Chapter 2
Best Friends
Over the next few days, Jojen fought a losing battle. He didn't want to grow closer to Juliette. What if she left? What if he opened his heart to her, only to have her snatched away by her family?
Lord Howland and Meera didn't waste time in treating him like one their own, however. They didn't put too much effort into looking for her family, and she didn't divulge more about her situation. Thus, they avoided each other for several weeks after, but a dream intervened to bring them together.
They were in the forest once more, but this time she was older, sadder. Judging by the distance he had to gaze down to his feet, he was older as well. Meera stood with them, looking at him expectantly.
But with them as well were four strangers. Two were dark boys he recognized vaguely as the sons of his father's friend, Lord Eddard Stark. With them were a large giant of man and a woman with a manner, an expression in her eyes, and the clothing that suited a wildling. He opened his mouth to ask what was going on, but the dream went black.
The scene changed. He was now, he presumed, in King's Landing, though be sure, because he had never been there. In the candlelit apartments, sat an older man bearing a strong resemblance to Juliette. He was going through papers, frowning. Thankfully, Jojen appeared to be invisible to the man.
One of the documents on the desk caught Jojen's eye. The words "ward" and "marriage" stood out on the page. Jojen squinted, in an effort to examine the document more closely.
"If it please you, I offer my son and heir, Sebaston Farman, who is to inherit Faircastle after me, for your eldest daughter's hand in marriage. He is nine-and-twenty, and has not yet found a wife. If you will send your daughter to us as our ward, she will be forthwith considered as the future Lady Farman."
Was Juliette the eldest daughter? She must be...he had to save her. There was no way she could go home now.
When he awoke, he found Juliette already at breakfast round the fire with Lord Howland and Meera. Good, he could tell them the news.
"You can't go home, Juliette."
"Did you have another dream?" Meera explained to a confused Juliette, "Jojen is a greenseer. He can see things before they happen in his dreams."
"Or things that have happened before or are happening now," Jojen added. "But I saw your father. He was reading a letter from a Lord Farman. You're to be sent to live with his family and marry his son."
"Sending me away as a ward was...discussed," she said meekly. "But Father and Lady Viviane couldn't agree on a suitable family. Lady Viviane is my stepmother."
The family was silent for a minute or two, as they processed Jojen's and Juliette's revelations. Then, Meera spoke up. "You should live here, as Father's ward. We are simple people, but Father is Lord of Greywater Watch, who served his overlord and his king during the Rebellion. That ought to be enough for your family."
"And perhaps someday, you might marry Jojen," Lord Howland suggested.
Jojen exchanged a look with Juliette. He found her attractive, yes, but he was just a boy. How could his father, of all people, consider marrying him off when he was so young? But Juliette would be safe, and that was all that mattered.
Juliette cleared her throat. "My father is Lord Gregor Cromwell. Please write to him, and not my stepmother. Lady Viviane is taking me and my stepsiblings was taking them to Fair Isle. Send the letter to King's Landing."
Lord Howland wrote to Juliette's father in King's Landing, who reluctantly gave his consent to his daughter's betrothal to young Jojen. Juliette was relieved she was allowed to stay, though the idea of a betrothal to anyone remained an uncomfortable subject for her.
Time passed. and the two grew closer. The subject of their eventual marriage was never brought up, but they both knew it would happen eventually, and were pleased not to be marrying some repulsive stranger.
Juliette was there when Jojen had the first of his "seizures": at first she had been shocked when his entire body began shaking wildly, his eyes opened in a frightening, glassy stare, and was even more concerned when Meera and Lord Howland could offer no other explanation other than, "Perhaps the visions overwhelm him this time."
After cowering in fear from his out-of-control "fits" once, she was determined to be ready to handle it on her own when it occurred the next time, which was only a few weeks later. When his sleep was interrupted by another, she was ready with a sash to put in his mouth, as she caressed his head in her lap. Within a minute or two, he calmed down and awoke.
"What happened, dearest?"
"I...think there;s trouble in King's Landing. I don't know if it's happening now, or if it's yet to come, but there's some ...difficulty." He sat up and looked at her. "I pray for your father's safety."
"Relax, Jojen." She ran her fingers through his unnaturally soft hair. "Everything will be all right. And the worst of your visions have not come to pass yet."
"But they're always correct," he said worriedly.
"Wargs have it the worst," she said flippantly. "Always so preoccupied with the future, they can't focus on the present."
He glared at her.
"I was only joking, Jojen. That's the one thing I don't like about you, you know. You could never take a joke."
His demeanor brightened. "That's the only thing?"
"You would be perfect if you smiled more." Jojen's lips curved upward slightly, in a half-smile. "Like that, but more." She reached out and angled his mouth even further upward, until he suddenly broke into laughter.
"Don't do...that anymore!" he choked out. Regaining composure, he added, "I'll try to look happier, if that would please you."
"And try not to be too disturbed by your visions," she insisted. "They are far away. Focus on what is right in front of you first.'
"All right." He surrendered. "I, Jojen Reed, promise not to let the visions be the focus of my life."
"And?" she pressed.
"And if I fail, you, Juliette Cromwell, may subject any punishment you wish on me. Nothing could be worse than being forced to smile."
"Believe me, Jojen, you don't know what else I'm capable of." She grinned sinisterly. She hoped that was enough to keep him on his guard.
