poisoned." Varys responded. Ned still refused to take the skin. "Why is it no-one ever trusts the eunuch?" He asked rhetorically, before taking a drink himself to prove that it wasn't poisoned. He then handed the skin to Ned, who took a long drink, despite Varys' warnings about making it last.
"What of my daughters?" Asked Ned. He wanted to know what had become of Sansa and Arya.
"Sansa remains in the capital as a captive of Cersei. To what end, even I do not know."
"And Arya?"
"Still on Dragonstone with her betrothed. The Queen has sent a letter demanding he return to King's Landing to renegotiate his betrothal with your daughter and to swear fealty to his brother." Varys explained. Ned chuckled at that.
"Steffon will never do anything like that. He hates his brother and he adores Arya. He wouldn't give her up for anything." Ned mused.
"You are correct, of course. But would he start a war over her? Make no mistake; if he does not acquiesce to his mother's demands, then it will be war." Varys said as he left. Ned had to think on that for a few moments. Yes, Steffon did adore Arya more than life itself, but even he must not want to start a war over her.
Ned shook those thoughts from his mind. Steffon wouldn't give her up.
I hope
Dragonstone, later that day
The raven arrived soon after midday with instructions that the message was only to be delivered to Steffon. Jon was puzzled as to why only Steffon was allowed to read it, but decided that it was Steffon's own business; not his. When Jon found him, Steffon was staring out over the port of Dragonstone, his arm around Arya's waist and her head resting on his shoulder.
"Steffon, pardon the interruption." Said Jon, handing the piece of paper to him. "From the Queen." Steffon took the paper.
"Thank you Jon." He said, before Jon turned around to leave.
"What is it, Steffon?" Asked Arya. Steffon's eyes trembled with anger as he read the letter aloud.
"' 'The father of your betrothed, Lord Stark, has attempted to seize the Iron Throne for himself, my son. We managed to stop him before he could though. You must return to King's Landing immediately; we need to not only discuss your betrothal to Lady Arya, but will also need you strategic skill in the war that will doubtless come. In loving regard, mother' " He read. Arya grew angry just hearing it.
"What does she mean?" She asked.
"Well take out all the sweet words, and she basically wants me to break my betrothal to you and aid them in fighting your brother Robb when he leads the Northerners south to free your father, which he will doubtless try to do." Steffon said. Arya was impressed with how he was able to discern the true nature of the letter that quickly, but she was worried too. " I saved the best to last, Arya." He said. She looked at him curiously. "Joffrey's declared himself King. They're demanding I swear fealty to him." Steffon explained. Arya's face lost colour at that.
"But . . . can he do that?" She asked.
"Our father's dead. He's next in line. I had no real choice." He answered. Arya's face dropped, then she registered that he'd said had instead of have.
"You said you had no choice. What does that mean? You haven't already done that, have you?" She asked, worried.
"Why would I? Your father would never want the throne for himself, Arya. We both know that." Said Steffon.
"So what will you do?"
"Well I have to go to King's Landing, but not to swear fealty to Joffrey. I'll go and collect Jon, Syrio and Barristan soon. We'll break your father out, then find out what's going on."
"That seems like a bad idea. Trying to free my father now will start a war."
"Your brother will be at war when he receives this message, Arya. I can demand Ned's safe release as dues for me aligning with Joffrey. If they don't then we break him out." Steffon said. Arya was amazed he'd formulated a plan that fast.
"Well, then I'm coming with you." Said Arya.
"Arya, it's too dangerous."
"I'm coming and that's it. I love you, Steffon, and you're not going into danger without me. Someone needs to watch your back no matter what." Arya said. Steffon sighed.
"I'm not going to be able to convince you otherwise, am I?" He asked.
"Nope." She answered.
"Okay then. Just make sure you're close to me at all times, okay?"
"Okay." She replied. They both decided to wait a few more hours before leaving though; there were no ships currently available and they needed to mentally prepare. As the night began to descend over Dragonstone, Arya went up to their room. She wanted some time alone. She stared out over the sea from their room, and could vaguely see King's Landing on the horizon. They were going there tomorrow. They were going there to free her father. Hopefully she could convince Steffon to free her sister too. That is, if she was over her silly fantasies of Joffrey.
Suddenly, she felt a pair of strong arms wrap around her waist from behind. "Scared about tomorrow?" Asked Steffon.
"Of course I'm scared Steffon, but I know you're more scared than I am."
"Is that so?" He asked jokingly.
"Yeah, it is." She replied. He laughed slightly before attaching his lips to her neck. Arya sighed contentedly, letting herself relax. "Are you trying to start something Steffon?" She asked as her eyes closed in pleasure.
"Always, Wolf Girl." He whispered in her ear. Arya shivered in response. As he delved down to her collarbone, the Stark girl arched her back, pressing her arse into Steffon's groin. He halted his actions for a millisecond, but that was long enough for Arya to turn around, shove him back on the bed and climb on top of him. Her hands slid under his thin tunic, causing Steffon to groan as her cold hands made contact with his torso and slid up ti his chest. He lifted his tunic off as Arya began kissing his neck. However, she didn't stop there. She continued kissing down; down his chest and his stomach, stopping dangerously short of his breeches. Then she did something he though she wouldn't do for a long time.
She tugged down his breeches, causing his cock to spring free. Arya studied it momentarily. "You know, I've never seen one of these before." Said Arya, sidling up to his ear to whisper in it. "It looks like it's ready for me to play with it." She whispered into his ear. Steffon groaned when he heard that. Where had she learned to talk like this?
"Arya, wait a moment, I don't want you to do anything you're not com-ooooooohhhhhhh" He groaned out as Arya grasped his cock.
"Believe me Steffon, I want to do this." She responded, looking at him seductively. She began stroking him, and any further protests deserted his mind as he groaned out her name. She changed her angle slightly, causing him to hiss in pleasure. She though she'd hurt him, but his face said otherwise. She began to speed up, causing him to groan loudly. Soon, Steffon was over the point of no return and hoarsely shouted her name as he released, some of the white liquid spilling onto her hand. Steffon hoarsely tried to regain his breath, still trying to recover from the storm of pleasure Arya had just given him. After a minute or so, he flipped them over so that he was on top.
"Right then, Wolf Girl. Payback time." He whispered in her ear before nibbling her earlobe. Arya moaned slightly. He then repaid her by kissing down her stomach, again stopping just short of her breeches. He ran his hand over her clothed slit, causing her to moan loudly.
"S-stop te-teasing me Steffon." She forced out.
"As you wish." Steffon responded, pulling her breeches down. He slid a finger inside her and began moving it in a 'come here' motion. Arya moaned loudly in response. Steffon knew that if he went too deep now, he would break her maidenhead, and he wasn't going to do that until their wedding night. He moved his other hand towards what his mother called the clitoris and began gently rubbing. Arya then did something she hadn't done since she was a little girl.
She screamed.
Her body convulsed and Arya saw stars as she climaxed. As she came down from her high, a thin coating of sweat emerged on her body. She suddenly felt very self-conscious. She slipped her breeches and tunic back on as Steffon did the same.
"Taht was even better than the other day, Arya." He said.
"I agree Steffon. You're so good at that."
"My mother gave me an awkward talk when I was 13. It was awkward for both of us." Said Steffon. Arya giggled slightly.
"My mother did the same thing when I turned 13 too." She replied. The two of them laughed before settling down to sleep.
And I'll end it there. So, Steffon's formulating a plan to get Ned out. Do you think he'll succeed? Just wait and see.
We're off in Orlando tomorrow, so I might upload a chapter from there. Anyway, auf widersehen everyone!