Jon.
They had said their goodbyes to the Karstark brothers three days ago, setting them down on a beach no more then ten miles from their home. The brothers and their guards had been grateful both for the shortening of their journey and the supplies they gave them, they had also concluded their deal with Wyman and were happy with the result. He had watched as Dacey and Smalljon had bid them farewell and he welcomed the camaraderie they showed to each other.
Now though he could see Eastwatch in the distance and the great wall itself had come into view only an hour or so earlier. He stood on deck looking at it, watching it and felt a tingling in his spine at the thoughts of it, over and over as he stared at its majesty one word kept resonating deep within his mind 'Ice'. When they eventually made land he found himself looking forward to seeing the wall up close, to reaching out and touching something that had been supposedly built by one of his ancestors.
He looked down at Ghost beside him, the wolf had a look of longing on his face as he looked at the wall, reaching down he petted his fur and Ghost stared up at him his tail wagging against the ground excitedly.
"I know boy, you're home too." he said and the wolf jumped to his feet.
Jon nodded to him and as soon as they set the gangplank down Ghost was off the ship, the yelps and screams of the people as the wolf passed them making him laugh. They were in no danger from his wolf as long as they proved themselves no danger to him, he could almost hear the relief as he looked over the deck to see the wolf had already cleared the small settlement. Heading downstairs to get Winter and Honor ready he found Loras looking eager to get onto dry land, his friend having come down with a bad case of the sickness of the sea the last few days.
"You should go down to the dock Loras."
"Aye I know, I've things to do though."
"Go, I'll do them, you go get your feet on dry land." Jon said and Loras nodded appreciatively.
It took him no more than a few minutes to get Loras's things ready and bring them to the deck, his own he carried down to the on board stables, how they'd been able to get so many horses and their equipment on the ship was beyond him. But somehow they had managed it, he tied his chests to the cart and readied the horses before leading them off the ship to where Jaime was speaking to some of the black brothers.
"We have some supplies for the commander here, but we won't be staying, we intend to set out for Castle Black immediately." Jaime said to the short gruff man.
"I thank you milord, we always welcome supplies and the men will be pleased with the ale." the man said with a grim smile.
"You and your men are more than welcome, the first two carts are yours," Jaime said and the man and his companions looked from Jaime to the carts and back his smile growing larger.
"May the old gods bless you milord." the man said as he moved to the carts.
Jon looked as the rest of the carts were loaded, it would take a few hours more before they would be ready to leave and they had broken their fast early that morning to be ready. It would take them over a week to make it to Castle Black anyway and that was providing they didn't have a mishap and they were all eager to be on their way. Leading Honor over to Jaime he smiled when he saw Dacey look at his lord, the two had certainly become closer to each other since they danced in White Harbor.
"My lord." Jon said handing Jaime the reins.
"Have you seen Loras, Jon?"
"Aye, I sent him off the ship when we landed he needed to stand on firm ground." Jon said and Jaime laughed.
"That he did, come lets see if we can find him, I'm eager to ride Honor anyway." Jaime said mounting his horse while Jon did likewise.
It didn't take too long for them to find Loras, he was leaning over a small well draining a mug of it contents, his color had returned and he looked far happier.
"How are you feeling lad?" Jaime asked and Loras quickly turned around.
"Good my lord, eager to ride."
"Then come I wish to put Honor through his paces while we await everyone else."
"Very good my lord." Loras said tightening his new cloak and rushing off to find his horse.
"You up for a race Jon?" Jaime said the note of challenge clear in his voice.
"You think you can beat me my lord?" Jon said smirking.
"Aye I do, come lets head out."
"Ah I get it, race in private, can't have the lord being beaten in public now can we." Jon japed.
"Come here you cheeky sod." Jaime said reaching his hand out to slap him while laughing all the while.
"See even here right beside you and you can't catch me, you've no chance my lord." Jon said as he and Winter slowly rode away.
By the time they reached the outskirts of the small settlement they found Loras had company, Smalljon was on a larger brown destrier he'd bought in White Harbor while Dacey and her sister were on smaller palfreys and both the Reeds rode garrons. Lady Lynesse had opted to ride in a small covered cart which was the closest they had to a wheelhouse, it had been laid out comfortably enough though. So instead of being mounted she and Ser Jorah stood by his own courser, the guards had all had chosen a variety of breeds, with most gong for either palfrey's or coursers.
"Lord Jaime has challenged me to a race." Jon said loudly and Jaime smirked while shaking his head.
"Fifty coppers on Jon." Jors said and Jaime looked at him with mock outrage.
"Aye, I'll second that." Alyrs said causing a few laughs.
Jon noticed how Jaime perked up when Dacey placed coin on him rather than Jon and in the end it was pretty even, those who had seen Jon ride Winter before placing their coin on him, while those who had not placed it on Jaime. The route of the race itself was quite simple about a half a mile ahead of them was a small group of trees, they'd race to it and back. Once they had readied themselves, Lyra Mormont stepped forward to give them the order to begin.
"At my signal, Lord Jaime, Snow, you both ready?"
"Aye." they both said together.
"All right, GO." she shouted.
He kicked Winter into gear immediately, and within a few strides was edging into a lead, but Jaime kept pace beside him and while he hadn't allowed Winter to fully go yet, his mare was moving swiftly. He could feel the cold air as it hit his face and rather than cool him down it somehow seemed to inflame him, he closed his eyes and let the air hit him, his hair blowing back behind him. When he opened them he was coming to the turn and could see Jaime lagging behind. He made the turn and was around it and had begun back before Jaime had taken the turn itself.
Riding hard he raced down the path and could see the group in front of him, he could see Ser Jorah look at him strangely and could make the cheers out when suddenly there were shouts of warning, screams of terror. Before he had a chance to react, before he even knew what had happened out of the corner of his eye he could see a white blur. He rode on and looked behind him to see to his shock a large brown bear being devoured by the white blur, that was when the reality dawned that Ghost had just saved his life.
Jaime.
Watching Jon ride Winter was like watching Arthur swing his sword, it was sheer beauty, something which looked so right, so natural that it made you question why you even bother. He had kept up with him for less than a quarter of the distance before Jon began to pull away. He knew that he was an excellent horseman but compared to Jon he was as far behind as he was from Arthur with a sword in his hand.
When he turned and saw his king ride off so far in front of him he could feel the pride rise up and he kicked his horse into trying to find something extra which Honor did, though it would not be enough to win. What he saw as he speeded up though was terrifying, the bear was huge and it was heading straight for Jon, he was too far away, the others were too far away. Even how fast Jon was riding wouldn't save him, the bear was going to reach him before anyone else.
Where Ghost came from he'd never know, but compared to everything else, the wolf wasn't just quicker than them, he was in a different league altogether. The collision was incredible the bear was thrown more than fifteen feet, it never even had the chance to get back up onto it's feet before the wolf was on him. He had never seen anything like it, within seconds the bear was laying there immobile and Ghost was rushing over to Jon.
As he reached Jon and everyone else he was relieved to see his king unharmed, though he was clearly a bit shaken, he watched as the white wolf walked to Jon and was immediately grabbed in a hug by he boy. Dismounting he walked over and saw the wolf lick Jon's face making him laugh, before Jorah sent the guards to drag the bear carcass back.
"Are you all right?" he asked.
"Aye, I'm fine my lord, thanks to Ghost, aren't I boy." Jon said and Ghost licked him again.
"I didn't think there'd be bears here?" Jaime asked looking to the northerners.
"They're around my lord, more in other areas it's true, but they're around, though I've not seen one attack like that." Jorah said.
Looking around at the others he could see they too agreed, Dacey gave him a concerned look so he shot her what he hoped was a reassuring smile, seeing her roll her eyes at him he smirked, it must have worked. Loras was holding Winter and looking ashen faced, so he walked over and patted the boy on the shoulder and was pleased to see the nod he got in return, among the group a couple of expressions stuck out to him, the young Reed lad was looking at Ghost with intrigue and relief, while Smalljon had a look best described as battle worn.
He'd seen men look like that when they'd seen a sight which shook them to their core, on Pyke when the battlements fell crushing some of the defenders of the castle he'd seen men look like that. It wasn't fear precisely, but it was certainly based in it, the Smalljon looked like a man who'd had something which scared him terribly just confirmed true. He signaled for them to head back to the small town, they'd need to be extra wary now on their travels, thankfully though he had no doubt that Ghost would alert them to any danger.
It took no more than an hour or two to finally be ready to leave, they had gifted the bear to the Nights Watch, Ghost seemingly wanting no part in the animal once he'd killed it. The man he'd met earlier though was overjoyed by the gift, the meat and the pelt would both be of much use to them and he had now it appeared made a friend for life. As they began to ride out of the town he was happy to see Jon, Loras, the Reed children and Dacey's sisters ride together laughing and joking.
The Smalljon was riding with Jorah who every so often would look back at Jon which was making him concerned, it didn't take long for Dacey to ride up and join him, her hair tied back which he was disappointed to see.
"My lord." she said smiling as she reached him.
"My lady." he said overly seriously making her laugh.
"While I appreciate the excitement I could have done without seeing that damn bear today," she said.
"Aye me too, thank the gods for Ghost."
"I've never seen anything like that before, I mean even in the north. We know about Direwolves, but I'd not seen one until Ghost, but to see him with the bear." she shuddered.
"Well thankfully he's on our side." Jaime said.
"Aye, he and Jon, they have a bond don't they?"
"They do Dacey." he replied and was happy to see the small smile on her face when he said her name.
"Then I'm glad he's on our side."
"Have you been to Castle Black before?"
"What? no never, only met my uncle a couple of times, I'm looking forward to it."
Jaime sat quietly for a moment trying to figure out a way to ask the question he wished to, he and Dacey had kissed on more than one occasion since they danced and he knew both of them wished to take it further. But he had meant what he said to Jon he wouldn't dishonor her, which really only left once option, but he had something to tell her before that could be brought up. He and Jon had discussed it and solution was pretty simple, it was actually something Howland had done already which they could use.
"Dacey, there's something I need to tell you." Jaime said noticing how she tightened her hold on the reins.
"You can tell me anything Jaime."
"Can I?"
"Aye."
"Would you swear it before a heart tree, that what I told you would stay between us, could you swear it in front of your gods?" Jaime said and looked at her his eyes full of hope and worry.
"What is it Jaime?"
"I can't Dacey, I can't unless you swear it, I'm sorry." he said as she looked at him and nodded.
"There's a heart tree at Castle Black, beyond the wall, my uncle told us a story of how it was where he swore his oath when he joined, we can go there and I'll swear it." Dacey said and Jaime looked at her in relief.
"After which there's a question I'd like to ask you my lady, one I've wanted to ask for a long time." Jaime said and smiled broadly at her.
"Hmm, who knows, maybe I'll even answer your question too." she said laughing as she turned her horse around and rode back to her sisters.
Jaime couldn't help but laugh back as he watched her ride off, he hoped she wasn't mad at him when she learned the truth, that she accepted and embraced it like he had, but mostly he hoped that once he was done, she'd say yes.
Jojen.
The ride to Castle Black had been interesting and as he saw the gates in the distance he was looking forward to sleeping in a room with a roof over his head. The tents they'd stayed in where comfortable enough, but the noise of the wind against the outside of them was disturbing. He and Jon had managed to spend an hour or two a day going over the basics of warging on the journey, Jon's friend had looked on with both awe and concern when they practiced.
At first Jon had no success whatsoever, even though it was clear his bond with Ghost was something special, something he'd never seen before. When he saw the wolf attack the bear he'd been amazed, Jon hadn't warged with him, he hadn't even known the bear to be a danger, something Jojen felt guilty about. He had apologized the first moment he could to Jon about it and thankfully he bore him no ill will.
" I'm sorry Jon it was my fault."
" What was?"
" The bear, I felt it in the back of my head so I tried to reach out to it, I think I spooked it Jon and it ran from me, I didn't mean it though I swear it." he said pleadingly.
" Jojen, it was an accident, in the end it worked out all right did it not, the Nights Watch got a bear out of it after all." Jon said laughing.
After that when they found the time they'd practice and Jon would get frustrated at the lack of progress, it took them two days before Jon first intentionally warged and the sight of the mouse running up to him had even Loras laughing.
" How did that work?" Jon asked,
" I don't know, what did you do different?
" I just, I felt it in my head, like I was knocking on a door, I asked to enter rather than push it in I think." Jon said rubbing his head.
" That's it Jon you can force your way in, it can be done but it's harder and the animal resists, but if you ask, if you suggest, then they can choose to let you."
Over the next few days it became apparent to Jojen that Jon's skill with warging was so far beyond his own, he knew the blood of the first men was strong and while his family always had magical abilities, the Starks were legendary. But this what Jon was able to do, this was far more than that, rabbits, deer, elk all of them were nothing to Jon, with birds though it was even more apparent. He had seen men warg into ravens, eagles, most of the birds of the sky, what he saw with Jon was beyond that.
" Try for the raven Jon." he said pointing to the sky.
" Can he actually do that, I mean look how high it is?" Loras said.
" I think he can."
But not only did Jon warg into the raven, he also somehow managed to warg into five more that were close by, as he watched all six land and walk to Jon he shuddered, 'A thousand eyes and one' he thought the memory of the rhyme popping into his head. It was a few minutes later that Jon opened his eyes and the ravens flew off, he looked on in horror as blood flowed from his nose and he keeled over.
He came around a few minutes later and for the rest of the day complained terribly of an ache in his head which luckily was gone the next morning. It wasn't until the second to last day of their traveling that Jon decided to both try to warg Ghost and to speak to him about the dreams.
" When you dream Jojen does it, does it feel real?"
" Aye Jon, sometimes, it depends what I'm seeing, sometimes it feels like a dream though but others it feels like I'm actually there." he said when Jon nodded.
" I see things Jojen, my family, I see my family as if I'm there with them, my brother, my sister, I can see them as if they were right here."
" Aye I've seen that too, seen Meera go on a hunt, or seen father pray by the tree."
Jon looked at him strangely and nodded, but said no more. It was then Ghost came into sight. So Jon changed the subject and suggested warging into his companion instead. He nodded and sat back, Jon barely closed his eyes before it was clear he was already in Ghost, the wolf came up and licked his face before Jon opened his eyes and returned back.
" Did you knock at the door again?" he asked wondering how he managed to warg so fast.
" No the door was open, waiting for me," Jon said with a large smile,
He had tried to bring up the dreams again but Jon told him they would speak of it after Castle Black which disappointed him, but he still felt better than he had in a long time. Having another who went through what you were going through brought him great relief, when Jon told him he felt the same he began to feel a kinship with him. Meera was pleased at the change of attitude she saw in him also, she said he seemed happier, which he was, the dream had changed, the one which frightened him most and instead of dread he now felt hopeful.
Castle black 293 AC.
Benjen.
Duties of being a first ranger did not include standing on the wall looking to the south, but ever since the raven came from Eastwatch he'd counted the days. Now that he finally saw the procession in the distance he couldn't get down from the wall quick enough. The lift seemed to take an age and by the time he got to the bottom the Lord Commander was already waiting.
"I take it they're here then Benjen?"
"Aye Lord Commander, you must be looking forward as much as I to seeing family again."
"Aye, you have the truth of it, is it a lot of supplies Benjen?" Jeor asked.
"It seems to be, there were an awful lot of carts."
"Well even were it not for them bringing family, that alone would be reason to celebrate." Jeor said smiling.
The white blur which rushed towards him when the gates opened was only slightly less welcome to him than the voice of the boy chasing after it on his horse.
"Ghost come back," he heard his nephew say as the wolf found him and licked his hands and face much to the amusement of his brothers.
"It seems Benjen's friend remembers him" one of his brothers shouted to much laughter.
"Uncle," the boys voice sounded close as he watched him practically jump from his horse and run to him.
"Jon, it's good to see you lad." Benjen said as he was enveloped in a hug.
"I missed you uncle, I missed you so much."
"You too lad." he said looking and taking his nephew's appearance in.
Jon had grown taller, his hair was shoulder length and darker than he remembered it, his grey eyes almost black in the fading light. He had filled out a bit too, clearly working hard in the sparring ring, which given his exploits in Lannisport and Kings Landing was not a surprise. But there was something else, something he couldn't quite place and it made the boy seem far different than the one he'd remembered.
"Come lets meet the rest of your accompaniment, we'll have plenty of time to talk later." Benjen said and Jon nodded.
They walked over to where Jeor was greeting his family, where he and his son were embracing and the Lord Commander was being tongue tied trying to speak to his good daughter. Jon though brought him to meet Jaime Lannister and a young brown haired lad, along with two children who must be from the Neck.
"My lord, this is my uncle Benjen." Jon said. "Benjen this is Lord Jaime Lannister" Benjen could hear the affection in his nephews voice.
"My lord, on behalf of myself and my family I want to thank you for looking after my nephew." Benjen said stiffly.
"There's no need to thank me my lord, I've been more than fortunate to have Jon as my squire." Jaime said smiling at his nephew.
"It's just Benjen my lord, no lord's in the watch except the Lord Commander." he said a little softer now.
"Then it's good to meet you Benjen, Jon's been looking forward to coming to see you for a long time."
"I thank you for that my lord." Benjen said with a smile.
"Uncle, this is Loras, sorry Lord Loras Tyrell, my best friend." Jon said smirking when Loras stiffened at being called a lord before the boy relaxed and smiled at being called friend.
"It's a pleasure to meet you my lord, any friend of Jon's is one of all the Starks." Benjen said and noticed Jon shudder.
What was that about? He'd speak to his nephew later he thought as Jon introduced him to both the Reed children. He was surprised Howland had allowed his children come visit with Jon but then most things Howland did surprised him. Before they could speak any more Jeor came over and looked at Jaime Lannister far differently than he had earlier, he had been courteous before, but now he seemed almost friendly.
"My lord, I want to thank you again for these supplies, we've, I've never. We've not been gifted like this in many a year." the old bear finally managed to get out.
"Think nothing of it, when Jon asked me to bring him here he explained even more to me the good and important work you men do, he convinced me we needed to do more to help, so consider this the first shipment, there will be more each year." Jaime said and Benjen noticed Jon nod to him with something like approval in his expression.
"My lord, I can't thank you and you." Jeor said turning to Jon "You lad, what you've done here, what you've done for the north and my family, the north is not the only one who remembers, the watchers on the wall won't forget either."
Benjen looked on with pride as his nephew took his deserved thanks, the boy dismissing the praise and instead speaking up about how it's Lord Jaime who's owed thanks, not him and Benjen couldn't' help but smile. When they got the listing of just what was on the carts it was incredible, dried foodstuffs, flour, good steel swords, armor that was far better than their own. Furs and cloth, of course the ale would bring most cheer to the lads, but they received such a boon and to think his nephew was partly the reason.
"Come Jon, lets show you to your rooms and we can speak some more."
"Can we go on top of the wall uncle?"
"Aye, but don't you want to settle in first?
"Aye, we'll do that and then go on top is that all right?"
Benjen nodded and noticed Jaime Lannister look at Jon who smiled back and nodded, Jaime did so in return and he found it most odd that they seemed to be able to speak without speaking to each other. Was their relationship that strong? Did the man care that much about his nephew? He would need to speak to his nephew about a few things he thought as he watched Jon remove a large chest from a cart and carry it in front of him.
It didn't take too long for Jon to be settled in, the room he'd share with his friend and with the Reed boy which didn't seem to bother him at all. As they headed to the lift he saw Aemon on the walkway above heading to the rookery. Had it been another brother he'd have waved and greeted the man, but there would be no point with the blind Maester, though had the man wished to greet him his blindness would be no obstacle.
"Is that Maester Aemon?" Jon said softly looking to the black robed Maester.
"Aye it is, how did you know the Maester was called Aemon?"
"I just did." Jon said cryptically and for the briefest moment Benjen thought he saw his nephews eyes glisten making them look more indigo then grey.
The trip to the top of the wall was taken in silence which surprised him, he had expected his nephew to be full of questions, when they reached the top he told him to be careful and they walked to the edge to peer over. Jon looked around and steadied himself before he looked once again out beyond the wall, Benjen could feel the air around him become charged, almost as if it had stilled.
"There's something I need to tell you uncle, about my mother." Jon said.
Jaime.
He had always known that the Nights Watch was in a ruined state, he had seen the dregs that the recruiter would be given when he came to Kings Landing but standing in Castle Black and seeing it for himself really drove it home. So when the Lord Commander began to thank him, Jaime immediately shifted the credit to Jon, had it not been for him he'd have never come here, never helped, so he was the one who deserved their praise.
The amount of coin it had cost to bring the supplies was negligible compared to what benefits Jon had brought them, he had family here too, so if Jaime could help them by spending coin then it was a smile price to pay. He looked on as Jon smiled and nodded to him as he left with his uncle, he hoped the man took the news well, though given his reception when he arrived he could see Jon's uncle cared a great deal for him.
He caught a man looking at him grimly and when he looked back at him the man muttered something before walking off, he knew there had been loyalists sent here for their roles in the rebellion and he would no doubt run into some. As the last of the carts arrived Jaime went over to his men and the black brother who was directing them, taking a moment to speak to Arlan to make sure he and Farrow alternated so one or the other would be on shift.
"Arlan."
"My lord?"
"While we're here I want either yourself or Farrow with me at all times, so split your sleep schedule, you know which of the other guards to pick, also speak to Jors and Alyrs and make sure they do the same for Jon."
"Of course my lord."
"How's it going here?"
"Good my lord, the black brothers seem more than happy with the supplies, some of the men are helping them move them, and they said they'll ensure the carts get back to Eastwatch for the next delivery."
"Very good, you see to the men's rooms will you, Farrow with me." Jaime said nodding to the other man who followed behind him with another guard.
He watched as Jorah, Lynesse, Dacey and her sisters walked with the Lord Commander to what must be his rooms and he was approached by a small man who directed him to his own. When he arrived at his room he found Loras and Jon's room was almost opposite and he breathed a sigh of relief, with them so close he could ensure they would be well protected. The room itself was nothing much, a bed and some worn furniture though he was glad to see the large fire which he would certainly make use of.
He had only just entered when there was a knock on the door he walked over and opened it to find Loras there.
"Settled in all right?"
"Aye my lord, I put the horse's away when Jon went with his uncle."
"Good lad."
"Is he going to tell him my lord?"
"Aye I think so, is his chest safe?" Jaime asked.
"Aye my lord, Jojen and Meera are in the room and their guards and my own are outside."
"It's not exactly comfortable is it?" Jaime japed.
"No my lord, though better than a tent in the cold." Loras said and he laughed with him.
"Well come on then, lets have a look around the place."
They were joined by Jojen and Meera and so they took a walk around the home of the Night's Watch, to say it was ramshackle would be to do it a favor, it was in a terrible state. The wood was rotting away and doors and windows barely kept the wind from the rooms. They had been placed in the Kings Tower and Jaime had to laugh at the irony, Jon being the first king to visit in over a hundred years. The other towers were in a worst state and were apart from the Guards tower as far as Jaime could see not fit for purpose.
The walkways looked barely capable of holding their weight, the buildings themselves almost falling down, he saw the Maester standing on a walkway which no doubt led to the rookery and his quarters. As they walked down to the yard itself he looked around and could see the amount of work it would take to bring this place up to any sort of standard, he would speak to Jon later, maybe they could do more.
In the yard the scowling grim faced man from before was berating two young lads who were poorly attempting to spar, as bad as they were it was the man's training method which annoyed not only Jaime but Loras too. No one would learn anything from this man other than how to swing a sword in anger, there was no technique being thought, no rhythm, just a simple hack and slash, he shook his head and walked on.
"It really is a mess." Meera said softy.
"Aye it is my lady, we shall have to do our best to make it better won't we." Jaime said and smiled as they were joined by Dacey and her sisters.
"What are you so happy about." Dacey said a smirk on her face.
"Me happy, perish the thought, Lady Meera was just commenting on how rundown this place is."
"My uncle's done his best, it's not his fault no one sends them aid." Lyra said in defense of the old bear.
"You misunderstand me my lady, I was not commenting on your uncle's work, but more on the shortcomings of the rest of us."
"You men from the south really do use far too many words." Jory said shaking her head.
"My apologies my lady, a force of habit, but this place is a shithole and we must do better." Jaime said and all four ladies laughed.
"See we'll make a northerner out of you yet." Dacey said looking at him.
"I am your's to command my lady." Jaime said with a bow which earned him a slap on his head and more laughter from the ladies.
"I saw that Loras." Jaime said looking to his squire who was trying and failing to hold his own laughter in.
"I couldn't help it my lord, if you moved that slow in the yard maybe I'd be able to get a hit in too."
"What's that you say boy." a voice called from behind them.
Loras and Jaime turned to see the grim faced man sneer at them before he walked towards them, a different smugger more sadistic grin on his face now.
"Nothing Ser." Loras said.
"Oh I thought you were talking about the Kingslayer's prowess, though I've heard you need to turn your back to see his true worth."
Jaime reached his hand out to stop Loras who looked ready to attack the man, he turned to see Dacey seemed just as ready and surprisingly so too did her sisters, shaking his head at her, he smiled at the man and began to walk away.
"See just as I said, far too craven to face a man head on."
"You think so Ser, then grab a sword and we'll see if you can back up your words." Jaime said his anger shining through.
"I wouldn't dare soil my blade on the likes of you Kingslayer." the man said before walking away.
Jaime said nothing and smiled before heading back towards his room, he hadn't made it halfway before Dacey joined him. Thankfully she too kept silent as they walked, he saw Jon and his uncle still hadn't returned and he was glad of it, he may have been able to stop Loras but not Jon, as he walked he heard a commotion and a loud scream. He and Dacey turned back and immediately began running towards Loras and the girls only to find them all laughing hysterically.
When they saw what they were laughing at they too joined in, on the ground twenty yards in front of them was the man who'd insulted him a few moments ago, laying in a puddle of his own making. Leaning over him teeth bared and paws keeping the man where he lay was Ghost, the white wolf was ensuring no one else came close either. After a moment Jaime worried about how they'd remove the wolf when Ghost suddenly took off and ran towards the lift to where Jon and his uncle were just stepping out from it as it slowed to a stop.
"I want that beast's hide, now I tell you." the grim man shouted though nobody paid him any mind.
"Enough, Thorne my office, you lad, look after your damn wolf." Jeor shouted from a walkway behind them.
"I will Lord Commander." Jon said as he walked over to them with his clearly still shell-shocked uncle.
When he arrived to where he was standing Jon looked at him and gave him a smug smile and Jaime couldn't help but laugh loudly making the others join in. When he and Loras had told him of his lessons with warging he hadn't believed it, when Jon showed him he was lost for words, but this was a new facet of it and he would need to speak with Jon later. He said his farewells and once again headed to his room, Dacey walking beside him, when they reached it and he closed the door, she immediately grabbed him and kissed him.
The two of them stumbled back to the bed, their kisses growing more and more passionate, he could feel himself becoming excited and his hands began to move lower down her back and before he knew it he was caressing her pert arse. The increased moans and he way she began to move on top of him left him in no doubt she was as excited as he and it was only when she began to remove her clothes that he stopped her.
"We can't." he said shaking his head.
"We can." she said as she kissed him once more.
"I won't dishonor you."
"It's not dishonor if it's what I want too."
"Dacey, I want you, do you think I don't want this more than anything"
"Then take it Jaime, take me." she said and her mouth closed in and began to suck at his neck.
"I can't, not like this, not here. Please Dacey it means more than this, you mean more."
"Fine I'll wait." she said pouting."
He couldn't help but smirk which earned him another slap on the head and he reached up and grabbed her to hold her close to him, as she made herself comfortable he felt something he hadn't ever felt before, he felt complete. With Cersei it was sex and nothing else, once it was done he had no desire to spend more time in her company, thinking back on it without sex he actually disliked being in her company at all.
With Dacey it was different, it felt so very different, he liked her, genuinely liked her as a person, as a woman, he liked spending time with her, liked speaking with her and was even sure he'd like sparring with her. They had done no more than kiss and make out and yet each time he felt more fulfilled, more happy than he had ever felt before, sure he was feeling frustrated a little that they hadn't yet lain together. But he wanted to wait, he needed to wait, she needed to know the truth, the full truth and then if she wanted to, if she'd agree to it, he would marry her whenever she wished.
"What're you thinking about in that pretty little head of yours?" she asked.
"The future, just the future."
"Speaking of which, I spoke to my uncle, he'll allow is to go out beyond the wall tomorrow, says we'll need to bring some of the brothers with us, but the Weirwood is only a couple of miles from here. That is if you still want to talk?"
"I do, more than anything." he said as he kissed her softly,
Jon.
As majestic as the wall was from the ground, it paled in comparison to the majesty you felt when standing on top of it, below him the world stretched out for miles and miles and as he looked out into the lands beyond the wall he felt insignificant. The world out there had gone on and on for centuries, it cared not about thrones and justice, about who was right and who was wrong, out there survival was all that matters.
He found himself thinking of the people who lived in those harsh conditions, wildings, savages, but were they? Or were they just people, just people like him and his uncle, people who did their best and tried to survive. A strange thought came to him and he couldn't shake it, all his life the first thing people thought when they heard his name was bastard, he was born of lust and sin, not to be trusted or believed and yet the truth was he was anything but.
He was born a king and raised to live a lie, a lie people believed based solely on his name, had he been called Stark instead of Snow then peoples first reactions would have been that he was a good man and true, but instead he was thought to be less than. As he looked out at the vast wilderness he wondered, were the people who lived there the same? Was it just that just like him being born the wrong side of the sheets in people's eyes, they were born the wrong side of the wall.
When he took his throne he resolved to find out, to seek those people out, to speak with them, treat with them, in the kingdom he would forge it would matter not your name or where you came from. What you would be judged on would be who you were inside and he would start with those born on the wrong side of the wall, but first he needed to claim his crown, his birthright. To do that he needed to be who his mother wished him to be, to be a dragon and a wolf.
"There's something I need to tell you uncle, about my mother." Jon said.
"Your mother? I don't know who she was Jon, I'm sorry." Benjen said.
"I do uncle."
"You do, how?"
"Jaime told me, he showed me her letter, showed me what she left for me."
"How did Jaime Lannister know who Ned, who your mother was?" Benjen asked confused.
"Ned Stark is not my father, he's my uncle just like you."
He watched as Benjen sighed and saw the look on his uncle's face, he knew, all this time he knew and said nothing, Jon felt the fire deep inside begin to burn, the flames begin to rise, he searched for Ghost but couldn't find him and so the inferno began to rage.
"You knew, you knew and never told me?" Jon shouted his anger to the fore.
"I suspected, I never knew, Jon you must believe me I never knew for sure, I only suspected Brandon was your father." Benjen said his voice breaking,
"Brandon?" Jon said as the flames retreated.
"Aye, my brother, your father, I'm sorry lad had I known for certain…"
"Uncle Brandon wasn't my father." Jon interrupted,
"But you said, wait Uncle, Brandon was your uncle too? Me, Ned, Brandon, oh gods, oh by the old gods, Lya." Benjen said and fell to his knees.
"Uncle," Jon said grabbing him around the neck and holding him as his uncle cried in his arms,
"I Never knew Jon, I swear it by the old gods, I swear it, had I known, had I known, oh Lya please forgive me,"
"Uncle there's nothing to forgive, look at me, you have nothing to be sorry about." Jon said,
"Jon I." his uncle stuttered.
"I know Uncle, I know." Jon said as Benjen got to his feet.
They stood there in silence for a while, Jon allowing Benjen come to terms with finding out he was his sister's son, he needed his uncle to be calm for what he told him next, after waiting a few moments he felt it was time.
"What do you know of my father and mother Uncle."
"I know some nephew, I know your mother had no wish to marry Robert, I know she and your father spoke, they sent letters to each other, I think she was in love with him, but I don't know any more, I don't think he kidnapped her Jon, I never did, but I don't know."
"They were in love uncle, they were married, after my father had his marriage annulled with Elia they married in front of the old gods and in the light of the seven, my mother left letters, they sent more I think, but I don't know what happened, I do know they wanted me, they loved me."
His uncle stood there slack jawed before Jon saw for the first time his uncle exhibit what he'd heard referred to before as the wolf blood, Benjen began pounding the ice hard, Jon tried to pull him away but couldn't.
"Uncle please, stop it, you don't need to do that." Jon said and thankfully he stopped before looking at him angrily.
"I do Jon, I left you there, I let him raise you as a bastard, let him raise my sisters boy as a bastard. I had thought you were Brandon's, that I could understand, you were a threat to his boy, I could understand it, but this, not this, this I don't. I'm coming with you, when you go to Winterfell I'm coming with you."
"Uncle, please, we need to talk more, there's more you need to know, but you shouldn't come with me."
"I'm coming Jon what he did, what Ned did, I, no I won't, I can't forgive him for that."
"Uncle, I need to speak to him on my own, the things we need to discuss, the future, everything I need to be the one, if you're there it becomes more than that, it becomes your wants to, I understand but I need to do this."
"Very well, but if he doesn't, I swear it if he doesn't support you then I'll fucking kill him."
"No I won't have a kinslayer for an uncle." Jon said
"All right well I'm going to beat him bloody then." Benjen said and Jon laughed releasing some of the tension.
"You're going for it aren't you?" Benjen added a moment later.
"Aye, I've seen how bad a king Robert is, how the realm suffers while he drinks and feasts and whores his way through his reign, but it's more than that uncle, it's what my mother wanted, what my father wanted, they, there are things about the rebellion that I need to find out, but it was more than Robert wanting my mother."
"I always thought so, I saw him during Harrenhal, spoke to Ned about it, that man never loved Lyanna."
"I know, can you tell me about her, about my mother? Jon asked his voice almost breaking as he did so.
"Of course, I'll tell you anything you wish to know, Jon, Jon are you all right?
As Benjen began to speak he felt it in his head, there at the back of his mind, a soft whisper the voice almost sounding like the wind itself speaking one word ' Pack' Jon's eyes went white and he was there in the courtyard. A man was looking at Jaime with hatred in his eyes, he could feel it coming off him in waves and then he moved towards him, he could hear the words he said, the venom and hatred in them. He could feel the sadness from Jaime as he walked away, the smugness of the man as he sniggered as he too began to walk.
He could take it no more and he ran swift and true and within seconds he was on the man, he knocked him to the ground and when he reached for his sword and dagger he bared his teeth and pushed down with his paws. He smelled it then the fear and the urine as it leaked from the man, he heard laughter in the background and then he was back on the wall leaning against his uncle.
"Jon, answer me please."
"I'm fine Uncle, we need to go down to the yard." Jon said and his uncle nodded still not comfortable.
He explained that he was a warg which his uncle seemed to take in his stride and when they reached the bottom he found that Ghost had a man pinned and Jaime and the others were laughing.
"Who is that man uncle?"
"Him, that's Thorne, Ser Alliser Thorne our master of arms."
"Why would he have a problem with Lord Jaime?"
"He served the Targaryen's, so he no doubt hasn't forgiven Jaime for killing the king."
"He deserved to die, Jaime was right to kill him."
"Aye, but he was…" Benjen said leaving the rest unsaid.
"A madman who killed my grandfather and uncle, that's all he was uncle." Jon said and Benjen smiled.
"Jon about Lord Jaime, are you? Can you trust him."
"More than anyone in the world uncle, can you, would you try and be nice to him for me?"
"I will nephew, if you say he's to be trusted then he has my trust too."
"Thank you." Jon said.
After the Lord Commander told them to keep Ghost under control Jon smiled as Jaime and Dacey walked off, before Loras and the Reeds came over to him and Benjen, Lyra and Jory heading back to their uncle.
"Now have you all been give a tour of this place?" Benjen asked.
"No not really, more we like just walked around," Meera said.
Benjen nodded for them all to accompany him and began to show them around, the armory was run by Donal Noye who was also the smith and Jon grimaced when he heard the name, this was the man who built Robert's hammer. While Jon had no problem with the man the memory of it alone was enough to make him not wish to spend time in his presence, the Old Flint barracks housed most of the men and wasn't a very welcoming place.
But it was as Benjen showed them the tunnels, things became interesting, seeing the library was one thing, the books it held were numerous and Jon knew he'd spend a lot of time here. When Benjen explained the tunnels were used to travel around during winter Jon had been amazed, as he was when he saw the ice cells. But it was the food stores which grabbed his attention most, deep underground and lined with ice, mud and straw and something else he couldn't make out.
"Uncle the food you put here how long does it last?"
"I don't know Jon, maybe the Maester would, but it doesn't go bad why?"
"And this what's this made of ?" Jon asked looking at the wall.
"it's just mud and straw bricks with sawdust, what's going on Jon?"
"Is this for the ice Jon?" Loras asked.
"Aye look at it Loras, if we built a place underground like this we'd be able to store it, if those bricks worked we may not even need to build underground." Jon said feeling around the wall,
"Do you think you could line a ships hold like this?" Meera asked.
"Aye I think we could, I'll need to speak to the Maester, but I think this could be done." Jon said.
"What could be done?" Benjen asked annoyed at his lack of understanding of the conversation happening without him.
"Ice uncle, we're going to sell ice," Jon said and Loras laughed.
Benjen just looked at him like he'd gone mad, before shaking his head and taking them further beneath the vaults, eventually he finished off the tour by taking them down the tunnel which led to the gate itself. The gate was the passage to beyond the wall, overhead the wall itself was their roof and as he walked Jon could feel it deep in his bones, feel the ice calling to him.
" Fire and Ice."
" Fire and Ice."
The voice said over and over and Jon looked up to the ceiling and saw it as it melted, fire covering it as it dripped over the egg, he heard the voice call to him, 'help me brother, help me'.