Aurelia took the boots to the armory. She felt some guilt after everything the men of the Watch had been through asking for her boots to be repaired, but she knew Stannis would have a much colder request should he need to make one, so she went herself. The men were quite happy to help her, and she offered her thanks.
"Ain't really no issue, m'lady," one of them said to her. "After all that's jus' happened, leather is one thing we still got a lot of. Pulling it off our men and the wildlings - only wish we'd stripped some sooner afore we had to burn 'em. Also," he added with a wink, "it ain't often we get to work on boots as fine as these what belong to a true lady."
Aurelia smiled. "Well, I thank you again for your help. These will be ready in the morning?"
"Aye, m'lady. Good as new." He smiled, his few missing teeth a point of honor, and Aurelia smiled back.
As she left, she heard the men whisper and cackle and knew another reason she had to leave before she or Jon revealed their true bond. The men were afraid of Melisandre, and to an extent of Stannis. They respected Aurelia and her position, but for how long? And if they knew their Lord Commander had - no, she needed to leave, and whatever Stannis' reasons for sending her now, they were for this reason if no other, well timed.
Yet the ache in her chest whenever she thought of leaving Jon did not lessen throughout the day. By the time she dressed to meet him after dinner, she was near tears. She pulled herself together with a few deep breaths, smoothing her hands over her dress. She had put the dress from the morning on again, as well as her simple stays, the heftier ones having been packed away. She braided her hair loosely, letting the end fall over her shoulder, then pulled on her cloak and fastened it before blowing out the candles. Once in the yard, she moved purposefully, but slowly, glancing about at the men working and practising in the torchlight, as well as Stannis' guards milling about. No one paid her much mind as she moved up the stairs and toward the Lord Commander's chambers. Ghost sat outside the door and when he saw her he stood and padded to her, his nose nuzzling her cloak. She stroked the fur on his head, then scratched behind one ear. The direwolf made a sound almost like a sigh, then moved around her and nudged her but with his nose.
"Alright," she whispered, almost giggling. "I'm going."
She rapped on the door and Jon was there almost instantly. He was dressed in a tunic and leather vest, the laces removed. His broad chest heaved a deep breath as he drank her in. She gave him a curtsey.
"Lord commander, you wished to see me."
He held out his hand and she took it, allowing him to lead her inside. Jon cast a glance at Ghost who came inside. Jon closed and locked the door, turning back to Aurelia as Ghost settled beside the door.
His eyes locked on hers and his chest moving with his breaths. He stepped to her and Aurelia inexplicably took a step back. Jon stopped. His eyes brightened and he smiled.
"I'm sorry," he said. "I must have looked like I was going to devour you."
"For a moment there I did think you and Ghost had switched places," she smiled back.
Jon's face shifted, his look unreadable. "What makes you say that?"
"Nothing. Only, he seemed playful at the door, happy and eager to see me and you, well… Why do you look so concerned?"
"I've seen through his eyes," Jon said softly. "I can't explain it, but I've been inside him."
"Warging," Aurelia replied.
"How did you-"
"I know the stories Old Nan told as well as you do," she smiled. "And have you seen my red shadow? The woman sees visions in fires and believes Stannis is a reincarnated prophet, or demi god, or whatever it is she believes. And-" She stopped herself, shaking her head.
Jon moved to her, taking her hand and leading her toward the fire. "What is it?"
"During the war, there were stories building up about Robb. The Young Wolf, they called him. Some said he would ride into battle on Greywind's back. Some said he inhabited the soul of a wolf himself or transformed into one during night battles. Tall tales which helped stoke fear in the Lannister men, mostly but…" She drifted, and Jon took both her hands.
"Tell me," he murmured.
"There were a few times, right after a battle, I could see it in his eyes. Robb and Greywind were connected. He never lost himself in the battle, but sometimes Greywind did, and I could see that in Robb's eyes. Like he felt the kills, knew the taste of blood. One night he asked me to hold him and not let go until I felt his heartbeat slow to normal. It was pounding in his chest, so fast I thought it might burst. I tried to send for a nurse but he said it would do no good, that he just needed me close, that I calmed him."
"I know," Jon cut in. Aurelia looked up at him. "I know those feelings. I've felt Ghost when he's killed, sometimes when I sleep, other times… and I know what it is to need you close. I know that better than anyone."
Aurelia pulled him into her arms. Jon wrapped his arms around her waist and clung to her. Even through her heavy cloak she felt his heartbeat, pounding.
"Are you afraid of me?" Jon asked, his face buried in her shoulder.
"No," she said firmly. "No, my love. Not of you, or of Ghost. Never."
Jon eased out from her embrace, his eyes searching hers for doubt. Seeing none, he leaned in and pressed his lips to hers. His hands moved swiftly, undoing the clasp on her cloak and pushing it off her shoulders to drop on the floor. One hand moved down the front of her dress, squeezing one breast as the other hand wrapped around her waist. He shifted to lift her and Aurelia pulled back.
"Wait," she said, bowing her head. "There is something else."
"It can wait," Jon said, pulling her into his arms again.
"No," Aurelia said firmly. "It cannot."
Jon let her slip from his arms and she took a step back. Ghost gave a small grumble in the corner, rose, and did a few turns before laying down in front of the door. Aurelia watched him before turning back to Jon.
"What is it?"
"I'm leaving you here with her," Aurelia said softly. "She wants something from you… or expects it, I'm not sure which."
"Melisandre?" He murmured.
She nodded. "She's seen things she will not tell me, but…" Aurelia took a deep breath, drawing her gaze up to look Jon in the eye. "Last night, she told me to come to you. She wanted me to try and convince you to take Stannis' offer, to see what might bend you to the point of breaking your oath, to seduce you if necessary."
"She knows," Jon hissed.
"I don't know how much, but she knows your desire for me, physically, and mine for you. Beyond that… but I didn't Jon. Everything I said last night, everything that happened, that was not her will nor her influence. I would have left this room had you not stopped me. Part of me still thinks I should have, and I don't know now what she will try with you once I'm gone."
"Then she knows of last night, that we-"
"Yes," Aurelia replied. "That much she knows, but she thinks I did it for her, for her plans dictated by her God. I didn't, though. Jon, I would never do that to you."
"Seduce me?"
"Betray you, or our bond."
Jon stepped forward, placing a hand on her hip. "What about seduction?"
Aurelia stared at him, his gaze full of passion. "You're not angry with me?"
"I know you love me, Aurelia. I trust you with my life, and much more. And I want you to trust that while we are apart I will do nothing to betray you, or us. To Melisandre or anyone. If we do not trust one another, how can we be together when we must be apart?"
Tears welled in Aurelia's eyes, and Jon reached his hand up, his finger catching the first one that fell. "I have my duty as Lord Commander, my loyalty to the Watch, and I will see them done, but I will not lose you again, not to Melisandre and her schemes, not to Stannis and his bid for the seven kingdoms, not to the old gods or the new. You are mine, as I am yours. Do you not feel that?"
Aurelia nodded, words catching in her throat. "I would not - your oath - your duty, I understand it. I respect it, and you, always. But -"
"I love you," Jon cut in. "I know that it is in essence a betrayal of my oath, but I will not deny it, not to you. I loved Ygritte," he said sadly, guiding Aurelia toward his bed. "I told myself it was for my oath, doing what was necessary, what was commanded of me, but no one can command another's heart. I knew it, and still I loved her."
He sat on the edge of the bed, his arms wrapping around her waist and pulling her between his open legs. "That never caused me to stop loving you. Deep within, every oath, every promise I've ever made has been shadowed, tainted because when and if the moment is right, I would curse every promise to be with you, properly. And yet if that moment never comes, I will not have you believe anything but the truth, ever. I am yours, and have always been, and will never cease to be. If the same is not true for you, I will accept it, but if it is-"
Jon's words were cut off by her lips. She pressed herself to him, causing them both to fall back on the bed. Jon wrapped his arms around her and turned them over, his body pressing against hers. He pulled back, his hands pinning hers down as he gazed at her.
"I love you," he said again. "And I'll say it again a thousand times before tonight is over. Only tell me again what you feel, please."
"I am yours," Aurelia replied. "Always."
Jon smiled and Aurelia raised her head. When their lips met, he pressed his body against her again. Shifting to their sides, he ran his hand along the curves on her side, slowly pulling up her dress each time he slid his hands up. When the material had gathered at the top of her thigh, he slipped his hand beneath the fabric, his fingers teasing near her tender flesh. She moaned into his mouth when a finger ran along her slit.
Jon smiled, easing her onto her back as he kissed his way down her neck, her chest, her stomach. She tugged on her dress, and he helped pull it up, over her hips, then chest, then arms. As she tossed it aside, Jon dove between her legs, his lips and tongue caressing every part of her sensitive, moist lips. Aurelia wound her fingers in his hair, trembling at his explorations and moaning each time his tongue connected with her bud. He worked her to the brink before kissing back up to her chest, his hands firmly placed on her hips as her body ached and pressed up for his touch. When he reached her lips, she greedily took his kisses, her hunger causing him to moan. She wrapped her legs around his waist and used her thighs to flip them over, straddling his waist. She raised herself up, her hands pressed against his chest, smiling. She rocked her hips against him and he moaned again, feeling his straining cock press against her through the fabric and leather. She shifted her hands and began undoing the laces on her stays. Jon pulled off his vest and shirt, then helped her pull the last of the laces loose and tugged the corset over her head.
Aurelia winked as her hands moved to his waist, unlacing his breeches. She slid her hand inside, taking the swollen head of his cock in her fingers and gently massaging it.
Jon's head fell back on the bed, as he gasped. "Lia," he moaned. "I need you."
"You have me," she said softly, the smile never leaving her face.
"Now," Jon growled, raising himself on his elbows.
"I was going to treat you as you treated me," she said, licking her lips.
Jon shook his head. "Your mouth brought me much pleasure last night. I want your lips on mine now. I need to be inside you. Please."
His pleading caused her smile to fade. She eased off his hips, her hands going to slide his trousers off. Jon tugged them down, kicking them off and rolling to his side. He gazed at her for a moment before leaning in to kiss her.
"Take me," he breathed, pulling her back on top of him. She straddled him again, his hands resting on her hips. He moved one up to caress her breast, rubbing a nipple with his thumb.
Aurelia moaned, easing her hips down, sliding along his length. He slickness coated him and he moaned softly. She rocked her hips back and forth, her hands pressing his shoulders. Jon moved both hands to her hips, gripping them.
"Please," he murmured.
Aurelia slid up along his length again, then tilted her pelvis back. As she moved down, he slid into her. She moved one hand to guide him in further, then ran her hand up his chest. She moved slow at first, her hips rocking before she started to bounce up and down. Jon shifted his hands to clasp hers, their fingers interlocked as she increased her pace. His hips began thrusting upward to meet her. As their rhythm steadied, he moved his hands, wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her against him. He kissed her again and again, his hands running up her back and fisting in her hair. He pulled her braid loose, winding his fingers through the strands. Aurelia kept one hand on his shoulder, helping to keep their pace steady. Her other ran through his hair, along his cheek, holding his neck, clinging to and caressing him as their bodies moved together.
Jon slowed his pace, his lips moving to her neck. "Turn around for me," he said softly, nibbling her ear. Aurelia slid off, moving to get on her hand and knees.
"No," Jon said, taking her around the waist. He turned her body around, wrapping his arm up to her chest and pressing them together. He held her for a moment, kissing her neck, then bringing his hand up and turning her head back to capture her lips. As they kissed, his other hand moved between them and he guided back into her. He lifted her leg, draping it over his as he started to move inside her again. His fingers massaged her, worked her to a peak again before he moved his hand to her breasts. She moaned his name, her lips caressing his neck, sucking on the taut skin as his pace increased.
"Jon," she murmured. "You're teasing me."
He gave a deep throaty laugh. "Never, my love. Just say the word." He shifted his hand to lift her face to his and kissed her.
A moment later, she said the word, and they peaked together, his lips covering hers to stifle their cries as she shuddered in his arms and he exploded within her. As they faded into a calmer bliss, Jon moved the hand which had steadied her leg to the top of her mound. He rubbed gently, yet teasingly.
"Jon," she chided between kisses. "Teasing."
"Preparing," he murmured in reply.
She felt him twitch inside her and she smiled. "Then don't stop."
He turned them both, Aurelia beneath him as he slipped out of her. Their lips and fingers danced over each other until he was ready again, and then they united their bodies again, and again, until the pale light of dawn began to peek through the latched windows.