er eyes, alert as she sat in silence, breathing the same deep breaths she remembered he took. Her chamber shrouded in silence. Was it a miracle? Perhaps dark magic? She had never believed in any god or gods she had heard if since abandoning her homeland. How could she? But he was back even so. She asked as did the red woman and he had returned. Was it him? Truly? Her eyes blinked rapidly as she was startled to a knock on the door, her lips parted as she fearfully rose, stepped cautiously and placed her shaking hand upon the handle before swiftly withdrawing it.

"Irenya." Her eyes widened to Melissandre's muffled voice on the other side before opening it. The red woman standing, as though glowing in a newly adorned pride.

"Is it true?... I could not go in the room..i was too afraid..."

"The lord has brought him back. Jon snow lives." Irenya felt the ability to stand quickly drain from her at her words, bracing herself upon the edge of the cot and seated herself down. Tears falling from her bewildered eyes as Melissandre kneeled before her, pale ivory hands classed with tawny as Ki she placed Irenya's in hers.

"It is a gift from the lord of light. He must be the prince that was promised but I fear he will not believe it. You must go to him."

"I can't."

"you must."

The snow fell heavily upon the loyal men gathering into the courtyard to see the man resurrected. The former lord commander. All stood in silence as Jon, weakened and aided by Davvos approached the rail. His thick winter gloves shakily gripping the wooden post as he looked about. Irenya, head towards the ground lifted her fearful gaze to him for the first time. It was him, ebony curls and umber eyes but the face of uncertainty with every step he took, like a babe learning to walk. The people parted before him as Tormund approached, the amazement evident on his face. Irenya silently stepped away from Melissandre and took her place a short distance away from Edd, her breathing increased at the unsure feeling that arose within her, would he remember her? Her lips briefly and ever so slightly curled into a smile as he and Tormund embraced before he timidly moved on to Edd as he batted to keep his calm demeanor, embracing as lost friends reunited.

"well, your eyes are still brown." Edd's voice shook. "Is that still you in there?"

"I think so. Hold off on burning my body for now." Jon's joke earning a chuckle from Edd.

"That's funny. You sure that's still you in there?" Edd's mockery returned a chuckle from Jon and after a silent goodbye, began climbing the steps, his lowered head slowly raising and their gazes clashing ardently, his mouth opening for no words to leave it, not appeasing her pleading expression. Irenya stood in silence waiting for something. For him to say anything. Her brows furrowed in hurt as he continued on towards the commander's chambers. Her tearful eyes scanned the ground before meeting Edd who swiftly gestured for her to follow.

The chamber was in silence, no voices and only the crackle of the fire inside. Irenya realised how long she had been there, her palm placed against the door while she exuded steady breaths. Slowly pushing it open, entering in silence and watching anxiously as he did not move, speak, nothing. Only staring blankly at the bloody jerkin his corpse adorned.

"Jon." Her voice soft as he turned his head slightly, still clutching the jerkin. Her steps shifted uncertainly towards him. "Why did you not say anything?"

"I didn't know what to say..."

"No did I... I was afraid if ...if it wasn't you." Her steps continued until she was by him, her hand softly placing itself on his shoulder, then his curls, then his cheek. He was cold but not of ice, was pale but still appeared as him, was pained but she could still see the warmth of him retained in his umber eyes.

"It's still me." He rose from the stool, never taking his eyes off hers. Just as the day they spared in the courtyard, the day she told him of her past, the day he returned with three arrows within him and the day they told each other they knew they cared for one another knowing the choice they took to negotiate with Mance could have been their death. He stepped closer, finally placing his lips upon hers as she brought her hand towards his shoulder and the other buried in his sheered mane. His lips still lingering cold as when she sealed a brief kiss goodbye and perhaps, their kiss is to always be a cold reminder. After moments there, together in solitude and silence the were brought apart by Edd's voice.

"It's time." His serious tone returning, reminding Jon of his task. The silence of the people broken by Jon, Irenya and Edd's steps in the snow tussled earth, parting the people as they joined the noosed traitors on the walkway.

"If you have any last words, now is the time." Jon's hesitant gaze slowly became bitterly stern.

"You shouldn't be alive, it's not right." A fearful voice spoke snapping Jon's attention.

"neither was killing me."

"My mother's still living in White Harbour. Could you write to her? Tell her I died fighting the Wildlings." The man's voice was shaky as though dripping fear with every word and Irenya could hear it but the fear fear was not enough to escape Jon's harsh gaze until he came to Thorne. Unremorseful.

"I had a choice, Lord Commander. Betray you or betray the nights watch. You brought an army of Wildlings into our lands." Irenya gulped softly as she saw Jon's eyes appeared black with hatred as he stared up at Thorne, never before seeing in any of the Dothraki screamer's of her homeland, never before such a determined stare. "An army of murderers and raiders. If I had to do it all over, knowing where I'll end up, I pray I'd make the right choice again." Irenya scowled and bit back her anger.

"I'm sure you would, Ser Alliser." Jon murmured.

"I fought, I lost. Now I rest. But you, Lord Snow. You'll be fighting their battles forever." After a brief silence, Thorne raised his head with pride and Jon moved on to Olly. The boy he thought could have learnt and lead, to die so young. The boy who spoke nothing and glared at him with hate. Stepping away, the courtyard was filled with the shrill metal scrape of Long claw unsheathed and Irenya saw the strain of honour within Jon, now greatened as he was aware he was to send these men an boy to the dark oblivion he had returned from. She frowned at the sudden blankness that befell his face before he sliced away at the rope. Their bodies dropping as their gags, gasps and chokes filled the air, both Jon and Irenya struggled to watch as Olly kicked his legs before becoming still along with the others, his lips turning blue. Jon sheathed Long claw and swiftly approached Edd.

"we should burn the bodies." Edd noted.

"you should." Removing his cloak and handing it to a confused Edd.

"what do you want me to do with this?"

"wear it. Burn it. Whatever you want. You have castle Black." Edd appeared stunned as he approached Irenya, avoiding her perplexed stare. "Stay at Castle Black. Your safe here for now. One day I'll join you. I'll come back."

"will you?... Last time you went somewhere and thought you would come back. You didn't. If it was for dark magic or a miracle or a blessing you wouldn't have come back. And I would be dead, rotting in the cells..." Irenya took a strong stance to battle any sign of fear or hurt.

"I will come back." He spoke lowly as he made his way down into the courtyard. Into uncertainty. "My watch has ended."