Marleigh couldn't believe the excitement that surrounded the castle as everyone prepared for the arrival of the King and his entourage. Her own duties in the stables had been doubled, orders having been given to make sure they were ready to accommodate such a high amount of horses. Winterfell certainly had the room, but those stables were rarely used and needed a deep cleaning. She'd been scrubbing floors and spreading hay all day when she was finally excused to rest. The King was too arrive the next day and all staff were to up and ready bright and early. She intended to sleep as much as she could, knowing how stressful the upcoming day would be. The sound of metal hitting something solid reached her ears as she walked, and she couldn't help but smile. Sure enough, she spotted Jon hacking away at a mannequin stuffed with hay, brow furrowed in concentration as he swung. She moved to stand nearby, watching him work through the movements the boys had been taught ages ago.
"Don't you ever get tired of fighting that thing?" Jon spun quickly, sword still up as she gave him a smirk. He relaxed almost as soon as he took her in, giving his own smile and lowering the weapon.
"No, I suppose not. Practice makes perfect." She nodded, glancing at the mannequin. It had clearly seen better days; the straw was sticking out of the holes where it had been slashed and stabbed over the ages. A part of her wondered at replacing it for them, but it wasn't her place.
"Is that one of your many lessons?" He stepped closer, sheathing his sword.
"Aye. One of the most important, in fact." He leaned against the same fence as she, looking over at the practice area. The sun had set some time ago, and the torches set shadows dancing across the ground and nearby wall. "Are you finally done with your chores?"
"Yes, thank the gods. They haven't even arrived yet, but I'm already anticipating the King and Queen's departure from Winterfell." Marleigh huffed, a stray lock of dark hair wafting up before settling against her skin. "The logistics alone are ridiculous. I mean, do they really need to travel with so many men and horses?"
"They are royal. A majority of those men and horses are there to keep them safe on the King's Road." Jon turned his head to give her a look and she rolled her eyes.
"Yes, I'm aware. Still, who would thiink to attack the King? He's a feared warrior, is he not?" Jon nodded, chuckling.
"He was once, yes. From what I hear, he's less so now." They shared a short laugh and Marleigh's stomach flipped at the familiarity of it all. Stars begna to shine overhead, and she turned her gaze to them. "Do you want to go see them?" She glanced at Jon, who was also looking at the sky. She knew what he was asking; when they were younger, they would sneak out beyond the high walls and lay in the grass on a hill, naming the gods in the stars and making shapes and stories of their own. It was hesitation, not exhaustion, that held her back from answering immediately. Jon was giving her such a hopeful look, and she felt badly that she hadn't spent as much time with him as when they were young.
"I would like that." His smile nearly lit the night and set her heart hammering. Taking her hand, he led her away to the place they used to sneak out, waiting for her to squeeze through the gap before following. They reached the top of the hill easily, settling down in the grass as the chill breeze caused it to billow in waves. Here, the stars seemed brighter, and as Jon laid next to her, it was easy to forget how their lives had turned out.
"I'm considering taking the black." Jon's voice was quiet, but still cut harshly through the night. Marleigh stiffened next to him, not daring to look to see if he was serious. She knew he was; the sincerity rang clear in his voice, a harmony against the breaking of her heart.
"Why?" She could feel his gaze on her, but kept her eyes trained carefully on the sky, worried about what he may see in the depths of green in her eyes. He was silent for a few moments, wordlessly begging her to look at him, she knew.
"I have no place here. I'm nothing more than a bastard." There was a bitterness in his voice as he turned away. Marleigh was grateful for the darkness as tears sprung to her eyes at the idea of losing her oldest friend and first love. "I can find honor on the wall. That's more than I'll ever have here." If her heart was cracked before, his words shattered her now, and it took everything in her not to cry. She was silent as she worked to pull herself together.
"Can we go back? I'm rather tired." Her voice was hoarse from unshed tears, but if he noticed he didn't say. He stood, offering her a hand up and leading her back to the walls. Marleigh chose to remain silent as they reentered, turning for her room as soon as they were through.
"Wait, Lee." Jon caught her arm, turning her gently to face him. "What do you think? Of me, taking the black?" She managed to smile past the pain in her chest, knowing it wouldn't quite reach her eyes.
"I think...you'll make a fine man of the Night's Watch." With a bow of her head, she pulled from his grasp and took her leave, waiting until her door was latched and locked to let her tears flow.
The next day, she was too swept up in her duties to worry much about Jon. For the most part, she was only tasked with handling the soldiers' horses; the royal steeds had their own attendants. By the end of the day, her hair had stray sticking from it and she was covered in the dust she brushed from the horses' coats. The feasting had begun in the great hall, though she had every intention of avoiding it. Her warm bed was calling her name louder than anything, and she wanted nothing more than to sink into it. She could hear Jon practicing again; the sound reminded her of his words, and she did her best to avoid him. She couldn't stand to continue the conversation they had started. Marleigh knew better than to try and talk him out of it. His mind was set, and so was his course. She would lose him to the Wall, and there was nothing she could do.