A/N: I finished this one earlier than expected and I don't believe in holding onto chapters so here it is. I will mention that it ended up way smuttier than other chapters, I didn't plan on it, that is just where it went. You have been warned (and likely spoiled a bit but I just thought a heads up should be given). The Davos chapter will still likely be posted next weekend (so a bit over a week). I'm trying to get the outline sorted but it will take some work because a) I neglected the Wall too long and b) I have neglected Davos and Stannis too long and c) I have stuff planned for the chapter which is just not going to be easy to write.
Thanks for all the reviews. I do enjoy hearing from you guys. In response to specific comments, most of the stuff people have said they are hoping for in terms of people meeting, speaking, finding out stuff will happen but it will be staggered. A Dany chapter will come after the battle for Kings Landing is over. I was deciding between Dany and Ser Barristan and will go with Dany after seeing reviews.
Chapter 76: Aegon
They camped a safe distance from the city of King's Landing. Aegon knew the Golden Company would lead the preparations for the assault on the city. They were the most disciplined men and the most seasoned. The other commanders, both those from amongst Aegon's bannermen and those subject to Arya had their roles too but the Golden Company would form the majority of the vanguard under the command of Lord Connington. The rams were now ready to assault the gates, the time drew ever closer.
He saw Lord Connington on the way to his pavilion and clenched his jaw. The conversation he overheard between Connington and Arya stayed with him. Nothing Arya said surprised him. She had been transparent in her attempts to force him to think of the future without her. She had been vocal in her disapproval about the death of the whore in Stoney Sept (Bella, he reminded himself). Connington's words were the ones that cut deep. Aegon had always trusted him.
He has been a father to me.
There was now a barrier between them. Aegon felt betrayed. He remembered what Tyrion Lannister told him so long ago aboard the Shy Maid. Trust no one. Connington knew how he felt about Arya. They had little time left together and the man he trusted implicitly had taken some of it from him. She still stayed away and when he saw her riding in the column she wore one of her masks.
The closest he had come to her was when he ran into her handmaid the previous day. The woman became agitated when he stopped her and observed that she wore a very nice pin. She lowered her eyes and trembled like a leaf.
"It was a gift from Queen Arya, your grace" she said, her voice shaking. Her hand came up to clutch the pin as though she thought he might take it.
"A gift from one of her suitors?" he guessed.
The woman became even more agitated. "Yes y-your grace. I did not ask for it. I would never."
Aegon sighed and let her leave. He did not know how Arya had managed to befriend one so timid. She did that though. She had a talent for relating to different types of people. Aegon also managed it to a lesser extent though it was not doing him any good now. Arya won't move past Stoney Sept.
He still felt torn over the death of the woman. He suspected he knew who was responsible and that was why he could not take action against them. Arya would not view it the same way. Her view of right and wrong was rigid, her quest for justice relentless. The woman, Bella, was not important, not really. Arya though...
"I dread to think what you originally had planned for me."
A chill ran down his spine at the expression he saw on Connington's face in the split second before Aegon's presence was noticed. Arya didn't even react to it but Aegon saw it. He did not exceed at her lessons but this he did see. Lord Connington would have seen her as an enemy. He shuddered to think of Arya, cold and lifeless as Bella had been and blue in the face where the breath had been choked from her. Aegon had turned away from the sight, not wanting to see it when Lysono Maar called it to his notice.
He retreated into the warmth of his tent. Outside the snow fell much more heavily than it had been. Braziers had been lit to keep him warm and he began to shed the layers of furs. He recalled the other problem he now had to consider. The news had just reached him of a case of greyscale. Aegon did not understand it. The maester who had seen the afflicted man was gone but one of the serving girls had heard of it before he disappeared. She had only just come forward with the information. It troubled Aegon after his experience on the Rhoyne before they reached Volantis.
I will find out after the battle.
The flap of the tent swung in and Nym joined him almost buried in her own furs. She shook the snow off and pulled her hood back.
"You cannot be arguing with everybody cousin, now is not the time."
Aegon shot her a dark look. "You are in no position to lecture me. You enjoy stirring trouble too much."
Nym smiled. "This is true and men are such weak creatures. It is so easy to set them against each other." She saw the expression on his face. "I do not try to cause trouble for you though. I want your success."
Aegon laughed a mirthless laugh. "Is it success that I have? I am winning my battles but I am losing my friends."
She sighed. "You are not good company. I will leave you to sulk on your own. You best get over it. On the morrow you will need to lead."
She pulled her hood back up and marched back out into the cold, making him feel guilty. She was right, it would not do. The Dornish commanders had joined their host and he needed to be seen as a leader, not a petulant boy. He removed his sword belt and sat on his bed, leaning down to take off his boots.
His emotions were a mixture and although he carried anger with him and despair too, there was also a sense of excitement and anticipation with the battle being so close. On the morrow he might see the city his ancestors built, he would look upon the Great Sept and the Red Keep. It had been a relief to escape Ser Bonifer and his preaching but he also knew the Warriors Sons and Poor Fellows awaited him in the city. A raven from Varys told him that conditions in Kings Landing were as dire as Sandor Clegane had reported.
He knew he needed rest but sleep was unlikely to come while he pondered on something he had wished for so long.
I will recover the pride of my House.
He lay with his arms behind his head just thinking. With the excitement was also nervousness. I will lose men tomorrow. He was still thinking of it with his eyes closed when he heard the flap of the tent swing in again. His eyes snapped open as his visitor pulled the hood back on their furs.
"What are you doing here Arya?"
She moved so quickly, shedding her outer fur cloak and shaking out her braided hair. "I have heard your arguments" she said quietly. "I know you have doubts. I think I know your thoughts now but I want you to tell me what you have decided."
He felt a surge of irritation. She still hasn't let it go. She still thinks I am some monster. He had woken abruptly more than once in the last few nights thinking somebody was in his tent. He even looked for her but nobody was there. She had not been near him.
"I do not want to quarrel with you again. Especially not with the fight so close now."
Arya did not appear deterred. She approached him, her grey eyes clear and determined and he started a little when she sat on his bed rather than fetching a stool. She fidgeted a moment before settling beside him but facing him.
"I do not wish to quarrel either. I need to know you are the man I thought you were. I have never been so mistaken before."
Aegon suppressed the retort on the tip of his tongue. He remembered how she used to be with him before he wore down her barriers. She trusted no man when they met. She gave me her maidenhead. The disappointment in her eyes after Stoney Sept still stung, it stung even more than her comparing him to Robert Baratheon.
"You expect too much" he said stiffly. "No man would measure up. What do you want?"
A scowl darkened her features briefly. "I want to know that you have honour. That you will do what is right. My father had honour, my brother too."
He tensed at the comparison. Somehow he was always in the shadow of noble, honourable Eddard Stark. He heard the way the Northmen spoke of their fallen liege. Aegon understood now that Ned Stark acted for his family in the Rebellion. The man was known to take no joy in killing. Arya idolised her dead father. Aegon was always going to fall short and if it wasn't Ned Stark he could not measure up to it was his own father, Rhaegar. The last dragon.
"You stopped shaving" she observed, catching him off guard.
"I did not expect you in my bed" he replied. "There seemed no reason."
Arya blinked. "You shave for me?"
Aegon couldn't repress a smile. She knew so much yet she remained clueless about such simple things. "You said I scratch you."
Her expression softened. "You do but I did not think... It is common for men to grow whiskers." she said quietly. "My father wore a beard."
Aegon sighed at the mention. "Tell me what you want."
She reached out hesitantly, taking his hand in hers. Her thumb caressed him lightly and he looked down, frowning a little as he accepted the gesture. He kept his eyes on their joined hands, noticing once more how much darker his skin tone was than hers. Her deep breath prompted him to raise his head to look at her.
"I want you to promise me something."
The way she moved was just suggestive enough for him to figure out how she might reward him for his promise. He did not know if the manipulation was intentional. Her expression was serious even though she remained positioned so close to him that he could almost feel her breath. Her other hand skimmed close to the hem of his tunic. Aegon did not want to be manipulated.
His body wasn't having it though. Their time apart had been difficult. He had tried taking matters into his own hands, imagining her when she wasn't there but nothing compared to the real thing. Arya looked at him steadily and did not resist when he pushed stray hair back behind her ear. She did push his hand away when he let it trail lower.
"Arya" he complained. Her hand was still by his knee. "Stop teasing me and tell me what you want."
She jerked her hand away and flushed. "I did not mean to. I would not do that to you." She looked strained and pulled her hand from his. Aegon cursed. It was all going wrong, just as it had every time he saw her after Stoney Sept. She began to rise and as much as it pained him he let go of his pride.
"Don't leave" he blurted. "Stay and tell me what you came to ask."
Arya hesitated but he refused to plead with her. He might not want her to leave but he still had some dignity. Her expression softened again and she settled back into her former position. "You frightened me. I don't ever want to hear that your men executed somebody without question for their blood alone. I know you have had talks with your men. Don't let it happen again. Promise me."
He watched her for a moment, thinking again of his suspicions about Stoney Sept. The promise would cost him little. She speaks of the future, not the past. "I did not mean to frighten you." He hesitated before giving his answer and her finger went to his lips. She licked her own lips and he cursed himself for the thoughts that simple gesture conjured in his mind.
"I didn't kill her" he repeated again. "I'm not a bad man Arya. You know that." She remained silent and took her finger back. "I will tell them to bring suspected enemies to me first in future so that they may be questioned. It is something we have already begun speaking of. If there is no harm in them they will be spared."
Arya nodded. "You will tell your men? You will make it a command?"
She was looking at him so intently, so hopefully. "I promise" he replied and he meant it.
"What about Bella" she pressed. "I need to know who killed her."
Aegon sighed. He knew he should have expected it. She was not one to let things go. "I do not know" he admitted, refusing to confess his suspicions and hoping likely in vain she could not tell. "Can it wait just until the fighting is finished?" She chewed her lip and he rushed to clarify. "I'm not saying to let it drop. I know you won't do that. Just wait until after the city falls. We can decide what to do then."
She remained silent for a moment and Aegon thought she might argue with him. Finally she nodded.
"I should let you rest."
He watched her go with a sinking feeling in his chest. When he was alone he resigned himself to another night of relieving his frustrations on his own. It did not stop him stewing though. He did not understand what more she expected from him. It seemed she would never fully forgive him and he was certain he did not deserve that.
Sometime later a rustle at the entrance the tent disturbed him. He remained awake but his mood almost caused him to snap before he realised Arya had returned. She began removing items from her person and shedding her layers of furs. He heard her whisper "Valar Morghulis" before she approached him, looking a little uncertain this time. He did not know what to think, especially when she tugged her boots off, knelt on the bed and crawled towards him. He sat upright.
"What are you doing?" he asked, his voice cracking.
Arya faltered and stopped, shifting her position to sit much as she had in her previous visit. She looked at her hands and Aegon waited for her to tell him something. He did not know what to expect but her uncertainty gave him some sign. When he reached for her hand she smiled very briefly. She looked into his face when he raised the hand to his lips. He kissed her palm and she sighed.
"I wondered whether you would find another to warm your bed" she said hesitantly. "I know the other men have women in the lead up to battle."
Aegon was ashamed to admit the thought had crossed his mind. He dismissed it quickly feeling certain that any he chose would be a poor substitute. He did not want a whore. He wanted a woman who wanted him, who was only his. He wanted Arya who knew him and knew what he needed before he even knew himself. He opened his mouth to say as much but his words were cut off when Arya's hand went to his breeches. His grunt was cut off when she pressed her mouth to his as she traced the outline of his stiffening cock.
"You waited for me" she whispered as her lips travelled down his neck. "I did not want to be alone, not tonight." Her breath felt warm against his ear and her hair brushing his shoulder made him realise she had removed her braids. "It is not the same having Cara or Nym in my bed."
He struggled to concentrate on her words as she kissed his jaw and slid her hand across his stomach. "You have been abed with Nym" he asked curiously, wondering if he should be jealous. Arya paused and he wondered if he should have held his tongue.
"You know about her" she said calmly.
Aegon brushed her hair aside. "She makes no secret of it to me. So have you?" He shot her a smile as he saw her scowl.
"No stupid" she retorted "She has just been nagging me to see you." She tilted her head to the side to let him kiss her neck and he began to work her tunic up. "Would it bother you if I did?"
He watched her lift the tunic the rest of the way off. "Not as long as you like having me better" he said lightly. He lied and he was sure she knew it. He captured her lips and ran his fingers over the newly exposed skin. When he moved to kiss her throat he heard her breath catch. Her breathing quickened as his thumb brushed her nipple finding it already hard. He felt her heart beat under his hand.
"Nym annoys me even more than you do" she murmured. "You do not need to worry."
"I missed you" he muttered as he nuzzled between her breasts. Her breathing became laboured when he cupped one in his hand, nipping and kissing his way around her sensitive flesh. He heard her swallow loudly and as she cradled his head he looked to see her eyes were closed. Her fingers stroked the back of his neck and she bit her lip.
Arya must have sensed the lapse in his attentions because she moved and took his face in her hands, bringing him to her level. He saw her smile almost shyly as he drank in the sight of her again. She was just as he remembered, all toned muscle but soft curves just where they were meant to be. He ran a finger over the light marks he had left on her and she trembled. She let go of him and began unlacing her breeches.
"You make me feel beautiful" she said in a timid voice.
Aegon sighed as he began removing his own clothing. He wanted to throttle every person who had made her feel unworthy. Her fingers began tracing his scars and she placed gentle kisses on each one.
"You are beautiful Arya." He trailed his fingers down her bare back.
She looked up at him, her eyes bright as his hands gripped her waist. She straightened up, locking her arms around his neck and kissing the end of his nose. "I am going to let you fuck me even if you don't say it."
He kissed her, putting all of his need for her into it. She moaned into his mouth as his hand brushed over the hair at the juncture of her thighs. He felt her tilt her hips, betraying her need to him and he couldn't deny her. He had been so lonely without her, even more so once he became distant from Lord Connington. He brushed the tips of his fingers close to her centre, feeling the moisture already gathering and Arya whimpered and lay back on his bed.
He paused to look at her. She had opened her thighs to him and he caressed her lightly, his fingers brushing along her slit. "So beautiful" he murmured and he kissed the inside of one leg, relishing her shaky breath. He glanced at her, seeing her watching him before moving to flick his tongue to catch the moisture his fingers had missed. Arya gave a sharp little cry and Aegon gripped her hips tightly to stop her arching off the bed.
"I just want to taste you" he murmured as her fingers threaded through his hair. "You know you make it harder when you squirm." He kissed her again, just there and although she didn't make a sound he felt her shudder. Her fingers caressed him, alternating between softly brushing against his scalp and tugging his hair to bring him closer each time his attentions to her lapsed. Each flick of his tongue earned him more as she writhed in his grasp, saying just enough to hint at praise.
He paused to look up at her, using his fingers to please her instead.
"Tell me you missed me. Tell me you thought of me when you didn't have me in your bed."
She didn't answer him, instead arching her back and gasping. She whimpered as he removed his fingers.
"Tell me" he said again as he bent between her thighs to sweep his tongue against her again. Her reaction was gratifying.
"I missed you" she moaned and he felt a thrill of triumph as she tugged him close again. "Ser Raymun tried to tell me" she gasped. "He tried... to say... he could please... me and I-I laughed at him."
Aegon was so hard it hurt. Her confirming that it was him she wanted and that another would not please her was almost more than he could take. He wanted to be buried inside her. He wanted to hear her say again that she wanted him. When she peaked, crying his name it was all he could do to give her a moment as he climbed back over her. She covered his face in kisses and he groaned as he thrust into her.
Nothing compared to the feel of her wet heat encasing him while she kissed him and touched him and angled her hips to meet his every stroke. "I don't think I'll last long" He warned her as he felt her clench around his cock.
Her legs wrapped high around his back, bringing him deeper and she shushed him. His strokes were shallow as he tried to hang on and her hand went to his buttocks, urging him not to hold back. "I want you" she whispered. "I want all of you Aegon."
He gave up the effort, instead taking her as she clearly wished to be taken. He needed it too, hearing her throaty cries as he fucked her. They were both wild creatures, the dragon and the direwolf. Her nails scraped his back and the feeling was electric. He leaned close to her, feeling her body against his with each movement and latched onto the pulse point in her neck, marking her again with his kiss and inhaling her scent.
He held on longer than he expected but not nearly as long as he would have liked. He slowed to try to prolong his pleasure before slumping over her as he spilled his seed. He murmured her name, Arya, his Arya. She might not say it, she might leave him and live half a world away but he knew she was his in that moment.
She made soothing noises as she remained wrapped around him. He looked into her eyes and she brushed her lips against his tenderly as he basked in the remains of his climax. After weeks of frustration he felt happy and sated and he didn't want it to end. Arya knew and she whispered into his ear. "We have a little time."
Aegon wanted more than a little time.
"I want something from you in exchange for my promise" he said as he caught his breath, preparing himself for argument. She remained still but her eyes narrowed. "Stay with me tonight."
Arya looked at him steadily. He thought she might refuse but finally she nodded. "I will stay if you keep me warm."
Aegon couldn't help but smile as she shifted and he lay down with her pressed close to him. He reached and pulled the furs over them as she shivered a little. He had needed her. Nobody knew what would happen on the morrow and this, having her against him and being with her took his mind off all the uncertainties and all the risks.
Valar Morghulis. The words she uttered before she came to his bed suddenly made sense. She knows the risks too.
He brushed his lips against her shoulder. Arya responded by moving to rest her head against his chest and he put his arms around her. Her voice trembled a little as she spoke. "Rickon is still angry with me and Jon wants me to stay away."
Aegon frowned remembering the letters. She had covered her emotions so well but he knew something was wrong when he saw her burn the first and reread the second. Her fingers had gripped the parchment so tightly.
"I am sorry my love."
She was so bothered by her news she didn't even offer her usual argument to the endearment. Instead she clung to him.
"I should have been with you in Harrenhal" he whispered as he stroked her back. "There has been so much. I know how you feel about that place."
She shook her head and looked up at him. "You couldn't be. We are taking enough of a risk now but I do hate that place. If not for Nymeria..."
Aegon knew which Nymeria she meant. The wolves never strayed far. The men heard them at night and Aegon expected to have her growling in his bed. He accepted that part of her. The new men feared it but they did not understand.
Arya is the direwolf.
"Make peace with Connington in the morning" she murmured.
Aegon stiffened. "I cannot."
"Make peace" she said firmly. "You do not have to forget but you need him. You need his knowledge and his counsel even if you should not always listen to him."
They lapsed into silence and sleep soon overtook him. It was a rare dreamless sleep devoid of dragons. He drifted in and out of consciousness as Arya moved restlessly. At one point when he woke he accidentally disturbed her. Arya kissed him sleepily and woke quickly with a laugh at his eager response.
"Your wriggling is torture" he whispered between kisses.
"You asked me to stay" she shot back.
It took little encouragement and her hands were roaming. Aegon let her take over this time. He did not bother to quiet her, just as he had not stifled her earlier. In this snow and with the battle looming nobody will think anything. She remained intertwined with him a little while afterwards, her eyes closed and her head resting at his shoulder. He almost thought she slept until she spoke.
"Don't be reckless on the morrow Aegon. You cannot be crowned if you die."
He responded the way she always did. "Valar Morghulis."
Arya didn't take it well. She hit him and for half a second he thought she might cry. "I mean it."
He tried to soothe her with a caress. "I'll be careful if you are."
She nodded and moved into further into his embrace with a sigh. He supposed it was the closest to a declaration of love that he would get.
"You need to sleep Aegon" she murmured. "There is a lot to do."
He did sleep. He woke once more before dawn to Arya stirring and saw Nym in the tent. She gave them a wicked grin before leaving. He was surprised when dawn came and Arya remained curled into him. She yawned as he kissed her temple. At some point in the night she had pulled her tunic back on. He enticed her into a proper kiss, sliding his hand inside the tunic. She let him touch her before breaking the kiss.
"We don't have time for more of that."
Aegon knew she was right. His advisors would arrive soon. He watched her retrieve the rest of her clothes and begin pulling them on before following suit. She finished dressing before he did but she lingered, making what looked to be a pointless effort to tidy her hair.
"I'll leave after I've helped you with your armour."
Her fingers were deft and practised when he agreed. "You have done this before" he observed.
She nodded, looking pleased. "I help my uncle sometimes. He doesn't need help but he knows I like to make sure that he is..." She trailed off and began focusing intently on securing his breastplate. "I will go to him when I leave here." She pulled a face. "Do you know that two men already asked me for my favour? I had to tell them not to be stupid."
Aegon frowned. "It isn't a tourney."
Arya snorted. "That is what I said." She looked up at him. "I think you are almost done. Please wear a helm."
"I will" he assured her. "If it wasn't war, would you give me your favour?"
Arya grinned. "Don't be stupid. You wouldn't need my favour." Her smile dropped and the lighthearted moment passed. "Be safe Aegon" she whispered and her worry showed.
He pulled her to him and she flung her arms awkwardly around his neck. The war is upon us. Part of him wished he could have some token. He would pray to the Warrior more than once before the day was over, he was sure. Numbers were certainly on their side but the gods sometimes had other intentions.