JON

"You are the son of the Dragon. A Prince...Be the leader I know you can be." Robb says to Jon before they part ways. Eddard will remain at Castle Black to make sure that the Free Folk are treated fare as they pass through the wall. Robb will return to Winterfell with Mance Rayder. Rumors had spread that Giants were allied with the Free Folk, so many of the Northern Lords stayed at Castle Black to see if it were true. The Free Folk took great pleasure in the looks on their faces when they saw the Giants and the Mammoths they rode.

"Why do they call you Giant's Bane?" Jon asks Tormund.

"Because I killed a Giant...His wife took me for one of her children and fed me at her breast." He laughs slapping Jon on the shoulder. The Free Folk are allowed to build a village on the Gift. A stretch of land given to the Watch long ago. The land is good for farming and hunting. The Watch never uses it.

Jon's first few days with the Free Folk are uneasy. Some avoid him, others try to provoke him into a fight. There are those who genuinely try to make him feel welcome. Even one of the Giants befriends Jon in a round about fashion; communication is a block to developing a relationship.

Often times Jon finds a few of the young women around his age staring at him from afar. "We steal our women…" Tormund says explaining the ins and outs of courting a woman of the Free Folk. "…You have to have her permission to touch her first. Some women will give permission only to put up a fight later on to test the man."

"Interesting custom." Jon replies.

"Tormund." A beautiful redhead calls his name walking up.

"Ygritte…Jon Stark…Jon Stark…Ygritte."

Jon stares at her in awe. He had seen many beautiful Northern maidens in his life. None of them made his heart pound and his groin swell the way Ygritte did. "So you're the knee bender. They were right about you. You're a pretty man." She looks at Tormund, "I'm leading a hunt with Bo, Arri, Bear, Tom and Saddy."

"Take Jon with you."

She looks at him, "I don't know can he hunt or does he have someone do his hunting for him?"

"I'm better with a bow than you."

"We shall see…Jon Stark."

"Where are you going?" Ygritte asks joining the hunting group at the edge of the camp.

"I am going with you." The Wildling replies.

"Does Tormund know?"

"He's not my father."

"Whatever."

"What is with the Hawk?" Jon asks following Ygritte.

She looks at Jon, "You know nothing Jon Stark…Orell is a Warg."

Jon had heard the term before, but he never thought he would meet one. "I know what a Warg is…So he can actually enter the mind of animals."

"Yes…Makes hunting a little boring. I like stalking my prey." Within three hours they bag a deer. It is Ygritte's arrow that brings it down from a hundred paces.

"I think the Warg likes you." Jon says standing beside Ygirtte.

"He asked to steal me once…I said no."

"You got any family? Mother, father, siblings?"

She looks at him, "They're all dead…My father and mother died fighting the Thenns when they raided our lands…My brother he died of brain fever."

"I'm sorry."

She looks at Jon, "Why you sorry?"

He frowns, "Its something people say to show sympathy." She stares at Jon, "To show the other person that they care about what happened to them."

"Why? You don't know me."
"Isn't that why I'm here? To get to know you and your people." She does not answer and walks away. They return to camp with four deer, lots of rabbits, and a wild boar.

"You carry a sword. You any good with it?" Orell asks.

"Good enough…You want to spar?"

"What is sparring?"

"Training…A fake sword fight to keep up your skills."

"Yeah sure I'll spar…" Many people gather around as the two men square off. Jon tests Qrell's skills. The older man has experience, Jon is younger and stronger. To his surprise the Free Folk use blunted weapons to practice and train with as well. As the fight progresses Jon gets a few cheers from the gathered crowd, because of his fancy moves. While Orell's style of fighting is unorthodox, Jon is able to hold his own and resorts to using his endurance to wear Orell down.

"Well done." Orell says from his back. The match had ended with Jon knocking Orell's sword from his hand and a kick to the chest. Jon offers him his hand and helps him up, but Orell pulls him close. "I have seen the way you look at Ygritte. Stay away from her."

"If she tells me to stay away I will."

Tormund walks up and separates the two, "Alright that's enough." He pulls Jon away, "You got show me some of those moves."

"Alright how about later." When later comes a few of the Free Folk join them, including Ygritte. Everyday Jon leads a training session more people join. Sometimes the Giants would come to sit and watch. One day Jon is out riding with a man by the name called Gopher. He had become one of the many friends Jon made among the Free Folk.

They are joined by Ygirtte, "What are you two doing out here?"

"Mapping the land and you?" Gopher asks.

"Just riding."

Gopher notices the way that Jon and Ygritte are staring at each other. "Well I am finished for the day…I'll be head'n back…Jon you coming?"

"Ride with me Jon Stark." Ygritte commands.

As soon as Gopher leaves they start racing through the forest. They stop by a lake, "Its so beautiful here."

Jon stares blankly at Ygritte, "Aye it is beautiful."

She returns his stare, "What Jon Stark? You want to steal me?"

He smiles, "I'm not one of the Free Folk. How about I tell you some poetry."

"What's poetry?"

"Her hair is red like a rose in bloom…She is wild and beautiful…Full of thorns to prick the skin…I will not fear for the pain makes me worthy to hold her…Hold her in my arms…Her petals are…"

She tackles Jon kissing him wildly and passionately. "I have never heard words like that before…Touch me Jon Stark…Touch me with your hands…Make love to me." They undress each other and make love beside the pond. As they do a Hawk flies overhead.