Season 4 starts sooo sooon! Who else is as excited as I am? Here's another chapter for you guys, and I'll be writing more later on. I'm on a roll. Let me know what you think! :)

A Tale of Magic and Monsters and Lords

Chapter 6. Decisions are Made

Storm

"I have to go," Jon repeats himself as I try and keep up with him while he practically runs through the castle, "I'm leaving."

"Jon," I call after after him, "Wait." He's sprinting up the stairs now, twelve steps ahead of me after I've only taken two steps. I trip and nearly fall on my face. "You didn't let me finish." I curse my clumsiness and straighten up once more.

Jon doesn't reply, and he's disappeared around the curve of the spiral staircase. I've never been in this part of the castle before, and if I'm being honest it scares me to be alone. I quicken my pace and take the stairs two at a time, determined not to lose Jon's trail. I can't just let him run off and abandon me here at Wall. If he's leaving, I'm going too. I'm meant to go with him; I can feel it. Just like I know that Eddard Stark is going to die soon. Just like I know the King, Robert Baratheon, is going to die before him. It isn't a gift or power that I want to have, but for some reason I'm stuck with it.

"I don't need to hear any more," Jon says from much further down the hallway, his voice echoing down the long passage, "I think you said quite enough."

I feel a pang of guilt and my steps falter. Maybe I shouldn't follow him. He doesn't seem like he wants me around...I did tell him that his father is going to be murdered. I'm probably not his favorite person right now. I brush off my doubts and continue after Jon, not saying another word until I'm leaning in the doorway of what must be his room. He is shoving clothes into a bag he just pulled out from under his bed. He raises his eyes from the bag, looking much like a kicked puppy, and then frowns at me. It only makes me want to hug him more. I step into the room.

"No," Jon states firmly, "I mean it, Storm. I don't want to know."

I continue through the room until I'm standing a foot or so in front of him, my heart racing a little out of fear that he'll reject me. I'm not asking him for anything more than allowing me to travel with him until I figure out what I was sent here for. I mean, maybe I also think there was a reason I dreamed about him back in Chicago, and I'd like to know why. I was delivered practically at his feet. It has to mean something. He and I were joined together for a reason. I reach out finally and pull Jon into my arms. He doesn't hug me back, but he does let me hold him.

"It's okay," I soothe, not knowing if it really will be okay but wanting it to be very badly, "I won't tell you anything you don't want to know. I'm sorry, Jon. It will be okay. It's not too late to...do something."

"How?" Jon asks, his voice muffled as his face is pressed into the fur of my coat, "How isn't it too late? My father is in King's Landing. It takes months to get there."

My heart sinks when I realize that maybe it is too late to stop Ned Stark's death. If it really takes months to travel from Castle Black to King's Landing, then how will we ever make it in time? Why did I have to be sent somewhere that is so far back in the Dark Ages they don't have faster ways of traveling? Still, I shake off the discouragement, release Jon, and start to help him pack his things.

"Well..." I try and say optimistically, "It hasn't happened yet. And we won't know unless we try. Would you rather do nothing?" I cock my head to the side to look at him.

"We?" Jon asks skeptically, his expression more than a little confused.

"I'm coming with you, Jon," I state firmly, giving him no room for arguing, "You can't expect me to stay here. There's nothing for me here. I - I can't just sit in that room forever until Aemon decides what to do with me. I have to do something."

"They'll never let you go," Jon points out, "They'll never let me go. I'm supposed to take my oath in a fortnight." He shakes his head and growls, almost like Ghost was earlier, then starts to untie the leather 'armor' he wore for training. He throws it to the floor and sinks down onto his bed. I only notice now that the room he's staying in is much smaller than mine. It's also pretty messy, which reminds me of my old room back in Chicago.

"But you haven't taken it yet, right?" I start slowly, my brain still working to figure out a plan that may get both Jon and I out of here. "So, can't you leave, then? You can always come back. How can they refuse to let you leave when you're still technically a free man?"

Jon thinks it over for a moment before explaining to me that even though he hasn't made his vow yet, promising his life to the Brothers of the Night's Watch, he is still bound to his training. He doesn't know anyone who's left Castle Black after being recruited. He then further divulges that once a Brother is sworn in, he may never leave his post; he will remain a watchman for life. They can never marry, never own a home of their own, and never have children. If they leave, they will be seen as an abandoner, and killed for their crime.

"What?" I ask, incredulous, "Why would anyone want to do that? That is so sad..." I trail off when I notice Jon's jaw tense up. I must have brought up a sore subject.

"It is an honor to serve in the Night's Watch," Jon reminds me, as he did the first night I met him when I asked why he wants to take the oath. "I've been waiting my whole life to make the oath."

"Sorry." I shrug half-heartedly. I still don't understand why Jon would sign on for such a depressing future. He has so much potential. He could be so much more. "Well..." I suddenly have an idea, "Let me worry about getting us out of here. I think I know what to do. You just figure out how we're going to convince your family that I'm not some crazy girl and your father is in real danger." The rest of Jon's family, besides his half-sisters, are in Winterfell, where they live. We'll have to go there first.

-*-*-*-A-Tale-Of-Magic-And-Monsters-And-Lords-*-*-*-

After leaving Jon to pack his things, I wander aimlessly through the maze-like halls of Castle Black until I find myself in the dining hall. I am more than relieved to see a few of the young men Jon was talking with in the training yard seated at a table. I weave through the long benches lined up with the table and sit across from two boys; one skinny with black hair and dark eyes that nearly match, and one well-built with dirty blonde hair and a red-orange beard. They both stop eating and stare at me comically with their mouths open.

"Hi," I wave, snapping them out of their daze. "You two are friends of Jon, right?"

The dark-haired one nods, while Red-Beard says, "Well...I don't know if I'd call us friends, but -" His buddy elbows him hard in the ribs and Red-Beard groans, "We're friends."

"I'm Pyp," The other speaks up, "He's Grenn."

Strange names, I can't help but think. "Nice to meet you both. I'm Storm." I guess I shouldn't talk about strange names. "I was hoping you might be able to point me in the direction of the Commander guy, Jeor Mormont. Do either of you know where he might be?"

"I do." A deep voice grunts from behind me. I turn to find a bearded man leering at me with hungry eyes and a rotted-tooth smile. I watch as he slides onto the bench with his bowl of food, entirely too close to me. He smells very strongly of body odor and I scoot away an inch or two.

"Well...?" I prompt, "Mind telling me where?"

"I may," He continues in what is probably supposed to be an alluring tone, that or women around here must be used to men talking to them like prostitutes, "Depends on what I get in return."

I raise an eyebrow. This guy isn't serious. Is he?

"Rast," Pyp hisses across the table.

"What?" Rast returns mockingly, "You were both thinking it. I'm just man enough to say it." He laughs obnoxiously.

I press my palms against the table, using them as leverage to stand up, and announce, "O-kay then. I think I'll just find him myself. Thanks anyways."

"What's the matter, girly? Can't take a joke?" Rast calls after me, "Off to find Lord Snow and Ser Piggy?" I take a deep breath and decide to ignore that one, even though I really want to yell at him for calling Sam such an awful name. People like him feed off reactions, so I won't give him one.

"Shut up, Rast," Grenn says, seeming annoyed with the older man. He suggests, "Try the south tower. He's almost always there somewhere."

"Thanks," I reply, even though I have no idea where the south tower is located. I leave the dining hall the way I came, resume meandering the halls, and promptly run into the very man I was looking for. "Lord Mormont," I state in surprise, not sure I'm using his title correctly, "I've been trying to find you."

"Have you?" He frowns, not looking entirely pleased to see me. That's not the reaction I was hoping to receive. This is only my third time speaking to Jeor Mormont because he scares me a little bit. "Maester Aemon tells me you're very sick and should be in your bed. In fact, he's been very worried about you."

"I know," I fall into step beside the much taller man, "And I do not disagree that my fever is highly...unusual. I understand why Aemon is concerned about me, but I truly feel fine. I haven't been suffering from headaches, nausea, fatigue, dizziness, or anything else normally associated with a high fever." Mormont is staring at me with wide eyes. I may have thrown in a few too many modern medical terms. "What I mean is that I feel fine."

"If you say so," the old Commander says in a resigned tone. "Now what is it that you wanted?"

I swallow my hesitation and get straight to the point. "I need to go to Winterfell."

-*-*-*-A-Tale-Of-Magic-And-Monsters-And-Lords-*-*-*-

Jon Snow

I haven't a clue how she did it, but Storm convinced Jeor Mormont to allow us to leave Castle Black for Winterfell in the morning. She somehow made him believe her parents might be waiting for her in Winterfell, or if they aren't that a family friend lives nearby who will take her in. He believed. She told him she would need a chaperone and a guide. She said Mormont suggested it be me. It seems too simple, too good, to be true.

"How?" I ask, wondering if I heard her wrong, "How did you get him to choose me?"

"I didn't do anything," Storm shrugs her petite shoulders, having just shed the heavy fur coat she was wearing and announcing that she was 'sweating like a pig', even though it is not warm in here, "I just said that I needed to get to Winterfell, and I told him why, and he asked his man - Shaene - to escort me, but he refused. He said something about promising never to leave the Wall and intending on keeping that promise. So Mormont picked you. He must trust you, Jon." She concludes. She sinks to the floor beside Ghost, who is sleeping by the fire in Storm's room. He seems to be getting quite attached to the girl.

I watch her stroke Ghost's fur, whispering silly things to him that I'd never say. She calls him 'Mr. Ghost Man' or 'big furry baby'. And he just lays there and lets her rub his belly like he's King Robert. Traitor, I think as Ghost looks to me with his red eyes. I shake my head and smile. It's good that Ghost likes Storm; he's going to be our only company on the road.

"I promised him you'd come back," Storm adds, not lifting her eyes from the fireplace. "I figured you would...you said your place is here. I told Mormont that after you bring me to Winterfell and help me find my family you'd be back to take your vow. He seemed pleased to hear it. I'm sorry if -"

"No, no," I interrupt her apology, "It's fine. I am coming back. It was the right thing to say."

Storm lifts her gaze to me and nods solemnly. "Aemon is not happy I'm leaving him. He thought he'd have more time. Maybe I'll come back with you; you know, after we save your dad. I'll bring you back myself, and see Aemon and Sam." She sounds so sure that everything will turn out all right, but I know it won't be that simple. We have a long, difficult journey ahead of us, and Storm has no idea what to expect.

"The Wall isn't a place for ladies," I tell her. "You should give them both a proper goodbye. You shouldn't come back."

"Well..." Storm says, her voice quiet, "thank you for your opinion, Jon, but I don't like goodbyes very much. I didn't get a chance to say goodbye to my family in Chicago, and I think it might be better that way."

I don't argue with her. I don't know her enough to tell her what she should do, but I know that I won't bring her back to here with me. It's too dangerous. She won't be safe here.

"You should get some rest," I suggest, "We'll be leaving early in the morning." I turn and whistle for Ghost to follow me.

"Can he stay with me tonight?" Storm asks, sounding like Arya for a moment, "Please? I keep having awful nightmares...I don't like sleeping alone."

I hesitate, seeing how Ghost is always by my side and I've gotten used to him being here, but when I look over my shoulder I notice the direwolf hasn't attempted to leave his spot beside Storm's fireplace, so I guess his choice has been made. "All right, Storm. I'll see you both in the morning, then."

"Goodnight, Jon."

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-MissCarolineForbes