Jon found himself to be the last person to leave the great hall that night. It had not been a long dinner because all where exhausted from their day, but Sansa had made sure to have food ready for all who had worked. She had not stayed very long but had made sure to toast her men and have a small meal before she left.
On his way to his chamber Jon was met by a whining dire wolf. Kneeling down Jon gently pet his wolf and asked "What was wrong?" With a pull on his sleeve Ghost indicated that Jon should fallow him. Walking threw the halls Jon was surprised when he found himself in front of Sansa's door. He wanted to laugh simply thinking the wolf wanted to be with her but then he heard the pleadings.
"Please stop your hurting me." Sansa said frantically
Terror went thru Jon as he threw the door open expecting to find someone attacking Sansa on the other side. But what he found on the other side was Sansa falling into one of her night terrors. He couldn't help but sigh with relief at her being safe, but that only lasted shortly because soon her pleading became louder.
"Please I have done nothing wrong… no not the knife!" Sansa screamed
Rushing over to the side of her bed Jon gently shook Sansa awake. She woke up in a fright and looked at Jon with terrorized eyes. Her whole body trembled and tears fell down her face. Gently so as not to scare her Jon crawled in next to her and pulled her against his chest.
" Shh its ok" Jon whispered as he pet her hair.
Sansa felt her body stiffen as she felt the arms around her. But once she got a whiff of a familiar sent and heard Jon's voice she started to calm down. His hands stroked her hair and soon her heart beat came back to normal. She had been having a dream about playing in the snow with Ghost and then soon it switched over to a nightmare. She had been dragged in the throne room like she used to whenever Rob won any battles, eventually it morphed into the nights of terror she had with Ramsy.
"How did you know I was having a nightmare?" She asked quietlly
"Ghost came and got me thought maybe he liked you better and wanted to spend the night, but then I heard your voice and the pleading." Jon answered.
" I don't know how to make them stop, I dreamt of when Joffrey used to beat me when ever Rob won and then it turned into Ramsy. " Sansa wish she could forget but they haunted her.
"If you want we can talk till you calm down and I will stay with you till you fall asleep." Jon said squeezing her hand
"Thank you." Sansa replied
They both stayed quiet just looking at the fire lost in their thoughts until the sound of Sansa's stomach made them Jon laugh and her turn bright red.
"Hungry."He said teasingly
"Yes." She said embarrassed
"Want to sneak down to the kitchens like when we were younger. " He asked with a twinkle in his eye
"I never did Arya did but I always thought it was improper" She said with a sigh
"Well there was a first time for everything." Jon said rolling out of the bed and then walking around to where she was to offer his hand
"Aye there is" She said with a smile
Taking his hand to help her get up Sansa then went behind her dressing screen to grab her warmest robe and slippers. Grabbing Jon's hand they walked out of her chamber and headed toward the kitchen, with Ghost ever the guide and guard. Sansa stole a peek at the man beside her. Something had changed when they had made the promise, and she wasn't quite sure. What she was sure was she would trust Jon and honor everything she had said. He represented home and safety and everything she had been missing for the last three years.
When they entered the kitchen it was empty and the only noise was the crackling lighting a couple candles Jon pushed Sansa into a seat and began to rummage threw the cabinets. Soon he had some ham and cheese slices and grapes sitting between them and a container of mead and two glasses.
"Thank you." Sansa said and began stuffing her face to the amusment of Jon
"Today was hard but it went well." Jon said
"I think so, I haven't worked so hard in my life it was pretty exhilarating" Sansa replied
"Yeah your nails are still dirty." Jon said teasingly
Grabbing her hand Jon used the knife that had been sitting next to them, and then gently began to scrape the dirt out. His hands where calloused but gentle. Sansa wasn't used to the gentle and sometimes her first reaction was to bolt when someone touches her without her initiating it. The knife itself scared the living daylights out of her, but she forced her body not to tense because Jon had the knife and he wouldn't use it to hurt her.
"Starting tomorrow I was thinking you could train me to fight." Sansa said
This surprised Jon and caused him to pause what he was doing. Sansa had surprise him many times since she had first come to castle black. His first instinct was to tell her no and she had no need to fight, she had the soldiers and Jon himself to protect her. Jon changed his mind when he saw the look of pure determination and desperation. It could be good and maybe help her get over some of the trauma of the past.
" Aye well start tomorrow meet me on the field at 8" Jon said
"Thank you." Sansa said with a smile radiating her face
He finished cleaning her other set of nails as they chatted about everything and nothing. It seemed almost normal to sit there and talk about their dreams and fears as they ate . They were forming a bond that they didn't have when they where younger. They stayed in the kitchen for a little while longer then headed back toward their quarters.
When they got to Sansa's room Jon opened the door and escorted her in. He planned to stay until she had fallen to sleep just as he had promised before. Sansa simply smiled at him grateful for what he was doing. They climbed on the bed Ghost at their feet, Jon stayed above the main furs leaning his head against the back bored. Sansa gave Jon a kiss on his cheek and then curled next to his side and closed her eyes. It didn't take long for her to fall asleep, and Jon's eyes where drooping.
"Come lay next to her boy." Jon said quietly as he got up and patted the spot where he had been laying.
Walking to his room Jon was able to find one of the guards on duty, he posted him at Sansa's door giving him strict instructions to wake him up if she started having nightmares again. Once he was in his own chamber he didn't even bother to fully undress, the day had been long and he was exhausted. Laying in his own bed it only took Jon a moment to fall asleep.
The next morning Sansa woke up to the sun shining in her eyes and the soft snores of the wolf next to her. She smiled at her companion; Ghost had been her shadow since she had gotten to castle black. She missed Lady every day but she had found a special bond with the white dire wolf. There was a knock on the door and when it opened there was a young girl with a bundle of clothing in her hands. Sansa smiled and told her one moment so she could freshen up.
When she was done she allowed the young girl to help her dress. To her surprise it was breaches and a warm long sleeve shirt she found herself in. She gave the young girl a questioning look.
"The Lord Commander sent me to dress you in these for your training." The young girl said quickly
"Well thank you for your help please help me with my hair id like a long braid wrapped around my head." Sansa asked
The girl seemed shy so to put her at ease Sansa asked the girl about her family as she got her hair done. When it was all done she thanked the girl and asked her if she would like to be her hand maiden. This had put a smile that spread across the girls face, it was a great honor to help the lady of the house. She even hugged Sansa quickly backing away and apologizing. Sansa simply smiled at the girl and pulled her in for another hug and then waving the girl off grabbed her cloak and headed to the training grounds.
When she got there Jon was sparring with one of the wildings. Sansa stopped and watched as he gracefully avoided an attack. It was almost like he was dancing and this was one that he had mastered. After a few more moments and his knife at the man's throat, the loser yielded clapping the Commanders back and heading back to train with the others.
"Are you sure you want to do this." Jon asked Sansa Seriously once he noticed her standing there
"Aye Jon teach me to fight." Sansa stated
She took of the cloak and handed it to one of the squires assisting in the training grounds. A small shiver went up Sansa's spine but she knew once they started moving she would be warmer. Jon threw her a wooden sword that they would be training with. She almost missed but was able to catch at the last moment. It was heavy and hard to move but she was determined, she Sansa Stark had survived the capitiol this is nothing.
" I'm not going to teach to fight as I would my men." Jon said simply
" Why ." Sansa exclaimed
" Because you are smaller then most and still weak," He started holding up his hand before she could snap back at him . She remained silent to let him finish his thought.
" Your size gives you the advantage to be faster, and you will get strength and endurance as you learn." Jon explained
Sansa nodded her head; she would trust Jon knew what he was talking about. The first thing he did was teach her stances and techniecs. After a few moments of that he told her to attack just to see what she would do. Sansa did not attack right away as most would; she waited a moment to size Jon up. He was nearly twice her size and probably 3 times as strong. If she remembered correctly, from when they where little, he could use both hands to fight so he didn't have a side disadvantage. Knowing she had nothing to loose Sansa charged at Jon aiming for his midsection, as Jon blocked her the vibration knocked the sword out of her hands.
" Good, you studied the situation instead of attacking me as most new fighters would. Do you want me to wait or shall we do this again?" Jon asked
" Again." Sansa replied
They went at this for nearly an hour, it became harder for Jon to knock the sword out of Sansa's hand but she had yet to get a hit on him. Jon beamed at how quickly Sansa was learning, but they end of the week he could probally have her using real steel. They decided to go one more, this time Sansa didn't hesitate to charge. When Jon went to block she twirled around so that he stumbled and knocked his sword out of his hand. They stood there in shock a minuet and silence filled the court yard. The Lord Commander had just been bested by a novice at that. There attention was pulled when clapping came from 10 feet away from them.
" I hope you told her to use the pointy side." A peitite Brunette with the Stark eyes said