Yay, I am not late this time! What a accomplishment. I promise I will keep it up the best I can, classes in the university started this Monday and I can see my life is going to change drastically.
Thank you for reading!
Chapter updated in 04/02/2014.

Chapter IX – Craster's Keep

| Jon POV |

Days passed and we kept walking North, village by village, they all empty and creating more questions to be answered.

The fourth village was a place called Whitetree, I remembered reading the name on one of Sam's books, we would camp there tonight.

We could see an enormous weirwood and approached to investigate further. The height was not scary at all if compared to the face it had. The mouth was really big, enough to keep an animal inside and the teeth looked blackened by fire.

I looked to my brothers and none of them seemed willing to approach the tree, so I did, kneeling down to look inside.

The floor inside the tree was filled with bones and skulls, but they didn't look like they belonged to animals. I reached for one skull, the jaw bone broken and I felt a little disgusted. But turned anyway and showed it to Lord Commander.

"The wildlings burn their dead. We've always known that. Now I wished I'd asked them why, when there were still a few around to ask." Lord Commander Mormont said. "So they won't come back…"

I heard someone whisper next to me and turned, Lily was standing there, looking the tree and I put the skull back, getting up.

"Let's see the houses, perhaps we will find something worth." Lord Commander said and we all nodded, stepping away from the tree, but Lily stood there, staring.

"Aren't you coming?" I asked once we were alone. "I have a bad feeling…" I stepped closer, touching her shoulder, but she didn't look to me. "What is it?"

"I feel none of us will return to the Wall after this expedition. The Gods tells me I am right." I shivered and looked to the tree then to her masked face. "Don't worry, we will. I didn't know you prayed to the Old Gods."

"I do… And they never lied to me…" Her voice wasn't more than just a whisper and I felt worried. "They are wrong this time, no one is going to die." I tried to sound more convinced than I actually was.

"Let's go." Lily said, turning and starting to walk back to the houses.

We spotted Sam and walked over to him. "Did you check the houses already?" I asked. "We did, there is nothing. It looks like no one ever lived there." "We can camp on them at least." Lily said and we nodded. I saw her walk to the Lord Commander without saying a word.

| Lily POV |

I felt really intrigued about the feeling I was getting, the Gods never lied to me, they always told me the truth. I sensed Jon was worried, but I couldn't help being preoccupied myself.

Without saying anything I walked to Lord Commander Mormont, who was patting his crow. "Lord Commander, there is a river just north here, we should get water, our stock is running low."

He pondered for a while before talking. "Take Snow." I nodded. For some reason he really liked pairing me up with Jon, perhaps he thought we work well together.

"Jon, Lord Commander told us to get water." I announced before running off to take some gallons, he followed and helped me, I was holding two and he held four, but I couldn't complain, he was stronger than me after all.

We found the river after a while walking and luckily it wasn't frozen. I sat on the edge and started filling the gallons, feeling Jon's eyes on my back as he too filled his with water.

"Spit it out." I said after a while, not enduring the uncomfortable silence anymore. "I am worried."

"You don't need to be. I have a bad feeling, but it may be nothing." I sighed before saying, he shouldn't worry so much. "You don't believe that." He replied and sat next to me, I turned my face to look at him.

"I am fine, Jon." I said again and he took off my mask, staring directly at my eyes and I didn't move away. Jon moved my hair away from my face and I felt myself blushing. "I will protect you…" He whispered, moving closer and I felt his breath on my face, so tempting.

"Lee! Jon!" We heard Sam's voice and backed away. I took my mask and placed it on my face just in time before Sam saw us. That would be a really difficult scene to explain. I couldn't pass the opportunity to tease Jon and whispered. "My lover is here." I received a gentle push.

"Lord Commander sent me with more gallons!" He said, panting heavily and carrying two gallons. "That man forgot how it is to live out here." I said, sighing.

We helped Sam fill the gallons and started walking back, Sam and I tripped a few times because of the weight, but Jon looked perfectly fine.

"Look, Sam. Lord I Am Strong is right next to us." I mocked and Sam laughed, I smirked at the frown that appeared on Jon's face.

We returned to Whitetree and deposited the gallons on the horses so they could carry it.

Night was there and the sun had pretty much disappeared in the sky. Slowly, our brothers entered their huts and I was alone. The sky was filled with stars and I tried to read what they were saying.

"Alone again." I heard Jon say. "Stalking me again." I replied and he laughed, sitting next to me near the fire. "I couldn't sleep."

"Why?" I asked, not taking my eyes off the sky. "You weren't there by my side." I coughed and blushed like mad, turning to look at him. "D-Don't be silly, you don't need me to sleep!"

"Did I make you blush?" He asked, smirking and I blushed even harder. "No! Let's go!" I got up and put down the fire, grabbed his arm and pulled him to our hut. Like every night, I slept beside him, it was becoming a ritual.

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Days and more villages later we arrived in Craster's Keep. He is a disgusting old man who marries his own daughters and has children with them, and then once they are of age, he marries the daughters of his daughters. Surprisingly, he never had boys, or so we thought.

Lord Commander guided us to meet with Craster and he sat with the old man, drinking our wine.

"He said he planned to stop here on his way to the Frostfangs." Lord Commander said, warming his hands on the fire. "People make all sorts of plans. I haven't seen Benjen Stark in three years. Haven't missed him, always treated me like scum."

"Haven't had any good wine for a long time. You southerners make good wine, I give you that." Craster said and our attention turned immediately to Jon's angry voice. "We're not southerners."

"Who is this pretty girl? You are prettier than half my daughters." I felt angry now, only I could mock Jon and I did it joking. That man wasn't joking. "You got a nice wet cunt between your legs? What is your name?"

Lord Commander looked at me, not liking the tense air growing between Jon and Craster, I nodded and walked slowly to Jon. "Jon Snow."

"Snow, huh? Now listen to me, bastard. All of you are from south of the Wall. You are southerners. And now you are in the North, the real North." His voice was dangerous and I grabbed Jon's arm and pulled him out of the tent.

"The boy meant no harm." Lord Commander said, trying to ease the situation. "If I get this bastard talking to my daughter…" Was the last thing I heard before we were far enough. Jon freed his arm from my grip harshly, pushing me to the side.

"What were you thinking?!" I asked, angry. "We are not southerners."

"And that doesn't mean you can go picking fights with everyone who say so. He is Craster, we need him." I tried to reason with him, but I saw the frustration kept on his face. "Calm down." I said slowly and dangerously and I think he sensed danger because he became instantly quiet.

"You have to pick your fights carefully and Craster is not a good choice." I muttered, not softening my tone. "Sorry… I am sorry I pushed you…"

"It is alright, you were angry. Now… Behave. I have the feeling Craster is lying." I said after looking around to see if there was anyone hearing us. "Why?"

"Something on his eyes told me so." Jon pondered for a few seconds before sighing. "How do we get him to talk?"

"Him? No, not him. Craster's Keep has eyes, many eyes and some of them are eager to talk." We looked around and eyed the girls who worked without paying attention to us and I knew he understood what I meant.

We saw Lord Commander Mormont walking out after a few moments and he went straight to Jon, pushing him against a wall.

"Who am I?" He asked completely angry. "Lord Commander Mormont." Jon replied.

"And who are you?" Lord Commander then asked.

"Jon Snow." He answered unsure. "Who are you?" Lord Commander asked again, more hispid.

"Your steward." Jon answered, still with insecurity on his voice. I was beginning to feel like punching Lord Commander.

"Do you want to lead one day?" He asked and Jon merely nodded. "Then learn how to follow." He released Jon and looked at me.

"I know what you are thinking, Peis. Not in a million years." He said, looking at my eyes and I didn't reply. He walked away.

"What a lovely man." I said sarcastically and Jon laughed. "Let's go set camp." I said, pushing him playfully toward the others.

When we got near the others, Dolorous Edd was making fart sounds and I scowled. "Seriously? What are you? Five?" He grinned and I rolled my eyes, seeing Sam following a girl with his head, I could so see his neck snapping.

"Samwell." I called, slapping him on the back of the head. "Seems a bit greedy for one man to have so many wives." He said, ignoring my slap and still looking. "Wouldn't two or three be enough for him?"

"We were having a serious discussion." Dolorous Edd said and Grenn laughed. "We are lucky, we don't need even one." Grenn said sarcastically. I felt a little uncomfortable and looked at Jon, he looked back at me.

"Would you look at that…" Grenn said, sighing, he too was staring at the girls. "Nothing like the sight of a woman walking away, right Jon?"

I looked at Jon, waiting for his reply, but it didn't come and Grenn spoke. "I prefer watching them come towards me."

"I am sure that's nice too." Sam said and I sighed again, Jon's hand touched my shoulder in a consolation act. "Yeah, well, there was a milkmaid named Violet on the next farm over from where I grew up. We were wrestling together from the time we were six years old. And then we got older and the wrestling, uh… Changed."

"Come on, boys! We can't discuss these matters, we will never be able to practice them anyway." I tried to change the subject, but I felt like I was invisible. "You were with her? How many times?" Sam asked, really interested in the story. "Well, as many times as I could."

"I wish I grew up on a farm…" Sam said dreamingly. "We need more potatoes." Dolorous Edd said and I felt really grateful, so much I could actually kiss him. "I will go get them." I excused myself, but Sam called. "I will go."

Well, at least it was one less mouth to talk about it. I watched him go away and tapped Dolorous Edd on the shoulder. "Seems like you have everything under control."

Then I walk away also, with Jon behind me. I am ranger, not a cooker, I can't even cook.

Jon and I sat away from the others, there was no one near to bother and he picked up his sword to sharpen it. "Your sword is pretty." I complimented and he smiled at me. "I shouldn't have gotten it, you were the one who saved Lord Commander."

"I don't mind, I wouldn't use it anyway, it suits you better." He kept smiling at me, but his smiled died when Sam approached us, he was with a girl.

"What are you doing?" We asked at the same time. "This is Gilly. She is one of Craster's daughters…"

"Hello, Gilly. What are you doing?" Jon greeted her kindly, but turned to Sam and spoke harshly, I laughed at this. "Sam said you can help."

"We can't. I am sorry, but Sam knows…" I spoke, looking at her. "She is pregnant." Sam cut me and I held my breath. We waited for him to continue talking.

"We have to take her with us when we leave." Sam said. That guy really doesn't think with his head, does he? Well, not with his brain at least. "What?" Jon hissed, letting go of his sword and getting up.

"What would that…"

"I know it sounds a bit mad." Sam intervened again and I just watched. "No, it doesn't sound a bit mad, it's impossible. Lord Commander ordered us to…"

"We are sworn to protect." Sam said and I felt bad for him, he was clearly only trying to help. "Sam, we can't take…"

"Please, ser, please." The girl named Gilly asked, she couldn't be more than fifteen years old and was already pregnant. "I can still run if I have to."

"It's just not possible." Jon said again, but I knew I was ending up siding with Sam. "I'm going to have a baby. If it's a boy…" She couldn't finish.

"If it's a boy what?" Jon asked, not containing the angry tone. "You want us to risk our lives for you and you won't even tell us why?" She looked frightened and stepped back, running away.

"Why'd you do that?" Sam almost yelled in despair. And I got up, knowing they probably had forgotten I was there. "I will go talk to her."

"Lee, you can't be seen with her." Jon said and I shut him up with the glare I gave him, then walked away, following the steps from the girl.

I found her crying behind one house and sat next to her, she jumped in surprise.

"That's alright, I won't hurt you. I wanted to apologize for Jon's behavior. He is not a bad person, but he loves what he does and cannot risk everything for something he doesn't fully know."

Gilly looked at her feet, apparently calmer than before. "I know how it feels to hide secrets… And I know how it feels to be scared. But you can't live with fear." She looked at me, with tears in her eyes.

"If I show you my secret… Can you tell me yours…?" I asked and she nodded gently a few times. Slowly I removed my mask, showing my face to her, she gasped. "You… Are a woman?"

"I am… But no one knows except for Jon, I owe him my life. So please don't tell anyone." She blinked, trying to process the information.

"He leaves them… My husband leaves the boys on the woods for the Gods… So they will be kind to us." Sacrifice… He is sacrificing the boys… I felt like immediately killing that man.

I put the mask back on my face so no one would see me if they walked nearby. "Before I help you… I need to know one thing…"

"What?" She asked, with hope on her voice. "Did you see a tall man, long black hair, long beard, pointy face around here lately?"

Gilly thought for a few minutes, trying to remember. "I did! I saw a man like that a few weeks ago, maybe, he was alone and only asked for water and left again."

"Did Craster see him?" I asked, wanting to know why Craster lied. "I don't think so, he passed by really quickly. I think we went East."

"Thank you, Gilly. I will do anything I can to help you." I touched her shoulder and got up, going back to where Sam and Jon were waiting.

"So?" Jon asked, looking down at me. "He kills the boys, as sacrifice to the Gods." Sam and Jon's expression demonstrated how shocked they were. "And there is more…"

"More?" Jon asked and I nodded. "She saw your uncle here a few weeks ago, Craster didn't see him, he just asked for water and left. He went East."

"We must tell Lord Commander!" Sam said, excited. "No. I will." I said, walking away to find Lord Commander.

He was sitting alone, probably thinking.

"Lord Commander, may I speak to you?" I asked, getting near. "What did you find?" Of course he knew I wasn't going to obey and stay quiet.

"Benjen Stark was seen a few weeks ago by the girls. They said he went East." He sighed and looked at me. "We march East then."

"No, I don't think it is a good idea. You have to meet Qhorin Halfhand. I will go, take a shortcut through the river and arrive on the Frostfangs before you." He stared at me without speaking for minutes. "Fine. I can spare twenty men."

"I need two." He smirked in disbelief, but I kept my voice serious. "Two? Who would these two be?"

"Jon Snow and Samwell Tarly." He laughed, of course no one would want to take Sam, but I had my reasons.

"Two stewards!" He still laughed. "One is a shitty steward and better ranger. He needs experience. I can give it to him. And Samwell knows this place, he has memorized maps. We would leave as soon as the sun comes out."

"Fine. Don't die out there, Peis. And don't kill my successor." I nodded and walked away, returning to my brothers.

"We leave first thing in the morning, just the three of us." I emphasized the word three and I knew they understood what I meant.

Tomorrow was going to be a long day and we would be on our own. I could protect myself out here, but can I protect them?