Yey, I managed to right another one today. Enjoy! :)
I still had a big smile on my face as I was walking through Winterfell to the blacksmith's, where Gendry still spends most of his time. I saw that he was busy, so I waited. He saw me when he finished the sword he was working on. When he turned, I could see he had a black eye. I was crying of laughter.
"It's not funny!" he said, but I was laughing so hard that my stomach hurt." Elena, stop it, it is not funny!" he said. I laughed a little bit more, but I stopped eventually, not wanting to make him feel even worse." That girl is not in her right mind. I thought I saw everything while you and I were friends, but she is even worse than you are. She's an animal. An animal I tell you!" he yelled, and I laughed once again.
"And would you care to explain why do you fight with girls?" I asked, trying hard not to laugh.
"I didn't do anything." He said, and I lifted my arms like I was surrendering. He attacked me now." All I know is, one moment we were just talking, and the next thing I know, she jumped on me, screaming, hitting and scratching. I wouldn't say you're a good influence on her." He added, and I laughed.
"I would give everything I have to see that." I said, and he frowned at me." Now, tell me what was it that you said that made her jump on you like that?" I asked, and I could see he was confused." Despite of what you might think, Arya is not a wild animal. She's a girl. And we only act like that if we are hurt. So tell me, what did you say to her?" I asked.
"That even if she has the permission to swing around with her sword, she will still have to marry a Lord one day." He said, not seeing why that was a mistake. I sighed.
"Gendry, you're an idiot." I said, and he was shocked." That is the last thing she wanted to hear. Do me a favor, and don't say that to her, ever again. I will send her here with an apology which you will happily expect, because you're not going to hurt her feelings twice in one day. And then, you will think about what you said, and about your feelings, because if you do that every once in a while, you wouldn't get your ass kicked!" I yelled, and turned around, going to find Arya and talk to her now.
"What feelings?" he yelled at me as I was walking away, and I did not stop, but continued walking.
"Think about it!" I yelled back and finally left his sight, leaving him, hopefully confused. If he doesn't realize what is going on there, I don't know what will I do. I don't want to push them to one another, they need to realize that themselves. They're probably not even ready yet. And Arya is still very young. If in two years' time I see that they still have feelings for each other, hidden or not, I will insist on their betrothal. If they want it of course. I just hope Arya has the patience in her to wait.
I knew straight away where I will find her. I leaned on the haystack and watched her swing her sword at a dummy, with even more fierceness than Jon did. She stopped only when she saw me.
"Beware lady's and lord's, she's got a sword and her fists, and she is not afraid to use them!" I said with a big smile on my face, but she just frowned at me, clearly not amused." Hey. Get over here. No ignoring." I said in a far more serious tone. She was still frowning while walking over to me.
"Since when does Robb send you to do his work?" she asked. Sharp tongue. Takes one to know one.
"Since he thinks that you need an older sister, not an older brother." I said, and I sat on the haystack next to her." You're going to have to apologize. That is the right thing to do, since you shouldn't have jumped on him like that." I said.
"I know." She said, barely audible." Well, at least she sees that she made a mistake. She's growing up.
"If it helps you, he got scolded by me too. He shouldn't have said what he said. And you can be sure he will never say it again." I said, and she nodded." And now, tell me. What part of what he said actually bothered you?" I asked, and she looked at me in surprise.
"What do you mean?" She asked. She hopes I don't know. Well, she will have to trust me.
"Where you bothered because he belittled your skills with a sword, or because he said that you will have to marry a Lord?" I asked. She looked at me in silence for a while. She knows that I know, I can see it.
"Little bit of both." She finally admitted. I put my arm around her shoulders." I don't know what to do Elena." She whispered. Oh, how I wish I can give her a solution. I can only give her my advice.
"I don't know what you should do either." I admitted." But, if you'd like, I could tell you what I would do if I was in your situation." I said, and she nodded, desperate for advice.
"Well, I would wait." I said." I might not know much, but I do know that sometimes it takes time for a man to realize something, especially something related to their feelings. So, I would wait. And when the time is right, when I reach a certain age, I would go to the right people and ask them for certain things" I said. Hopefully, she understands why I'm trying to say. Judging by her smile, she does." For now wait. He needs time. Trust me, he will get there, he just needs time. Now you should go to him, apologize and hug him. And if you need me, you know where to find me. Day or night." I said, and she hugged me.
"Yeah, I know where you're chambers are." She said with a smile.
"And if I'm not there, you will find me at Robb's chambers." I said. Oh Gods, I shouldn't have said that.
"Oh, so you're in Robb's chambers now?" She asked with a grin, and I could just roll my eyes.
"Shut up." I said, and she started laughing even more. "Well, you hit your man." I said, and her mouth dropped. She didn't see that one coming." Go! Talk to him!" I almost yelled, and she finally listened to me. I smiled, feeling proud of myself. Hopefully the two of them don't get in another fist fight until I'm free to help arrange a marriage. I've decided to go and see Bran.
"Hello Elena." He said with a big smile when I got into his room." What's going on?" he asked me.
"You're sister is crazy." I said as I sat on the bed, next to him. He started laughing.
"Which one?" he asked. Well, he's got a point. I laughed to.
"Probably both of them, but right now, Arya." I said, followed with a sigh." She hit Gendry. A few times."
"Your blacksmith friend she likes?" he asked. I turned my had so fast to him, that I think I might have hurt my neck." I see things." He said, with an innocent smile on his face. I started laughing.
"Just don't talk about it. I don't want her to feel any worse." And both of them aren't in their right mind. They don't seem to see what they feel for each other." I said, still amazed at how stupid Gendry is.
"Reminds me of two more people I know." He said. I ruffled his hair, and it made him laugh even more.
"That many things you don't see." I said with a smile on my face." No, it's not that. It might be some day, but not now." I said, and he nodded. He understood." Have you seen Sansa?" I asked, hoping that he does not understand that I am trying to change the subject.
"She's with Septa, but she will join me for a walk later. I would invite you to come with us, but I suppose you will be busy doing mother's work." He said, and I looked at him in surprise." You haven't seen her yet?" he asked, and I shook my head. So much has happened today, I didn't even see Lady Stark. Or Lord Stark for that matter." She and father are leaving today for Riverrun. Grandfather is ill." He said. Oh Gods, I can only imagine how Catelyn must be feeling. Well, if being Lady of Winterfell for some time is what helps her, I will be happy to do it. I already know Robb will be Lord of Winterfell until Lord Stark returns, like he was when Ned was the Hand of the King. And that makes me Lady of Winterfell. Oh my.
"I should go and find her then." I said, and I got off the bed." You be good." I said, kissed him in the forehead, and went to find Catelyn or Ned. I can see that their trust in me is growing. Arya confides in me, Robb trusts me to help him as he proved today, and now, I'll pretend to be Lady of Winterfell while the real one is away. I only hope she trust me for more reasons than just out of convenience.
"Elena!" someone called me, and when I turned around, I could see that it was Catelyn.
"I was just looking for you. Bran told me you and Lord Stark are leaving?" I asked, and she nodded.
"Where leaving tonight for Riverrun." She said." I need to trust you to do some work while we're away. Ned is informing Robb of his duties just now." He said, and I nodded.
"Of course. You know I will do my best." I said. We headed to the library, which was now empty. She told me that I have to oversee the servants, and just to pay attention to everything. Robb will have more work than I will. Basically, I only need to make sure that everything is fine in the castle, and to help Robb if he needs help.
"And now, the most important thing Elena. Look after my children." She said, and I nodded, yet again." Don't let Arya do whatever she wants, don't let Sansa sulk, don't let Bran be sad, and don't let Rickon cry for the two of us." She said. This is not going to be easy.
"I will do my best not to fail you Catelyn." I said.
"I know you will. And Elena, one more thing. You and Robb. I can see you're making progress, and I couldn't be more happy about it. But, if something does change, don't let that affect the kids. You and Robb are their parents while Ned and I are away." She said. Yes, this is not going to be easy at all.
"You do not have to worry about that Catelyn. Robb and I would never let that happen. The children will be are priority." I said. She smiled, and pulled me in a hug. I realize now that she doesn't trust me just out of convenience. And I will do all that I can not to fail her.
As Robb and the rest of his family were saying goodbye to Ned and Catelyn, Jon and I were in the hall, looking over the preparations for dinner. Well, he was there to help me if I need help. And I didn't. I am not sure what did I expect, but so far, it all went well. The servants listened to me. I expected them to look down at me, or to think that I'm pretending to be Lady Catelyn, but I did not see that. They were listening to me, and I did not her any comments behind my back.
After dinner, Elisa and I prepared the girls for bed, while the servants prepared Bran and Rickon. I said my goodbyes to Jon and Gendry, and I went to my chambers. Well, Robb's chambers. I didn't think he was there, he said he had some work to do. I just thought it would be in the library, not here.
"I'm sorry, I didn't know you were here." I said when I entered and saw him. He smiled at me, and I smiled back. I walked behind him, and I leaned onto his shoulders. This is still very new to me. The intimate moments between the two of us were reserved for the bed. Until today. And I liked it." Do you think we will do your parents proud?" I asked.
"I know we will." He said, and when I hugged him from the back, he took one of my hands." We learned from the best." He said, and he kissed my hand." I keep forgetting to ask you, did you solve the problem between Gendry and Arya?" he asked me.
"Yes. It wasn't really a problem, I just had to talk to the both of them." I said.
"So? Is my sister in love with the late King's bastard son?" he asked. He was just being theatrical. He knows very well that Gendry is more than Robert's bastard, and that Arya is more than his little sister.
"Robb, my doubts are one thing, and your sister's trust is another. You might be my husband, but if Arya trusts in me, it will remain between me and her." I sad, hoping he doesn't get angry about it.
"I see." He said." Well, if my doubts are true, then we will help them when the time is right." He said, and I smiled. He might seem strong and manly, but as I can see, he can be gentle too.
"I never would have guessed that you could be that sensitive." I said, and I felt him laugh.
"Well, my family's happiness is my weakness." He said, and kissed my hand once again." And we are still just getting to know each other Elena. I am sure there are things I don't know about you either."
"So am I." I said, and I smiled." And since we pledged our loyalty to each other in the Godswood and in front of the people of Winterfell, I would dare say we have years and years to find out." I said, and I felt him laugh once again.
"If we're lucky." He said, and I smiled. I stopped hugging him, and instead, I started giving him a neck massage." What is that for?" he asked, but I know that he wasn't complaining, he is just curious.
"I have a feeling you haven't worked a day in your life as much as you did today. You deserve it."
"I really could have done a lot worse." He said, and I hit him on the back of his head. Playfully, not with force. It couldn't have hurt him at all, but as soon as I've done I, I started thinking that I made a big mistake. Luckily, he laughed. And I finally had the opportunity to do something I wanted since our wedding night. I ran my fingers through his soft curls. Judging by the sound he made, I apparently know what I'm doing.
He took me by the hand, and pulled me, so that I was sitting in his lap, my legs over the chair handles, and he was holding me, one hand on my back, the other on my leg. I smiled and I raised myself so that I could kiss him. I don't know what I enjoyed more, his embrace, his lips on my lips, or his breath on my skin. This is just the beginning! If I feel like this now, I can only imagine how I well feel like when I grow to love this man.
"I could get used to this." He said with a smile on his face once he pulled away.
"Feel free." I said, a smile on my face. No, it wasn't a smile. It was a huge grin. I was smiling so much that I could feel that my face was in pain. Suddenly, he got up from the chair, and I let out a scream, because I was not expecting that. He laughed, and he carried me to the bed. He's strong, I'll give him that.
He put me down on the bed, and I kneelt. I started untying his shirt and soon enough, it was on the floor. He started kissing me, and untying my dress at the same time. And I let my hands travel up and down his body. His chest, his back, his arms, and again, his hair. The same feeling I felt last night started heating up inside of me. Once again, I wanted more of him, in every way possible.
I sighed when he pulled my lower lip with his teeth. It should have hurt, but it felt amazing. Not being able to restrain myself, I pulled him closer to me, wanting him, here and now, as fast as possible.
He pulled down my dress, and pressed me against his body. My hands were in his hair, and I pulled him. He fell over me, and in that moment, there was a knock on the door. We looked at each other.
Neither of us wanted to stop. But we had to. He sighed as he got up and started walking to the door, and I felt like crying as I was pulling my dress back up. I wanted to tell him to put his shirt back on, but why should he? We're a married couple, and if somebody is brave enough to interrupt us, they should at least know that they interrupted something.
"Rickon?" Robb asked in surprise when he opened the door. He started walking over towards me, with Rickon in his arms, and I could see the boy's been crying. I remembered what I promised to Catelyn.
"What's wrong pup?" I asked, and my inexistent motherly instinct started to work. I didn't even know I had it, even if I was protective over children.
"I can't sleep." Rickon said." I miss my mother. And Elena didn't tell me a story." He said, and guilt hit me more than I wanted it too. I completely forgot he refused to sleep before I tell him a story. I looked at Robb, who was looking at me. We might now how to take care of WInterfell, but we definitely did not know how to be parents.
"Maybe he could stay with us tonight?" I asked, completely frighten. Robb might not like that.
"You wouldn't mind?" he asked, surprised, and I shook my head." Alright, you can stay with us tonight. But only tonight. You're a big boy, and you need to learn how to act like one." He said to his baby brother. I laughed, and when Robb caught my eye, he laughed to. Rickon doesn't have the time limit only because he needs to be a big boy. The passion that was so heightened only moments ago was still coming down, and my heart was still beating faster than it should.
"You two lie down, and I'll be there as soon as I change." I said, and I kissed Rickon in the forehead as I walked by them. I change into my nightgown, that was hanging over the changing screen. I will have to thank Elisa tomorrow for that. She probably guessed I won't be needing it in my own chambers.
"Alright, what story do you want to hear tonight?" I asked while I was lying down in the bed. Rickon was between Robb and I. And I could see that Rickon wasn't the only one who wanted to hear my story.
"The one with the prince of Ice." He said, and I nodded. I started talking, careful not say something I did not say the last time I was telling him this story. It is very difficult, since I completely made it up. I should write them down. Write them down. Countless times I got corrected by Tommen and Myrcella. Children somehow always notice if something changes in their favorite story.
I did not even get to the part when the prince meets the princes, and Rickon already fell asleep.
"Thank you." Robb whispered, and I shook my head, a smile on his face.
"He's you're brother. That means he's my family too. This kind of things will never be difficult for me to do." I whispered, not wanting to wake up the little pup. I started to feel uncomfortable by the way Robb looked at me after a while." Goodnight Robb." I said as I closed my eyes.
"Goodnight Elena." He said, and I just knew that he was smiling. Unbelievable. I can jump on the man and rip his shirt of if I must, but I still feel uncomfortable when he looks at me? And the worst part is that he knows it. That's the reason he has a grin on his face, right now. He's starting to get to know me.