( Arianne POV )
"I shall not have it." Jon shook his head. "If people try to force it upon me, I will deny them."
Arianne smiled at his naivety. Even now, Willas seemed to be clinging to the dragon side of him as if it were a raft in the middle of a stormy sea.
"You know nothing, Jon Stark."
...
That sentence seemed to have struck him. For a few moments, Arianne thought he had gone into shock and she even seemed to have heard a faint rumbling far away.
His gray eyes did not look away from her brown eyes.
Finally, Arianne broke the silence that had been settling for a few moments, by placing a hand on his cheek that he quickly grasped with his.
"I will ask again, Jon Stark: what do you want?"
Again, silence was her answer.
She smiled, and brought his lips to hers for a brief moment.
Jon did not resist, nor did he deepen it.
She chose to break it first.
"Whatever it is, take it. Stop listening to them, for they fear you, and wish two things: to please you or to see you destroyed." Arianne took a step backwards.
"And you," Jon finally cut in, not protesting against the kiss, "what do you wish?"
Arianne returned a sad smile.
"I wish to go home, Stark."
Jon nodded.
"I will do my best to help you, then," he spoke softly, "it is the least I can do."
Arianne spared a look at him, and smiled.
"Is that a promise?"
"I…" Jon's emotionless face finally fell, and he let out a soft smile in turn, "I shall do my utmost."
Arianne nodded and bowed in front of him.
"Then, I shall take my leave."
She wondered back into the castle, half excited, half reserved.
It is true that the Northern boy had given her no reason to doubt his word. But then again, the Tyrells were picky.
No matter, if there was a chance, she would grasp at it.
Slowly moving back into her rooms, Arianne let go of the furs she transported and freed herself just a little, breathing easier.
Home…
What a strange place.
Would she be accepted back in Sunspear? After all, if her father had sent her to Highgarden, it was almost an exile.
And now, if the Tyrells were to be believed, it was Quentyn that was in charge. Did her brother truly have no more resent towards her after she nearly had him killed? Would he welcome her back with open arms or just send her away once more?
Too many things to consider, and too many things to worry.
At least, for something that hasn't happened.
For Willas was not stupid, he would never let her leave. She was too valuable to him and his family, whose allies were slowly dying like flies.
Arianne waved those thoughts away and instead focused on another important task: making moon tea. Indeed, if the night has been full of excitement, she would have to pay a certain price. And moon tea wasn't exactly in great supply in Highgarden.
Thus, she had to get the ingredients herself, something she'd learned to do ever since she was four-and-ten. It wasn't the extremely efficient version Quentyn had somehow concocted in Dorne, but it would serve quite nicely.
But before she even had a chance to boil some water, a few knocks were heard at the door.
Slightly annoyed, Arianne just called out, "Who is it?"
"Ser Joss, Princess."
"Come on in," Arianne beckoned the young knight to let himself in.
The dazzling youth came in with a slightly apprehensive face.
"What is it?" she asked.
"Lord Willas wishes to see you." Ser Joss Hood bit his lip, he knew Arianne did not hold the Tyrell heir in her heart. "He is currently discussing issues with Lord Regent Stark."
"How does this concern me?" Arianne asked the poor boy, trying not to sound overly annoyed.
"Lord Willas said it concerned you but refused to tell me more."
Arianne let out an exasperated sigh and left the room, escorted by the young Ser Joss.
Of course, she had plenty of time to repress her inner frustration and settle down before they reached the great hall, where, as expected, Willas and Jon were assembled.
No trace of Lord Arryn though. The young falcon had completely disappeared, but it was not like the young lord of the Vale had much sway in these discussions.
"Ah, dear betrothed!" Willas put up a bright smile. "Come sit at the table, I think you will be most glad to hear the agreement we have reached with our Northern friend."
Agreement? Friend?
Arianne did not like the sound of this. Willas seemed too jovial for everything to be perfectly normal.
Instead, repressing her feelings on the subject, she only smiled while taking a seat.
"Well, Willas, that is certainly wonderful. What is the good news?"
"Lord Regent Stark will lend us a hand in defeating the Ironborn. He has even proposed to lead the force himself!" Willas nodded in thanks to Jon, who did not say a word. "In exchange, we will provide enough grain to fill the granaries of the North for the entire winter."
Arianne silently raged.
The Stark boy had been foolish!
Willas had managed to wrestle something from a situation he never should have been able to extricate so much but a dead worm of, even she could see that!
Jon had a dragon, he could take the grain regardless, what need was there to bend to Willas? Now, Willas could weaken an opponent with another. Sure, the Ironborn were doomed, but the Northmen would take losses if the weather stayed overcast, stopping the dragon from being effective. And in winter, this was more and more likely.
No, the heir to Highgarden had just gotten something out of nothing, and it irritated her to no end.
Was this why he had made her come down here? To show her how he could outplay Lord Regent Jon Stark, so formidable on his dragon, but who Willas made bend anyways? That would require Willas knowing about her tryst, but who was she kidding, he likely knew.
All this, though, was too arrogant for Willas. He wouldn't rub it in her face that much, at least, not unless he was thoroughly annoyed at her. Then, what?
"You forget the second part of the deal, Lord Willas," Jon finally coughed on his side of the table.
"Of course, of course…" Willas smiled slightly at her. "Unfortunately, Lord Jon wishes to see his cousin Lady Sansa Stark, who is a prisoner of your brother's, you know this."
"Lady Sansa is only rumored to be in Dorne." Arianne frowned. "Just like the rumors of her being in Essos, as a hostage in Casterly Rock or hidden away in the Vale or the North."
Arianne kept silent at the rumor that said she had died while trying to escape the capital, and that her body had been quietly disposed of to maintain the illusion of her presence and not attract too much retribution.
"Lady Sansa is in Dorne," Willas said with certainty. "I have no information to think the contrary."
"Your brother will likely not hand over my cousin so easily," Jon cut in, "I therefore need something to make it worth his while."
Arianne suddenly realized.
"Me?" she asked.
"Not exactly." Willas shook his head, slightly annoyed. "You and the entire Dornish party you came with."
Arianne wanted to throw herself in Jon's arms and kiss him right then and there. Though, she did her best to control her emotions.
"When…" Arianne had trouble speaking, "When will we leave?"
"As soon as the Ironborn are defeated, if you wish to leave, that is," Willas said with a twinge of sadness, or was it disappointment?
"I do wish to leave, yes." Arianne eagerly nodded.
"Well then, you better announce the news to your companions, Princess." Jon said simply. "You wish to go home, and so do I."
Arianne took her leave from the table with a wide smile, which she did not hide from Willas as the three of them stood up.
While Jon was himself leaving, Arianne took him aside for a moment, and whispered softly in his ear.
"Thank you."
The Stark boy did not answer, but gave her another soft smile and a small nod.
"Good day, Ari."
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