Hello everybody, finally coming at you with another update for Red Steel. I hope you all enjoy, we are finally getting the tourney out of the way and moving on toward more interesting things in my own opinion.
So a couple questions from reviews real quick:
Q:Can you bring Hinata please?
A. I mean, if I did you wouldn't like how I did it.
Q:Interesting story but can you have naruto with arya instead of sansa?
A:No, one of the biggest aspects of the GOT story that I feel gets overlooked is the development of Sansa in the story, so besides the reason that will lead to Naruto and Sansa happening I also really want to explore a different route that still leads to a much stronger, smarter, and perhaps cynical Sansa.
As always for those interested a server hosted by AizenTheGoat for those interested in participating in a great community of fellow readers and writers of fanfiction can be found at the link right here → /7x4YFstKcz
On to the story
Chapter 4
Challenge at Hand
King's Landing
298 AC
Naruto
Naruto chewed the last of his eggs for breakfast while sitting with Kakashi, Karin, Tsuande, and the rest of their more important guards. The rest of his household staff cooked, cleaned, or worked at preparing all of his equipment for the joust later in the day. They polished his armor, prepped his horse and saddle all while Naruto sat and watched. He was happy with his staff. He made sure to pay them well for their work as well as pay for their lodging and meals. THey were loyal and hardworking.
Among his staff were the newly recruited Myna, Maycey, and their mother Mathilda. They took no time at all in falling into a routine with the rest of the staff. Naruto was pretty sure Mathilda was the one to have cooked him breakfast as well. He hoped they would truly love their new opportunity within his household.
He turned his mind away from his servants and back to his kin as they polished off their morning meal. It was going to be a busy couple of days, Naruto had no doubt but he felt excitement swell in him. Kakashi couldn't stop his grin every time he glanced at the young lord as no matter how much he tried to conceal it, it was clear Naruto was bursting at the seams with energy for the day.
Tsunade and Karin likewise couldn't help but be drawn in by the infectious good mood Naruto had. Not even their tense relationship, one that had considerably warmed since coming to king's landing but remained neutral at best, stacked up against the spirited red head as he all but vibrated in his seat.
"It's a good day for the tourney." Naruto said after swallowing some water to wash down his breakfast.
"Oh? How do you suppose?" Kakashi asked, tilting his head and shooting the younger male a teasing look.
"Well I mean the air is fresh out here, it doesn't smell like the shit from the city, there's a breeze so it's not too hot, there's birds singing, and the sun is out and bright and warm. It's a good day." Naruto said with a grin, waving his arms outward toward the nature he described.
Karin giggled while shaking her head and Tsunade simply smiled warmly at her young lord. He was entertaining without trying sometimes and seeing him so pleased with simple aspects of nature seemed comical compared to his normal interests.
"I think it's more that you will get to hit something today that's making you so cheerful. Not the birds and sun and breeze and all that other tripe." Tsunade said, causing Karin and Kakashi to laugh as Naruto playfully exaggerated a stammer of shock.
"You three really have me pegged I suppose." He said with a laugh as well.
Naruto stood and seeing that Karin was also done eating, offered her his hand to walk together. They wouldn't have too much time together before the joust so it was best to take advantage of what they did. They enjoyed their walk together, Karin intent on taking as much time as she could with her dear cousin while the opportunity presented itself.
A part of her wished to resent him; the situation with Tsunade after all could be solved simply by him putting his paramour aside. She knew that wouldn't happen overnight though. Naruto was loyal to those he loved and as much as she hated to admit it he loved Tsunade.
Karin felt much more anger toward Tsunade than Naruto for the situation. The woman had practically raised her cousin. A boy younger than Karin even. She was old enough to be his mother, had been friends with his actual mother, and from how she saw things had swooped in after his parent's deaths to get into his bed and thereby his inheritance.
At least that's what she wanted to believe. Things would be so much easier if Tsunade really was some gold digging whore. Naruto's decision to make Tsunade into Karin's hand maiden had been a genius one. As both women were forced together often, they both came to realize more and more about the other that made it impossible to outright hate one another. Not that Tsunade ever seemed intent on hating Karin in the first place. After all why hate the one you were practically beating at all times.
Karin pushed through those thoughts and turned her eyes up at her cousin as he took in the massive set up for the tourney. He might be extraordinary, but at his core he was just another boy. She had seen the giddiness building in him for the day.
The thought about him just being a boy at heart brought a thought to her mind. Recalling her mother's letter encouraging bold action, the redheaded maiden planned on a way to better secure her place within her betrothed's heart and mind. The people of King's Landing were even going to help her do it.
King's Landing
298 AC
Sansa
The carriage carrying Sansa as well as Jeyne and Septa Mordane jostled slightly as it rolled along the roadway to the tourney grounds from the Red keep. It was an ornate thing. Gaudy, was the Lord Hand's description, but his daughter adored the majesty of it. The wheelhouse had such fine yellow silk for curtains she could see right through them. The light caught them just right to bathe the whole world beyond the carriage's windows in a golden tint as people crowded the busy streets of the capital.
Once they had passed the city walls the Septa and two young girls witnessed the scale of the tourney for the first time. A hundred pavilions or more raised align the river and thousands of common folk clocking out of the wide open city gates to see the games.
Sansa was breathless at the splendor and sheer size of it all. The shining armor, the great chargers caparisoned in silver and gold, the shouts of the massive crowd, the banners snapping in the wind, and of course the knights themselves. The Knights most of all.
"It's better than all the songs." She whispered as they exited the carriage and made their way to their seats that her father had promised for her among the other lords and ladies.
Sansa was pleased by the attention some of the commoners and her fellow nobility gave her. She was dressed beautifully to ensure she bore the proper image of the daughter of the King's Hand and Warden of the North. A green gown that brought out the deep auburn of her hair. It was intended to catch eyes while still giving her a lady's humility. She felt it did just that as a few eyes remained on her until she took her seat beside Jeyne and Septa Mordane.
It wasn't long after they had found their places in the stands that the contenders began to ride into the lists to present themselves to the king. They watched as the heroes of a hundred different songs rode forth. Each one was more fabulous and memorable than the last.
The seven knights of the kingsguard took the field, all but Jaime Lannister were adorned in scaled armor the color of milk with cloaks as white as fresh fallen snow. Ser Jaime, in contrast, wore shining gold armor with a lion's head helm and even a golden hilted sword, though his cloak was the crisp white of his colleagues.
Ser Gregor Clegane, the Mountain that Rides, thundered past them like an avalanche on legs. Sansa also remembered Lord Yohn Royce who had been a guest at Winterfell two years back.
"His armor is bronze, thousands and thousands of years old, engraved with magic runes that ward him against harm." Sansa whispered to Jeyne.
Septa Mordane caught the girls' attention and pointed out Lord John Mallister dressed in indigo chased with silver and with wings of an eagle on his helm. He had cut down three of Rhaegar's bannermen on the Trident. The girls had giggled slightly over the warrior priest, Thoros of Myr, with his flapping red robes and shaven head. That is until the Septa told them that he had once scaled the walls of Pyke, flaming sword in hand. After that he suddenly had a far more valiant appearance to both girls.
Following him came some riders they hadn't recognised. Hedge knights from the Fingers and Highgarden. From the Mountains of Dorne came unsung Freeriders and new-made squires. There were the younger sons of high lords and the heirs of lesser houses. Most were younger men who had done no great deed yet.
That of course was except for some of the most impressive among the entire set of competitors.
The King's own brother may not have been participating but his former squire, the so-called Knight of Flowers Loras Tyrell was in the lists. Septa Mordane also pointed out the youngest among all the knights in the realm, Lord Naruto Uzumaki. Lord of Dragonstone.
"Lord Uzumaki and Ser Loras couldn't look any more different from one another." Jeyne commented.
Sansa noted that her friend had a point. Where Ser Loras' armor shone brightly like a silver mirror, Lord Naruto's was a dark steel with a dark blue surcoat over it decorated with an even darker red swirl, his family sigil on the chest. His helmet was the same dark steel and rounded in shape with a long red plume cascading down his back. It wasn't precisely the story book version of a heroic knight but the young redheaded lord looked splendid in it.
Before the jousts began, as the Knights began to take their places with their household staff to await their turn, a beautiful crimson haired lady in a simple but fine blue gown called out to the Lord of Dragonstone and offered him her favor. A thin cloth decorated with swirls like his own surcoat. Sansa and Jeyne swooned as they saw the young maiden kiss the fabric before handing it up to the red knight. Naruto likewise kissed the material before he fastened it securely to his gauntlet behind his shield hand.
"So romantic! Who was that?" Sansa asked.
"It's likely the young lord's betrothed. His distant cousin from the Uzumaki branch family, Lady Karin." Septa Mordane answered.
Sansa wished that she could participate in something similar but was everyday becoming less and less assured of the valiant nature of her Prince Joffrey. She ignored those thoughts, however, to focus more on the tournament before her. It was best not to doubt the prince...her prince after all.
The girls watched as Lord Beric Dondarrion rode out to join the others and Jeyne pronounced herself ready to marry him on the spot as he moved to his place. Sansa noted he did make a striking image with his red gold hair and his black shield slashed by lightning. The rest of the next group of contenders to present themselves began to enter behind him. The Hound entered the lists as Jory, Harwin, and Alyn, who all rode for Winterfell and the North.
"Jory looks like a beggar among these others." Septa Mordane clucked her tongue as she often did when scolding Arya.
Sansa had to agree. Jory's attire was a simple, unadorned plate armor and thin gray cloak that looked more like a dirty rag than finery. Still when the jousts finally began, the man proved that appearance had little to do with skill.
Jory proved he could joust with the best of them. He easily unhorsed Horas Redwyne in his first bout and one of the Freys in his second. In his third he rode against a free-rider named Lothor Brune. A man as drab as he himself was and neither managed to unhorse the other but Brune's lance seemed the steadier of the two and the King gave him the victory. Harwinn and Alynn did poorly in comparison, both were unhorsed in their first bout against a member of the Kingsguard for the former, and Ser Balon Swann for the latter.
The jousting continued all day and into dusk, the hooves of the great warhorses tearing apart the ground of the lists until it was a wasteland of overturned earth. A dozen or more times Jeyne and Sansa cried out as riders crashed into one another, lances exploding into splinters while the commoners screamed for their favorites.
Jeyne covered her eyes whenever a man fell, like a frightened little girl. Sansa though was made of sterner stuff. Even Septa Mordane noticed her composure and nodded her approval.
The Kingslayer rode brilliantly, overthrowing Ser Andar Royce and Lord Bryce Caron as easily as if he were riding at training rings. The then eked out a hard fought victory against Barristan Selmy who had decimated men thirty and forty years his junior.
Sandor Clegane and his brother the Mountain seemed unstoppable as well. The most horrifying moment of the day came when a young knight of the Vale rode against Ser Gregor and the strike of the lance directly under the gorget drove straight up and through his neck, hurling him from his horse and killing him instantly. The youth fell not ten feet from Sansa and Jeyne's seats, the tip of Clegane's lance snapped off and was still buried in the Valeman's neck.
Sansa couldn't force herself to look away as the blood from the young man's neck seemed to flow out in spurts that came slower and slower and weaker and weaker with each second that passed. The man's armor and cloak were brand new and the fine light blue and white of his cloak were darkened and stained quickly in the fast growing pool of his blood.
Jeyne wept so uncontrollably that Septa Mordane had to escort her away from the seats to go and regain her composure. Sansa however sat silently and watched on. An odd sense of fascination in the moment, she had never seen a man die before. She knew she should be crying too but the tears simply didn't come to her eyes. Idly she wondered if she had run out of tears having wept all of them out for her, now months dead direwolf, Lady and her crippled brother Bran.
After a moment they began to carry the young knight out on a litter and Sansa realized that she didn't even recall his name, only that he was some new knight from the Vale of Arryn. She felt sad that there wouldn't even be a single song about the young man. He had yet to win any glory at all and the world would forget him. It seemed more sad to her than his actual death had been.
A short time later a young boy with a spade rushed onto the field and shovelled some dirt to cover up the blood and the jousts began again. As if one of the competitors had not just been killed a moment prior. The young Stark maiden couldn't help but frown at how right she had been. It seemed that the knight was already forgotten. It only took some dirt to hide the blood.
As the jousts continued, Ser Balon Swann also fell to Gregor though he was not killed as the knight from the Vale had been. The Hound was unhorsed by Lord Uzumaki however he had clearly rattled the young knight as he had nearly fallen from the saddle after their bout.
By then Septa Mordane had returned and rejoined Sansa in their seats. The Septa told her that she had helped Jeyne back to the castle. Sansa had nearly forgotten about Jeyne. Her mind was so enthralled by the events that had occurred earlier and the tournament itself that her friend had ceased to exist in her mind for a few moments.
A hedge knight disgraced himself by killing Lord Beric Dondarrion's horse and was forfeit. Lord Beric used a second horse but was immediately unhorsed on his next bout with Thoros of Myr. After Ser Aron Santagar and Lothor Brune tilted thrice without result, Ser Aron fell to Lord Jason Mallister, and Brune to Robar Royce, one of Lord Yohn's sons.
In the end it came down to four. The Monstrous Mountain Gregor Clegane, The Golden Lion Ser Jaime Lannister, The Knight of Flowers Ser Loras Tyrell, and the Young Knight of the Green Waters, Lord Naruto Uzuamki.
Ser Loras was a crowd favorite, he had unhorsed three of the Kingsguard earlier in the day and with each victory had ridden around the fence holding back the crowd and given a white flower from his cloak of woven blossoms to some fair maiden in the crowd.
Similarly, the Lion remained a favorite. Removing his helmet and cheering and laughing and smiling with the crowd after every victory.
Lord Uzumaki also captivated the crowd returning to kiss his betrothed's hand after every victory of his own, turning the girl's cheeks red as her hair each time as the audience awed loudly.
Sansa was the most impressed by him. He was only two years older than she was. With all of the 'good' knights as she had dubbed them, Sansa felt herself spinning tales in her own head about their gallantry. They were each handsome men. Ser Jaime a Golden Knight straight from one of her childhood heroic stories, Ser Loras the beautiful knight that would come to woo a young maiden in a romance, and Lord Uzumaki the Fierce Knight determined to prove his valor to his lady love.
Against them all rode the menacing and unbeatable monster Clegane.
As the men saluted the King for their semi-final bouts she felt a stone of dread settle in her stomach. Even the largest among the 'good' knights was positively tiny compared to the Mountain. However as her stomach churned, now weighted with dread, her hands were busy prodding at the red rose given to her by the Knight of FLowers himself after his last bout of the day. To all the other maidens he had given white but to her he gave a red flower.
Her heart nearly burst from the romance of the event. She had sat clutching the flower long after he had ridden off, his words remarking on her beauty running through her head over and over again.
When Sansa finally returned to her senses a man was standing over her. He was short, nearly the same height as the young Lord Uzumaki looked to be, except this man was no fifteen year old. This man was old enough to have grown a pointed beard and gain a streak of silver in his hair. He looked close to the same age as her own Lord Father.
"You must be one of her daughters." He said suddenly to her.
He had green eyes that didn't smile when his lips did. "You have the Tully look."
"I am Sansa Stark." Sansa introduced herself, feeling a bit ill at ease with this man. "I have not had the honor my lord."
Septa Mordane quickly took her hand. "Sweet child, this is Lord Petyr Baelish, of the King's own small council members."
"Your mother was my Queen of love and beauty once," The man said quietly. His breath smelled strongly of mint. "You have her hair."
His fingers brushed down her cheek as he stroked a lock of her auburn bangs. Then abruptly he walked off. Sansa had been entirely confused and needless to say caught off guard by the whole situation. Still she was curious about the man, as strange as he was. He had evidently known her mother well and was on the King's small council. He was someone important in King's Landing.
Later that night at the feast, Sansa found herself tense once more as her betrothed was seated beside her. She had yet to speak to him since the incident at the Trident. At first she had hated him, however as time had passed and she had finished with her tears and mourning Lady, she had slowly come to convince herself that Joffrey was not really the one to hate. It had been the Queen, not Joffrey, that had ordered Lady killed. She hated the Queen and she hated Arya as well for her own part to play in the whole thing. None of it would have happened at all if it hadn't been for Arya.
Tonight she couldn't hate Joffrey anyway. He was too beautiful to hate. He wore a deep blue doublet studded with a double row of golden lion heads. Around his brow was a slim coronet of gold inlaid with sapphires. His hair matched the brightness of his circlet and Sansa nearly trembled looking at him.
She worried he might ignore her or worse yet turn hateful again and send her from the table in tears. Instead he smiled and kissed her hand.
"Ser Loras has an eye for beauty." The Crown Prince said while motioning toward the red flower given to her by the Tyrell knight.
"He was too kind." Sansa demurred, trying to remain modest and calm though her heart was singing. "Ser Loras is a true knight, do you think he will win tomorrow?"
"No, the Mountain, my grandfather's man will win. Either that or my Uncle Jaime. Then in a few years I will enter the lists and win them all myself." Joffrey boasted as he waved a servant girl with some iced summerwine over.
He took the flagon and poured himself and Sansa both a drink, though after a moment of Sansa hesitantly glancing at Septa Mordane he poured the old woman a cup as well. With that, the Septa returned to not bothering the young adolescents any further, seemingly happy with her alcohol. Afterward, Sansa couldn't even recall the taste of the wine, though she did remember servants refilling their cups time and again.
She had been too wrapped up in the festivities. Jugglers, Jesters, and foods of all kinds covering a dozen or more massive tables. And at the center of it all, Prince Joffrey, always beside her explaining things from the Jester's jokes and acting with all the dignity and courtesy expected of a Crown Prince.
Sadly the fun of the night would end on a sour note. The King roared at his Queen that she did not command him and that he would fight, all while clearly deep into his wine. No-one at the feast interfered. Instead they only watched as the Queen's pale face seemed to freeze into an icy mask of calm and the King bellowed until he was purple and red in the face. The man was only calmed when Lord Renly convinced him to stop yelling and start drinking even more wine.
Prince Joffrey had adopted a peculiar look on his face following the scene as the festivities reignited, albeit with a far more sedate and subdued pace than before.
"Do you require an escort back to the castle, my lady?" The Prince questioned.
Sansa had begun to say no, only to notice Septa Mordane had seemingly fallen asleep with her head on the table. Seeing a chance, Sansa turned back to the Prince and batted her eyes up at him.
"Yes, Thank you, I am rather tired and the way is so dark. I should be glad for some protection." Sansa said as she took on the most demure appearance she could muster as far into her cups as she was.
"Dog!" Joffrey called out. Sansa stiffened as Sandor Clegane seemed to simply appear from the darkness of the night.
"Take my betrothed back to the castle, and see that no harm befalls her." Joffrey ordered brusquely before striding off without even a word of farewell to either of them.
Sandor looked down to the small red headed girl and laughed. "Did you think Joff would take you himself? Small chance of that. Come, you're not the only one who needs some sleep."
As he spoke the Hound lost what little humor he had upon being told to escort the girl to the castle. He seemed unhappy at his loss earlier perhaps. Truth be told though, Sansa thought that he was an unhappy looking with reason or not.
As they began to leave they crossed paths with another part of those headed back into the city and off to bed. None other than the knight who had bested Sandor in the joust and his companions including his lady Karin. Like herself and Sandor they were clearly under the affects of drink though it seemed Lady Karin was far worse off than herself as she was uncontrollably giggling and swaying slightly in her betrothed's arms.
Sansa felt a pang of jealousy seeing the way that Lord Uzumaki cared for his Lady. She wished Joffrey had escorted her home in a similar fashion. The redheaded young man raised a hand to the pair as they passed one another in greeting, even calling out to both, though like his lady it was clear he was not with a clear mind.
"Ser Clegane, well fought today, my arm still has yet to regain all it's feeling." Naruto said good naturedly.
The Hound growled in response. "I am no knight, lordling, Ser Clegane would be my brother."
"The mountain that rides…" Karin mumbled, only barely loud enough for the others to hear, a look of distaste covering her face.
"More the Monster that Rides, eh Hound?" Naruto asked, his eyes a little sharper now as if gauging the Hound's response.
"He's a monster when he's not riding too. Come little lady." Sandor said as he began to step away, his torch lighting their path.
Sansa made to curtsy, the two Uzumaki bowing and curtsying respectively as well as Sansa quickly bid farewell and left to catch up to her escort. As she walked beside him again she found she missed the brief company of the Uzumakis. Even in a single conversation they had been better company than the Hound.
King's Landing
298 AC
Naruto
The morning after the first feast of the tourney Naruto awoke in his bed to a familiar warmth beside him. His usual bedmate lay beside him tightly wound up within his arms. At least, that was his initial thoughts. He then realized quite quickly that the woman beside him had proportions quite different than that of Tsunade.
Unhappy with the prospect of having drug some wench into his chambers with him he opened his eyes to hopefully see if they had managed to do the deed at all before he succumbed to his drink and passed out. The curtain of crimson hair that met his eyes sent waves of panic through his sleep addled mind as it frantically demanded answers as to what exactly he had done the night before.
Closing his eyes back tightly he took several calming breaths before cracking them open again only to find his sweet, precious cousin beside him sleeping peacefully. She looked gorgeous with her hair displayed out around her in a mess and the most peaceful and happy expression he had ever seen on her face.
Still, while he might be betrothed to her, Naruto despised the idea of taking something so important from Karin as her maidenhood while they were both fall down drunk. He would never forgive himself for it, and doubted she would either. The thought of taking advantage of his cousin while she was out of her senses made him disgusted with himself. Then his mind brought up thoughts on the look on Nagato's face while he stood beside Karin at the altar her belly swelled to terrifying size with children. A shiver ran down his spine at the thought of his sickly cousin simply dying from word of Kairn being with child out of wedlock.
Just as his internal panic was reaching fever pitch he froze. He felt his lower half was restricted more than normal. At least more than when he would awaken beside Tsunade. Realizing he was still wearing his breeches he dared to hope.
Carefully and quietly he lifted the blankets to not disturb his bedmate and looked below, finding both of them clothed. Heaving a sigh of relief he collapsed back into his pillow. With another sigh he let go of his worry at the situation and turned to look over at the girl sleeping beside him again. She would be his wife in not such a long time and he would awaken to her beside him like this more often than not.
Again he couldn't help but realize how beautiful and peaceful she looked. Bright red hair splayed out behind her head like a halo for some sort of angelic spirit. A few times the thought of gently trying to wake her, but quashed the thought as well. He recalled only a few days prior when he had awoken Tsunade from a similar position.
Perhaps he could further repair things with Karin with more romantic displays beyond returning the necklace as he had yesterday. From what he remembered his actions during the tourney had done that to an extent. His cousin was a bit of a romantic at heart after all.
The memory of his actions during the tournament pulled his thoughts along as the rest of the day and night came back to him. Thinking back, he and Karin had separated themselves from the majority of the crowd early on in the festivities. Then they had spent most of their time enjoying time alone. Talking and just generally enjoying their time with one another. It had been a lot like old times back before their betrothal and bringing Karin to Dragonstone.
Helped along with the many cups of wine both had drank, the pair stumbled back to the inn in one another's arms. He faintly recalled encountering the odd pair of Lady Sansa Stark being escorted by her betrothed's sworn sword Sandor Clegane. The man seemed unhappy with Naruto's victory against him, however the Lady Stark had said nothing more than a quiet goodbye as the two left. It was odd how similar the Uzumaki and Tully looks were.
His focus returned to Karin, and he barely remembered the fuzzy memories of the two of them kissing one another heatedly in the bed before they fell asleep in each other's arms. Recalling the kissing, Naruto decided to press his luck and began to wake Karin by carefully and slowly kissing up her neck and to her jaw and chin then finally to her mouth.
The girl's eyes fluttered open and she startled slightly before returning the kiss with a hum of pleasure.
"Good Morning." Karin said softly with a smile as she looked up into her betrothed's eyes.
"Good Morning." Naruto replied warmly. Karin giggled at Naruto's bed head.
"Can I look forward to a wakeup like that every morning once we are wedded?" She asked.
"Only if you keep kissin back." Naruto replied while wrapping his arms snugly around her.
The pair enjoyed a few more moments of rest together. Simply laying in the bed entwined like lovers. The issues they had since returning to Dragonstone suddenly felt distant and for the first time since their betrothed had learned of his paramour Naruto felt that he could truly return to what he had with his cousin or perhaps even more than what they had once had.
He did love Karin. He knew that he did. However, even now, with her in his arms a part of his heart sung songs for the blonde woman in the other room. He doubted very much that it ever wouldn't. He knew he would never lay with whores, or any woman he did not feel duty or love for. Both Karin and Tsunade filled those spots within his heart. It was greedy, but he had seen far worse among the other lords of Westeros.
"We must ready for the day I suppose." Karin mewled cutely.
Reluctantly Naruto released the young woman from his grasp as he slipped out of the bed. She similarly slipped out purposefully swaying her hips seductively as she went back to her own room. Naruto shook his head in humor at her antics but decided it was truly best to prepare. He had a joust to win today after all.
And an arrogant flower to plant into the mud.
Not long later Naruto and the other remaining knights in the joust again saluted the King and audience before the bouts began. Each of the three men arrayed alongside him, Naruto despised for one reason or another.
Ser Gregor Clegane was an easy man to hate. A brute and a monster. Even if the rumors were untrue, which he very much doubted they were. What he had done to the wife and children of Rhaegar Targaryen was inhuman. At least at the description of his mother and occasionally Kakashi in growled words over a cup of bitter ale. The two of them had been given the task of transporting the remains of Elia and her children to their family in Dorne by Jon Arryn.
Loras was easy to dislike as well. Though not truly hate, Naruto supposed. The Tyrell was arrogant and the most open of Naruto's detractors in court. However it was the last of the three that Naruto despised the most.
Jaime Lannister. Technically the cousin of Naruto's father. Technically the killer of Naruto's father. Naruto knew better than to kill the man himself, even in a joust. He'd be placing House Uzumaki securely as the enemy of the Queen. It was well known the twins adored one another.
Still, Naruto would happily hurt the man.
As Clegane and Tyrell withdrew from the lists so that Naruto and Jaime could take their positions, Naruto rode to Karin to accept her favor once again. The girl grabbed ahold of his hand before he could pull away though. A worried look had settled into her eyes. She locked them with Naruto's own, knowing his feelings toward the man he was set against.
The young Lord leaned down and pressed a kiss to her knuckles and gave her a small smile to ease her troubled mind. He wouldn't be out to kill the man, as she and many others no doubt feared. In fact, the distaste was so expected by the audience that silence fell over the whole of the crowd as both riders took their places.
From her place in the stands Sansa Stark wondered at the tense silence that had fallen, eventually giving in and asking Septa Mordane. The Septa was grave as she told Sansa of Minato Lannister, once Minato Waters. The bastard of Gerion Lannister had been a skilled fighter and well loved by his father, though they rarely saw one another even before Gerion's disappearance.
When Ser Barristan had rescued King Aerys the Second from Duskendale's dungeon, Minato had been among the party and legitimized by the King in the aftermath. He had later spoken out against the execution of Sansa's uncle and grandfather. For his audacity he was brutally beaten and locked away in the Black Cells for the duration of the war until the fall of King's Landing.
"Everyone knows that Minato slew the Mad King to stop him from ordering the burning of the city and all those within. Ser Jaime is called the Cowardly Lion and Kinslayer in the same story for attacking his cousin after the man's back was turned and the King was already killed. Sadly the wound would never properly mend and Minato died when Lord Naruto was very young." The explained to the girl.
'I hope you don't try for revenge today Lord Naruto.' Sansa thought as she looked back to the knights thundering toward one another.
Naruto could hear his breath loudly huff in and out, echoing in his helmet. He stabilized his lance and could see the perfect placement to unhorse the Cowardly Lion; instead he purposefully chose another spot. As the two struck one another, Jaime scored a glancing blow shattering his lance but shanking off of Naruto's pauldron. Naruto's however struck directly into Jaime's upper arm shattering as it forced the broken lance from the kinslayer's hand.
The crowd had a smattering of cheers but even those unfamiliar with jousting could tell that something off had occurred. The two rode back to their positions and took up a second lance. Jaime shook out his arm to try and restore feeling and in no time they were back to the ready.
Again they were off charging down on one another and again Naruto's lance struck true and Jaime remained on his horse. This time though only Naruto's lance had shattered while the Lion's had clipped him and bounced away.
By now the Lion knew the boy's game. He didn't want him dehorsed. He wanted Jaime to feel every hit. Naruto was a smaller target than most opponents dealt with. He leaned into every bout heavily and the shaping of his pauldron sent the oncoming lance sliding off more often than not. Unless Jaime could unhorse him, Naruto would win the bout.
After two direct lance strikes to his lance arm though, Jaime could hardly hold the polearm steady in its cradle. Charging toward one another yet again, with the crowds having finally returned to the roaring cheers of earlier, Jaime could do nothing to stop the same exact scene from playing out once more.
The young Uzumaki's lance exploded as it crashed into its target on his lance arm once more. Again it caused Jaime's own arm to fling his own lance free, now unbroken, from his weakened grasp. Jaime's shoulder was in agony. Likely dislocated and he rode with his arm tucked across his chest. Unfortunately for him though, couldn't yet return to his pavilion and be treated. Instead having to await the King's ruling on their joust. It was plenty clear before that though who had the victory.
Unlike with most of his opponents Naruto offered no polite or cordial respect to the Golden Lion as they rode past one another. Stopping before the King, they remained silent as Robert bellowed out his ruling in favor of Naruto. With his words cheers rang out loudly for Naruto as the two men retreated from the lists.
Like the day before, upon his victory, Naruto rode over to his Lady. He kissed her hand once more, no longer drawing as bright a blush from Karin. Instead he got a happy smile and a mouthed thanks for not doing as he truly wished in his last tilts against the Lannister knight.
Returning to his place, Naruto watched on as the match between Loras and Gregor began. Loras, he noted, was a craftier bastard than he had originally thought. Thankfully, unlike when angry thoughts had clouded his mind while facing Jaime, now he could think much clearer and he easily noticed the change in behavior of Clegane's horse.
"Tyrell is using a mare in heat." Kakashi mentioned as he watched from beside Naruto.
"It was smart of him. Clegane's stallion was already unruly, now it will be impossible to control." Naruto replied to his mentor.
Their speculation was spot-on as Clegane had to fight for control of his mount. The beast had to be kicked to be wrestled under control. Even then it still screamed and pawed the earth wildly as the pair of riders took their positions to salute the King and audience. It took plenty of force to get the horse into the starting position on either side of the list.
When the bout truly began the pair of knights were like night and day. Clegane's stallion stormed forward frantic rough, while Loras' mare rode forward as smoothly as silk. Gregor wrenched his shield up, juggling with his lance and the reins of the unruly creature under him but suddenly Loras was upon him, pitching him backward off the saddle to slam into the dirt harshly.
The crowd roared in approval and Naruto grinned at the thought of doing the same to Loras. Quickly the cheers turned to shrieks of terror as Clegane yanked a massive blade from his servant's hands and in one strike halfway removed the head of his own horse.
Immediately people set to hollering and knights and men at arms began moving forward to interfere should it be needed to stop Gregor. However it was unnecessary it seemed. Ser Loras met the man's challenge and called for his own sword before drawing it out of the offered scabbard his servant carried.
Gregor didn't wait for the young knight to pull the sword fully from the scabbard though, before throwing Loras' squire out of the way and with a two handed swing from his great blade, impacted on the smaller man's chest. The blow hurled Loras to the ground and Gregor again lifted his blade up intending to kill the Tyrell, only for another hand wrapped in steel to lock onto Clegane's hand.
The interloper yanked Gregor backward away from Loras while rasping out a blunt statement. "Leave him be."
Pivoting with a wordless roar of fury the Mountain made to kill the one responsible even after realizing it was his own brother, only for the Hound to catch his blade mid-arc with his own strike. The two struggled against one another for dominance in their brief fight.
As the brothers fought the audience roared. A mixture of shrieks and cheers for the two men battling. Naruto watched intently as well. He had to say that the Hound wasn't someone he truly knew much about, let alone cared for, but to prevent his own brother killing another man in cold blood was something he had to acknowledge in the very least.
As the two broke their sword-lock it soon devolved into a set of hammering blows of blade against blade. On three different occasions Naruto counted attempts to kill Sandor made by Gregor, yet not once did the Hound strike at the unprotected face of the Mountain.
Finally King Robert regained control of the situation as his voice brought quiet back to the crowd and snatched the attention of the two swordsmen. Immediately the Hound fell to a knee as the sound of the King's orders registered in his mind. The Mountain's blade cut through the air where Sandor had stood just a moment prior. Rather than follow his younger brother's example and fall to a knee, the elder Clegane simply pitched his sword to the ground and glared up at the King. Surrounded as he was by the Kingsguard and a dozen other knights. Naruto, Kakashi, and several other knights and men-at-arms also crept forward should they need to help in ending the Mountain should he defy the King.
Naruto honestly wished he would. It would be best for the realm no doubt. Instead, the Mountain huffed a great angry blast of air through his nose as he stormed off, shoving past Barristan Selmy. Only the order from the King to let him go stayed the elder knight's blade from leaving his side. Old he may be but from where Naruto was standing it looked like the old man was itching for the opportunity to put down the Mountain more than any other man present, barring perhaps only the Hound.
It made sense. Selmy was about as close to a true knight as one could get. As the paragon of the Kingsguard, Barristan had a special hatred for sworn knights who acted as Clegane did. That wasn't even mentioning the fact Clegane had been the leader of the men who raped and murdered the last of the royal family while Selmy had been at the Trident in battle. It was a personal slight in the Kingsguard's mind.
As the dead horse was cleared and things slowly got back underway once more Naruto and Loras took their positions. The audience was far more subdued than earlier, but both Naruto and Loras had been crowd favorites as the event had progressed. Plenty of attention was split between the two of them and the Hound who now stood back in his place beside the Crown Prince. He looked intimidating but the way Naruto could hear a gaggle of commoner girls talking, it seemed Sandor had suddenly gained an element of heroic charm. He couldn't help but find it funny even if he considered it well deserved after his actions a moment ago.
Naruto and Loras squared off for a moment before thundering down the lists at one another. Inside his helmet, Naruto smirked. With a good sudden thrust he snatched Loras up off his saddle. Loras' lance did rattle him, and even shatter on his armor, however Naruto remained atop his horse while Loras splattered into the mud and rolled with a pained grunt.
The young Uzumaki lifted his broken lance into the air as he circled the arena basking in the cheers from commoners and nobles alike. After completing his victory lap as it were, Naruto and Loras took their places before the King as he proclaimed the winnings. As first place victor of the event, Naruto received the full amount of forty-thousand gold dragons. Thoughts of his fleet expanding already buzzed in his head. Loras was also granted the runner up's prize of twenty-thousand, though he surrendered it to the Hound as thanks for saving his life.
As a final moment Naruto was granted a wreath of flowers to mark his Queen of Love and Beauty. Unlike in Harrenhal so long ago, there was no scandal to be had here, but still he circled the lists once before stopping before his betrothed and marking her. The audience cheered once again, though it was mostly the young ladies that did so.
The Joust was finished from then on. The day ended with an even larger celebration than the last. The next day would be the start of the lesser events, the small games and distractions for the small folk would open up as well.
Naruto and Karin separated from Kakashi and the others quite early. Tsunade had seemed to know to keep her distance for the last few days as Karin had sent her plenty of looks and quiet commands that kept her busy. Eventually taking the hint, Tsunade had chosen to join the other members of Naruto's household and simply enjoy the festivities.
The Uzumaki pair were centers of attention everywhere they went for the rest of the day. Most notably once the actual meal portion of the evening feast had begun. The Champion and his blushing bride-to-be. It wasn't long before both had gotten more than their fill of attention, food, and drink and decided it was best to retire for the night.
The sun had only just set as they meandered their way back to the Inn. Occasionally they stopped to enjoy the evening weather and last strips of light from the sunset. Naruto quickly realized he adored this time with Karin. He was looking forward to wedding her. Like earlier that morning, thoughts of their relationship and time together growing better and better as they spent more time together and he held the girl close to him as they came back to the Inn once again.
When they came to their rooms however, Karin grew quiet and Naruto began to worry that her anger toward him had once again surfaced. He was taken completely by surprise when she instead pulled him into her chambers like the night before.
Something was different this time though. Karin's hands roamed more freely, and more widely across his body. Her kisses were deeper and she pressed her body much closer against his own. It wasn't hard for Naruto to realize her intentions and he began pawing at her body through her gown as well.
Softly, his hands caressed her legs then slid upward to her begin kneading the soft flesh of her ass gently before he gripped it pulling a soft moan and giggle from his betrothed. He stopped himself as they neared the bed and releasing her ass cheek he broke their kiss and pressed his forehead lightly against hers. Their noses were just barely touching.
"Karin, we have only a few more months before we wed. Are you certain this is what you want?" He asked.
A voice in his head screamed for him to be silent and continue. However he could never allow himself to take advantage of Karin if she had any doubts. Her place was special within his heart and he couldn't bear the thought of harming her love for him like that.
"Bold action." She mumbled too quietly for him to properly hear.
"What?"
"Do you wish to stop?" She asked him clearly. The hurt look in her eyes at the implied idea that he didn't find her attractive spurred him into action.
He crashed his lips against hers, ripping a gasp of shock from the older girl. It soon morphed into a series of moans as she heatedly kissed him back. He frantically undid the laces to her dress and all but tore it from her body as they fell backward onto the bed.
The couple continued to kiss and undress one another at a brisk pace, Naruto slid her undergarments sensually down her body until she was left in nothing and he sat briefly taking in the nude form of his beautiful betrothed.
With her clothing scattered across the room, Karin blushed under Naruto's gaze. She brought her hands up to attempt and cover herself. As she tried to though Naruto caught her wrists and pulled her hands away.
"You have nothing you should hide from me, love. You're gorgeous." He said softly as he released her hands and his own went to work caressing her body once again.
It took no time at all before moans of pleasure began to slip from her lips thanks to his ministrations. He grinned at his ability to give his lover such pleasure and began kissing, biting, and sucking at her neck pulling even more sounds of ecstasy from her mouth.
Realizing that she may be the elder of the two of them but that Naruto himself was in fact the more experienced in matters of the flesh, he slowly made his way down her body. Kissing, licking, and nibbling at every pleasurable spot he passed along the way. He pinched and suckled at her nipples especially before kissing her midriff and eliciting a mixture of giggle and moan as his lips tickled at her sensitive abdomen.
Finally he made his way to her womanhood. As he did so, he noticed the pleasured sounds of Karin had stopped as she now looked at him in worry. With as gentle care as he could Naruto slowly eased his way forward, kissing along her inner thighs until he came to her lower lips. Tenderly, he first kissed and then began licking at her folds, causing Karin to gasp as she began squirming slightly.
Naruto chuckled at her virgin nature before he continued on. Gradually picking up speed and ferocity as he attacked her pussy with his mouth, he even slowly introduced one, then two fingers into her. He was surprised by how quickly she climaxed.
He had to force himself to remember that his lover was not a woman grown like Tsunade was. She was a girl, one he doubted had ever done more than curiously touch herself in the past.
Kissing his way back up her body till they were once more face to face. He smiled at her pressing a long kiss to her lips, allowing her to taste herself on his lips and tongue.
"Did you enjoy that?" Naruto asked as he broke the kiss.
Karin's flushed face and gasping breath was all the answer he needed as he began to gently gather the girl into his arms. Hovering over her he lined his member up with her entry before he began to kiss at her neck once again. He had been told by Tsunade that for maidens it could be a painful experience for their first times especially. He hoped to ease Kairn through it by showering her with distracting tender kisses and nips across her upper body.
Still as he began to enter her she sucked in a sharp breath and her fingernails clawed into his back as she froze stock still.
"Karin?" He asked, making sure she was alright. A nod followed with a mumbled 'more' was all he got in reply.
He continued on, sinking himself deeper into her even as her head came forward and her mouth latched onto his shoulder. Her teeth digging in, not enough to break the skin but they left their mark all the same. He pressed forward more until he felt the true barrier of resistance within her.
"It's going to hurt." Naruto said as he kissed her near the ear. She whimpered slightly but didn't try and stop him. He hoped that getting it through it quickly rather than slowly pressing against it would hurt less in the long run and so with a thrust he drove forward into her pussy, burying himself inside her.
He stopped then, sheathed as he was inside her, letting her adjust as best as she could to his sudden entry. Her legs had snapped around him tightly and she had buried her face into the crook of his neck. He didn't force her back or even move, until slowly Karin pulled her head away from where she had practically hidden revealing the small buildup of tears in her eyes.
Naruto again began kissing her gently. He planted lips on her mouth, cheek, jaw, ear, and neck and anywhere else he thought would pull her mind away from the pain of losing her maidenhood. Soon after though she began to rock her hips against his leading to him doing the same and matching her growing pace.
It was slow at first, but as they continued to kiss one another passionately they grew in speed until Naruto was thrusting back and forth, in and out of her pussy rough and fast. As he began to hammer into her, Karin's pain faded away as it was replaced by a swelling pressure inside her. Even as she paused her own movements due to the change in feeling Naruto continued driving himself into her, planting himself seemingly deeper with every thrust until she began screaming out in a choked sort of sound from the overwhelming pleasure that began to run through her. Wave upon wave with each thrust of his hips into hers.
As she came down off of the orgasm he changed tempo, becoming slow and loving as he kissed her deeply again. Once more his hands roamed her body finding all her sensitive places that his mouth and tongue couldn't reach. No part of him was idle as he continued to pound into her while kneading her ass with one hand and toying with her nipples in the other. Slowly he built back up with his speed as she began clenching around his cock tightly, pulling another orgasm from her.
They continued kissing and grunting, with Karin gasping with each thrust and moaning loudly with each withdrawal. Until Naruto himself neared his end. He whispered such things to Karin and her legs only tightened their hold on him as the twisting motion she had taken to, grew faster and rougher. As if she was trying to suck his seed from him with her pussy. It worked as desired and Naruto couldn't hold back any longer and he began to grunt as he pumped his seed into her.
Karin screamed his name as she felt him filling her and another orgasm flowed over her body leaving her a shuddering mess as both Uzumaki fell onto the bed. Both shook slightly from the powerful orgasms they had experienced together. Neither was able to speak as they struggled to catch their breath from the arduous love-making.
Karin had the worst of it. Her body shook lightly and Naruto stared at her briefly from the corner of his eye. Sweat covered her form in a thin sheen and coupled with the flushed coloring of her skin and the sight of his cum draining out of her pussy he couldn't help but think she was more beautiful than ever. Pulling himself to her he began kissing at her neck once more.
The multitude of love bites decorating it would tell everyone what they had been up to in the morning. If she could even limp her way to breakfast with the others. After their session Naruto settled for simply kissing her.
He wanted more, his body yearning to take another go at hers. However it had been Karin's first time and as her eyelids hung lowly he realized that it was best that he resist his mounting desire for more. So instead, they simply rested soundly in each other's arms. Karin fell asleep with a broad content smile on an otherwise exhausted face as Naruto simply let himself slip into a peaceful sleep.
Alright folks gunna call this one here, as you can see, things are progressing for our characters plans. Naruto now has his prize money to help get his fleet expansion off the ground, and Karin has wedged herself comfortably between Naruto and Tsunade. We haven't seen a lot of Tsunade for the last two chapters but we will be seeing more interaction between her and Karin primarily very soon.
We will also likely see a bit of a timeskip next chapter so we'll be advancing the plot steadily once again.
Thanks everyone who has read and enjoyed the fic so far I hope to keep you coming back for more, until then though-
Till Next Time