Hey Stephen / Larys Strong (3)

14. No Take Backs

"Where are you off to?" Willa questioned. Larys smiled up from his bag. 

"I just have to stop in at the capital and check on Vivian, she is teething again." larys answered. "But then Stephen and I are going to have a great day together. "

"I can't thank you enough for taking Stephen under your wing." Willa remarked fondly. "I'm glad he has someone like you looking out for him. A good role model in you." Larys leaned in kissing her. 

Vivi reached out grabbing a chunk of ginger from larys. She gnawed at it.

"I got more vanilla beans for her gums. Picked a few carrots to." Larys added.

"Thanks Larys you are the best!" Tully agreed kissing his cheek.

"Carrots?" Luke countered.

"To suck on." Larys answered.

"You are really smart Larys. You should be a maester." Luke decided.

"Does lady willa know how wonderfully brilliant you are?" Tully questioned. "I can tell her if she doesnt know."

"Let me focus on vivi." Larys requested.

"How are things with lady willa?" Luke questioned.

"Stay out of my love life." Larys requested.

"But things are going well." Tully prompted. 

"Things are going great." larys assured. "I'm taking Stephen on a ride today. I want to get him a horse of his own."

"Oh Larys, thats so sweet." Tully declared. 

"Would it be alright if the horse boarded here?" Larys questioned. 

"Yes." Tully agreed. "I mean right?" TUlly looked to Luke, he shrugged. 

"I dont see why not." Luke agreed. 

"He has been talking about it all morning." Willa remarked when they got to the castle. "I have to get to work but... thank you." 

"Well its his name day, I wanted to do something special for him." Larys assured before kissing her. "Hey Stephen."

"Hi Larys." Stephen declared hugging him. 

"YOu ready?"

"I'm ready, which one is mine?"

"You can pick." Larys answered. 

"I like this one, she's pretty." Stephen remarked stroking the honey colored mane. 

"Good choice." Larys agreed. He wasnt a big rider, his leg prevented him from being a stud like harwin and mounting a horse like it was second nature but Stephen had been talking about the horses all moon and Larys wanted to be the one to take him out for a ride. 

"I wish I had my own horse. Mum says they are expensive." Stephen remarked as they rode. 

"They are." Larys agreed. 

"And messy." Stephen added. 

"They can be." Larys agreed. "If you got to have a horse what would you do?"

"I would ride her every day and brush her, clean her hooves and give her carrots." Stephen answered. 

"That sounds like a good plan." Larys agreed. "Where would the horse stay?" He pondered. 

"Well," Stephen's shoulders slumped. "I dont suppose I could keep her in the front of the house." Stephen realized running a hand over the horses mane. 

"You are a good rider." Larys answered instead. "She likes you." 

"Maybe I could ride her some more, who does she belong to?" Stephen questioned. 

"You."

"No I mean-"

"You." Larys repeated. "If you promise to take good care of her, ride her every day, keep her clean and healthy and give her lots of carrots." Stephen gaped back at him. 

"I dont understand..." He whispered wide eyed. 

"Happy name day, Stephen."

"You are serious? She's mine?" Stephen declared. 

"You can keep her at the castle stables, I spoke to Tully and Luke.  You can join your mother and I at the palace and we can ride every day together." Larys added. 

"He talked himself to sleep." Wlila remarked pouring another glass of wine for them. "I can't thank you enough. It's too much but its all he has been able to talk about. You are too generous, Larys." 

"Only the best for you and Stephen." Larys corrected. 

"I hope you dont think I'm taking advantage of your generosity." Willa added her fingers running over the base of his neck and up into his hair, letting the strands flow through her fingers. 

"You havent asked for a thing." Larys corrected. "I want to spoil you."

"Consider us spoiled." Willa agreed kissing him. 

"Willa, darling?"

"Yes boyfriend?" Willas questioned. Larys stared back at her. His question leaving his mind completely. It was basically like she claimed him and he loved it. "Um-"

"Don't take it back." Larys corrected kissing her quickly.