This is just a small scene set directly after Jon and Tormund's meeting about going to Hardhome. Tormund didn't look too surprised to see Ghost when Jon was killed, so I thought the two must have met at some point. Really just what the title says.
For those of you waiting for Rhaegal's Rider, I do intend to update soon. A lot has gone on in my personal life and fanfiction hasn't been a high priority. This was to try and get my creative juices flowing again.
Tormund had entered the room wanting to snap Jon Snow's pretty little neck or maybe rip his guts out through his throat. The man who had betrayed him, the man who he wanted to kill was now protected by only a piece of wood between them. Was Jon going to tell him when his execution would take place? Or would he be kept like an animal in the hope he would give them information about the Free Folk?
In the end, the talk with Jon Snow had been illuminating to Tormund. Jon may have returned to the Crows but he still held a true affection and concern for the Wildings. Tormund was right, Jon Snow had spent too long with them. The arrow in Mance's heart and the deal they had made had convinced Tormund that Jon Snow was a good man and there weren't many men like him around.
Having secured Jon's help and the promise of salvation for the Free Folk, Tormund was feeling rather cheerful, although he would be happier when the Free Folk were south of the Wall and safer from the Army of the Dead. He knew there were many who would not want the help being offered by Jon, King Crow as they all called the Lord Commander no matter the man's name. Tormund's mind started to flit back and forth between the elders he could convince and the one's he would never convince to join him and Jon. More fool them.
He was distracted by a scratching sound and instantly looked to Jon, who didn't seem at all alarmed. Jon crossed the room and opened the door, it was then that Tormund nearly shit himself. He had seen many things, White Walkers, the dead back to life, all manner of creatures, but the creature casually walking into the room was, in that moment, the most terrifying thing he'd ever seen.
The pure white direwolf glared at Tormund with its beady red eyes, glimmering in the light and shining like rubies. Tormund had seen direwolves before, north of the Wall, some much larger than this one and he knew the one before him was not yet fully grown. Tormund knew Jon was in the room but his eyes could not leave the red ones staring back unblinkingly.
It was then that Tormund remembered a conversation before they had climbed the Wall. Orrell had been gloating about his warging ability and the bond he had with his eagle, trying to make Jon jealous and show his worth to Ygritte.
'It's a bond, you know. My eagle trusts me and I trust him. Having such a bond with an animal takes a lot of work. It is something you're born with and you have to train hard. You southerners...just think animals are there for you to use. You don't understand our bond,' Orrell said sneering at Jon Snow.
All eyes turned to Jon.
'Aye, you're probably right. I don't know how to warg and most of our animals are used to help us,' Jon replied.
Tormund watched the scene and knew there was more.
'But?'
Jon smiled to himself as the others watched the strange southerner.
'I know about bonds between men and animals. I raised a direwolf pup and he's out here now, beyond the Wall.'
'Left you did he?' Orrell said with a nasty look.
'Aye, but I know I'll see him again,' Jon replied earnestly.
Tormund wanted to ask more but decided against it as Ygritte snuggled up to Jon, one day he would have to ask Jon what happened to the direwolf.
This was the direwolf, Tormund suddenly understood. Jon had seemed so confident the wolf would return and it seemed as though it had. The wolf's gaze was strong and searching but Tormund felt a calm wash over him. The wolf was Jon's and seemed familiar somehow.
Tormund glanced towards Jon and saw a frown upon the young man's face. Looking back to the wolf, Tormund saw teeth snarling back at him, though the wolf made no sound.
'I get it,' Tormund said to the wolf. 'You're protecting him and there was a time when I would have thrown him from the top of the Wall,' Tormund thought he actually heard a growl, 'but now I trust him.' Tormund extended his right hand towards the wolf. The wolf stopped baring its teeth and gently sniffed Tormund's hand. The wolf then licked Tormund's bruised knuckles and promptly turned and lay down before the fire.
'He likes you,' Jon said as he moved towards his desk once more.
'That's the pup you raised?' Tormund asked, already knowing the answer.
'Aye. Found him south of the Wall, in the Wolfwood. The mother had been killed and there were five pups. One each for my three brothers and two sisters,' Jon elaborated, as if he knew Tormund wanted to know the story.
'But not you?' Tormund looked quizzically at Jon.
'I'm not a Stark,' Jon answered bluntly before continuing. 'It was how I convinced my father to take them. The sigil of House Stark-'
'Is a direwolf,' Tormund completed.
'I convinced my father to take the pups for my siblings, but as we were leaving I sensed something and turned back,' Jon continued, 'and there he was. Apart from the others, but clearly one of the litter. I knew instantly that he was mine.'
'What's his name?' Tormund asked, looking at the wolf who had now stood up and had started walking towards them.
'Ghost,' Jon said plunging his fingers into the direwolf's fur as Ghost reached Jon. The direwolf responded by closing its eyes lazily.
Tormund couldn't take his eyes away from Ghost and Jon. The man and his wolf. Suddenly, Ghost bared his teeth and his ears twitched. Moments later footsteps could be heard approaching the room and Ghost's eyes stared at the door, unblinkingly.
'I'm sorry Tormund,' Jon said making Tormund turn his attention away from the wolf. 'The chains have to go back on.' Tormund sighed, he knew this was coming. While Jon may feel comfortable around Tormund without the chains, none of the other Crows would.
There was knock at the door.
'Enter,' Jon replied and the door swung open to reveal Edd and Ser Alliser, the latter glaring strongly at Tormund and glancing at the removed shackles.
Tormund, rather reluctantly extended his arms as Jon fixed the chains once more. While Jon was securing Tormund, Tormund looked to the wolf. The direwolf was staring straight at Alliser Thorne and Tormund knew instantly that the man couldn't be trusted. Animals had much better instincts than humans.
Once back in his cell, Tormund reflected on his meeting with Jon Snow. Jon could see what the other Crows could not and in that respect Jon was much like Mance. Tormund had always believed Mance Rayder would get the Free Folk past the Wall but perhaps it was always meant to be Jon Snow's fate.
A/N: I assumed that Tormund had seen White Walkers and wights before along with many different animals. For Jon, I think the bond between him and Ghost was enough that Jon would expect to see his direwolf again.
