the winter rose.

❝I only know she was the one thing I ever wanted. Someone took her away from me, and seven kingdoms couldn't fill the hole she left behind.❞ Lyanna Stark. Lady of Winterfell, with a touch of wolf blood.

[thewxlfmaiden-blog]

antlersandhammers

This was so unlike anything else he had experienced, it was a wonder he hadn’t done something spectacularly wrong yet, reading into things the way he did. But there she was, grinning at his words, saying she looked forward to the demonstration of his skill. More meaningful than that, though, were her next words, and he felt as if his heart might burst with fondness upon hearing them. When he had persistently asked for her hand, he had not hoped for anything such as this to form between them, and certainly not quickly. He had hoped, at the very least, he might ofter her a lifetime of friendship, of something less crude than what other lords might ask of a Northern lady, trying to tame her, take away her nature. He had not expected her to feel an ounce of the emotion he felt for her, though, but here they were. “I’m going to miss you, too,” he whispered, voice soft, as he moved a hand to her cheek, thumb brushing over soft skin lightly. “But I promise I shall write you as often as possible. You’ll get positively tired of my letters after a while. It won’t be long before I make another journey to Winterfell, though. Or perhaps we could convince your father to let you journey south to Storm’s End so that you can see the keep before it becomes your home.”

There was something to the way she said his name that made his chest fill with warmth. Perhaps it had something to do with the way he felt about her, but he was certain that now at least it had something to do with the way she seemed to be beginning to feel about him. They were both already growing together, feeling new things, experiencing each other, and he was already looking forward to more of it. For once, it wasn’t just about the physicality. He wanted to know her, every little bit of her, every secret, every memory, all that she would tell him. It made him feel guilty to think that he had never felt that way about anyone else he had desired, but then nothing had ever been this strong. This was much more than just desire, and he had known that for longer than was likely appropriate. It was why he had fought so hard for her hand, and it was why he was willing to do all he could to give her something just as meaningful. Marriage was a strange thing, the sort of thing he had never expected to come with love, but here he was now, and he hoped that he might give her a chance at that, too, despite what people thought about him.

When she kissed him back, he deepened it almost immediately. The agreement was in that kiss, but so was much more than just that. It was the promise of more, of everything he had promised, everything they were both dreaming of, and all that went beyond that. He wanted her, that was obvious, and he could tell the effect he was having on her, but it was more than just the physical desire. The combination of the honesty and emotions they had shared, with everything they were experiencing now was too much. Robert was already certain he would be thinking about this moment all throughout the night once he was left alone. His lips moved to her jaw, trailing a line of kisses to her neck, as she let out a moan that he was certain he could feel reverberate in his body. As if he needed any more encouragement, her words send a wave of heat through his body, a familiar sensation growing in the pit of his stomach. “I would love to make all of those dreams of yours a reality in time. But just you wait, my lady. This is only the beginning of the pleasure I’m going to give you,” he breathed, a grin in his voice, as he pressed harder, let his hands move down her body to her hips, nearly to her arse, gripping tightly, pulling her forward against him for more sensation for both of them.

It was such a strange reality to face, the fact that sooner rather than later Winterfell was no longer going to be her home. That was one of the things that she feared the most about the prospect of marriage. The North had always been a part of her - inside of her as much as her heart or her lungs were. There was no way that was ever going to change, it didn’t matter if she had to move all the way to the South and become the Lady of a different House. Lyanna was always going to be a Stark from Winterfell. Everyone knew that as much as she did, and perhaps this unmanageable nature was the reason she hadn’t had many suitors that weren’t from the North. In fact, Robert had been the first one - and the last one, by the looks of it. Next to him she didn’t feel as uncertain about her future any longer. He wasn’t here to tame her, or to strip Winterfell out of her. He enjoyed it. He liked the lady and the wolf equally, because he understood that was the only way to truly love her. So in return, she wasn’t as fearful of going away after her marriage as before - because she was confident she was always going to be herself; she was always going have the North in her heart, and Robert wasn’t going to try and change that. 

“Please do, milord. I have a feeling your letters are going to be an absolute delight. You must tell me everything about Storm’s End, about your hunting trips, and about your hammer training-”, she chuckled, kissing his lips briefly. “and perhaps you could even tell me things about your dreams. That shall definitely keep me entertained enough.” It surely was going to, because Lyanna was positive she wouldn’t be able to think or dream of anything else but him during his absence. It wasn’t even just about the physical aspect of their relationship, the intense desire they both seemed to have for each other and the new sensations Robert had awakened in her - it was about the fact that he saw her like no one else did; that he was willing to love her like no one else did; and she couldn’t think of anyone else she would rather have these experiences other than him. “I believe father is already planning a big feast in your honour for your return - but after that, I doubt he would deny me the pleasure of visiting my future home. I could even leave for Storm’s End by your side next time you come. Don’t you think that would be a nice gesture for your people? To see their Lord arrive hand by hand with his Lady?” 

It was strange to call herself that - his lady. Not that she felt much like a lady at that moment. Right now they might as well have been the son and daughter of some peasants; stealing some time between chores to be together. His kisses down her neck seemed to burn her skin in the most pleasant way, the feeling only intensified by his thigh moving against her. The heat building up inside her escalated by the second, and when he gripped her with both hands pulling her closer, a wave of intense pleasure told her it wasn’t going to be long before she reached whatever release her body was desperately looking for. His hardness was also growing. She could feel it pressing against her leg, and the realisation that she was the one provoking that reaction only stimulated her more. “Please, milord, keep going.”, she all but begged between moans; not really caring about how she was sounding like any longer. One of her hands moved towards his, taking it and guiding it up towards her chest. Without any hesitation, she let him cup one of her breasts like his fingers had been made to be there. “Touch me, Robert. Touch me so your hands won’t forget about the shape of my body while you’re gone.”

[thewxlfmaiden-blog]

antlersandhammers

“I’d rather spend my time speaking to you in private, just like this. Though, if I gave away my secrets, you would have nothing to look forward to. But I promise to offer you a full demonstration of my art eventually. When next we’re together, during the inevitable feasting, I’ll show you just what I meant. Half the fun of it comes without knowing when the moment shall strike. They say anticipation is half of desire, after all,” he grinned, explaining it all between kisses. That saying wasn’t actually something he had heard anyone say, but it was something he believed wholly, although rarely followed through on. He was an impatient man, full of vices and desire that he wanted satiated to find satisfaction in. But he knew the benefit of the anticipation, and he was learning just how true that was now with Lyanna. Stealing glances from across the room for the past week, the deliberate touches they shared, the time they spend surrounded by others supervising them, it had all made their desire grow for each other, that much was clear. The anticipation and the build up made it all that much more fantastic, he was learning. Already he was willing to go as slowly as Lyanna wanted, wanting to prove to her that he meant what he had said, that he really did respect her wishes, but it was also doing something to him, making him even crazier for her.

A fond smile spread across his lips at her words, and he brushed her cheeks gently with his thumbs. It send a wave of warmth over him, both full of desire and emotion, knowing that she had never felt this sort of thing for anyone else. He was glad that he could give her something new, that he could help her realize things about herself, see herself as a woman. He wanted her to know that he didn’t care that this was all new to her. He had meant what he said on their morning ride that he would be glad to be part of her firsts, if she was willing to be his seconds and thirds and so on. They were both experiencing things for the first time, and it was all going to be about learning each other, and what worked for both of them together. That thought was an exciting one, and not just because of the physical desire he had for her. “You’re already brilliant, Lyanna. And we’ll both get even better along the way, as we learn each other,” he said gently, before kissing her again, putting all of those feelings into it. It was soft and comforting and a confirmation of everything he had said and had not said. If he could ease some of her worries, help her feel comfortable, that would be enough.

Things weren’t all tender, though, as the kiss deepened again, and he pressed against her with more pressure, hoping to build things for her. She responded to his kiss in kind, rougher and messier, eager for the pleasure he gave her. He smiled into the kiss before she pulled back and moaned against his lips, as he kept the rhythm against her going. “A fair trade, it seems. Let’s see, where else to start? Well… I’ve dreamt of tasting you, running my tongue over the softness between your legs, tasting your wetness, showing you the pleasure I can give just with my mouth,” he breathed against her lips, before moving his lips down to her jaw, trailing kisses along skin. “But I’ve had other thoughts, as well, thoughts that I’m not sure I’m quite prepared to share for fear of overwhelming you, my lady.” There was a small laugh in his voice, that could have been mistaken for one of embarrassment to anyone who did not know Robert Baratheon. But it was mostly from amusement of having such a conversation with her, the unexpectedness of it despite all that they were sharing. His kisses were as hungry as his words, and he knew she would be able to tell.

That was Robert Baratheon for her; always cheeky, keeping her on her toes. There was something both fascinating and terrifying about the way he danced around her, like it was somehow just what she needed; what she had always wanted but had never known until now. Perhaps that was the reason her heart was so willing to surrender to him, to the promises he made, and the sweet words he whispered in her ear. Her mind was terrified though. She repeated those words she had said to Ned before Robert had arrived over and over again. Love can’t change someone’s nature, no matter how strong. Did she even believe that anymore? The rational part of her wanted to say she did, but she couldn’t deny she was so eager for him to prove her wrong. “Then I suppose I don’t have any other option but to wait until your next visit, and then you can show me your skills.”, she replied, smiling into the kisses he pressed on her lips while he explained. “I’m going to miss you.”, she added, voice lower all of a sudden, as if her confession was a secret. And perhaps it was, only meant for both their hearts to hear and nothing else. She thought of all the other people who had probably been in her place in the past, begging for him to come back to them, laying naked in bed. This was different though, wasn’t it? It had to be. 

There was more than passion to what they had, and that fact only became more obvious as Robert looked at her, eyes filled with fondness, and brushed his thumb against her cheek. He meant it. Everything he said - the fact that he was willing to change, to wait for her; that he wanted their marriage to be a real one and not something out of a political arrangement. Lyanna couldn’t quite explain how she knew it, but she was sure of it, she was sure of him. It was a wonderful feeling to have. Perhaps the happiness she had dreamed of as a little girl wasn’t that far away after all. Maybe all she needed was a little trust. She nodded at his words. “I’d like that very much, Robert.” Lyanna smiled, kissing him back. She was surely learning a lot about him, and herself as well - but wasn’t he learning as well? Wasn’t he discovering what she liked, how to treat her, how to wait? He was right, they were learning each other; and in that sense they were both equally inexperienced. 

The sensation of heat building up in the pit of her stomach was a familiar one. However, she had never felt it with such intensity. Every time his leg pressed against her centre, she felt shocks of pleasure washing over her body, escalating further and further, looking for some sort of release she didn’t quite understand. His words obviously didn’t help, and she suddenly didn’t feel in control of her brain anymore, imagining him doing just what he said - getting on his knees, slowly taking off her training trousers, and have his mouth move up to where his thigh was now. The thought alone caused her to close her eyes, another moan escaping her lips as he trailed kisses along her jaw. “I’ve dreamt about you too, milord.”, Lyanna said, voice shaky as she tilted her head to the side to give his lips better access to her neck. “At night when I’m all alone in my room, and Winterfell is asleep, I dream about you touching me; about your lips travelling down my neck to my breasts, about your hands playing between my legs.” A little whimper followed, as she arched her back and his leg against her caused even more friction. “But I must say, my dreams can’t be compared to the pleasure you’re giving me right now.”

[thewxlfmaiden-blog]

antlersandhammers

“Disrespect? Quite the contrary, my lady, I’m showing you a great deal of respect. But then, my definition of respect differs greatly from Ned’s, as I’m sure you’re well aware,” he laughed lightly, raising an eyebrow. Her eyes moved down to his lips briefly, and she bit her lip, causing him to press forward and bring their lips together for a second, his teeth scraping along her both lip after the kiss, mirroring her own movement. The thought of being caught, when put in that light, was a terrifying one. He did not think he could handle being supervised or apart from her until their marriage; not just because of the physical desire for her, but because of the emotional attachment they were already forming. He couldn’t bare the thought of not having the chance to keep building their private world, the honesty and truth they share, before their wedding. “No, I certainly couldn’t handle that. But the good news is that even if that were the case, I’m full of even more devious plans than this to steal private moments even in the face of such challenges. It’s an art, I’d say. Although I do not like to brag,” Robert shrugged, as if that was true. He was well aware that Lyanna knew he did like to brag, though; anyone who had heard of Robert Baratheon knew that was the case.

The tone of her voice changed, and a small frown fell over his features. He hoped that she didn’t truly wonder that, but it was clear from her words that she did. Roberts hands went to her face immediately, thumbs rubbing gentle circles over her soft skin, hoping to provide some reassurance. “Of course not, Lyanna. Why would I be bothered that we will have the chance to learn your body together? It is a privilege, to share it all with you, to build so much from scratch. And I will gladly go at whatever pace you wish to make certain everything is just what you’ve imagined and more,” he said, voice soft, gentle. When he kissed her again, it was gentler, but still equally as passionate, leading her closer and closer to that pleasure. He wanted her to know that his words were true, that he meant everything he said, and he would do just that. But he also wanted her to know that she could have whatever she wanted now, as little or as much as she wanted to experience.

“I have,” he hummed, moving his lips down her jaw, to her neck. “I’ve thought about you often and fondly. I’ve thought about what your body look likes unclothed, how it might fit perfectly against my own, skin touching skin as I kiss you deeply. I’ve thought about the pleasure I might bring you with my hand between your legs, even more than this,” he emphasized his words by pressing his leg forward between hers a little harder, more pressure against her. Robert’s lips moved back to hers again, tongue dancing against hers, tasting her, trying to memorize the feeling, the taste. As he did so he started moving his his leg against her again, a little faster, a little harder, already determined to give her a taste of that pleasure. He was well aware of his own growing problem pressed tightly against her leg as he moved, but decided not to make mention of it again. When he pulled back slightly from the kiss, his eyes were heavy, voice a little lower, “Should I tell you more of my dreams, my lady, or is that enough to paint a picture for you? I would hate to overstep my bounds.” His voice was full of amusement, knowing full well that they were already far beyond the bounds they should have been following in a courtship.

Lyanna rolled her eyes. It was definitely a good sign that despite both of them being practically consumed by desire right now, they were still able to banter like this. Robert might have been joking when he claimed he was showing her a great deal of respect, but it was in fact true. It meant he cared enough to talk to her, to make her laugh, ease her nervousness, even during a moment like this where he was so turned on. She appreciated, indeed. Any other man she knew - except for her brothers, but she preferred not to think of them right now - would have dismissed her with a casual comment and keep going at it, hoping she would allow them to keep breaking boundaries, taking their pleasure for themselves. Not Robert, though. Despite his reputation, he seemed to be fine with take this at whatever pace she chose to. She wasn’t sure this was just a trick to worm his way further into her heart, or if he was actually following through with his promise of showing her she could trust her. Whatever the answer was, she couldn’t deny it what he was doing was working. “Believe me-”, she started speaking between kisses. “I’m more than aware of that. And personally I must admit I’m quite glad that you’re not as respectful as he is. We would be forced to spend so many hours talking to mother and father if you were.” At his next remark, she raised an inquisitive eyebrow. “Of course you don’t like to brag. Perhaps you could teach me about this art you speak of, milord.”

She was all but ready to keep kissing, to continue to press her body flushed against his and feeling his leg teasing her centre like it had been before. However, when his hands went to her face, Lyanna was suddenly speechless. “I don’t-” It was difficult, to suddenly share all of this with him, but the reassuring look in his eyes encouraged her to. “I’ve never imagined anything. I had never really given it a thought until you came. You’re the first man who has created that kind of desire within me, and I’m not sure how to proceed. I- I can’t assure you I’m going to be very good at it.” Not as good as the people you’ve been with before, she wanted to add; but she imagined that was enough self depreciation for now. It was obvious Robert understood what she was getting at. His next kiss was comforting in ways she hadn’t imagined. Out of all people, she would have never thought Robert Baratheon was even capable of kissing like that. His lips and his tongue were tender, but passionate, providing all the confidence she needed. It was perhaps that confidence that made her grow even bolder and not take a step back at his next words. 

“It’s good to hear that I occupy your mind so mu-”, she couldn’t finish the sentence, because a moan escaped her mouth once she felt the new pressure between her legs, a shock of pleasure practically exploding inside of her. That only caused her to respond to his kiss even rougher than before, almost too eager. A very obvious hardness was pressing against her leg as well, but she truly didn’t mind. Under different circumstances she would have been intimidated, even scared - but right now it only helped turning her on even further. As they devoured each other, his movements became faster, rhythmic, so much that she had to pull back just to moan against his lips. “Quite the contrary, milord.”, she whispered close to him, her voice breathless and shaky, seemingly sent into a frenzy. “I would like to know everything about your dreams. And perhaps after that I could tell you about mine.”

[thewxlfmaiden-blog]

antlersandhammers

As the laugh bubbled up from her lips, Robert couldn’t help but smile back at her. It was a pure sound of joy and happiness, and being able to draw a noise like that from her felt important, the sort of thing that was shared usually with the closest of family and friends. It was just another testament to how quickly things were growing between them. He had felt much for her for a long time now, but there had never been any guarantee that she would be able to feel any of it for him. At the worst, he had been expecting a betrothal that was friendly, but not much more; at least their families were close, and they got along well enough on there own, which was more than could be said for many marriage arrangements. But already things were moving beyond that into something more more like what he’d dreamed could be between them. Even now, he was intent on doing everything he could to try to help this grow, and prove to her that he meant everything he said, he would keep his promises. It wouldn’t be an easy path, but it was one he was determined to take, given all that he felt for her.

Now it was her turn to draw laughter from his lips, the sound brewing up from deep in his belly as it always did, a full and rich sound. “Aye, I swear not to tell. No one shall know just how grandly we’re getting along; that would only lead to them keeping us apart. Can you imagine what Ned would say if he knew?” Robert shook his head slightly, laughing. Her lips caught his again in a passionate kiss, and he responded in kind immediately, smiling into the kiss, more proof of everything he felt for her. It was exciting, for more than one reason, to find themselves so comfortable with each other already. It was exciting for the obvious reasons, of course, being able to be close to her, to kiss her, but more than that it was for what it meant for their future. If this was how things were beginning, he could hardly think of how they would continue, built on a foundation of joy and happiness that went beyond simple physical desire. It wasn’t something he was used to having, but it was something he was eager to follow through.

“That’s alright, my lady, we’ll figure out exactly what you like in time. There is no rush in this,” he said with a little smile. The kisses only grew in intensity as they connected again, and his leg moved against her, giving them both that pleasurable pressure. The moans that the feeling elicited from her were absolutely beautiful, and he wanted to bottle the noise to hear when he was back in the South again, awaiting their next time together. He laughed slightly as the realization dawned on her of what he was referring to. The blush that spread across her cheeks was endearing, and it also reminded him just how new to all of this she was. He was surprised to hear her say that she didn’t mind, though. For someone as green as her, he had been worried it might be a bit intimidating, or embarrassing, but she was Lyanna Stark, she was bold, adventurous, and apparently she wanted to give him the same sort of pleasure he wanted to give her. That thought alone was enough to awaken that feeling of intense lust in the pit of his stomach. “Well, you give me pleasure just as you are, to be quite honest. I’ve thought of you every night since our morning in the godswood, my lady,” he muttered as he trailed the kisses down her jaw to her neck, one hand on the other side of her neck, fingers dancing in her hair.

Admittedly, the last thing Lyanna wanted to think of while in this situation was her older brother. Nonetheless, she had to give it to Robert, the idea of imagining how Ned would react if he knew of this was hilarious. Not that her brother didn’t support their union - the gods knew he was the first one who had done that - but she knew for certain he was still very much convinced Lyanna was still completely opposed to the idea of marrying the Baratheon lord. The only one of her brothers who could probably pick something up, would be Brandon - because even though Ned was definitely her best friend, at times she suspected Brandon knew her better than she knew herself. She wasn’t worried about that, though. She was sure her oldest brother wouldn’t judge her, or even try to stop it. Their parents had always said that Brandon and herself shared the wolf blood, that they were the wildest Starks in Winterfell, and they were absolutely right. Brandon knew about passion, about feeling everything intensely like she did, and he would never dare to extinguish her fire - only, perhaps, to pass on a little wisdom onto her if he did find out. 

“Ned would probably faint. And then he would try to spar with you, to show you that it’s unwise to disrespect his little sister.”, Lyanna chuckled. If it was entirely up to her, there would be much more disrespect going on right now. “And then, he would obviously tell father, and we all know father would tell mother, and that would be the end of our little adventures.” She tilted her head, her gaze going to his mouth briefly, causing her to bite down her bottom lip. “Can you imagine? We wouldn’t be alone ever again, until our wedding night.” She shrugged. “I reckon I could handle it, but something tells me you wouldn’t be able to.” It was a lie, of course, a very obvious one. As if she hadn’t been as desperate as him to be alone in the first place. However, that didn’t mean she had to admit that. After all, he had been the one to think of this plan; and it always felt good to keep Robert on his toes - to show him that she wasn’t the delicate northern beauty people often hoped she could be.

“There isn’t?”, she asked, voice soft. There were no traces of teasing any longer. “Aren’t you bothered by it? Wouldn’t you prefer to wed a lady with- uhm- a little more experience perhaps?” It was an odd question to pose, given that most lords preferred virgins. Nonetheless, something told her Robert didn’t really mind; that he would have had her, regardless of her purity. Their lips reconnected, and so did their bodies, his leg teasing her once more. Again, Lyanna couldn’t help but let a little whimper escape her lips. She wasn’t embarrassed any longer, though. She just allowed the sounds to be swallowed by their kisses like before, the waves of pleasure inside of her building up like never before. This wasn’t a ride in the woods. They were alone now, with no one to interrupt them. Their only enemy was time, but they had plenty of it still. “You have?”, she replied breathlessly, tilting her head to allow her lips better access to her ivory skin. “What have you thought about? Tell me milord, what do you imagine we do when you’re alone at night?”

[thewxlfmaiden-blog]

antlersandhammers

Her words along with the way she leaned up and rubbed her nose against his playfully elicited a genuine giggle from his lips. It was cute, and it certainly wasn’t something he had ever had done to him during an encounter like this. In fact, he couldn’t remember the last time someone had treated him with such playfullness. It made him realize, again, just how much he had been missing being with so many people who he didn’t have such strong feelings for. He grinned back at her, and raised a finger to tap her nose gently once she pulled back slightly. “Perhaps unfair, but nefarious? Can a plan be nefarious when both parties enjoy the rewards so intensely?” he grinned. It was a testament to their dynamic that they were able to tease, and be so affectionate while in such an intense moment. It was as new of an experience to him as it must have been to her, but he was infinitely glad of it. Glad that Lyanna was there with him, glad that they were building this relationship, starting things better than he might’ve imagined.

As he pressed his thigh forward, putting a bit of pressure between her legs, he could feel her reaction, they way she clung to him a little tighter, as if she might fall down. The moan that escaped her mouth was much more than even any of the little noises she had made before, and he knew immediately that he was finding what she liked. It felt a lot like the noise went through his body, straight to his own sex, a dangerous amount of desire starting to awaken just form her sound alone. This had to be the first time someone else had touched her like that, and he was glad to be the first, wanted to make certain she enjoyed herself, as far as she wanted to take this all for now. He had to wonder if she had even ever given herself this sort of pleasure, what she got up to in the darkest hours of the night, alone in her bed chambers. That thought was enough to send his thoughts wild. “Don’t apologize, your moans are heavenly. I’m glad it felt good, I want to know everything that you like,” he muttered against her lips, grin clear in his voice. 

One hand travelled up to her neck, fingers swirling patterns over her skin. Robert looked at her for a long second, a fond smile on his lips, before finally bringing his lips back to her, immediately kissing her deeply again, tongue reaching forward to taste her. As he did so, he pressed his leg forward again, giving the same pressure, perhaps a little harder, before moving back again. Finding a sort of slow rhythm in an attempt to give her a better taste of the sort of pleasure that was out there. It did mean, though, that he had his own amount of pressure from her thigh, pressing in just the right place. He knew that there were certain reactions even he couldn’t stop, and he had no intention of scaring her or seeming as if he was trying to push her further just from his body’s reaction. So he pulled back slightly, to issue a warning of sorts. “If you feel…something, I apologize, my lady. You bring me as much joy as I wish to bring you. But I promise it is nothing you should worry about,” Robert said with a little laugh, voice low and husky, as he started a line of kisses along her jaw.

Lyanna giggled, wrinkling her nose as he touched it. It was an unapologetic laugh, one she only shared with her family; but wasn’t that what Robert was? Or at least what he was quickly becoming. He was a brother already in the eyes of Ned, and perhaps Brandon as well. However, to her he was much much more. The fact that she was able to laugh like this with him, to act playful, even in a situation like the one they were in; only proved that further. Even though she knew nothing of love, or what it was supposed to feel like, she could sense how deep and quick she was falling for him, and how huge the disappointment was going to be if he ended up breaking the promises they had made the last time they had kissed. She didn’t want to think of that particular bit, though. Her reckless nature made her keep enjoying this, this moment alone they had managed to get, without worrying about what could happen in the future. Only the gods knew that, and they were surely not planning on telling her anything. 

“All right, milord, I’ll give you unfair.”, she replied, her smile still clear both on her face and in her voice. “I can’t deny I’m enjoying your company as much as you’re enjoying mine. I’m afraid this will have to stay a secret, though. What are we going to do if my parents find out I might be actually starting to like you?” The teasing was obvious, but just in case he needed more clarification, she kissed him once again, passionately, but briefly. Was this it? What lovers did when they were alone? Was it always going to feel like this? Butterflies fluttering inside her stomach, knees feeling weak, the smile that she just couldn’t erase from her lips, the need for his hands on her body that didn’t seem to subside - was that how her future would be after they got married? If the answer was yes, then she definitely couldn’t wait. Lyanna was more than eager to tackle a new adventure, to explore what it was like to be treated as a woman in other senses than the one she knew, to allow herself to be adored - as much as Robert constantly said he wanted to. It was terrifying, she wasn’t going to deny that; but there was no doubt that if he opened his heart to her, she was going to be completely his. 

Her body was, apparently, if the sound she has made gave any indication. She blushed even more at his comment. “Thank you. I-I can’t say. I don’t know what I like.” It was the truth. She hasn’t really read about or even less tried many things to have a preference. Somehow his next kiss was even more intoxicating than the other; or perhaps it was the fact that now she was being moved by urgency and desire. This time, when his leg pressed against her once more, the moan was louder - the shock of pleasure stronger, but she didn’t stop kissing him. However, he was the one to pull back this time and she was about to ask what was wrong when he gave his warning. “What do you mean if I feel - oh.” Her cheeks went bright red again. “Don’t worry milord. I am inexperienced but I know enough about men to know that.” She stayed silent for a moment, closing her eyes and enjoying the feeling of his lips on her jaw. “But I don’t mind. I- I want to give you pleasure too.”

[thewxlfmaiden-blog]

antlersandhammers

Every single moment spent with Lyanna was something exciting and new, and this was just the same. It was something he was infinitely grateful for, being able to feel something he never could have imagined he would feel, and for someone who had the potential to feel the same for him in return. It was an energizing feeling to have so much to fight for, to want to become more than he was because she believed he could be just that, so that he could see the fond smile she gave him when she looked upon him. He grinned at her words, knowing she meant them without even having to ask. There was no way that Lyanna would start mincing her words now, which was just one of the many things he loved about her; he could always be confident that she would say exactly what she meant, leaving much less room for him to make a misstep. Her confidence and assertiveness was mesmerizing to him, perhaps even more so in a moment such as this. That thought was written on his face, in the twinkle of his eyes as he looked back at her, before finally bringing their lips together again.

Her movements became bolder more quickly this time, responding to the deepening of the kiss in kind, tongue tangling with his, tasting him in just the way he tasted her. Her body pressed even closer to his, and he was acutely aware of the desire already brewing in the pit of his stomach, threatening to show itself soon enough. The response he received when he tangled his hand in her hair a little less gently only urged that pleasure forward. There was something so delicious about her unintentional noises, the little gasp she let out against his lips, the way her hips moved forward, all but pressing against his as well. Nothing that he had felt before was quite so intense, quite so tempting as this, and he wanted more, especially as her teeth caught his lip, tongue then soothing over the sensitive spot, sending a shock of pleasure through his body that caused him to let out a little noise as well. “Mm, certainly not. I’m afraid no other surrender will ever quite be the same after this one,” he hummed, voice thick with desire. 

Robert shifted slightly as he kissed her again, hungrily, hand still tangled in her hair, pulling the strands gently, knowing she liked it. If she liked that, he had a feeling she would enjoy what he wanted next. Their bodies were pressed so dreadfully close, and even despite the clothes, it was still sinfully beautiful. Funny how Lyanna was able to cause such a response in him from so much less than he was used to, and yet here he was, never having felt a desire quite like this before. Her boldness gave him permission for the same, to test the waters, push the boundaries, confident that he would know the limit, that he would be able to tell when things needed to stop. For now, though, the last thing he was thinking of was stopping anytime soon. Instead, he was thinking of more contact. As he shifted, he pressed his knee forward between her own, looking for space, thigh pressing between her legs gently, tentatively, a little pressure in just the right place.

“I don’t think your terms of surrender were very fair now that I’m aware of your nefarious plan to bring me here.”, Lyanna added, looking up at him and rubbing the tip of her nose against his playfully. Anyone who witnessed what was happening could believe the gesture was to cute, childish even; but this wasn’t only about the burning desire that they both obviously felt for each other, it was about intimacy. It was about a connection she needed to have if she was going to allow things to go further - and at the moment she was way too tempted to follow her instincts and just let go. Being with her was all of that, and more. It was kisses, bodies pressed together and soft moans, but also sparring, fast rides thought the woods, giggles, snowball fights, and noses rubbing against each other cheekily. She didn’t know if Robert wanted that. He said to love her, that was true, but sometimes it seemed he only loved a part of her; the Winterfell wolf that everyone talked about, the northern beauty. Lyanna wanted - needed - him to learn to love all of her if she was going to give him her heart in return, not just her body. 

As inexperienced as she was, she knew having sex with Robert would be easy enough. She only needed to ask. He would probably be really gentle and sweet, treat her right, make every single fantasy of her come true; and then keep the secret so her reputation wouldn’t be ruined. She knew of countless ladies who weren’t untouched any longer, and no one had found out. If she wanted just that, just getting sex out of the way to see how it was; getting it wasn’t a problem. She didn’t, though. Lyanna needed more. This was the man she was going to marry, and she had to be sure their union was going to be more than mutual desire and a family arrangement. She wanted him to love the beauty, the wolf, the iron, the stubborn girl that didn’t know how to flirt or to tease; and the woman who was kissing him now, one of her hands touching his jaw and the other clinging onto him like there was no tomorrow. That was the only way she was ever going to get happiness as a wife. 

He shifted slightly, but kept kissing her; and she wasn’t going to complain. Lyanna had never felt quite like this before. Yes, she had touched herself a couple of times, alone at night inside her chambers. However, this was completely different. The warmth, that shocks of pleasure in the pit of her stomach, the strange feeling of something building up inside of her, waiting for an eventual release; that was all new, and she wanted to see where it ended. Fortunately Robert was there to guide her. His thigh suddenly put some pressure between her legs, and she felt her knees waken. This time it wasn’t a small gasp that escaped her mouth, but a proper moan. She pulled back slightly, flustered at herself due to the sound she had just so casually let out. “I’m sorry. That felt- it felt good. You can keep doing that.”, she whispered against his lips, cheeks flushed, but a smile painted on her face. 

[thewxlfmaiden-blog]

antlersandhammers

Slowing everything down a bit just made his desire for her more intense. It wasn’t something he was used to doing at all, but he was finding that he enjoyed it just as much as the fast-paced frantic movements he often experienced when in a situation such as this, perhaps even more so. More so because of Lyanna. Everything was just more perfect, more enticing when it was Lyanna who he was doing it with, just another reason he knew that her feelings for her were unlike anything he had felt for any other person before. It was amazing the way so little could make him feel so much now that he had found the right person. It nearly made him regret his years of promiscuity, knowing that this was what he had been missing out on the whole time. But there was no time for regret now, not when he and Lyanna were finally alone, and he wasn’t certain when they would be again next.

He could feel her growing bolder under his touch in the way she pressed closer to him intensely. He pulled back, sizing her up, trying to ascertain if she realized just what she was saying. There was a difference between other men not holding back, and Robert Baratheon not holding back, and even if Lyanna had an inkling of that, there was no way for her to truly know just how far he could let himself go with that sort of permission. But this was with Lyanna, this wasn’t with some completely random maiden he had picked out at a feast with purely lustful intentions. Things were different with Lyanna. He wanted her to have what she wanted. No longer were his thoughts purely about what he wanted. And if that meant waiting until their marriage bed to fully express his desire for her, then he would gladly wait. For now, though, her permission was enough to cause a sly smirk to fly across his lips, devious thoughts in his head. “I hope you do not regret accepting my surrender in such a way, my lady,” he hummed, voice low, looking at her through heavily lidded eyes. He doubted she would, just considering how she had responded to this kiss, how she had responded to everything they had done on that ride those days ago.

When he pressed his lips to hers again, he held her closer, bodies pressed together in the tight space of the shed, craving the feeling that he had had when she had landed atop of him during their spar. It only took a few seconds, giving her a chance to get used to the intimacy again, before he deepened the kiss, tongue pressing forward asking for entrance to taste her. One of his hands moved to her loose hair, first running gently through the silky smooth strands, savoring the feeling. It was a testament to his feelings towards her that one of his thoughts in that moment was how much he would love to just play with her hair. To brush it after she got out of the bath, to braid it before she slept, to show her some of the Southern styles he had learned jokingly with Ned at the Eryie. The thought made him smile into the kiss, even as he deepened it, even as he tangled his fingers in her hair a little less gently, testing the waters to see how she would respond to that sort of thing. It was all so exciting in a way he wasn’t used to. It was so new to her that it felt new to him; and it was, after all. Everything felt like a first with Lyanna, and it was exhilarating in a way he could hardly describe.

Even now, after she had given him permission to do whatever he wanted, to stop holding back; Robert seemed to be especially interested in making sure she was certain of every single step they were taking. It filled her with gratitude, and another thing she couldn’t quite find the words for. Lyanna didn’t know what love was supposed to feel like. Of course she loved her family, her brothers, her friends, her ladies, her septa, and her home - but this was different. The love one felt for a husband was nothing like the one felt for a friend, or a brother. Romantic love, she didn’t know. She did wonder if that was what she was beginning to experience for Robert. The way her face just lit up whenever she thought of him, how she wanted to be around him constantly, alone with him if possible. Even now, how she couldn’t help but smile fondly at him when he pulled back, silently making sure she was all right with everything that was happening between them. 

Her mother had always told her that love didn’t come fast, and that would happen to her as well. That it was way better to build a strong bond slower, than a fleeting thing in a rush. However, that couldn’t explain the emotions she was experiencing right now. This didn’t feel fleeting. Everything that Robert promised, how he seemed to confide in her, to be eager to prove himself to her; it felt strong, however fast it could be. Perhaps her mother had overlooked the fact that love could come in many ways; not just how it had happened to her. Lyanna couldn’t know for sure, not until she found an explanation for how she was feeling now. There was going to be plenty of time to think about that on her own, though; because right now all that could fit in her mind was the way Robert was kissing her. “I most certainly do not regret it. I meant every word I said, and I’m eager to fulfil my promise now.”

This time, she didn’t take any time in responding. It seemed like both her lips and her body were getting more and more used to his by the second, and that caused them to be exponentially bolder with their movements. She welcomed his tongue, deepening the kiss as much as he had done, with renewed intensity. Her body pressed even closer against his as his hand went to her hair. She realised she was extremely aware of every inch of him, and that somehow made her desire him even more. It wasn’t until he tangled his fingers in her hair, less gently, pretty much like she had done that morning during their ride; that she felt the heat in the pit of her stomach again. That shock of pleasure she had felt before. She couldn’t help but let a small gasp escape into the kiss, her hips jerking forward almost involuntarily. All of a sudden she felt hot, and not even the cruellest winter could have soothed her. Her teeth caught his bottom lip, and she pulled from it before running her tongue over the sensitive spot. “I hope you’re not regretting surrendering, milord.”

[thewxlfmaiden-blog]

antlersandhammers

Perhaps it was a bit cruel to have planned it all out as such without so much as giving Lyanna a hint of his ulterior motives with their spar, but he knew that if he had made it known to anyone, somehow word would have gotten back to Ned or Brandon or even Lord Stark, and any chance at spending time alone with her again until after their marriage would have been dashed. There were ears and eyes everywhere after all. And so he had kept it a secret, only now that the spar was over revealing his intentions. He thought that she wanted the same as him, after all. The spar had been a genuine thing, another way for him to show her that he was listening, that he was intent on doing everything he could to keep his promises to her. But it had also been the perfect way to grant them a little more time together before he left again, and he wanted that just as much as he wanted to prove himself to her. Another chance to build that trust, and perhaps to share a few more kisses to keep them both satisfied until they saw each other next. It was something he knew they both wanted, just from the glances they had been exchanging across rooms since the morning ride.

For now, he wanted to spend every moment he could with her, showing her that that moment in the godswood hadn’t been just a fluke, that he meant what he said, his words all truthful, as well as his desire for her. He had found, after all, that the love he felt in his heart was simply growing with each passing moment he spent near her, even when they weren’t speaking. Of course, that love was mixed with desire, and he had never been very good at ignoring that sort of feeling, especially when he knew that there was no relief in sight. Which was part of the reason he was so intent on making it to the shed without even looking back at her, knowing the moment he glanced at her, saw her beautiful hair again, the way her training clothes clung to her curves, he wouldn’t be able to stop himself. He had been dreaming of kissing her again, feeling her body under his fingertips every night since the woods, and now he was about to have what they both so desperately wanted. It was only a short walk to the shed, but it felt like a small eternity after being pressed so close to her body just minutes ago on the ground, every ounce of desire intensified by a thousandfold.

He could tell that she was suddenly nervous as he followed her into the small shed. The confidence with which she had taken him down, made him surrender, even the confidence with which she had stepped into the shed had fallen back into something a little more reserved. Luckily enough, he was more than happy to take the reins in this situation. He may have been the one to surrender, but they were both the victors in this battle. “I much prefer the woods, too, but I suppose beggar’s can’t be choosers,” he hummed, as he followed her inside, closing the door behind them just in case. It was smaller than it had looked once there were two people inside, Lyanna already all but pressed up against the wall just as he moved into the shed. But he didn’t mind, just more of an excuse for them to be close to each other. “Now, I do think we need to seal those terms of surrender, yes?” he asked, voice quiet, as he closed the space between them, his hands gently moving to her hips. Robert didn’t wait another second before bringing his lips to hers, the kiss gentle, a little tentative, to make certain this was still what she wanted here now, no matter how much he wanted to kiss her harder than he’d ever kissed someone before.

The flirting had been fine for a while. Lyanna had enjoyed playing the part of the bold one, challenging as much as he was challenging her, pretending she had any idea what she was doing. It was nice to act like that once in a while, to see how surprised he had been that she was willing to play this little game only they knew about. However, that had ended, and they were alone now. She knew what was coming, and even though she wanted it more than anything now, she couldn’t help to remember how inexperienced she was compared to him. Ned didn’t need to warn her for her to realise Robert had met many chambers, beds, and bodies. He didn’t have to tell her how much of an expert he was, how easily he could turn her on with a couple of simple touches; she already knew that, and she wasn’t worried about the fact that he was most likely going to drive her crazy. Her lack of practice, however, was enough to make her nervous right now. 

There was a downside to always having been uninterested in flirting and courtship, and that was that she hadn’t even had the opportunity to be treated like a real woman. Lyanna had always been the rebel girl, the one that everyone saw as one of the Stark brothers. Many people in Winterfell even said she was more horse than woman. No one had looked at her with desire in their eyes until Robert had come along; not even the son of the butcher who she had shared a couple chaste kisses with. Now that this was definitely happening, that it wasn’t a game any longer, she wasn’t sure of what to do. She didn’t know where to start, or if she should start at all. She had no idea how far she wanted to go. Should she listen to her mother and protect her reputation fiercely, or should she go with her instincts and let her feelings guide her? Remembering their previous ride through the godswood something in the back of her mind told her it was a little too late to put her desires back where they had been guarded all these years. 

His gentle hands on her hips were a relief. Robert seemed to realise how unsure she was feeling, and he didn’t seem to mind taking things slow until she could catch up with him. It was yet another proof of trust, and perhaps love, and it made her heart flutter in a way only he had discovered how to cause. “We do, milord. I accept your surrender.”, she said, voice as quiet as his was before his lips were on hers. The kiss was tender, and slow; yet another sign Robert was silently asking for permission to move things forward. This gesture alone made her feel bolder than before, as if her inexperience didn’t matter that much. It took her a second to wrap her arms around his neck, deepening the kiss and pressing her body against his; pretty much like before, but this time it was clearly with a different intention. The intensity of her movements increased before pulling back slightly, eyes still closed, lips hovering over his. “It’s fine, milord. You don’t need to hold back. I don’t want you to.”

[thewxlfmaiden-blog]

antlersandhammers

If he hadn’t been so thoroughly distracted by her body on his, he would have been very impressed with how well she was playing the game he had set forth. She had seemed, by all accounts, someone who didn’t revel in this sort of thing quite like other ladies did, like he did. And that had been fine to him; he would’ve been happy to continue his jesting and flirtations without knowing she would be inclined to do so back at him. But here she was, proving him and everyone else who thought they knew her wrong. He was more pleased than he could say that she felt the desire to do so with him, when it was something he knew she had had no desire for in the past with others. It was just one of the many ways that she was surprising him in the best of ways. They both brought out things in the other that neither of them had considered possible, and he was more than a little excited to see what surprises were in store for them next. For now, though, he was more than a little focused on getting their terms of surrender worked out properly.

The grin on his lips only widened as she finally lowered her sword, her smile still in place. He laughed a hardy laugh as he rose himself, trying to brush some of the dirt from his back, although he knew the effort was likely fruitless. By the time he looked back at her, though, he was loosening the braid she had had in her hair, letting the long waves of dark hair fall over her shoulders, down her back, such a beautiful sight as he had ever seen. Suddenly he was somehow even more distracted than he had been before, if that was even possible. The talk of her reward and him sealing the deal they had made just upped that feelings even more so, to the point where he was having trouble doing much but looking her over with that same grin on his lips. “Of course, my lady. That sort of reward would be better served in private. Luckily for both of us, I know of just the place,” he said, tilting his head as he looked back at her.

He sheathed his sword, considering for a second taking her hand and leading her along to the little supply shed he had scoped out. They were much too out in the open, though, and there was too much of a risk that anyone could walk by and see them, or even be watching from above. So instead, he just gave her a deep bow, before turning and starting off toward the place that housed all of the training gear and wooden swords, knowing she would follow close behind him soon enough. Robert focused on weaving through the yard set up for training, down the covered stalls to the closet, knowing that if he turned around and looked at Lyanna, he was going to have to kiss her. It was amazing how even now, just a few seconds without looking at her, the urge was so intense, as he thought about the way her hair had flowed down her back, the way her smile lit up her face, everything about her. The walk to the designated place he had scoped out was quick, though, and when he got to the door, he glanced around to make certain they were alone, before opening it and gesturing for her to come inside. “I’m afraid you’ll have to take your reward in a shed my lady,” Robert smirked.

Of course he knew just the place. It was almost painfully obvious now that Robert had known exactly what he was doing since the beginning. Lyanna was certain winning the sparring had been her achievement, though. If she knew him at all, she knew that he was much too proud to go easy on her on purpose, no matter how much he wanted to charm her dress off. It was a relief, because it meant he had listened when she had asked him not to let her win. It was another brick on top of the wall of trust they were slowly building between each other, the silent promise they had made that morning in the woods to be honest, and to give their relationship a real try. He wanted her heart, she wanted his loyalty; and she felt this was just another step towards the right direction. The prospect of spending time alone and kissing again obviously helped, but it was about much more than that now - it was about their future together, the very fate of their marriage. 

So Lyanna didn’t really mind that Robert seemed to have it all planned since the beginning, because she was certain he had done it in good faith. He had immediately realised that was what she wanted as well, and acted accordingly. In all honesty, she couldn’t really blame him, give how easily anyone would have been able to see her desire for him in her eyes. It was a good thing neither Ned nor Brandon had expressed their wish to attend the sparring and see how their sister was doing, because the tension between them both was more than evident. Ned was most likely going to be shocked by it, while Brandon would be more on the amused side, but he would have still called her inside the keep and probably warn her about her reputation and remind her of the fact that Robert and her weren’t married yet. As if she wasn’t aware of that, as if the sole idea of marriage didn’t make her stomach drop. Even though she was slowly warming up to her future husband, the thought of being tied up for life still sent shivers of fear and uncertainty down her spine. 

Still, she decided to push those things out of her mind. There was going to be plenty of time to worry about that, especially when Robert left and she found herself all alone again, her mother waiting eagerly for his next visit and insisting on supervising all the preparations. Now she focused on following him closely, laughing softly to herself at the way he seemed so determined not to look back, how his hands curled into fists and his jaw clenched as he walked firmly towards their destination, whatever that was. He was the picture of forced self restraint, and it was extremely amusing. They finally reached the place and Lyanna recognised it immediately. It was an old shed that served as storage for old weaponry and armour. No one really used it any longer, or at least no member of the Stark family; and honestly she had no clue how Robert had even found it, but it seemed like a blessing that he had. They were surely not going to be disturbed in there. She nodded slightly. “I have to be honest milord, I vastly prefer the woods, but I know this situation requires a more private place, so this shed will do perfectly.” Stepping firmly, she walked inside. There wasn’t much room in there, and her back hit a wall after a couple of steps. She shifted a bit nervously, waiting for him to make the first move. 

[thewxlfmaiden-blog]

antlersandhammers

As she looked down at him, he could tell that she wanted exactly what he did. Yes, her goal had been to win the spar, to best him and come out on top, even if she hadn’t meant it so literally as what was happening now. But there was such an electric desire between them, that not even the competition could hide it. In fact, it seemed that the competition had only heightened it between them. They would have a lifetime to spar, to train, to learn each others’ styles, but for now, with his departure so soon, it was more important for them to have another chance to be alone, and not just because he had been dreaming of kissing. There was a great deal of physical desire, yes, but he also couldn’t stop thinking of the words they had shared in the godswood. There had been such honesty and truth such as he had never quite experienced with someone else before. No one wanted to look past the rumors and the exterior of Robert Baratheon, and yet she had offered him that chance, and he wanted to take it. He wanted to show her more of himself, what was beneath everything that was seen on the outside. Now that they had been able to share a little bit of that, he wanted more. It was hard to think of just how much he would miss her when they would be separated once he left again, no matter how brief.

And so his whole intention with this fight had been to have the chance for one more private moment stolen before that. Even better if the private moment included a few more kisses for both of them. If to get that, he was going to have to surrender and give her the win for the fight, then he was alright with that. He loved winning, yes, but in this case, he felt that winning was much more like finding himself alone with her in private again, rather than winning a spar. There would be more time later to show her what he really had up his sleeve when it came to a spar. For now, his intention was to give her every reason to abandon the fight and sneak off with him for another stolen moment, and he felt he was doing a good job. Still, he knew how stubborn Lyanna was, and maybe part of this was a test to see how she would reconcile that desire to win with the desire for something else. It was already clear enough what his own choice was. There was part of him that was already prepared to be surprised by what she did, just knowing how she was, and it was exciting to know that she wasn’t like other people he had pursued before, that she wasn’t going to fall so easily for his charm without a fight.

He grinned at her solemn agreement to his terms of surrender, but she was playing a game just as much as he was, as she pressed her lips to his cheek instead of his lips, lingering there for a long moment. Never before had a kiss on the cheek felt quite so sinful, but this was just that. With their bodies pressed so close together, every inch of her covering him, the lighter clothing not helping with the problem at all, it took all of his strength not to grab her by the waist and kiss her deeply on the lips right then and there. No, he was going to play by her rules. It was much more fun that way, after all, the teasing, the restraint that was borne from such an intense desire. When she pulled back from his cheek, her lips moved to his ear, and he had to let out a small, breathy laugh at the sensation. He wanted more. And if surrendering meant he got that, he was more than fine with conceding. “For another few kisses? Alright. I surrender, my lady. You’ve bested me this time,” he muttered, a sly smile on his lips.

Lyanna truly didn’t know what she was doing. She had never flirted, she had never cared. In fact, she often used to roll her eyes at all the other ladies who did. What was the point to waste any time trying to impress men? The only person a woman should be impressing should be herself. So she had always refused to bat her eyelashes and flip her hair during parties and feasts; and anyone in Winterfell knew better than to make any kind of unwanted advances at her. It was a shame, her mother believed, because she was the only daughter of Lord Stark and if she were to be less difficult, suitors would be raining from the skies. Joke was on her, though, because she didn’t seem to have any problems to find people who wanted to marry her. At least Robert did, and he didn’t look like he was regretting it, as stubborn and complicated as she was. The most surprising thing of it all, was that she wasn’t regretting it either. Quite the contrary, she was slowly learning how to flirt, how to offer seductive looks across a room, how to play that game she had disliked so much in the past. 

That was exactly what she was doing right now, perhaps a little clumsily, kissing his cheek and whispering in his ear. It was really hard not to just give into her impulses. They had talked that morning during their ride about how they were both reckless, and impatient, and something told her Robert was struggling as much as she was. If they had been alone, the only people in the Seven Kingdoms, things would be different right now. They would probably be kissing passionately, her legs straddling his hips, her training clothes half undone. The thought alone made her cheeks feel warm, covered by a red glow that complemented the thin sweat that the training had caused perfectly. They weren’t alone, though; and Lyanna was sure that anyone was going to walk in on them any time now, possibly one of her own brothers. As much as they could justify their position saying they had fell while sparring, there was no way they were going to be allowed to do this again if they were caught like this; not now, nor ever. It was evident they needed to move somewhere else, and quickly. 

She had no idea where, though; but Robert had probably been thinking about this since the moment they had started swinging their swords, so perhaps he knew of a place where they wouldn’t be interrupted. With her little triumphant smirk intact, she lowered her sword and stood up, cleaning up her training blouse. “Good. That was a wise decision, milord.”, she stated as she loosened her tight braid and let down her hair. A mane of dark waves covered her shoulders, falling down smoothly right over her waist. “And now it’s time for me to get my reward, and for you to seal the deal you just made. I’m afraid this isn’t the appropriate place, though.” Lyanna tilted her head, giving him a look that said they both knew exactly what she was talking about. “I’ll follow your lead.”

[thewxlfmaiden-blog]

antlersandhammers

The look in her eyes was fiery, and for a split second he was worried that his natural inclination to confidence had truly offended her. That worry was quelled though, as he looked at her more. What he was seeing in her was something he had felt himself. That look was the desire to win, the desire to prove herself just as good as anyone else might say, it was competition. And he knew that he was doing just what he needed to be doing, gently provoking that desire, and turning it into desire for something else just by a look alone. However angry she looked, it was impossible not to notice the slight flush to her cheeks that couldn’t only be attributed to the workout they were both getting. And he was no stranger to a good battle bringing out the appetites even more so than usual. he had experienced the same thing many times before, only this was much more intense because it was with Lyanna. This wasn’t just a game of seeing who was the most skilled any longer, it was a challenge to see just how far they could both go before the need was overwhelming, before they had to stop fighting all together and came together again as they had in the godswood. And Robert had a strong feeling that that was going to be coming sooner rather than later.

His little smirk of victory came a moment too soon, which he realized a moment too last, as she moves swiftly to pin his ankle with her foot and trip him backwards. It was enough of a surprise that it worked, that he started falling the shock clear on his face, but he was quick, too, and this all just worked a little too perfectly to speed things up just the way he wanted to anyway. So as he fell, he grabbed her by the waist with one arm, sacrificing his sword in favor of making sure she fell with him. And it worked easily enough, he landed on his back with a dull thud, knowing there was now likely dirt and mud all over his arse. What mattered, though, was that she fell on top of him, pinning him down with the weight of her body, sword pointed right at his face. He couldn’t stop the wide grin that crossed his lips as she spoke, as he looked up at her, not even trying to ignore the delicious feeling of her body pressed against his. She might have thought she had won, but he was going to show her that he wasn’t quite done fighting just yet.

He put his hand above his head on the ground, in a mock surrender, looking up at her with that same grin on his face. “I’ll surrender if you give me a kiss,” he said simply, a little too smug with the terms of the surrender. Already he was thinking about how her lips would feel on his again, how much he had been longing for just that feeling for the past few weeks, knowing that she felt the same. They were out in the training yard, in a very inappropriate position already, but he couldn’t help but try his luck, not wanting to give up so easily on what he wanted. And if a quick kiss was what he might be able to steal before hurrying her away to the little closet full of armor and wooden swords for practice, then he would gladly accept it. That was, if she accepted his terms of surrender.

For a second there Lyanna felt as if she was on top of the world. She had won, she had actually bested him and was now able to boast about it in every way she wished to. However, as soon as she saw his wicked smirked looking up at her from the floor she knew she had been fooled. He might had fallen for her little trap, but it was obvious he didn’t really care about winning or losing. There was a much larger trap in play, and she had been the one to fall right into it. The worst thing was that she didn’t mind a little bit. Robert had been obviously aware of what the sparring was provoking in her this whole time, and he was more than ready to reap what he had sowed. She, on the other hand, was absolutely willing to give it to him. The truth that had been right in front of her eyes, even if she had failed to see it, was that it wasn’t about the fight any longer. It had stopped being about that a long time ago. The whole thing had become an excuse, a prelude to what they could do next, to their time alone. There was going to be time to spar, and for him to train her, perhaps even teach her how to use a warhammer. However, neither of them wanted exactly that right now - and it showed. Desire was evident in both their eyes and they looked at each other, Lyanna’s sword still pointed at his face. 

His words were sinful and cheeky, just as she imagined they would be eventually. She was certain this time was going to come, but she hadn’t expected it to be so soon. Now she had two main options. She could be stubborn, force him to surrender, like she would normally do when sparring with anyone else. Or she could give in, give himself and herself what they both wanted. It was tricky, and it was a choice she had never faced. Everyone knew how stubborn Lyanna was, and this was perhaps Robert’s way to see how far she was willing to go, how strong was his spell on her. He was pretty clever, and the pull was pretty strong, she couldn’t deny. However, when it came to the result of this fight, she was planning on going down on her own terms. 

“Fine, milord. A kiss, in exchange for my victory.”, she stated solemnly as she leaned forward and pressed her lips on his cheek, lingering there for a moment. With her body so firmly pressed against his, the layers of clothes being a lot less this time, the temptation to just kissing him for real was almost too much to resist. Nonetheless, she managed to restrain herself. She wasn’t going to give him what he wanted so easily. She wasn’t going to admit that she was the one who had lost; lost because of her desire for him, something she couldn’t control, and worst of all, something she didn’t know if she wished to control. As she pulled back, she moved her lips to his ear and whispered, “Surrender now, Robert, and I promise I will give you more than one kiss.”

[thewxlfmaiden-blog]

antlersandhammers

Her confidence in her abilities was just as attractive as she was, and he found himself thinking not so much of winning, but of finding a way to end this spar as soon as possible so that he could sneak her off into the alcove he had scouted, where all of the training gear was kept, and have one of their private moments together. That didn’t mean he was going to give any less effort, though. Quite the contrary. Robert wanted nothing more than to give her exactly what she wanted, knowing that her own desire for him would be more than enough to make his efforts something more than just an attempt to best her at a spar. For he was certain that she was having similar thoughts to him as they kept moving. It was near impossible not to notice the way that the body moved while sparring, and he had the grand excuse of watching too closely so that he might start to understand her style and choices, to know how he might help improve her technique once they were able to spar on a more regular basis.

That was a ruse, of course. He did want to offer her that aid. It was what he had promised, after all, and he planned to stand by that promise. This training session wasn’t purely because of more devious purposes; he truly had meant to prove to her in some small way that the promises he had made to her were ones that he wanted to follow through on, and starting simple was the best way to start to prove to her that trusting him was the right thing to allow herself to do. But this was like the start of a very particular fantasy that he had entertained in his nights spent alone at Winterfell. The look of concentration on her face, the way he could see the strength of her body in the more closely-fitted clothing she was wearing for the occasion, the intensity behind every quick motion she made. It was rare that he had had the chance to see a woman fighting, but now he was convinced that watching Lyanna fight was one of the most beautiful things he had ever seen. And he knew exactly what he wanted from it, too.

That brief moment of pause that he has manufactured by sliding his sword down hers, bodies a little too close for a friendly spar, was enough to make him realize just how heavily he was breathing already, and that it wasn’t just because of the fight. The flush on her face was clear, and he had to guess that it wasn’t just due to the fight either. As she bit her lip, he was so tempted to lean forward between their swords and bring his lips to hers, to bite them himself, out here in the open of the training yard, despite every part of him that knew he couldn’t. Luckily for his weak-will, she was able to pull herself out of the moment before him. He smirked at her words, and went back to it, her movements impressive. She spun around and went straight for his neck in a bold move. But the move was something he had been expecting, and so he was able to block it with his sword, raising an eyebrow to her, as if to challenge her even more so.

His raised eyebrow was mimicked by one of her own. She wanted him, there was no doubt about that, but as their sparring got more and more challenging there was another feeling taking over her - she wanted to win. Robert’s ability to turn her on was undeniable, but apparently so was his ability to bring out her competitive side. Though that one wasn’t that difficult to achieve. There was an anger behind her eyes at his gesture that was extremely hard to hide. How could he brag like that? When all he had done was block a couple of her attacks? It was surprising to find out that the more mad she felt, the more turned on she was. Obviously she had never experienced something like that before, and for a moment she wondered whether he was aware of the effect he was having on her. She wouldn’t put it past Robert to take advantage of her temper; to provoke her in order to make her need for him even greater. She couldn’t be sure if he was doing it on purpose or not; but whatever the case, it was definitely working. She had never wanted to kick his arse more than now, but at the same time she had never wanted to kiss him more.

Fortunately she was certain he didn’t know what was coming. The second Lyanna saw his smug expression she realised he had no idea what she was planning to do next. He was most likely thinking she had made an obvious move, one he could easily anticipate; that she was trying to take the most advantage of her speed, which was true, but not in the way he was expecting to. She had learned this trick from Brandon, obviously, and she doubted Ned was going to approve of it. It was a good thing Ned wasn’t there to see her. After all, Robert himself had told her he wouldn’t mind if she bested him or not, and if they were going to spend the rest of their lives together, he might as well realised that she wasn’t afraid of playing a little dirty once in a while. 

As Robert parried her attack swiftly, without any real effort or strength on his part, Lyanna quickly moved her foot behind his ankle and tripped him. The effect was instantaneous. She didn’t get to take a look at his expression before he was falling on his back. What she wasn’t expecting was for him to take a hold of her and knock her down as well. As soon as she fell on top of him, she pointed her sword right at his face, shamelessly pinning him down against the ground with her body. “You’re dead now. Surrender.”

[thewxlfmaiden-blog]

antlersandhammers

He laughed lightly at her words, but believed them. She didn’t seem the type to fight like Ned. Ned’s style resembled that of Jon Arryn’s, honorable, perfectly pristine; skillful, but boring in Robert’s mind. It was to the point, without any of the fun that he enjoyed while fighting. While he hadn’t sparred with Brandon nearly as much as Ned, he had to imagine that if Lyanna’s style was going to mimic anyone’s, it would have been his. And that made it all the more thrilling to finally have the chance to train with her. Her taunt was likely right, after all. She was likely a fierce fighter, out to win, much like himself, expect with the wolf’s blood coursing through her veins, making it all the more deadly. She had been right when she said that stags were the wolves’ prey, after all. But that didn’t mean he was going to allow nature to take its course today.

Besides, he had plans. Yes, he had asked her father permission to train her for a few hours, but it would have been a lie to say that he had not planned other things for their time alone, given it was likely the last time they would be alone together for a few weeks, at the least. They were going to train, of course––he truly did wish to see what her style was, and it was infinitely appealing to fight with the woman he was so enamored with––but it wasn’t going to last the full time. He had a feeling that even if he hadn’t planned for a stolen moment of privacy or two in which they were perhaps getting close to each other in another way, it would have happened, given just how intense the look in Lyanna’s eye was, even as she teased him. There was too much tension for this to end any way but exactly how he wanted. They were both going to be victors in a way. “How could I be offended if your skill outweighs mine, my lady? I would be impressed. And I would be grateful for a kiss, whether in defeat or victory,” he said with a grin, just before making his first move.

He was pleased to see that she blocked the advance easily, as he tested out the waters seeing just how much weight he could put into his moves against her. She was faster than him, that was already certain. It wasn’t a surprise, but she had had a point when she had said that speed meant a great deal in a fight. Still, he wasn’t planning on letting her win so easily. As she swung at his side, he turned to parry, a little flourish that gave him the chance to get closer to her. He slowly slid his sword down hers, mostly so that he could have the chance to lean forward a little and reply to her taunt. “It’s only beginning, little wolf,” he said, the smile clear in his voice. “Show me your style.”

“Then let me tell you milord, you will only get a kiss if you give it your best. Either you win or you lose. Though I have no doubt in my mind the result is going to be the former.” Lyanna chuckled, but her expression was quickly replaced with a frown once he parried her own attack. She wasn’t expecting this to be easy - it never was. This wasn’t some stable boy, or some butcher’s son she had compelled to spar with her, this was Robert Baratheon. He had been trained by the most talented fighters, he was a Lord in his own right, and he had been prepared for battle his whole life. She wished she could be at his level, but unfortunately given the circumstances of her birth, fighting could only be a hobby to her. At least for now. That didn’t mean she wasn’t talented; the gods knew she had pestered her brothers enough to give her a fair training - but it wasn’t enough to make her opponent fall down so simply. 

The fact that he looked so irresistible while he swung that sword wasn’t helping at all. Ever since he had promised her he was going to take time for them to friendly spar, her mind had been filled of images of him fighting, quickly moving to attack her, getting close to her, trying to pin her down. What was happening now was fulfilling every single one of her expectations. The way his muscles seemed to tense when he made his move, the line of sweat that was running down her forehead. Lyanna suddenly could see her lips there, moving down his cheek to his jaw, and then his neck, like he had done with her that morning during their ride. She could see his strong arms letting go of that sword and instead working to pick her up, her legs wrapped around his waste, his hands wandering along her thighs, her arse, the small of her back. Those were distracting thoughts, thoughts that she couldn’t allow herself to have during a fight. 

When he slid her sword down her own and got closer to her, she looked completely flushed, despite his teasing words. Lyanna could feel her body pulling towards his, only the swords acting as a barrier. She bit down her bottom lip, looking into his eyes for a second before sapping out of her trance. “I’ll show you my style all right. I only hope you can handle it.” With a little spin, this time she went directly for his neck. He was going to block that one too, she knew that well enough, but that was just what she needed in order to distract him for when she decided to pull her next move. 

[thewxlfmaiden-blog]

antlersandhammers

There was just an undeniable attraction that they shared, after the first morning they had spent alone together, and it was impossible to ignore now that it had been ignited. Never before had his thoughts been so wholly consumed by one person. Despite the many advances that had been made during feasts and other moments around Winterfell, he had had no desire to accept any of them, not when his thoughts lied with Lyanna. He had found himself so wholly captivated that it was hard to think of much else, which he was certain Ned had noticed very easily. And so this chance to spar was welcomed, even if he may have preferred to take her into the godswood again, to kiss her and hold her close as they had already. But he had ideas brewing in his mind to make this similarly as satisfying for the both of them. “Good, I’d hate if you let me win the spar easily. I love a well-matched fight. I do hate to disappoint you, but I wanted to see what I was fighting against before switching to my weapon of choice; that will be an unfair fight. Starting on even footing felt appropriate, at least for our first spar,” he said, a hint of teasing in his voice, although his confidence was clear.

“I’m insulted, my lady; I wouldn’t dream of playing dirty during a spar,” he said, the smirk on his lips making it clear that this sort of playing dirty wasn’t what he was referring to. He truly did wish to see what her fighting style was like, perhaps teach her a few things if she wished, but this was also the first time they had been left alone together in a week, and he planned on taking full advantage of that. He was Robert Baratheon, after all. The kiss on the hand was only the beginning of it, which he knew that she was well aware of. For now, though, he would act like he had no thought but the spar on his mind. He stepped back a few paces, and drew his sword with a flourish. Robert had never been showy, per se, with his swordsmanship, despite what people might have assumed considering how showy he was in other areas of his life. When it came to fighting, though, he only had one goal, and that was to win. That goal didn’t change even when fighting against Lyanna. The only difference was that he planned to have a different sort of fun while they fought, in this case.

He took moment, assessing her stance, making note of the few things he would correct were he asked to offer advice, and then moved into his own stance, wide and proud as it was. A little smile was the last thing he granted her before moving forward and swinging his sword for hers to catch, less force behind it than he might’ve if he was practicing with Ned, but still enough to see what she had, testing the waters before deciding just how much he should put into it without the danger of accidentally pushing too far.

The second Robert moved into his fighting stance Lyanna forgot all about the wedding, his visit to Winterfell, she even forgot about the morning in the godswood. Her desire was there, still intact, but it wasn’t something she was focusing on right now. Whenever she got the opportunity to fight or train - and it wasn’t too often if her mother had something to say about it - that was the only thing she could think about. Sparring made her feel free, as much as riding did and perhaps even more. She wondered if being with him, truly giving herself to him, was going to make her feel like that as well. If only love was able to make her experience the things she did when she was fighting or on a horse, then that was definitely something worth having in her life. Ready to start, she raised an eyebrow at his warhammer remark. “I think you could have two swords and it still wouldn’t be an unfair fight. You’ll soon see that I’m not like my brother.”

She was talking about Ned, obviously. Her technique wasn’t at all like his. Her brother’s fighting style was polished, pristine; he played by the rules, and he always gave his opponent a chance to surrender if the fight was friendly. Lyanna and Brandon were not like that, they struck to win, the wolf blood ever showing in ever single one of their movements. This was no exception. No matter how much she wished this was going to end with her pressing against a wall and Robert’s hands all over her - the swords long forgotten - she wasn’t going to miss the opportunity to knock him on his arse. If he considered that as her purposefully damaging his pride, then it was definitely going to be his loss in the end. “I don’t care what sort of tricks you might pull. You’re going to bite the dust milord. I hope that doesn’t offend you.” She smirked. “Perhaps if you’re too hurt afterwards, I could even kiss it better.” 

With that, the fight started. As he moved forward, launching his first attack, Lyanna blocked it easily. Robert was stronger than her, that was for sure - but she was quick, and she was way shorter, so that meant his whole lower half was unprotected. She only needed to be swift enough to attack him there before he could take advantage and go for her neck. “Oh come on, Lord Baratheon, are you going to let this little wolf beat you already?” She said, as she swung her sword to his side, already feeling the adrenaline running through her veins. The challenge was on, and if this didn’t end with them devouring each other, she was going to be absolutely disappointed. 

[thewxlfmaiden-blog]

antlersandhammers

It was as clear as day that at the very least Ned had realized something had happened between them in the woods that first morning, and had passed the word along to his father, because after that morning, no matter how Robert tried, it had been near impossible to steal more than a second or two alone with Lyanna before one of her family members would pop up, and keep a close eye on them. Perhaps it was for the best, as he wasn’t certain he was going to be able to truly control himself with her when left alone after their first visit, not to mention the way his thoughts had been consumed by her every night. Instead of his days being filled with getting to know Lyanna better, sharing things with each other as they had done on their morning ride, his days were filled with talk of logistics, future planning with Lord Stark, Brandon and Ned. There was too much to decide on, too much to figure out, and when he wasn’t busy with that, Ned seemed all too keen to keep him from having a private moment with Lyanna

But Robert was not easily deterred, and with his visit to Winterfell coming to an end, he was determined to share at least one more private moment with Lyanna before he departed. They would see each other again soon enough, there was more courting to be done, more planning, and he still wanted her to come see Storm’s End even before they married, but he also wanted to leave her with something to think of while they were apart. And he had had the idea to make good on a promise he had given her that first morning.

A week spent sending lustful glances across the room at each other, deliberately touching her a little too frequently could only do so much for either of them. And he had been surprised to see that Lord Stark agreed to allow him to spend a few hours training Lyanna for the fun of it that afternoon. So he had put on his training clothing, lighter and more casual despite the cold, still in the bright Baratheon colors that stood out intensely among Winterfell, and had headed to the training yard. He had chosen to bring the sword his father had left to him when he had passed, rather than his warhammer, given this was their first session. “I am a man of my word, my lady, and all too happy to have the chance to see your skill in person,” he said with a grin, approaching her. He took one of her hands and bowed, kissing it lightly, lingering for a second longer than necessary, before standing again. “I didn’t think it possible, but you look even more beautiful in training gear.”

The fact that Robert seemed to be feeling as desperate for a moment alone as she did didn’t help at all. Whenever they were in the same room, they couldn’t stop looking at each other. His eyes were often fixed on her with such an intensity that his stare alone was enough to make her blush. Her ladies and her septa often asked her what was wrong, why she was distracted all of a sudden, agitated, but it looked like her breathing was accelerating out of nowhere. Usually she managed to come up with a silly excuse, sometimes not very convincing, but so far no one had dared to question her. What was she supposed to say? That Robert Baratheon was consuming her thoughts every second of every day? That she even dreamt of him? Her mind had been taken over by some lustful thoughts that lead her to do things she had never thought she would, like imagining scenarios where they were alone, with no one to interrupt them; and pleasuring herself during the night, hidden by the darkness of her room. 

Lyanna was aware that she needed to restrain herself. She had heard about how teenage boys became obsessed with sex for a while when they first experienced that kind of touches, but she had never imagined the same happened to girls. Perhaps that was another thing her mother had tried so hard to hide, hoping it wouldn’t stain her reputation. She was wild enough as it was. It was too late now, though; because she had already had a taste of temptation and it turned out she wanted more. She didn’t know if she was going to get it. Not now, not while they were training. Of course she was excited to spar with him, as eager as she had been that morning when he had promised her - but she couldn’t deny part of her was hoping for him to find the chance to snatch her away for a couple of hours and take her somewhere private - their little paradise, as he had called it. 

“And you shall. I do remember my promise as well. I won’t go easy on you.” Lyanna smiled, nodding softly. “I see you haven’t brought your warhammer, though. I’m not going to lie, I’m a little disappointed. But I suppose since this is our first time a sword will suffice.” She was more than ready to start, but before she could take her defensive stand, he approached her and gently kissed her hand. Her knees felt weak all of a sudden and she almost dropped her weapon. The more his lips lingered there, the hotter she seemed to be feeling. “I see you’re planning on playing dirty once again, milord.”, she smirked, once he pulled back. “I’m afraid to tell you that’s not going to work this time.” A lie, obviously, but she wasn’t going to give in that easily. Walking a few steps back, she finally assumed her position and waited for him to make the first move. 

[thewxlfmaiden-blog]

location: winterfell yard  time: just after lunch

A little more than a week had gone by after their ride to the woods, and much to Lyanna’s dismay her parents and her brothers had seemed to pick up on something, because they hadn’t taken their eyes off Robert and herself for a second. His visit was coming to an end, and even though she knew it was going to be the first one of many, she had been expecting to spend a little more time alone with him - at least to get one of those kisses that had been driving her insane every since that morning. Yet, her family had made it impossible. Whenever she got to see him, they were surrounded, unable to escape; and Ned and her father consumed most of his time anyway. It was ridiculous, she had complained to her mother one afternoon, that she was the one getting married and yet the person he got to see less. Lyarra, perceptive as always, had only raised an inquisitive eyebrow and asked her what had changed; why she wanted to see more of Robert all of a sudden. 

She was right. Lyanna had spent days going on and on about how little she wanted to get married, and how she’d prefer to go to battle, to serve Winterfell for the rest of her life or to do pretty much anything else other than getting a husband. It was more than strange to hear her complain about how said husband was being made pass the time with someone else other than her. After that, she had just dropped the subject, afraid that her mother was really onto something. 

These last days had been particularly excruciating, and he could tell Robert felt the same way. The looks they offered each other from a distance, often at feasts or across any room they were in at the same time, had become borderline sinful. She wasn’t sure how exactly her body was going to react next time they were alone, but she knew it needed to be soon. The old gods were on her side that afternoon, it seemed, when her father told her that her betrothed had asked for permission to teach her how to defend herself for an hour or two. She met Robert at the training yard, her favourite sword ready, her hair up in a tight braid. “I see you’ve wasted no time, milord. Thank you for fulfilling your promise.”

[thewxlfmaiden-blog]

antlersandhammers

Despite his many dreams surrounding Lyanna, his many fantasies and desires, both romantic and more practical, he had not been expecting for them to start to build such a true connection so quickly. He knew full well that she had to be wary of him, of the betrothal, considering the rumors surrounding his name, and the truths that Ned likely shared with her. So Robert had been expecting it to take a good amount of time and patience––patience he only possessed when it came to planning strategy for battle––before they were sharing their private feelings, details of their lives that no one else might know. And yet here they were. Their first ride together alone as a betrothed couple, and they were already sharing things he had never dreamed of telling anyone but his closest friends. They were talking to each other as if it was the most natural thing in the world, no awkward pauses to search for proper words. It was easy, he realized, and that was something he was so grateful for he found himself unable to describe it, for the first time in his life. 

He knew full well that it was just as important as the attraction they quite obviously shared for each other, if they wished their marriage to be as successful as their own parents’. And yet it wasn’t something he had been expecting to come so easily, which was perhaps a foolish thought, considering how well he got on with all of the other Starks already. In the same way that he loved all of the Starks’ boldness, he felt the same of her, and he was pleased to hear that she felt no one would ever tame it. Some other lords would see her boldness as a challenge, a task set forth, something to break down. They would see her as someone to be tamed like a wild animal, and perhaps in a marriage such as that she would have broken. But he did not plan to give her any of that. He was impatient and reckless, and he was glad to have a wife who shared those traits, no matter how scandalous other might think it could be. And so Robert laughed at her impression of the sternness of her mother, but silently vowed not to let anyone’s thoughts sway either of them. “Damn the consequences,” he said with a grin.

Weren’t they already damning the consequences, after all, considering that she did not shy back from his words, but encourage him further? He was surprised when she leaned forward and whispered in her ear. And every step she went forward, he had to do the same. “What will my hand do, my lady? It’ll give you a pleasure you can’t even imagine, it’ll teach you thinks that would turn a septa’s hair even whiter than it already is. Waves of pleasure running through your body, moans you cannot contain falling from your lips. When my hand finds the spot it so desperately aches for, I will show you what it truly means to be a woman,” he whispered in her ear, breath perhaps a little heavier than he meant for it to be. He was just as affected by the image as he could tell she was. And he was impatient. Still, his impatience had limits, and words were nothing in comparison to the actual act. He had no desire to push, to overwhelm her and break the trust he was beginning to build with her. As impatient as he was, he was content to wait for her as long as he had to. But he was more than happy for this in the meantime. When he pulled back from her ear, he only did so enough to bring their lips together again, this kiss slower, but just as deep, giving her a taste of the sort of kiss he was imagining giving her as his hand did just as he had said.

Before too long, though, he pulled back again, a smile on his lips as he looked at her. The implication that perhaps she didn’t want to wait for all of that until their marriage bed either was an exciting one, but not something he planned to hold her to. This had to be one of the first times she had been kissed like he did, after all. He wanted her to make the decision with a clear mind, and not come to regret any choice. For once, it was his turn to play at something verging on responsible. “I’m glad for your impatience, but I need to save some of the mystery, my lady. I’d hate to ruin all of my tricks on our first ride. Perhaps they’ll wait until our private paradise, or perhaps I’ll follow your impatience and give you a show during our morning rides. It’s difficult to say,” he shrugged. His words were matter of fact, despite their meaning.

And damn the consequences it was indeed. They both were aware of how much trouble they would be into if someone saw what they were doing. Her parents would most likely demand him to wed her immediately, but all the trust between the Sarks and the Baratheons would be shattered. Lyanna could imagine Ned’s disappointed face, looking at them both as if they had betrayed him personally. It was unfair, she thought, that she was the one who had to control her desires, while men were able to run wild without having to worry about their reputations.  She knew they were places south where that didn’t matter, where ladies could also do as they pleased without fearing every step they took in case it could be inappropriate. Unfortunately, Winterfell wasn’t one of those places - and she had thought she didn’t care, until now that was. She had never had such vivid fantasies in her life, even when her suitors were many and she had been attracted to some of them. Not like this, though. Robert’s passion had a way of awaking her own, and she was afraid now there was nothing to do to make it stop. 

His words were only further proof of that. Every sound escaping from her mouth made her skin feel like it was burning, it send shivers down her spine and shocks of pleasure between her legs. She felt hot all of a sudden, despite the snow and the weather around them. If it had been up to her, she would have gotten rid of some layers of clothes already. It was as if she couldn’t breathe, but the sensation was not suffocating, just pure pleasure, and desire. “I want it.”, she murmured, voice almost a gasp. “I want your hand to teach me all those things. And I want you to teach my hand how to make you feel that way as well. Not now, you need to give me some time, but would you do it?” Lyanna had a reputation of being forward, and completely sincere, and her words now weren’t an exception. She wanted him to make her feel everything he was saying - sooner rather than later if possible - and she also wanted to learn how to please him. She knew Robert enough to realise the way to keeping his heart was also keeping him in bed; and if they were to give this the slightest chance, she needed to gain experience, as much as he needed to learn how to be loyal to her. 

This new kiss was slow, but perhaps more intense than any they had shared so far. Lyanna had never been too talented when it came to recognising signs of romance, but this was obvious; even for her. He wanted her, desperately, as much as she wanted him or maybe more. That made her feel powerful, incredible, a sensation she might needed to get used to now that he was around. She responded in kind, lips pushing forward, nibbling gently, her hand once again tangled in his dark curls. She felt her back arching against his torso, looking for contact one more time, as if her body was inevitably attracted to his, pulled towards it by an invisible but unstoppable force. A soft moan was swallowed by his deep kisses, and she almost protested when he finally pulled back. 

She nodded at his words, smiling tenderly. He was giving her the time she had requested before, and she was grateful for it. “Thank you, milord. I do agree we need to save some mystery, yes. As I told you before, we have our whole lives to learn everything about each other. There’s no need to rush now, especially when my brothers and my father are about to discover we have disappeared.” Lyanna chuckled, shifting so now she was again properly ready to ride. “Shall we go back, then? I promise to be gentler this time if you don’t distract me like you did before.”