CHAPTER 18

The Night Watch Commander was leading his men out of the castle towards them. When he approached and recognized his own son, he hurried, smiled and embraced his son.

Jeor said, "My son, it's been so long. You look good. How have you been?" Lyra walked up to Jorah with Crystal following.

Jorah said smiling, "I have been well. Let me introduce you to my beautiful betrothed. She is a very capable, independent and a strong woman as you will find out. I am in love with her and she with me." Jeor looked over at the woman with a full grown lion standing next to her. Jorah put out his arm and she walked up and embraced him, taking down her cowl fur hood.

Lyra looked up at Jeor Mormont and said, "I am pleased to finally meet you, Night Watch Lord Commander Jeor Mormont." She held out her hand. Jeor was impressed by what a really lovely woman she was. His son had found an incredibly beautiful woman to marry.

Jeor took her hand and respectfully kissed the back of it. He responded smiling at her, "It is a pleasure to meet you. You seem to have made my son happy, dear lady."

She said blushing, "He has made me happy also."

Jeor said, "Come children and let's get you all settled and warmed in front of a fire. I bet we have much to discuss." They walked with Jorah's father to the castle. When they entered the West Gate and then the West Practice Yard, the men were all stopping to see the newcomers and then stared at her. It was a bit uncomfortable for Lyra being it was all men and some rapists.

Jeor led them to the left of the gate to a tower that must be for guests of the Night Watch. Jeor led them to a room on the ground level with a large bed, fireplace with plenty of wood and even a large bathtub made of smoothed wood. The room even had a water pump, water bucket, a kettle by the hearth for heating water with a dipper. There was a privy closet and a chest of drawers. Lyra's and Jorah's guards were bringing their belongings into the room for them.

Jeor said, "Get settled in, we will meet for the evening meal in the Dining Hall and then we'll talk afterwards." Jeor left them in the room.

Jorah looked at Lyra as he was starting a fire in the fireplace and said, "What do you think?"

Lyra said honestly, while unpacking, "I think this castle needs serious repairs and I would like a tour of the Wall. I need to go beyond the Wall while we are here. If nothing more, than to resolve my curiosity."

Jorah said throwing on a log in the fire, "That is very dangerous. Are you sure you aren't being reckless in going beyond the Wall?"

Lyra said, "I could use my magic and Crystal and I will go on the journey. We can meet you by the river when you get there after our visit. Come sit down next to me, Jorah. I need to tell you something that you need to know before we can marry." Jorah stood up and looked at her sitting on the bed. He went over and sat down next to her.

Lyra said seriously, "Do you remember I told you I was a seer and that I had magic?" He nodded.

She took his hand and said, "I have been trying to stop two wars that are coming in the year 298 to 305. I have to prevent the first war in order for Westeros to be able to be strong enough to face the second war. The second war is terrifyingly craven and unpreventable. You remember I was locked inside Lord Stark's study for a time in two days after the feast?" He nodded.

She continued, "I was telling him of what's to come and that the second war he needs to prepare for ahead of time and how to do it. Jorah the first war was started and inflamed by some very evil people and I have eliminated sixteen people out of twenty one. There are four more up here now. One is critical to stop."

Jorah was trying to understand that she was getting rid of twenty one people to prevent wars. He asked, "After these people are gone, what then?"

She said, "Then we live after, until I see the things play out. I will make corrections as needed until the Second Long Night War comes. The events can all change from my actions so far. One person that is in the Night Watch will kill your father in a mutiny. Another will kill his successor. There are two I must eliminate beyond the Wall, I must eliminate the one to reduce the numbers of the second war. The other is an evil murder. But first I must consult with someone in the Haunted Forest." Jorah couldn't believe what she was telling him. It was so complicated.

He asked curiously looking in her eyes, "Why are you the one getting involved with it all?"

Lyra asked, caressing his cheek, "I see these future events, nobody else has and I have been guided. Do your people tell night time stories of the Night King, The Long Night and the Army of the Dead?" He nodded yes.

She said seriously looking him straight in the eyes, "Jorah, the Night King is real and so is the army of the dead. They live in The Land Of Always Winter. In the near future they will destroy the Wall and move south, killing all in their path and adding them to their ranks as walking dead. Every living man, woman, child and even animals will die and there will be nothing left until they migrate to Essos and beyond. This is told in scary bedtime stories carried down through the generations from ten thousand years ago when the Wall was created by the Children Of The Forest. I know it's true and I can take you and Crystal with me to prove it to you north of the Wall." He wanted to believe her but the thought of it all being true was terrifying.

Jorah wasn't going to let her leave him behind for this. He needed to see for himself that what she was saying was the truth. She had not told him anything to doubt her yet and he didn't want to start now because she had proven her magic and after what happened to Lynesse Hightower and the bridge. She had been nothing but straightforward with him. He asked, "How can you keep us safe up there? How do we get where we need to be? Will my father be safe once you eliminate the two men?"

She said seriously, "I will use my magic to keep us safe and to get to the places we need to go on this journey through the Wall. I hope your father will be safe after this but if I get another vision, I'll know. I know this is a lot to take in and it sounds unbelievable. I will not lie to you that it's dangerous. When the Second Long Night War occurs, I will be fighting alongside you to protect our people and hopefully our children." Jorah wrapped her in his arms as he pulled her into his lap and held her. He was afraid if she was right, how could they survive a war together and both live?

Lyra said in his ear while rubbing his back, "I will protect us. I will do what must be done, but I will always protect us."

Jorah asked, "Did I live through both wars?"

Lyra tightened her arms around him and said, "No, my love. You were far away during the first one. I am changing the future so you will not die in the second war unloved and alone. I will keep us safe this time." He buried his face in her neck.

He said softly in her ear, "I love you so much Lyra. I wouldn't want to ever be without you now. I must go with you wherever that may be." She lifted his face and kissed him with such love and compassion.

She said softly back, "I couldn't be without you either. You are my heart. We cannot tell just anyone about any of this I have said. It is critical that it must play out so I know what happens next because I have changed many things as I go."

He caressed her face with one hand and said, "I agree that it is wise to be careful. Nobody would believe you and might think you're a witch and try to hurt you, this stopping all you are changing. Jorah adored this woman with her love, generosity, abilities and beauty. He would never be parted from her again.

Lyra said, smiling at him, "Let's go take Crystal to relieve herself, get dinner and talk with your father afterwards." Jorah smiled and stood up with her in his arms, putting her on the floor. Lyra grabbed her spice bag remembering the food wasn't so good here. When she bent over to get the bag she made a very quiet wish that their room was secure from all people while they were not in it. They got on their coats, weapons and put the leash on Crystal.

Once they came back with Crystal, they found the Dining Hall and went up to get food as every man stared at her. They sat down with Jeor at his table up front. Lyra saw their guards eating as she put Crystal's dinner on the plates on the floor by her. A blind old maester was sitting there too. Lyra knew it was Aemon Targaryen.

Jeor said, "Maester Aemon, this is my son, Lord Jorah and his betrothed, Lady Lyra." The old man perked up and smiled blindly. Lyra and Jorah had just tasted their food and it was very bland.

Aemon said, "I am glad to meet you." Lyra reached into her spice bag, pinch a bit of herbs and sprinkled it on her stew and took a bite with her piece of bread. Jorah looked at her and nodded, so she sprinkled some on his food as he stirred it in.

Jorah said, "It's nice to meet you too, Maester Aemon." Lyra reached out and took the old man's hand, patting it. Jorah took a bite of his food and it tasted better now.

She said kindly, "Maester Aemon, it is nice to meet you. I am Lady Lyra Wyldwood from the Wylde's of Rainhouse in Storms End. I am a merchant on my own ship, 'The Wyldwynd.'" Aemon thought the woman had such lovely soft hands with a few calluses. If she was a merchant and had her own ship, she wasn't afraid of working for a living which explained her hands calluses.

Aemon said, "It has been a while since a woman has been to Castle Black. You must be careful here and never be alone, my lady."

Lyra said, smiling at him, "I will. Thank you, Maester Aemon for your advice. It is kind of you to think of my safety." She squeezed his hand a bit. The old man smiled big at the gesture.

Jeor watched her kind behavior and respectful courtesy to the old maester. He could already see she was different from most ladies because she dressed like a man, had weapons and treated people with respect. The lioness was unusual though and nothing like he had ever seen. The cat followed her around, never wandering off. Yes, he would keep watching her.

Jorah asked his father, "Lyra has a way with spices and can make your food taste better if you would like?"

The old maester answered him instead and asked, "Yes, please, may I try it?" Lyra sprinkled her herbs on his food and took his spoon stirring it in well and handed the spoon back to Aemon. Aemon took a bite and smiled saying, "Much, much better." Lyra looked over at Jeor and he nodded. She sprinkled his food. He stirred it in, tasted it and smiled at her.

Jeor said, "While you're here, perhaps, you could do that for us all."

Aemon said, "Here, here."

Lyra laughed and said, "Of course, I will."

~~~~~~~~~~

After dinner and taking the lion to relieve herself, Jeor, Jorah, Crystal and Lyra went to Jeor's office in his rooms in the tower and he started a fire. They all sat down.

Jeor said sitting in his desk chair, "So tell me, Jorah, how was your trip here?"

Jorah said looking at his father, "Uneventful, thankfully."

Jeor said, "I see you came from the west. Most people come to the East Gate."

Lyra said, "We came a different way from the mouth of the Milkwater River. It shortened our time traveling."

Jeor asked, "You found a pass?"

Lyra said, "Yes. We traveled along the Wall." Jorah nodded, not going anywhere into details.

Jeor asked, "Do I need to worry about the lion being here?"

Lyra smiled and said, "No, she won't attack unless I allow it. She is a very well trained lioness."

Jorah said laughing, "Father, you should have seen her lion with Lord Stark's family. It was so very humorous. The cat during a snowball fight would catch them in her mouth and spit them out. She would lay by the fire on her back and the children would gather around her and pet and lay their heads on her. Lyra was so good with the children. Lord and Lady Stark called her family and always welcome in their home especially after she saved one of his daughter's life. I was falling so very much in love watching her play with them and the way she treats her lion. It was remarkable." Jeor was surprised that Lord Stark had become so fond of the woman.

Lyra said smiling, "Those children were so very easy to love and have fun with. My poor lion was spoiled while there."

Jeor asked curiously, "What happened to Lord Stark's daughter?"

Lyra said angrily, "Lord Bolton's ten and four name days old bastard child, Ramsay, tried to push her off the battlements. I thought I heard a noise coming back into the castle and saw her hanging by her fingers as he was peeling them up. I ran to her and climbed over the edge to get her before she fell. The log was cracking but Lord Stark showed up and helped us both over the parapet walls to the battlement walkway in time. It was all in very good timing. The little girl was so frightened. I held her to calm her down."

Jeor said seriously, "I hope he sent them packing?"

Jorah said frowning, "He did. Lyra shoved the little bastard away from his daughter and he broke his leg. Lord Stark gave them a carriage and sent them home to Dredfort immediately before the feast after the maester treated him."

Jeor said looking at them both, "I never liked Roose Bolton. He was always a manipulative person."

Lyra said, nodding her head, "He has strange eyes and dangerous ways about him. He had the nerve to threaten me in front of Lord Stark for breaking his son's leg when I pushed him away. I was glad he left."

Jorah said sighing, "He wanted to pursue Lyra, but I had just asked for her betrothal before Lord Stark."

Jeor said, "Good thing you beat him to it."

Lyra said, "I wouldn't have entertained the thought for a second. I immediately didn't like him at all."

Jorah chuckled and said, "She has better taste in men." She grinned and leaned over and quickly kissed him. Jeor smiled at them because he was happy they were in love. He was glad that his son found a love match after the ten years he was with Glover's daughter. They were not in love or grew to love each other. It was simply a duty to perform for them both. He knew his son would be happier with Lyra and perhaps make some children with her.

Jorah said seriously, "Father there is a large shipment of twenty wagons of food and supplies coming up from White Harbor with guards."

Jeor was very surprised and asked, "Son, how did you pay for it in the island's finances?"

Jorah looked at Lyra with a soft look of affection, "Lyra did it and had thirty wagons going to Deepwood Motte to be picked up by her ship for the island."

Jeor asked stunned, "How can you afford this, my lady?"

Lyra said smiling at him, "I worked hard as a merchant, but the biggest thing that happened was I found a treasure room and a mine in Pentos that I cleaned out. It had 159,620 gold dragons, then 27,881 gold honors, a mass amount of uncut gemstones, gold, silver, platinum and copper ore, dust and nuggets. I had such a mass amount of materials to get out of there. It was incredible. Once I sold it all, I had several million dragons in the bank." Jeor was amazed at the luck of finding something like that.

Jeor cleared his throat and said, "That is unbelievable, You must be the luckiest woman ever. It is very generous of you to send us supplies. How soon will it be coming to the castle?"

Lyra said, "It's been two full weeks so far. I logistically estimate it to be within a month. The guards are paid well so they will do a return trip to White Harbor with the empty wagons."

Jeor said frowning, "The Crown seems to have forgotten us up here on the Wall from time to time."

Lyra said, "Let us know ahead of time and send a list so I can send you more when the need is high. You are to be my good father and we want you to be ok here." Jeor couldn't believe this woman. She was indeed very different from the majority of the women he had ever even heard of.

Jeor said, "Thank you, Lady Lyra. Your generosity will be put to good use."