A/N: Happy Holidays everyone. This chapters a bit short, but I've been very busy this weekend. I'll try to keep at it. Enjoy!
Chapter 5
Days went by and the two hadn't spoken once. Sierre had woken up from the day after that night, leaving without saying a word. When she ate in the common hall, alone at one of the tables, Jon stole glances at her. As much as he wanted to sit next to her, eat with her and chat, he restrained himself. She wanted to be alone. When Alliser looked at her from across the hall, he saw her whole body tense, hands turning white, griping the cutlery tightly.
Sierre was working non-stop with the maester. In the morning, she worked in the small garden, cleaning out the weeds, planting herbs, watering them, on her knees doing lots of tiring work. She enjoyed it. Compared to what she was doing before, this was heaven. After lunch she spent her time in the library, learning new technics, working with different material. By the end of the day, before supper and sometimes after, the real work began. Men from all over Castle Black came to the hut, with injurys of different types and causes. Some had been hit too hard in the training yard, another got kicked by a horse. The other broke finger while moving a heavy block. The injuries went on. They came cradling they're injuries, soaked in blood, swaying from side to side or brought in by their brothers, unconscious.
She took them in one by one, telling Maester Aemon the damage, letting him analyze the injury, then he told her what to do. Most of the time she already knew what to do, put the Lord Commander did not trust her enough. He was afraid she would ruin his men, with her "femaleness". I swear I'd slap the idiocy out of him if I could. That night was a calm one, only a few men were waiting to be treated. They sat in room, waiting to be called in.
"Abrasion on the cheek, contusion on left, lower thigh. No serious damage or pain."
"Apply some firemilk to disinfect the cut. The bruise will heal in a few days' time."
Sierra did as she told. She grabbed a clean cloth, added a few drops of firemilk on the top, and went on to dab the cloth on the man's cut. The man hissed as she did.
"Watch it!" he yelped.
Oh great. We got a bunch of kids as the Watch. Oh the temptation, but Sierre held her tongue.
As she finished with the last patient, Maester Aemon left to go to bed, leaving Sierre to clean up. A group of men rushed into the hut. A man was lying down on a stretcher, face first, his back showed large scratches, blood oozing out.
"Here, put him on the table." They pulled the man off the stretcher, carefully placing him on the examination table.
"What happened?"
"Snow, here thought he could take on a full grown Boar, bring him for supper. That's what happened."
Jon! He was hardly recognizable with all the dirt covering his face and hair.
"Out, all of you! I need space and quiet."
The men nodded, leaving the room.
Sierre went to work quickly. Grabbing all the pain relieving herbs she could find, she mashed them together. She had to get to the wounds but the clothing was in the way. She cut the side of the shirt he wore, peeling it off carefully of his back. He winced.
"Jon, can you hear me!"
A grunt was his reply.
She grabbed some water, some snow and the mashed herbs. She cleaned the wounds, applying the herbs first, then the snow to help with the pain. She could see all the muscular definition in his back. He seemed to drift in and out of concisions, blacking out every time she applied disinfectant. When she was done, her hands covered in blood, she pulled a chair near Jon and sat down. Grabbing a clean wet towel, she began wiping away the dirt that was caked on his face.
"How do I look." He whispered.
"You'll live." She began to rise from the chair, when a hand clasped around her wrist.
"Stay." Those grey eyes pleading.
She sat back down.
The night consisted of reapplying snow and herbs to the wounds to ease the pain and swelling.
"You're an idiot, Jon."
"I know."
"You got us scared back there."
"I know." Sierre turned towards the fire, staring at the dancing flames.
"Do you hate me Sierre?"
"Hate you?"
"You haven't said a word to me this whole week."
"I have my reasons, but I don't hate you, I just needed some time alone."
"You had me worrying."
"Jon, I'm fine." Her voice was determined.
They sat in the silence of the flames.
"Jon?"
"Yes?"
"I want to learn how to protect myself."
He stared at her, watching her face. She was dead serious.
"I want you to teach me."
"When do plan on having me teach you?"
"At night. We'll have nightly lessons. Simple stuff, nothing complicated."
"I'll think about it."
Jon fell asleep after a couple of minutes. Sierre laid her head down on the table. She soon fell asleep as well, listening to Jon's slow, rhythmic breathing. The pair were a very interesting sight.
A/N: Leave a review letting me know how you're liking the story!
