Chapter 20

It was cold. Jon couldn't remember a cold like this not even when the snows piled hip high. The storm had settled in the night after the attack making it impossible to make it back to Winterfell, so the remaining men sat huddled around a fire watching and waiting for the next attack or a break in the storm. No one dared leave the light of the fire. The free folk carried torches as they guarded the group.

Robb wasn't with him and neither was his father. Jory sat huddled into his furs off to Jon's right along with a handful of Winterfell's household guards. Most of the group was the free folk. Mance was trying to keep a shaky peace between several of his people across from him. Mance managed to settle the argument and sat down across from him. Jon watched the darkness around him. Ghost walked the woods around them.

He hadn't gone inside his wolf since before the attack but he somehow managed to always know where Ghost was. "The sorceress, is she powerful?" Mance asked him as he settled in for the night.

"I do not know; she doesn't speak of her power much. She said her magic was not enough." He didn't want Mollen anywhere near those creatures, but there was no harm in answering Mance's questions.

"It is something." Mance stretched against the tree he was sitting next to.

"We need to get back to Winterfell. Those… things are just picking us off out here." Jory said chewing on some salted beef.

"The night is for Walkers. We will have to try and find our people at first light." Mance answered from behind closed eyes. "Get some rest."

Jory glanced at him and Jon looked around the men in their makeshift camp. Most men were already settled in for the night. Jory shook his head and laid back; he did the same. Sleep would not find him easily. Thoughts of his father and brother passed through his mind. The idea of finding them dead in the fields or worse a blue eyed creature coming towards him wouldn't leave him. Sleep slipped up on him at some point in the night but it was fitful.

Ghost would leave his mind only to reappear later on. Something else was there with him; something foreign yet not. It was powerful and quiet but its presence was unmistakable. His mind tangled with the heat that was looking for something. A crackling shriek shattered the night forcing him from his dreams.

The flames at his back were suffocating in the heavy cold mist. The sound came again followed by the dying yells of men. Mance and Jory were at his side swords drawn. Somehow the creatures had slipped into their camp most likely because of the dying flames. The cracking ice sounded around them again longer this time. He had yet to see what was making the noise. The fallen men were rising next to him and only his blade kept them down for good.

Mance and Jory burned what they could with scavenged torches but more came. They were surrounded with no way out when a creature from Mollen's tale walked before them. It almost seemed to glide before his eyes. The sounds coming for the being were inhuman and terrifying. Everything inside of him was screaming to run. What was left of the light caught the sheer blade of ice the Walker carried. The wights stopped moving when the creature spoke but as it said its broken words more of the dead stood. "A good day to die." Mance said to his right.

"I would rather live." Jory said as he slashed at a wight.

Words were still failing him as he stared at something form another land and time. He reached out and touched Ghost's mind. His wolf was running towards him with a hooded figure in front of him. "Either way we fight." He said as the White Walker neared them. Jory and Mance attacked the wights as the clear ice blade kissed his Valyrian steel with a hiss. The Walker was strong and a strange cold began to work its way into his bones slowing his movements. The sensation grew worse with each crash of their blades. Their blades met a few more times. It felt as if his insides were being frozen.

Ghost crashed through the woods and tore into a wight at his back. Mollen's silky voice filled the woods with and eerie chant. The many dead burst into flames around him. The Walker flinched at the light and in the momentary distraction Jon shoved his blade through its chest. Time stood still as the creature's icy gaze tore through him. The breaking ice escaped its mouth before it turned into a watery ash and disappeared.

Jon stood there panting; his blade still frozen in place. The camp was quiet as Mance and Jory stared at him. "Jon" Her voice was soft and a bit broken. He turned around only to see her fall to her knees.

Her eyes were hot silver; he could practically feel the magic flowing through her. Jon slowly walked towards Mollen unsure of how she would react to him. He kneeled in front of here. "Mollen" She had watched his every move. Mollen threw her arms around him and held tightly to him.

"I thought you were dead." She whispered. Jory went to pat Mollen on the back only to pull his hand back with a shout of pain. Mollen's skin was burning hot but to him it just felt warm. She scrambled back apologizing to him.

"Mollen it is fine. I am unharmed." He moved closer to her. Mollen looked him over examining the skin she had touched.

"I do not understand." She said quietly.

"Maybe we can figure it out later. I would like to find some kind of shelter away from here." Mance interrupted watching the woods.

"There is an old mill ruin near here." Jory offered agreeing with Mance. Mance nodded and Jon stood helping Mollen to her feet. He led the way through the darkness. Jory and Mance were at his back while Mollen stumbled at his side. The light she kept around them would fade with each of her missteps. The abandoned mill was easy enough to find in the dark and there were no other attacks on them as they started a fire and settled in.

Mollen collapsed on the floor as soon as the flames were burning bright around them. She hadn't spoken since they left the destroyed camp. "I'll take the first watch." He offered; Jory and Mance just nodded and lay down to sleep on the hard floor. It wasn't long and the two men were snoring lightly. "What are you doing here?" He sank down the crumbling wall to sit next to where Mollen was lying.

"Your father came to me when he got back to Winterfell."

"He's alive?" His voice was full of relief.

"As is Robb."

"He sent you after me." Jon couldn't believe that Ned would send a woman into the woods with those creatures.

"No, I said I would find you." Mollen went quiet as she watched the flames lost in thought. He left her to her thoughts. The quiet continued so long he thought she was sleeping until the slight shaking of her shoulders drew his attention.

"He's gone." She whispered to the darkness. Mollen's voice was so soft he wasn't certain he heard it.

"Who is?" Mollen rolled her head to look up at him. Tears were slowly falling down her cheeks. "Mollen" He felt something close to panic when he saw her crying.

"My brother" Another tear fell. "I know I had one but I do not know his face and I cannot remember his name."

He could see the hurt in her eyes as she spoke. Magic wasn't worth the price she paid for it. "You told me his name was Nico and you two were always in trouble. He had hair like yours and eyes like the sun. You told me he was good with a spear and he used tease you." Jon repeated what she had told him of her brother. He was the reason she had lost those memories if he hadn't been separated from his men she wouldn't have come to find him.

"Thank you Jon." Mollen sat up and leaned against the wall next to him. "Are you sure I did not burn you?" She was watching his neck where she had hugged him as she spoke.

"I am unharmed." He answered with a smile. Mollen sat up and glanced at the two men sleeping.

"I would like to try something." Jon nodded his head unsure of what she had planned. Mollen held out her hand and a small flame sprung to life. Mollen held her hand out. "Take it."

She was watching him intently. "Fire burns me like any other man Mollen." He answered pulling his hand away. Mollen just moved her hand over his and quickly pulled hers away. The flame scared him and he flinched back but it didn't burn him. He watched the small flame dance in his hand unsure of how it was possible. "Fire has burned me before how is this possible?"

The flame died. Mollen looked around the empty space again. "You are ready for it perhaps? I do not know. I have never seen another that could touch my flames…" Mollen touched his hand lightly. "Or me after a spell."

He wanted to kiss her again to press his lips to hers and bring her closer to him. "You should get some rest Mollen." The exhaustion on her face was apparent; she must have run the whole way to him.

"I am tired." Mollen lay on the floor close to him and closed her eyes. It was not long before her breathing deepened and the fire dimmed. He stayed awake for several hours watching the darkness around them until it was time to wake Jory, who stretched his injured arm and sat against the wall. Jon settled in next to Mollen but not too close before exhaustion took him under.

Ghost was outside hunting and keeping watch again. Jon stayed with his wolf for awhile. Once he knew what he could do it was hard not to seek out his wolf in the night. However, the powerful heat was getting stronger, closer to what it was looking for. The land below him was moving quickly. Faster than any horse could move. The ground grew closer and his feet touched. It was harder to move on the ground. His front legs pulled him along the ground towards his prey. A boar squealed and ran but a golden white heat took over his sight momentarily and powerful jaws snapped at the charred pig tearing chucks from its flesh. One powerful jump and he was above the trees again.

"Jon" Someone was shaking his shoulder. He opened his eyes and Jory was kneeling down next to him. "Where is Mollen?"

Jon looked to the empty spot next to him where she had been when he fell asleep. He sat up and looked around the crumbling walls. "She was here."

"And now she's gone." Mance said at the door. "I didn't see her leave." They quickly gathered what supplies they had and stepped into the morning chill.

Jory found her tracks in the dim light and they followed her into the trees. The tracks ended at the base of a large tree. "Mollen" He called quietly still not wanting to attract attention.

"Jon" They could hear her voice from somewhere above them. All three of them were watching the trees when she tapped him on the shoulder making him jump.

"What are you doing?"

Mollen smiled widely and whispered. "Dragons" Jory and Mance looked as if she were mad and he briefly thought that the magic she did the night before had taken more than her brother's name.

"You saw a dragon?"

Mollen must have seen the disbelief on his face. "Not yet, they live Jon."

She was so excited and he didn't want to tell her they were dead. He couldn't take her momentary happiness away from her not after last night. "We should get moving it's a long walk to Winterfell." Jory said and he agreed.

He took Mollen's hand in his and led her through the trees. The other two followed talking occasionally. They covered a lot of ground by midday when they took a quick break to eat and rest. They didn't have much to eat so the mostly rested. Mollen climbed another tree to watch the sky. She honestly thought dragons were coming; he just watched her climb with a smile. She was so free and happy in the trees. Mollen dropped down next to him when they started walking again.

They burned the bodies that they found on the way back. There were not as many as he expected there to be but that was most likely because the dead didn't stay still any longer. They moved faster across the open fields. Snow flakes slowly started to fall from the grey sky. The smile on Mollen's face almost made the horrible events worth it. She twirled in the white flurries and laughed as she tried to catch them on her tongue. Even Mance and Jory were enjoying her bliss. Living in the north he had become accustomed to the snow and weather but in Mollen's eyes it seemed to be the most wonderful thing in the world.

They let her run and twirl in the falling snow until a shadow passed over them making them all stop in the open field. "Dragon" Mollen whispered with wide eyes. She tried to move past him towards the beast; he pulled her back before pulling his sword. "No" Mollen said firmly and pushed the tip of the blade down.

The beast was thirty paces from him. The bone colored scales shone in the low light and gold lined the crest of its tail all the way to its crowned horns. The beast roared making the ground shake and showing its midnight black teeth. Ghost bristled at his side and neither Mance nor Jory had moved. The molten gold eyes stared at him. Mollen whispered a word in his ear. "Say it" she commanded him quietly.

"Dracarys" He repeated the word out loud. The dragon opened its maw and a pale gold with streaks of red and orange singed the air. Mollen said something in her native tongue. His dream from last night came back to him. Mance and Jory would not take their eyes from the dragon.

Nothing moved except Mollen. "Go to him Jon."

"He is a dragon Mollen not a puppy."

"You… are a dragon." Mollen cupped his face when she spoke.

"He will burn me."

"If I cannot burn you then he cannot. Our magic is one and the same." He somehow knew Mollen's words were right. He took a step forward and Ghost growled. He connected with Ghost to calm him. The dragon's golden eyes watched him as he approached. Mollen stayed behind him until they were close enough to feel the dragons' heat.

There was steam coming off of the dragon's scales. It was a slow uncertain trip next to the dragon. He kept waiting for it to snap or spout flame. It just watched him with golden eyes. The dragon snapped at him lightly and steam came from its snout. Jon reached out and touched his muzzle. The scales were warm to the touch and hard under his hand. Jon was touching the beast when Mollen gave him another word from a safe distance behind him. He repeated the word and his dragon knelt for him.