All The King's Horses {Game of Thrones AU} {1x1} (914 views)

{ One Week Later – Richardson Stables, King’s Landing. 10:00 AM }

Chad was riding on one of his horses – his most trusted horse, actually – along the path just outside of the gorgeous castle he called home. He was admiring the view from the hilltop, a view that gave him a generous survey of the glistening blue waters below the cliff and the buildings hidden among the trees on other landmasses. There weren’t many things that the prince actually loved in his life. His father was someone he admired and respected but he never felt like a son to Geoffrey. Similarly, he looked up to his mother, but she had always scared him, and made him fear that he would one day grow up to disappoint her. But the land he would one day rule over was beautiful. He pulled his horse to a stop and watched the sunlight cast shadows in the grass as the wind blew by, losing track of time as his horse whinnied in appreciation of the stop.

He didn’t realize a half hour had passed until his horse grew impatient and he smiled down at the creature.

”C’mon! We’ve got to meet my lady,” Chad told his horse. His horse didn’t seem to care, but appreciated the chance of scenery when they again started to move.

When the engagement party had closed, his mother took him to the side as they left and told him that he and Wyatt looked quite good together. She informed him that she and Lady Prescott had started to make arrangements for the wedding and Chad commended that, though he really didn’t care. But he did mention a riding trip to his mother, who seemed surprised that the young couple had decided to meet up alone. She said that as long as the stable master was present and able to attest to the fact that the young couple wasn’t having premarital relations (whether or not that went on Lady Richardson cared little – just as long as no one in the seven kingdoms thought it was) this arrangement would be fine. So, Chad had arranged for a week to have passed. He’d spent the morning with the horses, making sure that the horse provided for Wyatt was the tamest and easiest to ride. He didn’t know her skill level but obviously wanted Wyatt to believe that she was simply a natural with the horses, whether or not that was true would be determined. Chad was currently clothed in a regal shirt, brown pants, and thick boots that extended to his knees. He stroked the horses selected to be ridden today and hummed to himself. It was nearly 11 now – Lady Wyatt and her handmaiden should be arriving at any time.

Chad continued to stand there, overlooking the view of his kingdom with a wide smile on his face as the wind rushed by. He didn’t have a care in the world when he was up here, watching the blue sky in the horizon meld seamlessly with the waters that extended out for yard and yards. He wondered if he’d be able to take a ship out to sea someday – his father had promised him that when he was old enough he’d be taught how to lead the navy. And he was old enough now – nearly wed! He was excited, because that meant that his crowning was getting closer and closer each day.

He heard footsteps approaching him and turned around on his steed, posing proud and charismatically as he regarded small Mallory. He narrowed his eyes – this was not Wyatt. Her hair was red, yes, but she was much too modestly clad. Though the riding clothing was tighter fit than a gown would be to her body and curves, it was equivalent to what a man would wear, something that his Lady Wyatt would never be caught in. So who was this mysterious girl? Chad watched as she looked up at him, caught the sunlight flickering off of her cheeks, and when she spoke it made sense. The handmaiden who had brought him drinks!

He would have laughed and invited her to ride, or at least bid her a polite hello, before she spoke up. And the crudeness with which she spoke made Chad’s jaw drop. Oh, lord! What had she just said about his fiancée?

”My, my! That’s quite the mouth you have on yourself, handmaiden.” He said coyly. Oh, there were cruder things she could be doing with her mouth. She was pretty, just like lady Wyatt, and even though she was hiding herself and bowing to him now he allowed his eyes to traverse up her leg, towards her ass, and then to the top of her head again. Cute. She was very cute. Chad rose his eyebrows. ”Come, now! Don’t hold your head down in front of me – any woman is welcome to gaze upon my face. I assure you, my Lady will not hear about that language you just used. It will be our secret, won’t it?”

Though his words were assuring, there was something manipulative in his tone. Perhaps it was naturally the way he talked... or, perhaps, it was just his natural rank in power showing.

Chad surveyed her reaction to his words. She seemed apprehensive, skittish, concerned. As she should be. He knew the consequences for her speaking so ill of Wyatt – the future Queen, his betrothed. His father would have struck the maiden, and his mother would have her banished from the land, sold to the brothel, or killed – whichever would be easier. And Chad knew that he had the power to do all of those things to this lowly handmaiden. He held the reigns of his horse proudly, as she apologized and admitted her wrong.

Hmm... he liked it better when she was bad talking Lady Wyatt! It made her exciting – this was too safe. Too boring. She had a backbone underneath that sweet disposition, and Chad was dying to see it. he’d never see it around Wyatt, but apparently, her resolve had slipped enough around him to give him a sneak peek.

”Oh, my lady, but that was the best thing I’ve heard all day! I haven’t bene that shocked since my mother told me I was to be wed!” He said, guiding his horse over towards Mal. He stopped a few feet in front of her, peering down. ”No, I don’t think I’ll be cutting that off. There are things I’d much rather see you use that tongue for, after all.”

Chad brought a hand down and cupped Mal’s chin, forcing her head up, inspecting her face. He grinned. ”Ah. I thought you might be beautiful, but it’s so hard to tell when you’re hiding your face. You can always show yourself to me.”

Of course it was wrong for her to speak out of line like that. Words like that were suicide for a mere handmaiden. But she was cute and it was pure selfishness that kept her alive. Chad liked looking at her, had yet to bed her, so she wasn’t going to die yet. He gave Mal a warm, friendly smile he was famous for. Chad, the idiotic, womanizer prince. He was aware of what was said about him and he didn’t object. He was an idiot at times, and liked the company of women, but knew how to say things to get what he wanted. He had money and an empire behind him. He had the iron throne’s protection, that he would sit on it one day, and that he would rule the entire lands and then he would worry about being smart. But for now he could rely on his charisma and charm.

”I have no doubt. My betrothed is a wonderful woman who I look forward to wedding,” He said. No doubt Wyatt was left in her chambers, getting ready to see him, putting in effort so that her fiancé, the prince, didn’t get bored of her body no matter how much or how little covering it had over it. He tilted his head slightly as Mal looked at him, seeing hesitant and flustered. So easy. She was obviously a virgin, and likely hadn’t been with any men before. He wondered what it would be like to sleep with her... and really make her his subject. She looked away from him at that thought and reiterated Wyatt’s words. Ah. She had her servant trained well. ”I’m the prince, my lady. Your place is exactly where I tell you it is – as is hers, so, you may gaze upon me if you wish. Don’t worry about telling lady Wyatt – I have no need to tell her what’s happened here.”

There was something off about the way that Mal answered his question. There was too much hesitation there. Chad could tell when something was off about a servant, when they were biting their tongue not to speak ill of someone, and it made him curious. He was very curious what Mal knew about Wyatt that he didn’t. Wyatt was his betrothed so naturally, Chad felt he had a right to know everything there was to know about her.

”Of course. It’s not a problem. I can think of a few ways for you to express your thanks, though.” Chad grinned, noticing the handmaiden examining him. Damn. He was so hot, wasn’t he? ”I sense some hesitance in your tone, though. Is there something you wish to tell me about my bride-to-be? Perhaps you have a longing for her and I’m ripping her from your loving gaze? It’s not uncommon. It’s kind of attractive if that’s the case actually – I for one would not mind having the both of you in my bed once I have wed Wyatt. Pleasure one another as long as you wish – as long as I get to watch.”

He grinned at that and looked Mal up and down again. There was something very enticing about redheads, he thought, especially the mental image of them on one another.

Chad hummed to himself. Such a shame. This handmaiden and Wyatt would make one hell of a pair in the bedroom. He had a feeling his betrothed wouldn’t like introducing another woman into the bedroom – because women were like that, right, inherently jealous? – and would oppose the decision. But if she wanted to keep her position as future queen she’d have to play along. But then if she wasn’t a good actress, it wouldn’t even be fun. He could always wait until she was married and he’d already had her before he tried to introduce a third person. He wanted to experience Wyatt all for himself, after all, before he started sharing his wife with other people.

Chad dismounted his house, not seeing his lady arriving any time soon. He stroked the mane of his horse which huffed in response. ”there, there,” he cooed at the animal, grinning as it listened to him and stared its beady eyes over at Mal. Once the horse was take care of, Chad took a step closer to Mal and grabbed her chin with his hand. He looked at one side of her, than the next, as though he was inspecting her.

”If you are not Lady Wyatt’s personal assistant in that regard, are you wed yet? A pretty face like you should have many suitors.” He said. If she did have any suitors, Chad would like to see them. If he didn’t like them, he could easily take Mal for himself or at least take her virginity. That was something she had to have – an unwed handmaiden had to be chaste, especially one that worked for the Prescott family. They had no need for whores among their ranks.

Chad found it surprising that Mal had no suitors... well, surprising was the wrong word. No doubt any man looking in her direction was focused more on Wyatt than they were focused on her. And Wyatt wouldn’t like any man looking at Mal over herself but then, wouldn’t it be for the best if she married Mal off then? If she was off the market and bore a wedding ring no man could touch her or look at her and then their attention would fully be focused on Wyatt! Well! Wyatt would be his bride, so any men with wandering eyes better find new targets!

”Ah, that’s a shame. With your lady officially betrothed to me, I have no doubt her former suitors may pin for you.” But, then, the pinning he meant wasn’t the kind Mal would want. That would be lust, and men treating Mal as nothing more than a whore. He leaned closer to Mal, inspecting her features. ”You are very pleasing to the eye. My bride-to-be should focus on finding you a husband before some selfish man claims you himself!”

Unlike Mal, when Wyatt returned to the grounds Chad made no motions to hide what he’d been doing. More than aware of his rank in society, Chad felt he had every right to stare at other women if he so pleased. He would never take another wife but Lady Wyatt would be foolish to think that for a man of his stature, only one woman would do. He’d have one wife, to produce him heirs, and however many whores he wanted.

He hummed in response to Wyatt’s retort. She seemed bitter and for good reason. He wondered if she’d be disciplined later. No matter. Him having his eyes all over Mal seemed to have a good affect for Wyatt and she had dressed scantily but not too risqué, and with the way she was running his arm, she was trying to keep his attention. Chad finally glanced at her body before he looked at her face.

”Oh, an unmarried handmaiden after her lady’s wedding has a higher rate of finding herself a whore at the brothel. Just a thought I heard once, somewhere. I forget who from.” He really didn’t care, either. Chad waved a hand dismissively before he moved it to Wyatt’s side and finally noticed the colors. ”Aha! You’re wearing Richardson colors, my lady. They suit you.”

He took her hand and bowed to kiss it, before he gently tugged her forward. ”Of course, my lady. Let me introduce you to our horses.”

Not at all worried about Mal’s safety – why should he be, he was the Prince – Chad merely laughed when Wyatt insulted her and almost complimented her in the same breath. Insinuating she would make a terrible whore was a testament to her purity, but not knowing how to please a man...? Now, the virgins could please a man with their inexperience and tightness, but Prince Chad personally thought all of that mumbo-jumbo about virgins being more desirable could only go so far. After all, a woman who knew her way around a bedchamber could go for longer, make more pleasing and less confused noises, and move her body better.

He wondered if his betrothed was a virgin herself. Her comments just now enticed him and made him wonder. And if she wasn’t a virgin, Chad found himself even more intrigued.

”Spoken like a true expert, my Lady,” Chad said, grinning as he felt her hand run down her chest. ”I love expertise in my practices. I have a short attention span, after my mother may have told you – I easily lose interest in the boring.”

Chad hummed as he appraised her figure in the colors, and led the women to the horses, oblivious to Wyatt’s glare.

”Come, ladies. I’ll assist you both up onto your horses.” He offered, giving Mal a curious look as he wondered if she was truly a virgin or if she was at all interested in him.

”Well now, that’s a promise I hope remains true,” Chad said, in a sultry voice. He believed he had it made here – he was in the company of two beautiful women, one of whom he was betrothed to and the other of which was a nice face to look at. When Wyatt brought up whores and mistresses, he let a smirk tilt up on his face.

She was right. Many a king had whores. His father, in fact, was one of those kings who had whores. Not that their lives much mattered in the grand scheme of things, and whenever the Queen discovered their identities they were banished, but the king did have his whores. He wondered if Wyatt would care – it sounded like she wouldn’t. And, with their marriage proposal so fresh and new, even Chad knew better than to outright disagree and say he’d be seeking the company of whores.

”I can promise you, I will be enraptured with your body, my Lady.” Chad said in his smooth, charming voice as he grabbed Wyatt’s hand and pressed a kiss to it. He never said anything about other women’s bodies, or even about mindless sex, but he had no intention of ever mentioning other women to her. No use in angering her. But his eyes... they could wander. She’d just have to keep his gaze.

As they approached the horses Chad offered to help Wyatt up onto one, mainly for an excuse to touch her waist and back without being branded a pervert.

Chad lifted Wyatt up to rest on her horse, his hands teasing her waist a bit as he did so. It was smooth and perfectly shaped under his fingertips. He was already eager to confirm their marriage – which wouldn’t be for months, now! Oh well. When she giggled he gave her a coy look and allowed his breath to brush her neck before he pulled away.

”I’d have it no other way,” Chad said, and then he turned towards Mal who looked confused. Normally he might have had a stable boy help her but instead, charming lad as he was, he went over to help her up.

”You mount the horse like so,” Chad said, teasing her waist and allowing his breath to brush against her skin. He pulled away and looked towards Wyatt. ”My lady, would you like me to ride on your horse? I’m not sure how well-versed in riding you are and wouldn’t dare to leave you by your lonesome.”

Chad pulled away from Mal – somewhat reluctantly – and headed over to Wyatt’s side. Though his attention quickly shifted to the redhead on the horse. He hopped up to sit behind her, and spread his legs to allow Wyatt to sit between them. He kept his body pressed close to hers, and almost groaned at the feeling. He longed to be alone in his bedchambers with her, to really feel her body against his and get a taste of what he was marrying, of what body his precious heir would one day come from.

”It’s not a beast,” He said, jovially, and couldn’t help but look at the way Mal was sitting. He laughed, and leaned closer to Wyatt so his breath was against her skin again. ”Your handmaiden sits like a man would!”

Chad laughed as well, not disagreeing with her assessment of Mal being pathetic. It wasn’t like he knew if she wasn’t or if she could even ride a horse! He wondered if she’d stumble or fall behind. He supposed, maybe if she had any basic skill, he could propose a race he would obviously win to impress Wyatt.

”Of course – she probably wasn’t trained to behave in a lady-like way. Not like you, my lady,” Chad felt her subtly lean closer and pushed himself up forward, his chin pressed gently against Wyatt’s neck. He pulled back and then gave the horse cue to move, and they began to go steadily – bodies bucking against one another as they moved. He turned to look at Mal as she approached. ”Tell me, has your handmaiden ever been educated in horse riding?”

A handmaiden who didn’t know how to read! Chad laughed at the thought though it wasn’t entirely unheard of. Just odd, to him, a well-educated heir, to think that there were people in the world who didn’t have the same education that he did.

But he didn’t have much time to consider education, as he rode his horse with Wyatt and felt her body pressing against his. He made the horse go slightly faster, sparing a glance behind him. He decided, then, to put his idea to motion and leaned to whisper in Wyatt’s ear. ”In that case, my lady, do you want to sneak away from your maiden for a few hours? That way we can have a little more...” he trailed off when their bodies hitched together again, his voice lowering in pitch, ”time together, alone?”