Chapter 2: Breakfast

Light stabs at Eira's eyelids as she is awoken to shuffling and low murmurs outside. Fool, she had fallen asleep right in the lion's den, this could not happen again, she had to keep alert to survive. These stupid beasts did not believe her about her gifts, thought her weak, a waif that would blow away into the chilled night air if left alone. She'd show them.

A snore broke her inner tangent, the Giant was still knocked out, his face slack, long lashes fanned across his cheeks like hay. Eira snapped her eyes away, there's no reason to think so poetically about such a creature. She exited the tent, clearly some fresh air was needed if she was thinking such silly things. The camp was bustling with hungover, forlorn looking men, tents had been packed away and the now empty wine barrel kicked to the side. A new fire had been lit, where a metal bowl and Wildman sat, scooping its contents into wooden bowls and handing them to the pack. Her stomach panged at the sight. It was worth a shot.

Eira got in line, surprised these beasts were capable of such civility, her father had told her they would fight their own kin for food over the wall.

"Here ya go lass now get that oaf up sharp we've spent too long in these lands". Two wooden bowls were shoved into her hands and aged brown eyes flickered between Eira and the Giant's den. She complied, it was the closest to a thanks she would give them, and headed for the tent where she could hear the Giant moving around.

Still in bed, bleary watery eyes fixed onto Eira as she ducked under the curtains, a dopey smile appeared over the fire of his beard, he must still have been drunk.

"Ahh what a sweet wife you are my…"

"Eira." She snapped and snatched the wooden bowls closer to her chest as a paw sluggishly stretched her way, the smile dropped, the beast confused.

"You get your food, after you answer questions." She needed to know their plan if she had any chance of escape.

"Of course, Eira." The smile was back, Gods she hated drunks.

"First. I am not your wife, I remember no wedding, you kidnapped me. Why did you take me?".

"Things are different amongst the Free Folk compared to you Kneelers, you came to me as if a present from the Gods, I felt drawn to that tavern, drawn to the wine, and now I know why, fate wanted me to go to the wine, and there I found a woman made from it, my wife-"

"I was not made from wine, I hid there and I hid there from YOU." The Giant winced, a paw touching his temple, Eira knew she got her shrill anger from her mother, all of her sisters did and she's sure it was why father had them all married off so young, too many voices like daggers to the brain for one man to survive.

"That's what you think Eira" why did he say her name like that, she hated it, "We clearly have different Gods, mine deals with fate, and yours, according to you, stops you from feeling chilly." Eira could feel the hidden question within his mocking of her God but was not about to take the bait, this was his interrogation and she was the jailer, even if the prisoner in question was some rabbit broth.

"Next question. What will you do with me? I cannot climb The Wall, you must know that. If you intend to fuck then kill me I can make a deal with you. I can give it to you, whatever you want, but please don't kill me." Her voice cracked at the word, shame came over her in a wave but Eira couldn't stop herself from continuing" please don't please don't-" Her words came to a shuddering stop, she didn't mean for that to come out, her cheeks were wet and her eyes blurry. She hadn't meant to barter, to plead and beg. That's exactly what he wanted she bet, the sick fuck. That's why he had her in his tent, she bet he'd already ordered for her to receive food in the morning so she'd feel stronger, like she had a chance.

She couldn't look at him, her tears fell into the bowls, it could probably do with salt anyways, a cynical thought drawled. She could hear movement but was too scared to look up, she'd given in too quickly, predators didn't like prey that lacked the fight to run.

She felt a bowl be taken away from her, then the next, her bare hands were enveloped in the Giant's paws and she could feel his eyes on her, daring her to look up.

"Lass, I'm not going to kill ye'. I won't lie, I will fuck ye' but only when you're really beggin' for it." A chuckle, she didn't understand, he was obviously lying, a cruel thing. Her heart thundered and she could hear herself hyperventilate, it would've been better if he just got it over with than to try and play the good, golden knight. Why was he messing with her like this? Impossibly large arms surrounded her. Her nose brushed against a hard chest covered with leather and fur, the Giant was rocking slowly and shushing her as if she was an overreacting child. "I know you don't believe me, I know your kind don't think well of mine, but I'll be damned if I hurt a pretty thing like you. Now, I can hear my lads clearing up so lets get this shite they've cooked up down us and head home ok?".

With the two bowls in one hand and Eira tucked into his side with the other, they exited the tent, where she was directed to a rock near the fire to sit and eat under the watchful eye of the Giant. In between sips of the cooling broth, Eira tries not to focus on her burning eyes and scarlet cheeks, she was such a baby, she couldn't believe she'd cried in front of the Giant, she should be better than this, stronger, she wasn't a girl anymore. The Giant hadn't left her side, despite drinking up his broth in one gulp. It seemed he wasn't done trying to make nice with her.

"One more question. Please." A defeated whisper, Eira couldn't find the fight she had woken up with, her plans of escape seemed to fade a bit with every nicety she experienced from this pack of Wildmen. The Giant nodded. "What's your name?"

"Tormund. Tormund Giantsbane."

Note: Updated to change Wild man/men to Wildman/men.