Chapter one is revised and up! I will post chapter two soon. Thank you for reading!
Chapter one – Falling Snow
| Jon POV |
The pure and white snow fell on the ground, cleaning the once blooded grass and making it seems like a battle had never occurred there.
I walked on the forest north the Wall, coming back from a battle against the wildlings that got too near and threatened us. My companions were packing our almost inexistent supplies and our tents, while I kept watch.
Taking a deep breath, I closed my eyes, feeling my lungs aching from the cold that after each day became even stronger, if it was even possible. If the weather was cruel in the North, it was unbearable to live even further.
My ears were attracted by a sound, soft and gentle sound, like a flute and I looked around, not seeing anyone near me and for as long as I knew, none of my brothers had the skill to produce such sound. Against my better judgment, I followed my ears, the sweet sound guiding me.
It was growing near and louder, but even gentler and more beautiful, but suddenly, it stopped. I felt like I was being watched, that feeling that made the hair on the back of your neck stand, but surprisingly I didn't feel threatened nor unnerved.
In a split of second, my eyes were open once again, looking around to track the source of that beautiful melody and behind some distant trees I saw a small shadow running away, it was definitely a human shadow.
Before I could even register what was going on, it was already gone, leaving me alone under the falling snow, dumbfounded. Still confused and with the melody resonating on my ears, I returned to the camp, where my brothers awaited for me so we could get back to the Wall. Our cold icy home.
We weren't that far away and after three hours of walking the giant Wall could be seen, I sighed deeply and relieved, we had returned alive.
It was rare for me to go out, since I was only a steward, but most of the rangers were out and we were short on people, so I got sent with some others to protect our home and the land south.
We entered the gates and put the horses on the stable so they could rest. It wasn't snowing anymore, but they had endured the terrible weather and lack of supplies, they deserved a rest.
When I got back to the training yard, I saw Lord Commander Mormont talking to someone I couldn't figure out who it was, I had never seem someone like that on the Black Castle before.
"Snow, come here." He said, after I stood there for minutes just staring. I obeyed, without looking at the stranger. "This is Lee Pies, one of our most valuable rangers; he just came back from a mission north the Wall."
I looked at the man next to me. He was significantly shorter, barely reaching my chin; he wore a heavy and dark cloak with a hood. He looked up to me, revealing to be using a mask that only showed his icy cold blue eyes.
"Snow? As Winterfell's Snow?" Lee asked, his voice muffled by the mask and a little rough. "Yes, I am the bastard of Winterfell." I said, my voice cold.
"I didn't call you bastard, boy. I asked because I know your uncle, Benjen." I was taken back, my uncle had gone missing and for weeks we didn't hear about him. It was beginning, no, it was worrying me sick and after each day of uncertainty I was almost sure it was a lost cause.
"I met him here on the Wall, a great man and a great ranger. I saw him for the last time when he left for his mission, before going missing. We met a few kilometers north and parted our ways to continue with our own mission."
"So you have nothing on him?" Lord Commander asked, gaining Lee's attention, he sounded as disappointed as I was. "No, I went to several villages, but no one heard a thing, some villages were abandoned. The Free Folk is hiding somewhere, there is for sure, they are too many to simply be extinct."
"We will talk more later; go rest for now." Commander said, walking away to his chambers. The man named Lee was beginning to walk away also, but stopped and turned to face me. "I am sorry about your uncle, Snow." And walked away.
Now that our mission outside was over, I was back to my duties as steward. I was preparing dinner and the other Brothers were starting to enter the dining hall. At one corner, I saw Peis sat alone, taking his gloves out.
I was done with my duties serving the Commander and was free to eat now. Sam had joined me in the kitchen; we prepared our meal and took a seat in one of the tables. I saw that Peis was still there alone.
"Hey, did you see the ranger that got here today? He is smaller than me. Can he fight that way? And his mask… It creeps me out." Sam said and I just listened quietly.
"You shouldn't talk like that…" I said quietly, eyeing Lee in the corner. "Remember you were picked on all the time."
I saw Lee getting up and leaving the dining hall and by the frightened look on Sam's face, he saw too. "Do you think he heard?" He asked, freaking out. "Calm down, but I think he did."
"Oh, boy. Oh, boy." I ignored Sam's whining and looked at the door where the unknown Brother had just left. Something about him didn't seem right.
~\~/~
Even after we were designed as stewards, Sam and I kept practicing our sword fighting, I didn't want to get rusty and he needed to learn anything if possible, he was failing miserably so far. We were on the practicing yard, his wooden sword in hand as he tried to hold it on the right position.
"No, Sam, your feet are in the wrong position, you will lose balance that way. Open your legs a little bit more and put your right foot in front of the left one." I instructed, watching him trying his best to accomplish my orders.
More people were arriving to the yard and I could see they were following Peis, who just kept walking.
"Someone like you to be a ranger is impossible. How did you buy your way in? I can kick your ass in a second. You are staining the name of the rangers." A big guy said, mocking the small man in front of him, but received no answer. I remember seeing him on our mission yesterday, he was one of the rangers left here on The Wall.
"Nothing to say, huh? I should have thought so. A coward like you probably don't even speak properly." No answer again. I could see his expression changing from a mocking one to an angered.
"Not going to answer? Be a man!"
He reached for Peis arm, but he was quick and pushed the arm away with the palm of his hand and kept walking.
"Did you just touch me?!" The biggest yelled, taking out his sword. Trouble was on its way and even more people were gathering to watch the incoming fight, even Sam peeked interested.
Peis had stopped walking and turned to face him. "What are you going to do with this sword, boy? Shove it up your ass where it belongs?" Peis asked, making me struggle not to laugh, I could see that some of the other men were struggling too.
"You will see!" He yelled, swinging the sword in Peis direction, but he easily dodged it, taking a step to the right. The sword this time was moving horizontally toward Peis body.
For a second I thought he was going to be cut, but suddenly the sword met his hand and stopped. Normally a thrust like that could cut almost anything in half, but nothing happened to his hand.
"You said I was going to see something. Then show me, I am waiting." Not moving much, Peis moved his free hand forward, touching the attacker chest with strength enough to make him fly backwards a few meters and hit a wall on the other side of the yard.
"If you have a big mouth, you should at least fulfill your promises. You do not deserve to protect the people." The big man didn't dare to move, he was in shock, and so was everyone else. A man smaller than Sam had made a guy with over 6'7'' fly back with only a touch on his chest. Who was that guy?
"Snow." Peis called, not looking at me, but beginning to walk again. "Lord Commander said you will be on watch duty tonight." And he left, the attention now turning to me, but quickly dispersed.
"See? See? That guy creep me out! If he heard what I said, he will kill me!" Sam said behind me, once again freaking out. Somehow, I was beginning to think it could be true.
| Lee POV |
I was avoiding any conflicts once I returned to the Black Castle. But there is always a guy with a superiority complex that wants to rule the world. Little did they know that they are the first ones to die out there.
I made my way to my bedroom after letting Snow know of his task tonight, but I haven't told him I was to join him. Lord Commander Mormont seemed to think I would be a good influence to the boy, whatever his plans were.
I closed the door and locked it once I found myself in the security of my bedroom. I sat on the bed, taking a deep breath before removing my mask.
No one could know my secret. Who I really am.
I touched my face with my fingers, tracing down every inch, I had no mirror and this was the only way I could remind myself of what I looked like. I was the only one there that could even dream about my true identity.
My big secret… The fact that I am a woman.
A woman working on The Wall. And ironically, no one figured it out; even after the three years I had been working here. If someone discovers it, my head will be on the ground.
But they said it themselves, It doesn't matter who we once were, lords, thieves, bakers, now we are men of the Night's Watch, I am a man of the Night's Watch.
It was getting chillier and the sky was getting darker by the minute, night has come. So I put on my mask before leaving my room to have dinner. As usual, I took the table on the corner, alone and ate in peace, my hood covering my face as I couldn't eat with my mask on.
After eating, I made my way up to the watch's place, on top of the Wall, it was so peaceful and beautiful there, but so dangerous. I always thought this was the best place to meditate and think.
I sat near the fire, watching the horizon, when I heard someone approaching. "Peis. I didn't know you would be joining me." Jon Snow.
"Well, I couldn't ruin the surprise. Hope you don't mind, Commander asked me to. Two people have more eyes than one, he said. It is right after all."
"No, I don't mind…" His voice was quiet and he got closer to the fire, sitting on the ground next to me, but keeping his distance.
"I won't push you off the Wall, Snow." I said, smiling behind my mask. "We both know you are more than capable." He answered and I wasn't quite sure if his voice had a hint of animosity.
"You saw the little show today, huh? I hope it entertained you and the others." I joked, but his expression showed he was taking our conversation seriously.
"I don't mind what they say. I am more than capable of living out there alone and I've proven that. I am a man of the Night's Watch, we all are, it doesn't matter where we came from, how our body is, what our name is."
"Some of our names seem to matter." He said, and I knew he was referring to the name Snow.
"To me, yours doesn't. You can fight, you can survive, you can protect. You are a man of the Night's Watch, Snow. This isn't Winterfell anymore. I prefer to be a bastard than a thief or murderer, those are the ones incapable of truly protecting."
I was being sincere.
| Jon POV |
Peis seemed sincere and I felt no lies on his words. He was facing the horizon and I looked at him, lost for words. "Probably you haven't heard it before, judging by your silence." He said. Truth. "No, no one ever told this to me before."
"Don't worry, Snow. You have friends here, I can tell. That boy you were talking with in the dining hall yesterday night, he seems to be a good friend." He had heard us talking, damn.
"I am sorry about him." At least Sam was still alive, even though Peis had heard him talking, that proved he wasn't much of an ass as we thought. "You shouldn't. He has the right to be scared, we all have."
I found myself trying to figure out how old he was. He didn't seem that old, but his words were proving me wrong; they were wise and friendly, surprisingly enough.
"You really haven't heard anything about my uncle Benjen out there?" I asked, hoping he did. "Sorry, no. But don't lose hope. That man is strong and he will turn out eventually." I sighed, it was easier said than done.
"It's going to snow…" He muttered and I looked up to the sky, there was nothing indicating the weather was going to change. "The sky tells you're wrong." I said, looking again at Peis.
"Well, I know things that even the sky doesn't. It will snow." He sounded a little too sure of himself, if you asked me. I would say he was arrogant. How could someone know more than the sky? There was no way.
I was wrong.
As the sun begun to come out, so did the snow. Peis was right, it was snowing.