Chapter 2

Jon

Jon was not sure where everything had gone wrong. Looking back now he was sure he should have told Arne that he had spotted a person walking near the camp that night, however due to how tried he had been at the time he could have been imaging it. In the end it would not matter now as the group was now running for their lives from the men of the Nights Watch.

The worse part was there had not been any warning or yells for them to surrender. Just one moment it was quite as the free folk moved the group through the hidden passage that cut through the wall, and the next moment arrows where flying at them from what looked like all directions. "Shield Wall defend the back!" Jon heard Arne yell as the free folk moved to the rear of the train.

Jon was not really sure what he should do at this moment, he could run to the nights watch and try distract them as the free folk moved through the wall, but thanks to the cloak that Revan had given him to keep warm he was sure at the moment he looked like any typical wilding child. They might just kill him out right instead of stopping to listen to him. His choice was made for him when a small child who had been running beside him was hit in the leg with an arrow. The child had been with the small folk that had followed the free folk here. A little girl and looking around Jon spotted what could have been the girl's mother trying to get back to her, but she was pushed into the tunnel by all the others trying to get away.

Without hesitation he picked up the crying girl and ran into the tunnel. Even if this was his best chance at escape, he could not leave the girl to her fate. Pushing past the adults in group he made it to the girl's mother yelling along the way," Keep going I have her! Don't stop we meet on the other side!" The woman nodded and got be hide him to shield Jon and the girl from the rush adults in the back.

The space inside the tunnel was narrow and dark. Navigating through would have been impossible had it not been for the few torches the free folk had lit before they had been ambushed. After what seemed like a lifetime Jon finally saw a light and smelled fresh air at the end of the tunnel. Rushing out what greeted him was the brightness of snow fall that even at night was almost too bright. Looking ahead he spotted most of the group was heading for a small forest in the distance.

Figuring that would be his best bet he headed in the same direction as the rest with the girl's mother trailing behind. It was not far to the tree line and after making it a bit way inside Jon finally stop to catch his breath. Jon found a good spot to place the girl down and check her wound. The arrow had made it clear through her lower thigh. Ripping a strip of cloth off his shirt Jon reached into the small pack that Hilda had given a few days ago and grabbed a few herbs that he knew were good for healing.

After chewing them up and placing on the cloth he turned to girl," I must get the arrow out its going to hurt a bit but after that you will feel much better, I promise." The girl nodded too tired and in too much pain to really think about. At that in a few quick motions Jon broke the shaft of the arrow off and pulled what remind out of the girl's leg then wrapped the wound in the bandage. Through all of that the child didn't make a sound and it impressed Jon to no ends. Hells he wasn't sure if even he could have held the pain in if someone need to do this for him.

During his treatment the girl's mother had moved to be beside her daughter watching what Jon was doing with intensity. After he was finished, she quickly took out her bed roll to lay her daughter on. After making sure she was alright she finally spoke to Jon," Thank you mi' Lord for saving me daughter... I am not sure what I would have done if I lost her..." "No need to thank me I am sure anyone would have helped I was just closer and am not a lord my lady so no need for any of that." The women didn't agree," No am not sure about that.

There were other people around her and they just ran past her. It was only you that too the time to even notice that she had fallen. Please tell me the name of the one that has helped me and my daughter in our moment of need good sir." "Jon... Jon Snow my lady, and like I said my Lady am not a lord or anyone important just a bastard." The women was shocked, "Your Ned Starks base born son what are you doing out here!" "I didn't really get the choice. The free folk stole me from Winterfell some weeks ago. They were going to let me go after you all got to the other side of the wall but now..."

Jon trailed off he was not sure what the plan was now. Sure, he could go back through the wall but was that the safest choice. He could wait here a few days then go back through, but would the nights watch even stop to hear him out before they killed him. He was not sure that they would and trying to travel back to Winterfell on his own would be another death sentence. The woman interrupted his thoughts before he could get to deep into them, "Well Jon I am Eva, and this is my daughter Maria if there is anything you need Jon all you need to do is ask. I will do everything in my power to see you repaid." Jon waved her off," No need I didn't do this for a reward Lady Eva. I am not sure if I will be here for much longer any way."

Just before Jon could continue, he spotted the free folk running toward them. Some of them look a little battered but all still standing. They stopped just inside the tree line each one spreading out to cover the wall scanning and looking for threats. Jon took that moment to move toward Arne who was the closet to him. He could hear them speaking as he got closer," Well that could have gone better." Jon heard Njal say. "Well, we are going to have to find a new way south now that tunnel is sealed," Toke spoke to Arne, and Jon just froze.

The tunnel his way back was sealed...his one way back was gone, and he was stuck on this side of the wall. Jon could feel the panic rising inside him as he started to hyperventilate. His panic attracted the attention of Arne who saw the shock on the child's face and moved to speak to him. Jon was shaking at this point curled into a ball on the ground his breath shallow and erratic. "Pup... hey pup take deep breaths come here and sit against the tree here."

Arne moved Jon so that he was next to him before taking a seat," Look pup am sorry I didn't think you would have followed the group through the tunnel, but if we didn't seal it behind us then the watch would have followed and killed everyone with us. Look we are heading back to village when we get there we will talk to our leader. He should have another way for us to get you home promise." Jon slowly calmed down, but he was still upset not with the wilding but with himself. How could he be so stupid why didn't he just hide when the fighting started, he could have been on his way home by now or at lest a raven could have been sent to his father and he would have been on his way to him.

Now he was stuck on the other side of the blasted wall with no way back now. Going with the free folk seemed like his only choice really. For he knew he would not survive out here on his own. Without looking at Arne Jon just nodded and move back into the tree line where the rest of the group had been sitting. Arne sighed he felt bad for the kid it wasn't his fault the watch had spotted them the night before. Hells it wasn't even his fault he had gone into the tunnel. He had spotted the little girl when she had been hit with the arrow. He himself started to run to her when the pup with no thoughts on his safety and escape pick up the girl and took off to the tunnels.

He knows Jon didn't see all the arrows that had arrived in that same spot after he got the girl. If he had not, then the child would surely be dead now. It had impressed Arne the boy had instincts for the chaos of battle and knew when to shelve his fear to get something done. That's not something a child his age should have at lest not most children south of the wall. Hopefully Tormund would have a way to get the boy back south. If not, he would mind keeping the child for him and his woman. Revna had a soft spot for him already he was sure she wouldn't mind at all.

The group was soon moving north after a bit of rest. It would take a few weeks before they made it to the village in the haunted forest. The village was not large by any standard as far as Jon was concerned. The village was little more than a bunch of animal skin huts with some wood wall surrounding it. It was near a river that was half frozen and a cliff face. Jon spotted something familiar in the cliff face, but he put it out of his mind for now as he made his way to the biggest hut in the village.

Arne leaded Jon to meet with the leader of the village a man by the name of Tormund Gaintsbane. When Jon saw the man, he could understand why he was called that. The man was just as big as the rest of them with his fiery red hair and wild looking eyes. 'Just what do they eat up here to get so big,' Jon thought to himself. Tormund spotted them as they walked inside and with a bello he cried out," Arne you pig shite I thought you all die in the fucking south. What the hell's took you so long anyway.

"Had some trouble with the watch and went a bit further south than would have liked Tormund." Tormund waved him off, "Don't matter all that much as long as your back now. Soo who's the pup you got behind and why bring him here he's not mine at lest I don't think I have bedded and women with black hair...at lest I don't think I have..." "Let me stop you right there he is a pup we took from Winterfell we thought if we had him, it would have stopped any lords that might have found us on the way back from killing us. We didn't count on the watch not giving a fuck about him though. He saved one of the people that came north with us and got trapped on this side of the wall for his trouble. I promised him we were going to cut him loose when we got through, but now I have no idea how am going to get him back."

Tormund studied Jon after Arne finished," Boy what did you say your name was..." "It's Jon sir Jon Snow." "Well Jon Snow I have some good news and bad news for you which do you want first." Jon shifted nervously," Good I guess..." "Well Jon good news is I have a way south of the wall for you. Shouldn't be too hard to get you through either." Jon heart swelled this was good news, but there was still the bad news," Bad news is the crows and the Thenns are currently battling it out in the plains, and it don't look like it's going to settle any time soon. In fact, I know the Thenns are going to look to old Rattle Shite for help real soon. So, it could be a while before its safe for me to send anyone south. I know we owe you, but I got to think of my people first boy at lest while me father is out in the waste looking for a place for the clan to move."

Jon was cowed, he had a way back, but he had no way to get there now, and it's not like he could just as them to tell him where the path was. Hell, even if they told him, it's not like he would make it to it on his own. Arne saw the look on his face, he saw the panic start to rise in the boy," Tormund the boy could stay with Revna and I until we can get him back. I will be responsible for him whiles he here." Tormund raised his eyebrow at that, "You sure I mean am not going to stop you but if he doesn't pull his weight around here, we will leave him behind you know how it here in the north." "Am sure plus I am sure the lad will do just fine he's got a fire in him. It's hard to put into words but I have a feeling..." That had been enough for Tormund," I have learned time ago to just let you do what you want when you get those feelings. I will let my father know when he gets back. Now get out of here I have a camp to run and all of that...can't wait for the old man to get back I hate all this leading shite."

With that settle Jon was led by Arne to what would be his home for now. Unknown to Jon but this was but the first step in his journey to become the king of the lands of Ever Winter.

A/N: So how are you liking the story so far not sure about a release rate or anything I write when I get into the mood to. But for the next few chapters I plan on writing them in the next few days and releasing them when I finish.