Chapter 17

A/N: Chapter 17 already! Time flies Thanks to my new followers and favorites and a big shout-out to my truest reader ujemaima, this one is for you!

Enjoy

…

Jon

He knocked on her door to see if she was there. She probably was, he hadn't hear her leave after last night, when he had left her after she had fallen asleep on his chest. He had heard some movements, but he knew she would still be there. Gods, how he had wanted to stay, but it was wrong. He longed for a woman, but it was forbidden by his oaths to take her as his. His only duty was the Watch now, as he was in command.

He didn't hear her voice or her movements so he knocked again, slightly harder this time. He didn't hear her again, so he decided to open the door and walk into her room.

Alyssa was still sleeping in her bed, in the same position as he had left her, and a faint smile came to his face. She looked so peacefully, her hands under her face, which was covered with her sweet smile. She had changed into her nightgown, he observed, or Eleonor had, what would clarify the movements in her bedroom last night.

He walked over to her bed and sat at her side, pulling a string of her hair out of her face. Alyssa, on the other hand, slapped his hand away and looked with an annoyed face to him.

"What was that for?" She asked, still annoyed.

Jon started to laugh. "Well aren't you a little ray of sunshine in the mornings!"

She yawned as she stretched herself. She sat up straight as she rested her hands on the bed behind her back.

"Not if you wake me." She warned him.

"I will definitely try to remember that." Jon promised her.

Alyssa smirked and yawned again.

Jon could just simply observe her. He couldn't tell her how happy he was that she was with him now, at the Wall. Her appearance made life at the Wall easier, like he still had a reason worth fighting for, but also to ease all the other problems: Wildlings, White Walkers…

He tried to think of how different his life would have been if he did have escaped all those years ago, when he had heard about his father's dead. What if he had reached Robb? Would things have gone differently? Would Robb have legitimized him? Would Robb have reached Kings Landing and take Sansa, as for Jon could take Alyssa with him? Probably not: he would have end up dead at the Twinns as well.

Alyssa looked up at him, worried. "Have you even slept at all?"

Jon, noticing how exhausted he was when she mentioned it, shrugged. "A little."

"A little always means 'no'. You have circles around your eyes, you know." Alyssa said as she raised an eyebrow.

Jon snorted. "Busted."

"You could put some spoons here in the snow and when they are cold enough, put them on those circles. They will fade away." Alyssa suggested.

Jon looked at her in disbelief. "How do you know some spoons can fade circles away?"

Alyssa muttered something he couldn't hear fully under her breath, but Jon thought he could hear the name 'Cersei'.

He knew she didn't want him to continue their meeting about her sister, so he tried to talk about something else.

"Have you slept well?" He tried.

"Like a Goddess." Alyssa smiled.

"That mustn't be so hard for you." He answered, although he immediately regretted what he said.

Alyssa looked at him in disbelief.

"Really? That's what you have learned over the couple of years? Must've been the shocking lack of women down here." She said, but Jon could see she liked his remark.

"I will try to come up with some smoother lines in the future." He said, as he watched how she got up from her bed as she started to undress herself as she walked to her clothing screen to change into a dress.

He coughed and quickly averted his eyes, making her to turn around questionly. He didn't see her, but he could hear her soft giggles.

"Oh come on, it isn't like you haven't seen me naked before." She said as she still giggled.

He gave her an angry shot, which he regretted as well because just one glance was enough to see her bare body.

Her body had changed, over the couple of years. It looked more… feminine. Her hips were slightly wider and rounder and her breasts were firmer. Her brown-pink nipples were stiff because of the cold. His cheeks turned red as he thought of what he just had seen.

"Alright, I won't bully you any longer." She said as she walked to her screen to change herself.

"I will wait for you outside to see the King." He said as he still didn't dare to look at her.

"Which one?" She joked.

"Stannis." He said as he sighed and walked out of her room, leaving her to change.

….

Alyssa

She put the warm, black cloak around her which Jon had given to her when she had reached the Wall. She glanced at the mirror in front of her and laughed. She really looked hideous, as she thought of what Jaime and Tyrion would say to her if they would have seen her like this.

It was like she looked like a giant ball of black wool with a tiny head on top of it. It did not accentuated her body at all, it made her look and feel fat, but it was warm and comfortable, and she would need it once she was outside.

She had dreaded this moment. She had tried as best as she could to keep Jon's mind off her meeting with Stannis, but she knew she must face him someday. She was kind of glad that Jon was with her as a support, but she didn't know what would happen next, and she hated that.

She took in a deep breath as she walked towards the door and opened it, to see that Jon was still waiting for her in the hall. When his eyes reached her body, or at least what was last of it, he burst out in laughing.

"You look good in black." He joked.

"Fuck off." She warned him although she knew she looked ridiculous. "I am glad to see that you can look at me again? I didn't know you had a thing for big, black sheep?"

She smirked as she saw his cheeks redden again as she took him by the arm. She could feel how warm he was through their big, black cloaks, which strangely made her feel warm as well.

"Are you ready?" He asked her seriously.

She bit her lip. "Do you want an honest or a brave answer?"

Jon smiled sympathetically at her. "It will all be alright."

"I hope you are right." She sighed, as she followed him into the cold air.

Alyssa took another deep breath which cut into her lungs, like they froze immediately. Jon glanced over at her to see what was going on, but understood.

"Don't breath too deep once you are in the open air. You will get used to it, some day." He told her.

"Are you used to it by now?" She asked him.

Jon shrugged. "Not really. But it has grown easier than before."

"Well that a consolation." She sighed as they both walked further in silence until they had reached the room where King Stannis was.

Jon held up his arm to knock on the door as he hesitated and put his arm down.

"Good luck." He told her as he looked around to see if someone was there.

When he saw that there wasn't, he quickly kissed the top of her head, which made Alyssa feel dizzy. Jon held up is arm again and this time he did knock on the door.

"Your Grace, the Lady Lannister is here to see you." He said loudly as they both waited for a respond.

…..

Jaime

"So you're telling me that my little sister is heading for the Wall, the place where Stannis Baratheon is situated?" Jaime asked the old man that stood in front of him.

He sounded braver than he felt. He was wary, because he had heard all the tales about Roose Bolton.

Roose Bolton did not answer. He just stared into Jaime's eyes.

"Well?" He asked again, a bit impatiently.

Bolton's eyes did not tell him what he knew. His silences were threatening, and his eyes as white as mist.

"Yes." Bolton finally answered.

Jaime sighed painfully. He knew for sure that Alyssa would get into trouble, and the sooner Jaime would get to them, the better. But the constant snowing held them down, and they couldn't travel any further, as their horses were weary and they were practically out of food and water.

Winterfell wasn't Jaime's first choice to stay, as he knew Alyssa had left with a bit of a scène over there, and Jaime hadn't forgotten Bolton's lack of honor when it came to guests beneath his roof. It wasn't even technically his roof, but Jaime did not dare to mention that to the Boltons, as he knew the mention of the Starks would only anger the Boltons more.

"It would be an honor to stay as a guest beneath your roof, Lord Bolton. At least until it isn't bloody snowing as heavily as it is now." Jaime told Lord Bolton.

"It can take some time until it stops, once it starts snowing, Ser." Lord Bolton informed him.

"Of course it does," Jaime muttered, more to himself than to Roose, "then we will stay until our horses and men have rested."

"Please, Ser. Take your time." Bolton told him, although Jaime could hear that he didn't mean it. "You don't have to be afraid of your sister, your sister is already taking care of that."

"Yes. That's what I'm afraid of." Jaime said as he walked with Lord Bolton, who directed him to his chambers.

….

Cersei

'Tommen is waiting for me, my little King. I can do this, I must do this. For him.'

Cersei tried to ignore all the insults the people were shouting at her. She held her head up high as she walked down into the streets of Flee Bottom. The Red Keep was getting closer and closer with every step that she took. Steps she could make, because she thought of her little boy that soon would be in her arms again.

Out of the corner of her eye she saw someone throwing something at her. The thing hit her at the temple of her head and the juices of a rotten tomato dripped down her face.

She closed her eyes so that the juices wouldn't come in her eyes, as well to cover the tears that were swelling up in her eyes.

"Shame! Shame!" The Septa yelled from behind her, and with every shame she rang her bell.

Cersei quickly tried to clean her face with her hands, as it was hard to walk with her eyes closed.

'They cannot break my pride. They will never have my pride. I am a Lion of Casterly Rock, I am a Queen.' She thought, although it got harder to stay strong.

She looked into the crowd to see if Jaime was there to look for her. Her Jaime, she belonged to him only. He would be there and help her, she knew he would.

"You filthy whore!" A peasant yelled at her as he pushed her.

It took some effort not to fall, but luckily she didn't. She ignored him like she ignored the rest.

"You brother-fucker!" A woman shouted, but Cersei ignored her as well.

An uproar came when she walked further. Cersei realized that the people wanted to see her bleed, wanted her to die. The closer she got to the Red Keep, the worst it got. There was still no sight of Jaime, or someone else, and this terrified her. She knew that she was alone.

"Shame! Shame!" She heard the Septa yell again only this time, Cersei realized what was going on as the voice of the Septa echoed in her head.

She was alone, bare and vulnerable. The smallfolk were still throwing things at her and shouting things towards her. The tears in her eyes came again. She closed them, tried to take him away, only this time someone pushed her so hard that she did fell on the filthy ground.

She could feel both of her knees scratch on the floor as a bitter sting went through it. She knew she was bleeding and it hurt terribly, but someone picked her up roughly and commanded her with a push to walk further.

She saw all of their faces: the face of her mother, smiling to her and Jaime, at the sight of how they were playing together. Her father, his face full of disappointment, if he could only see her now. Jaime, her sweet Jaime. Only Jaime did not look like he used to look at her: he looked at her in disgust, like she truly was a filthy whore. Joffrey, who was shouting along with the common folk. Myrcella and Tommen, who were both crying for her. And last of them, Alyssa and Tyrion, who were both laughing mockingly at the sight of their naked sister, covered in filth and blood.

The tears were now streaming down her face as she called for Tommen, Jaime and her father. She only admitted to herself that this wouldn't have happened if her father was still alive.

They finally have left Flea Bottom as they were now very close to the Red Keep. Cersei was by now the filthiest person, she observed, but these people had no sympathy for her as well. An old woman even slapped her in the face.

Cersei, however, was glad that the woman had slapped her. It made her focus more on the Red Keep and less of the people, which helped her to think of her sweet boy again.

'Don't cry, my boy, your mother is almost home.' She thought as she saw the gates of the Red Keep.

She could recognize Ser Swift in the distance, holding a cloak to cover her up once she had reached him, and hope filled her heart again. She had survived, and that little bitch with her bell behind her would regret it, as would all the other people in King's Landing.

Ser Swift looked at her with pity as he covered her up.

"You're home, Your Grace." He said softly as he hurried her into the Keep.

Her Uncle, Kevan Lannister, and Maester Qyburn were waiting for her in the Hall, as they welcomed her as well.

"Where is he?" She asked Ser Kevan, "Where's my boy?"

"He will be with you after we have cleaned you up. We thought he wouldn't like it to see you like.. this." Her Uncle answered as Cersei nodded in agreement.

She didn't want Tommen to see her like this as well, and she was thankful that her Uncle had been so thoughtful.

"We have prepared a bath for you. Ser Robert, if you could please take the Queen to her bath?" Maester Qyburn said smoothly as a giant man came out of the shadows.

It was the tallest man that Cersei had seen in her life and she smirked thankfully: hers and Qyburn's plan had worked out. Robert Strong would be the personal guard of her and Tommen, and her champion where she would ask for in her trial.

She let Ser Strong pick her up from the ground as he walked her over to her chambers. She had missed being here, and she longed for her bath and bed, but not as much as she longed for Tommen.

She washed herself quickly once Ser Strong had left her alone, not wanting to waste another minute without her son. After she had readied herself, she called for Maester Qyburn, who would call for her sweet Tommen.

The cries of him that reached her ears made her eyes fill with tears as well. Her poor boy, he must have missed her terribly.

"I want my Auntie Alyssa! Where is my Auntie?!" The small boy cried as he opened the door to go to his mother.

When Tommen saw her, he cried even harder. It must have been scary for him to see his mother bald.

"Mommy! Where were you? Where is my Auntie? I want my Auntie!" He cried even harder.

A sting of jealousy pierced through Cersei's heart. It wasn't Cersei Tommen was crying for: it was for Alyssa.

"Don't cry my love, mommy is here now." She said as she tried to hold and comfort him.

"I don't want you! I want Auntie Alyssa!" Tommen shouted angrily.

"Auntie Alyssa will be back with us soon enough, wouldn't she, Maester Qyburn?"

"Yes, Your Grace, I have heard that Satin had finally reached the Wall and that everything is going as planned." Qyburn informed her.

"Good." Cersei said as a nasty smirk that Tommen didn't see covered her face.

….

Alyssa

Her stomach turned as she walked into the room, closely behind Jon. She felt as a small child that hid behind her mother's skirts, although it was hard for her to cover behind Jon, with the big cloak she was still wearing.

"Alyssa!" A young girl's voice shouted and Alyssa saw how a girl ran towards her.

She could easily recognize Shireen Baratheon: the girl had grown taller, but the greyscale still covered her face. Shireen hugged her tightly as her small face disappeared in the black coat.

"Hey you little one!" Alyssa said, relieved that there was at least one Baratheon that was happy to see her.

"I've missed you! I've missed all the stories you told me before I went to bed!" Shireen said as she still held Alyssa close to her.

"Shireen! Come back here!" An angry voice said as Alyssa turned around to see that Selyse Baratheon's face was filled with anger.

Shireen let go of Alyssa and slowly walked back to her mother. When her mother didn't see it, though, she gave Alyssa a quick smile, which she returned.

"Lannister." A stern voice said.

"Baratheon." Alyssa said, as she tried to sound just as stern. She could hear Jon move uneasily beside her.

A smirk covered Stannis' face as he pointed to a small chair in front of him. Alyssa didn't hesitate: she walked over to the chair and tried to sit down, which was pretty hard because of the thick cloak that was covering her body. Jon could see that she had trouble, so he walked over to her and helped her out of her cloak. She sat down and waited until Stannis spoke again.

Selyse, though, spoke first. "We will leave you alone, come on, Shireen." She said as she put her child by the arm and took her with her.

"Bye Alyssa! You will come and see me, will you?" She asked hopefully.

Alyssa giggled. "Of course I will."

She saw how Shireen smiled as she closed the door behind her. Alyssa turned her face to Stannis again, who was accompanied by his two true followers: Red Witch Melisandre and Ser Davos.

Alyssa still waited for Stannis to speak.

Stannis, who clearly got impatient, spoke up. "It has been a long time since I last saw you."

"It has been. Five years, I believe." Alyssa nodded in agreement.

"A lot has changed over the couple of years." Stannis said as he raised an eyebrow.

She knew he wanted her to plead for mercy, but she would not give him that satisfaction.

"What are you trying to say, Lord Stannis?" Alyssa asked him.

"King Stannis. You are speaking to your King, my Lady." Ser Davos corrected her.

"Lord, King, Ser, Witch… There are so many titles people give themselves nowadays, I am sorry, Ser Davos, but it is very confusing sometimes." Alyssa answered him as she gave him a sweet smile.

Stannis did not like what he heard. "I am the rightful heir to the Iron Throne."

"Yes," Alyssa nodded in agreement, "some say that you are. But so do so many of Daenerys Targaryen." She ended.

For a moment, Stannis looked a little taken aback by her words, but quickly recovered himself.

"You admit that Tommen Baratheon is the son of your brother Jaime Lannister, and not of my brother, the late King Robert?" He asked her.

"I do." Alyssa simply answered, as she could feel Jon watching her closely. "Do you have something to drink and eat? I am famished."

Stannis ignored her last remark. "Are you saying that you're supporting my claim to the Iron Throne?"

"No." She said as she heard Jon sigh. "Not yet."

The Lady Melisandre moved forwards, smiled at her and whispered something in Stannis' ear. Stannis listened to her, nodded and turned his gaze to Alyssa again.

"Spill it." Was all he said.

Alyssa sighed. "Tommen Baratheon is a bastard, yes, but he is my nephew. He wouldn't even hurt a fly. He is a good and gently boy who luckily enough did not inherit his mother's nature. Yes, I know the Iron Throne isn't his rightful place, but I can honestly say that the Realm could have a worse King than him."

"Like?" Stannis demanded her.

"A mad Targaryen, my late nephew Joffrey, my father…" Alyssa summed up as she tried to look like she was thinking hard.

"Your sister." Stannis suggested.

"Well, I believe the correct title would be 'Queen' but if 'King' suits you better.." Alyssa shrugged.

"This is no time to joke around, Alyssa Lannister. You know just as well as I do that your sister will rule through your nephew, brainwash him until he comes off age and then he will make her his Hand and rule alongside him." Stannis said as he gritted his teeth.

Alyssa smirked. "You know my sister so well. So what are you suggesting, Stannis?"

"It is inappropriate to call the King by his first name." Ser Davos corrected her again.

"I will call him 'Stannis' until I know what he is to me, Ser Davos." Alyssa, then, corrected Davos who fell silent after that.

"You are the daughter of Lord Tywin Lannister, the man who plotted to kill his brother," Stannis said as he nodded to Jon, "the sister to Jaime and Cersei Lannister, who have a sexual relationship and conceived three baseborn children as a result to that. One, now, sits on the Iron Throne."

"All are true, but I have no part in this. I never knew of the plan my father made with House Bolton until it had already happened. As for my siblings, I'd rather not talk about that as it makes me feel sick to my stomach."

"You'll have a choice to make: you can follow me, help me and give me information about your family's plans and live, or you won't follow me and be burnt alive."

"Well, that's a pretty hard decision, Stannis. As cold as I am, I'd rather not be burnt alive."

"Are you saying that you will help and support me?" Stannis asked her, a little in disbelief.

"Yes," Alyssa answered as she heard Jon sigh in relief, "but under one condition."

"What?" Stannis asked impatiently.

"I will tell and give you everything you want, under one condition. My brothers Jaime and Tyrion and my niece Myrcella and nephew Tommen will stay safe. They have, like me, no part in this." Alyssa said firmly, as she held her head high. "Well, except for Jaime, a little." She added as she bit her lip.

She saw how Stannis struggled with his thoughts. What she didn't expect him to do was to look up at Lady Melisandre, who nodded towards him and then looked to Alyssa again, making him feel uncomfortable.

"Done." Stannis said as he held out one of his cold hands.

Alyssa took it and did not show she didn't like how hard he squeezed her small hand. Stannis let go of her hand and stood up, which was a sign for Alyssa to do that as well.

"Thank you, Your Grace." Alyssa said as she bowed a little.

"You can break your fast now. I will have need for you in a couple of hours. Lady Melisandre will look for you and you will come with her immediately. You will answer my questions in full honesty and you will not fool around. If you will not, you will be punished accordingly. I have no time to fool around as I will be leaving for Winterfell tomorrow." Stannis said with a warning tone.

"Of course, you have every right, Your Grace."

Stannis smirked and turned his face to Jon. "You are dismissed."

He waved them off as Jon helped Alyssa with her cloak again. He took her by the arm as they left the room, as Jon bowed to Stannis again.

Jon closed the door behind him. He turned around and looked to Alyssa, absent-mindedly.

"Can we have something to eat now? I really am starving." She almost begged him.

He ignored her as he took her hand and dragged her with him to a small room as he locked the door.

For a moment, he just looked at her. Alyssa could see the desire in his eyes, but waited. She knew that in his head, Jon was fighting with mixed emotions and she wanted him to make the decision himself.

Jon's heart won as he took her face in his big hands and kissed her on the lips.

….

A/N: Bah-dum-tsss! No thanks to the JonxAlyssa shippers! But.. what happens next? Will they continue, or will things get harder?

Up next: Jaime travels further, Jon and Alyssa meet Satin, Alyssa and Stannis talk and much more!

Hope you liked it and until next time!