All The King's Horses {Game of Thrones AU} {1x1} (912 views)

Chad had heard Mal protest and ask for them to slow down, but he had not obeyed her and instead took Wyatt into the woods. They were alone now, not a soul in sight save for the horse. Chad found he liked Wyatt’s laugh – it was a melodic sound, and her smile was beautiful. He expected nothing less from his betrothed. When she said the ride was amazing Chad beamed before he dismounted his horse, turning to Wyatt to help her down as well.

”I know, isn’t it? That’s why I like to ride.” He said,”But now that we’re alone... we can proceed to get to know one another without curious eyes watching.”

Chad put his hands on Wyatt’s waist and guided her down off the horse, gently. He allowed himself to linger for a few moments before he approached the horse, stroked it gently, and then tied it to a nearby tree. The horse seemed content where it was and Chad approached Wyatt again, grinning when she said she’d never gone that fast. He reached out to offer her his arm and led her down the beautiful woodland walking paths, a beautiful place to steal a few kisses where no one else could see them.

”I can go much faster than that, my lady, if you’d like to see my full skills. And I can’t blame your mother for worrying – she has such a beautiful daughter, it’s natural to worry about your safety.” He said. He stopped and reached over, tucking a few strands of hair behind her ears. ”But, with the protection of the Crown, you’ll never have to worry about being harmed again. I won’t allow it.”

When she asked what he wanted to know about her, Chad shrugged his shoulders and leaned closer. ”Whatever you’d like to tell me, my lady,” he said, tone low and seductive.

-x-

Not too far away from where the heir to the throne and his fiancée were practicing righting were a group of about four knights from house Prescott, all there to make sure the heiress of their house remained safe though they were instructed by their queen not to let on that they were there or be overbearing. Being highborn meant one needed protection at all times and while Chad was a formidable fighter, it was understandable that house Prescott wanted to protect their jewel.

The four knights weren’t particularly interested in what was going on. One of them was making obscene comments with the other and the third was taking a nap with his horse beside him, lazily pawing at the ground. Only one guard was realitively interested in what was going on and he looked different than the others – his hair was dark and his skin was tan, as opposed to the auburn haired, fair-skinned men beside him. Still Arthur was not a stranger to his companions, and was not an unknown face in the Prescott house either, often having been positioned as a guard for the heiress before. Aside from his appearance, he rarely ever stood out.

He was the only one to notice there was something odd. When Chad and Wyatt galloped into the woods he positioned a hand on his sword and looked like he was about to follow, but one of the jeering guards reached out to touch his arm. He told his companion to leave them be – if the prince really wanted some alone time with his bride-to-be, he would force house Prescott to renounce any knight who stood in the way. Besides, they were there to guard Lady Wyatt from house O’Neal’s soldiers, no her fiancé.

So he dropped his guard – not looking too pleased about that – and let his hand slip from his sword at his side. He focused on the scenery of King’s Landing – letting his eyes take in the sun glittering on the ocean – until he heard furious clonking. He and his fellow guards looked over to see the handmaiden of their Lady, trying and failing to ride a horse, the creature going much too fast for her to handle.

Arthur was the first to act and he got his own horse to follow her. The other guards exchanged snickers, deciding to leave dealing with the handmaiden and her crazy horse to Arthur. It was a one man job, after all.

Arthur’s horse quickly matched Mal’s in speed and he came up beside her, the clocking of hooves loud in his ears. He looked over at her, took note of her frazzled expression and stance, and frowned.

”Have you any idea how to stop a horse?!” He asked.

”That we do, my lady.” Chad said, allowing Wyatt to appraise his figure underneath his clothes and study him and listen to his words. This was the way to live, he thought. Walking through nature, with a beautiful woman on his arms, a woman who would soon be his bride and produce him an heir. And he would show her skills. His skills at leading an army, charisma, charm, and in the bedroom – he would show his lady all.

When she stopped as well, and said he was charming, Chad grinned and continued to look down at her, that charming smile still on his face. She took initiative – which he liked – and kissed him first. He was so over the quiet virgin highborn women who wanted sex but wanted him to make the first move. His fiancée was bolder than that, and he appreciated that.

He kissed her back – knowing better than to make the kiss deep straight away – and kept the tough light and chaste, though when he nibbled on her lower lip, there was something more about that. When they separated he had his hands on either side of her body and his eyes were half-lidded. ”My Lady, your kiss is lovely. I wonder if anyone has yet to tell you that.”

-x-

As he thought, she didn’t know how to stop her horse. Arthur exhaled and kept his dark horse going steady to match Mal’s.

”Hold tight to your horse, and don’t go kicking it anymore!” He ordered, before he clapped his reigns and his horse darted faster than Mal’s did. Fortunately at one point, she had taken a turn and spun so that now rather than barreling towards the trees where Wyatt and Chad were, they were on the wide open field, though in a matter of minutes Mal’s horse would dart into the wall of a small building ahead.

He had his horse dart across Mal’s path, causing her horse to whinny in confusion and slow just slightly. Arthur continued that type of a zig-zag motion with his own horse to try and get it to slow down – and before they reached the wall, he guided Mal’s horse to turn, it now going a slower pace but not yet slow enough for Mal to get off.

”Have you been flung yet?” he asked, finally changing a glance to look back at the frazzled handmaiden, hoping the answer was no. He almost had this damn horse settled down and if he had to explain to Lady Wyatt why her handmaiden suddenly died, he’d be pissed.

”Wisely spoken, my lady.” Chad said to Wyatt, though her small little moan enticed him. He wanted to hear more of them, more open and less hidden, but he had a feeling he wouldn’t be getting that from his bride-to-be. She was obviously willing but not willing to risk the purity of their marriage yet. She had enticed his curiosity, though, and he pulled away and looked at her with half-lidded eyes.

”I look forward in discovering your secrets in due time.” He said, allowing a hand to rest on her waist. ”You have quite a way of baiting a man. It keeps me... eager for our wedding bed.”

-x-

Arthur felt pity for the poor girl, who looked as though she was going to puke. He got his horse to pick up speed again and this time, cut the horse off much sooner than he intended to. That caused the horse to stop for a second and retreat, but then pick up speed again. But Arthur cut it off again and pulled his horse to a stop in front of Mal’s. Her horse let out an irate whinny, but finally, it stopped, and Arthur immediately dismounted from his horse.

”Stay still.” He told Mal. The horse still looked upset, and he feared if Mal tried to get off immediately the horse would kick her backwards or trample over her. Slowly, Arthur approached the horse, his hand outstretched. The horse sniffed at him, and when he finally managed to reach the horse’s nose and gently stroked its mane, he finally moved towards the saddle where Mal was and offered his arm to her.

”You may be a bit dizzy getting down.” He said, anticipating that he would probably have to catch her, anyway.

She wanted to share secrets? Oooh, how scandalous! Chad grinned at the idea and kept his hands on Wyatt’s hips, not moving away to allow them to walk back towards the horse or farther into the grove.

”Secrets! I’d love to share some. Well, I’ll tell you one of mine, though I don’t believe it’s much of a secret... I’m not a virgin.” He smirked sneakily. ”Don’t worry about it though, my Lady. All that means is that I have plenty of experience to give you pleasure with.”

-x-

The poor girl was, as he suspected, ridiculously dizzy. Arthur held Mal steady when she stumbled and clutched onto him. He kept a hold on her to make sure she didn’t fall. She’d yet to actually move that far away from the horse and he wondered if at any second she would vomit.

When she mentioned her lady and began to panic Arthur exhaled and waited for her to end her rant, brows raised until she was finished.

”Your lady is fine. Lady Prescott assigned us knights to watch over her and if anything happens we’re here.” Like just previously, though he wasn’t going to say that since technically the handmaiden didn’t necessarily matter to Lady Prescott. It was awful, how replaceable they probably thought this girl was. And that thought reminded him that she knew that – her failing to keep watch on the lady of the house would not go without consequence. ”Calm down, you’ll make yourself light headed again. I will talk to Lady Wyatt when she returns and tell her we ordered you to stay here. Which I do. The prince is trained to ride – don’t try chasing him and leave that to skilled riders.”

Chad knew his secret wasn’t really a secret – it was painfully obvious that he was not a virgin. He was mostly looking for Wyatt’s reaction. Would she be offended, irritated? She wasn’t, she was amused, and even applauded his experience. He grinned at her then, and as her inquiry, he proudly held his head up.

”Of course, the highborn ladies all want their throw with the prince. Some of them act so prudish – but get them in the sheets and they’ll be a much different person.” He said. ”As for lowborn women, I only entertain women at brothels. I don’t need to go sleeping with every woman in King’s Landing, do I? Not all of the lowborn woman are worth my time. I only like the pretty ones.”

When she mentioned that she touched herself at night Chad laughed boyishly, covering his mouth with his hand as he did so. He could picture it now – a bored, lonely Wyatt lying in her bedchambers, hiking the folds of her nightgown up to expose herself, and slipping her fingers inside herself to see how it would really feel to experience sex. ”My Lady! The Gods would be so devastated to see that, you know!” he said, though he let his lips turn up into a smirk. ”Though I certainly wouldn’t. Another secret of mine is that I like to watch women pleasure one another in the bedroom – even if I’m not involved. The Gods may frown at me, but I find it quite... appealing, regardless.”

As he spoke, he leaned into Wyatt’s neck, his breath tickling her skin.

-x-

”You’re fine. Just hold yourself steady.” Arthur said, not at all bothered by their close proximity. He was used to seeing women half naked in the brothels that he passed, and some of those women saw the armor clad on his shoulders and tried to entice him to come into their beds. They liked men with money, and so did their keepers. He had also helped women in trouble before, tended wounds, and held women closer to himself than this. This, to Arthur, was nothing. He was oblivious to her discomfort.

When she said she had to be with her lady at all times, Arthur exhaled and looked at her face for the first time since he’d saved her. They didn’t have much of a difference in height, and he was fairly certain that without his lifted shoes he would be shorter than her.

”Our Lady and the Prince are... getting acquainted with one another,” He hoped not in the sexual sense – it was far too early for that – but what did he honestly care? It was Lady Wyatt who had the integrity of House Prescott on the line, not him or this poor maiden. ”We are here to guard against attacks from the O’Neals, who have yet to show. I will say that I ordered you to stay put. If Lady Wyatt has an objection to that, I will take responsibility. I imagine she won’t, though. Now you need to sit, and have a drink so you are healthy when Lady Wyatt returns.”

”Well can you blame them? You are beautiful, and highborn,” Chad said, though when she mentioned pickiness paid off he arrogantly smirked. Of course it did. It was an honor to be chosen as the prince’s bride, an honor not many got. ”But of yours, can’t blame you for saying no. Not when your husband-to-be is much better suited to be me.”

He felt her hand grazing his chest and found the feeling pleasant, and when she said the visited the sept every day that just got him to laugh again, he could just picture that! And when she expressed slightly horror, but not revulsion, at his admission of liking to watch women pleasure one another he grinned and just winked at her. ”I’m a rather erotic man,” he said, in response.

Her last secret was quite the game-changer for the situation – when she said her half-brother was somewhere in the world. The child was likely at the Wall now, or dead. ”I didn’t know that! How old is this half-brother of yours?”

-x-

Of course this girl was stubborn. Arthur felt annoyance beginning to bubble in him as he watched her insist on finding her lady in case she broke her ankle. He could understand her concern but he gave her an excuse to not be blamed – unless she feared some deeper, more long-term consequence. But even so she should be appeased for now and just accept the lady would be fine.

When she tried (and failed) to prove her health this time Arthur didn’t go over to catch her, instead allowing her to fall down on her ass to prove his point rather than hers.

”You are not healthy. You are still dizzy.” He could tell just by looking at her. Besides, judging by the giggles he heard from Wyatt when they bolted, he had a feeling she didn’t want to be found and would avoid doing so. Still. He wasn’t about to let this girl go trotting after them. He reached down and offered Mal his hand to get up with. ”Will you sit still, then, if I send a knight to find her? That way the knight can make sure she remains safe and comes back and you won’t go collapsing from lightheadedness in the woods.”

At the mention of the O’Neals, Chad scoffed, and shook his head.

”To be fair I’m glad they made that mistake. Lady Amy is hardly a Lady with how she acts,” He said. The general things he knew about Amy were that she was kind to the poor and very beautiful, but also very tomboyish. She rode horse like a man, and had little concern for beauty products unless she was going to a ball meant to impress folks. She had a few suitors but most of them were put off by her blunt, ‘mannish’ nature. ”Lady Amy is beautiful, but not suited to be a Queen. Why, she reminds me of your handmaiden, a little bit! Seems a little too mannish for my bride-to-be.”

Her interest in eroticism was welcome to Chad – she seemed interested in exploring the boundaries of their relationship and that was what he wanted in a wife. Not a cookie-cutter lady, but not a mannish brute like Lady Amy. Wyatt was quickly becoming the best fit for his bride-to-be, he realized. If one were looking in on the situation from the outside, they might have thought Chad’s expression was that of a smitten fiancé – but he was actually wondering what he and Wyatt could get up to in the bedroom once wed.

She said her family had many secrets and Chad was curious about them. A 16-year-old bastard existed at the wall? Assuming he hadn’t been killed yet? The thought was interesting and Chad wondered if he’d ever meet the guy. Likely not. He laughed at the notion of having the bastard killed. ”You don’t like loose ends. I like that in a woman. And many families have secrets.”

Now, to match that with one of his own. ”I can give you a secret as well – my father has a mistress. Or, he had one. But my mother found out and no one has seen her since.” He wiggled his brows, ”rumor has it he has another mistress... and that rumor is actually true. I know the woman. She’s quite a beauty, with large breasts.”

—x—

When she apologized and admitted she’d been an idiot, Arthur sighed and shook his head. Finally, she was seeing sense. He lifted her up and once that was done he released her hand. The fall likely steadied her enough to walk now.

He could empathize with her not wanting to ride back and though he wanted to ask if she could just ride with him given they were far from the others, he didn’t want to risk her horse going crazy again. So he approached the horses one at a time, easing them and grabbing their reigns, one in each hand.

”Fine. I will control the horses.” Arthur said, taking a few steps forward, frowning over at the knights. Two of them were joking and one of them was still sleeping. The lazy bastards... he glanced over at Mal. ”Those idiots like to laze about, but they’re not actually bad knights. This is just a painfully easy mission. The Richardson’s already have guards surrounding the perimeter of the venue, for their heir’s protection – the second something goes amiss we would know.” He said, exhaling. Still. He didn’t like them sleeping on the job. Lady Wyatt could see, and easily badmouth them to her mother, who would easily have their heads. ”Also, I don’t recall there being a time I’ve seen Lady Wyatt without you. I hardly think she will be angry for this one instance.”

Wyatt’s comment about Amy being unfit to rule by his side made him snort. It was true, and when she said he needed a gorgeous woman by his side, Chad definitely agreed. He did not want to be accused of sleeping with a man for Amy’s obscene behavior. The few times he had attempted to spend an evening with her she’d whisked him off to the woods in unsavory ways, getting her dresses and skirts littered in dirt that matched her hair in color. Though she always looked beautiful she had the small chest and broad shoulders of a man and when she sat with sloppy posture and made crude comments she certainly didn’t look like a woman at all!

”I couldn’t agree more, my lady,” Chad said, smirking back at her as she rain her fingers across his chest. Wyatt would be someone Chad wouldn’t mind being seen beside – she was beautiful, enough to make all the men in the seven kingdoms jealous! And the way she was looking at him... he could certainly get used to that.

As she spoke of loose ends Chad laughed, feeling not at all threatened by her words. In fact, it sounded like she was his mother! Or, similar to her, anyway! ”you, unlike Lady O’Neal, remind me of my mother when you speak of that! I bet if she had her way, Lady O’Neal would ignore any loose ends just as she likely does with her hair!”

He grinned when she seemed shocked – at least to him she did – and when she looked embarrassed he grinned. ”Yup! I’ve seen her, she lives over at the brothel here in town. My father always gets what he wants when it comes to her – the brothel owner is very accommodating.”

As much fun as they were talking not even Chad was dumb enough to mention that the brothel owner was acquainted with him, too. He turned towards Wyatt with a grin. ”Shall we head back? Likely they’re concocting all kinds of rumors about us now.”

-x-

Arthur continued to lead the horses towards the slumbering knights, a few of whom were up, looking at the approaching two with snickers. Of course they’d poke fun at this whole situation – Arthur would complain to Lady Prescott if he thought she’d care. These men were ‘true banner men’ to the Prescotts and they’d be valued highly over him, because he was from the north and his loyalties were already highly questioned. He just had to do his job and do it well – and ensure Lady Wyatt remained safe.

”Certainly.” he agreed with Mal though he wanted to refuse the statement so badly and say the men should, in that case, spend less evenings at the bar and brothels and instead in their own beds. But he wasn’t going to talk badly of them, he knew they could be good in the field, they just hadn’t had the chance yet.

When Mal stopped Arthur turned to her, confused. When she hastily introduced herself, he couldn’t help but feel less tense because she wasn’t stopping for another reason (he still thought it highly likely she’d bolt and go chasing Wyatt). Of course he knew Mal by her position, but he’d never interacted with her before. He made sure the horses were still content before he looked back at Mal and watched as she curtsied – best she could without a dress. A small smile of amusement appeared on his lips and he resisted the urge to snort at how silly the gesture looked.

”Right. I’m Sir. Arthur, one of your Lady’s knights.” He introduced himself as well, moving forward and expecting her to follow. ”Perhaps you should learn to ride a horse proper. I hear Prince Chad wishes to take Wyatt riding around the landing – and I take it you’d be going with them as well?”

He didn’t know, and if they were going around the landing he had a feeling he’d be joining them – but he doubted Wyatt would appreciate Mal needing constant saving and would get annoyed. And he saw the way Mal flinched under her gaze – he doubted Mal would be granted much pity.

When she mentioned how warming his bed would be a great privilege, Chad rose his eyebrows and grinned, knowing she was right. He could warm more than just her bed if they were in it together, grinding together, doing the dance that they’d be doing to produce an heir or two for Chad’s kingdom... he smiled at the thought.

”Ah, yes, my mother quite likes you already. I have to ward her off! You are my betrothed – my mother may have no part of you!” He joked. It was true... for some reason his mother insisted Wyatt was good match for him. He wondered if it was because of how gorgeous she was -- a gorgeous bride would produce handsome heirs.

When she agreed to head back Chad laughed and began to head towards the horses. ”I wonder if your knights, too, will skewer me alive when we return! If they did they’d be foolish – there’s nothing wrong with a man and his lady spending some time together, right?”

-x-

Arthur knew she was right. They found amusement in this and before he’d gone after her, they laughed and made fun of him for actually doing his job. Yea, how silly of someone to actually ensure Lady Wyatt did not lose her handmaiden due to her bring bucked off of a horse and cracking her skull open. He was surprised by the slight venom he sensed in her mumbled comment though – he assumed it wasn’t meant to be heard. He rose his brows at the flush on her cheeks, and as she looked away.

”They’re overgrown brats with armor and swords – they will laugh at anything.” He said rather curtly, ”They like to laugh when they think they’ve won something. Like their knighthoods, or their hunts, or their women.”

He nodded at her thanks – not entirely sure how to respond because he had already said it was fine – and noted her panic when she said she would have no choice. He sighed and looked at her panicked expression, and the horse’s indifferent one. ”The best cure for ignorance is to learn. If it means I’ll never have to save you from your crazed horse again, I can teach you how to ride.”

Chad grinned down at her, as they approached their horse, which was calmly pawing at the ground. Chad approached with his hand outstretched and a smile on his face, especially as she spoke of how foolish her guards would be to object to them.

”Certainly. There’s nothing wrong with us getting to know one another,” He said, and once the horse knew they were there, he offered his arms to Lady Wyatt. ”Require my assistance getting up, my Lady?”

-x-

Laugh to feel better about themselves... well, they could certainly do that and they would – he just felt bad for Mallory subjected to being the butt of their joke. It was pathetic. He glanced at her shrugged shoulders before he glanced at her face as she acted so shocked that he offered to teach her.

He exhaled and shrugged his shoulders when she said she had nothing to pay him with. ”You being able to hold your own and not requiring me to chase you down again will be payment enough,” he said, giving her a pointed look. He glanced towards the forest – Chad and Wyatt had yet to return but the knights still didn’t look concerned. ”Allowing you to keep up with Lady Wyatt will be worth the trouble as well.”