Dynasty / Arya Stark X oc Male

5. Worthy Opponent

"Mother," Garrett pressed a kiss to Cersei's cheek.

"Hi my handsome boy." Cersei replied. "How did you sleep?"

"Had to stroke the fire last night a few times but otherwise its quiet, peaceful here." Garrett answered.

"I heard the Stark boys already excited to train against you today." Cersei remarked linking her arm with his as they walked.

"It will be good to train against some new fighting styles." Garrett remarked. "I think we could learn a lot from each other."

"Such a sweet boy, I dont know where you get it from." Cersei remarked.

"From you of course." Garrett decided, cersei chuckled shaking her head.

"I have never been as good as you my dear."

"Sansa's work is as pretty as she is," Septa Mordane had told catelyn constantly. "She has such fine, delicate hands."

When Catelyn had asked about Arya, the septa had sniffed though. As though Arya was something to be ashamed of.

"Arya has the hands of a blacksmith." The septa had said with distaste. Arya rolled her eyes, she knew the boys were training, the prince was training. She wanted to see him fight, see if he was as good as she expected from the prince.

Now that the royal family was here the septas attention was not on Arya. Septa mordane was gushing over Mycella. the septa was paying her no attention today or any day for the foreseeable future if the royals were here. That was one good thing about them. Why would anyone look twice at Arya after all she was a lady with blacksmith hands. Not a princess or perfect sansa.

"Joffrey likes your sister," Jeyne whispered, proud as if she had something to do with it. "He told her she was very beautiful."

"He's going to marry her," another girl, Beth declared

Sansa had the grace to blush. She blushed prettily. She did everything prettily, Arya thought with dull resentment.

"I thought joffrey-" Arya countered, sansa spoke over her.

"But Beth, you shouldn't make up stories," Sansa corrected "nothing it set yet... yet."

"Joffrey? Really?" Arya questioned. "Last night you were all gushing over Garrett."

"Well mother said it would be Joffrey," Sansa admitted.

"And we love Joffrey!" Jayne agreed.

"Thats not what you were saying last night." Arya murmured. but she supposed it was for the better because she had her sights set on Garrett now.

"Jon come on down!" Garrett called out. Jon stared down at them. There was a window in the covered bridge between the armory and the Great Keep where you had a view of the whole yard. Jon was not allowed to train with the royal princes, he was to stay out of sight and out of mind as Catelyn had demanded but he couldnt help the curiosity that filled him. Jon sat on the ledge of the window, one leg drawn up to his chin.

"Jon!" Garrett summoned.

"What did you think of Prince Joff, sister? He's very gallant, don't you think?" Sansa gushed.

"Jon says he looks like a girl," Arya corrected bluntly but Sansa sighed as she stitched not meeting Arya's gaze.

"Poor Jon," Sansa said. "He gets jealous because he's a bastard."

"Lady Stark said-"

"Come on Jon, you were all here all night, I want to train against you!" Garrett remarked. "I already got Theon down easy enough-"

"Hey!" Theon shouted back.

"-Robb shouldnt be much harder." Garrett teased.

"Hey!" Robb echoed.

"Come on JON!" Garrett waved a hand for him to come down.

"Okay," Jon agreed pulling himself from the window. "Arya?" she stared back at him as she came into the room. "Shouldn't you be working on your stitches, little sister?" Arya made a face at him.

"I wanted to see them fight." Arya corrected.

"Well I'm heading down, you want to come with me?" Jon questioned.

"I thought you werent allowed?" Arya countered.

"Prince Garrett invited me personally, so-" Jon shrugged. "I suppose its okay."

"Then I'm coming down too!" Arya agreed sprinting ahead of Jon.

WHen they got down, Garrett and Robb had swords clashing. It echoed in the open courtyard. Arya looked at Garrett's footing, slipping slightly not used to fighting in the snow but he was stronger than Robb and dug his heels in getting the upper hand. Arya looked to Theon, rooting for Robb. Clearly the prince had beat him and he was slightly bitter about it but the boys all seemed happy enough, to be getting along.

They grunted moving about the courtyard, Joffrey was bored out of his mind. Jon noticed his coat of arms, equal parts lannister to baratheon. He looked to Garrett's cloak tossed aside while he trained and it was the same. But Garrett wore a dark red shirt, his blade upon further inspection had a lion on the hilt of his blade. Jon tensed when he realized they were using live steel not sparing swords. Garrett got Robb back against the stables.

"Yield?" Garrett questioned.

"No." Robb challenged pushing back. Garrett sent a punch to his shoulder and Robb loosened his grip on the blade and Garrett grabbed it. He pointed both blades at Robb and he rose his hands admitting defeat. Garrett chuckled passing back his blade.

"Good match, Lord Stark." Garrett declared.

"Damn, Garrett." Arya declared clapping out. "That was awesome!"

"Thank you my lady." Garrett answered. Arya tucked her hair behind her ear. Blushing. Why was she always blushing? He did it to her without even trying. "Jon?"

"Dull edges." Rodrick remarked.

"I'm fine with-" Garrett began.

"Tourney blades, my prince." Jon agreed.

"I saw you out here, you dont need it, do you?" Garrett countered.

"Bastards are not allowed to damage princes," Jon remarked. "Any bruises they take in the practice yard must come from trueborn swords". Garrett nodded slowly.

"Okay, dull blades and if I get a bruise I will blade Robb." Garrett offered with a shrug.

"I'm okay with that." Robb agreed.

Arya watched them with interest and intrigue. Jon was better than Theon and Robb but Arya didnt know if he was better than Garrett. Garrett had been fighting against people, men, soldiers, Jon had only really ever fought against dummies and their master of arms.

It was obvious that Jon had skill but he wasnt used to fighting a real person, Jon saw Garrett holding back slightly but Jon was sure he was the only one that noticed Garrett slow his swings slightly. Giving Jon time to react.

Jon liked training, fighting against others, he noticed as the duel went on, Jon got into the swing of things, Garrett stopped slowing his swings, tempering his reaction.

Arya spun around with her arm out like a blade mimicking their motions, a big smile on her face until Jon finally yielded.

"The realms will be safe in your hands, Garrett." Jon decided.

"A worthy opponent." Garrett remarked shaking his head. "You should come with to the capital." Garrett suggested. "We can train together." RObb cleared his throat. "YOu will be lord of winterfell in your fathers stead or else I would invite you." Garrett assured.

"I would love that." Jon agreed. Arya ran off to find her father, if Jon was leaving too then she wanted to come. Maybe Garrett would let her train with them.