"She has red hair and pale skin...it almost blends into the snow...she carries a bow and arrow and shoots at anything that looks relatively threatening to her," Jon informed Anya.

The two of them wandered through the snow, each of them holding the reins to a horse. The sun was beating down over them and Jon had decided to give the horses a slight rest. They now walked in the snow, speaking of different matters. It was only then when she asked him of Ygritte.

"There must be more to her than that," Anya complained to him. "A lot of people have red hair, pale skin and can use a bow and arrow."

"Aye," Jon agreed. "I don't know what it was about her that I loved. She was different to every girl I had met before."

"I didn't think that you knew any girls," Anya responded. "You said that you lived at the Wall."

"Before," Jon clarified with a small smirk as he turned his head to the side to look at her. "The girls at Winterfell never paid me much attention. They always preferred my brother. Robb was a good man and...he had that pretty look that girls love..."

"What did he look like?" Anya pushed him.

"Curly brown locks...a strong jaw...blue eyes..." Jon said, struggling to admit to himself that he almost couldn't picture his own brother. Robb was gone now, but he must have changed since the last time Jon had seen him.

"He sounds a dream," Anya teased, her arm bumping against Jon's purposefully.

Rolling his eyes, Jon peered at Anya through his hooded gaze. He couldn't help but smile at her smile. There was something contagious about it. She laughed heartedly and often found herself snorting when she did so. He had expected her to be nothing but a plain and ordinary woman, like the majority of them at Craster's Keep. They would not dare say boo to a goose, but Anya was different. She was opinionated and lively. Although Jon supposed she had not suffered the same fate as Craster's wives. He had refused to touch her. He had not ruined her innocence or her spirit.

"You'd have loved him," Jon nodded. "He's what you would think to be a true knight."

"Was he really?" she teased him again and then her tone turned sombre. "I am sure he was a good man if he is anything like you."

"You think I'm a good man?" Jon checked back with her and she nodded.

"How can you not be? You saved me and everyone else."

"But I broke an oath."

"You broke an oath for love," Anya responded. "Although, I do think that you should still be with the girl if you loved her truly...but I sense it is a sore subject..."

Grunting, Jon didn't respond to her words. He kept his eyes ahead and on Grenn and Edd as they rode on. He said nothing and Anya wished she had never spoken of this mysterious Ygritte considering that it seemed an awkward thing to converse of. He took another moment or two to think of something to say, but Anya already beat him to it.

"Is it difficult to wield a sword?" she asked of him and Jon's brows furrowed.

He ran a gloved hand down his chin before his hand rested on the hilt of Longclaw. Anya continued to stare up to the sky and Jon queried why she had asked him such a question. She really was full of surprises.

"Not with training, but you need stamina," Jon responded. "There is a lot to wielding a sword."

"The men at the Keep didn't make it look difficult," Anya replied. "They sliced at anything that came in their way. Craster didn't know how to wield a sword. He liked to pretend he did, but I don't think he knew anything about it."

"Why do you ask?" Jon wondered.

"I've always wanted to have a go," she nonchalantly shrugged. "Sewing and cooking never interested me."

"But killing does?"

"Not killing," Anya quickly pointed out, "just the skill that comes with it...I don't know..."

Jon smirked before he stood still, tiring of fighting to walk in the snow. Anya did the same and he pulled Longclaw from its sheathe. Anya stared at it before Jon moved over to her. He dropped the blunt edge of the blade into one hand and then kept hold of the hilt in the other. Anya moved her hand over the blade and Jon looked down to it.

"It was Lord Commander Mormont's sword. The pommel was a bear for his House's sigil, but he turned it into a direwolf for me."

"Like Ghost," Anya said and Jon nodded.

"Exactly like Ghost," he agreed with her. "He gave it to me when I saved his life. It's Valyrian Steel too."

"What does that mean?" Anya's gaze found his.

"It is a special kind of metal. It's sharper than normal steel and it light."

"Impressive," Anya said and Jon dared to hand it over to her.

Anya looked confused for a few moments before she took hold of the hilt of the sword and held it in her hands. She was surprised to find how light it actually was. It was almost as though she wasn't carrying anything. Jon watched as the sun glimmered against the steel before he held his hand out to take it back from her.

"You're right," Anya agreed with him. "It feels nothing like I thought it would. I'm surprised no one has taken it from you yet."

"Thank the Gods," Jon replied. "Going back to normal steel after using this wouldn't be worth thinking about. Anyway, we should get a move on. Grenn and Edd will be miles ahead by now."

"Of course," Anya agreed and Jon sheathed the sword.

...

The Wall was nothing like Anya had seen before. She looked on it with such wonder that Jon almost forgot how magnificent it had been the first time he had seen it himself. Jon helped Anya down from the horse before leading her through the Wall towards the lift to Castle Black.

"It's Thorne you need to look out for," Grenn informed Anya as she walked by his side and Jon strode ahead of them. "He's a nasty bastard...him and Janos Slynt...both of them might not be happy that you are here."

"I don't think anyone is particularly happy," Anya responded as they walked through the courtyard.

Men had stopped training as they stared at Anya as she remained flanked by Edd and Grenn. Both of the men stared at those who sneered or looked threatening. Grenn knew that half of the men would try to have Anya in their bed by the nightfall. She was an easy target for them. That was the part which he suspected bothered Jon. He was a man with honour and he did not take kindly to rapists.

"They usually aren't," Edd promised her. "But try not to worry too much."

"What is this, Lord Snow? You brought back a new whore with you?"

Anya almost felt anger course through her veins. She looked up to the wooden form of balcony above her where a tall man stood. He had a receding hairline and the hairs on his head were slowly turning white. He was tall and well built, dressed in furs and warm clothes. His eyes were narrow and harsh, and staring straight at Anya.

"She is one of Craster's daughters," Jon said, taking the steps up and Anya followed him. "I found her as Rast was about to rape her."

"And you thought it wise to bring her back here?" he checked.

"She is safe here. She is not safe out there," Jon responded. "I did what I thought was right."

"Of course you did," Thorne sneered and Anya stood over Jon's shoulder. "And you think that she is safe here; one woman at the Wall?"

"We have taken vows," Jon reminded him. "She is not to be harmed by the men. If they do hurt her then it is punishable by death."

Smirking, Thorne looked at Anya and she instantly felt fear inside of her. Something told her that she was not safe here. She could sense that she wasn't safe. There were too many lecherous looks and men with no care for honour.

"As you say," Thorne said. "No doubt I could give her a coin and she would spread her legs for me when I asked it."

"I would not," Anya snarled back.

"Anya," Jon warned her, knowing that Thorne was temperamental at the best of times. He turned back to look at Thorne; "I will take her to a chamber and set her to work."

"So you will take responsibility for her?" Thorne asked. "Was one wildling not enough?"

Jon ground his teeth together and ignored Thorne. Jon took Anya by her elbow and steered her inside. He kept his grip tight on her as Anya did her best to stop him from walking so fast. He finally led her to where the spare chambers were kept, opening the door to one and urging her inside. She kept silent as he slammed the door shut and she knew what she had to do.

"I cannot stay here," Anya told him, her body now shaking at the thought of what could happen. "I saw how they looked at me. I saw them...and..."

"No," Jon shook his head. "No one will touch you, Anya."

"How can you promise that? Did you hear what he said to me? Did you hear him?"

"I will let Ghost stay with you," Jon promised her. "I will check on you whenever I can and make sure that you are not harmed."

Anya sunk down onto the bed in the corner of the dark and cold room. Jon sighed at the sight of her. Had he done the right thing in bringing her back her? Had he been foolish? He sat down next to her and noted her wipe her eyes with the back of her hand. She thought that the North had been cold, but she could see that Castle Black was just as cold.

"I escaped Craster and now you bring me here where a hundred men want nothing more than to have me in their bed because they took a foolish vow!" her yells were enough to draw attention and she stomped across the room, kneeling by the fireplace and tossing logs into the fire.

Jon stood then and saw her sobbing on the floor. She collapsed from her knees to her behind, the back of her hand covering her mouth as Jon settled down on the floor next to her. He tossed logs into the fire and then watched her for a few moments, wondering what he should do.

"I don't know what to do," Jon admitted. "I will keep Ghost with you and...I will do what I can..."

"Let me go south," she urged him. "Do not make me stay here."

"Wildlings are south of the Wall too," he replied. "Nowhere is safe...not now...this is the best place for you."

"Then you really do give me no option, do you?" she mumbled.

Jon took another moment before he moved a hesitant arm to her shoulders. She allowed him to keep it there as they sat by the fireless fireplace. Anya took a moment to relax around his arm and Jon squeezed her shoulder, remembering that was how he used to comfort Arya when she was angry.

"I will do what I can to keep you safe."

"I know," Anya reluctantly admitted to him.

The two kept quiet and Anya wasn't sure how long it was until she felt her lids close, and her body slump against Jon's.

...

A/N: Thank you to xxxRena and DarylDixon'sLover for reviewing the previous chapter. Thanks to everyone following but please do let me know what you think!