Chapter Text
Harwin stood in the middle of the hallway, his hands folded neatly in front of him. He had been standing in front of the door for more than a few minutes now, waiting for his sisters to finish prepping.
Sudden footsteps filled the empty hallway, lifting his gaze he found his father, exchanging quick looks between him and the door.
"Your sisters?" His father inquired.
"They weren't quite finished when I knocked" Lyonel nodded in acknowledgment and motioned at him to step further from the door.
"I do have to talk to you... About tonight" he began. Harwin couldn't help but sigh as he tilted his head down to meet his father's gaze. "It would be a good opportunity for you-"
"To do what?"
"You know what" his brow furrowed scoldingly "you are to be the Lord of Harrenhal, I believe it's best for you to marry now, before the peace of King Viserys' ruling comes to an end"
"There's plenty of time before that" his gaze quickly left his father's as he shifted in his spot, unnerved by the conversation.
"Just entertain that idea tonight, or every other for that matter" he waved his arm dimissingly "if I wanted to have you wed for advantage I already would have" he noted.
With one final sigh and nod on Harwin's part, both of his sisters exited the room and declared they were ready. The whole of house Strong marched the corridors of the Eerie. A wedding invitation had been sent out to the royal family and in need to gap the pit of resentment Daemon Targaryen had left after his marriage with Lady Rhea had ended, it was necessary to mend relations with the population of the Vale.
The Hand of the King, Lord Lyonel had taken the invitation as an opportunity to mend concerns about the Vale's relationship with the crown, keeping the peace was one of the first thing in his mind, the time spent with his two sons and his two daughters was also much appreciated during the two week leave His Grace had given him.
Now, Harwin sat next to his brother and the extensive banquet table, his sisters across from him. His eyes scanned the room, not really setting on anyone in particular, the sea of people and faces mashed into one, incomprehensible.
He leaned to the side, his brother leaning with him as he gave him a inquisitive glance.
"Father requested I entertained the idea of looking for a suitable partner"
"The horror that must be for you" Larys blanqued his eyes, making Harwin smirk.
"In the Vale? Out of all places?" Grayce, his sister perked up from her seat, leaning forward on the table.
"You should drop this persuit here and pick it up elsewhere" his other sister, Jaena, also leaning on the table spoke up, then hushed the last bit "where the women are prettier"
Grayce nudged her and pulled her to her seat, her eyes looked around then quickly, scandalized someone might have heard.
"I will not be deterred by something so banal"
"Surely" Jaena followed, the sarcasm thick on her tone of voice and a smirk on her face.
"Truth be told-" he looked briefly at his brother "I know nothing about anyone here, I merely ask from some guidance as to where to cast my eyes"
Larys nodded in thought, then looked around and nodded further down the table.
"The Borrells down the table do have one Lady Marybel, who was close second in contest to become Princess Rhaenyra's lady-in-waiting. It is presumed she is charming enough"
Harwin scanner for a lady, her red straight hair hid most of her face, her attention put to the person standing next to her as she spoke, often moving her hands around.
"House Torrent-" his brother picked his attention again, now motioning with his eyebrows at another pair of elder Lord and Lady with a young woman at her side, she was looking down at her hands, nothing on her plate had been touched.
"I don't think she would be too interested in being courted right now, her brother lost the melee competition to one of the matches his father was thinking for her" Grayce was quick to intervene.
"It is true, some of the maidens said the wound might turn fatal" Jaena followed.
"Fair point" Larys conceded. He hummed as he looked around the room, his sight limited to the table they were sitting on, leaving an entire table across the room out of reach.
"The only other noble house with a potential unmatched lady could be in House Redfort"
Both Grayce and Jaena leaned in again, waiting for Larys' next words.
Larys just chuckled at their reaction before continuing. "Though his father might be saving her, Lord Edder is well known in these regions for his remarkable matching skills. His three older sons are married to the Lannisters, an allied house of the Tully's and House Karstark. He has effective influence and information from most of the Seven Kingdoms." His brother explained.
"Or perhaps since he's already so well connected he would allow his daughter to seek a partner freely. She does have one more brother, her twin" Grayce mentioned.
"Adrian" now Jaena sighed dreamily with a smile "such a sight for sore eyes".
"And you do know what they say about the youngest one, Jessamine?"
Harwin just motioned at her sister to continue.
"She has been with Lady Jeyne Arryn for the last three years, she uh-" Jaena squirmed just once on her seat "fulfils every wish Lady Jeyne has."
"That is vile gossip-"
"Why hasn't she married then? She does not desire men" the two sisters bickered back and forth, only stopped by the drums setting a rythm for the newly wedded couple to take the dance floor.
Just as the room cleared and the dance began, Harwin looked across the dance floor and spotted a woman, hair falling freely from her half tied hair, a little smile and a twinkle in her eyes painted her face as she watched the couple dance. Two of her fingers rested on her jaw, exposing her long neck and the jewelry that hung from it all the way down to her revealing dress, one that quickly reminded him of the gowns he saw the ladies from Highgarden wear. He could spot the vibrant color of her eyes from all the way across the room, and he could've sworn he heard her melodic laugh after she was whispered something from behind her.
The dance quickly came to an end, everyone around applauded and a lot of the patrons that were sitting at the tables stood to populate the dance floor. That was the only reason his gaze turned back to his plate, having lost sight of her.
"Well-" Jaena took one last sip of her goblet and stood up "to expedite things further, we might have to bring some Ladies your way. Come on Grayce" she pulled at her sisters arms making her stand up.
"And how, exactly, are you going to accomplish that?" Harwin inquired. Jaena wasn't known in the family for being discreet. "Are you going to parade around the wedding, throwing hooks and lines at the masses seeing who might catch the bait?"
Jaena's eyes remained on his while her knowing smirk creeped on her lips again, one shoulder came up as her chin meet her chest.
"Oh Seven Hells" Harwin could only mutter as his sisters disappeared into the crowd.
"You underestimate the power of whispers" Larys said before taking a sip of his wine "it'll only bring women who might be interested in you. That certainly expedites things"
His fingers interlocked at his front, his thumbs dancing with eachother. The feeling of being watched began then, and every twist and turn of his eyes along the crowd only made people look away just as their eyes met. His sister's plans had certainly worked.
"You might want to take the dance floor-"
"Is that her?" He quickly interrupted, his eyes meeting the figure of the woman just as he passed in front of him, cup in one hand and a gripped gown on the other, exchanging looks and apologetic smiles as she walked along the dance floor.
"Oh, that is her. Mhm, she's grown to be a charming young woman"
Charming wasn't the first attribute of hers that came to mind. Breathtaking was more like it. She'd made her way to the bride, embracing her and looking up and down at her as they held hands.
Harwin stood up then, his sisters just returning to the table.
"We've done our part" Jaena declared "we've put a good word out there for you, dear brother. Our reach only goes so far, sadly we can't to anything about your face"
Grayce nudged her sister on the arm as she laughed, eliciting a chuckle from Harwin as he walked away. His sister's lighthearted joke had dissipated enough nervousness in him by the time he reached his target lady.
The bride must've seen him approach them by the way she saluted her goodbye and moved to another lady that had come near her to congratulate her.
Taking her dress in her hand, she pulled and turned around, minding the step down she had to take.
"My Lady" he saluted. When she lifted her gaze to his, her vibrant eyes meeting his, his breath almost got caught in his throat.
"My Lord" she saluted. He extended his hand to help her down the steps. She took it, her eyes shifting between him and the steps below, her long fingers placed carefully on his larger palm. He couldn't resist his fingers sliding along the her palm, a considerable amount of hardened skin lived there, much to his surprise. "I do hope you're enjoying the festivities, and if you're not, then at least the clean air, Ser Harwin"
She retreated her hand from his, her fingers clinging to each other to link her arms behind her back.
"I am very much enjoying the little free time out of the Keep, my Lady" his eyes never left hers for a second, the smile that painted her lips became more prominent when she noticed his eyes moving around every faction of her face. "Perhaps you could honor me-" he motioned at the dance floor and the mass of people moving together in it.
Her smile grew wider, her cheeks reddened just enough to make her look away for a split second.
"You would honor me, Ser"
They shared an understanding smile as they walked to the side of the dance floor. Once knowing the pace, they began twirling around each other as they talked.
"I'm afraid you have me at a disadvantage, my Lady"
"Do I?"
"You have addressed me by name" he noted. Their hands shot up at the rythm of the song, and when it was supposed to come down to their respective sides, she extended her in front of his chest.
"I'm Ayla" Harwin was fast in taking her extended hand and placing a quick kiss on her lips. She quickly retreated it and continued with the dance, hoping that he hadn't seen her skin perk up in goosebumps as soon as his lips touched her skin, soft as well and rough from his beard.
"Do you sword fight?" He hesitated to ask, the calluses on her palm gave way to such assumption.
"My apologies if that is distasteful of me, Ser, having grown up with four older brothers in the household that trains a third of the Vale's men in battle, there's sadly not much else for me to do to socialize" her smile had gone from a playful, teasing one to a sad and apologetic twist of lips.
"I suggest nothing of the sorts, I was simply impressed" one of her eyebrows shot up in interest as they danced around each other.
"I'd wager you'd be more impressed if you actually saw me, I put at least one of my brothers to shame" her playful tone had returned, much to Harwin's ease. The song they were dancing to was coming to an end, just as they were circling each other, closer in proximity than others, Ayla couldn't help herself from looking up to meet his eyes.
"That would be up for interpretation" They stopped along with the music, his own face came down to look at her from his height advantage.
"You're more than welcome to interpret then"
Being so close to his chest, Ayla heard the rumble of a chuckle first hand, she couldn't stop herself from looking down at his lips, reddened and surrounded by a hefty amount of facial hair.
She quickly tore her eyes from him when the music started again, giving way to a new dance. She took a step to the side, then faced him to continue dancing.
Just as they had to give their backs to each other, he expected to see the smirk both of them had been wearing ever since they stepped into the floor when he turned back around. The gasps of people and the thud behind him made him turn around quicker, finding not Ayla, but another blonde haired woman with a grin.
"Oh I'm deeply sorry, we bumped into each other" he tone of voice, though Harwin hadn't seen her face, was a heavily mocking one.
His eyes now casted down, and before he could react two other men obstructed his view, his eyes now finding Ayla's shocked face peaking from the two men's shoulders.
"I'm fine" she dismissed, but when she lifted her hands to swat the men away, he could see a trail of blood running down her arm, spurring from the spot of her wrist were the skin had broken and drawn blood.
She was ushered away from the dance floor, Harwin could hear the man say they were going to see the maester, but before he could follow suit he was held back by his arm.
"Brother" he looked back and down to find Grayce holding him and pulling him away. "Let's go" she ushered.
He reluctantly followed her back to a corner of the salon, his remaining two siblings were standing, Jaena had a frown on her face he didn't think he'd ever seen her with.
"That one pushed her!" she accused.
"What a shame, you two looked lovely dancing" Grayce lamented.
"What a cunt!"
"Jaena!" All three siblings admonished. Jaena didn't look one bit remorseful at her comment, she just crossed her arms at her chest and frowned at the woman's direction.
"The pressumed brothers were also staring intently at the two of you" Larys noted "Lord Edder must be trying to convince his sons not to make a fuss" he motioned with a shake of his head. Harwin didn't bother to look, he just headed to the large table where his father was sitting, he leaned and asked where the maester's chambers might be. Once he got his directions he headed there.
With long and purposeful strides he reached the maester's chambers. There were some men already outside, and they were talking loudly, one of them was pacing back and forth.
"It was outrageous that she did that in front of everybody" one of them, the one that paced sound, spat angrily. "You should've -"
"I am not to interfere with the Tully's, Adrian-"
"Oh why? Because of your Lady wife?"
"Precisely because of my Lady wife. There's no room for child's play here."
"Ayla is our sister"
"And your sister had repeated, serval times now, that she's fine" Ayla's voice called from inside the chambers, making both of her brothers turn to face her, though Harwin could only see her when she finally stepped out. "Besides my trampled pride, we will forget about this" she dedicated a scolding glare to her brother, Adrian.
Her scolding twist of eyebrows was short lived, she was surprised to see Harwin a couple steps back. She ushered her brothers to the other direction of the hallway as she walked towards him.
"My apologies, my Lady, but I was most preoccupied by your fall. Are you injured?" He motioned at her bandaged wrist and opposite elbow. Ayla just shrugged and denied with her head, a little smile peaking from her lips.
"I'm fine, Ser Harwin, it's not the first time either of these have found themselves in this condition" she sighed and reluctantly tried to change the subject "I hope you enjoyed the rest of the dance with Lady Myra"
Harwin couldn't pinpoint the direction Ayla intended to lead the conversation, he also couldn't pinpoint if the tone in her voice was genuine interest in the answer.
"At least on my part, the dance ended as soon as you left the dance floor my Lady"
Harwin noticed her pleased smile for the split second it appeared on her face, she was quick to hide as she looked down to her linked hands.
"My only regret, other than we stopped dancing, was that I don't think I'll be able swordfight properly with my hand like this, I was looking forward to your exam" she joked, her eyes finding his again, now linking her hands behind her back "if anything, we would still be delighted with your family's visit to the Redfort. If only for a quick stop on your way back to King's Landing." She offered.
Harwin gave her a quick smile and bowed his head to her "I wish you safe travels back".
Ayla understood such decisions weren't his to make. With a final nod of her head, she turned and walked back to her brothers, who hadn't moved a step from where she first left them. Her older brother Kase had been joined by his wife, who ran her hands back and forth over her stomach, the one that held Ayla's first nephew or niece.
"Are you alright Ayla?" She inquired, her hand shooting up towards her, Ayla quickly took it and squeezed it with a smile.
"I'm okay Good Sister" she linked her arms together and motioned at her brothers to follow with her head "let's head back home"
On the carriage for the trip from the Eerie to Redfort, Ayla still had a little smile on her face, her father must've noticed it and asked.
"Did you enjoy the party?"
Ayla smiled wider and tried her hardest to not stare back at her father's knowing face.
"It was pleasant, the best parts were short lived"
"I did spoke with Lord Harald about his daughter, he says Myra was deeply apologetic"
"Mm, right. A most unfortunate accident." She muttered.
"Her efforts won her no favors" her Good Sister Elyana pointed out "Ser Harwin seemed to have eyes for only you"
Ayla thanked the Seven for the roads lack of lightning, the blush that creeped to her cheeks when she reminded herself of Harwin's eyes on hers would've shamed the reddest of roses.
"I did invite the whole of house Strong to the Redfort, father, I was hoping you would agree with that even if I didn't consult you first"
"Of course" her father cupped her chin and smiled at her. "Whatever my girl wishes"
~•~•~
Harwin, his brother and two sisters were already having breakfast by the time his father joined them, the chambers provided to the Hand of the King allowed for most meals to be held in the privacy of the family, fewer were the times they had to join the Arryn's for any of the meals.
Lyonel looked between all his children before taking his seat next to Harwin.
"I would like to know which one of you is going to explain why, in the middle of the feast last night, every conversation I had with a Lord involved uniting houses through Harwin"
Jaena and Grayce cackled loudly just once, and stifled the rest with their hands as they looked at Harwin.
"It was your daughters' plot" Harwin curtly explained, his eyes trained on the plate before him.
"We helped-"
"We helped a lot"
Harwin's fork hit the plate as he finally looked at his sisters.
"If anything, I have a target on my back now, you have not helped one bit. Besides, the only pleasant conversation I held last night was the result of my own work."
"Speaking of, what did Lord Redfort offer you, father?" Jaena asked leaning on the table in interest.
Lyonel looked between his Jaena and Harwin with a frown that noted he was clearly missing some information.
"Lord Edder offered nothing, he only talked about the match that I made for the Princess and Laenor Velaryon."
"He offered nothing because Lady Ayla does not need to have her father curry favors for her" Harwin spoke up. "She made her own invitation to the Redfort"
"When?" Asked Grayce.
"When I went to the maester's chambers to see if she was okay"
"And she invited you to her home?" Jaena followed.
"She invited the family to visit, we were welcome even if it was for a short time on our way to King's Landing"
Grayce looked at him through her lashes, a pulling only one of the sides of her lips into a smile. Harwin saw his sisters and his father exchange complicit looks between them.
"So...?" His father beckoned with a twist of his eyebrow "shall we?"