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Chapter 38

Selene tried her best to occupy her time.

Sometimes, she would be able to visit Sansa under the pretense of dining with the Tyrells. Once safely in the Maidenvault, her and Sansa would speak somewhere privately.

"The Kingsguard beat me," Sansa once said through tears.

Selene's hands balled into fists with rage, "Sansa, I'm so-"

"Why didn't you take me with you?" Sansa said accusingly.

"I couldn't," Selene said, almost as much to herself as to Sansa, "I was injured. If it wasn't for Ser Barristan, I would have never made it out myself."

Sansa's eyes were cloudy.

"Don't worry, sweet girl," Selene said solemnly, "I'll get you out of here. I promise. Even if it means I must marry a Tyrell and move to Highgarden. I will take you with me."

"You would do that for me?" Sansa asked, her voice small and disbelieving.

"Of course," Selene said as she embraced the younger girl, "You are my sister."

It was there in her chambers, thinking of how best to get Sansa out of King's Landing, when her mother decided to pay her a visit.

Cersei gave her daughter a sweeping glance, "Will you ever stop wearing black?"

Selene ignored her, keeping her back to her mother as she stood on the balcony.

"Wine?" Cersei asked, pouring two goblets before Selene could respond. Grabbing the cups, her mother walked over to the balcony and handed her one. It was nearly sunset, and the sky was starting to turn pink.

Selene took a cup, but did not drink.

Her mother scoffed, "You think I would poison you?"

"Grandfather did." Selene said as she turned to face her mother. Cersei was wearing a pale green dress that brought out the green of her eyes. Her golden hair was loose around her face, and tresses were stirring softly in the breeze.

Cersei looked away, and had the grace to look ashamed, "I didn't know about that."

"Would you have done any different?"

Her mother gave no answer.

That was all Selene needed to know. She looked back out over the sea, "How else to reward your silver reflection for her betrayal?" she mused.

Cersei was suddenly very still. "What did you say?"

"It's me, isn't it? The one you and my father share? A moon cloaked in wolfskin?"

Her mother's eyes widened, "Silence," Cersei looked around frantically, as if the walls were listening. She leaned in close, "Who told you that?"

"Well, you did, before Joffrey cut off Ned Stark's head. But I found the source in the westerlands. Maggy the Frog."

Cersei paled, and turned to walk away, "I don't know what you're talking about."

Cersei's discomfort was delicious. Selene followed her mother, "Don't you? Is that why you hate me so? Because you think I am the other queen, younger and more beautiful, to cast you down?"

Cersei turned in a flurry of skirts and lifted her hand to strike Selene's face. She caught her by the wrist. "No. You will never strike me again."

"That woods witch is a liar," Cersei breathed, but Selene could see that her mother was trying to convince herself more than Selene.

"Well, she was wrong about me, if that's any comfort," Selene said as she walked away from Cersei.

"You had a foretelling?"

"I did. And she was wrong. She predicted that I would win the war and sit the Iron Throne with my husband." Selene gestured to her mourning gown, "As you can see, she was mistaken."

"What was her wording? Her exact wording."

Selene snorted, "As if I would confide anything in you, Mother."

Cersei's eyes flashed, "You told me she gave you a foretelling."

"I told you she was wrong. I told you because I wanted you to know that the words you have lived by your whole life only came about because you believed them so. Who knows what a loving daughter I could have been to you, if only you were capable of being a loving mother to me?"

Cersei was silent, anger and frustration plain on her face. And then in an instant the emotions were gone, and her face blank.

"Why have you come here?" Selene asked pointedly.

"I don't know," Cersei said softly.

Selene scoffed, and went back to the balcony railing. "I want to see Tommen."

"Soon enough, you will. At Joffrey's wedding." Her mother paused, "I don't know how we got like this." Selene could just hear her mother murmer to herself, regretful.

"You have only yourself to blame."

Selene did not look back, even as the door shut behind her mother.

###

Sweat trickled down Selene's brow as she swung the plain, blunt practice sword.

Ser Garlan Tyrell met her blow before she could land it, "Very impressive, princess."

"Hardly," Selene said, and it was true. Her legs were still stiff from where the crossbow bolts had pieced her, so she was slower than she had ever been. Even still, she hadn't felt this good in weeks.

When Ser Garlan Tyrell asked her grandfather for the honor of sparring with the princess, Tywin Lannister could hardly refuse, lest he reveal how little he trusted his granddaughter. If Tywin wished to marry her off, he needed to show that Selene was a rebel no more. Entrusting her with a sword was a start.

I won't kill anyone yet, Grandfather, Selene thought as she swung at Ser Garlan, Lannister guards watching her every move, That would be too quick and easy.

It was then in the yard that a small retinue of men on horses entered. Their leader's face was thin and hollow, and his yellow hair short. The thin man looked at two members of the Kingsguard who were training nearby, "Someone has given me two new brothers, I see," he said as he dismounted.

Uncle Jaime? Selene thought incredulously, frozen in place. Ser Garlan looked from her to her uncle, and waited.

"We have that honor, ser," The Knight of Flowers said, shining so fine and pure in his white scales and silk that Jaime looked a tattered and tawdry thing by comparison.

Jaime turned to Ser Meryn Trant, "Ser, you've been remiss in teaching our new brothers their duties."

"What duties?" said Ser Meryn defensively.

"Keeping the king alive. How many monarchs have you lost since I left the city? One, is it?"

Selene noticed the stump at the same time as Ser Balon, "Your hand…"

Jaime smiled, "I fight with my left now. It makes for more of a contest. Where will I find my lord father?"

"In his sola-"

"You!"

Loras Tyrell saw Brienne of Tarth, and so did Selene. That woke her from her daze. "Lady Brienne!" Selene cried, striding toward her, so happy to see the warrior woman that Selene nearly forgot that Brienne helped Lady Catelyn free Jaime.

Brienne's eyes found her. Instantly, the large woman dropped to her knees, "Your Grace."

Loras Tyrell strode toward her. "Why?" he said. "You will tell me why. He treated you kindly. Why would you kill him?"

"I never did. He was my liege lord, my queen's own uncle. I would have died for him."

"You will," Ser Loras drew his longsword.

"It was not me."

"Emmon Cuy swore it was, with his dying breath.

"He was outside the tent. He never saw-"

"There was no one in the tent, except you and his niece. Do you claim Renly's own blood slayed him?"

Selene had walked up to them, ignoring the look her uncle was giving her, "There was a shadow. I know how mad it sounds, ser, but I saw it with my own eyes. It nearly killed me, too."

"I had no part in it," Brienne continued, "On my honor-"

"You have no honor. Draw your sword. I won't have it said that I slew you while your hand was empty."

Wonder of all wonders, Jaime stepped between them. "Put that sword away, ser."

Ser Loras edged around him. "Are you a craven as well as a killer, Brienne? Draw your sword, woman!"

"Best hope she doesn't," Jaime blocked his path again. "Or it's like to be your corpse we carry out. The wench is as strong as Gregor Clegane, though not so pretty."

"This is no concern of yours." Ser Loras shoved him aside.

Jaime grabbed the boy with his good hand and yanked him around. "I am the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard, you arrogant pup. Your commander, so long as you wear that white cloak. Now sheathe your bloody sword, or I'll take it from you and shove it up some place even Renly never found."

The boy hesistated for half a heartbeat, long enough for Ser Balon Swann to say, "Do as the Lord Commander says, Loras."

Ser Loras slammed his sword back into its sheath. "I want her arrested," Ser Loras pointed, "Lady Brienne, I charge you with the murder of Lord Renly Baratheon."

"And I exonerate her," Selene countered, "I was there, Ser Loras. She did not kill him. It was Stannis."

Ser Loras hesitated, "A shadow…"

"For what it's worth," said Jaime, "my niece has honor. As does this wench. More than I have seen from you. And it may even be that they're telling it true. I'll grant you, Brienne's not what you would call clever, but even my horse could come up with a better lie, if it was a lie she meant to tell. As you insist, however…Ser Balon, escort Lady Brienne to a tower cell and hold her there under guard."

"This is ridiculous!" Selene spoke up.

Jaime looked at her, "Even if she did not kill Renly, she is still loyal to a usurper. She was a member of your Queensguard, was she not?"

Brienne's big blue eyes were full of hurt as Balon Swann and a dozen gold cloaks led her away. Selene could only watch her go.

Jaime's eyes fell, "You're looking well, niece. Considering…" He struggled for the right words.

"Save your breath," Selene spat, "Only in a world as cruel as this one does my beloved husband die a gruesome death while you somehow manage to miraculously survive." She turned and walked back to Ser Garlan.

Selene got in a fighting stance.

Ser Garlan cleared his throat, "Forgive me, princess, but I fear I have other duties to attend to. May we spar again soon?"

Selene straightened, "Of course, Ser Garlan. And thank you, again, for what you said to my grandfather."

He gave her a deep bow, "It was my pleasure, princess. A talent like you should not be hidden away."

Selene suspected that Olenna was behind Ser Garlan's attention. Does she mean to show me the kindness of House Tyrell? Of the freedom I would have if I choose their Willas to husband?

She was roused from her thoughts by a Dornish accent, "Will my lady accompany me on a walk on this fine autumn day?"

She turned to find Prince Oberyn.

"My lord," Selene bowed.

The Lannister guards who had been assigned to watch her stepped forward, "The princess is under watch. She is by no means allowed to wander the castle alone," One of them sneered, "especially with the likes of a Dornishman."

Oberyn's smile cut, "Do you know why all the world hates a Lannister?" He stepped closer to the guards.

The soldiers stood silently.

Oberyn continued, "You think your gold and your lions and your golden lions make you better than everyone. May I tell you a secret?"

The soldier's face was stone.

"You're not a golden lion. You're just a pink little man who's far too slow on the draw."

The soldier and Oberyn did not move. Then, all at once, the Lannister guard reached for his sword, but before he could even unsheathe it, Oberyn had a dagger at his throat. It seemed to have appeared from nowhere.

"Longsword is a bad option in close quarters," the Prince of Dorne informed the guard, "You may not have recognized me, but I am Oberyn Martell, Prince of Dorne, and I was talking to the lady. Now leave."

The soldiers looked at each other, bowed to Selene, and left in a hurry.

When they were alone, Selene said, "That was hardly subtle. Tywin will hear of this."

"Let him. I am tired of subtle." He offered her his arm, "Shall we?"

When they were in the gardens, Oberyn spoke, "I see your uncle Jaime has returned. Well, most of him."

"Unfortunately."

"Is it?" Oberyn raised a brow, "I heard you were close to your Lannister uncle."

"Tyrion," Selene clarified, "I'm close to Tyrion. Jaime was my hero once, before I knew what he was."

"Perhaps you should be close to him again."

Selene stopped walking. "What? Why?"

Oberyn looked south, "My brother calls me hotheaded and rash, and he is right. While I've been dreaming of how to repay your family with blood, he has been dreaming of how to repay your family with politics. How to destroy the Lannister name and taint your grandfather's legacy."

"My mother and Jaime's relationship."

"Precisely, my dear," Oberyn smiled.

Selene was wary, "My sister Myrcella…"

"Children are innocent of the crimes of their fathers. And grandfathers." Oberyn stood before her, "No harm will come to Myrcella, no matter her parentage. Perhaps she will not marry my nephew Trystane, but she will not be touched."

"Swear to me."

Oberyn straightened, "I swear it on my sister's grave. We do not harm little girls in Dorne."

Selene nodded, and continued to walk, "How does my uncle's reappearance help?"

"A confession from Jaime Lannister himself would be undeniable proof of your family's crimes. Your grandfather would be shamed, your brother disinherited, and the throne cleared for you."

"I understand your distaste for Lannisters, my lord, believe me, but you speak of my ascension to the throne. Why?"

"You will be in need of a husband."

It always comes back to that, Selene thought. I am just a girl with a claim to the throne. Whoever marries my claim begins their family's dynasty. The Tyrells wanted that, and it seemed the Martells did as well.

"Who do you propose?" Selene asked.

"My nephew Quentyn is of a suitable age. Only a few years older than yourself. I will not lie to you, Quentyn is plain, but also sensible and dutiful. Trystane is a few years younger than you, but a sweet boy if you have the patience to wait for him to come of age." He gave her a wicked smile, "Or myself, if you would prefer?"

Selene raised a brow, "King Oberyn, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms and Protector of the Realm." It was almost laughable.

Oberyn did not laugh, "I cannot promise love, for I love another. But I can promise a husband who will protect, defend, and respect you. One who will fill your belly with children who will grow to be as tall, strong, and handsome as their father." His dark eyes glittered. "If the women of Dorne are to be believed, I am quite skilled in the bedchamber. A woman as beautiful as you and pleasure should be fast friends, and I would be honored to introduce you. Or, if you would prefer, you can keep lovers. It's naught to me."

I can't imagine a madder court. Selene looked away, "I still don't see what I can do about Jaime."

"Play his forgiving niece. Make him believe you are his once more. Convince him the only way to absolve his sins is to confess his crimes to the realm."

This could serve. "It will take time."

"I've waited many years. Of time, I have plenty."

"What about your lust for blood?"

"Never fear, princess. There will be time enough for that."

###

A white book sat on a white table in a white room.

The room was round, its walls a whitewashed stone hung with white woolen tapestries. It formed the first floor of the White Sword Tower, a slender structure of four stories built into an angle of the castle wall overlooking the bay. The undercroft held arms and armor, the second and third floors the small spare sleeping quarters of the brothers of the Kingsguard.

As pale as the room, Jaime sat by the book in his Kingsguard whites. Selene had just seen his sworn brothers exit the tower, so she guessed they had just had a meeting. Jaime's longsword hung from his hip. From the wrong hip. Before, he had always worn his sword in his left, and drawn it across his body when he unsheathed. He had shifted it to his right hip, but he looked wrong. His clothing fit badly as well. He had donned the winter raiment of the Kingsguard, a tunic and breeches of bleached white wool and a heavy white cloak, but it seemed to hang loose on him.

His eyes rose when she entered the room. His green eyes looked haunted, so Selene looked away. She glanced around the room once more to buy time. There was a white shield and two crossed longswords over the hearth. The chair behind the old weirwood table was old black oak, with cushions of blanched cowhide, the leather worn thin. Worn thin by Barristan the Bold and Ser Gerold Hightower before him, by Prince Aemon the Dragonknight, Ser Ryam Redwyne, and the Demon of Darry, by Ser Duncan the Tall and the Pale Griffin Alyn Connington. How could the Kingslayer belong in such exalted company?

Yet there he was.

Jaime rose, "Selene."

This is impossible. I can hardly look at him, let alone pretend to forgive him.

"Uncle."

Jaime looked confused, "To what do I owe the pleasure?"

Selene walked to the window. The sunlit sea was sparkling and beautiful. "My recent…experiences…have made me realize how important family is."

Jaime studied her carefully, but said nothing.

Selene turned to him, surprised at the tears rising to her eyes, "I'm trying to forgive." Incredible. If all else fails I should go into mummery. It almost feels real.

She looked down at his stump. "I am sorry for your loss." Strange….I did not mean to say that.

Jaime raised his wrist and waved it, "It's only a hand."

She could tell he was trying to be brave. It's one thing to slay a lion, it's another to mutilate him, and watch him stagger and suffer in confusion.

"You've lost more," His eyes were infinitely sad, infinitely weary as he walked to her side, "What happened to you-"

"What Grandfather did to me." She cut him off.

"I thought you were realizing how important family is?"

Selene cleared her throat, "It will take time to forgive Grandfather for what he's done, but you…It was a long time ago."

Jaime stared out the window, "I'm glad you feel that way, niece."

Her eyes dropped back to his stump.

"Does the sight of my stump distress you so?" Jaime asked. "You ought to be pleased. I've lost the hand I killed the king with. The hand that flung the Stark boy from the tower."

"The gods are just." Selene found herself saying, in her anger forgetting her true purpose.

That was a mistake, "Yes, poor sad Aerys Targaryen." Jaime snorted, "It's not Aerys I rue, it's your father. 'I hear they've named you Kingslayer,' he said to me at his coronation feast. 'Just don't think to make it a habit.' And he laughed. Why is it that no one names Robert oathbreaker? He tore the realm apart, yet I am the one with shit for honor."

"My father did all he did for love."

"Robert did all he did for pride, a cunt, and a pretty face."

"He rode to save the realm," Selene insisted.

Jaime looked out over the bay, "Did you know that Tyrion set the Blackwater Rush afire? Wildfire will burn on water. Aerys would have bathed in it if he'd dared. The Targaryens were all mad for fire." He looked down at his clothes, "Soiled my white cloak…I wore my gold armor that day, but…"

"Gold armor?" She asked.

Jaime's eyes were cloudy with memory, "The King commanded his alchemists to place caches of wildfire all over King's Landing. Beneath Baelor's Sept and the hovels of Flea Bottom, under stables and storehouses, at all seven gates, even in the cellars of the Red Keep itself.

"Everything was done in the upmost secrecy by a handful of master pyromancers. They did not even trust their own acolytes to help. The queen's eyes had been closed for years, and Rhaegar was busy marshalling an army. But Aery's new Hand was not utterly stupid, and with Rossart, Belis, and Garigus coming and going night and day, he became suspicious. Chelsted, that was his name, Lord Chelsted. I'd thought the man craven, but the day he confronted Aerys he found some courage somewhere. He did all he could to dissuade him. He reasoned, he jested, he threatened, and finally he begged. When that failed he took off his chain of office and flung it down on the floor. Aerys burned him alive for that, and hung his chain about the neck of Rossart, his favorite pyromancer. The man who had cooked Lord Rickard Stark in his own armor. And all the time, I stood by the foot of the Iron Throne in my white plate, still as a corpse, guarding my liege and all his sweet secrets.

"My Sworn Borthers were all away, you see, but Aerys liked to keep me close. I was my father's son, so he did not trust me. He wanted me where Varys could watch me, day and night. So I heard it all. Rhaegar met Robert on the Trident, and you know what happened there. When word reached court, Aerys packed the queen off to Dragonstone with Prince Viserys. Princess Elia would have gone as well, but Aerys forbade it. Somehow he got it in his head that Prince Lewyn must have betrayed Rhaegar on the Trident, but he thought he could keep Dorne loyal so long as he kept Elia and Aegon by his side. The traitors want my city, I heard him tell Rossart, but I'll give them naught but ashes. Let Robert be king over charred bones and cooked meat. The Targaryens never bury their dead, they burn them. Aerys meant to have the greatest funeral pyre of them all. Though if truth be told, I do not believe he truly expected to die. Like Aerion Brightflame before him, Aerys thought the fire would transform him…that he would rise again, reborn as a dragon, and reduce his enemies to ash.

"Ned Stark was racing south with Robert's van, but my father's forces reached the city first. Pycelle convinced the king that his Warden of the West had come to defend him; so he opened the gates. The one time he should have heeded Varys, and he ignored him. My father had held back from the war, brooding on all the wrongs Aerys had done him and determined that House Lannister should be on the winning side. The Trident decided him.

"It fell to me to hold the Red Keep, but I knew we were lost. I sent to Aerys asking his leave to make terms. My man came back with a royal command 'Bring me your father's head, if you are no traitor.' Aerys would have no yielding, Lord Rossart was with him, my messenger said. I knew what that meant.

"When I came on Rossart, he was dressed as a common man-at-arms, hurrying to the postern gate. I slew him first. Then I slew Aerys before he could find someone else to carry his message to the pyromancers. Days later, I hunted down the others and slew them as well. Belis offered me gold, and Garigus wept for mercy. Well, a sword's more merciful than fire, but I don't think Garigus much appreciated the kindness I showed him."

Jaime looked down at his hand, "The goat has robbed me of my glory and my shame." He looked back at the white book that held the history of the Kingsguard, and Selene realized that one of his new duties was to fill those pages, "Leaving what? Who am I now?"

"Has my tale turned you speechless?" He looked desperate, "Come, curse me or kiss me or call me a liar. Something."

"You saved King's Landing." Selene said dumbly. "Why doesn't anyone know this?"

"The knights of the Kingsguard are sworn to keep the king's secrets. Would you have me break my oath?" Jaime laughed, "Do you think our noble Lord of Winterfell wanted to hear my feeble explanation? Such an honorable man. Your good father only had to look at me to judge me guilty. By what right does the wolf judge the lion? By what right?" Jaime swayed were he stood.

Selene hurried to steady him.

Jaime winced.

"Why are you telling me this? Why did you not tell me sooner?" Selene asked as she lowered him into a chair.

"How could I tell such a tale to a child? But you are a child no longer. You are a woman grown and widowed, a warrior bled, a mother who-" Jaime looked away in shame, "I'm telling you this because I want you to understand me. I couldn't care less what the realm thinks of me, but you…" He sighed, "I had hoped to speak to you of happier circumstances."

Selene gave him a dry smile, "Oh, uncle. There are no happy circumstances."

###

Selene paced in her room, her mind whirling.

The days were creeping by slowly. She would sup with the Tyrells in order to speak with Sansa, she would read the books Tyrion brought her, she would spar with Ser Garlan, or she would speak with her uncle Jaime of his trials on the journey home. She had tried to speak with Brienne of Tarth, but she was constantly denied.

"Personally, I can't imagine why you would want to speak with that stubborn wench," her uncle Jaime had said once she was denied again, "but she is as stoutly loyal to you as ever. My lord father will never allow it."

Despite how he spoke of her, Selene could tell Jaime admired Brienne. He often spoke of her unwavering loyalty, chivalry, and sense of duty in a way that made Selene say once, "It sounds like you greatly admire her."

Jaime had paused, "I think I do, as mad as that sounds." Selene had laughed.

Sometimes, she would see Oberyn with Ellaria Sand as she walked the gardens and Red Keep with her uncle, and the Dornishman would give her a knowing look. I am playing a part, Selene reminded herself after laughing at Jaime's description of how foul he smelled during his imprisonment, I will get him to confess his crimes.

"I…I am sorry about how things ended between us," Jaime had said once he had escorted her back to her chambers, the door closed behind him so he could speak freely, "I did it for your mother, but…I should have fought for you. Oddly enough, of all your siblings, you are the one most like me."

For a moment, he looked like he wanted to embrace her, but he nodded and left.

He knows I know. There is no use lying to me. All she needed was that confession in writing, and she would be free to expose him.

They will call him Sisterfucker as well as Kingslayer, which strangely made Selene sad.

The confusion she felt led to her pacing her chambers, anxious and unsure.

I am exhausted of the court and the lies and the plots. I want to escape.

Her eyes fell on her silver coronet. She had been forbidden from wearing it, but somehow she had been allowed to keep it.

I just want to see him for a second, Selene thought to herself, Is he still beyond the wall? Does he know what has happened to his family? To Winterfell?

Selene felt a wave of guilt.

Robb is gone. I'm just checking on his brother, making sure he's alright. Robb would have wanted to know if Jon was alright. But even in her head, her reasons sounded feeble.

Selene thought about Jon, expecting a feeling or two to return. She was surprised when all she felt was concern. Sisterly concern? Selene thought about Ser Loras's looks and how she felt nothing when she had seen him, of her indifference when Prince Oberyn plainly spoke of pleasing her in the bedchamber. I am indifferent to all of that now. Romance and love are things of the past to me. This is about making sure Jon is alive and well.

Before Selene could question herself any further, she grabbed the coronet.

Suddenly, she was filled with a deep heat in her core, the kind she used to feel when she was under the sheets with Robb.

She quickly let go with a gasp, as if the crown had burned her.

Is that what Jon's feeling right now? It was absurd. He was a man of the Night's Watch, and he was sworn to celibacy. Even though Selene had only known Jon for a short time, she knew enough of him to be certain he would not forsake his vows.

And yet…I know that feeling. I miss that feeling more than I ever thought possible.

Selene grabbed the coronet again, feeling desire stir from nowhere, laid down in her bed, and tried to fall asleep.

And woke up in the dark.

Her eyes took a moment to adjust. Besides one torch, there was no other light in the cave. A girl stood by a little waterfall that fell from a cleft in the rock down into a wide dark pool. The orange and yellow flames shone against the pale green water.

"What are you doing here?" a voice asked from behind.

Selene whirled around to see Jon Snow in the dim blackness. Her heart nearly burst with joy when she saw him, very much alive, until she realized that he was not speaking to her.

"I heard water," the girl said, "I wanted t' see how deep the cave went." She pointed with the torch to a corner of the cave.

"A dead end?" Jon guessed.

"You know nothing, Jon Snow. These caves are the endless homes of Gendel's children, and they're always hungry," Smiling, she set the torch carefully in a notch of rock, and came toward him, "There's naught to eat in the dark but flesh," she whispered, biting his neck.

I have to go, Selene thought, but she didn't know how to do that.

Jon nuzzled the red-haired girls hair, "You sound like Old Nan, telling Bran a monster story."

The girl punched his shoulder, "An old woman, am I?"

"You're older than me."

"Aye, and wiser." She pushed away from him, and shrugged off her rabbitskin vest.

"What are you doing, Ygritte?"

"Showing you how old I am."

"No, no, no, no…" Selene pressed her hands into her ears and averted her eyes, but she couldn't help looking back at them.

"We shouldn't," Jon said, his eyes saying something different.

"We should," Ygritte said as she undressed, "If you want to look you have to show. You know nothing, Jon Snow."

"I know I want you," Selene heard him say, all his vows and all his honor seemingly forgotten. She stood before him naked as her name day, and he pulled her closer, "I love the smell of you," he said, "I love your red hair. I love your mouth, and the way you kiss me. I love your smile. I love your teats." He kissed them, one and then the other. "I love your skinny legs, and what's between them." He knelt to kiss her there.

Selene truly looked away this time, fingers in her ears, and hummed loudly, and she was just able to block out the girl's moans.

Why in all the seven hells can I not wake?

Afterward, the red-haired girl was almost shy. "That thing you did, with your mouth….Is that….is it what lords do to their ladies, down in the south?"

"I don't think so," Jon said, "I only…wanted to kiss you there, that's all. You seemed to like it."

"Aye. I…I liked it some. No one taught you such? Not even your princess?"

"There's been no one but you. Only you."

Somehow, that hurt more than what had happened earlier.

I should be happy, Selene chided herself, Jon deserves happiness. Perhaps more than anyone. If he found it with a wildling girl, then so be it.

"A maid," Ygritte teased, "You were a maid."

"I was a man of the Night's Watch," Jon said with a playful pinch. Selene's head turned. Was? What is he now?

The girl stroked his stomach, "Do you still think of her?" Ygritte asked softly, "Of that soft princess?"

"She wasn't that soft," Jon said with a smile, "I think you would have liked her. Perhaps in another life, she would have been a spearwife too, and the two of you close friends."

Ygritte didn't seem convinced, "You still wear her gift."

Jon grabbed at the moonstone necklace on the slender silver chain. He looked down at it. "I suppose I still do. It…I've seen things, Ygritte." His eyes looked haunted.

"Your brother's death." The girl said softly.

Jon nodded, "My brother Robb is dead, betrayed at his uncle's wedding. And Selene, she…" Jon cleared his throat, "They killed Robb's child in her."

Ygritte stayed silent.

"I saw it, Ygritte. I saw it all and I could do nothing to stop it. I watched as arrows pierced my brother's body, I felt it when Selene's legs were filled with crossbow bolts, I could do nothing but watch." Jon rubbed his eyes, "I saw a man stab my brother through the heart, and I tried to grab him, but my fingers just slipped through, as if I was made of smoke. I heard Selene's screams…I still hear them, even now."

"What was done t' your family was…" Ygritte struggled to find the right words, "The gods have forsaken the south."

Jon looked away, "And I saw what they did to her after. Ygritte, they…poisoned her. And when she bled, I felt her agony and grief. When a man crawled on top of her and tried to…" Jon cleared his throat, "I guess I just thought…if I stopped wearing the necklace, I was abandoning her." He looked down at Ygritte, who was laying her chin on his chest, staring at him with big blue-grey eyes. "But that was a lifetime ago, Ygritte. It's you I love, you must know that."

She eyed the necklace, "I know, but…"

Jon sighed, "You're right. I'll prove it to you."

He reached behind his neck, and unlatched the necklace.

Selene gasped.

"Here," he said, handing it to Ygritte. Even as he handed it to her, Selene could feel the cave darkening, the edges of this vision becoming blurry.

Ygritte's eyes widened, "You would give it t' me?"

Jon nodded, "I love you, Ygritte," and kissed her, and Selene felt the dark close around her.

Author's Note:

Hope you enjoyed this chapter! Thank you everyone for your reviews.

kira44: Good idea!

HPuni101: Thank you for your constant support.

Alex Blackclaw: Thank you!

Anarion87: Thank you.

monkeybaby: Thanks!

Wikked: Haha that would be fun to read/write!

Guest: Thank you!

Hail King Cerion: I 100% see that. I didn't exepct them to have chemistry, but Oberyn is quite a character.

Vyg: Thank you

Mattia18: Thank you! That's a very good point. And you English is great!

Guest: Thank you!

Arianna Le Fey: One day! I can't wait to write that part.

Winterkiss: Thank you! I love all the Tyrell siblings.

Guest1995: Your review really made me think about the intrigue with having Selene interact with those characters, so thank you!

Serenity10116: Here you go!

Liz: I think I missed it, but Happy Birthday!