Chapter 9

Jorah returned to the keep a few hours later, when it was turning dark. He returned to a keep in chaos. "Where have you been?" Asked his eldest cousin Alysane tapping her foot. he was in no mood for yet another argument.

"I went to clear my head"

"Yeah? Well the queen wants your head... She's taken ill"

Jorah eyes grew wide as he barged past her on the way to her room.

"You will not command me," Lokarya said through gritted teeth, unsheathing her sword and swinging it as hard as she could at him. Expecting the sword to make contact, she fell off balance as the sword sliced through him as if he were nothing.

He stood there and gave her a wild look. "You were told the last time that I wasn't here. You think you're protected here, but what if something were to happen to one of your new friends?"

What have I done?

"It's a shame really. I was just going to give them quick deaths but... Now, I'm not so sure," he said with a sadistic look on his face.

"Leave them alone," she said, her voice faltering.

"Or what? You'll attack me?" He smiled and looked at her sword. "No, I don't think I will leave them alone."

"Lokarya!" A voice shouted.

Lokarya turned around to see one of Jorah's cousins approaching her before spinning back around. Nothing. No one there.

"Lokarya! Come! It's the Queen!"

The Queen? No, no, no, not now!

Jorah practically ran up the stairs. His heavy boots clomping on the wooden stairs. The queen's blood riders and Lokarya stood by the door. Maege stopped him from going in the room and gave him a knowing look. He opened the door and there lay Dany in bed. The Maester just about to leave the room "she needs rest" said old Maester. Jorah carried on regardless.

"They are overreacting Jorah" said Dany rolling over in the bed like a stroppy child.

"What happened?" Said Jorah.

"I only fell In the hall, I am perfectly fine, it's nothing, the maester said I just need rest" said Dany.

"Better safe than sorry, my queen" Jorah said taking her hand.

"Don't, not now" whined The queen.

"I'll go then" he said standing. But her hand caught his shirt as he moved away.

"No, read me something, don't go, I don't want to be alone" she said, pointing to the book on the table in the corner. He sighed and sat himself in the chair across from her, and began to read her a book.

Lokarya held her head against the door for a few minutes, trying to hear what was being said, but could only hear muffled voices. Nobody told her what was wrong with the Queen apart from something about her falling over.

Certain that the Queen and Jorah were fine, Lokarya found herself back in her bedchamber atop her bed reading a book that Alysane had lent her a day ago. The book was about the night sky and legends of old that different cultures told to their children and Lokarya loved every page of it. This night, she fell asleep with the book still open on page three hundred and ninety-four, the beginning of a chapter named "The Magicke Above".

They'd been in hiding for nearly a month. Days rolled into weeks and passed without trouble. Jorah noted Lokarya was getting better with a sword, they would duel and he was always surprised when she beat him. He'd even had some armour made for her. He made her train with his cousins, the fierce war maidens of Bear Island. She was almost deadly; she'd certainly be useful in a fight now. He decided.

Even Dany seemed stronger, her and his relationship seemed strong; she seemed to trust him again, trust him completely. She was deadly with an axe too. All was looking good. Perhaps they could go back to kings landing soon.

Jorah heard her huff again along with tug of blankets letting another puff of cold air into the warm cocoon they had made. It woke him, she'd been like this for hours , and she'd woke him 3 times. He'd just drop off and she'd move and it woke him. Jorah drowsily turned over from his side, facing Dany and sliding his arm across her bare middle, his face against her back hoping his loose embrace would offer her some comfort. He closed his eyes against the smooth expanse of her back and was awarded an elbow to the face as she bolted up right, pulling the blankets off him and fully waking him.

"Don't!" She snapped "Why do you keep doing that?" She moved to the very edge of the bed, her back to him.

He sighed as he fell back into the pillows looking at the wooden timber ceiling. Jorah was confused, she'd been increasingly irritable these last few days, he was starting to think that she really was missing kings landing, that would explain her constantly pissed off mood. He wondered if she was like this with Lokarya, they seemed to get on now, or rather the queen tolerated her more.

"I only wished to help you sleep my queen" he admitted.

"I didn't ask for you to touch me" spat the queen, with such harshness that made Jorah's temper ignite.

"Well forgive me khaleesi, but you had no qualms about that before" said Jorah, below the belt, perhaps inappropriate. She roared, her head snapped around.

"Watch your tongue"

Jorah sat up, crawling his way to her, his and on her shoulder, her alabaster skin tensed beneath his fingertips.

"Daenerys, I don't want an argument" his voice was gentle now, he didn't want an argument, he didn't want a confrontation, not now.

"Then perhaps we shouldn't sleep together"

Dany's teeth were clenched as she met his eyes as she spat out the words. Words that were meant to hurt. Her anger had raised its ugly head now, it was best to retreat.

"Perhaps you're right" said Jorah, swinging out of bed, pulling on his breeches and his shirt.

"Where are you going?" Asked Dany. Jorah was still pulling on his shirt, reaching over to find his sword belt that Daenerys launched in a fit of passion.

"My room" he said in the shadow of the door way.

"Don't you walk away" she yell, it was desperate, angry and it just made Jorah want to scream at her. Jorah ignored her, he kept his back to her. "I am your queen, Mormont" she yelled, loud this time, he doubt anyone in the entire keep hadn't heard. Mormont? Jorah gritted his teeth, she wanted a reaction like she always did. He just turned in the doorway and stared. He'd had enough and he left her room to find his own. And as he lay in the darkness of his own room, thinking about what he'd done to annoy her, he seemed to be doing that a lot over the past few days and he wondered why. Sleep claimed him and swallowed him with its darkness.

Lokarya sighed drearily into the morning air as she walked through the yard. It had been a month and nothing had happened. Yes, she'd learned to fight with a sword but she wanted something new to happen. She had read most of the books Jorah's cousins owned and h/ hasn't shown up in quite a while so maybe she's finally been left alone. Maybe it was time for her to return to King's Landing. She kicked moodily at the grass as she made her way to the stables, seeing as she had barely paid attention to her destrier since she had arrived on Bear Island.

Jorah sat Jeor on the chestnut horse. "Horsey!" he shouted. The chestnut gave a snort of disproval, Jorah stroked the horses neck in comfort. He'd brought the little future lord of Bear Island out here because he was driving his kins woman mad, and to avoid Daenerys, she was still annoyed at him. There were too many women, he needed to think.

"Not so loud Jeor, you've got to shhh" said Jorah putting his finger against his lips. The small boy copied him

"horsy not like bears?" he asked, his little Green eyes wide and open. Jorah continued brushing the horses neck.

"No, especially not ones that shout"

"Horsy go walk?" Asked Jeor, waving his little legs about, as if to make the horse move. Jorah moved to horses head, scratching its white striped nose. As much as Jorah wanted to go for a ride today, he couldn't. He felt like a caged bear again.

"Not today little bear, too much snow" said Jorah. At the mention of snow, Jeor screeched. Jeor loved snow, more correctly he loved throwing it.

"Snow!" His arms waving the air. Jorah grabbed for the boy, thinking he was going to fall off.

"Jeor!" Scolded Jorah, but he saw what his little cousin was looking at behind him, he turned. "Lokarya?"

Lokarya looked up from her feet at the mention of her name, smiling when she saw young Jeor.

"Don't worry, boys," she said, "I'm not here to spoil your fun. If horses looked after themselves, I wouldn't be here at all."

Jorah cleared his throat. "No it's fine" he said, maybe it came out a little too harsh, he wanted to say so much, they hardly really spoke, only at practice times. "Has she calmed down?" He asked Lokarya.

Lokarya raised her eyebrows. "The Queen? I wouldn't know. I spend my days trying to avoid her."

She stroked her horse, immediately calming herself and thought about what she'd just said. "We don't exactly get along, the Queen and I."

"You're not the only" said Jorah, "I seem not to be in her good books" Jorah too was content with brushing the chestnuts fur. Jeor stood on the horse, wobbling as he balanced himself, small behind pointing high in the air as he stood. Jorah's eyes went wide in alarm "Jeor!" Shouted Jorah as he grabbed the child, pulling him off the horse. "I've told you boy, to behave!" said Jorah, with the authority of a father, only after did he realise how much he sounded like his own father. Jeor stuck his lip out and cried.

Lokarya scrunched her face up at the sound of Jeor crying. It was too early in the morning and she had no sleep the night before, in fact she hardly slept at all these days. It was the only way she kept /him/ out of her head but it was taking an effect on her. A foul mood presented itself at the slightest amount of frustration and she couldn't shake it.

"Your father is still alive, you know," she said smiling slightly. "I just heard him in your voice."

Jorah felt guilty, and hugged the boy whispering his apologies, and soothing the lad until his cries stopped to small whimpers. "I'm sorry" then he put Jeor on the floor and went back to brushing his horse. father he missed the old bear, so much it hurt, he never got to say how he was sorry. His grip loosened and he dropped the wooden brush. He cursed, in dothraki, he bent down to pick it up, but gave up and leant against the wooden post. Sighing "don't talk to me about fathers, Lokarya"

Lokarya fell silent and watched the man before her. For a split second, she was going to go into a fiery rage saying how he should feel lucky about even having a father but realised that would only make things worse.

"Jorah... I think it's time," she looked into his eyes. "It's time for me to go back to King's Landing and face him."

He'd known this girl for a month, never once in all those weeks had she raised her voice in anger to him. To be quite honest, he was taken aback. "Lokarya, we have to be paitient, we're still waiting for a raven from varys"

"I can't, Jorah," she said sorrowfully. "You have the Queen to think of whereas I... I'm not-" she sighed as she tried to think of how to word what she was going to say. "I think I'm losing my mind."

She then explained to him what she should have told him weeks ago, about how she has seen him on more than one occasion.

"What if it's my fault the Queen fell?" She asked. "All because I thought I could take him... Each night I've had terrible dreams, so each night I stay awake so I don't have to see him."

She looked at Jorah, wondering what he thought of her now. Does he think she's mad? He'd be quite right too, but Lokarya didn't know what to do anymore.

"You want to go back to queen landing to take on this imaginary master?" Snapped Jorah, honestly he did think she was mad, he was starting to think she had them on a wild goose chase, they'd been here a month and nothing had happened. "Be my guest Lokarya, do it because I honestly don't care anymore" he said angrily. Jorah moved from the wooden post, grabbed up Jeor, holding him on his him. "Come on Jeor, we're not wanted here"

His words cut into her as sharp as Valyrian steel. She thought that he would offer some sort of comfort to her, but instead he had destroyed her. A rage flared inside her, making her leave the stables and head straight towards the woods. He doesn't care.

She needed to lash out, to hit something.

A nearby tree was attacked as Lokarya kicked it with all of her might, before shouting in pain and clutching her right foot. /Gods damn this tree. Damn my foot. Damn Jorah/.

"Well done," A voice said behind her. "That was quicker than I expected of you."

She didn't turn around, knowing full well who it was. "Leave me alone!" She shouted at him.

"Why? I'm having so much fun." He laughed.

She turned to face him, her fists clenched. He had that lance with him, the one she saw in her nightmare.

"Ooh, I am scared," he said in a mocking voice.

"Just because you're not here, it doesn't mean I won't kill you the next time I see you."

He frowned at her. "Who said I'm not here?"

Now, it was Lokarya's turn to frown. She unsheathed her sword and slowly walked towards him, pointing her weapon towards him. He did nothing but stand there, watching Lokarya as she pressed her sword onto him, nudging him slightly. Lokarya felt her body go weak as he smiled at her.

"Hello, Lokarya," he sneered. "Are you pleased to see me?"

She panicked for a moment before mimicking what she had done weeks ago and swinging her sword at him. She got halfway before his lance hit her chest, the bladed cutting into her. Her body froze in place as Lokarya gasped, her airways slowly blocking up. An icy pain emanated from her chest, spreading to the rest of her body. Her eyes moved to look at her sword, willing her arm to carry on.

"That's enough of that," he said. "Drop it."

She couldn't understand, as soon as he said the words her hand let go without her actually using her hand.

"You look tired," he began, "maybe you should get some rest."

He pushed the lance, sending another shot of icy pain through her before he moved away.

"You should have done as I told you," he said moving out of the woods the way Lokarya came in. "But I suppose it's better for your friends. They get to see what true greatness is before they die."

"No," Lokarya whimpered, her body falling to the floor. She held on as best as she could, trying to shout but no sound came out. "Jorah," she whispered as the cold, icy, darkness took over.

Jorah returned back to the keep just before dinner was being served in the hall. He and Jeor had walked along the ice shores all morning, they returned when the little lord could walk no more and had to be carried. It gave him time to reflect, perhaps he'd been too harsh with Lokarya, perhaps he shouldn't have said that and been more comforting. Jeor toddled off back to his mother leaving Jorah alone. He noticed that Lokarya was not at the table, so he went to her chambers, hoping she'd be there, hoping he could apologise. He knocked on the door.

"Lokarya?"

Just black. There was nothing. Lokarya opened her eyes slowly. How long had she been there, lying on the ground?

The snow had soaked through her clothes and a fierce shiver took ahold of her. She groaned at the pain in her chest and tried to stand up, but she had no energy. She turned onto her stomach and began crawling back to the keep.

She wasn't in her room. Maybe she was still mad with him. He walked towards the stables, when he saw a body in the snow. His heart dropped to his stomach. /gods no/

"Lokarya!?" He said taking off running.

She heard a shout. /Jorah?/

You hate Jorah, a voice whispered.

"He... Cares... " she muttered, pulling herself along.

No, he doesn't. He told you, remember?

"Lies... " she grunted, edging closer.

He should be killed

"Ungh... No... "

Perhaps the Queen then. You will do as I command.

"Daenerys... "

She was finding it hard to hold on, but she realised who the voice in her head belonged to. Her cramping hands clawing at the snow, she could feel the thud of feet nearby.

"Leave... Me... " she said to the voice.

"No" cried Jorah. At the sight before him, she was crawling in the snow. she didn't leave him he pulled her into his arms, and carried her to the keep. She was talking nonsense, her head lolling about. "I won't leave you Lokarya"

She was on a bed and that's all Lokarya knew. Her clothes were wet and stuck to her like a second skin, making her shiver uncontrollably. The voice in her head had disappeared for now, but she feared its return. It was as if the voice, his voice was trying to take over.

Her eyes moved drowsily and she saw someone moving around. Whoever it was had to be told.

"He's... Here..." said Lokarya. "Daenerys... "

Jorah waited by her side until she woke.

"What about Daenerys?" He asked his eyes wide, a tremble in his voice.

"Said... Visit... Her... " she grunted in agony as her chest let loose another icy pain. "Jorah... "

doesn't care, the voice whispered.

She was too weak to ignore it and couldn't fight the voice any longer, unwillingly submitting to it.

"Doesn't... Care... "

"What?" He said edging closer to the bed. He felt terrible. "Did he do this to you?"

Lokarya looked to her side again, moving her head slightly to see better. It took a moment for her eyes to focus, but she smiled weakly upon recognising Jorah.

"Jorah..." she said meekly, "I'm... Sorry... My... Fault..."

"What's your fault?" Fear in his eyes. "What about Daenerys?" He swore to protect Lokarya, she couldn't die. Not now "I'm so sorry Lokarya"

"Shouldn't... Woods... Was... Waiting... "

It took all of her effort to get those words out and she knew she was fighting a losing battle. "Stop... Him... Save... Her... "

She felt her body relax, it was kind of nice, she thought. Maybe death isn't so bad

"Daenerys... Is... "

Lokarya couldn't finish that sentence. Her body convulsed sharply as her eyes turned the colour of frosty blue, before laying still, staring blankly at the ceiling.

"No!" She went limp, her eyes blue and frosty, she looked dead. Jorah had to get out of there. He pushed past the Maester, who came rushing in after he left. He had to find Daenerys "Said... Visit... Her... "

Lokarya was telling the truth, Whatever had happened to her had... He had to see His queen.