The sun has started rising. Jon was with the king gathering their supplies and their men and was getting ready to head to the docks. In the docks Ser Davos had readied two ships to carry them and their army to Bear Island. Jon, Tormund, and half of their army were to take one ship and the king would take the other. Everything was nearly set. Jon and Tormund were waiting on the gate to Castle Black for Mance and his contribution to their army. A few days back, Jon had requested a number of men to join his army. Mance complied and now he was bringing his selected army. Jon squinted his eyes and saw a large number of people walking from a distance. He figured it was Mance. After a few moments Jon was standing before the new Lord of the Gift. Tormund shook Mance's hand pulled him in for a hug while they both had a good laugh. Mance looked to Jon and shook his hand.
"'Ere you go Lord Stark. I gathered some o' our most useful folks for your army. They're 10,000 'f 'em."
Jon looked at them. He saw armed men and women, but one of them caught his eye in particular. He saw a boy, nearly Olly's age, accompainied by a hound. He had grey eyes, brown hair and a pale complexion. Jon looked back to Mance.
"This is just a little boy Mance, what's he doing in here?"
Mance looked back and saw the boy Jon was talking about. The boy noticed the three older men looking at him and he stood straighter and puffed up his chest to look tougher than what his age suggested.
"Ah 'im? 'Is name is Edwyn. He may b' a lad but 'is a warg. You see that mutt by 'is side? He can take over it like Orell with 'is eagle. Thought you might need someone o' that sorts in your army. He's stronger than he looks and he's good at hunting. So he might be o' some use t' you."
Jon looked concerned about bringing such a young boy along. But the boy looked ready to join them and if Olly at his age fought in Castle Black then this boy could too. And having a warg with them would be a great advantage for them. Jon accepted the boy but he was set that Edwyn would not be part of any battle. He would be a use for scouting and maybe hunting but he would not have him as a soldier. Tormund and Jon said goodbye to Mance and their part of the army joined the King's army. Ygritte and Ghost were getting inside a cart. Ghost had become quite attached to Ygritte and she had taken quite a liking to the direwolf. Sam was giving Gilly one last hug and some words of encouragement. The night before both of them shared a night together. Sam excitedly told Jon about it at the crack of dawn when they both were working. The night would become a bitter sweet memory for the both of them but for now it was just the happiest moment to ever happen to both of them. With tear filled eyes Sam helped a crying Gilly and baby Sam up on the cart. With a final wave goodbye, they bid farewell to Castle Black and the men of the Night's Watch.
They travelled by cart for a long distance. Ygritte sat with Ghost, Gilly and little Sam in the back of the cart. She noticed Jon nostalgically looking to the landscape with a sad smile on his face. Ygritte jumped to the front of the cart to sit next to him.
"Don't do that, you could've gotten hurt." Jon said sternly.
"But I didn't. I ain't a delicate flower." She retorted.
"Aye, but you're expecting. And seeing as you won't be careful with yourself, I'll have to care for the both of you."
"Why were ya smilin' befor'?" Ygritte asked abruptly changing the subject.
"Huh?"
"Befor'? You were smilin'. Why?" She asked once again.
"It's nothing."
"You rarely smile, ev'n though your smile makes you look prettier…" Ygritte teased as she playfully shoved Jon with her shoulder.
Jon gave her a chuckle and smiled at her. He looked forward to the road and took a deep breath.
"I remember being on this road once with my brother." He said with a sigh.
"Which one?"
"Robb. We used to race through here on our horses."
"Did you win?"
"Sometimes. Robb was really good on horseback too." He said with a chuckle.
Ygritte leaned into Jon's shoulder and asked him to talk more about his adventures with Robb. Jon obliged and went on to tell Ygritte many stories of him and Robb in Winterfell, like the time they snuck around in the middle of the night and stole their father's great sword. He went on to tell her with a chuckle laced in his tone that they could barely hold the sword on their own, but at one point they helped each other lift it and they cut the practice dummies in the armory. Ser Rodrik was terribly confused the next morning, but he knew their Lord father had an idea of what they were up to since he kept eyeing the both of them suspiciously as Ser Rodrik explained the state of the dummies to him. Jon finished his story and glanced to his side and notice that Ygritte was asleep on his shoulder with her hand over her stomach. With a sigh, Jon looked forward to the road. After a long ride, the docks were now in view. Ygritte slowly opened her eyes and looked at the sails in awe.
"What kin' o' clouds ar' those?" She sleepily asked as she sat up straight and rubbed her eyes.
"Those are sails, not clouds." Jon corrected.
"Sails?"
"They're part of ships. It's what catches the winds and makes the ships move across the water."
Ygritte made a sound indicating she understood. Once they reached the docks, Jon helped Ygritte and Gilly get off the cart. A sailor came to them to escort them to their designated ship. Jon had Gilly and baby Sam accommodated in a separate cabin for herself and then Jon and Ygritte were escorted to their cabin. Upon reaching the cabin and being left alone, Ygritte headed to the bed. She lied down on it and let her body sink in. She giggled at feeling the comfort of the bed.
"Is this how beds are in Winterfell? All soft an' comfortable?" She asked her husband.
Jon sat down next to her, testing the bed.
"I think the ones in Winterfell are better. More comfortable and bigger too."
"You were lucky t' grow up with things like this."
Jon nodded in silent agreement and leaned in to kiss her on the bed.
"Now I'll make sure you and our babe live better than I did in Winterfell."
Suddenly the sounds of horns blasted through the silence, letting everyone know they were ready to set sail. Jon took Ygritte's hand and urged her to follow her above deck. Ygritte took his hand and followed him in a hurry. They made it to the deck to see the sails out, wind blowing behind them, and the fleet of ships all moving forward. Ygritte stared in awe as she saw all the ships moving forward and seeing the land inch further and further away. Jon was staring at her, a more beautiful sight for him. He grabbed her hand and pulled her in for a passionate kiss.
