So sorry it's taken so long to post - I've had so many deadlines and exams and now I've finally broken away for the summer. It is a long chapter so I hope that makes up for it slightly. I promise I will never leave it so long again! I had intended this story to run alongside this season but I can't believe it's almost over already! I wanted to have the whole story written before the canon on the show began to mess with my plot and timeline but having seen so much of this season my story has unwittingly become to reflect what happens in the show - but don't worry I am still trying to write original moments rather than just regurgitating what's happening on the screen. The point of view from here on out won't just be Nieve's perspective but Jon's too.
Thanks again for new followers and favouriters - there have been so many - I'm stunned:
Dark Angel 792, kelsey112, Percellamillion123, Rayna17, FanWoman18, TwilighterRose, DanielHimura, Ice and Fire dragon, LucyRider17, DrAnime203, JediGemini, Senju Sowdowwen, lokidoki9, Fanisa, LoveisforEternity, ChibiCheshire, raquel14santos, bnoell14, wr0ngBWLficlover69, bennettnasagirl, nightsinshadow, playstep3, Elemental, Nikki, HalloweenBarbie, FreyaHawthorne, . .xxx, potatoe1996, , silo183, kawaiixkisses, CupcakeLoopy.
And thank you reviewers - you make my day:
Mistoflees - so happy you like the OC, I'll try have more badass moments in the story.
Lycan Lover 411 - I look at your review when I feel discouraged and it helps me continue, because it makes me laugh - thank you.
Guest reviewer - thank you, prepare for the long awaited meet of Nieve and Jon.
AND AS A MAJOR SORRY FOR THE WAIT I'LL HAVE THE NEXT CHAPTER OUT WITHIN THE NEXT 3 DAYS.
Chapter 5 - Snake Charmer
Fists clenched, jaw tense, and eyes full of fury, Jon walks along the corridors towards the main hall. Sam was blabbering next to him about the killer. Jon could tell it was Sam's attempt to calm him down but it was trivial and it was only making him angrier.
"She looks exotic. Maybe Essos. Well the other brothers say so anyway..."
Jon had given up on listening. He hadn't known the three Night's Watchmen the girl had so brutally killed - they had been based at East Watch and had yet to leave since the election of lord commander. The other men said they weren't the friendliest of brothers, but any man who knelt and said his vows were still brothers.
Sam continued twittering on. But Jon's mind wondered to what this meant now for him. He had only recently become the Lord commander and this breach of security resulting in the death of three brothers, was not helping him prove his good leadership to his men or to Stannis.
She even had the stones to demand a trial! Jon growls to himself. Who does she think she is?
The girl had been immediately removed by the surrounding brothers and taken to the hall to await her fate. But first Jon wanted to see the bodies. It was a bloody and horrific sight. If he hadn't lived with Wildlings, he wouldn't have believed a woman was capable of this! He knelt over each brother; pulling the lids down over their lifeless eyes and muttering a prayer. He'd stormed out of the room, barking to crows to build a pyre.
"I'll deal with the murderer." He muttered to himself.
"... Where do you reckon she's come from?" Sam asks. Jon snaps out of his thoughts, forgetting Sam was even beside him as they walked. They had almost reached the door to the hall. Jon's stomach lurches, realising everyone would be in there - watching and waiting for his judgement. Jon ignores his question and rounds on Sam with a serious expression.
"Sam. This is my first trial as Commander." Jon says anxiously, "This will determine what kind of leader I am. I know I owe you far too much already but I need you to back me on this. I'll need your support, your judgement too." Sam nods, "Of course, Jon."
Jon nods back in gratitude, "Thank you, Sam."
Not wanting to delay a minute longer Jon hastily enters the hall. All talk falls quiet, eyes bore onto Jon and Sam as they walk through to take their seats, Jon now at the head table.
His eyes find the girl...
She looks no older than he was, slender and with dark bronzed skin, with long honey brown curls. She was a beauty that Jon had could not have dreamed of let alone expected. He understood his men's excitement - they grew tired of looking at other hairy, rough ageing men - so the beauty of a woman was always a welcoming sight among the brothers. Especially a spectacle like Nieve.
Her big hazel eyes meet Jon's, and he draws in a deep involuntary breath. A sharp jolt ran through his body, his head began pulsing, his heart thumping. Jon tries to hold his calm poseur but he can feel Sam's concerned eyes next to him. All the brothers stand watch; waiting for there Lord Commander to begin. Even the girl looks at him with confusion and concern.
What's happening to me? Jon asks himself. The pulsing in his head was almost Then there's a flash. Just for a second. And in that flash Jon sees nothing but dark, cold night. He's in a forest, ground laid with fresh snow that was still falling. The only light shines in the distance - a lantern held by a girl. She looks right at him through the darkness, beckoning him closer with her warm hazel eyes; the same eyes of the girl standing in front of him, currently awaiting his judgement. The vision fades as quickly as it appears. Jon goes pale with the blood rushing from his face. The hall was back again, the brothers still waiting and the girl's brow furrowed in confusion.
"Jon..?" Sam's voice whispers to him urgently, and Jon snaps out of rumination. He was half tempted to excuse himself for a moment but he knew that would show weakness to his men. But questions began forming in his head; what was that? Some sort of vision? How? What did it mean? This girl - who is she and why did she appear to me? He needed answers but now wasn't the right time to voice this questions in front of his men. Still a little shaken, he addresses the Night's Watch.
"Brothers." He says boldly, or near just about, "We have faced a terrible loss." His eyes come to glare down at the girl now, "All down to this intruder - this murderer, here."
The brothers jeer at Nieve, throwing insults and curses. Jon quieten's them again.
Nieve glares back now. But she knows she has to play this well if she has any hope of getting the Night's Watch to accept her. She acted brash and stupidly but didn't feel a moments guilt or regret for slitting those rapists' throats.
Nieve bows her head and says respectfully - her northern accent still intact, "I request an audience with you alone, Lord commander." The crows begin to laugh. Jon can hardly believe it himself. She thinks she can make demands?
"This isn't an audience," Jon yells. "This is a sentencing trial! You lost the right to an audience when you killed three of my brothers. Who are you?"
Nieve doesn't respond, she just shrugs dismissively. Staring him in the eyes again. The young commander is very handsome, but he looks worn; like he was not as young as he should be.
"If you don't answer, I'll have to hurt you." The commander threatens, "Is that what you want?"
There is nothing you can do to hurt me. Nieve thought angrily. She was losing it again. "I thought you said this was a sentencing trial - so you're already planning to kill me anyway. What's a little hurt to me now?" She sasses. The men in the hall laugh again in disbelief. She knew humiliating Jon wouldn't help her cause but the man was asking for it.
The commander stands, fists crushed against the wood as he leans over the table, voice low and threatening, "My name is Jon Snow, Lord Commander of the Night's Watch, now you will tell us who are or I'll-"
"-You're Jon Snow?!" Nieve interrupts his threat, blinking in surprise. Varys didn't tell her he'd be lord commander! She looks properly at the man now, trying to read him, the way Arya talked of him - to be honest he seemed kind of a green and sensitive lad, not the commander type. But the man stood before her was a true born leader - firm and demanding. She couldn't stop her words in time:
"You made commander in less than four years?" She seems impressed but Jon was more concerned than flattered.
He furrows his brow in confusion. "How do you know how long I've been here?" he straightens up from he lean, eyes curious.
Nieve ignores the question however in distraction, nodding her head in appreciation, "So you're the bastard of Winterfell, eh."
Her mind raced, if Arya and Jon were as close as Arya said they were… "Arya failed to mention your high position here, however, I guess she doesn't receive many ravens…"
Jon took the bate that she'd dangled, forgetting all authority in that moment, "You know Arya?!" He thought he'd never hear that name again.
Nieve smiles smugly, "Yeah, feisty little thing."
"Is she okay?" He asks
"Okay? No. She's gone through the seven hells and back," Nieve sighs, "but she's safe at least." That Nieve truly was grateful for, and she knew now that Jon was engaged - he would listen to her now - now that he'd have questions about Arya.
However Jon forces himself to remember who he's dealing with, he'd been so wrapped up in hearing what he wanted to hear, how could he be sure of Arya's safety?
"And why should I believe you?" He challenges Nieve. Nieve is about to respond when voice cuts across her.
"Apologies for the intrusion, Lord commander," snarls a tall silver haired crow, he sat on the head table with Jon, his voice harsh; not sounding apologetic at all, "but we still don't know who you are and what you are doing here!"
He jabs a finger towards Nieve. But her eyes remain on Jon however. Jon's stare bores back down on her in return, but he says nothing.
Nieve takes a deep breath. "I'm here to help."
A thunder of laughter rattles loudly around the hall again. Nieve ignores them, as does Jon. His eyes scanning her, attempting to read
"Not fucking likely," the silver crow bellows again, "We just captured you for skulking around the wall; attacking our men-" "- I saw the Baratheon soldiers at the gate!" Nieve challenges, "Since when did the wall concern themselves with petty King's wars?"
That shut the men up.
Nieve continues, "You're desperate and outnumbered, I get it. But what's your plan once Stannis is gone?" Nieve looks directly at Jon now, hoping he would be a good enough man to hear reason. "I can help you."
Jon eyes narrow on Nieve. He hated that he couldn't tell whether this woman was telling the truth.
He let's Allister continue his questioning, "The night's watch do not recruit women. How could a woman help?"
And almost on queue, as Nieve would expect, a voice yells from the crowd: "Besides with my cock!"
The men jeer and laugh. Nieve looks to the ceiling for the strength not to kill everyone in this room.
"Quiet!", yells a porky man on the table at the front. He begins banging his cup on his table to settle the chatter.
Jon nods to the man in thanks. Then calmly continues. "You could be a wildling trying to infiltrate our castle. Why would we trust you to help us?"
Nieve respects Jon's diplomacy and tries to sound as empathetic as possible, "Because you need all the help you can get. You defeated the Freefolk's attack. But you know the bigger threat isn't the Freefolk..."
"...Winter is coming." Jon mutters automatically.
Nieve nods. "Even if you get the Freefolk in your side, you're still outnumbered against the army of the dead and don't have enough of the right weapons to take out the Whites."
"Sounds like information a freefolk would know?" Jon said suspiciously.
"Why would I come to Castle Black offering help to the nights watch if I was a Wildling?" Nieve says, exasperated.
"Because you were caught killing men of the night's watch, and now you're trying to save your skin."
"I'm not the type to beg for mercy." Nieve said more confidently than she felt - she wasn't scared of dying, but she was scared of failing this mission. Of what that might mean for the realm if she couldn't help save them from the Long Night. Ever since Varys had set her the mission, it was becoming something of an obsession to her, like she was meant to do this, like it was destined for her. She knew it sounded ridiculous but she knew as well as Jon did, that whilst the other kingdoms fought ignorantly for the throne, all that would mean nothing if the dead and the night took them all.
"Then who are you?" Jon's voice rings across the hall. There's an intense moment of silence. Nieve knows she's on dangerous ground again. Jon wasn't swept away with her charms anymore. She'd need to give him some answers if he were to spare her
"Ever heard of The Guild of Faceless Men? I was trained as an assassin, and soon I became their best student. Learning secrets comes with the job. Espionage; I know things, more things than you can imagine of what's going on across the Seven Kingdoms and the Narrow Sea. There's no one Westeros that knows more than I know."
"High praise for yourself." Jon's word were mocking but his tone sounds somewhat impressed.
"Why be modest with the truth?" Nieve says with a playful smirk. "But I can help because I know well of your guests in the castle. Lord Stannis... I presume the lady Melisandre is here with him?"
Jon frowned, the girl really does know things. It made him a little nervous.
The silver haired crow pipes up again. "Why is that of your concern?"
Nieve glares at him, she could feel herself losing her patience with this crow. "Because it should be of everyone's concern; she serves the Lord of Light - or the-Lord-of-fucking-lies, should I say. She brings nothing but death and darkness. She is not to be trusted."
Silver crow scoffs, "Funny words from an assassin standing in chains-"
Nieve snaps again, "- and there will be no words from you when I slice your rotten tongue from your fucking mouth!"
"YOU ARE A PRISONER HERE!" Jon's voice bellows over the men beginning to jeer again, "Do not over step this huge privilege of sentencing trial you have!"
The men beside Nieve keeping her bound, tug her arms painfully, she struggles in their grip. Nieve knows she's dangerously close to being taken out into the courtyard and beheaded, but still she rounds on Jon; if there's one thing the Dornish hate - it's chains. Nieve won't have him think her trapped; she wanted Jon to know she had him right where she wanted him. "Set as many chains and men on me as you want. But if you were going to kill me, you'd have done it by now." She assures him with a voice filled with venom.
Jon blinks. The hall is silent for a while.
Jon knew she would be useful to them, but had still didn't trust the girl, "We are the Night's Watch, we do not get involved in the politics of the seven kingdoms."
"What's Stannis still doing here then?" She sighs, tired of this back and forth conversation. "You must know the wars of this realm are crucial to how you protect this wall. You have to stop thinking they're something detached. I know their games: All of them. All the kings, lords, houses - I know their every move. I can use that to help you get the men you need against the coming winter. But if you try to kill me now, then you'll never know the secrets that might just save the realm; the realm that you've vowed to protect."
There is silence in the hall. The men were listening to her now. She could feel them reluctantly admitting to themselves that her help truly could come in handy, but all Nieve cared about was Jon's opinion.
He sits quietly, weighing up her offer. Something about her fascinated him. And not in a healthy way. She was beautiful, intelligent, feisty. His mind wonders back to Arya. Did she really know her? Or was that just a trick for me to spare her life? He decided it was best to continue to question her later, without an audience. He huffed in defeat.
"Take her away." Jon demanded. "Lock her up." He didn't want to have the rest of this conversation in front of his brothers.
.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x
What a hell of a morning. Nieve sighs in relief. How did I nearly fuck up the mission already?! Well, at least Jon is a man of diplomacy. Nieve thinks. She'd managed to talk her way out of death - Tyrion would be proud.
But now she had to win Jon's trust before she told him of his true heritage and his potential purpose as a the Prince that was promised. He wouldn't believe her otherwise. But she couldn't see them braiding each others hair anytime soon. Nope, she'd have to play it slowly...
…And uncomfortably and isolated from a cold dungeon jail. Nieve adds to herself bitterly.
"Shit." She had growled once the crows had left her locked and chained to the stone walls. Varys had trusted her to be diplomatic and in the first ten minutes of arriving at the wall - she'd killed three men already.
She looks around the small cell, my new home for the duration of my stay, she thinks defeatedly. It was dank, smelly, cold with nothing but a chamber pot in the corner and rotting straw for a bed in another. But as she was chained to a wall opposite, so their was no way of accessing these features across the room. She knew she easily get out - dislocate her thumbs, pick the locks with a pin tucked in her hair. But she needed to stay trapped, Jon had to be the one to let her out himself - he had to learn to trust me enough to want to release me.
Nieve was used to a life without wealth and luxury at the guild, giving up all materialistic and personal items was a requirement at the House of Black and White. But she'd never handle solitary confinement too well; gave her too much time to think. Too much time to dream…
She hears a loud clunk at the end of the hallway. The door to her cell was wooden with all but a small barred window. Nieve presumes it's Jon Snow coming to continue with his questioning. But instead a smaller figure had reached the door. A young girl. She was so short all Nieve could see was just eyes and forehead poking up the other side of the window. The girl says nothing for a while, just peers in at Nieve, unsure as to whether she should introduce herself to a criminal or not. The girl finally cleared her throat.
"Who are you?" She says curiously, "You've never been in this cell before."
Nieve smiles sadly."Just been accommodated today."
The girl's eyebrows raise a little."Why? What did you do?"
Nieve was in no mood to put it delicately. "I killed three crows because they attempted to rape me."
The girl gasps.
"Yep." Is all Nieve
"Forgive me for saying but;" the girl says cautiously, "but don't they usually execute killers here?"
"If that were true no one would guard the wall." Nieve laughed snarkily, "but I'm a useful killer; they need to keep me alive."
She could hear the girl's brain ticking away, she seemed the type to enjoy a good riddle.
"You know secrets, don't you?!" The girl says excitedly. But suddenly they's a tone of concern in her voice. "But won't they... interrogate you?"
The girl is smart. Nieve thinks, but all she says is: "Yep."
Nieve sees her eyebrows raise in shock.
"Won't they torture you?"
Nieve laughs again. "They can try."
The girl is silent for a moment. She seemed fascinated by Nieve, she admired her bravery. Nieve was just as curious about this young girl too, she thought it strange a young girl to would be at the wall, wondering the
"What's your name?" Nieve asks.
The girl doesn't hesitate, she smiles and says, "Shireen."
Nieve makes the connection,"…Of House Baratheon?"
She nods.
Nieve never thought Stannis would be dumb enough to bring his daughter to battle, or the wall with rapists and killers.
Nieve grins at the little lady, "Forgive me for saying," she mimics Shireen's words, "but you seem far too intelligent to be Stannis Baratheon's daughter." The girl giggles, "That's what Sir Davos says too."
"Who?" Nieve questions.
"My friend, and my father's hand." She states proudly, "He's better known as the Onion Knight."
Nieve could remember now, Varys had said that Gendry told him that it was the 'Onion Knight' that had helped him escape. Maybe this Sir Davos has other allegiances? She would make a mental note of all those who could help or hinder Jon's chances of protecting the realm from the long night.
Melissandra had claimed Stannis was Azor Ahai - so she was the first name on the hinder list.
"You don't seem very dangerous." Shireen puzzles. "But then I guess sometimes people can be harmless, but they are locked away anyway, by those who are scared of what they don't understand or can't control." Nieve looks impressed by the girl's deduction, "You sound like you're talking from experience…"
Shireen turns her head slowly and Nieve could just about see a scar of greyscale smothered across her head down to her cheek.
Nieve smiles.
"You're a survivor." Nieve says in admiration. "I like survivors."
Shireen smiles back.
Shireen seems about the same age, but was more innocent, yet she reminded Nieve of Arya. Nieve thought for a moment on whether she should tell the girl why she was here. She's Stannis' daughter - she might have information on the red woman's plans with Azor Ahai. Nieve decides to confess.
"Shireen, you seem like a very intelligent girl, and I could really do with the help of an intelligent girl."
Sensing Nieve's serious tone, Shireen straighten's up to pay closer attention.
"The realm's in danger." Nieve continues, "Winter is coming and so is the Long Night. I'm trying to help stop it."
Shireen scowls, "The red woman talks of the long night. I don't believe her. I don't believe a word of what she says, she's a cruel witch."
"That she is." Nieve agrees, "But unfortunately she's right about the Long Night coming. It's happened before, and only the prince that was promised could save us."
"And who's that?" Shireen grabs the bars on the window, fists clutching tightly in curiosity.
Nieve mimics her childlike excitement by kneeling closer towards the door like she was leaning closer for a secret. "Who do you think it could be?"
Shireen shrugs ,"My father maybe?"
"Maybe." Nieve pouts, "but that's what the red woman says - and we don't believe what she says, do we?"
Suddenly, Shireen whips her head, staring down the corridor. "I hear footsteps. Mother hates it when I wonder around the castle on my own. I'd better go. I hope we'll meet again soon."
Nieve smiles, "As do I, Lady Shireen."
And with that, the young girl dashed down the corridor and Nieve was alone, again.
.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x
Jon didn't notice the small figure rounding the corner into the dungeons until it bumped into him.
"Are you okay?" Jon ask the small figure. She looks up at him; it was Princess Shireen.
"Apologies, Princess." Jon stammers in surprise.
"That's okay." She brushes herself off. "Please don't tell my mother I was down here."
"I won't, but you really shouldn't be down here." Jon warns her in concern, "We have a new prisoner, Princess." Shireen giggles, "Yes I know, she's nice."
Jon frowns in worry. "Best you head back to your chambers, Princess."
The girl nods happily, and sprints off along the corridor and back up the stairs. Jon stands in the corridor for a moment, dazed.
She's "nice"? Jon had a bad feeling about a lot of things but this one concerned him the most. But he needed more answers, so he strode around the corner and down the corridor towards the prisoners cell. What confused him the most was the vision he saw - why had he seen her? This prisoner. And what scared him even more was why had he seen any vision at all. Was he a green seer? and if so why hadn't he seen anything until now? He'd had vivid dreams at night - he'd just thought them ordinary dreams - but he'd never dreamt during the day like that…
He'd reached the cell door. He peered in on the young woman, she sat on the floor back leaning against the side wall her furs and face still splattered with dried blood. She seemed to be expecting him but she didn't look at him, instead she stared hard at the wall opposite her, evidently trying to manage her temper.
Jon spoke through the cell door window, "What did you say to her? You shouldn't be associating with the Princess Shireen."
Nieve takes a deep breath, innocently quipping, "I was just getting to know the residents."
Jon says angrily. "You will remain in the dungeons; you may have information but that doesn't mean we have to treat you like an honoured guest. You are a prisoner!"
Nieve was glaring at him, with a look that told him she was ready to slit his throat. And for once something told him he should be worried that she would, by evidence of the three crows she'd attacked. Nieve was defiant, even in captivity. Jon's thoughts wondered to Ygritte. She had hated it too when I called her prisoner.
Jon sighs, and removes the cell key from his belt, Nieve's face softens as he opens the cell door, and enters. She gives him credit for his courage after he's seen what she can do to three men let alone one.
"So," His expression stern but his tone mocking. "Tell me what you know? If the information is worth any value, I might consider letting you go with your life."
Nieve knew they were empty threats. "But you're Lord commander now, Snow. Surely it shows weakness to let a crow-killer live." Nieve mocked back. She knew he needed her, and so she couldn't resist a little teasing. Jon Snow looked like he hadn't had a good smile in years.
"I don't want to kill you. But keep up with that talk; you're making it much easier for me." He vexes.
Guess a smile from the lord commander was harder to crack than the wall itself.
"I can assure you, killing me isn't easy." She smirks.
Jon began to pace slowly around the small cell, "Death threats aren't the only way to get someone to talk." He says Nieve laughs, "Ah torture, that dear old friend. I know you ain't the type Snow. Especially on a woman -"
"- Oh I'm the type." Jon challenges.
"- Nah, you're not, I would know." Nieve sighs, tired of the trifling talk now, "You don't need to pry it out of me anyways. Like I said I'm here to help, you're the one keeping up hostilities Snow."
Her eyes flicker to the hand Jon has subconsciously resting on his sword hilt.
Nieve smiles. "I promise I'll tell you the truth. A little bit of it, everyday, to assure my safety."
Fair enough, Jon thinks reluctantly. "Any information for today?"
Nieve shifts on the floor - her bottom was already feeling stiff and uncomfortable. "What do you wanna know?"
Jon thinks quietly for a moment. He knows he should ask the most important questions first - who she is, what she wants, how she truly knows about secrets of the realm. But his selfish curiosities got the best of him.
"So.. Arya?" he hints guiltily.
Nieve can't help the smile that plays on her lips. Good man. She thinks, we might be able to get along after all.
"She's in Braavos. She trains with the Faceless men too. She's a natural, much better than me when I started out. She told me to tell you that she's safe and that she misses you a lot."
The news does not reassure Jon however, "Does that mean she'll become… like you?"
"Ouch." Nieve feins hurt. "What's that supposed to me?"
"That's not what I meant - I mean -" his smooth talk all gone. "Will she become a killer like you?" Jon felt bad for the way he put it, he hardly was one to talk; he'd done his fair share of killing too. He could tell the girl was thinking this too, but was decent enough not to raise the hypocrisy.
"Arya was a killer long before she joined the guild. She did what she had to do to survive. I know you're proud to have such a strong little sister, you wouldn't have given her Needle otherwise."
Jon considers this - the girl was right. He shouldn't have worried about Arya so much, she was a fighter like him.
Jon sighed. "I hadn't seen or heard from her in years, I thought she might be... but she is a survivor if ever I saw one."
Jon looks at Nieve now sincerely, "Thank you."
Nieve nods in respect, "That information is an extra, because Arya wanted me to let you know she was okay. So, Lord commander; what else do you want to know?" Nieve offers.
Jon's eyes narrowed. She was a mystery, one minute ready to cut his throat, another showing kindness and respect.
"Who are you?" he says It had been the question Nieve had expected but an answer she wasn't quite willing to give up yet. "Guess."
Jon couldn't hold back the small smirk that came from her words. The mystery continues…
He decides to ask another question: "Why you here?"
"To help." Nieve says He scowls,
"You've said that already."
"Then you shouldn't waste questions on answer you already know." Nieve says playfully, innocently fluttering her eyelids.
Jon huffs a sigh, "So is that all the information I get today?"
"Well I would be more inclined to help if you undid these chains…" Nieve says, holding out her hands bound in cuffs.
Jon gave a pause to seem like he was considering it - his hand fiddling with the keys playfully - but then he turns abruptly and strides to the door, "Sam will be down to give you, your supper later." was all he said over his shoulder a smirk clear in his tone.
Nieve rolled her eyes. Okay maybe I prefer it when he isn't trying to be funny. Nieve thinks sulkily.
"Snow?" She calls after him. "There's one thing I will tell you however."
Jon turns to face her, waiting expectantly.
"Stay away from the red woman." Her tone was serious, and he thought he could detect a hint of concern too.
In all honesty he'd been trying the avoid the Red Woman already, something about her felt like bad news. But he questions the girl anyway: "Why?"
Nieve raises an eyebrow in impatience, "You know why."
But Jon wasn't going to let her off that easy. "You're the one with the secrets so you tell me."
"We've had the displeasure of meeting before" Nieve says, "at the gilde she came to try recruit killers for Stannis' war. The gilde refused, she wasn't happy." Nieve remembers the angered expression on the red woman's face when she vowed that R'hllor would punish them for refusing him. "She has a unhealthy interest in Stannis' cause - and her coming to the wall suggests she has an unhealthy interest in your cause too."
Nieves mind flashed back to Gendry and what Varys said the Red Woman had tried to do to him. "She has a history of luring men in like flies to a web, and believe me - it never ends well for the flies."
She hoped her warning was coming across clearly, but Jon was still frowning. Nieve sighs, "She may... Y'know... Try to…" she searched for the right word,
"…tempt you. But you must resist her. Her body and words; they're her weapons." Nieve finishes.
Jon did respond, he just looked at Nieve confused and then walks outs, locking the door with a loud clunk that echoes around the damp cell. Nieve slumps against the wall, hoping he had heed her words.
.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x
"Strange you should let her live." Stannis
"Your grace?" Jon responds, absentmindedly. His thoughts had been on the girl in the dungeons, she was mystery: a game and one that Jon was enjoying playing more than he would like. Stannis had heard of the new prisoner and had summoned the young lord commander for questioning. However, Stannis' questions were pointless - Jon barely had answers for him. But he couldn't deny "the king" so he answered the best he could. He was indebted to Stannis for fending off the Wildlings, but that still didn't mean he enjoyed their little meetings - the ones where Jon would disclose his plans and Stannis would just sit there, judging.
Stannis continues; "You killed one of your own men, Janos was it? But show mercy to the wilding king and spare a murderer. See how your men could question your allegiance?"
Jon tried his best not to grit his teeth, "Forgive me your grace, but the men question my allegiance with you too. They recognise we're not meant to get involved with the kingdoms' politics, and think you and I are plotting. You don't see me attempting to settle their minds by executing you…"
Sir Davos didn't appreciate Jon's tone, "Watch your tongue-"
"-No matter, Sir Davos." Stannis smiles briefly but it doesn't quite reach his eyes, Jon always found that smile unsettling. "The lord commander here has proven wise in past decisions. I should hope he knows how to handle this ferrel woman."
Jon thought of the warning the girl had given him, about the red woman. He sighs, he had to warn Stannis, even if he really didn't want to.
"The girl seemed interested in your grace."
Stannis rests his arms on the table. "In me? Why?"
"Namely in the lady Melisandre," Jon corrects, "she claims they met once before, but I've yet to uncover more information for your grace. However, I can assure you, she won't be a problem. As soon as I know who she is, I'll let you know."
Stannis nods in reasoning, "Very well."
Jon bows his head and excuses himself.
It was late now, so he considers turning in. He strides towards his chambers, thinking all the way about the vision he'd had. He'd dreamt of running through woods and snowy landscapes - much like ghost would do on a hunt - but only at night. It was dark and snowy in the vision - he couldn't stop imagining that that was what the long night would look like - he knew it would be approaching - something in his stark blood always warned him of winter and the cold. But it was a dreadful sight - almost nothing could be seen through this darkness.
Nothing but her.
The girl with the lantern; the girl in the dungeon. She had smiled at him and for a moment he had felt safe - like he wasn't afraid emMaybe she knew of this vision too. emJon thinks. She was there too - maybe he was the only one with this dreams. Jon knew he couldn't tell anyone about this - and definitely couldn't tell her, but he couldn't wait until morning for answers.
No I definitely won't kill her, Jon thinks, she maybe be cruel but she has knowledge that I need.
Arya had trusted her - Jon couldn't trust her but he could learn to work with her. Hells, he'd soon have to convince his men to work side by side with the Wildlings - if he couldn't put his differences aside with this girl how could he hope to do so with the freefolk? She had him compelled in a way he couldn't comprehend. Fierce, mysterious, beauty - he couldn't resist it. Jon suddenly turned back the way he came and headed to the kitchens - he knew he'd find Sam there - preparing to bring food to the prisoner.
Perhaps I should help him out, afterall she's a dangerous woman.
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Nieve felt bored out of her mind. She almost wished a for another vision, just so she would have something to entertain her thoughts for a while. Any thought except the one that she might have ruined her chances of saving the realm from the long night, and that she'd given up her own revenge for her father, for the gallows. The visions didn't work like that though however. She'd thought again of the red woman and the vision she'd told of Arya, she might be able to control the visions - maybe it was possible to make her power a weapon to help her. After all Varys had called it a gift. But so far, the so called gift had only been flashes of confusing and untimely images. She thought of Jon snow at the trial earlier - he had gone pale for a moment, jolted in his seat and she thought he looked like he'd had a vision. She'd dismissed it however - best not to bring it up and start drawing attention to my own powers. But the more she considered it, the more sense it made - she'd read about the first men and the power their blood possessed - this was the same blood that ran through the Starks - it wasn't so ridiculous that Jon might possess these powers too - maybe he had the sight? Maybe he was a warg even? Varys said he had a pet Direwolf, didn't he..?
She heard a knock knock on the prison cell door. She looked at it questioningly - well I'm not gonna open it, she thought blatantly, shaking the chains that had her strapped to the wall. She heard a scuffle at the door but they did not enter so she yelled impatiently:
"Well come in then!"
It was the porky man - one who banged his cup on the table to quiet the rowdy crows. He shuffles in, head bowed awkwardly. He seems intimidated by Nieve, yet he was determined in his
"Hi. I'm Sam. I've er, brought you your supper."
Nieve looks at him gratefully. "Thank you, Sam."
He seems taken aback by her politeness.
"I'm not so rotten all of the time. I hope." Nieve smiled, she held the Northern accent but she was too tired to bother keeping up pretences, and she didn't feel it was necessary with him.
Sam placed the small bowl of cold stew scraps and stale bread and mug of water down on the ground by a couple feet away from her before backing away swiftly to the door again.
"I'm not gonna hurt you." Nieve said to him. "I'm not gonna hurt anyone. Not unless they try hurt me first."
"You hurt those three men you attacked." He says defiantly, with much surprise to Nieve - she didn't think he had the bullocks to talk back.
"They deserved it", she said simply.
"They were my brothers!" He's voice raised a little higher.
"And they deserved it!" Nieve snapped back. In Dorne rapists were castrated or excuted, up north things were so different, Nieve couldn't believe anyone would let such injustices pass.
"What did they do to deserve it?" Sam asked a little hesitantly.
Nieve looked at him in surprise... No one had asked her that yet.
"I came to the gate, claiming I needed sanctuary, they let me in, and escorted me to some chambers that could rest in. they took down the lower floors of the castle and barricaded me in the room with them. Two of them held me bound whilst the other unbuckled his belt…"
Sam remained quiet. Nieve realised he obviously hadn't considered there had been much of a motive when he'd seen the massacred bodies in the room.
Nieve continued. "…I'm just grateful I know how to defend myself. Women without my advanced training wouldn't stand a chance three against one. That, Sam, is why your men deserved it."
"Why didn't you come forward with this at your trial?" Sam said sympathetically.
"No one asked." She scoffs."Some justice, eh?"
Sam remains quite, evidently not wanting to push the prisoner too far. Nieve crawls forwards the retrieve the bowl. She looks down at the cold brown sludge, she tips the bowl slightly. A layer of hard skin on the top stayed set in place, and chucks of stringy meat had been hacked at so much she couldn't recognise what kind of meat it was by sight and if the presentation suggested anything about the taste, she was pretty sure she wouldn't be able to recognise the meat by flavour either.
"I could cook a better meal without a fire and a kitchen, than this shit." She grumbles.
Sam giggles. Don't get too excited, we're trying to feed hundreds every night. The aims on quantity rather than quality." He warns. He was a friendly man, who also seemed lacked a filter when he spoke.
That could come in handy, Nieve's thinks.
"You seem like a nice man, Sam." Nieve compliments; small talk wasn't her strength, she tries to think of what Varys would say; "What made you join the watch?"
Sam looks down shuffling his feet awkward, "My father."
She spots the distain in his voice. "Ah, which lord is he?"
Sam raises his eyebrows in shock, "How do you know he was a lord?"
Nieve shrugs, "I'd recognise noble born anywhere."
"Lord Randall of House Tarly." Sam murmured, ashamedly.
Nieve had heard he was a cruel man. And if he'd sent his son of to the wall - that meant he and Sam must have issues. Gathering information on these crows was proving easier than she expected.
"And what do you do here, Sam?"
"I'm just a steward. I'm mostly in the library. I help Maester Aemon with the ravens."
Nieve couldn't help but respect the man after that - she was an avid reader too - she'd read all the legends; about dragons, the gods, the creatures and beings and the history of the wall and beyond. Her sisters had always thought she was silly for spending most of her time reading fantasy books - but it didn't stop Nieve from also being the best fighter, so they soon grew jealous of her intelligence and skill. It didn't help that Oberyn would treat Nieve like a daughter rather than a ward. Sam seemed like someone who'd experienced the same prejudice.
"So you're the scholar?" She flatters him, "You're too modest Sam. Seems your duties are far more important than just a steward."
"Well - I suppose so." He gave a timid smile.
Nieve began poking at the top lay of her sludge with her spoon.
"You and Jon seem close too..?" She turned the conversation as subtly as she could, but it still sounded forced in her mind.
Sam says more defiantly now,"He's my lord commander. My brother. My best friend."
"Yet you're still in the position of steward?" She knew it was a low blow but she needed to test the strength of his and Jon's relationship.
"He's a good commander - he picks the right man for the job. Not the men he trusts the most necessarily." Sam said Nieve nods, "So he trusts you the most?"
"And I him." Sam states.
Nieve understood now. Jon is almost as cunning as me, she commends. "So that's why he sent you to bring me dinner. He could have sent any steward down here but no he sent his most trusted advisor. He wants you to get more information out of me, doesn't he? Nice try, Sam. But I was also the best student at manipulation-"
"-I was just trying to get to know you-"
"-you were trying to manipulate me and we both know it. In fact," Nieve looks to the door and yells, "I know you're out there listening right now, Snow."
There's a moment of silence but Nieve knows she's right; and as she'd expected Jon steps into the room.
Nieve exhales in frustration, "Look, we made a deal, Snow. Everyday I'll tell you just one secret to secure my safety. I don't trust you as much as you don't trust me. And that's normal; trust is earned."
Jon glared, not appreciating her patronising tone, "Well if you want to earn mine you could start with your name at least..."
She thought for a moment - he was right. If she needed his trust she'd have to be honest about who she was but she thought of Stannis - what if Jon told him who she was - she knew she'd make a good hostage for Stannis if he ever took kings landing, to try win the Martell's cooperation. Not that it would work, her father was dead - he was the only one in Dorne who thought her life valuable, she was not of Martell blood, Prince Dornan would not care. But she'd rather avoid that situation all together so she decided just a first name would do for now. She considered giving him a false name - the way Arya had when they first met, but she remember what she'd told her; trust wouldn't come under false pretences. She could omit the truth maybe but she'd promised Jon that she wouldn't lie to him.
But first she held her hands out - cuffs and chains still keeping her bound. Jon with hesitation steps towards her, crouching down in front of her neither refusing to break eye contact. His hands were rough but his touch is gentle as he takes her cold hands in his and unlocks the bolts in her cuffs. His touch left her skin burning. His hands were cold though too; so she couldn't explain the goosebumps running up her arm at that moment.
"Nieve." She said a little She said a little breathlessly, once the chains were on the floor.
Jon looked irritated that a first name was all he seemed to but getting, but he honestly hadn't expected much more for her. It was a pretty name, it suited her. He clears his throat and gives a firm nod, his voice steady and gruff;
"Nice to meet you, Nieve."
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Thanks guys, please review, favourite and follow. The reviews so far have been really positive so thanks and looking forward to the season finale tonight! And slightly scared - book readers know what I mean… eeek.
See you for Chapter 6 - A Game of Leverage