In the filming set, at Quoile River in Downpatrick, Lucas, as Robb Stark, stood alongside Michael, who portrayed Roose Bolton.
They were filming a pivotal scene where Robb expressed his concern about Theon Greyjoy having his brothers hostage. The tension was palpable as Robb wanted to storm the castle, but Roose Bolton, tried to assuage his fears. "Theon wouldn't dare harm the boys," he said, his voice low and reassuring, "They're his only hope of escaping the North with his head intact."
Lucas, as Robb, nodded thoughtfully, his brow furrowed in contemplation. After a moment, he decided that Roose should send word to his son to spare any Ironborn who surrendered. "A touch of mercy is a virtue, Your Grace," Roose, cautioned, "but too much—"
"Not for Theon Greyjoy," Robb cut in, his voice hardening. "He betrayed our cause. He betrayed me. And we will hunt him down, no matter where he runs."
"I expect his countrymen will turn on him the minute they hear the offer," Roose Bolton said with a nod.
In that moment, Talisa, played by a Oona Chaplin, entered the scene. Both Robb and Roose stood up.
"Your pardon, my Lord. Your Grace," Talisa said, her voice respectful but tinged with concern.
Roose gave a curt nod. "My lady." With that, he exited the scene, leaving Lucas and Oona to continue their dialogue.
Talisa's eyes met Robb, her character's worry evident. "How are you?" she asked, her voice laced with genuine care.
Robb let out a bitter chuckle. "How am I? I've had to arrest my mother. The Lannisters have my sisters. The man I considered my closest friend has seized my home and my brothers. I'm fighting a war, and I don't know if I should march south or north." The weariness in his voice was palpable, even through the character's sarcasm.
Talisa's expression softened further, and she apologized, "I'm sorry. It was a stupid question. I'm sorry."
Robb shook his head. "No. Forgive me. You're being kind. I have no right to lash out at you."
Talisa looked at him with understanding. "You have every right. You're a king," she said, her voice firm but comforting.
Talisa tilted her head, her character's curiosity piqued. "What kind of king do you want to be?"
Robb let out a sigh. "I don't know. The good kind," he said, his voice laced with uncertainty. "Most kings grew up as princes. They spend their whole lives preparing for the crown. I was raised to be Lord of Winterfell."
Talisa nodded in understanding. "I was raised to be a proper little lady," she began, her tone tinged with irony, "to play the harp, dance the latest steps, and recite Valyrian poetry."
Lucas's character, Robb, feigned interest. "I'd love to hear you play the harp sometime."
Talisa couldn't help but smile at his sarcasm. "No, no, you wouldn't," she teased.
Their banter was light, easing the tension in the air. Lucas, as Robb, poured two cups of wine and handed one to Talisa. They clinked their cups, and the set filled with the sound of their laughter.
As the laughter died down, Lucas's expression turned genuine. "How did you go from reciting Valyrian poetry to... sawing off men's feet?"
Talisa's expression became more complicated, and she began to share her life story, delving into the events that had shaped her into the person she'd become.
As Talisa shared her story, Lucas's eyes portrayed the complexity of emotions that Robb Stark would have felt in that moment. Sympathy, understanding, and a growing admiration for her strength were all etched on his face.
Finally, they both stood up, and Lucas, as Robb, spoke the words that would change their characters' fates. "I don't want to marry the Frey girl."
Oona, as Talisa, revealed the depth of her character's feelings for Robb in her eyes. "I don't want you to marry her either. But you needed that bridge. I hope it's a very beautiful bridge."
They moved closer to each other, the heat of their gaze tangible even for the crew members and cameras surrounding them. As their lips met, the passion between the two characters was undeniable.
Lucas, as Robb, conveyed the intensity of his character's emotions, but Oona, as Talisa, took it a step further. When they broke apart, her hands grabbed the back of his head, gripping his hair and pulling him back into a fiery kiss.
Their clothes began to fall away, and the cameras captured every moment, including Lucas's toned chest. Even some of the female crew members couldn't help but blush at the sight.
From Lucas's perspective, as the cameras captured Oona's naked back, he couldn't help but catch a glimpse of her supple breasts. As a professional, he pushed aside any inappropriate thoughts and focused on the scene. However, Oona, as Talisa, seemed to be more comfortable with the intimate nature of the scene. She explored Lucas's chest with her hands, sending shivers down his spine, and then she leaned in to trail kisses along his torso.
Lucas, eager to wrap up the scene, quickly removed Oona's pants, while she did the same for him. The cameras caught a glimpse of Oona's bare behind, as well as Lucas.
After a few more seconds, the director yelled, "Cut!"
Lucas sighed in relief and quickly pulled up his pants, feeling a blush creeping up his neck.
Oona quirked an eyebrow at him, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "You seem a bit uneasy there, Lucas. I've seen your movies, and I'm pretty sure you've done this kind of thing before."
Lucas shifted in his seat, regaining his composure as he flashed a crooked grin. "Well, Oona, it's one thing to do it for the camera and another to do it… well, here," he said, gesturing around the room. "But I guess you're right. It's all part of the job, right?"
Oona laughed, nodding in agreement. "I hear you, Lucas. It's always a little nerve-wracking, no matter how many times you've done it."
The crew members draped robes over both their shoulders, offering them a semblance of modesty as they made their way to the monitor to review the takes.
Alan Taylor, the director, nodded approvingly as Lucas and Oona watched the scene alongside the key crew member and Michael. Oona's cheeks flushed a light shade of pink as she saw herself on-screen, her intensity palpable, while Lucas's performance was just right—toned down but still engaging.
"This is fantastic, you two," Alan said with a smile. "It felt so realistic."
"Thank you," Oona muttered, stealing a sideways glance at Lucas. Her cheeks burned even brighter as she realized how into the scene she had been.
It wasn't hard to see why, though. As they all knew, Lucas Knight was not only a talented actor but also incredibly attractive and fit. The rising star's growing popularity in Hollywood had already sparked crushes among many actresses in the industry, and it seemed Oona might be joining their ranks.
---
As the days flew by, Lucas and Oona powered through the scenes that had been filmed in advance for Robb Stark's storyline, per the agreement between Neil and HBO. This allowed Lucas to maintain some flexibility in his packed schedule.
After two more days on set, Lucas had wrapped up all the necessary scenes. He took selfies with his costars, crew members, and even some of the extras, always obliging them with a smile. Oona, however, requested something more personal - she asked for his number. To her surprise, and perhaps a little bit of her disappointment, Lucas politely declined without hesitation and made his way to the airport.
Neil was there to greet him at the Belfast airport, ready to whisk him away to New York. "My man, I'm glad to see you!" he said, enveloping Lucas in a warm hug.
"I'm doing well, thanks," Lucas replied with a smile. "Glad to be done with those scenes for now."
"Oh, I can only say that my workload has doubled since you started that whole 'whisper challenge' sensation," Neil said dramatically, feigning exhaustion.
Lucas chuckled. "You mean the video I posted on Twitter?"
Neil nodded, shaking his head in disbelief. "Yeah, that one. I never thought such a simple game would catapult your career to new heights... Beside regular folks, even celebrities and politicians are trying it."
Lucas raised an eyebrow, genuinely surprised. "Seriously? It's that big?"
"You have no idea," Neil chuckled, settling back in his seat. "It's been two weeks since then, and people still won't stop talking about it. Not just in our country, but all over the world. It's been reported on news channels and talk shows alike. Everyone's trying their hand at the 'whisper challenge' or whatever they're calling it now."
As Neil rambled on, Lucas couldn't help but think about the various internet challenges that had taken the world by storm in his previous life. It seemed like he had just kickstarted a trend by introducing the 'Whisper Challenge' to this world. He knew it was only a matter of time before more viral sensations popped up.
"I know I should be happy about your success, but maybe you could slow down a bit?" Neil said, patting Lucas on the shoulder.
"What do you mean?" Lucas asked, genuinely confused.
"Well, there's been a surge in deals, offers, and everything else," Neil sighed, he added. "And did I mention that some overzealous fans found out you were filming here in Northern Ireland? It's all over the internet."
"Really?" Lucas asked, feeling a bit uneasy.
"I wish I were kidding," Neil replied, shaking his head. "Some overzealous fans are even bragging on the internet about booking flights to this country, all in the hopes of seeing you."
"I know it comes with the territory," Lucas said, trying to sound nonchalant.
"I know, but as your popularity grows, so does the number of... enthusiastic fans," Neil said, choosing his words carefully. "Trust me, I've seen it all. And believe me, you don't want to deal with them. So, for now, I think it's best if you lay low on the internet."
"I see your point. I'll keep that in mind," Lucas said, nodding seriously.