It wasn't snowing but the cold was still more than they were used to. Back home the winters got milder as the years went on. Everett remembers the driest summer he lived through when he was only a small kid, the dirt growing more gritty and dusty, and driving for miles to fix pipelines constantly with his old man. Kentucky had never had a summer like that, it was further west that those problems happened.

But the trees and grass grew brown instead of the usual lush green. He had seen snow but not for years. Laureen told him she never saw it before they arrived here. She was from the west coast so, it made more sense. He grew up using weapons, to hunt with his family. But swords were something he only saw in museums, and the fantasy movies that were still popular from the turn of the century. It'd be interesting to give it a go.

They ended up watching some of the drills they were doing first, looking interested. Jon wondered if not using swords was true for most people where she was from. They did have knives, from what he could tell. They were strapped to their legs so that when they were wearing cloaks it was difficult to spot them.

Jon asked if they wanted to try out the practice swords. He was curious how they would do.

Laureen was the first to pick one up, to his surprise and the surprise of the other members of the night's watch. They didn't often see women pick up weapons. It made them all pause, unsure what exactly to say, or who would be the one to fight against her.

"I… I don't know if this is acceptable?" A man asks hesitantly.

"I'm already a soldier. I'm way passed what's acceptable." Laureen says exasperated.

Everett picks up a practice sword too.

"So, let's practice." Everett says, not even addressing the concerns, not acknowledging that there was a problem with Laureen being there at all.

Jon was a bit confused at their approach and fighting style honestly. It was a whole different method than what he was taught. And not suited to fighting with a weapon with reach, in his opinion. They clearly were trained in close combat, with knives or even hand to hand, but when it came to swords… it was odd.

Their footwork was all wrong. In the simple fact that they didn't seem to want to move when they should. Their whole strategy seemed to be to plant their feet solidly, and unbalance their opponent.

Which was a valid strategy, for a time, but not for an entire fight. You still needed to move effectively. Jon recalled watching his own father show them, somehow being both solid and fast with his footwork.

They also seemed to not know how to do multiple moves with a sword. They could deflect maybe one or two blows but wouldn't counter strike when presented the opportunity. It made it so they were always on the defensive if they didn't immediately take the offense.

Even then, if they were countered immediately, they didn't know where to go from there. They just didn't know how to defend. It was clear they had never fought with a sword before… But he had taught others here who didn't even know how to throw a punch, so they weren't as unskilled as that.

He had to admit, if they got close, they could unbalance people and press the advantage well. Laureen could get closer to her opponents than Everett could in that regard, but he was strong enough that if he could land a blow effectively it would still do the job in knocking people back.

Jon was helping them as they went along, pointing out a new guard position he thought was helpful, and constantly reminding them to "Move your feet!" It was clear they were a long way from being good.

"You can't rely on dodging everything or tripping your opponent. You need to learn how to fight with the sword." Jon tells him. "You have to learn how to judge what your opponent is going to do, learn how to counter effectively. You can't just react to everything without thinking ahead. You might get lucky and disorient your opponent to get close, but it's not likely to happen every time."

Jon explains, trying to think of a way to show them what he means.

"Think of the sword as an extension of your own arm. The way you're fighting, you're not using it at all."

"What do you recommend then?" Laureen asks.

"Practice, for one. Just trying once won't help you. I can show you a few basic moves, but you need to put them together in your own head to combat an enemy effectively. It's almost never just one strike if your opponent is skilled. You need to get used to having the extra reach to use it well."

Everett and Laureen nod seriously, obviously trying to understand. Verona is listening too, looking thoughtful. She was standing over by the stairs, just listening.

"Are you going to try it out Vera? Or are you just going to imagine it wistfully from over there?" Jon calls out, making several people turn in surprise, not realizing she was there too.

Everett and Laureen exchanged surprised glances, they hadn't heard anyone blatantly mock her that way. No one would dare. Verona wasn't upset though, she had an amused look on her face, and an eyebrow quirked up. She looked like she was about to say something when Everett interrupted.

"She already knows how to fight. Maybe it's not the best idea." Everett says abruptly, looking uncomfortable.

Verona's amusement melted, she crosses her arms and has that expressionless face back on. She gives a small nod and goes back inside without a word, Jon frowns to himself.

"With just three people traveling, its best if everyone practices. At least get used to dodging, and defense." Jon turns back to them to say this.

"She'll be fine." Everett tells him, not concerned.

"Maybe she wanted to learn." Jon points out, getting a bit frustrated now.

Laureen looks thoughtfully at him then after where Verona disappeared to.

"We can all practice, we'll have the time. We can use fucking sticks if we have to, find someone to sell us swords on the way." She both promises and gives a look at Everett, telling him not to argue the point.

Everett huffs but doesn't add anything.

Jon had been about to put the practice equipment away when he spotted Thorne coming down to the courtyard.

Thorne spared him a look as he passed, telling him to finish cleaning up and join after everything was put away. He didn't address the others in the courtyard, not directly, just telling the men to get inside the main hall.

He could see Sam and Pyp come up to walk with the others inside, before they walk in Sam offered to help but he declines. It was better the two were with someone they knew a little. He would hurry and complete his task and join them soon anyway.

"Who shot an arrow at you?" Everett asks, voice hard, holding Verona's vest and tracing the hole in it thoughtfully.

Everyone was having their meal and were trying not to appear to be listening, but the change in tone caught people's attention. Verona had brought out her few things to put with the other's stuff. It wasn't much, some odd pieces of armor and the vest she had.

She had returned the cloak she wore, saying it belonged here, for future night's watch men. She had an extra cloak Laureen gave her now, which seemed to be enough for her, despite it being so thin.

Jon was also paying attention now, feeling a pang of guilt at the question asked.

Jon noticed how weary these two were of Verona, even after she explained things to them. Weary and cautions but also somehow treating her like she was fragile. Everett had arranged things on the table in front of her, like she hadn't been eating there for weeks and knew where things were. She had given a tight-lipped thanks.

They were also protective of her, by the sounds of it. But still, cautions, and watching for any sudden moves. It was an odd way to treat anyone.

Verona could tell how careful they were being, reminding her of how things where back home. Or, back on Earth One, she sometimes called it in her head. She'd have to get used to it again.

"You got lucky." Everett tells her.

"… no one here." Verona answers eventually.

"I thought it just stopped arrows?" Verona says, confused.

"It's designed for ballistics, not arrows or sharped edges. This is a new one though, so it also has protection from shrapnel. There's a metal band underneath here, connected to this strap. It must have slowed it down just enough."

"…oh. That is lucky." She responded eventually.

Laureen hummed in agreement, looking at the hole in her vest as well.

"I think I might have an extra shirt you can wear it over it, with the cloak. It's not helpful to stand out… Maybe we should get you something with a hood…" Laureen said thoughtfully.

"A hood huh." Verona says before continuing.

"Why do I need a hood?" She looked up wide eyed and brows raised innocently, wanting to see what they would say.

"… You know then?" Everett says eventually.

"Yeah. Why didn't anyone let me know?"

Both Everett and Laureen look sheepish as they glanced at each other.

"We didn't want to upset you. You were struggling enough." Laureen tells her.

"Hmm" Verona pursed her lips and took a sip of water, obviously disapproving.

"It's not like I haven't seen people with colored hair before. I'd rather people just tell me things like that." She tells them seriously.

They agree with her, tell her it won't happen again easily enough. But Verona still frowns a little and looks concerned. Jon wonders if they're lying… It seems wrong to keep something like that from someone.

"I'm surprised you're not having tea or something." Everett tells her.

"Well… this is warm so, it helps… I really just like it be warm."

"We found some mint on the way here. Picked a ton of it, we've been using it to help clean our teeth. You want some?" Everett offered.

Verona's left brow quirks up in interest, and she nods in ascent, wanting to try it. He leaned over and opened a pouch that was by the knife strapped to his leg and pulled out some leaves.

"Put your cup down a sec."

She did, allowing him to put the leaves in. She stirred it around before taking a sip, a smile on her lips. Jon couldn't help but wonder about the odd habit. Maybe she just really liked tea? He had wondered why she liked warm water; it sort of made sense now. He hadn't seen her put anything in it before though. Maybe it soothed her somehow?

"Getting back to travel plans…" Everett says sort of awkwardly, "We only have two horses. I don't know where we could get another?"

He addresses some people close to him, questioningly. They really didn't have any to spare, honestly, so they just shrugged.

"I can't really ride anyway…" Verona points out.

"Yeah I'll say, you fell right off when you got here." Someone called out from a table away, causing some chuckles.

Verona pouts a bit and mutters, a planned fall, under her breath, causing Jon to laugh as well.

"Well, that's fine then, you can ride with me. I have more experience with horses than Laureen, after all." Everett tells her.

Jon looks at him appraisingly, unsure why the idea makes him so uncomfortable. It's not like she could ride by herself really, and it was unreasonable to expect her to walk while they didn't the whole way. Yet still, something twinges at the idea.

Everett notices his look and raises an eyebrow. Jon looks away.

Jon decided to walk with her back to where Gilly and little Sam are staying after dinner.

As Jon was walking Verona back to where she was staying with Gilly for the last time, he thought about what she had said before, about not wanting him to think less of her.

Jon thinks about it. Really thinks about whether or not he thought less of her. She killed her own leader. She wasn't a member of the King's Guard though; and it wasn't Westeros she did this in. And according to her other countrymen, they didn't have a problem with disposing of corrupt leaders. The only problem they had was lack of evidence. They believed her though, in the end.

She had mentioned a few times, when they were with the free folk and here at Castle Black, how odd things were getting in their government during the war. Rules being changed, protocols being ignored. She never was supposed to be in the military, it wouldn't have been allowed before the war according to her.

Did he loose respect for her? He was angry, and a bit betrayed at the start but, if she had told the free folk that, or the other members of the night's watch, they would have treated her as a threat. She knew what could happen if she told anyone though. She probably shouldn't have let him know about it either, but she trusted him.

She had shared things with him, and he with her. He knew how much she wanted to be normal, even though it was out of reach. How much she cared about even one innocent man dying. The trouble she had using her powers. He knew she missed her old music and liked her water warmed up. Now he knew why. He knew that little Sam made her miss her own little brother, but still liked to play with him.

He had told her about his family, how difficult it was living as not quite a Stark, looking from the outside in at what he wanted to be a part of. Told her he was closest to Arya, and Robb. One was dead and one was missing, no one knowing where she disappeared to. He talked about his uncle Benjen, how he was certain that he was dead now. He talked about Ghost, how he wasn't sure if he'd see him again. She understood, how loosing family hurt.

She trusted him with her feelings at least. Perhaps now she'll trust him with more… but that was a hopeless thought. She was leaving the next day. He would almost certainly never see her again. There was another twinge in his chest at the thought, but he pushed it down.

"I don't think less of you, you know." He said quietly, before reaching the door.

"You killed an evil man. How could I think less of you for that?" As he says it, he knows he didn't lose respect for her.

She was forced to make a horrible choice. Like she had once said to him, he wished she never had to make it in the first place.

She stopped when he did and looked grateful for his words, and also a bit sad and pensive.

"To be honest… I didn't really feel conflicted after making the decision. The fact that I was part of his rise in power is what haunts me now." Verona admits to him.

"What matters are your intentions. I know you don't want to be what they made you. You were fooled, but you still tried to make it right. You can't put everything on yourself, there were a lot of your people who were fooled too. Even the people here admitted it." Jon reminds her of what Everett had said as well.

"Thanks, Jon. You've helped a lot. More than you know." Verona tells him, sounding sincere.

He didn't know what to say, before he could think of anything she moves forward and hugs him. He hugs her back without thinking, offering what comfort he could. He leans his head over hers and squeezes her gently. It couldn't have been a minute before she pulled away though, still looking away.

"Goodnight Jon." She tells him, sounding choked up.

"Goodnight, Vera." He answers softly.

She goes to join Gilly, he turns and heads for the barracks.

He usually fell asleep thinking of red hair, but tonight, he thought about how he would probably never see blue hair ever again after tomorrow. It was a shame, it was so unique. She kept it untamed for the most part but still. He wondered if it was a soft as the light blue sky it resembled. He rested his head against hers but he couldn't tell, he didn't stroke through it. Her lips probably soft too…

He shook his head slightly, feeling guilty for wishing he had been able to find out. He knew he still loved Ygritte, and it felt like he was betraying her somehow. Even though he knew they couldn't be together either. Not after everything.

Verona's POV:

Everett and Laureen were standing across the courtyard, talking with Sam and Grenn, I think. They were sharing some helpful traveling information, and Sam specifically was pointing out the best ways of reading a map. I wish there was some way I could read one… Westeros had been described to me but, it wasn't the same as actually knowing. Maybe if they traced the shape with a thicker material… I could trace it myself?

I was standing by the horses, arms crossed while thinking about riding one again. Maybe a saddle would make it better… but I doubt it. I didn't like how little I could sense while riding one. I don't know if I could ever get used to it.

I think I can hear Jon approaching, I turn in his direction a bit, arms still crossed.

"Nervous?" Jon asks me.

"Well… I wouldn't say nervous exactly… just wondering the odds of falling off again." I admit.

"You were fine when I was conscious. You should be alright." He tells me, something in his tone I couldn't recognize exactly.

Maybe frustrated? But that didn't make sense.

"Laureen thinks that if I get used to, I'll still be able to sense things while riding." I tell him, sounding uncertain.

"What do you think?"

"… it's unlikely. But I'll be optimistic and say maybe." I give a decisive nod at the end.

I hold out my hand and wait a moment before the horse closest to me sniffs at it. After which I pat its nose. I hadn't really pet a horse before. Jon just shoved me onto one really.

"What will you do now?" I ask him.

"Keep preparing. I've heard that we should be getting new recruits soon. We've sent word to enough of the north, at least a few people have listened… I keep thinking, what if the mutineers are still at Craster's Keep. The free folk will know I was lying about how many men we have. But I can't know for sure. And also, we could put Lord Commander Mormont to rest."

That was were Gilly and Sam escaped from wasn't it… after learning about the guy, at first I wasn't that upset knowing someone like Craster was killed but… then hearing Sam describe what the mutineers where doing. There was just no justice there. It was disgusting.

Replacing something bad with something worse. I hope Jon helps those women, but… I hope he'll be alright. There's always a risk going on those types of covert missions. I know he'll find a way to help, it seems like something he would do.

Sometimes it feels like everyone kills everything here… I wonder if people thought of me that way… No let's not think about that now. Like I shouldn't be thinking about how the free folk are going to be attacking everyone here.

When, for fuck's sake, they were both decent enough.

It was frustrating, but I didn't know what to do. Intimidating them would be wrong, coercing them into an agreement wouldn't last. As soon as I left it wouldn't matter. I lost hope awhile back on them making peace.

I liked traveling with the free folk, they could be funny, a bit crude sure, but friendlier than the people here now. They were cautious at first but, they lived with giants, and had seen an army of the dead. After I didn't attack them, I was pretty much a friend.

But there was always the undertone, if I had done anything at all they would cast me down. It was here too, but not the same. Here they were more afraid, they wouldn't risk turning on me because of it. So even though it wasn't as welcoming, I somehow felt safer. It was odd.

Jon was good though. He always seemed to try and do the right thing. Even if it wasn't easy.

"If you put your mind to it, I'm sure you'll find the best way to help. If that's going north to that place… well, I hope you'll be careful." I end up telling him.

"Aren't I always?" He says back.

Yeah. Right. And I didn't meet him while he was undercover in a camp that had been enemies with his ancestors for centuries. And he didn't volunteer in join a group that lives for fighting enemies of their realm. Sure Jon.

I must have made a face because I hear him chuckling under his breath. I can also hear Gilly approaching, holding little Sam I think. I turn a bit towards them.

"I just wanted to say goodbye. It was nice to talk with you. And, I wanted to thank for trying to help me while you were here." Gilly told me, I could tell she must be smiling at the end, some amusement in her voice.

That's fair. I really wasn't good at helping her at all.

"Yeah. A cook I am not." I admit with a sigh.

"I enjoyed talking with you too. And I'll miss little Sam." I tell her and reach out a hand.

I hold my hand slightly above him, like I usually do. I can feel him grasp it, and I shake it like I was giving him a handshake.

"Bye little guy. Till next we meet." I tell him seriously.

He gurgles. So cute. I feel a pang in my chest, thinking of Lucas, but it's not as bad as it used to be. More nostalgic and nice than the raw feeling of loss.

I can hear the others approaching now, probably ready to leave.

"Goodbye Gilly." I tell her.

"Goodbye. I hope you travel safety. All of you."

I smile and nod. I turn to Sam next.

"Bye Sam. Thanks for your help. And could you tell Maester Aemon as well? I'm grateful for all the stories he shared. I'm thankful to Ser Alliser too I guess, for allowing me to stay."

"Of course. I hope you get back home safely. It was really nice to meet you!" He tells me kindly.

He and Gilly were similar in their kindness, it was cute. I could tell he was attached to her, and she to him. I don't know if anything could happen though, the rules here seemed clear cut.

I haven't said anything to Jon yet. I can't think of anything I could say that would be enough. I can tell the other two are waiting for me. It's more difficult to talk to him though. I don't know why, exactly, but it felt like I was sick to my stomach almost. I hadn't felt that way before, maybe I ate something funny.

He's quiet too. He hasn't spoken or moved since I said goodbye to Gilly. I wonder if he's brooding, sometimes I could read the silences, and his was mostly always brooding. Sam even confirmed it, so I knew it wasn't in my head at least.

Laureen has already gotten on. Now Everett. He'll pull me up then…

"I can't thank you enough, for all you've done for me. I could have starved, out there by myself. You've been a good friend. I'll… miss you." I manage to tell him. I sound sad, even to me.

"I'll miss you too." I hear him say quietly.

Everett pulls me up, I'm being pulled up behind him which is different, I'm a but started and start to fall over the other way. I feel someone grab my left arm and help steady me. I can use my right hand to hang on to Everett's cloak now, but I still don't think the feeling.

"You alright?" Everett asks, shifting a bit.

"Yeah." I tell him, already tense being up here.

I can tell he's not the one who's holding my arm. I'm also holding theirs so… it's probably Jon.

I'm really no good at this at all, riding horses always looked to easy and cool in movies and tv and in books... what lies. Even if I could see I'd still be shit at this. I just knew it.

I squeeze Jon's arm once.

"Thanks." I tell him sheepishly, and let his arm go.

He huffs a bit, probably in amusement, before releasing me. I wonder if he's smiling, I bet he has a nice smile.

"Try not to fall off." Jon tells me.

"I can't promise that. But I'll try… Goodbye, Jon." I finally manage to say it, I hate how wrong it feels.

The other two must have been waiting for me to spit it out, they finally start moving. I hear them saying a few more things, but I'm not really paying attention too much. I can hear Jon's goodbye under his breath.

Lord Bolton departed yet again from the Dreadfort after assigning his bastard to take Moat Cailin for him. He had limited amount of men available to him, but if things went as expected, it would work out before Ramsay managed to take the Castle blocking their way.

He had sent men ahead into Barrowton, they would be able to give him more information the locals had on these people.

They would also tell him more about family in charge of the wooden city. Lord Dustin's cooperation would be important after all. And fear was what kept people in line.

Once the Others were dealt with, he would leave a few alive, for who wouldn't want to have the weapons they possessed. They would teach them how to make them here, he would persuade them. And if that didn't work, he should have their Lady soon enough. His bastard had proven effective in getting information.

AN:

Sorry for the long update time, I was figuring out how to do these next few chapters so that I actually liked them. I have three different versions of how its going to go, so hopefully I got the best story figured out.

And yeah, sorry but Verona is leaving for a while. Going to learn more about the north, and the people. Her thoughts/beliefs may be challenged due to the harsh nature of this world. Because how long can you go in Westeros before having to kill someone to defend yourself?

Jon's trying his best to focus on his responsibilities, he'll meet some new people soon as per the show.

Also, I'll try to include more from other characters to show where they are at the moment, and how they're reacting to some things.

And also, I know Barrowton in in the books, but its going to be different here, with some similar names but the characters are different overall.