In the morning, Aldarra sat up and started to remember last night. He petted and licked her skin. He was hard and rubbed his member up against her until he got a release in his hand. He had got up and wiped off his hand and emptied the tub out the window before coming back to bed. He kept his word and only used his mouth and hands everywhere but between her thighs. He even thanked her for trusting him before they fell asleep.
Aldarra got up and went to the bathroom, rinsing her hands in the pump and putting on her clean small clothes with a white tunic. She pulled out her food in her baggage that was fully replenished. There was bread, cheese, and cured ham. She made a couple folded bread slices with the meat and cheese inside with half a ripe pear sliced in half. She also boiled water and made tea for her two cups from the kettle in the fireplace on a swing arm for heating water for the tub. She took it all over to the nightstand on Tywin's side of the bed. She leaned over and softly kissed him on the lips. He opened his eyes and kissed her back, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her on top of himself smiling.
She broke the kiss and said softly, "I made you tea and food to break your fast. The privy is in the corner." He rolled her over and kissed her again. He couldn't believe she was being so soft and generous to him. He loved the intimacy and attention he had with her, even if they did not consummate. It was enough for him to be able to touch her and hold her against his body.
He said, "Thank you, my precious beauty. That is very kind and thoughtful of you." He definitely was feeling something deep down for her. All he knew is that he wanted her with him always. Tywin got up and relieved himself. He then washed his hands in the water pump for the tub and came back to the bed. He pulled the blanket over his lap and pulled her to the edge of the bed between his legs. He had wrapped his one leg around her as they sat on the edge of the bed together breaking their fast. He sipped his tea and kissed her shoulder before taking a bite of his food.
When they were done he pulled her on top of him again with her head resting on his shoulder. He said, "I love touching you. I care deeply for you and want you with me always, my sweetling. Please return with me and be mine?" She was looking in his eyes. She lifted up straddling his waist and put her elbows on the pillow on each side of him. She looked in his eyes and smoothed his eyebrows with her finger as his eyes fluttered shut. Her finger traced down his nose to his lips then along his lightly bearded chin and jaw mixed with blonde and white hair. She captured his mouth and gave him a soft sweet languid kiss. She turned his head and kissed a few places on his neck as he groaned and she bit his earlobe lightly. He was so aroused by her again.
He said in a low voice, "You make me want you with just your lightest of touches and kisses." He looked into her eyes.
She said, playing with the hair on his chest looking at it as she touched him, "I'll go back with you Tywin and marry you, but you must agree to not talk down to me anymore, treating me like I'm not capable of skills and intelligent thoughts first. I know people and I know how this world all works. I have lived for eight years traveling Essos and Westeros. I know many things you may have no idea about. I've seen the worst in people and met a few pretty special ones too. I am no fool or naive. I want to be able to train with my sword, knives and bow. I don't give a damn what people think of me. I am a capable woman and you shouldn't care either of what they think of me. If you can respect that. I will return with you." She looked up at him smiling at her.
He said, "We have a family saying. A lion doesn't concern itself with the opinion of sheep."
She said smiling, "Well there you go." He chuckled holding her and kissed her.
Later on, Tywin sent one of his guards for his baggage to put on clean clothes. Aldarra said she could wash up his clothes for the journey home. She strung up her rope in the room, after they had gone out to the ship and he had told the men to take shore leave in shifts. He had the captain order replacement provisions for the return. The captain said it would take two days before they could return. Tywin took Aldarra to a tavern and they got some great fried fish and vegetables with wine for their midday meal. He didn't have to act formally with her here in a different environment.
He had asked her how she got 2,500,000 in dragons in the Iron Bank. She explained that her father had an account with a million dragons in it. When they had confirmation of his death, they knew she was the surviving heir. They let her close it and open her own account with all she had brought in bags of gemstones, gold, silver and dragons. She said she had loaded a couple pack horses with all the valuables that were liquid assets at the time she fled. Tywin knew she was brilliant. Aldarra said she would withdraw 5,000 dragons to take back on the ship to Westeros.
Tywin had taken Aldarra around Braavos and they had sent speciality goods in cases to the ship that are only from there like fruits, meats, baked goods. Aldarra found a candy sweet maker and ordered a couple cases sent to the ship along with gifts for Sansa, Shae and Tyrion. They slept together both nights in the inn and she had all their clothes washed, dried on her rope and repacked. Tywin even did some himself with her.
The day they left, everything was ready and stowed properly. Tywin and Aldarra set sail for King's Landing. She slept with him in the small bed but Tywin liked being up against her body. They played a game on the ship called Cyvasse that Aldarra bought in Braavos. Together they both learned to play it together and entertained the soldiers and crew playing on the voyage.
One night, Aldarra was half asleep and Tywin was kissing her shoulder and she mumbled drifting off, "I love you…. Tywin…" He inhaled like a gasp and held her a little tighter. He didn't know what to think about it, but it didn't bother him. It just surprised him because they got along so well. He smiled a lot and laughed at her quirky personality that would show now and then. She was definitely someone he could probably fall for.
They talked about politics and strategies. She actually gave him some insights on different directions of getting the right outcomes to some of the issues he was working on. She was educated and knew her history, houses and the nobles in them. She was smart and that was a positive thing because she could be helpful. Joanna was a good contributor when he ran just the Westerlands political agendas.
—--
When they were in their last four days to reach King's Landing, a pirate ship from the Iron Islands was bearing down on them. They got some top speed on the sails on a strong trade wind. The chase was on.
The sun was beating down mercilessly on the open sea, casting a blinding glare that shimmered off the turquoise waters below. The salty breeze whipped through the sails of their ship, billowing them outwards as it raced across the ocean to avoid the pursuit.
The pirate ship, with its Iron Islands flags, was a fearsome sight as it bore down on the galleon. The pirates crew unfurl their sails and readied their cannons for the chase ahead.
On the galleon ship, the crew didn't panic but concentrated on getting ahead of the band of cutthroats. The captain barked orders to his men, urging them to trim the sails and make all haste in an attempt to outrun their pursuers. Tywin told Aldarra to stay below decks as he ran up to the deck to prepare for battle.
The pirate ship was faster and more agile, its sleek design cutting effortlessly through the choppy waters as it gained ground on the galleon. Euron Greyjoy, himself stood at the helm, a sinister grin plastered across his face as he watched his prey draw closer with each passing moment.
As the distance between the two ships closed, the pirate crew leapt into action, manning the cannons and preparing to board the galleon. The sound of cannon fire echoed across the sea as the pirate ship unleashed a warning shot at the galleon.
The galleon, its crew outnumbered if not for the soldiers on board. They could do little until the pirate ship closed in for the kill. The captain watched as the pirates grappled and swarmed over the rails, their swords flashing in the sunlight as they descended upon the crew and soldiers below on the galleon's deck.
Chaos erupted on the galleon as the pirates clashed with the sailors and soldiers, steel clashing against steel as the two sides fought tooth and nail for control of the ship. Aldarra had a full quiver of arrows and a sword. She went up on deck and got behind a few large barrels. She took aim and started killing pirate after pirate. She even shot Euron Greyjoy in the upper arm. Once she was out of arrows after killing or wounding twenty or so men, she started fighting with her sword killing about three men.
Euron Greyjoy saw the beautiful woman fighting with skill. He himself joined the fray as he swung his sword with deadly force to get to her. When he engaged with her, she met him blow for blow, their swords clashing in a symphony of steel as they dueled with a skill and prowess that left him in awe of her.
As the battle raged on, they realized the galleon proved to be a formidable foe than they counted on, the soldier's skill with blades unmatched by any man on the other ship. The pirates hesitated, uncertain of how to deal with the tide of the battle beginning to turn out of their favor.
Euron paused to call for the retreat of his men but went to try and snatch Aldarra from the deck to take to his ship, but Tywin sliced his arm, yanking Aldarra back behind him. Euron swung over on a rope to the deck of his ship smiling at her and shouted, "Until next time beautiful lady, then you will be mine!!!" The ships cut the ropes and the pirate ship hurriedly sailed off.
As the sun began to dip below the horizon, casting long shadows across the deck of the galleon, the pirate ship finally began to retreat over the horizon, its crew defeated and bloodied in the wake of their failed assault. The galleon, though battered and bruised, emerged victorious, its crew cheering in triumph as they watched the pirate ship disappear into the distance.
The bodies were dumped overboard after removing the arrows they could salvage for Lord Lannister's woman and the decks rinsed clear of blood and debris. As the stars twinkled overhead and the gentle lapping of the waves filled the air, the crew of the galleon were glad they had emerged victorious over Euron Greyjoy's ship if not for the soldiers and Tywin Lannister's woman with the bow.
Tywin grabbed her intensely, hugging her to his body with her in the cabin. He was in a panic if he were to have lost her to Greyjoy of all people. He was the most arrogant and violent of scoundrels. He said upset, "I told you to stay below deck, Aldarra. He could have captured you at the end there and I would never see you again."
She said firmly, "I know, but I took out about twenty with my bow from cover. After I killed three more." He was surprised she killed that many turning the tide. There was a knock on the door.
Tywin opened the door and the captain said, "I just wanted to return the arrows rinsed off we could salvage, to the little lady and thank her for such a large amount of dead pirates to help in the battle. The men all appreciate her, including your soldiers. You lost two soldiers and I lost three crew members. It could have been so much worse if not for your lady and soldiers." He handed her the arrows.
Aldarra said smiling, "You're all very welcome." Tywin closed the door.
He said frustrated, "I don't like you taking chances even if you're right."
She laid down the arrows and wrapped her arms around him and said softly, "You saved me in the end is what counts. It all turned out fine this time. Let it go, Tywin." He huffed and put his arms around her leaning his head on her head.
—--
When they arrived in King's Landing, the ship docked and the cargo was being prepared to deliver to various places in the Red Keep, many items to the Tower of the Hand. Tywin and Aldarra walked down the plank to see Sansa, Shae and Tyrion waiting for them to depart. Aldarra smiled and ran to her friends hugging all three. Sansa and Shae both said they were glad she was back.
Tywin asked Tyrion, "How was it, since I have been gone?"
Tyrion said seriously, "Father, the Tyrell's, Cersei and Joffrey are going to try to destroy the entire crown economy with this damn wedding. Over 37 courses of dishes? It's preposterous and that's just the food. Joffrey's name day is coming up and my sister has gone crazy spending on that as well."
Tywin said, "I talked with the Iron Bank and they were notified that the payments due on the loans are beginning next month for repayment. I expect my payments to be budgeted in. See if you can speak to the Tyrell's to pay for half the wedding costs or it will have to be scaled back and slashed by half. Don't take no for an answer. Aldarra and I will be married in a sennight." Tyrion's eyes got big thinking that his father seemed to work out his issues with Aldarra.
Tyrion said, "Ok father. The messages from the north are on your desk in order and I did write the appropriate responses to most of them but the more sensitive things of late. I have documentation in your journal of responses. Curiously, Lord Baelish has been approaching Sansa Stark and she has been trying to avoid him. Father, see if Aldarra can find out why? She is close to Sansa and can tell if there is a problem."
Tywin nodded and said as they were all walking to the Red Keep, "Good job, Tyrion." Tyrion paused in a step and kept walking. It was the first time that Tywin had complimented his son.
Aldarra had Sansa and Shae come to her room where they could talk. The soldiers dropped off her items in her room. Aldarra gave them both two really big silk dyed sheet scarves that were green/blue and red/purple, melting like watercolors in the rain. She had sets of amethyst and aquamarine jewelry sets in silver for each of them. They were all smiles. She said, "You didn't think I wouldn't think of both of you? You my best friends. I always think of you."