Warg Maiden

Edited by xXFallenSakuraXx52

Disclaimer: I do not own Game of Thrones


Chapter 6: The Descent

Imogen's POV

We spent the night on top of the Wall. Everyone was exhausted from the climb, and six people died in our group. Many of us wanted to light a fire and cook some meat, but it would be a risk of exposing us. A villager from the south of the Wall could notice us and report to the Crows. During the night, I warged into Frigg and checked on Skadi.

The black direwolf was safe, not being a casualty of the breakage. She collected the fallen, dug them up from the rubble, dragged them out so she could take them to the fire pits, and cremated their bodies to prevent their resurrection. I was proud of her. She and I were connected; the Three-Eyed Raven taught us how to be linked, making her more intelligent than the average direwolf. She will definitely be getting a tasty treat once I get her through the tunnel.

Knowing she was safe, I tried to get some sleep leaning against a wooden shack on top of the Wall. Sitting next to Orell and Tormund. A waterskin filled with fermented berry juice was passed around to warm the inside before catching some shut eyes.

When morning came, we gathered together to figure out what to do. We looked over the edge on the south side, trying to figure a way down. Orell and I warged into our birds to see if the nearest castles on the Wall had any safe passage down. Unfortunately, the abandoned castles staircases had rotten away or fallen apart. There was one with a mechanical device, a lift; only the mechanism works from the bottom, not the top.

"Is there a way down?" Ygritte asked.

"Yeah, falling," I answered.

Ygritte snorted, knowing I was being sarcastic. We could climb down, though it will be time-consuming and hazardous since if you pull your pickaxe too hard, you could lose balance and fall. So, a plan was set, Tormund and those with more climbing experience would take the rope and create a chain that we could slide down. Only we have to be careful. Thus, there were three links we had to grab before reaching the bottom. Therefore, we ensured our leather gloves were padded so we wouldn't receive any rope burn.

Ygritte, Jon, and I watched Tormund and Orell, along with the other experienced climbers, go down. When it was our turn, it was intense. I took a deep breath and secured the ropes before climbing down. Once we were at the bottom, everyone acquired their things and started to head south.

The objective is to take cover in the forest and head east towards Castle Black.

It's been a while since I saw green that wasn't from a tree. The only place that was similar to this environment was Lunar Haven. Hopefully, we can secure passage for my clan, and the other Free Folk can cross over. The Three-Eyed Raven once stated that the Wall has magical properties preventing White Walkers from crossing it. If we can get the Free Folk south, we can buy ourselves some time to prepare for the Long Night.

.o0o.

Jon's POV

Jon walked with the wildlings toward the south for the nearest forest. It was still a long distance, as the hills and field made it seem like the woods were close but were actually far away. Never had he thought of climbing the Wall. He had the privilege to take the lift up. There was some advantage that delayed their travels. After Imogen and Orell warged into their birds, finding the nearest forts, they were in no condition to climb down. Only it made him cautious around the two Wargs. If he escapes, they will find him. Either he gets rid of the Wargs or finds another way to make his escape. But could he betray Ygritte after what has happened in the cave?

"How far are we?" Ygritte asked.

"About a week, I think," Jon estimated.

"You think?" she asked. "You don't know?"

"When we went to Castle Black, we took the Kingsroad," he explained.

Ygritte scoffed, "You and your roads. Is that how you lot do your fighting?"

She stopped by a pair of boulders, sitting down to adjust her boots, which had become loose. Jon sat down as well, taking a moment to rest. He looked up, seeing Imogen passing them, not minding them. The wolf mask covered her face. He was curious about what Ygritte said the other day. The end of the Great War was written on the Warg's back, let alone the bizarre tale of the Children of the Forest raising the Dire.

"You march down the road banging drums and waving banners?" she continued, removing her gloves to do the fastening of the strings easier.

"Most of the time, yes," he confirmed.

"How do the men holding the banners fight?" she asked.

Jon was impressed that Ygritte knew about banners. He assumed Mance Rayder mentioned them or a crow that was sadly captured before being executed by the wildlings.

"They don't, really," he answered. "It's a great honor to carry your house sigil."

"And the drummers—is that a great honor, too?"

"Usually, it's the young boys banging the drums."

"So what good are they?"

"They help the men march?"

"How?"

"Well, it's – it's the rhythm."

"Oh, you mean right foot, left foot," as she stood up and jokingly marched around the rock. "Right foot, left foot, right foot? Oh. You need help remembering that?"

Jon chuckled, shaking his head.

"When Mance gives the signal, and we hit Castle Black, we won't be banging on drums to let them know we're coming," she said, picking up her pack.

"No," he sighed, standing up. "No, you're just gonna light the biggest fire the North has ever seen to let them know you're coming."

"You know nothing, Jon Snow," Ygritte warned before walking away.

"She's right, you don't," Orell said, coming up behind Jon.

Jon scowled, for he hadn't forgotten what happened on the Wall, how Orell attempted to cut the rope and let them fall to their deaths, leaving Tormund, Imogen, and himself to survive.

"I know you cut me loose on the Wall," Jon growled.

"Cut her loose, too," Orell added, evident as a matter of fact. "Do you see her sulking about it?" he shook his head. "That's because she understands the way things are."

Jon got in Orell's face, "And are you gonna share it with me? The deep wisdom you found inside the head of a bird?"

"People work together when it suits them. They're loyal when it suits them. They love each other when it suits them. And they kill each other when it suits them. She knows that you don't. Which is why you'll never hold onto her." Orell murmured before walking ahead.

Jon stood there, watching him leave.

Orell was, indeed, a threat.

.o0o.

Ygritte's POV

They had made camp. By dawn, everyone woke and started packing their things to continue onward. Ygritte was a bit bitter with Jon Snow after his Crow side was showing and slept next to Imogen. Her best friend made her anger vanish when singing a song many of the Free Folk knew about. One that brought hope to them from a promise made long ago.

Now, it was dawn as the two rolled up their fur mats. Tormund was standing in front of Jon, giving a lesson about the art of lovemaking, which made Jon Snow very uncomfortable but also very amused.

"Most men fuck like dogs," Tormund explained, exaggerating as he mimics fucking with his bedroll while grunting. "No grace, no skill. A few dozen thrusts and done." He tossed the bedroll on the ground. "You need to be patient. Give her time. Your cock shouldn't go near her till she's slick as a baby seal. And then you go inside, but slowly. Don't jam it in like you're spearing a pig." The redhead laughed. "Come on!"

Of course, that didn't stop Tormund Giantsbane from smacking Jon on the back.

"Hey, come on!" Tormund yelled, getting everyone going.

"I wonder who taught him that lesson," Imogen whispered, trying to lighten the mood for her friend.

Ygritte snorted, rolling her eyes as the two got up, securing their packs before following the group. They walked in silence for a bit. When Imogen spotted Orell coming over to them, he gave a silent look to the Warg Maiden, requesting to speak with Ygritte. She nodded, increased her steps, and left the two in private.

"You think he loves you, is that it?" Orell asked. "What did he tell ya? He's gonna make you his lady and live with you in some castle?"

"No, he didn't tell me anything," Ygritte answered. "He barely talks."

"I've seen you two whispering in the night, giggling like a pair of girls," Orell countered.

"What, you're jealous?" she sarcastically asked.

"Of course, I'm jealous," he confessed, not afraid to tell the truth. "You should be with one of your own."

"And you're one of my own? I've never heard a kind of word from your mouth."

Orell grabbed her arm and stopped her. He was serious. They were together for a short time, but she ran off with her clan before they could make it official. Ygritte was a wild free spirit. She was fire, as her hair was kissed by fire. More independent than most spearwives.

"You would if you were mine," he said. "I'd tell you that you're beautiful and fierce and wild. I'd be good to ya."

Ygritte looked down, avoiding his blue eyes.

"You love him?" he asked.

She looked up at him and nodded.

Orell took a deep breath, "'Cause he's pretty? Is that it?"

She gave him a stern look.

"You like his pretty hair and his pretty eyes?" he taunted. "You think pretty is gonna make ya happy?"

"Don't touch me," she warned, pulling her arm away.

"You won't love him so much when you find out what he really is." He promised spitefully before walking ahead.

Ygritte stood there watching Orell leave. She thought Orell was cautious with Jon Snow. But it seemed she wasn't the only one who knew Jon's secret. Ygritte made a mistake about Imogen, forgetting Wargs could hear what was going on when inside an animal. However, Imogen, being a good friend, gave Ygritte a chance to conform Jon to their way of life. Now, it was Orell that seemed to be a problem. She thought Orell had moved on, but it seemed he hadn't. Jealousy and suspicion are not a good combination, and that might get Jon killed.

.o0o.

The following day, Ygritte took Jon to go hunting with her. Usually, she would have taken Imogen, but Ygritte wanted to show off her hunting skills to Jon. So, they scavenged the forest until coming across rocky terrain. There, they spotted a female elk. Considering the elk was too far away, Jon didn't think she would get it. Oh, he was mistaken as she shot the elk right through the eye. Jon literally gulped, not wanting to piss her off.

Ygritte was pleased when they dragged the carcass back to camp. Tormund was excited, as were many who would enjoy tonight's supper instead of dried meats and herbs. Even Imogen as she came over to collect some blood and put it in a small leather skin. Something to put in a stew if they have the time. After the hunt, they continue east on rugged terrain.

The huntress who was kissed by fire was pleased. As she continued to walk, she noticed a building—a long circular tower. She stopped in awe at the architecture, never having seen anything like this before. There were a few houses in the True North, one belonging to Crasters and several in Hardhome. Those were made of wood and bone, not stone.

"Is that a palace?" Ygritte asked aloud.

Jon stopped, came over to her, and saw what it was. He was surprised that Ygritte didn't know what the building was. "It's a windmill," he said.

"Windmill," she repeated in awe. "Who built it? Some king?"

Jon shrugged, "Just the men who used to live here."

"They must have been great builders, stacking stones so high." She murmured.

"Winterfell has towers three times that size," he added.

Ygritte chuckled, using her mocking voice, "I'm Jon Snow, and I'm from Winterfell. My daddy was a fancy lord, and I live in a tower that touched the clouds."

This amused him, "If you're impressed by a windmill, you'd be swooning if you saw the Great Keep at Winterfell."

She stopped and looked at him, never hearing the word swooning before. Occasionally, Mance and Imogen would use words that were not common to the Free Folk. Then again, Mance was raised by the Night's Watch, while the Three-Eyed Raven and Bloodraven educated Imogen. So, Ygritte learned some words, yet it seems new ones keep coming after her.

"What's swooning?" she asked.

"Fainting," Jon explained.

Another new word to her, "What's fainting?"

Jon was again surprised; the Free Folk did not receive the proper education. They relied on common sense. He took a moment to think of a better definition for Ygritte.

"When a girl sees blood and collapses."

"Why would a girl see blood and collapse?" she asked, finding it strange.

"Well…" he paused, trying to explain. ". . . not all girls are like you."

Ygritte scoffed, "Well, girls see more blood than boys. Or do you like girls who swoon, Jon Snow?" she then went into being dramatic, gasping. "Oh, a spider! Save me, Jon Snow." she then twirls, leaning against him. "My dress is made of the purest silk from Tralalalaleeday."

Jon smiled as he leaned down, "I'd like to see you in a silk dress."

Ygritte pulled back, adjusting her bow, "Would ya?"

Jon grabbed the fronts of her fur coat, pulling her close, "So I could tear it off you."

She found this arousing. Usually, she was the dominant one in the relationship, but seeing this side of him was fun and enticing.

"Well, you rip my pretty silk dress. I'll blacken your eye," she playfully threatened.

She smiled, walking away to catch up with the others. Jon soon followed her.

"Maybe one day I'll take you to Winterfell," he said.

She turned around, walking backward, "Or maybe one day I'll take you there. After we've taken our lands back."

She then continues walking forward.

"Ygritte," Jon called out softly with dismay.

The tone caught her attention, and she turned around to face him. She saw the sorrow in his expression.

"You won't win," he said. "I know your people are brave, no one denies that."

"You know nothing—"

"Six times in the last thousand years, a King-beyond-the-Wall has attacked the kingdoms." He interrupted her. "Six times they failed."

"And how do you know that?" she asked with caution.

She knew of the six failures since the stories were passed down. Especially when Imogen returns and tells her about the battles she saw with the Three-Eyed Raven and the ones before since the Andals took over and destroyed the relations of the First Men. True Northmen were trying to come home.

"Everybody in the North knows it," he explained. "We grow up learning it. Where the battles were fought, the names of heroes, who died where. Six times you've invaded, and six times you've failed. The seventh will be the same."

"Mance is different," she argued.

"You don't have the discipline." He disagreed. "You don't have the training. Your army is no army. You don't know how to fight together."

"You don't know that!" she exclaimed, stomping over to him.

"I do," he barked. "I know it. If you attack the Wall, you'll die. All of you."

She scowled, "All of us."

She grabbed him by the shoulders and pinned him to a boulder. Ygritte could see his crow side showing. She wanted Jon to believe in her people. They have the advantage. Imogen has seen the past, pointing out the previous Kings-beyond-the-Wall mistakes, and Mance Rayder knows Castle Black despite his twenty-year absence. They have the advantage of experienced Traitor Crow and a Warg Maiden. Nothing can go wrong, especially in their numbers. What the Free Folk have is desperation for survival. They may not fight in a unique order or are skilled in fancy combat, but they know how to fight.

Ygritte kissed him desperately, taking the breath from him. Jon kissed her back, though he was hesitant. The kiss grew passionate. Once the air was needed, they pulled back to breathe.

"You're mine as I'm yours," she reminded, breathless.

Blue eyes were staring deep into dark orbs.

"And if we die, we die," she whispered. "But first, we'll live."

"Yes, first we'll live," he whispered back.

Ygritte nodded as they returned to kissing.


I know this chapter is short. I promise the next one will be longer.

Thank you all for reading, and please leave a review.

Updated!