Hello again folks, here again with an update, this time for Red Steel, obviously. Wanted to throw out a few things before we get to the actual story. Some of you have pointed out that Karin is not a part of the pairings up on the story page. There will be a reason for that, and I'm sure as the story progresses you will get an idea why. Anyway, as last time, feel free to throw questions and comments into the Reviews and I will take a peek at them when I have the chance.
Next a heads up, there are LEMONS in this story, so read em or don't. There will not be a marker later to tell you when it begins, if you can't tell what's about to happen by the build up you probably don't get much from a game of thrones story. This is a heads up to be alert in case you do want to skip it.
Real quick answer for a question in the reviews: Question from Blaze1992-Is this going to be a fix it fic aka no red wedding and the "good" guys win with less death?
Answer-Nope this is game of thrones prepare to be kinda upset with things. That being said, if characters die or survive it's not because I wanted them to fit with canon so much as I felt it fit best with my story.
For those interested a great Discord Server for both Readers and Writers of Fanfiction created by AizenTheGoat can be found here- /hTfPmCaE so feel free to join and come chat.
Mostly beta's by LuckyBastard6969
Without Further Waiting Here Is Your New Chapter-
Chapter Two
Rising To The Surface
Dragonstone
298 AC
Naruto
The Lord of Dragonstone and his betrothed sat quietly as they ate together like always, ever since they returned to the island. Their time since coming to Dragonstone had gone differently than Karin had expected, or wanted, and Naruto was painfully aware of it, despite the girl not speaking on the subject openly. He wondered if that would only be a matter of time with her. He always felt like she was one to speak her thoughts openly, most women of their family did. It was a tradition unlike most families, but similar to the Dornish whose first true born inherited the throne, regardless of their gender. Uzumaki women had a tendency to birth more Uzumaki women than they did men. Somewhat ironic considering that of the three pure blooded Uzumaki left in the world, only one was a woman.
They continued to eat quietly, as had become their usual routine for meals, while Naruto largely ignored Karin to file through several documents and other various slips of paper. Time and again her eyes would steadily creep their way to glance at his neck, or more like the mark on it. A clear love bite.
She had long since lost her appetite and stopped eating by the time she could no longer bear to remain at the table. Elegantly, she slid the plate and half eaten meal away from herself and made to stand before clearing her throat lightly for her Lord and betrothed's attention.
"Might I be excused My Lord." She asked quietly.
Naruto sighed a long and heavy breath out with a sagging of his shoulders. He disliked this docile and passive Karin to an extent, mainly because he knew how false it was. Karin, like most Uzumaki, was a passionate person. While capable of elegance and decorum, she was normally fiery and hot-headed. However, She had taken to hiding ever since her arrival at Dragonstone. Licking his lips and pushing his dinner and work away, Naruto finally turned to fully look Karin in the face.
Their eyes locked and each stared at the other for a while, but it wasn't long before she averted her gaze. For her it was as if looking into the eyes of a stranger, not her beloved cousin, and she finds a sliver of fear at the fact she does not know him.
'Since coming here to Dragonstone, it's as if I've lost the ability to read him, if I ever truly could to begin with.' Karin silently wondered in her mind.
"Karin, you have to speak properly to make me understand you. I know there is a rift growing between us, but if you don't speak there is nothing that could be done about it. Answer me, Does my relationship with Tsunade still bother you? Can you truly not accept the reality of that situation?" Naruto asked. He knew it would bother her, and didn't expect her to get over it quickly, but he also didn't expect the reaction she had given for the situation. If anything he had expected heated arguments, and long, exhausting and loud exchange of sharp tongues, followed by tender apologies until she finally came to terms with his decision.
"That is only a part of it." Karin practically whispered, shooting a glare at the mark on Naruto's neck before turning her eyes up to the ceiling hoping gravity might pull her tears back into her eyes before they could build enough to slip out.
"Gods help me, I seem to have lost my sweet, fiery, and bold cousin somewhere in the sea along the trip home." Naruto moaned while pinching at the bridge of his nose causing Karin to glare his way with bleary tear filled eyes.
"I don't know you! I don't know who you are at all, and I don't think I ever have! You're a completely different person than you were before you came back home to Dragonstone!" Karin shouted.
"I haven't changed at all. Why does learning a single piece of information about me suddenly make me a different person? You act as if learning about Tsunade and I has changed something, but the truth is Tsunade and I were together long before we ever came back to Dragonstone." Naruto countered and Karin snapped her jaw shut as her eyes hardened She cleared her throat once again to remove the knot of emotions that had choked her up a moment before.
"Might I be excused, My Lord." She asked again, this time with a far more cold and sharp tone.
Naruto sighed heavily again, and taking that as leave to go, Karin left at a brisk pace back to her chambers. Naruto retook his seat and continued his work, his appetite having left him. He scowled at the stack of papers he had to work through, but such was the fate of those in positions of responsibility like himself he supposed. Forcing the conversation with Karin out of his mind he focused on completing his tasks so he might move on with his daily routine.
Karin all but stormed back to her chambers. She fought down the urge to tear up once more. She thought everyday that maybe she had hardened her heart enough against the thought of Naruto and Tsunade together. However, seeing the mark on his neck as proof of their love making, broke through that.
She narrowly stopped herself from slamming the door to her chambers before bringing herself to a stop as she froze in her place. Tsunade was before her, gingerly laying out a gown for Karin to wear on her bed. Seeing her now was too much and the young redhead barely kept her temper in check with little more than a glare.
"Leave at once. I want you out of my chambers." Karin snapped, catching Tsunade by surprise.
The blonde woman smiled sadly at the girl before bowing her head and slipping past her into the corridor. As she passed though, Karin whispered just loud enough for her to hear her.
"I can all but smell you on one another."
Tsunade sighed lightly as she continued away, shutting the door quietly behind her. She felt somewhat guilty toward the future Lady of house Uzumaki, however at the moment her intentions were to make the scent she believed she could detect even stronger.
Karin for her part, stood for a while, once more fighting off the tears before her features set into a scowl and she moved over to the desk in her room. She began writing immediately to her mother of things here at Dragonstone. She knew her father would be upset if she wrote to him about her treatment here, or the existence of her cousin's lover, however knowing her father, he would also try to convince her to simply drop the matter for the betterment of the house as a whole. His words had even once been that everything that he or she could do to ensure Naruto and his mother were happy was their sole reason for being. That their side branch of the family lived only to strengthen the house as a whole. Her mother would at least listen to her and might even know of ways to turn Naruto's attention away from his mistress.
While she tried to write, she could hear the men in the yard outside her window hollering and cheering. Eventually growing curious she moved to see what the commotion was about only to once more see her betrothed training with his men. Naruto was trouncing a pair of soldiers in a spar, new recruits from as best as she could tell. It was an impressive showing, especially for a boy against men twice his age. What truly caught her eye was the sword he was using wasn't his normal blade. No doubt a blunted one for practice, his true sword hung nearby in a rack set aside from all the others. The Uzumaki house blade, older than some families in Westeros, had been at the hip or in the hand of every Uzumaki lord since before they moved to the Narrow Sea from Valyria so long ago.
A small memory of herself and Naruto marvelling over the blade and it's red tinted steel as children slipped into her mind. If she recalled that was shortly before Lady Kushina left to help put down the Greyjoy Rebellion and returned a burnt corpse with a pristine blade. Long before Naruto had left to squire for Stannis Baratheon and become a young man, the youngest knight in all the realm.
It felt more like a lifetime than only six year passed.
She turned her attention back to the fight. Naruto brought it to a quick end and she turned away as the spar was called. She was no warrior, but she still marvelled at the skill he had in combat. It was clear that he was born to fight. Her parents and Ser Kakashi said as much, quite often. He looked like a storm of roiling attacks and feints, never wasting a step or movement but always on the move. She returned back to writing to her mother, as Naruto left the sparring grounds to speak with Maester Jiraiya.
"What word today, Maester Pervert?" Naruto asked with a small grin causing the older man's face to flush in anger.
"I've told you before to mind the names you use for my lordling. Maybe I should take my services elsewhere? There's always work for men of my knowledge across the continent." He grumbled at the boy playfully.
"Oh, is there? And when they learn of those bawdy stories you're so fond of writing? How many would offer you places in their household then, Maester?" Naruto continued to tease.
"You Westerosi just don't fully understand the beauty of my work. Perhaps in a hundred generations, once your grandchildren's descendants have become more civilized. Then they'll have whole topics of study dedicated to yours truly at the Citadel!" Jiraiya exclaimed.
"Truly I have no doubt, maester, just know that should either Karin or Tsunade be found in one of your little stories or even their likeness, I'll drown you." Naruto's face lost his smile at the end of his threat as he glared coldly at Jiraiya's face.
"O-of course my lord! I would never! Such an act would demean such beautiful ladies! My old eyes could never truly do them justice anyway!" Jiraiya said with a small trace of fear.
"Right, anyway, the word today is what, Maester?" Naruto got them back on track as he dried off the sweat from his earlier bouts with some of the men. The last two may have offered little challenge to him, but he had faced enough veterans who had put him through the wringer earlier on.
"My friends to the east tell me that they have word on the Targaryens. Daenerys Targaryen has been wed to Khal Drogo and their horde has moved into the Dothraki Sea likely to make way to Vaes Dothrak as is their tradition to bless a new Khaleesi I believe." Jiraiya's earlier rowdy demeanor was long gone and in its place a Maester and more.
"Should we fear a possible move to invade? Viserys Targareyn is said to tell all who hear him about being the rightful heir to the Iron Throne. He now has an army." Naruto bit his lip in mild worry. An entire horde of savages would be a new challenge for the Seven Kingdoms and he and his people would be the first line of defenses against them.
"I doubt it, my lord. The Beggar King is still that. A beggar. His horse lords won't listen to him over their own traditions and even should they have the omens to make the attempt, they would need to somehow gather the funds, material, and manpower for perhaps one of the largest fleets this world has ever seen. Even then, the Dothraki are horsemen not sailors, a thousand transports on open waters is easy prey for a tenth that in warships." Jiraiya counseled his lord.
"We cannot guarantee the impossibility though. We must be prepared either way. We will need to begin setting aside even more money than we had initially planned for the new fleet and sailors to man them. I want to build us back to the size my family had at its peak, add two hundred more ships, Maester." Naruto said as he and the old man came to sit on a bench and turned to watch his men continue training in the yard.
"As you wish." Jiraiya said with a nod as he quickly made a note.
"What of Lord Stannis? Any news?" Naruto asked.
"I'm afraid not." Jiraiya said but he looked as if there was something else.
"You have more to say?" Naruto pressed.
"Well, my lord, it's just that something strange is happening, I fear. I have gotten no replies from Storm's End. Not even one bird, but I conclude that a storm has harmed them. It has happened a handful of times in the past, not to mention that there were several storms peeling along the coast of the Stormlands like usual." Jiraiya attempted to soften the fear that other things might be occurring.
"Pray that it is the case, Maester. I fear what might be happening, if that is not so." Naruto said as he stood and the two parted ways.
It wasn't long afterward that he found himself being pulled into a tight embrace in an empty hall. Tsunade hardly waited for him to realize who it was before she took his lips with her own and they kissed heatedly. Naruto soon pressed the older woman up against a nearby wall and began trailing kisses down her cheek and aligned her jaw before coming to her neck, intent to give her a matching love bite to the one she gave him the night before.
Soon their hands began to roam each other as Naruto's lips returned to hers and the pair continued to passionately kiss. Moaning into each other's mouths, Tsunade slowly pressed him away from her breaking their tight hold and snatched his hand into her own before leading him down the hall.
They soon found themselves in the Stone Drum section of the castle and climbing stairs. However rather than to his room the healer led her lover to a different chamber. Pulling Naruto along after her into the room, it is only now that he realized they had come to the Chamber of the Painted Table.
Gently pushing him into the raised seat with a giggle, Tsunade pressed a finger to her Lord's lips to quiet him before unfastening the belt holding up his breeches, and knelt between his legs. With a saucy grin she yanked his pants free and off before looking up into his eyes. She could not stop the lust that filled her at seeing his hungry eyes taking her in as she knelt before him.
Karin had complained of their scent on one another, she would make sure everyone could smell her on her lord after this, and him on her.
"My lord...you seem to be pent up. Allow me to help you." She purred.
Naruto groaned at the woman who had him like putty in her hands. She was usually a quite elegant and polite lady. When in public or among others of his household. When it was just them though. The Tsunade hidden behind the veil of a courtier broke free. And she was all his. Only his.
He fought back a moan as she took him into her soft and dextrous hands. She played with him. Toying with him. Planting tender kisses along his length before mixing in small licks causing him to groan as she worshipped him.
The soft giggles and hums that she let out as she peppered him with her lips and tongue added to his pleasure and soon the small flicks of her tongue turned to long drags of her mouth up and down the shaft. With one final set of slow teasing kisses to the head of his cock she took it into her mouth and circled his head with her tongue.
The lordling leaned back in his seat as his mistress worked on him. Her head slowly pressed down. Mouth, then throat taking more and more of him until she was forced to open all the way to try and compensate for him. Just as she reached the end, a small gag cracking out around his cock she slowly, all while keeping her eyes locked with Naruto's, slid back up releasing him with a pop and sucking a few gasps of air into her lungs between a sultry chuckle.
Grinning with just a bit of drool trailing from the corner of her cherry lips, Tsunade removed her dress and brought her soft tits up to wrap around her young lord's cock. Laughing at the look of ecstasy on the boy's face she quickly set to rubbing her chest along his length. Faster and faster she pumped up and down. The soft flesh of her tits warmly embracing Naruto fully, all except his head. Something she resolved easily enough by opening her mouth and once more sucking on the head of his dick.
Letting out moans and hums of happiness as she took her lord's cock with her breasts and mouth. She used her whole body's momentum to properly please him, bouncing her plump ass up and down as she stroked him with all her love and lust.
Naruto groaned loudly at the mix of feelings on his cock before his hands grabbed hold of the arm rests for his chair. Tsunade felt what was coming and leaned back as Naruto grunted in exertion and covered her chest and face in his seed. Smiling up at her lord, Tsunade began to clean herself up, making a show of it for Naruto to enjoy.
After the last strands were licked off of her fingers, Tsunade smirked at the sight of Naruto's cock standing at attention ready for action once more. Sensually crawling up the seat and her lord's body she turned to present her thick soft ass for him.
Slowly, just like when she started with her mouth and tits, Tsunade slid down onto his cock until she took his whole length inside her. Moaning out in pleasure she began to rise again before stopping just at the tip of his head and lowering herself slowly again.
Again and again, all while moaning and gasping out in pleasure the woman bounced on her Lord's lap. The clapping of flesh meeting flesh was only surpassed by her screams as Naruto's hands snaked around her waist and began toying with her pussy as she rode him.
Leaning back into Naruto's chest, Tsunade let out a choked keening sound before rapidly twisting her hips around and around, back and forth, like a whore from a King's Landing brothel.
"Naruto!" She cried out in pleasure as her pussy clamped down on him and she rode out her orgasm on his cock.
She stopped only long enough to catch her breath before turning to face her young lover. Kissing and sucking at each other's necks and lips, the two fell into a world of their own. Again and again Tsunade brought him to the edge with the movement of her hips, only to drive him back with loving kisses and worshipping his body. Soon though she could resist no more and began grinding her hips down into his with a fervor not seen yet. Their moans turned to growls and they clung to one another roughly as Naruto bucked up into Tsunade's pussy.
"Please, love, fill me with it. Show your love for me." Tsunade gasped into his ear as he held her close and bit down, lightly, on her neck.
She felt him do as she asked. The sudden warmth growing inside her. She could almost imagine the thought of it taking hold, and her bearing her lordling's children. A beautiful dream. Just a dream though.
The two remained there. Holding one another, Naruto slowly lost the hardness he had and Tsunade regained her breath. They kissed tenderly once more and basked in each other's warmth. Sadly, like all moments, this too had to come to an end. They cleaned one another as Tsunade teased her lover with another show that ensured that they would enjoy each other's company again later that night. They sat enjoying each other's presence. Soon however the moment would have to come to an end and so Naruto had to make sure his lover knew her responsibilities before they parted for their duties for the day.
"Tsunade, don't forget the moon tea." He reminded her as he began to kiss along her neck.
"Of course my lord." Tsunade said after a few moments with a careful tone, but Naruto could still catch the sadness underneath.
He slowly kissed up her spine, hands roaming her body softly. "It's only for a few more months. Just until Karin and I are wed and she is with child. Once she has one of her own on the way, you and I can have as many as we want. As many as you can bear."
Tsunade laughed in her usual husky tone before rolling over to kiss her lover directly. "If we wait too long I won't have time to even have one. I'm not a young girl like your bride to be, my sweet lord. I'm twice your age, you must remember that."
The pair continued to toy with one another for a while, before Naruto ensured she drank her tea, something that annoyed her to no end. Still she understood his caution. She had most of his heart, but the House beat out even her.
As if he could sense her annoyance. Naruto teased her body once again and just as he had truly worn away her resistance and she was about to let him drag her back to the floor and ravish her. However, he stopped, cackling as he rushed out of the room, down the hall pulling on his clothes as he went.
Flustered and frustrated Tsunade quite literally growled as the boy fled from her wrath. Oh she would have it out with him tonight! Her scowl turned to a playful grin. She was the one that shared his bed after all.
King's Landing
Tower of the Hand
298 AC
Ned
Eddard had done his best to make it clear that he was not to be disturbed for the brief time he could enjoy breaking his fast with his daughters. So far from home in Winterfell, Ned savored such few moments he could spend with his girls, along with a handful of other members of his house that could escape their duties to join them for their morning meal. Today, the most usual of those to sit at his table collected around. Sansa and Arya of course. Septa Mordane and Sansa's Handmaiden and friend Jeyne. Jory also joined him, and normally Ned was happy for his company but with new rumors going round about that blasted tourney, the man of course wanted to know if they were true.
"Are Ser Jory's words true, father? Is there to be a royal tourney?" Sansa asked, a glimmer of excitement lighting in her eyes.
"Gods be good! The small council leaks information out like a sieve it seems." Ned complained before sighing and nodding to his girls.
Sansa and Jeyne were of course immediately excited. The thought of seeing gallant knights and beautiful ladies all participating in such pageantry had both young ladies all but bouncing in their seats in anticipation.
"Calm down, I don't want any of you girls going. The entire event is a mistake and if I could, I would have no part in it. I can keep my daughters from this nonsense in the least." Ned said with a grumbling tone.
His eldest girl was crushed at the thought of missing such an event. Her eyes took on a watery appearance and she clasped her hands together before mewling at him like a girl half her age begging for a treat.
"Oh, please father, we must go! All the lords and ladies there and the knights! It will be a once in a decade chance!" Sansa begged.
'More like once every other month from the stories I'm hearing of Robert. Still I do hate it when she begs like that.' Ned thought as he blinked down at his child.
"Sansa, a lady doesn't act in such ways." Septa Mordane lightly scolded, causing the young redhead to snap back into her more elegant lady-like demeanor.
"However I do think it would be best for the girls to attend my lord." Mordane said, turning to him. Ned simply raised an eyebrow to encourage the aging woman to continue.
"Princess Myrcella will be there and is younger than Lady Sansa. All the ladies of court will be expected to attend such a grand event as this and as it is in your honor, my lord, it would be seen as odd should your own family not be in attendance."
Ned sat quietly for a moment, his face set in stone so that none might understand his thoughts before he squeezed his eyes closed and groaned faintly.
"Very well. I shall arrange places for you." Ned said with a pained look before glancing toward Arya. "Both of you."
Arya's face turned sour and she glared down at her plate. "I don't care about their stupid tourney." She knew Joffrey would be there and she hated him.
"Well it will be a splendid event. You shan't be wanted." Sansa sniffed in Arya's direction.
"That's enough." Ned's voice cracked across the room, silencing both girls and filling the room with an awkward air. "Sansa, any more of that and you'll change my mind on your attendance. I am weary unto the death of you two fighting this endless war. I expect you to behave like sisters, is that understood?"
Both girls lowered their heads but nodded to him. They knew not to push him with his patience worn thin by dealing with the matters of the realm day in and day out.
"Good. I expect this to be the last time. Anymore and I will be forced to punish you to drive my point home and I am not in a forgiving mood girls." The Lord Hand spoke quietly but with steel getting another pair of nods from his children. Nodding his head along with them he turned his attention back to his meal for a time.
"Now, neither of you have seen a true tourney. The closest you might have would be the matches at the fairs held in Wintertown. This will be different. Far larger and more organized. A great amount of money and work goes into a royal tournament so I want you on your best behaviour for the whole event. Even when not at the tourney grounds I want you minding your manner and acting like the ladies of house Stark that I know you to be. Am I understood?" Ned explained to his daughters.
"Yes father." Sansa chirped. Ned turned to look at Arya hardening his expression until she replied with a far less enthusiastic answer. "Yes, father."
"The tourney will have three major events, the largest and most important being the Joust, followed by a grand melee and finally a series of unmounted duels. There will be several other smaller contests, one for archery, one for riding, as well as a contest of strength and many more, but most of these smaller contests are open to the smallfolk as well and aren't as regulated. If you wish to go and see one of the smaller contests you will ask permission first and will remain with your escort wherever you go." Ned further explained before instructing them on what he expected. His eyes looked intently on Arya as he spoke, driving the point home to his younger daughter.
Eddard glanced out the window to the room and noticed the height of the sun before glancing at his mostly empty plate. It seemed his moment of savoring time with his children was at an end.
"Pray excuse me," Ned said to the whole of the room, his men on the far ends of the table as well as his girls and the others closer to him. "I have much to contend with today and need to get an early start on it."
As Eddard left his household turned to one another for conversation. Septa Mordane peered over to Sansa and Jeyne Poole as they chattered about the coming tourney. Ser Jory and Hullen spoke on horses, Hullen explaining to the young knight about how his beast was perfect for the battlefield but a poor choice for such things as a joust. The only one to have no one to speak with was Arya. She sat alone and for the first time since Mycah's murder on the Trident by the Hound, she truly felt it.
Realizing she wasn't hungry any longer and wishing to be alone, Arya stood to leave only for the Septa's voice to snap her from her thoughts on her dead friend.
"Where do you think you're going?" The Septa asked sharply.
"Might I be excused, I'm no longer hungry." Arya said, trying to keep a polite tone with the old hag.
"Absolutely not. You must clean your plate, Seven knows you're too thin." The Septa said with a sniff causing Arya to grit her teeth in rage. She had to fight back tears at the insult when she saw Jeyne Poole failing to hide a snicker.
"You clean it!" Arya screamed before turning and racing from the room with the sounds of the Septa shouting after her as the men bellowed in laughter.
She slammed open the door to the corridor and tore past Fat Tom who was standing at his post beside it. Seeing the girl sprint by him he called out to her and even tried to give chase, but he of course was called Fat Tom for a reason and Arya was a quick child. She made it to her own chamber and slammed the door and barred it.
Not long after sealing herself within she heard the knocking of Fat Tom as he tried to get her to open up, starting with asking what had upset her, then saying the Septa would be right cross with her if she didn't come out. Arya simply shouted that she wouldn't come out and he had best leave her be. As she expected he soon gave up and the next person to bang on her door was the Septa herself.
Septa Mordane was far less pleasant with her demands for Arya to unbar the door, but the girl was just as adamant to ignore her as she was Fat Tom. Arya had brought out Needle by then, the thin blade given to her by Jon before she came south to King's Landing and he went north to the Wall. She began swinging it around, playing at fighting opponents, most with the faces of Septa Mordane and Jeyne Poole or Prince Joffrey and the Hound. A few even looked much like Sansa.
"Arya, open this door this instant!" The Septa hollered, her voice cracking as she strained herself with the shouting.
"You'd best not come in here!" Arya shouted back while swinging her sword at the door.
"The Lord Hand will hear of this young lady!" The Septa shouted before hurrying away to inform the lord herself.
"I don't care!" Arya shouted back, unsure if the woman could even hear her down the hall.
The girl went back to slashing and hacking at the air with her blade. Stabbing at invisible warriors and whispering fake cries of death as they lie defeated at her feet. That is until a far more reserved but loud knock pulled her attention to the door.
"Arya." Eddard's voice called through the wood causing her to bite her lip in slight worry for punishment. Still she quickly unbarred and opened the door for her father who stepped into the room and looked at her.
He noticed the blade instantly, looking at it quizzically before holding out his hand for it. Slowly she surrendered the blade to her father and watched silently as he ran his hands across and inspected it.
"A fine blade, one of Braavosi design if I'm not mistaken, but here I see a familiar makers mark. Mikken's no doubt." He said without looking at her. Arya's eyes had now turned to the floor and she couldn't look up at him.
"How is it I'm expected to be the Hand of the King and administer all of the realm if I fail to even have knowledge of my own forge making a blade for my daughter?" Ned seemed to age as he spoke.
Letting out a sigh and looking over to Arya he nearly flinched as he recalled similar situations between his father and sister so long ago. Arya for her part had never seen her father look so tired as he did at the moment.
"Arya," Ned began as he sat on the edge of the girl's bed, with her climbing up to sit beside him. "You must learn to be more respectful to Septa Mordane-"
Arya cut her father off as she shot a heated look his way. "I hate Septa Mordane!"
"The Septa goes above and beyond her station and what I have paid her for to try and tame you into a respectable lady." He replied back.
"I don't want to be a lady!"
"I should snap this toy over my knee and be done with this nonsense." Eddard growled, causing her to flinch slightly.
"You can't break Needle." Arya tried to sound confident but worry and uncertainty colored her tone.
Ned lifted an eyebrow at his daughter's words. "It has a name does it?"
Ned sighed again and Arya can't help that more than tired he seems sad. Sad and old and tired. She disliked the capital even more now for making her father seem so unhappy and exhausted.
"You know my sister Lyanna would have carried a blade at times if my lord father had allowed it. You remind me of her often. You even look as she did." He said wistfully.
"But everyone says Aunt Lyanna was beautiful." Arya commented comparing herself to her aunt while pulling her knees up to her chest.
"She was beautiful, and willful, and dead before her time." He stared down into his daughter's eyes as he made his point. "What do you intend to do with this blade little she-wolf? Do you plan to stick it in Septa Mordane, or perhaps Sansa? Do you know the first thing about sword fighting?"
"You stick them with the pointy end." Arya replied immediately, causing her father to burst into laughter, surprising her.
"I suppose that is the basics of it." He said as his laughter calmed, but he seemed a bit lighter now. A bit happier.
"I was trying to learn, I had asked Mycah to…" Arya tried hard to stop the tears that sprang into her eyes at the thought. "I asked Mycah to practice with me. It was my fault that Prince Joffrey sent the Hound to kill him."
Ned wrapped his girl in a tight embrace. He soothed her and comforted her as best he could. "It wasn't your fault Arya. Grieve for your friend, but his murder lies at the feet of the Hound and the cruel people he serves."
"I hate them. I hate the Hound, I hate the King and Queen, and I hate Prince Joffrey. He lied. Sansa lied too, when she said she didn't remember. She just lied to make Joffrey like her more!" She wept and Ned soothed her for a moment before her spoke again.
"Sansa wasn't the only one that lied, little wolf. I don't believe that Nymeria ran off on her own. That wolf has stayed by your side at all moments unless you sent her away." Arya blushed slightly at being found out in her lie. Tears started bubbling up anew though as she thought of Nymeria.
"I had to throw rocks to get her to leave. I hit her twice and I felt such shame for it." She cried recalling the confused look her wolf had as she hit her with rocks and yelled for her to leave. "Was it right?"
"It was the right thing to do, Arya. Your lie was not without honor." Eddard spoke softly while stroking her hair to calm her down.
Once she finally regained her composure and the pair of them pulled apart Ned stood before kneeling in front of her to place himself eye to eye. He wanted to try and truly make her understand what he needed and expected of her, why he could not have her fighting with everyone else in the house any longer.
"Arya, what are our house words?" Ned asked. Arya gave him a bewildered look before answering him.
"Winter is Coming." She replied confused.
"Yes. The hard times. The cruel times. You and your siblings have had tastes of it when Bran fell and again at the trident with that business with the Prince and Mycah. However you, your sister and your brothers are all summer children. You were born and reared in a long summer, one of the longest, but winter is truly coming. Now, what's our sigil?" Ned had steadily grown more serious throughout his lecture.
"It's the direwolf." Arya replied again, now though her mind drifted to her Nymeria, somewhere running free in the Riverlands, or maybe she had wandered back home to the north through the marshes and bogs of the Neck all the way back to Winterfell.
"There is another saying for our house. When the snow falls and the white winds blow, the lone wolf dies and the pack survives. Summer is the time for squabbles but in winter, we must protect one another, keep each other warm, and share our strengths. If you must hate, hate those that would truly do us harm. Septa Mordane is a good woman and Sansa is your sister. Even if you are like night and day you are sisters and you need one another and by the gods I need both of you." Ned seemed to sigh and sag once more with his words.
Arya noticed that whatever mirth had come to her father had once again left him. He seemed even more tired and old now. Pained by worries and annoyances she had only partial or perhaps no knowledge.
"I don't hate Sansa, not truly." She told her father hoping to bring a bit of life back into his eyes. Rather than the humor from before they gained a more steely appearance than before
"We have come to a dangerous place, those who wish ill of us surround us from all sides, so we cannot be fighting among ourselves or we will be too weak to face them. Running off and disobedience like today must come to an end, little wolf. Those are things for a child of summer but winter is truly coming and it is time for you to grow up." Ned said. Arya could only nod her head as she hugged him once more.
As he stood he held Needle back out to her to take. The girl's eyes widened and she flicked her confused gaze up to her father's face.
"Go on, take it." Ned said with a ghost of a smile on his face.
"I can keep it? Truly?" Arya asked with shock.
"Yes. If I took it, I'd no doubt find a morningstar under your pillow next. Just don't stab your sister with it. No matter what reason she gives you." He replied trying to control his mirth as the girl brightened right up, even while blushing about his final comment.
Three days later, young Arya began her dancing lessons with her instructor from Braavos, Syrio Forel.
King's Landing
298 AC
Naruto
The Crimson Lady glided into port among all the other ships filling the crowded docks of the capital. A handful of other Uzumaki ships trailed their house's flag into port. Naruto stood on the forecastle hollering orders down to his men as they navigated Blackwater Bay and into the Blackwater Rush to dock.
Karin stood on the deck with Tsunade by her side, despite her distaste of the woman, her lord had still assigned her to be her handmaiden after all. Over the short trip from Dragonstone to King's Landing, she had shared quarters with her, and found it, against all odds, that she could not outright hate the woman. She was nowhere near fond of her betrothed's mistress, however she had settled into what she felt was the best course for the time being to handle her situation. She simply did everything she could to put the ties between the two out of her mind. In truth it was a poor solution, but for the time being it seemed all she had.
Now, once again she was attempting to put the thoughts from her mind as she ignored the blonde a step behind and left of her. Instead, she was turning her mind to the thoughts of the tourney and feast to come. The excitement to see everything the capital has to offer, and all Naruto had told her about in regards to what to expect. Her cousin would likely be the youngest to compete in any of the competitions, evidently intent on both the Joust and Grand Melee. That did fill her with some trepidation, she'd heard tales of knights and lords killed in tournaments, especially the grand melee. Just last year one of her father's best knights, a man she had thought invincible due to his skill, had lost an arm and bled to death in a melee held in the Stormlands. She'd heard other horror stories of tourneys.
"Tsunade," Karin did her best to not show the discomfort she still felt speaking to the woman. "Is it true that some poor young man was split nearly in half earlier this year in the Westerlands by the brute they call the Mountain-That-Rides?"
She blinked when she noticed the silence around her as several men had stopped what they were doing to glance their way before returning to their work. Tsunade herself looked uncomfortable at the topic. Karin thought perhaps she felt similarly to herself and wished that Naruto might not join the tourney afterall.
"What is the problem?" She asked her handmaiden. The others around them were all busy after all and not there to talk.
"My lady, it's just that Ser Gregor Clegane and his brother are considered more like monsters than men." Tsunade said quietly in her husky voice that no doubt helped her enthrall Karin's husband to be. Karin shook the thoughts from her head and turned fully to the blond beside her.
"I've heard rumors…" Karin led on the conversation causing the blonde to sigh. Karin decided then and there she had more in common with this woman than she first thought, though it only incensed her more knowing that was the case.
"I've heard the same, my lady. Whispers and rumors all saying terrible things. Things such as the word that Gregor prefers only the youngest of maids for his bed, sometimes he even kidnaps peasant girls, none that could be considered women in any true sense." Tsunade said in a hushed tone. It would not do for such accusations to be overheard loudly in the crowded docks of King's Landing, even by their own men.
The young lady was horrified that such a man was not stopped. "Why hasn't he been brought to justice?"
"They are rumors, Lady Karin. Even were they not, that one is a man of Tywinn Lannister and I hear that the king would not move against his wife's father." Tsunade explained.
Nearby Kakashi all but growled at the memory of Clegane's work. The corpses of a woman and two small children Lady Kushina had returned to the Martells flashed through his mind. He had been but a boy at the time but was already in service to Lady Kushina and her husband. He recalled the bodies, such horrible mutilation wasn't even seen on the battlefields he'd fought on.
"I rarely pray for anything." Kakashi commented quietly, bringing both women's attention to him. "But I pray to the Seven near everyday for that beast to die the death he deserves."
Even Karin, sheltered as she was on Dragon's Rest, had heard the story of Elia and her children. She decided she wanted to hear no more of this monster of men, and remained quiet alongside the rest of the group as they found the inn they would be staying in for their stay in the capital.
As they travelled, Karin noticed the city was terribly crowded. Their men in front of the carriage and horses had to shove and harass people in the street until they moved out of the small procession's way. The city also smelled terrible, Naruto having told her the stench was from the poorer areas like Fleabottom wafting over the city as a whole.
Even in the wealthier section of King's Landing where the finer inn they were to stay seemed crowded to Karin, and while it was far better here, she could swear she smelled Flea-bottom even then. Thankfully, the owners of the establishment had selected fragrant flowers as well as plenty of incense to burn and drown out the stench completely.
House Uzumaki was among the wealthiest of houses in Westeros. Only having grown in their reputation and filled their coffers more with the end of Robert's Rebellion and seizure of Dragonstone for house Uzumaki. That being said, Karin knew that Naruto hoped to win well in the tournament even if he didn't take first place, to hopefully soften the blow he would likely suffer from the reconstruction.
Just moving from Dragonstone to King's Landing and the process of docking and making their way to the inn had been exhausting for the whole of the household. By the time they were settled, it was near nightfall and Naruto had declared they would venture out to see the city the next day early in the morning. He seemed intent to show Karin some of the sights as well as handle his own business.
The next morning as Naruto had promised, he and his household had awoken early to provide plenty of time for him to lead Karin around, as well as to visit the Street of Steel and find an adequate smith for some work Naruto wished completed.
Their first stop was the Street of Steel, to a well regarded smithy who had come to Westeros from as far as Qohor. It was said the man was the only one on this side of the Narrow Sea that could reforge Valyrian steel, and his work was assuredly among the best any smith in the capital could offer.
They didn't take too long there, Naruto left the group to browse some of Tobho Mott's finished creations while Naruto and the man himself stepped into the back. His primary need was a simple repair job for his tourney armor. A fastener for a strap had broken loose and needed refit. Thankfully the repair would be as cheap as it would be fast. However Naruto also contracted the smith for another job. While the man's apprentice would be completing the repair Tobho himself would be making what Naruto asked for.
Tobho offered to have Gendry, his apprentice, do some maintenance on Naruto's second set of armor. The young lord had two sets, one for the joust and the second for the melee and combat in general. Seeing no harm in it, he agreed and after talking with the young man who was actually a couple of years Naruto's senior, Naruto concluded he couldn't have selected a better pair of smiths among those available in the city to intrust his equipment to.
After leaving, Naruto and his group move on to see the Dragon pits and eventually return to a tavern not far from their inn. Karin, despite the negatives of the city and the stresses of recent disappointments, let alone the slight worry she felt for the upcoming tourney, was having a splendid time. Everything was lively and so exciting compared to most of her homelife. She had been so used to waiting around in her family holdfast on Dragon's Rest. With her father's poor health she had rarely left.
Now though, seeing the bustling of King's Landing that had overwhelmed her earlier, now simply made her giddy for the festivities that were to come. The group had decided to mingle with some of the other nobility and their pirates that were coming for the tournament.
Whatever enjoyable time Karin and her companions had sadly came to an end just as the sun began to set. The revelry and rowdiness of the tavern had hit it's height when Naruto and Kakashi seemed to tense as a few other men sat at a neighboring table.
Karin looked over to take in the appearance of the men. Both of the lords, or knights, were younger men. The first she noticed was none other than Lord Renly Baratheon, youngest brother of the King himself. He was tall and lithe, handsome as well with a clean shaven face. He looked to be nearly ten years Naruto's elder but the look in his eyes as she saw him glance at her cousin showed that he held a deep seated contempt for him.
The second man of note was Ser Loras Tyrell, a man that made Karin blush faintly at the sight of him. He was just as handsome as rumors said, with thick curly golden-brown hair and a lean physique and bright smile. Karin could see why so many young women were taken with both men, especially with Ser Loras. Deciding she should do as expected of a young lady she leaned closer to Naruto who gave her a small surprised glance before smiling slightly back at her.
Both of the new arrivals seemed very intent to glare down her betrothed. She recalled overhearing her father speaking to Naruto in the past about Lord Renly's opinion of him. The young lord had apparently gained Renly's distaste by simply being born into House Uzumaki initially but it had worsened from there. He evidently held that Storm's End should have been his own seat and Dragonstone his elder brother's, that is until Kushina Uzumaki had been the one to take the island and 'help' in the taking of King's Landing.
"Lord Uzumaki." Renly greeted, and though his face and smile seemed friendly the words came out with a venomous quality.
"Lord Baratheon." Naruto replied cordially. His voice held less emotion than Karin had ever heard. However he seemed to go back to ignoring Renly as soon as he had replied. Turning instead to his food.
Renly's smile dipped slightly at the clear dismissal by the boy his elder brother favored as his squire. He always had a dislike for Naruto. He was certain both his elder brothers had been somewhat enamored with his mother and that was the true reason House Uzumaki had taken Dragonstone when his brother Stannis should have gotten it. Storm's End should have fallen then to himself, but it hadn't. To make matters worse this boy had been Stannis' squire for a handful of years and the man had doted upon him in a way he had never treated Renly himself. That had been only the start of their issues.
"This is Ser Loras, my former squire. A fine young Knight, perhaps the greatest in the realm, only fifteen when he received the honor." Renly introduced.
"Ah, so I only beat him out by a year. Is that why you came over to speak with us? Oh wait, you must have wanted me to introduce my own party. Well, this is the devilish Kakashi of the Lightning Blade. Yes the rumors are true my master-at-arms strikes with the speed of lightning itself. All those in the tourney should be relieved to know he is not competing this time. Beside him is the lovely Tsunade of the House of Red Hands, my personal physician and confidant and my lady's handmaiden. Last but certainly not least is my betrothed, the beautiful Karin Uzumaki, my sweet cousin. Do you require more from me or can I return to eating now?" Naruto asked, causing Loras to turn a scarlet red in his face at the dismissive attitude toward Renly and the disrespect shown, though Renly himself simply lost his smile.
"As biting as usual little lordling." Renly said with darkening eyes.
"As biting as Ser Loras? Should I fear for my innocence? At least I know my lady is safe." Naruto snapped, causing Loras to hiss out a reply.
"Yes, well at least this Uzumaki maid knows her place better than your mother did. Perhaps she'll live longer as a result." Loras jabbed. Karin's hands flew to her mouth and her eyes went to her cousin in worry of how he'd react.
Both he and Kakashi were on their feet in a flash sending their chairs clattering to the floor with Renly and Loras following suit and men in service to both parties up only a moment after. Hands gripped sword hilts as Naruto glared at the two men, Kakashi beside him ready to attack at a single motion.
"My lords please! Not here! Not in my establishment, I beg you! Can you not speak like gentlemen or at least take it to the street?" The owner and bartender cried.
"I suggest you apologize, Ser Loras." Naruto growled.
"My lords, surely such capable young men can face one another in the tournament and settle your differences there." The bartender tried again.
"I would be surprised if the Lordling would even make it past his first tilt of the joust." Loras said with a sneer as he and Renly removed their hands from their sword hilts and strutted away from the tavern with all the pomp a young lord could possess.
Naruto sighed as he watched them leave. Renly sending him a dark glare as they went, and drew out additional coin to pay the keeper for the trouble. As he and Kakashi returned to their seats and the festivities slowly kicked back up Karin leaned in close enough for Naruto to hear her easily enough while keeping their discussion private.
"I knew you had trouble with Lord Renly, but I had no idea it was that bad. He and Ser Lora both hate you Naruto." Karin said to him. She flushed slightly as Naruto leaned in closely to her to listen. They had been distant lately, this closeness would not have bothered her until recently.
"You already know Renly has a distaste for our family because of my mother. It only grew worse when I served as Lord Stannis' squire and worse again while I stayed at Storm's End. Renly is a petty man, both of them are, really, but Renly especially. He would do so many stupid little things to try and shame me in front of Lord Stannis only for Stannis to see the truth and we've never gotten along since." Naruto explained.
Naruto felt no need to add that Loras was Renly's not so well kept secret lover and former squire. He could partially understand the feeling of defensiveness the man held for Renly, but it still struck Naruto as foolish. He wasn't above playing their game though, he would shame Renly and Loras both at the tourney if he could.
Dothraki Sea
298 AC
Daenerys
She wasn't sure when it happened, the change in her as she grew more accustomed to life among the nomads of the Dothraki Sea. At some point she had started to truly adore this new life. True, it had been hard at first. The endless hours of riding had given her aching and stiff muscles and terrible saddle sores. Still in time her body had grown used to the strain of the riding and her eyes had opened to the beauty of this place.
Daenerys might not be Dothraki by blood but now she saw the beauty in the different grasses of this land. The wind whispered across them in waves causing the blades to rustle like some natural instrument. Here on the Dothraki Sea the grass could grow as tall or even taller than a man on a horse and it was endless. In every direction nothing but the open plain of whispering grasses and clear skies.
With a glance back behind her Dany noticed her brother and most of the rest of the party had yet to catch up to her and Ser Jorah. Having just crested a ridge she looked out over the expanse before them and grinned.
"Ser Jorah, tell them they can wait for me here, I wish to ride alone for a moment but I'll return shortly." She said before tapping her silver maned horse on the sides and racing off into the tall grasses the faint laughter of her knight behind her as he enjoyed the sight of her enjoying herself.
"Of course Khaleesi!" Jorah called after her.
She barely heard his words as she galloped away through grasses taller than her even while on horseback. Her mount raced through the grasses and Daenerys felt like here she was truly free. Her laughter could be heard even as far back as the ridge line as she led her silver mare through the grass maze.
After riding for a bit she decided to let her precious steed rest a moment and graze was in order and dismounted herself. She stretched and walked about to get circulation back into her legs.
Her happiness was short lived however as the grasses nearby began to part and shake with something's rapid approach. Daenerys feared some kind of beast about to set upon her and her horse and just as she was about to bolt for her horse the grasses finally parted fully to reveal her brother. She very nearly preferred the idea of some sort of predator.
"Who do you think you are to give me commands!" Viserys hissed as his violet eyes glared down at her harshly. He reached out, snatching Daenerys by her shoulders bruising them with his grip as he yanked her toward himself.
"You don't command me whore! I am the rightful king of the seven kingdoms! The last of the greatest dynasty of rulers in history! The last dragon!" He continues to shout shaking her before leaning in close to hiss into her face.
"Do you truly want to wake the dragon? Is that what you wish for?" His grip tightened on her causing her to cringe away form the pain before slapping his hand off her arm and shoving him away.
Viserys stood stock still staring at his younger sister with mouth agape. The idea that she would dare to strike him like that seemed impossible to the fool. Slowly however his astonished stare turned to the most vitriolic and hateful glare Daenerys had ever seen grace his face and a trace of fear swelled in her heart. Despite that she stood her ground as best she could.
"I am Khaleesi and will be treated well and with my due respect." She attempted to sound sure and confident, but to her all she could hear was the slight quiver caused by a lifetime of abuse and domination from her cruel brother.
Again Viserys had a look of shock slip onto his face but it was very short lived before he seemed to begin shaking in rage. His face purpled with anger and eyes bulged like a frog's at the thought of Dany's defiance toward him.
"You've woken the-" Viserys began lifting his hand to begin beating her only for a whip to suddenly snap out and wrap around his neck choking off his rant before it could truly begin.
With a sudden yank Viserys was thrown to the ground and drug back away from Daenerys as the rest of her party caught up to them. The Dothraki warriors yipped and jeered in their language at the downed man. They seemed plenty ready to end his life as well. Dany supposed it made sense, Viserys might be her brother, but to them he was nothing while she had become their queen.
One of the riders called out to her and thankfully Irri had come along as well.
"He asks if you want him dead Khaleesi. It is a great crime to touch the Khaleesi as he has." Irri translated.
"No." She said."He shall not be harmed." Dany insisted. Again one of the warriors spoke.
"He says they should take an ear to serve as punishment for laying hands on the Khaleesi." Irri translated.
"I said he is not to be harmed." Daenerys ordered, she then stopped herself. Viserys needed some punishment to stop him from continuing as he had been. "Take his horse, he shall walk back and the whole of the Khalasar will see him as a walker like a slave."
Irri translated and the Dothraki men yipped before the whip was unraveled finally from Viserys' throat. He gasped for breath rubbed at his neck before his eyes glared once more and he shot to his feet.
"Ser Jorah, as my sworn knight I demand you strike these savages down! They dare lay their hands on a king and they will be punished!" Viserys screamed.
Jorah looked between Dany and Viserys before simply taking the reigns of Viserys and horse and leading it away from the silver haired beggar king.
"Ser Jorah! You are sworn to me!" He cried out but was ignored as the group left him behind them.
Hours later as Dany was bathed and cleaned by her handmaidens she listened as they spoke to one another of dragons. She had actually started the discussion by asking a few questions about dragons herself. The odd sensations and dream like visions she'd been having lately all seemed tied to the petrified eggs she'd been given by Illyrio.
As the handmaidens spoke, Doreah's stories took her interest the most. Even when the other two women laughed at the story about the moon being an egg and that once the world had two moons before one drew too close to the sun and hatched out the dragons. Both Irri and Jiqhui said that the moon was the face of a goddess and the wife of the sun, however Doreah's stories of dragons had Dany's interest and she invited the former pleasure slave to join her for her meal.
While speaking with her the conversation eventually turned away from dragons and on to Doreah's past. Daenerys at first felt awkward and uncomfortable with the topic, but soon she realized she could use the girl's experiences for her own benefit.
When the meal was done and Doreah gone, Dany waited for her husband to come to her as he did every night. Things had been different than her first time with the horse lord. Drogo had been very careful and tender with her that night, but since then he had come to her every night and simply rutted with her. He had taken her from behind and she had not even been able to look him in the face. Though she often was happy with that as at times he drove her to tears and she didn't want him to see.
Tonight though things would be different. Tonight she kissed him and led him outside of their tent, confusing him slightly. Dany though had slowly learned the ways of her new people. The Dothraki believed that every important moment in a person's life must take place under the open sky so that it could be witnessed by the gods.
Kissing Drogo once again after leading him to a comfortable place with soft grasses she slowly coaxed him to the ground before mounting him. Letting her clothes pool around her waist she soon began taking him. Drogo at first simply watched as his Khaleesi hovered over him on hands and knees moaning as she enjoyed herself. Rather than remain idle however he took hold of her waist and began his own movement in time with her hips. The both of them sought to pleasure themselves with the other's body. At first she rode him slowly but soon the girl bounced on him. A wet popping filling the clearing she had chosen.
For Dany, not only was she finding pleasure in her love making with her husband, but she had finally taken the step to truly accepting her new place as Khaleesi.
King's Landing
298 AC
Naruto
Naruto blinked his eyes a few times as he awoke. The early morning sun hitting his face just right as it shined through his window and pulled him from his dreams. He preferred the real thing to any dream though as he looked over at the peaceful face of his lover. He could just pick up the subtle floral scent she liked to wear. An imported perfume from the Summer Isles that he had bought her as a gift.
Sliding forward he began trailing kisses up and down her shoulder until her own honey colored eyes opened and a small smile came to her face. Rather than speak they shared a long passionate kiss before they separated slightly.
Tsunade yawned cutely before uttering a quiet morning to her lord before taking his lips with her own once again. Soon the pair began feeling stirrings, no doubt left over from the night before as Tsunade began kissing along her lover's jaw and onto his neck, before lowly, lovingly, making her way down his chest and disappearing under the blankets that hid the rest of their forms.
Naruto relaxed as he lay his head against his pillow and let out a soft groan of pleasure as he watched the mound beneath the blankets bob up and down. The humming and wet sucklign noises from below gradually picked up pace causing the young lord to grunt as he suddenly grabbed at the shape of his lover's head through the blankets and forced her down onto himself getting a series of gagging sounds while he released. After he fell back against his bed, his breathing slightly more rapid than before he hummed in pleasure at the feeling of his lover cleaning him out of sight.
Sadly they had to stop there and he sighed as Tsuande slipped out from under the blanket before stepping into the side room to cleanse herself so she could go attend to Karin and ready her for the day. Naruto decided to stay laying in bed and enjoy his morning bliss for as long as he could. Like his time with Tsunade though this also would sadly come to an end as a knock at his door took his attention.
"Enter." Naruto called out and Kakashi stepped in closing the door behind him as he sighed looking at Naruto carelessly stood to dress. He stepped out of the way for Tsunade so that she could slip into the corridor and down to Karin's room.
"Kakashi, I'm glad you are up and around earlier than usual today." Naruto said as he tugged on a shirt.
"Yes, well, I have found that the walls here are much thinner than the ones back home." Kakashi replied with a mild glare.
"Now you know why Karin's room is on the opposite side and down the hall from my own. I have enough issues in that regard." Naruto replied as he sat and began pulling on his boots.
'You could just put Tsunade to the side. That would solve your issues.' Kakashi thought blandly knowing no such thing would happen. The Uzumaki were all subservient to their passions, and though Kakashi knew Naruto would never wed her out of duty to his house, he knew Naruto loved Tsunade deeply.
"Did you find out all the events Renly and Loras are participating in like I asked you to?" Naruto asked, bringing back his retainer's attention.
"Renly is abstaining from this tourney sadly, but Loras is participating in the Joust like he implied last night." Kakashi answered.
"I wonder if I shatter him in the joust if he'll shell out the extra coin for a late entry to the duels or melee?" Naruto suggested.
"It's unlikely but you know better than anyone how prideful Renly is, Loras seemed even worse than him last night."
"Hmm." Naruto hummed as he strapped his sword belt on.
"You should take caution of wounding their pride too heavily my lord." Kakashi began. He rarely used such a term with Naruto in private unless he truly needed to make a point. "Both of them are petty and more powerful and thereby dangerous than you give them credit for I fear."
Naruto simply waved him off causing Kakashi to sigh. "I need to go by the smith we visited and check in on my orders. The work should be done by the time we reach them unless they found something else wrong that I missed. I also had them working on a small gift for Karin. She's taking this whole business with Tsunade far better than most women in her position would."
"It is a specialty of your kin to be unpredictable." Kakashi pointed out getting a chuckle from Naruto as they made their way down to the common room of the inn below to wait for Karina nd Tsunade.
They only had to wait for a brief while, Karin preferred simpler gowns and dresses with elegant details to some of the more elaborate fashions many other ladies liked. The party, like the rest of their times venturing out into the city slowly made their way through the throngs of people in the street. It had only grown more crowded as time drew nearer to the tourney itself.
The numbers also brought more stalls and strange goods for offer though. Foreign products, animals, and plants along with items less common in King's Landing than other corners of Westeros. Naruto and Karin's favorite had been a small stand set up by a merchant woman from Midport back on Dragon's Rest. She had called for their attention she had noticed the distinctive red hair of Naruto and Karin and insisted on a thin whalebone and emerald necklace for the Lady. She even refused payment simply asking they spread word on where such unique jewelry came from.
Karin had been especially taken with the necklace as the carvings on the bone seemed to look like the swirls of the Uzumaki sigil. They spent some time browsing the stands and even purchasing a few more exotic items from abroad. Tsunade trying to hide her interest in drinks brought from as far as Yi Ti and incense and perfumes from the Cinnamon Straits. Karin took a liking to jewelry from other lands as well, selecting a comb and set of hair pins made of turquoise from somewhere in the Jade Sea.
Kakashi and Naruto's tastes were simpler. Naruto having found interest in a fine set of gloves made for a ship captain from Tyrosh and both him and Kakashi purchasing a pair of cloaks supposedly from Ibben that were more resistant to rain than others, perfect for when sailing on the stormy Narrow Sea.
Eventually they found themselves at the same smithy Naruto had left his equipment to. The shop was clearly popular as Naruto had expected as he recognized other Lord's equipment in various stages of work. It even took a bit of time for the owner of the shop to finish organizing his workhands and apprentices so that he might meet with Naruto and his company properly. Naruto himself directed Karin and Tsunade to remain with Kakashi and browse some of the shop's work while he discussed business with the man himself.
Tobho Mott led Naruto to a back room where he saw the young man that was to work on his armor working on something else now. Turning to the work that was done for him he was happy to see the repairs and maintenance done well. What he hadn't expected was the minor damage on his regular armor he had put off for the time being to have also been fixed.
Inspecting it closely Naruto was thrilled by the job done and almost wished to have a full suit made by Tobho and Gendry. Perhaps one day in the future but for the time being he had other things on his plate and his armor would do fine.
"This is fine work master Mott. You and your apprentice are truly gifted. Have the whole purse for the additional work and a bonus for impressing me. I hope to keep using your services in the future." Naruto said as he handed a large sum to the smith, getting a nod in return with a small grateful smile. Naruto was being quite generous with his coin.
"Thank you my lord, now about that other item of business." Tobho said as he led the lord over to a table nearby.
On the table a handful of small blades, but one stood out to him immediately. A thin bladed dirk lay on the table next to an ornate sheath that continued on a similar design to the blade's handle. The handle itself was just long enough for a hand to easily grip it but what was most striking was the carving inlaid with small sapphires and rubies to mimic the colors of his house.
"You've outdone yourself once more, master Mott." Naruto said as he inspected the blade.
"My thanks again my lord. I believe it will make a fitting gift like you hoped. Useful and beautiful if I might brag so much." Tobho said as Naruto sheathed the blade and slipped it into his small side bag and produced another purse of coins.
"You have most definitely secured my business master Mott, should I find the need of your services I will call on you, and should you need something don't fear to ask myself or someone from my house. I'd be happy to aid someone as skilled as yourself." Naruto explained as they exited the room and rejoined the others.
Leaving the street of steel they continued to browse the shops throughout the higher end of the city. Both women were drawn to a dressmaker to get fitted for new gowns to wear to the tourney and feast afterward. The women left instructions for the finished gowns to be taken to their inn and rejoined the men as they took to seeing other sights that the city had to offer.
Slowly but surely they made their way to the Great Sept of Baelor. One of the most well known locations within the city. The largest in Westeros, the Sept was the seat for the Faith of the Seven and acted as a grand cathedral for the city. Many coronations, royal weddings, and royal funerals had been held there.
Karin marvelled at the building's beautiful marble and couldn't help but feel it was the most beautiful construct in all of Westeros, perhaps the world. As she walked with her betrothed, arm in arm slowly separating from Tsunade and Kakashi, Karin had most of her attention on the great structure. This changed though as Naruto brought them to a stop.
"My name day is coming soon." Naruto said as he glanced at a pair of Sons of the Warrior passing nearby. Their attire always drew attention no matter the setting.
"So it is." Karin said with a small smile, though she was a bit confused on what exactly he was getting at. She knew when his name day was.
"We are to wed within a month of it. I think your father intends to wed us the day of my sixteenth actually." Naruto replied somewhat awkwardly. He and Karin had always been close, and had known they would wed for sometime, but as the date drew nearer it seemed to carry with it an odd pressure.
"Of course, he's ill Naruto and he fears never seeing it." Karin replied.
"I know. I just, well over the last few weeks, with the reveal of my time with Tsunade,you and I have been distant. It has gotten better though. That's what I'm trying to say. Thank you, I know you better than anyone but your parents, I know how you usually handle things that make you unhappy, but you haven't been unkind toward Tsunade or at least I haven't heard anything of it." Naruto explained, causing Karin's small smile to slip from her face as she saw the direction of the conversation.
"So you wished to discuss your mistress with me, yet again, and thank me for what? Not clawing out her eyes or poisoning her meals?" Karin asked sharply. Naruto blinked slightly before a small smile spread on his face. That was the Karin he had been missing for weeks.
"I had wondered when you would finally come out. No, I don't want to discuss her, though it does make me happy you haven't actually tried to kill her yet." Naruto said. Karin lightly scoffed and went to turn away from him though he gently turned her back his smile a little broader at her actions. Karin had been a bit of a fiery girl his entire life he wasn't about to let her turn into some submissive doll.
"Do you question if I care for you because I have her?" Naruto asked, suddenly causing Karin to eye him.
"I question why you would need her if you care for me." She replied with a scowl.
"Then I can only say it's because I love her, Karin. It's as I told you, nothing about me or her has changed from before you knew. I am still your betrothed, I love you as much as I did before, you just now see I have her as well." Naruto said trying to drive the fact home with a look into her eyes.
'Is that supposed to make me feel happier somehow?' Karin thought.
"So you say you love her and still care for me. Yet you are my betrothed and we are to marry. Are you so sure you aren't lying to yourself and that I'm not just a duty you must take on? A burden? I'm supposed to be the only one you desire like that Naruto, that was the point of our marriage." She bit out.
"I cannot help what I feel Karin you know this. Just as I cannot help what you feel." Naruto said bluntly.
"You won't even try to put her aside." Karin had meant it as a question but it came out as a statement both of them knew to be true.
"Why would I hurt her and myself to do that?" Naruto replied immediately.
'Because it hurts me for you not to.' She wanted to say but bit her tongue.
"I do love you Karin, but you don't hold all of my heart. Still, we will be wedded before the end of the year and trying for our own family. All I want is to move on from this and pick back up where we were with one another before you came to Dragonstone." Naruto tried to make her see his 'reasoning'.
"It's not that easy." She replied simply.
"I know but we have to start somewhere sweet cousin." Naruto said softly as he tugged her closer to himself gently. She nearly resisted his touch but slowly allowed herself to be pulled up to him.
"I told you I do care for you Karin, more than I think you realize. Here," He said as he produced the dagger. "I know you prefer jewelry to a blade, but I wanted you to have something to truly protect yourself with. I thought having the craftsman make it so ornate would strike a sort of middle ground."
Karin stared at the blade for a moment before taking it. It was a beautiful thing, and clearly very expensive. It likely cost more than the rest of her jewels did.
"I'd be heartbroken should you ever be harmed." Naruto said honestly. Karin scoffed again but the way she carefully handled the dagger showed that she did appreciate the gift.
"It is beautiful. Though like you said I much prefer actual jewels. Still I'll do as you ask and wear it at all times." She replied softly after examining it.
"I'm glad." Naruto said with his usual contagious smile.
Karin slowly smiled back, a far less bright one than her betrothed but it was almost impossible to not grin when he smiled directly at you.
The pair began making their way back to the others, Karin jolting slightly as Naruto interlaced his hand with her own. She hesitated only a moment before giving his hand a squeeze in return. Perhaps it was the smile, or the conversation but Karin realized that what Naruto had said was partially true. He wasn't different than she had come to know. She just learned more about him than had been available to her before. Now though she knew things that made her unhappy. She also knew he would not change them unless he had a reason.
'So I'll give him one. He may love her now, equally or perhaps even more than myself, but I will show him that he has no need for a mistress in time.' The thought reignited the bold attitude and passion that was natural to those of Uzumaki blood.
'After all, I'm the future lady of our house and your future wife. I'll make sure you'll have no reason for a wandering eye in my own way.'
Hey so that's another chapter done, I know some of you guys probably aren't happy with the situation with Naruto-Karin-Tsunade. That's okay things will progress and I hope you can come to accept them or not. Either way I hope it continues to be an enjoyable read, next chapter we are finally coming up to the tourney and get to see some action!
Heads up for those of you that might be expecting more updates soon. I will be taking a break for a couple weeks for vacation etc, so it will be a bit for another update on any of my stories, hoping to get an undeniably uzumaki chapter up next but we shall see, either way till next time everyone.