The air was so cold that it stung Fayette's cheeks as if someone was throwing flecks of ice in her face. She had never been this far north before and wasn't used to the temperatures. She pulled her cloak tighter around her shoulders, wishing that she could somehow cover her face and still ride.
Coming through the small copse of trees and onto the snow covered plains, Fayette gasped. In front of her stood The Wall. Hundreds or maybe even thousands of feet tall, the arguably greatest structure ever built was looming directly in front of her. It might not have been the most beautiful, but it was certainly the largest, and more frighteningly, the most useful.
"Come along Little Fairy." The deep voice belonged to the rider by her side. Merek, a blacksmith's apprentice who had known Fayette since birth, held onto the girls reins as well as those of his own horse. Fayette was a lovely young woman, and Merek was always the first to sing her praises, but she was terrible with animals. After almost three weeks of riding, she was still terrified of the horse she sat upon. In fact, for the first two days, Fayette had walked alongside her horse, watching it suspiciously from a safe distance.
Fayette bit her top lip, thinking again of her strange predicament, before speaking. "These men are criminals, rapists, murderers. Will I really be safer here?"
"Now, now Little Fairy, you know your brother is only doing what's best for your well being. The further away from King Joffery you are, the safer you are." Merek said no more. He had his doubts about whether or not Bryce, Fayette's older brother, was doing the right thing. Remove the girl from the south of course, but send her to The Wall? Merek truly feared for the girls safety.
They rode on in silence, Fayette shifting uncomfortably in her saddle, wishing they could have stopped off at some small village, anywhere really, instead of going onwards to The Wall. She had pleaded with her brother Bryce, who had taken over her charge many years ago after the passing of their parents, but he had remained firm in his decision. There was no place in Westeros that was still safe for her, except for Castle Black. The false King would not send his men there. Fayette could only hope that the dangers of the Men of the Black, and those of what lie behind The Wall, would leave her in peace.
The couple reached the castle gates where the guard on watch swiftly opened them, either anticipating their arrival or seeing no threat from them. They found themselves in a large training yard, with young men lunging at each other with swords. Many of the men seemed no more skilled then the servant children who played upon the grounds of her former home. The Lockwood's were by no means a noble or even a particularly important family however they were wealthy enough to attract the attention of those more powerful than themselves.
"Merek, you dog! I hardly recognise you. You were a pup last time I saw you." A voice came from amongst the throngs of men. One look at the horseback pair and every man in the yard, stopped moving and stared. Fayette shifted uncomfortably, looking down at Merek's hands. She noted his knuckles were almost white as he gripped tightly to her reins, keeping his horse close to hers.
"I haven't seen a girl in six months." Someone whispered. Fayette suppressed a smirk. That explained the staring.
There was the slightly awkward clunking sound of a lightly armoured man walking towards them.
"Alliser Thorne. Its been a long time." Merek's voice held no pleasantries, whoever this man was, he was a not a friend.
"Lord Piggy! Take the horses to the stable. Snow! Take the girl to the spare rooms by the Lord Commander's." Alliser barked his orders. Two men came forward, one a chubby looking man with a soft kind face took the reins from Merek. The second man, with a mess of black hair, a small scruff of a beard and hauntingly deep eyes came to stand next to Fayette's horse, waiting for her to get down. Fayette's gaze bore deep into the stranger's eyes.
"I'd rather she stay with me." Merek started, jumping off his horse.
"I need to talk business to you, we're in need of a smith. Snow, take the girl, Tarly the horses, and Atwood, you come with me. You might have been in charge of the girl for the journey but her brother wants her under the care of the Night's Watch." Alliser turned and walked away. Merek didn't follow. "Atwood, are you coming or do you want me to hold your hand?"
"It's alright Merek." Fayette said softly, her voice betraying her fear. If Alliser was anything to go by, she was not to enjoy her time here. Merek nodded and followed the older man. "Oh, Merek! I can't get down!"
Fayette blushed, her weak call sounded pathetic even to her own ears. Merek did not hear her. Arms appeared in front of her. Fayette looked to their own, it was, of course, the handsome man.
"I've got you." His low voice was smooth. Fayette's blush deepened but she held out her own arms to him. The man's hands settled on her slim waist, whilst her own rested on his broad shoulders. Fayette was lifted off the horse with ease and gently set upon the ground, the couple never ceasing to make eye contact. Their hands remained in place for a moment too long before they gathered their senses and removed them.
"Thank you."
"Is this your luggage...My Lady...Miss...Mrs...?" The slightly larger man who Alliser has rudely referred to as Lord Piggy stumbled over his words as he attempted to find the correct term to address her with.
"Um, Miss I guess but Fayette is fine. I don't have a title or anything," she mumbled, looking down, conscious of the countless eyes staring at her.
"Your rooms are this way." The man offered with a jerk of his head in the direction of the far corner of the courtyard. He had sensed her discomfort and wished to protect her from it. The man then grabbed the small amount of luggage Fayette had been able to gather before her escape and the pair heading in the direction of her rooms. Behind them, the larger man led away the horses. He paused, as if remembering something.
"I'm Sam."
"It's a pleasure to meet you Sam." Fayette said sweetly, knowing that it couldn't hurt to make friends in a place like this. Sam smiled, a blush about his cheeks, and busied himself with the horses. Sam did not strike her as a murderer, rapist or any kind of criminal. She wondered why he was here. Fayette turned to the handsome man beside her, who was patiently waiting. "And what might I call you?"
"Jon. Jon Snow." There was a slight attempt at a smile. The twosome walked to the far corner of the castle, up a flight of stairs, across a bridge, up another flight of stairs and then through a small wooden corridor. Fayette could predict with some degree of certainty that she was going to get lost in the very near future. Jon, whose hands were full of her belongings, kicked open a door to reveal a spacious if sparsely decorated room. It was a functional room with a fireplace in the centre with two poorly cared for armchairs facing it. In the corner was a writing desk and chair. Jon set her things down on the floor, and closed the door behind him.
"Is my bedchamber through there?" Fayette asked shyly, pointing in the direction of a door. Jon nodded.
"Yes. Have a look around, these are your rooms now M'Lady. I'll light the fires for you." Jon's voice was deep and smooth.
"I'm not a Lady, Jon. Please call me Fayette." A smile played on her lips, eyes fluttering just the tiniest of amounts. Jon smiled back. Fayette passed through the doorway as Jon knelt in front of the fireplace to light it.
Her bedchamber was clean and functional, if cold and bare. There was a fireplace, a few cupboards for her things, a large double bed with a few blankets and furs upon it and a small table by her bedside. Inspection finished, Fayette moved back into the main room where Jon had lit the fire. She sat herself cross-legged on the floor in front of it, leaning into its heat and warming her face and hands. Jon chuckled.
"I'll light the other fire." Jon went into the other room and Fayette found herself imagining him, not lighting her fire but lying between her sheets. Blushing furiously, she cast the thought away from her mind. She was here as an escape, for her own protection, against criminals and low lives. There was no time for girlish fantasies about the first person who had paid her a kindness since her arrival. Internally berating herself for her flirtatious behaviour, Fayette was grimacing when Jon joined her once more. "It'll soon warm up in here. Well, get warmer anyway. I'll leave you to get settled."
"Thank you Jon," Fayette smiled, looking up at him, the flirtation back in her voice and mannerism with full force. Well, that idea failed.
"You're welcome. I'll make sure food is brought up for you tonight." Jon nodded his head, a smile twitching on the corner of his lips and left. Fayette smiled to herself. A little flirting wouldn't hurt anyone.