Jon did not get to tell Verona about the information he told before she found out, unfortunately. The others she ran into called her 'Lady Rendell' which threw her for a loop. At least that's what she told Jon, and he had to figure that she meant she was surprised… another odd phrase.
He told her that he figured out who her father must have been, from what she told him in private, and what she told Mance about the war and how it started. Verona raised an eyebrow.
"What?" She asked, bemused.
"Well, it was implied… was I wrong to assume?"
She regarded him, as much as she could without actually seeing, but looked considering.
"My dad was in the Air Force… part of the military." She told him, an enigmatic smile on her face though.
"Fuck, I'll have to tell them I was wrong."
"You weren't completely." Verona tells him quickly before he could walk off. "It was my mom, actually." Her smile was definitely amused now.
Jon's eyebrows raised and could feel his face heat in embarrassment. He had just assumed, but she had told them in the free folk camp about how women and men were more equal where she was from. After he had described things about his home…
"O-Oh… I'm sorry, I- I just thought…" Jon sputters out looking down.
"It's ok. I think people back home would assume too, still. But, yeah I should have figured you'd put it together. I didn't even think about it really… You know there's no, 'line of succession' right?"
"I know, but I neglected to mention. So, they're addressing you as if you were. I also… didn't mention they were killed." He tells her more nervous now. Her smile slipped away.
"Oh… if you think its better they don't know… I guess I trust your judgment." She didn't look very happy though.
"I know, I'm sorry. Really. Its just, there was talk of throwing you out, and I didn't want that to happen. So I just… didn't mention some things."
Verona ponders his words, and nods slowly. "Alright." She says to him, giving him a small smile.
They continue what they were doing, getting a cloak for her to wear. She looked small in it, even though she was just slightly shorter than he was, it made her shrink. Jon couldn't keep in a small chuckle, which led to some teasing back and forth. I don't even have to see you to know you look ridiculous. She had told him loftily, nose turned up at him.
She was offered guest rights the same day too. He explained the meaning, and what she had to do. It was a formality thing, she guessed. Though it wasn't lost on her that they only did it after they believed she was what they would consider to be nobility.
She ate with the other members of the night's watch that that day. They were quiet at first, with her being there, but soon enough it grew loud with conversation. She sat between Sam and Jon and met more of Jon's closer friends. Grenn and Pyp were nice enough, they were all close from what she could tell. They were remembering the Lord Commander tonight. Sharing stories and having a toast in his honor. When Jon learned of the mutiny he was pissed, it was so unfitting a death of a man Jon considered so honorable. Like his father…
It was Sam that was the most curious about Verona, naturally. He had heard from the others about her background and wanted to know more of how her own world worked.
It seemed that she got more curious glances throughout the night. Jon knew they must have heard about what she could do, but most didn't think it was possible. She didn't look particularly threatening.
Jon noticed again how expressive she was, a twitch of her brow, her lip quirking up, he could always tell she was listening to what was going on that way.
The looks grew more cautious though, when she told Sam her country was founded based on a revolution from kings and queens. It reminded them too much of the free folk. She seemed to tell the tension was growing, so she tried to explain.
"There were just too many people, there comes a point where that kind of system just doesn't work anymore… Its not that I have anything against the way things are here, honest." It seemed to work, people went on with their night quickly enough.
Sam was still asking her things, when Jon decided to get some drinks. It was mostly just ale, but he remembered how Verona always heated up her drinks, for some reason. It didn't take long for the water to get warm, while he got the others some ale.
He placed them down for everyone, putting hers in front of her. She took it curiously, pausing when she noticed it was warm. She smiled to herself and gave him a quiet thanks. She responded to something Sam had asked.
"Its illegal, where I'm from." She explained. Jon looked to Grenn in question.
"Incest." He told Jon. How they had gotten to that was strange…
"Royal lines and families." Pyp further explained, probably because of Jon's confused face.
"It was proven that it causes higher chances of either mental illness or hereditary diseases." Verona told Sam, who nodded in agreement.
"Explains a lot." Pyp muttered.
"Marrying under the age of eighteen isn't really allowed either, that's when people are considered adults, and can make those decisions." Verona told Sam, probably in answer to something else he mentioned.
"And how old are you?" another man called out, jokingly suggestive. Verona rolled her eyes but didn't look unsettled.
"I might be 21 now, I'm not actually sure…"
She was two years older than Jon. For some reason that was surprising, she looked younger than that. Sometimes she acted younger too. But, perhaps that was because of what happened to her, Jon thought sadly.
It was almost time to start cleaning up when someone tripped, sending some plates and cups flying to floor, and then falling himself. Quick as a flash Verona was on her feet, after flinching heavily. It looked like she was holding her breath, expecting something else to happen.
"Are you alright?" Sam asked her concerned.
She paused for awhile before exhaling. She nodded her head, looking down.
"I think I'm just gonna…" She gestured to the door and left quickly after that, eyes following her leave.
Jon exchanged a concerned glance with Sam. Gilly had told him about her scars, so he had some idea that something happened. Jon knew about her being a prisoner, and thought it had something to do with that. He decided to go check on her, nodding to his brothers before he went after her. He saw that she left tracks in the snow, heading towards the gate.
He found her huddled under a tree, completely wrapped up in the cloak he gave her earlier.
"So, you found me in my sorry state." She says dryly.
"Aye. Wasn't too difficult. You left footprints…"
"Oh…"
He hesitates a bit before sitting as well by the tree opposite hers.
"What happened in there?" He asks softly after awhile.
"I don't like being startled, I guess. I like knowing what's going on, because I didn't for a long time. When unexpected things happen, it usually means there's been an attack. I kept waiting for an explosion." She finished with a derisive laugh.
"Being with a lot of people you don't know, in an unfamiliar place, and going through what you have, its understandable. There's no shame in it." Jon tries to reassure her.
Verona in fiddling with her hands. But doesn't say anything for awhile.
"I realize that… everyone says something similar, when it happens. It's a normal reaction, for someone like me. I don't want it to be though. I keep thinking that I've been getting better. That I can be happy and normal again, but then something happens, something stupid like plates falling down… and I know that nothing's changed."
She sounds so sad, looking down with her hair falling into her face. Jon looks at her sadly, thinking of what he could say that could possibly help. She was different from when he first met her though, that counted for something.
"You're different from when we first met. You hardly talked except to ask questions, or make a sarcastic comment. You were quiet mostly, and only stayed around a small group, but even then I could tell you were tense and on edge. You're more relaxed now, you smile more. You still make your quips but they're not as cutting as they used to be. Maybe you'll always be startled by loud noises but, you have been getting better." Jon tells her sincerely, looking thoughtfully at her.
"You might not be normal but, you can still be happy, I think." He finishes softly.
Verona's hair was still in her face but she wasn't looking down as much as before, and tilted slightly towards him. "I hope you're right." She says softly as well, but a bit hesitant still, as if having trouble believing it.
She sits up even straighter, regarding him now.
"Do you miss her?"
He knew who she was refereeing to. It still sent an ache through him to think about her.
"Yes. I try not to though. I know they're attacking. And I know I have to help stop them. I can't think about her without wanting to run from it all." Jon admits to her.
"The situation is kinda fucked isn't it…" she nods sadly at his words. His lips twitch up at her manner of speaking.
"With what you think is coming, it would make more sense to join up. But its too late for that now isn't it…" she asks him gently.
"Mance isn't going to stop now. Not after everything." Jon tells her, then thought of something else that confused him.
"You weren't shown… given any proof of the white walkers, but you believed it right away. Why is that?"
She huffed out a laugh, leaning back against the tree so he could see her raised brow and crooked smile.
"What's one more impossible thing." She shrugged out. "Besides, none of you were lying about it. Everyone believed it, so its likely true."
"And how can you tell that. How are you so sure?" Jon asked, still perplexed.
She taps above her heart a few times. "Heartbeat. It's a pretty reliable tell."
He huffs out a laugh now, shaking his head in resignation. He shouldn't be surprised by now by what she could do. They sat there for awhile, sometimes talking but mostly just sitting.
"Do you want to go back? I'm sure there's still people in the hall, I'll be heading back there." Jon asked after awhile.
She shakes her head. "No, I think I'll just turn in for the night. Thanks though."
They both walked back, saying their goodnights in the courtyard, but before Jon git far Verona called out after him.
"Hey Jon… You're a really nice person. So, thanks I guess…" She walked off quickly after that. Jon stared after her an amused smile on his face.
He walked back to join his brothers, who ribbed her mercilessly about running after the 'blue lady'. He caught Thorne starring after him with distaste.
Verona was helping Gilly again, but mostly playing with the baby seeing as she wasn't that useful there… Gilly told her the others that had been bothering her had been avoiding her since she started helping her. They think she'll put a curse on them or something. Nice. Now I know I'm super helpful. Verona had said jokingly.
She had her sleeves rolled up again, no vest. Gilly had asked her if she'd be more comfortable in a skirt instead of pants. Verona was going to stay no but, when she thought about it, she hadn't worn a dress in a long time, it might be fun… She also might trip though.
Before she got a chance to reply, Jon and several others burst in. Verona was sitting by little Sam, and looked up in question. Gilly, who spotted Sam, made a questioning face, he just gestured towards Verona.
"There's two people here, they say they're from another world, and are looking for others." Jon tells her.
Verona stands swiftly, eyes wide, grabs her cloak that's set down close by, and starts towards the door. Jon can't help but notice the pale scars on her arms, they stuck out from her tan skin. The few others by the doorway move aside for her and Jon moves to follow her.
Gilly looks surprised but excited, wanting to see more people from Verona's world. Maybe they would have different color hair too. She grabs little Sam while Sam waits by the door for her.
Tywin Lannister held a letter in his hands, reading it silently. He tossed it down on his desk with a huff. Unforeseen complications were arising in the capital, ever since the display above the city occurred. More fanatics arising, getting bolder with their declarations. The others had been here a year, and had not left as they originally claimed they would.
From what Varys had managed to find out from his informants in Barrowton, they couldn't replicate what had happened, not without help. Varys had told him they were wanting information on more people that were with the other part of their… ship. Someone that was in it could help them. It was not specified how. Or who.
Well, now he knew. After hearing reports on the sight above the city, someone with the powers this note claimed could influence the city greatly, though they did not know it. The people in king's landing either hated the mention of the others, or they claimed them so be a gift, some sort of divine intervention. Unfortunately, the opinion was also divided between the rich and poor, with the later claiming the event to be some sign of great change.
Already there were some minstrels in the city, claiming to have met the people, and learned songs from them. Silly little things that irritated Tywin to no end. If word got out, even the smallest whisper, that a person could influence the sky, it would not amount to anything good for his family. The people might be fed now, thanks to the Tyrells, but they had not been settling down as expected. It was high time to stop trying to treat with these other people, they were careful with the information they gave.
In the whole time they've been there, they have only mentioned one country they were from, that a war recently ended, and they wanted to get home. They would not describe their army, or the weapons they might have. They did not get involved in any fighting, as agreed upon, but they were clear that they didn't support anyone either.
The rest of the information he had was in songs. Which preoccupied the members of the citadel but were of no use to Tywin. It was a clever distraction, for foolish people.
It was time to take care of them. When they're wiped from Westeros, the people of the city will soon learn that they were nothing but a fluke. That they weren't sent to change everything. They never should have existed here in the first place.
He would order the Frey's and the Bolton's to attack the crash site these people had been staying at. And hunt down this, girl with blue hair, and ensure all of the others were gone. It would need to be done fast, before word could spread to more people. He was not the only one to receive this information. The night's watch wouldn't send this to just him after all.
"Did I not tell you my king, that these people bring with them great power? That they could be useful allies?" The red woman coed out in Stannis' ear.
Ser Davos regarded them uncomfortably before turning back to the letter, he could only read it very slowly, and soon enough realized just what the red woman meant.
It had been a unanimous agreement throughout Westeros, that the other people would not be called upon to join a side. They shouldn't even exist, and it made most lords very uncomfortable to think about. Having them as allies would be seen as an insult to the lords who have lived in Westeros for centuries. Yet still, the red woman often mentioned sending envoys to them, befriending them. Somehow she had known…
After receiving word from the wall about the threat of the white walkers not long before, and preparing the fleet and army to travel north, Davos had forgotten about the others for a time. They weren't causing problems, the most they had done was share songs. They didn't seem to like talking specifics, but where very good with distractions. He had heard a few tunes himself and admitted they could be very catchy.
The others only definite statement to Westeros being that they are working on getting home. Which sounded fair enough to him.
"Someone in the snow as well, someone helping ensure victory. They will help you fight the darkness, that is why they have come here. The lord has reached into the night itself and brought us aid. We must try and find the one this letter speaks of. Her role is to help you, I know it."
Stannis was listening carefully to her. Davos know he would listen, he always did when the red woman persuaded him so, with fate and destiny.
"I'll send a raven to them. Let them know of the threat in the north. Give them a chance to join us in the fight before it consumes everyone." Stannis decided firmly.
Davos couldn't help but wonder if these other people would even care.
Roose Bolton starred at his son Ramsey, who was reading the letter he received not long ago. They had already decided to send a man to the wall to kill Jon Snow, this seemed like a perfect opportunity to eliminate another threat. That or keep her as a hostage.
Lord Bolton had stopped at the crash site himself, on his way back north. They were a defensive group, any who met them could tell they were soldiers. They outright refused to speak with him, or offer him information, though he had heard rumors they carried great weapons with them. The news of the red wedding had spread to the town nearby, and they recognized his name.
The distain and distaste was visible, he would not forget it. If the Lannister's received word of this as well, which he no doubt assumed they would soon, he fully expects men to be sent to wipe them out. As for the girl, the daughter of their leader, she could make a great bargaining tool against them if need be.
Judging from the fascinated look on his bastard's face, he wanted to keep her, not kill her.
The man they decided to send would need to be informed of this new objective. Hopefully, he would receive word of a death and a capture in a months' time.
AN:
Some more sweet moments happening. They're just friends at the moment still, but clearly have a connection.
Also, some ramifications for the information being shared, some different perspectives on what is learned. I don't think Daenerys would be aware yet of this new information. Hearing rumors of people falling from the sky are vague across the narrow sea, like the rumors of dragons being born in Westeros were just rumors for a long time.
Thanks for reading!