"You're mad if you think bringing a woman to the wall is a good idea," Jaime said softly as he stood next to his horse.
"It's lonely and cold up at the wall, surely you wouldn't want me to freeze up there dear brother?" Tyrion asked him.
Together they stood, watching as the carriages and horses were loaded and prepared for the journey that was to come. The courtyard was alive with the hustle and bustle of everything and Tyrion had found it best to stick close to Jaime. All it took was one person not paying attention and he would be tripped over, something that his pounding head wouldn't want at that moment. Tyrion had managed to wash the stink of dogs off him and had a hearty breakfast, but he could feel the cold of Winterfell creeping through his clothing and he was sure it would only get worse the further north he traveled.
"Besides," he continued, "Marya is my maid and nothing more. Surely you wouldn't expect a Lannister to traverse the wild north without someone to help me?"
Jaime scoffed and glanced down at him, "Is that the lie you told Cersei?"
"It's not a lie. I've told it to quite a few people when the topic comes up. Really, I would have come up with something better if I intended to lie," Tyrion said plainly, but the spark in his eyes told Jaime a completely different story.
The truth was, not many people knew what to think of his brother's maid. Some had thought her his whore and while Cersei still believed it, there had never been any proof. He knew their father watched them for any hint of anything that would disgrace the Lannister name, but after a year it seemed as nothing was found.
"Are you sure I can't convince you to change your mind?" Jaime asked again with a small shudder, "Why even go to the wall at all, surely you can piss off somewhere else?"
Tyrion shrugged his shoulders, no longer truly focused on Jaime. Across the courtyard, he spotted Marya talking to Starks ward; the Greyjoy. A frown tugged at Tyrion's lips as he watched Marya lean slightly away from the boy, but keeping a soft smile on her face as if she were just playing a game. "It's not a matter of pissing off some Lords place. This is the edge of the world we're talking about. I've always wondered if my piss would freeze before it hit the ground."
"Charming as always I see?" Cersei appeared before them and Tyrion looked away from Marya quickly and focused on his older sister. She looked just a regal as she did the day they had stepped into Winterfell. It was as if the harsh coldness didn't dare touch her, "The boy still hasn't woken. Lady Stark won't be here to see us off it seems."
"Can you blame her?" Tyrion asked, "Had it been your own child, you wouldn't have either."
Cersei watched him for a moment before she dismissed him completely and her eyes fell on Jaime, "We should start heading out now."
"I wish the both of you a safe trip," Tyrion said quickly, and started moving away before either could say another word. His eyes had fallen back on Marya and somehow the Greyjoy boy was even closer to her.
That just won't do, Tyrion thought to himself as he crossed the courtyard as fast as his legs would allow without making it look as if he were in a hurry.
"Marya," Tyrion said, making his voice sharp.
The boy jumped as if he had been startled and hadn't been aware that anyone was paying attention to him. Theon glanced down at the imp with barely concealed rage at being interrupted. Better I interrupt you than her, Tyrion thought quietly and stopped by Marya's side.
"My Lord?" she asked, turning her full attention to him and losing her interest in Theon. The boy had been after her since the moment she had shown up by Tyrion's side on the night they had arrived for the feast.
"It's time for us to start making our way out with the rest of the party. Have you had the horses prepared?" Tyrion asked her.
"Yes, my lord. They're up at the front with Jon and his uncle," Marya said softly, but her eyes held relief. She was ready to leave this place. Not that Winterfell hadn't been welcoming to them, but ever since the accident with Bran, there had been something tense in the air.
"Why are you even going to the wall with him?" Theon interrupted them. When both of their eyes focused back on him, he felt the hair at the back of his neck raise and the skin between his shoulders grew taught as his body prepared for some unknown attack. Theon shook his head and called himself a fool. It was only a girl and an imp. There was nothing from them that he had to fear. "You could stay here," he said cheekily, stepping towards her once more. "I'll keep you safe until Lord Tyrion returns from the wall."
"You think keeping her safe means keeping her in your bed?" Tyrion asked him, though he had to hand it to the boy. He thought with his cock rather than his head and seemed to think himself invincible. "I don't think I like the idea of leaving my maid with a failed King's son. How is your father doing by the way?"
A fury flashed through Theon's eyes and his hand reached down, going towards his hip and underneath his cloak. "I am Theon Greyjoy of the Iron Islands-"
"You're a boy fathered by a man who couldn't even rebel properly," Tyrion cut him off, his voice raising. He would have kept going if it hadn't been for Marya's soft hand grasping his shoulder.
"My lord, it looks like we're ready to set out," she said, her grip on him tightening for a moment before she let go. Once again, Marya gave her attention to Theon and a pleasant smile spread across her face, "I apologize, but it takes a certain kind of man to be able to slip into my bed, and you aren't him boy."
Tyrion couldn't have kept the smirk off his face even if he had wanted to. Marya might not have any lion in her blood, but enough time around him taught her how sharp her claws could become. Together they turned away and left Theon behind them, having no worries about the boy at their backs. The sun was slowly starting to get higher in the sky and with it came the small heat that he was thankful for.
"That could have gone better," Marya told him as they reached their horses. With ease she rose up and straddled her horse as if she had been doing it for years. She waited patiently as some stable boys helped Tyrion onto his own beast.
"It could have gone worse as well if I hadn't interrupted," he said, giving her a significant look.
A small laugh fell from her lips and she brushed her long dark braid over her shoulder, "I wouldn't have hurt him, even I'm not stupid enough to insult Lord Stark after everything that's happened to his family."
"The man just became Hand of the King. One would think his family would be overjoyed over the fact. It seemed like good news in such a dark time," Tyrion commented lightly.
"Not to them. Starks belong up north and I'm not sure how well Lord Stark would take to our summer."
"I don't think there will be any fear in that. The days are growing shorter and the nights longer. Eventually House Stark is always right and I'm afraid to say that winter is indeed coming."
The first of the horses began moving and slowly the party marched through the gates of Winterfell leaving the others watching them as they went. Marya caught sight of Robb and Theon watching them leave, before she turned around completely. She was glad Tyrion had convinced her to wear pants instead of keeping her dress on. Riding side saddle for hours wouldn't have been the best idea. That and she wasn't sure how the men on the wall would react to seeing a women in a dress. At least in her pants and heavy cloak, she could hide most of her figure, and Tyrion's words and gold would be what kept the men away from her face.
When they came across the Kings Road, they left the rest of the Kings party and continued on their way towards the wall. Tyrion liked to talk, so Marya wasn't surprised when he kept the day filled with noise, and the nights.
It had been getting colder, and Marya sat down near the fire, just a few feet away from Tyrion. As always, he had his book out and was reading, not really paying attention to anything that was happening. Though, she knew that he was paying attention to Ned Stark's bastard. The boy was either always near them or next to his uncle. She had seen Jon's excitement about becoming a man of the night's watch, but as their group picked up more members, she could see his brows furrowed more and more as he thought.
"Your face is going to stay like that permanently," she had finally said softly.
Tyrion merely glanced at her before going back to his book, but Jon had turned to her completely.
"What do you mean?" he asked her.
"It's what my mom used to always say to me whenever I thought to hard on something. So, what are you thinking so hard about?" she asked him.
"It's none of your concern," he told her, trying to make his voice sound every bit like his lord father.
Marya smiled at him and raised her brow in question. She knew that Ned Stark had treated the boy as his own heirs, but she knew most others didn't. Honestly, she hadn't expected him to act like a highborn. The stream near them was enough to cover their voices from most of the group, but she saw a couple of them turn their heads to look at them. Marya ducked hers and didn't meet any of their eyes. It wouldn't do anyone any good to start trouble this early on.
Pebbles crunched under someone's weight and Marya turned her attentions to see Benjen walking towards their group. He had two others with him bound by rope.
"Sit," Benjen said to them, indicating the ground just a few feet away from the fire, "You'll be fed."
As they sat, their eyes traveled around the group, briefly falling on Jon's direwolf before continuing on, probably not realizing just what type of animal was in there perimeter. Their eyes traveled to Marya's and they stayed on her.
"Untie them," Benjen commanded.
Beside her, Jon visibly tensed but he managed to keep his thoughts from his face well.
"Raper's," Tyrion commented lightly, as he settled his book down on his lap to look at Jon more clearly, "They were giving a choice no doubt, castration or the wall. Most choose the knife." He glanced over at Marya, but was met with her soft smile. She wasn't worried about her safety, because she knew he would take care of her. It always made his chest tighten when he realized just how much she believed that of him. So far, he hadn't proved her wrong.
Jon clenched his hands and looked away, trying to pay him no mind.
"Not what you expected is it?" Marya said softly, looking at him again. She knew Jon was around her same age, and while he would now be considered a man, she had been considered a grown woman for far longer. She was now seven and ten and most woman her age had already been married with a child or two on the way. Marya was sure she would have been just like most others if it hadn't been for Tyrion finding her. Still, she knew that she had lived more than Jon Snow had in their short years. "I've heard that's why some might choose the wall. They leave their past behind and are able to make a new life."
Marya leaned over Tyrion's shoulders to get a better look at what he was reading. She frowned at the words on the page. It was the history about the wall. While she liked reading as much as he did, she managed to like the scary stories better. The book in his hands only mentioned the White Walkers in passing and hardly anything about the Giants beyond the wall. Tyrion called them stories long dead that were only told to make children behave. Marya called them real and him boring for not wanting to believe in things.
"Why do you read so much?" Jon suddenly asked, interrupting them.
Marya glanced up, but Tyrion kept his eyes on the page, "What do you see when you look at me?"
"Is this a trick?"
Tyrion grinned for a moment before hiding it away. It wouldn't do any good around their newly acquired companions. "What you see is a dwarf. If I had been born a peasant, they might have left me out in the woods. Instead I was born a Lannister and things are expected of me," Tyrion continued on, talking about his mind.
Marya tuned them out. She had heard Tyrion's story plenty of times. All he was missing is telling Jon about why he drank so much as well. She shook her head, her long strands flowing freely down her back. She had managed to take it out of its braid, to brush the wind made knots out, but soon they would be back on their horses and she knew it was best to start tying it up again.
"Ask me nicely and I'll tell you dwarf," Jon's voice brought her back.
A laugh fell from her lips as she continued braiding her hair. It ran through the camp and everyone's eyes were suddenly on them. She had heard others call Tyrion dwarf and imp plenty of times, but it was always to make him realize that he would never be as good as they were. Not that it ever affected Tyrion much. He was a Lannister after all, a lion among sheep and he knew very clearly that they were sheep. But now here was a wolf, saying the words with an almost kind tone and judgment free eyes. He had his father's looks that was for sure, Marya mused quietly, but there was something else there; maybe from his mother.
While she had been at Winterfell, she hadn't been deaf to the rumors that surrounded his mysterious mother. She had wanted to find out more until Tyrion told her to stop. He was a great fan of mysterious, but some were better left unspoken. She hadn't seen why Tyrion seemed to connect with Jon so well during those short moments in Winterfell, but now she could. The two shared something.
"If you're so smart, why is it you bring a woman to the wall with you?" Jon asked and glancing at Marya quickly before looking away.
Oh, she suddenly realized why he wouldn't talk to her. A man he was by age, but still a boy everywhere else. She would have thought him the same as Robb, or maybe even Theon. If wasn't often that she was wrong about someone's character, but somehow he kept surprising her.
"I do have a name, you know," she teased him softly and was pleased by the flushing of his cheeks. She glanced at Tyrion and saw the same amusement in his eyes.
"Oh I never go anywhere without Marya, she is my own eyes and ears when I'm to busy reading my books."
"Or deep in your drinks," she said softly enough for only him to hear her.
"It's dangerous," Jon stated clearly and his eyes traveled to the two men his uncle had brought back with him.
"I wouldn't worry about myself, Jon. We'll leave the wall and go on our merry way through the country and enjoy the view. It's you who will have to deal with them for the rest of your life up there in the cold," she said, her voice half warning.
"What do you mean?" he asked her.
"You are a bastard," she stated clearly, and saw the flash of hurt in his eyes before she continued, "It means you aren't any better than the rest of them. You would do well to remember that."
Before he could say another world, Marya stood up and stretched her limbs. She was suddenly very thankful for the thick fur coat Tyrion had acquired for her. It hid her frame from view, but that didn't stop the feeling of eyes burning into her back. Jon scrambled to his feet when she saw she meant to walk away, but Tyrion remained where he was.
"My Lady, it's dangerous out there," Jon said quickly.
From the corner of her eye, she saw Benjen Stark rise from where he had been seated against a tree.
"That may be, but unfortunately, I require a certain level of privacy for things. So the woods it is," Mayra said and made to walk away, "and really it's just Marya. I haven't been called my lady since I was a child."
"Still, you shouldn't be out there alone," Jon said.
"Would you like to keep me company?" she asked, glancing over her shoulder.
Again Jon flushed as he realized just what that meant, he tried to stutter out a response but she shook her head, laughing softly. She turn back around and stopped abruptly, almost walking into Benjen. He caught her easily, steadying her with a soft grip on her arms.
"You're torturing the poor boy," he told her, his voice deep.
Marya was sure that it was meant to come out teasing, but there was something hard in his eyes, that wiped the smile off her face and made her cautious. She knew this man held no love for Tyrion, so she wasn't entirely sure where that left her in his opinion.
"Ah, good!" Tyrion said suddenly and loudly, "Benjen Stark, you can be my maid's protector out in the woods. I'm sure your nephew knows how to use his blade, but an experienced ranger like you could probably take any imbecile who thinks to come after you two."
Benjen looked down at him, taking in his word and studying Tyrion's intention. Apparently, he hadn't found anything he hadn't liked because he turned around and made way towards the trees. Marya was quick to follow him, giving the other men a wide berth. She would have been fine on her own out there, but Benjen was a better option than anyone else. She was sure others would have taken the opportunity, well maybe not Jon.
They walked a good distance away from the others, before Benjen turned his back to her and leaned against a tree, keeping an eye out for everything that moved. Marya was quick to undo the ties on her pants and relieve herself. It was too bloody cold for this. She kept her eyes on Benjen, though she wouldn't be able to do much if he had decided he wanted a peak at her.
"You two never give a real answer," Benjen commented loudly, making sure she was able to hear him. He didn't bother keeping his voice down, he knew one shout would have his brothers running to help him if need be.
"What do you mean?" she asked him as she pulled her pants back up and tightened them. She made sure her blade was secure and hidden before she stepped closer to him.
Benjen glanced down at her, but he didn't make any motion to started heading back to camp. Instead, he stood there and took the girl in and she really was just a girl. A pretty one and at first he had thought that was why the imp had wanted her, but the past couple of days, he hadn't witnessed anything that would have indicated that the girl shared his bed. He also didn't believe that she was simply his maid either. The truth was, he didn't trust the Lannister, and he didn't like bringing them along to the wall one bit.
"You both lie about why you're coming with him. Or you give a distraction and talk of something else," he said plainly, "What is the real reason you travel to the wall?"
Marya frowned and looked back towards their camp, "My Lord wished to see the wall. He's read a great many stories about when it was being built and has always wanted to stand atop of it."
"But why are you with him," Benjen stepped closer to her. He wasn't one of the tallest of men, but he managed to tower over her. His hand was on his blade, but yet, Marya never looked away from his eyes.
"I'm his maid, my lord," she said softly, her hands clasping her fur cloak and pulling it tighter around herself.
Benjen would have thought she was intimidated, if it weren't for the sharp look in her eyes. It was a lazy amusement, as if she knew something that he didn't and it angered him. He was in no mood for games, especially not that sort the Lannisters seemed to like to play. "You watch yourself on the wall, girl. There are true dangers in the north."
"I've seen true dangers, my lord. I've always managed to be even more dangerous than them."
Marya left him standing there, not bothering to look back. He might have been a man of the night's watch, but he was still a Stark through and through. She had no doubt he was just as suspicious of the Lannisters as Ned Stark seemed to be. She rolled her eyes and broke through the tree line, her eyes immediately finding Tyrion's. She marched her way over to him and sat back down at his side, closer than before. Their arms brushed against each other.
"Tell me that he's still alive?" he asked her, ignoring the way Jon looked at them startled.
"Of course, my lord. I don't think my tongue lashing is sharp enough to kill a man," she lied loudly enough for everyone to hear.
A few chuckled slipped from their lips and some even patted Benjen on the back as he slipped through the woods. Marya ignored him and slid deeper into her coat. She closed her eyes and rested her head on Tyrion's shoulders, hoping that they would reach the wall soon.
