FIC: The Young Wolf's Journey, Chapter 15: Joy (April 2023) (Patreon)
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Catelyn Stark could not contain her tears as she held her youngest daughter tightly in her arms. Arya, willful child she’d been, would likely have tried to squirm out of her hug before long. But the young woman who had survived so much since they’d last seen each other just put her arms around her mother and hugged her back. Her mother couldn’t even imagine what her youngest daughter had been through. After learning that she’d slipped through the Lannisters’ fingers, Catelyn had feared the worst. Even after her tearful reunion with Sansa, she’d remained deathly afraid that she would never hold Arya in her arms again, or that she would never even learn what had happened to her.
There would be time for Arya to tell her everything that had happened. She would learn how her daughter had escaped the Lannisters, how she’d survived for all this time and what had led to Sandor Clegane, of all people, bringing her back to her family. But for now, Catelyn just wanted to hold onto her long-lost daughter and never let go.
She would never have all of her family back. Sweet Bran would never walk again; he would never be a knight like he’d dreamed of. Ned was gone, betrayed and killed in the pit of snakes in King’s Landing. She would always fear the same fate befalling Robb, now that he’d taken on the responsibility of sitting the Iron Throne, though she knew it had been the best choice. Her getting Sansa and Arya back would likely not have been possible without Robb forming his alliance with the Tyrells, so as much as she feared Robb putting his trust in the wrong person in King’s Landing and being betrayed, she said a silent thanks to her son as felt Arya’s hands hold her back with surprising strength.
The Starks had been ripped apart, and they would never be completely whole and united again. But in this moment, Catelyn thanked the old gods and the new for giving her girls back to her.
--
It was an elated King Robb Stark who came to his seat at the head of the table to meet with the members of his small council. He’d received his mother’s raven, telling him of Arya’s improbable return in the company of Sandor Clegane. What Robb wanted more than anything was to rush home to be with his family and give his youngest sister a huge hug. He couldn’t do that, of course; this was his home now. But just knowing that both of his sisters were safe was a weight off of his shoulders. He hadn’t made it to King’s Landing to save his father, but the girls were back with their mother. It was hard for him to focus on anything but Arya’s return, but he knew he needed to pay attention. The council had been making plans for his upcoming coronation, but now they were discussing potential threats to his newly won rule.
“Shouldn’t we be happy that the Iron Fleet hasn’t made to return to the North, or anywhere else in Westeros?” Theon Greyjoy, Master of Ships, said with a careless shrug. When it came to making the appointments for his small council, making Theon his Master of Ships had been the first and easiest decision for Robb. Theon had accepted the title with a grin, though he’d said Robb would have to find a replacement for him once he took his rightful place as heir to the Iron Islands. “My Uncle Victarion took the Fleet back to the Iron Islandswith him, and while he was gone, we took Moat Cailin back. They haven’t come back because they know we’d be ready for them this time.”
“It could be a good thing, I suppose,” Willas Tyrell, Robb’s Hand of the King, said diplomatically. Willas had not actually been Robb’s first choice as Hand. He’d wanted the Blackfish in that vital role at first, as the man had offered great counsel and guidance for Robb from the moment he’d left his post as Knight of the Gate and joined Robb’s cause. Ser Brynden had refused, however, saying that he was far more comfortable with a sword or spear in his hand and an enemy in front of him, as opposed to having to worry about knives in the back. He’d then accepted the post of Commander of the City Watch, which was more to his liking. Robb was happy to have a man he trusted with his life in that role. He could think of no man better suited to lead the gold cloaks.
With the Blackfish’s refusal to accept the role of Hand of the King, Robb had known he would need to turn to the Tyrells next. Loras and Garlan had fought beside the Blackfish and knew him to be a capable man, so Mace wouldn’t have been able to find much fault with Brynden as Hand of the King. There really hadn’t been any other options at hand that wouldn’t have risked offending the Tyrells, and on Margaery’s recommendation, he’d offered the position to her eldest brother before her father could make any not-so-subtle hints about wanting to be Hand himself. Thus far, Robb had been given no cause to regret that decision. Willas was polite and diplomatic, and also quite well-read and intelligent. He seemed like he would be an ideal man to handle the variety of tasks required of the Hand of the King, and with his sister as queen, Robb did not doubt his loyalty despite not having known him for long.
“A naïve man might feel relieved that his enemy has not returned for another fight,” Tyrion Lannister, Master of Coin, offered. “But a wise man can see that not knowing what your enemy is doing is a far more precarious position to be in. The Iron Fleet is formidable, and as old King Robert learned, the Greyjoys do not give up easily. If they’re not coming back, we need to know why, and what they’re planning.”
“Agreed,” Robb said, nodding. “I won’t believe that the Iron Islandsaren’t a threat until they come and surrender to me in person. And I don’t know that I’ll trust it even then.”
“I think that wise, Your Grace,” Varys agreed. After the role he’d played in helping Robb take the capital with much less struggle or bloodshed than he otherwise would have, keeping the Spider on as the Master of Whisperers made sense, however much the man’s demeanor might make Robb feel unsettled around him. “The Iron Islands are not the only matter of concern, however. There are also growing whispers about the last remaining Targaryen across the Narrow Sea, and her three dragons.”
Theon laughed. “Yes; sailors come and talk about dragons in the east, even though the last dragon died one hundred and fifty years ago. And the Night’s Watch writes to us about dead men coming back to life, and Old Nan back in Winterfell used to warn the Stark children that wildling women fucked the Others and gave birth to half-human children. Shall we bring Old Nan here and offer her a place on the small council as well, so she can warn the king about the next threat?”
Varys gave a partial smile and bowed his head. “The stories are implausible, I must agree,” he said. “I’ve also heard whispers of a kraken killing sailors in the Narrow Sea, and ice giants beyond the Wall. I merely share the whispers I’ve heard; the king and his advisors must decide what to make of them, if anything.”
“I wouldn’t mind seeing a dragon,” Tyrion said. “Though if Daenerys Targaryen does have a dragon or two, I wouldn’t imagine she would fly them back to King’s Landing so we could pet them. I can’t say I’m fond of the idea of a dragon mistaking me for a snack. Perhaps it’s better if they’re left in the past.”
“Setting rumors of dragons and krakens aside, there’s still the matter of Dorne,” Willas said. “They remained neutral throughout our war with Stannis.”
“Dorne itself remained out of the fighting, which I had no issue with,” Robb said. “Stannis needed their support far more than I did, so them not rallying to his cause was to our benefit. And even as they remained neutral, Princess Arianne arranged for my sister Sansa to escape from the capital before we attempted to take it and had her brought straight to me. I do not consider Dorne my enemy.”
“Nor do I,” Willas said calmly. “But we should not count them as an ally yet, either. Princess Arianne may have helped you get your sister back, but it is not Arianne who rules in Dorne. Prince Doran is still the one making decisions in Dorne, and until he acknowledges your claim on the throne, I believe we need to watch Dorne carefully.”
“Let us hope they are happy enough with the way things are,” Tyrion said quietly. Robb knew he was likely thinking of his niece Myrcella, who remained in Dorne as the betrothed of Prince Doran’s youngest child, Trystane. Robb knew that Dorne had refused when Stannis called for the girl to be turned over to him, and he was not going to ask for the same. The girl had been polite and sweet from Robb’s recollection of their brief time together in Winterfell, what felt like a lifetime ago now. Hopefully she was happy and safe in Dorne, and hopefully Robb not making the same demands that Stannis had when he sat the throne would make them view him more favorably.
“I will keep your words in mind, Willas,” Robb said. He knew that there was a history of enmity between the Tyrells and Martells, and obviously Willas’ injury had come at the Red Viper’s hands in a tourney. That might have had something to do with the word of caution against the Martells, but he didn’t make a bad point. Robb certainly felt warmly about Arianne Martell after she’d sent her cousin to help Sansa escape King’s Landing, but it was Doran rather than Arianne that he needed to watch.
“I suppose the coming coronation will be a good chance for us to see where Dorne stands, and whether they’re ready to recognize Robb as their king,” Tyrion said.
--
“I’m so glad you could join us, Alayaya,” Robb said, smiling as the beautiful prostitute joined him, Margaery and Dacey in the royal bedchamber. Dacey had been very interested in playing with Alayaya herself after Margaery had told her all about their encounter. But rather than going to the Street of Silk and returning to Chataya’s brothel, Robb had arranged for Alayaya to be escorted into the Red Keep by a couple of his guards.
“You aren’t nearly as glad as I am,” Dacey murmured, looking at Alayaya with clear interest. “You were not exaggerating about how beautiful she is, my queen. But is her skin truly as soft as you say?”
“Wouldn’t you much rather go undress her and answer that question for yourself, Dacey?” the queen suggested with a laugh. Her bare breasts brushed against Robb’s arm as she did, and he quite liked the feeling.
“That is a fine idea, yes,” Dacey said. She hopped up out of the bed, and since all three of them had gotten naked while they waited for Alayaya to arrive, Robb was able to admire Dacey’s firm arse walking away from him so she could greet the beautiful girl from Chataya’s brothel.
He saw Dacey take Alayaya into her arms, and the smaller girl smiled and leaned in for a kiss. Dacey quickly started groping her arse through her dress, but Robb only got to watch that for a few moments before Margaery decided to straddle his lap.
“Am I in the way, husband?” she asked, giving him a playful smile. She slowly rocked her hips, rubbing her arse against his cock.
Robb chuckled and reached up to rest his hands on her hips. “You’re welcome to climb on top of me whenever you wish, wife. The small council meetings would be far more pleasant if you came and used my lap as a chair.”
Margaery smirked and shook her head. “I believe your Master of Ships would be too distracted to give you good council, don’t you?” She reached down between her legs to grab his cock, which was quickly growing to full hardness.
“Likely the Master of Coin as well,” Robb said. He let out a little groan when his queen guided the tip of his cock against her cunt lips and started to wiggle against it. “And my Hand of the King and the Lord Commander of my Kingsguard might not be at their best either, though for an altogether different reason.”
“A word of advice, Robb,” Margaery said, wrinkling her nose. “Bringing any of my brothers up while we’re in bed together is not wise. Unless, of course, you bring them up because you’re trying to get out of fucking me. If that’s your aim, by all means, continue.”
“I understand.” Robb gave her a solemn nod. “They shall never come up again unless we are fully clothed.”
Margaery nodded, but before they could say anything else, they heard a very erotic moan from behind them. Margaery turned her body slightly to see it, and that allowed Robb to see as well. Dacey had already gotten Alayaya's dress off of her, and she wasn't wasting any time in playing with her. She was squeezing one pert arse cheek with her left hand, her right hand was busy rubbing between Alayaya's legs, and the taller woman was also sucking on a breast. The erotic sound had obviously come from Alayaya, who was running her hands through Dacey's dark hair and smiling with her eyes closed. It was a beautiful sight.
"Luckily for you, they've just put me right back in the mood," Margaery said. "However, I think I'm going to make a change so I can properly appreciate Dacey testing the softness of Alayaya's skin for herself." She turned around so her back was to Robb before sliding her hips down and taking him inside of her. She began to slowly rock on him, and Robb stretched his arms above his head and enjoyed himself.
No, he couldn't see what Dacey and Alayaya were up to like this. It sounded pretty exciting. He could hear Alayaya moaning and occasionally letting out a cute giggle, and he could imagine Dacey groping her, fingering her and toying with her. It would have been nice to be able to watch his strong bear from the North have her way with the gorgeous brothel girl, and he also would have enjoyed seeing his wife's breasts bouncing and the easy smile on her face as she showed him how much she loved moving around and feeling his cock inside of her. But Robb was quite happy with the view he had instead. He got to relax in his bed and watch his wife's sexy arse coming towards him and then moving away as she slowly rocked back and forth on him, and being able to admire that vantage point and feel her cunt sliding along his cock would have had him feeling fortunate even without hearing Dacey and Alayaya.
"You were right, my queen," Dacey said after a few minutes going on in this fashion. "She's so soft. I can't get enough of this arse." There was a giggle from Alayaya, and whether he could see it or not, Robb could easily imagine strong Dacey pawing at the sweet Summer Islander, pulling her body flush against her while she groped her arse in both hands. Imagining that while feeling Margaery's tight cunt sliding along his cock was a most enjoyable combination.
"You're taking up too much room on the bed," Dacey said. "You two can fuck anytime. Make room for us."
Margaery laughed. "Not many women would openly speak to the queen this way," she said, while continuing to rock on Robb's cock.
"You like me that way," Dacey said confidently. "Else you wouldn't keep inviting me back into your bed."
"I suppose I can't argue with that," Margaery agreed. "Very well, Dacey. Why don't you decide how we do this? The king has already planted his seed inside of me, so I don't need to worry about how we enjoy ourselves. I'll do as you say, within reason."
"Giving orders to the queen," Dacey said. "I like it. Then here's what we're going to do, Your Grace. You're going to get up and let me ride on Robb's cock, and lovely Alayaya here is going to sit on his face and enjoy the king's tongue on her while I kiss her and play with her some more."
Margaery stopped rocking on him. "And what will I be doing while the two of you are helping yourselves to my husband's cock and tongue, if I might be so bold as to ask?"
"Your duty will be to lick the king's balls," Dacey decreed. Some highborn women would have had Dacey flogged for something like that, to say nothing of a queen. Though he'd known her only briefly, Robb could imagine the fury that Queen Cersei would have felt if a woman had dared suggest that she put herself in such a position.
But not Margaery. "Very well," she said lightly, climbing off of Robb's cock. "I will tend to my duties, then." She crawled away from him on her hands and knees, and Robb smiled while he watched her arse wiggle. But before she made it into position between his legs, Dacey was there to take her place. She dropped down onto him, taking the entirety of his cock inside of her in one aggressive fall.
There was no surprise there, and no surprise when that first drop was followed by more aggression in the form of sharp, fast bounces. Dacey was horny, and she wanted to fuck him hard. When she felt like it, she had the strength to do it hard; harder than anyone he'd been with, really. He'd already been able to tell how this was going to go, and so he was unsurprised when she put her hands on his chest and slammed herself down on him with such zeal. Her arse smacked against his thighs repeatedly, and Dacey grunted with exertion and also satisfaction as she bounced away and fucked him like the she-bear she was.
Alayaya waited for Dacey to settle in, but once she had, she crawled towards Robb's head to assume her assigned position. She gave Robb a look, as if making sure that he had no problem with her sitting on his face, and he looked away from Dacey's bouncing breasts to give her a smile and a nod. Alayaya smiled back, and then his vision was consumed by her cunt as she straddled his head and sat down on his face.
Robb knew that he was not the first king to have paid a visit to the brothels along the Street of Silk. The secret passageway Chataya had shown him made it seem that he had not even been the first to bring a whore into the Red Keep. But he wondered how many of those kings had ever used their mouth on one of the girls from the brothel. Would any of them have let a girl like Alayaya sit on their face like this?
If they would have refused, they were fools. By getting on his back like this, Robb was able to enjoy Dacey Mormont's powerful fuck, and he also got to put his hands on Alayaya's soft arse cheeks and hold her in place while his tongue spiraled around and allowed him to taste her sweet cunt. Those tongue spirals also meant that he got to enjoy listening to the equally sweet sounds of Alayaya moaning in pleasure, at least until Dacey swallowed those moans up by kissing her, just as she'd said she was going to do. That probably meant she was groping her, too. She had to be helping herself to Alayaya's tits just as she was helping herself to Robb's cock, relishing her temporary position of power in the royal bedchamber.
The queen, meanwhile, was performing the decidedly unqueenly task of putting her head between his legs and licking his balls. Margaery carried out her task without a hint of shame, not that he had expected anything less. She was not a woman who was afraid to dirty herself in the bedchamber. It was only because of Margaery that Robb had been able to experience such an adventurous sex life. That she was not only playing along with Dacey's request but doing it with such vigor was no surprise to him. While Alayaya sat on his face and received the royal treatment from Robb's mouth on her cunt, his queen licked and kissed all over both of his balls like she was the brothel worker who was being paid to service him.
Robb Stark had a powerful woman slamming herself down onto his cock while she kissed and groped the lovely whore who'd come to join them in bed, and he got to find out for himself how much Alayaya liked having her clit liked. And throughout it all, he had his queen tonguing his balls and giving the base of his cock the occasional lick during the brief moments in between Dacey pulling up and dropping back down. How could he not let the pleasure get to him when it was coming from so many fronts?
Dacey seemed to know that he was close; either that, or Margaery had noticed and given her some kind of signal that he obviously couldn't see with Alayaya sitting on his face. Regardless, Dacey got off of his cock and crawled down his body, and she and Margaery started sucking on his cock together. It was difficult for him to tell whose mouth was whose and which tongue was batting his cockhead at any given moment, but either way, his queen and his bear finished him quickly. He exhaled into Alayaya's cunt and gave her pert arse cheeks a squeeze as he came, unsure of whose lips wrapped around his tip to swallow his load. Whoever it was, she pulled off halfway through so the other could take her place and swallow the second half of seed.
Robb was glad that they were willing to share, and even more glad that Margaery continued to invite other women to join them in bed. He was still getting used to living in King's Landing, but at least he could count on having fun nights in the bedchamber.
--
Loras clearly did not like the idea of leaving Robb alone and unguarded in the slightest, but Robb just nodded at him patiently. "Lord Reed stood beside my father against the Sword of the Morning and two other members of the Kingsguard," he said. "According to my father, he would have died that day were it not for Howland Reed. I will be perfectly safe alone with him, Lord Commander."
"As you say, Your Grace," Loras said reluctantly. He nodded his head and walked off, though he did glance back once or twice as if making sure he wasn’t needed. Once he was sure that they were alone in the garden, Robb turned to look at Howland Reed again. He'd retaken Moat Cailin from the Ironborn with the assistance of Howland and his crannogmen. He was a stout ally, but it was not common for the crannogmen to come south of the Neck. Robb was very curious about why Howland had come here to King's Landing to see him in person.
"We are alone, and outside the walls of the castle, as you requested," he said. "What is it that you wished to speak with me about, Lord Reed?" Could he be here to try and convince Robb to send Bran beyond the Wall, as his daughter Meera attempted to when they were in Moat Cailin? He doubted that would be it, as Howland had been quick to recognize the situation for what it was back then. He understood that it was simply not possible for him to agree to allow Bran to venture to the Wall, much less north of it, with everything that was happening.
"I'm here to talk about what happened in the Tower of Joy," Howland said.
"Truly?" That was a surprise to Robb. His father had talked of that day seldom, and when he had, he had not been willing to say much. "It is an interesting topic, I will admit, and I will gladly listen to whatever you have to say. But I have to say I'm surprised that you would come all the way here to discuss a battle from so long ago. With my father gone, you're the only one from the Tower of Joy still drawing breath."
The Lord of Greywater Watch gave a slight shake of his head. "That is not actually true," he said, which had Robb frowning. "And that is what brings me here, Your Grace."
"I'm afraid I don't understand," Robb admitted. The three members of the Kingsguard had died, and of his father's company of seven, only he and Howland had survived. This was not in dispute. Was Lord Reed still in his right mind?
"I don't know how much your father told you of that battle while he lived, but I assume you know at least a little," Howland said, to which Robb gave a nod. "Does anything strike you as odd about three members of the Kingsguard being there?"
Robb thought for a moment. At first, he was going to say that they had obviously been there to guard his Aunt Lyanna, who Rhaegar had been obsessed with. That was what had set the entire rebellion into motion, after all. But Howland would not have posed this question if the answer had been that simple. Robb thought hard on it, not just on the battle itself, but on when it had happened, and what the state of Westeros had been at the time. It had been after the Trident; after Rhaegar's death, after the Kingslayer had earned his dubious title by slaying the Mad King, and Robb's father had taken King's Landing. The king was dead, and so was his son. Rhaegar's wife and small children had been butchered by Gregor Clegane. There wasn't much left for the Kingsguard to protect, even if Lyanna Stark had been a captive rather than a princess.
But then Robb recalled Varys' whispers about Daenerys Targaryen and her dragons. "The queen still lived," he said finally. "So did Prince Viserys. And the queen was with child. The Kingsguard should have sought them when they fled to Dragonstone."
Howland nodded in approval. "But they were honoring their vows to the end. They did not abandon their sworn duty. They were exactly where they were meant to be." Robb frowned, not understanding why the Kingsguard would be sworn to protect Lyanna rather than Prince Viserys, the last remaining Targaryen male. "It wasn't Lyanna that they were protecting. She was with child."
Robb's eyes widened. "Rhaegar's child," he said quietly. It was not a question. Of course it was Rhaegar's child. He still didn't see how a child Rhaegar beget on Lyanna Stark, rather than his wife Princess Elia, could have been of greater priority to the Kingsguard than Viserys. But however Rhaegar had viewed the matter, Ser Arthur Dayne, Ser Gerold Hightower and Ser Oswell Whent had been at the Tower of Joyrather than at Dragonstone. That much was inarguable.
"Exactly," Howland said. "They gave their lives trying to protect Rhaegar's last child, and Lyanna gave her life trying to birth him."
That answered the question of how his Aunt Lyanna had died, then. That was one portion of the Tower of Joy Robb had never understood, and also something his father had refused to speak of. Apparently, he hadn't even spoken of it to Robb's mother.
"Did the child die in birth, then?" Robb asked, thinking about the futility of the entire situation. But surprisingly, Howland shook his head.
"No," the crannogman said. "He lived. And with her dying breaths, Lyanna pleaded with her brother to keep her son safe. Robert's grief at her death would have been matched only by his rage. He'd already killed Rhaegar, but had he known that a son of Rhaegar's yet lived, and a son birthed by Lyanna at that, the child would not have been safe in Westeros or beyond. She begged your father to hide him from Robert--to claim him as his own, and deny the truth of his birth to all, even to the babe himself, when he was old enough to ask."
Pieces were falling into place in Robb's head, and questions he hadn't been able to answer were finally being resolved. "Jon," he whispered. All this time, he'd thought Jon Snow was his bastard half-brother. But they weren't brothers at all. He had Stark blood, yes, but he had the blood of the dragons as well.
And what was Robb Stark, not just the man and the 'brother', but the king, to do with this truth now that it had been revealed to him?