Chapter Text
After a good half an hour, Harry's tongue peaks out in desperation as he tries to defend himself from the continuous swings Louis relentlessly takes on him, when finally the latter comes to an abrupt stop, making Harry blink up at him.
"Something the matter?" panting as he adjusts the sword in his hands, ready to go at it again immediately.
Louis snorts, and wipes the sweat off his forehead,"As a matter of fact, yes,"
Harry brings the sword down to his side, and bites his bottom lip, holding it in, and staring wide-eyed at the other boy. Louis puts his hands on his hips and simply stares right back, a slight frown in his expression, clearly unimpressed.
Harry stutters, "..I-I don't remember the steps-"
Louis silences him with a quick motion of his hand, and sighs loudly,"There are no fucking 'steps'," The older boy massages his temple, and Harry begins nibbling at his lips nervously, "You don't fight on the battle field with rehearsed steps prepared for you and the other bloke,"
Harry blinks a couple times before releasing his bottom lip from between his teeth and nods earnestly, feeling small,"Okay..Then what do I do?"
"Just get some rest,"Louis suggests monotonously, and Harry's expression falls, but he turns around to leave to do just that. "And curly.."
And Harry turns around a little too quickly, eyeing the blue-eyed boy, waiting for his next words.
Louis throws his sword to the floor carelessly,"Be here when the sun rises, no sooner, no later,"
Harry breaks into a smile, that only grew bigger by the second,"I will, I won't disappoint you,"He bows shortly, grinning madly,"I prom-"
"Leave before you embarrass yourself further,"Louis warns, but a slight smile tugs at his lips, wondering what exactly he got himself into.
Harry bows again, and gives him one last genuine smile before walking out and shutting the doors behind him.
That night Harry kept dozing off and jolting awake, just to sit up on his fluffy bed to look out the balcony window and make sure the sun hadn't risen too far yet.
He then snuggles in closer to his pillow and dozes off a few more times.
Louis turns on his side to sleep, wondering if he'd really made the right decision to coach the Stark boy instead of going on the marvelous hunt he planned with his father.
With a sigh, he closes his eyes and lets sweet slumber take him.
THREE DAYS LATER
The days were filled with fancy banquet hall dining's, lengthy speeches, various toasts, and massive amounts of sword practicing.
Before practice one early morning, Harry stood upon Louis' balcony, simply admiring the greenery, watching the sea meet the land in waves of deep blue as the sun's first rays hit the glistening shores.
Louis walks into his room, cuffing up his sleeves, when he spots a head full of chocolate curls.
He walks towards the balcony,"Didn't even bother knocking, I see," he comments, standing a few feet away from the younger one, hands on the railing.
Harry breaks eye contact with the heaven before him. "We're not necessarily strangers..and besides, I live here too,"
"S'ppose you're right-"
"Who are you arranged with? For marriage?" Harry cuts him, looking back at the view, eyes focused in on the welcoming boats perched ashore.
Louis quiets down and shrugs, looking ahead then as well,"Either a Tyrell or a Baratheon-"
"Do you think you could love her?" Harry blurts.
Louis arches an eyebrow and turns to look at him oddly, "Are you mad?" He notices Harry begin to fidget around.
Then he mumbles,"It's a simple question,"
"It's a mighty horrible one,"Louis corrects,"..There's no need for that, all you need to do is fuck her, let her raise the little ones and then..Then, fucking hell, Harry, stop complicating th-"
"Then what?" Harry urges him. He knows in their brutal world, they don't necessarily show much affection or gods forbid, love. But he would like to, he thinks. He thinks it would be wonderful to lose yourself to another person entirely and helplessly. He read that in a book once, before it was snatched away by his older sisters.
Louis frowns at him, getting slightly defensive,"What are you getting at?" He swore the boy got odder by the day.
Harry sighs, walking back inside. "What's the point?"
Louis rolls his eyes,"There is none," he points out obviously.
"That's the problem,"Harry mumbles, taking his sword in his hands once again, regretting he even bought the topic up.
The next day, Harry was out on the crisp green grass playing with a stray young wolf he had found from the woods, that had wondered to the far edge of the forest towards the villages.
He cooed at the baby cub and massaged the back of his ears, earning him pleasing sounds from the exotic animal. "Are you lost? Where's your mommy?"
Harry giggled, when the grey-eyed wolf licked his hand.
"Don't go near it!" A harsh voice interrupted causing Harry to flinch, before he got up to face a tall and muscular man, wearing a Lannister's banner across his chest.
"M'lord, he's harmles-"
"You won't be saying that in a few years, lad,"Then he reached for a spear hanging from his horse and aimed it towards the lost creature.
"N-No! Please! You mustn't, I beg of you!"Harry pleaded, getting on his knees, shielding the terrified cub from the man. Harry knew his father had always taught him to never beg so easily but he simply couldn't resist. The little wolf needed him.
"Step away from the beast, boy!"He raised the spear even higher but Harry stubbornly hugged the wolf tighter in his arms and shook his head, his eyes becoming embarrassingly teary-eyed.
The man let go of his spear and frowned when Harry refused to move aside. Then he swiftly reached over to grab the frightened animal harshly from Harry's grip, drawing a whimper from the cub.
"M-M'lord, I'll make sure he doesn't harm anyon-"
"We'll let your father handle this then,"He concluded,"We have children here, we mustn't risk this," The little wolf stared at Harry, looking more lost than ever.
Harry ran inside the castle feeling helpless, unable to stop the tears that were streaming down his face as he sniffed almost uncontrollably.
He walked up a set of stairs and walked the path he took every morning and barged straight into Louis room without knocking once again.
Louis wasn't in the room so Harry slightly pouted before dropping himself onto the massive bed and softly cried into the blanket, hopelessly.
"Curly?" Louis questions, burrows forming a frown, as he closes the door shut behind him, coming closer to his bed.
Harry only sniffed harder. "H-Hey what's wrong?" he sat next to harry, his fingers jerking in reflex once, resisting the urge to run his hands through his curly locks.
Harry picked his head up, tears blurring his vision,"I want him back, Louis, I-I want him back now!"He ordered loudly, despite his vulnerable display, tears straying down his cheeks.
Louis' jaw tightens,"What happened?"Louis asks quickly, standing up, wanting to do anything. Anything to make the boy's tears stop. No one should make anyone cry like this, Louis thought.
Harry wipes his teary eyes with the back of his hands,"My wolf..He took him-He was a Lannister," Harry said firmly, frowning at the memory,"He was little and mine," he softly finished whisperingly, more to himself.
Louis massaged the back of his neck,"Right..Come on then," and Harry hops off the bed and almost bumps against Louis' back in his eagerness.
"What'd he look like?" Louis asks as they walk towards the throne room.
Harry looks at him incredulously, "Like you, a Lannister," he hisses the name and Louis raises an eyebrow at him, slightly offended at the connotation.
Harry notices Louis' dejected expression and then manages to offer him a delicate smile,"But less handsome..and less kind,"He finishes, reaching for Louis' hand to give a soft squeeze. Then both their eyes widen as they look down at their hands. Harry lets go. He wanted to smack himself. Why did it feel so natural? Harry's cheeks turn a dark shade of red and he keeps his head down, his curls covering his eyes.
Louis coughs, "Uh..did-did he have a beard maybe?" he stutters, the remnants of Harry's silky soft skin never leaving his palms.
"Mhm," Harry nods shortly and they say nothing else the rest of the way, with both of them keeping a good distance between themselves.
Louis was able to confront the man, being of nobler birth himself and demand the release of the wolf, which was then handed over to a delighted Harry, who kissed the cub's nose immediately.
Harry thanked Louis over and over before the feather-haired boy had to personally order him to shut his mouth.
The day after that, Harry stood front row, watching Louis fight another in 'playful' combat, amidst the cheering of the rowdy boys around him.
Louis did well, he always did and Harry's cherry red lips curved up into a smile unconsciously, watching the boy move around the floor, guiding the fight.
"You Harry?" A handsome boy, not much older than Harry, asks out of the blue, standing next to him.
Harry nods, hesitantly, eying the mysterious stranger.
"Louis' teaching you?"He asks, prying more information.
And Harry nods once again,"And who might i be talking to?"
"Name's Dane,"He replies,"So..Is he as magnificent a teacher as he is a fighter?" he asks, sleazily.
Harry snickers, smiling unwillingly,"Fighter? Louis?" making Dane chuckle.
"Haven't seen you around-"
"From Winterfell,"Harry quickly informs, making Dane nod in realization.
"Fuck!"
Harry's head snaps over at Louis and he sees a scratch on his bicep that begins to ooze blood. "Louis!" he yells, eyes widening.
It earns him odd looks from the boys around him and one of them even voices,"S'just a scratch," casually, and Harry bites his bottom lip, looking worriedly over at the blue-eyed boy.
Louis continues to fight before giving him the last blow to his neck. Cheers rupture and the crowd trails behind Louis, who gives Harry a glare as he walks past him, heading inside.
Harry's mouth opens slightly in confusion, before he closes it, regaining composure,"Um..Sir Dane, pleasure to meet you and i'd love to stay and-"
"Go ahead,"Dane simply says, making way for him to catch after Louis. And Harry smiles shyly at him before running off.
Harry pushes the large doors to Louis' room open to be faced with a young maid, patching Louis' cut up.
Louis sees him and rolls his eyes. Harry frowns coming closer to him.
"What did I do?" Harry demands.
"Doesn't matter,"Louis simply says, wincing when she patted down a bit too hard.
And Harry's eyes immediately divert to his arm, and suddenly Harry knew he could make it hurt less, somehow,"You can leave,"He simply says to the girl, ignoring Louis' look of disbelief, and the girl looks at Louis confused and unsure what to do.
"No, she will finish her duty,"Louis insists firmly, locking aggravated eyes with Harry, who glares back, equally aggravated.
"I said, leave,"Harry repeated, more firmly to the girl, yet his eyes stayed firm on Louis'. The young maiden stills her hand on the wet cloth and puts it down.
"Why don't you leave?"Louis retorts wittily at the doe-eyed boy.
Harry raises an eyebrow incredulously, "Not until you tell me why we're having a tiff-"
"We're not having a fucking tiff-!"
"Then why the fuck won't you let me help you?!"Harry's yelling now, and Louis sighs loudly unwilling to answer him, looking away stubbornly.
Harry calms himself down before pausing to say,"Fine, I'll leave,"And he turns around and walks to the door to lead himself out.
"Yeah leave," Louis shouts after him,"And give Dane my fucking regards,"Louis hisses, glaring at the back of Harry's head, which stops midway through his tracks.
"Dane?"Harry turns around, looking at him in disbelief now. His frown grows deeper,"Why the hell-..Louis we just met,"
Louis smirks, but then his expression turns annoyed,"You were leaving?" he reminds, while motioning the maid to continue patching him up.
Harry opens his mouth to speak but closes it. But opens it again,"I will," Harry lets him know, before thinking it through and adding," I will give him your pathetic regards all night Long," he draws out each syllable, pausing sensually after each word, eying Louis heatedly before turning around on his heels to push past the doors, and Louis freezes.
His green eyes turn glossy from the tears threatening to fall but he holds them back, making it halfway through the corridor, only to feel Louis's grasp on his arm.
"Wait,"Louis looks everywhere but his eyes,"That can wait..Patch me up first,"He orders, rather calmly, but his grasp remained firm, even desperate.
Harry couldn't believe the amount of retorts he could throw back at him in that moment, but he couldn't find the heart to so he simply blinks at him, his lashes fluttering up and down trying to stare into Louis' ocean-blue orbs, which keep avoiding him, darting all over the place. Harry comes closer into Louis personal space, hearing both their breaths hitch, making Louis flash his piercing eyes towards the younger one, questioning his actions. Harry feels small all of a sudden, "L-Louis i don't like it when we fi-"
"Me neither,"Louis whispers into his ears and they disappear into his room to tend to his wound.
A WEEK LATER
Following the leacherous Baratheon King's demise, rivalry and suspicion enveloped the land, suffocating the distinct Houses.
Harry opens the door to join the rest of the Starks for a family meeting, and was surprised by the harshness in his father's voice as he ordered the guards to step outside.
"Father?"Harry calls out, worried.
His father sees him and his expression softens,"Son, come inside,"And Harry closes the door obediently,"You are not to dwell among the Lannisters at-"
"But my lessons-"
"Harry now is not the time for tha-"
Harry frowns,"But Louis has not done anythi-"
"Harry do not talk back to your father,"His mother shushes him, warning him with her eyes."And you do not know that. Time's different now, we must be wise,"
Harry shakes his head in protest,"But mother, it's Louis-"
Harry's father slams his fist on the table,"None of us will be in the company of any Lannister! Period,"He orders, eying Harry mostly, and everyone becomes silent, fearing his fury. "We will leave the castle by dawn, it's about damn time we return to Winterfell,"
Harry's mind races.
Later that evening, Harry's legs tapped nervously on the ground as he helped his little sister with her writings, while his mother gathered up their clothes in baskets.
"Moth-"
"Not now Harry," She brushes off, going back and forth in circles to collect their items, clearly under pressure and impending fear.
"Mother!"One of his older sisters bursts through the doors,"Mother, they-they killed John! They just-" and she ruptures to tears. John was their stable boy, a bright proper-mannered young lad.
Harry's mother stops and walks over to her, embracing her into her chest,"Shh, this is only the beginning," She kissed her hair, and she sniffed once, calming herself down,"Come on, help me prepare for the journey, we mustn't waste time,"
Harry presses his lips together once hard, before whispering to his little sister, "I'll be right back,"And she nods, eyes focused on her writing.
"Harry you are not to leave the room, father's orders,"His mother reminds him, raising a disappointed eyebrow.
"I know, I-I just forgot my sword at-" His mother sighs, before shaking her head.
"Be here before supper," She mutters, and Harry comes closer to her and kisses her cheek, and she hugs him back tight before going back to packing. "Quickly, dear," and Harry nods, rushing out.
Harry paces through the halls, almost tripping over his own feet along the way.
He, as usual, barges in, only to be faced with Louis' mother, who was known for her conniving superiority and grace.
Harry's eyes slowly trailed down along her gorgeously embroidered maroon and gold dress. She truly was a queen, in every sense of the word. He tries to forget the night he eavesdropped on his father suspecting the queen of murder.
Harry clears his throat at the doorway and her eyes scan his frame, from top to bottom. Harry had always thought she was rather intimidating.
He looks up at her from beneath his lashes,"Um pardon me, I-is Louis here?" He politely asks, his voice almost sounding squeaky.
She walks over and stares him straight in the eyes,"When you find him, tell him to find me,"
Harry nods firmly, assuring her, before bowing gracefully and exiting the room to escape her scrutiny and to find Louis.
He rushes down the stairs to exit through The Throne room where he winces at the sight of spilt blood staining the stone floor a few feet away from him. He bites at his lips, trying his best not to get used to the smell of dead men as he carefully walks around spots of blood and exits the stench-filled hall through the corridor to meet the fresh, yet death-awaiting air.
He crouches behind stacks of hay when he saw a couple Lannister guards, waiting for god knows what. Not knowing what to do, Harry clenched his fists around the fabric of his shirt.
His eyes grew bigger and terrified as the seconds went by, hearing swords sharpening and crows claiming their meals as the sun began to set. It was all very morbid.
And then Harry saw him. Louis walked through the dozens of guards and walked back towards the Great Hall, almost leaving Harry's sight, "Louis!" he shouted, before clamping his hand on his mouth, cursing at himself. But Louis was gone.
The guards looked towards his direction, and Harry figured he was done for so he might as well at least try to make a run for the the great hall. So he did.
Soon enough he heard running footsteps behind him, but he managed to open one of the corridors and sneak in and hide behind a large black vase. He makes it. He held in his breath, and the guards soon enough gave up and left.
Harry carefully made his way up the stairs to his family, once again, supper time drawing near. His head hung low as he sat down at the table filled with bread, slices of meat, and wine. The Starks talked to each other in hushed voices as they chewed on their meal.
Harry's mother placed one of her hands on top of his,"Did you find your sword?" she gently asks, running another hand through his curls.
Harry looks up at her with sad eyes and a blank expression, before shaking his head, not wanting to talk at the moment.
"We will get up before dawn, children,"his father states,"Be certain you leave nothing behi-" There was knock at the door. His father gets up, motioning for the crowd to remain silent.
He opened the door tentatively to be faced with a blue-eyed boy with soft dark brown hair. "..Lord Stark, I-May I speak with Harry?"
Harry's ears perk up at the sound of Louis voice, his heart beating louder. He was afraid his siblings would hear it. He shakily gets up and practically skips to the door, unable to contain his happiness. Louis came for him.
"L-Louis,"Harry says softly, almost grinning, eyes twinkling green, as he gets up from the table to stand in front of him, with his hands behind his back, fingers fiddling with each other, nervously.
"Harry,"Louis replies almost instantly, unable to hold back a half-smile as he stared into his green orbs. Then they became aware of the questioning gazes thrown their way.
Louis clears his throat. "Uh..You-you forgot your sword at my place,"Louis quickly says holding out the sword to him, the pressured looks from the Starks making him feel fidgety and uncomfortable. He didn't know why. It was a simple task, really.
Harry gently took it, and looked down at his feet, hiding a blush before thanking the gods that his father spoke and saved himself from blurting out anything,"I would like to personally thank you for teaching my boy-"
"I assure you, M'lord, it was an honor,"Louis then throws a charming smile towards Harry's direction and the latter held in his breath, feeling his heart skip a beat.
The father smiles,"We are to depart here by dawn so i wish you-"
"Dawn?" Louis raises an eyebrow, then he frowns slightly, his voice going rough,"Thats..That's quite sudden,"
"Indeed, S'not safe around here anymore,"he tells him, lowering his voice.
Louis could only nod, but he glanced at the curly-haired boy, who was still looking down at his feet.
Everyone was quiet when, "He's quite dashing isn't he?" One of his sisters whispered, except everyone heard it. And her older sister slightly smacked her shoulder,"You can't marry him, he's a Lannister,"
"I know but I was only sayi-"
"Girls, finish your supper,"her mother interrupted, sensing Harry's nervousness, "Louis, would you please be so kind and help Harry pack his sword into the wagon outside?"
And Louis bows, respectfully,"Be glad to,"
Harry then simply couldn't take his eyes off of Louis. A dimply smile threatening to release itself, unable to contain his joy. It was ridiculous. It's a bloody sword, for heaven's sake.
He finally tears his eyes away from the older boy and looks towards his family,"I'll be right back," his father and mother nod at him.
And the two boys disappear from the doorway.
"You came for me.."Harry whispers to him, wanting it to sound more like a question but it turned out to be a statement.
"As did you," Louis' hand hovered at Harry's back time to time as he led him down the stairs, occasionally looking out for any head figures they should avoid.
Harry feels their hands brush at some points along the way, but neither of them pulled away this time. A blush creeps up on Harry's pale cheek once again.
Louis takes the sword from Harry's grip and tosses it into the wagon, hurriedly, then he turns to look at Harry, who was slightly shivering from the icy cold night air.
Harry plays with his fingers once again, watching the caramel-skinned boy run a hand through his hair frustratedly, then Louis speaks. "You're leaving," It was said with no emotion other than disappointment laced with an incomprehensible anger.
Harry opened his mouth to speak but his head snapped towards a couple of the Lannister guards walking towards them clumsily, completely intoxicated. He inches closer to Louis' frame.
Louis immediately stood in front of Harry instinctively,"He's with me," Harry's breath hitches.
"Shouldn't be out here," One of the guards slur a bit, but he turns around to leave with the rest of his group, leaving the two young boys alone.
Once the silence settles in and the moon radiates above them, Louis becomes restless all of a sudden, "You should-you should always remember to keep your hands sturdy on the sword..And keep your eyes on the other-"
"Louis-"
"And never let your guard down or-"
"Louis M'cold,"Harry quickly says, red-nosed and pale cheeked, and louis' voice trails to a stop. Harry knew Louis was thinking of tomorrow already, but he didn't want to just yet. He wanted to forget everything, just for the night.
Louis watched Harry shiver,"Let's head inside-"
"No,"Harry shakily says, voice wavering from the cold,"I..I want..I want to stay with you for a bit longer,"
Before thinking through what he was about to do, Louis' hands hesitantly reached out to hold Harry's hands in his, getting a startled look from Harry,"L-Louis.."
His hands were silky soft, "I meant, my bedroom,"Louis mumbles slightly, fingertips caressing the boy's palms, simply feeling his skin brush against his. "For a little while,"
And Harry blushes harder than ever before,"Oh,"
"N-No i mean-I would never sleep with you like that,"Louis clarifies, stuttering, feeling his cheeks heat up, struggling to push thoughts of Harry's slender legs wrapped around his waist away.
Harry then stared at him, wide-eyed, looking hurt all of a sudden. And it broke Louis.
"No! I mean-fuck,"Louis curses, suddenly aware of the amount of attention Harry's giving him now,"I mean, I would never disrespect you like..Like that,"
Harry couldn't help the smile surfacing then, and Louis couldn't help but smile back fondly at the blushing boy in front of him before saying,"Come on,"