Hello and welcome this chapter!
I'll largely be glossing over the next few episodes of the season, mainly because the big events in season 1 in King's Landing are about to happen, and Steffon and Arya are headed for Dragonstone. We'll also have our first encounter with a Wight.
By the way, I'll be doing a Q&A next chapter, so leave any questions you have about the story or me in your review, and I'll be sure to answer them.
The tourney was over, finally. Steffon and Arya were now packing for their trip to Dragonstone. Steffon was excited to be able to see his cousin Shireen again, and Arya just wanted to get away from King's Landing. After all, Steffon had told her that Davos Seaworth, one of Stannis' closest advisors, was once a commoner. That was impressive; for a noble to acknowledge someone else as the equal of other nobles.
For the moment however, Arya and Sansa were being given a stern talking-to by their father. Ned hadn't been impressed when a few days ago the girls had gotten into a fight when Sansa had insulted Steffon to Arya's face. Arya being Arya, she immediately struck Sansa, causing a fight to break out. It had only ended when Jon forced them apart. Steffon had been talking with his father at the time. Now though, both of the Stark daughters were being rebuked for their behaviour.
"Arya, you know striking your sister is bad." Ned said, exasperated. Why can't these two just be good sisters for once?
"But she called Steffon a milksop and a liar!" Arya responded angrily.
"He is! My Prince Joffrey is brave, decisive and honest! Steffon's not!" Sansa responded, still nursing the bruise on her cheek.
"Enough, both of you! You're acting like petulant children." Ned interjected.
"I don't know why you'd have Arya marry into the Baratheons, father. I was born to marry Joffrey, I always was going to marry Joffrey! I was going to be his Queen and he was going to be my lion and I was going to give him babies with beautiful golden hair" Sansa protested.
"He's not a lion, silly. He's a stag, like his father and brother." Arya responded, defending her soon-to-be family.
"No he's not; he's nothing like that drunk brute and that liar." Sansa continued.
"Steffon is not a liar! He's one of the most honourable people here! He's brave, kind, caring, one of the best people I've ever met, and I love him!" Arya responded passionately, not regretting she had said the word love. Sansa merely scoffed.
"You don't know what love is; you're too young. I do know what it is and I know that I love Joffrey!"
"I know more about it than you do! You and your silly fantasies of knights in shining armour. By the way, that term is meant as an insult! I love Steffon and he loves me."
"Please, how could he fall in love with you, Arya Horseface?!" Sansa responded, her anger showing through.
"Sansa! Do not call your sister that again!" Ned thundered. "There are simply things about Joffrey that you don't know, Sansa. I decided that having you betrothed to Joffrey was against your interest. I betrothed Arya to Steffon because Robert insisted our houses be joined and it was the best option available. They have become nearly inseparable, too. Apologise to your sister, now." Ned ordered. Sansa muttered an insincere apology before excusing herself, leaving Arya and Ned alone. "Note that this does not absolve you of any blame, Arya. You need to get your temper under control. We're not in the North anymore, do you understand?" Ned asked gently. Arya nodded in reply. Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. "Enter." Ned responded. The door was opened to reveal Jon.
"Father, Steffon sent me to retrieve Arya. They're just about ready to leave."
"As is Arya. Am I right?" Asked Ned, receiving a nod from his younger daughter in reply. He had already spoken to Steffon that day., warning him there would be dire consequences if anything unbecoming happened between him and Arya, to which Steffon had fearfully nodded.
Jon and Arya grabbed her things, and after a final goodbye kiss to her father, left the Tower of the Hand. Little did any of them know, it would be the last time they would see each other.
It was night at Castle Black. Gendry was up tending to the Lord Commander's armour. Bloody Thorne; he always hated me, now he's made sure I get Steward. He thought. Still, he had to admit he was a little surprised when Lord Commander Mormont had requested Gendry be his personal Steward. Maybe the Lord Commander had saw something in him? He didn't know. What he did know was that Mormont was planning a large ranging beyond the Wall in the weeks to come. It would be a big one, Gendry guessed; they needed to find out what happened to Bejen Stark's lost patrol, as well as find out more about this King Beyond the Wall they kept hearing about.
What disturbed Gendry most was that a patrol had recovered the bodies of a Ranger that had died some time ago. Problem is, the Ranger was supposed to have died some time ago, yet was barely decomposed at all. Oh well; none of his business.
He left the cot he'd been assigned to return Mormont's brigandine. He shivered as he stepped into the cold. I'll never get used to this weather he thought. Eventually, he reached the Lord Commander's room.
"Lord Commander, I have your armour here!" He said. No response. Gendry got the sneaking suspicion that something was wrong. He set the brigandine down and used his left hand to loosen his sword in the scabbard, which would make it easier to draw. He opened the door, his right hand sliding to the hilt of his weapon. "Hello?" he asked as he moved forward. He heard a banging "Who's there?" he asked. No response. "Lord Commander?" he asked. Still no response. Suddenly, the door behind him shut. As he turned around, he saw a figure move towards him. It was the dead Ranger. It can't be! He's dead! Gendry thought, yet here that Ranger was, staring him in the face.
The corpse pushed him up against the wall violently. Gendry drew his dagger and tried stabbing the man, to no effect. Gendry managed to fight his way out of the corpse's grip and draw his sword. His slash cut off the corpse's hand, but the injury had no visible effect. The corpse tried choking him, pushing him against the door, but Gendry was ble to thrust his sword through the corpse's belly, causing it to drop.
"Gendry?" Asked Mormont, who had emerged from his bedchamber with a lamp.
"Lord Commander!" Shouted Gendry, moving towards Mormont. The corpse stood up again, removed the sword, and started approaching them. Acting quickly, Gendry grabbed the lamp, causing a searing pain on his hand, and threw it at the corpse, which fell down screaming and Gendry and Mormont hurried out the room.
"What in Seven Hells was that, Lord Commander?" Gendry asked.
"I don't know Gendry, but whatever it was, I'm certain we'll see it's kind again."
It was only a short trip by sea to Dragonstone; a few hours, no more. Jon, Barristan and Syrio stood at the bow of the ship, making idle conversation between themselves. The deck was scattered with Steffon's personal guard; around fifty Baratheon knights made up this guard, and around thirty were with them at the moment. Arya and Steffon themselves were below deck, testing the virtues of the Braavosi Water Dance against the Westerosi swordfighting. They quickly learnt that Arya was the more agile of the two, with Steffon barely keeping up, before Arya hit him for what felt like the millionth time in a row.
"Ha! I win again, stag boy!" She bragged to him.
"Yes, yes, of course, wolf girl." He responded with a smirk, earning him a playful smack on the shoulder. "You're a lot faster than I thought." He said.
"Well, the Water Dance is built around speed and agility; you're used to wearing armour and fighting opponents who wear armour." Arya responded. "You're a lot smarter that you get credit for though. Like Jon said your brain moves fast, so you can out-think your opponent." She continued. Steffon nodded, grabbing the two of them cups of water. They were both sweating like mad; it was particularly hot today.
"I'll might go and thrw another tunic on." He mused. He did smell something awful; he was exerting himself more than usual when it came to training with Arya. Perhaps her training with Syrio really was coming off well; she was easily getting the better of him just about every time they fought. Granted, that was probably due to his unfamiliarity with the Braavosi fighting style. Arya was right; it really did depend more on speed and agility over hacking and hammering.
"What's he like? Your uncle Stannis?" She asked as they sat down.
"He's a serious man. Dour, stoic, cold . . . but not unfeeling." Steffon said. It was difficult to explain the sort of man that his uncle was; especially given his fleeing from Dragonstone after Jon Arryn's death. There had to be a reason for that; Stannis would not simply leave for no reason. he was the sort of man who would face down a full-size dragon if the situation demanded it.
"Sounds like some of the Northern Lords." She replied. She had been around the North a few times, and met more than a couple of lord when they had come to Winterfell to renew their oaths to House Stark.
"Arya, I wanted to ask . . . about the kisses we had . . ."
"What about them?"
"Did you . . . feel anything?" He asked. Arya shrugged.
"I don't know Steffon. I know that I feel something for you, and you've been nothing but kind to me." She said. "I'm not sure where this is going, Steffon . . . but I can't say that I'm afraid of the direction."
Steffon smiled brightly at that. "Then . . . may I do it again? Kiss you, I mean."
Arya nodded. "Of course." She smiled before leaning forward. The two kissed again, still feeling each other out but a bit more comfortable with it this time. It was coming with time, as it did for most couples. They were still testing the waters, so to speak, but this time felt more like they knew what they were doing, and the results were wonderful as their kiss deepened slightly. Arya slid a hand up behind his head, holding him gently in place. It had been an instinctive movement, more than anything, but she judged Steffon didn't mind from his lack of protest. Eventually, they pulled apart; her betrothed had a smiled on his face.
"That was amazing, Arya."
"That it was, Steffon." She responded. As much as she wanted to go further, she knew they couldn't. They weren't married yet, and Steffon's honour would stop him.
"How about another practice fight then, wolf girl? Winner gets to be first on Dragonstone." Steffon asked.
"Oh you're on, young stag!"
And there you have it. So, our first encounter with a wight, Arya and Steffon becoming a little more *ahem* warm in their affections, and season 1 Sansa is . . . well . . . season 1 Sansa.
I hoped you all enjoyed this chapter, and remember to leave a question for the Q&A next chapter. See ya folks!