CHAPTER 13

The next few days were filled with going to the smelter and the bank. Ivy had taken in 9,320,155 gold dragons from the smelter. She had Jorah set up an account of 1,100,000 dragons in his name. She warned him that it wouldn't buy his way into Lynesse's arms but a moment. He knew she was right but was astonished to have that much money in the Iron Bank. He thought she was a very generous woman and had been so good to him after giving him a second chance.

Ivy left the ship one night with her cat and did not return until morning. Jorah knew she went to The House Of Black And White to see her mentor.

When she came to the door, one of the leaders led her to a training room and she stood off to the side watching. He was giving out his first task to a new recruit.

When the recruit left the room Jaqen turned around and smiled at Ivy. He said smiling and walking towards her, "How was a girl's trip to the mountains? Did a girl find what she was looking for?"

She smiled at him and said, "A girl was happy and found a treasure. A girl spent a few days with a smelter and then the Iron Bank. A girl missed a man." He walked up to her and kissed her, while wrapping his arms around her.

Later they were laying in each other's arms naked on the bed after a few very vigorous love making sessions in different positions. She had her head on his chest.

Jaqen said curiously, "A girl has admirers. The older big tall man with blonde hair and blue eyes could not take his eyes off of a girl. He seemed jealous when a man kissed a girl in the marketplace."

Ivy sighed and said, "That man is Ser Jorah Mormont, a knight sworn to a girl to manage a girl's ship with her and when a girl has to leave at times. A girl has not even kissed that man."

He said seriously, "This man knows when another man wants to kiss and be more to a girl."

She told him, "The two shadowbinders in Braavos had messages for this girl on the same day. One spoke about three men."

Jaqen was intrigued and asked, "What did the shadowbinders say to a girl?"

She said, sighing while she caressed his chest, "The shadowbinder said there were three men around me. One is ten years older and dedicated to his work and lonely. One is eighteen years older, lost and lonely. One is thirty four years older, driven by his family responsibilities and lonely. The shadowbinder said they were all competing for my whole heart and I will have to decide which one to be with in the end."

He asked curiously, "Has a girl met these three men?"

Ivy nodded and said, "I think so now that I think about it. It's just all confusing because I have my destiny to follow, the most important of paths. I have to follow it."

He rolled over on top of her and asked her, "What is a girl's important path?" She caressed his face and told him about the wars coming. She explained why she was stopping one to prepare for the other. Told him everything about what was coming. Ivy then convinced him that she was telling the truth. She proved it to him by telling him who exactly he really was in full detail, but she promised him she would tell no one about it.

He laid there staring into her eyes and calmly said, "A girl has very strong abilities now with a very important purpose. A man knew a girl had a destiny the moment the man first saw the lovely girl sitting outside in the doorway of The House Of Black And White. A man is always impressed with this girl and knows she will keep him safe, even if a girl chooses another. A girl is respectful and responsible, that is why a man is so attracted to this lovely girl." He caressed her face and she kissed him.

She said softly, "I will always keep your secrets safe, Jaqen. I trust you will always keep mine. You can always trust in me." He smiled and made love to her again.

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When she got back to the ship in the morning, she told the captain to prepare the ship for White Harbor. Jorah followed her to her quarters.

He asked seriously, "Why are we going to White Harbor? You know I am still in exile." Ivy went to her desk in her cabin and handed him a sealed scroll.

He opened it and read it, then read it again. Jorah was speechless because she had got him a pardon from King Robert. He said, stunned, "I don't know what to say. Thank you, Ivy."

She said smiling, "I thought you might need that if I were to go to Winterfell."

She said, sighing, "I had a vision last night that I need to travel to Winterfell now and speak to Lord Eddard Stark. I have to warn him, set him on the path and get him to prepare weapons ahead of time."

Jorah asked flatly, "Where were you last night?" Ivy looked at him wondering where that question came from.

She said, turning to take the leash off of Nicodemus, "I went to The House Of Black And White. Why?"

Jorah said, masking his emotions, "Are you in love with your mentor?"

She said, shrugging, "I am very fond of him as he is with me, but no I don't think we are in love with each other. We are comfortable and trust each other. Why are you so concerned about it, Jorah?" Ivy wondered if Jaqen was right about Jorah.

He said stiffly, "I just don't want you getting hurt and I didn't know where you were." Though he suspected that's where she went. He had to admit he was attracted to her from the start and the more he was around her the more he was drawn to her. He was jealous of the younger man though he wouldn't admit it to himself.

She said stoically, "I won't get hurt and now you know, Jorah. I will need you to coordinate us with wagons and full camping supplies and food for us and twenty guards. I'm paying everyone two months wages ahead of time depending on how long we are gone from White Harbor." He snapped himself into all business now to mask his feelings.

He said stiffly, "I'll see to it." He left her cabin. She knew then, Jaqen was right, that he was attracted to her and a bit jealous. Ivy didn't realize Jorah felt that way because he never let on. But then she supposed it was in his nature to not let on until it's usually too late like he had been destined to do with Daenerys Targaryen. She knew that she did not remind him of his ex-wife like she saw him say to Daenerys in her visions. She figured it must be something else different than being a blonde.

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Nicodemus was seventy pounds at nine months old. He was getting more white stripping from under his belly and up his legs creeping up his body. He looked like an all black baby panther before. He was growing up to be a gorgeous cat with golden eyes. Ivy taught him how to swim and to hunt rabbits in the woods. He was getting good at catching small game to feed himself.

They had been in White Harbor to get prepared and they were headed to Moat Cailin. She and Jorah took Nicodemus out to let him hunt for himself in the woods every evening before dinner. Jorah adored how she was so kind with her animal. Nicodemus was climbing trees and looking down at his mother. She would talk to him as he lay down on branches high up enough to have his foot dangling down spreading his toes from his perch on a big branch. Ivy would giggle, reaching up, touching and caressing his paw. He would then spot a rabbit and the chase was on as he would spring from his perch. He was getting good at pouncing and agility. His muscles were defined and he was a handsome kitty.

Jorah said when Nicodemus ran after a rabbit and kept changing directions on other rabbits, "He is growing up fast. His hunting skills are improving. I think right now he is just playing." Ivy watched him playing chase with the rabbits in the underbrush.

She said laughing, "I think you're right. He's having way too much fun to be serious." Next thing you know, the shadowcat kitten is bringing back a rabbit. They walked back to camp and she cooked dinner in the big pot she had filled with snow to boil water over the fire. Nicodemus was off to the side eating his rabbit.

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One night while camping, Ivy was sitting by the fire next to Jorah relaxing and was being pulled into the flames. She said to Jorah, "I have to leave you now for just a little while."

Jorah asked, puzzled at what she meant, "What do you mean?" He saw her face go blank staring into the fire not even blinking. He just sat there quietly watching over her.

Ivy was looking at the flames and warged or skin changed….

'She was looking through the eyes of a cat when she recognized its paws. It felt so weird everytime when doing this. She walked carefully in the Great Hall. An old man with a red aura was eating at the head table. He was pinching the asses of the woman if they came too close to him. He would cackle laughing when they would jump. Ivy slinked up under the old man's chair.

The one servant woman asked him, "Lord Frey, would you like your bread pudding now?"

He said gruffly and impatiently, "Yes, yes, and hurry up about it!" He was farting constantly in the chair. She cast fire magic through the cat and started the old man's robe hems on fire with flames that didn't go out. She caused a candle on the table to topple over and roll into his lap as she moved away into the other room. The screaming became chaos as the old man kept farting and making the flames flare. Ivy ran out of the Great Hall and warged out of the cat.'

She blinked a few times and wiped her eyes from watering. Jorah asked softly, feeling concerned, "What just happened, Ivy?"

She said quietly, "I warged into a cat and watched Lord Walder Frey catch on fire in his Great Hall at the Crossing." Jorah's eyebrow went up.

He asked confused, "Are you sure?" Ivy looked at him wiping her eyes again and nodded.

She said slyly looking over at him, "It was awful. He kept passing the wind and making it worse." Jorah smirked but looked away stomping on the smile trying to surface. He never liked old man Frey. He was a vicious hateful old man.

It was time for bed. Jorah watched her ritual every night lavishing her affection on her shadowcat and talking to him. She was a very caring woman.

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When they arrived at Winterfell, they entered Winter Town and the guards made camp outside of town for themselves. Jorah got a room next door to Ivy in the inn. They both went downstairs in the common room and got dinner together. They were eating chicken, potatoes with vegetables. Ivy had wine and he had an ale. She got Nicodemus his own chicken dinner on a platter with a bowl of water. She patted him on the head as the people in the room watched the big cat eat his chicken.

He asked her, "I guess we will be hearing the news any day now of what you saw last night?"

Ivy said emotionlessly, "More than likely. I will send one of the guards to Winterfell tomorrow to take a message to Lord Stark."

He said indignantly, "I will take it up there and I will go with you when you go."

She asked concerned, "It won't be a problem for you, will it? Bring your pardon just in case."

Jorah said indifferently, "It shouldn't be but I will not let you be alone here. I am your shield." She reached across the table and smiled, patting his hand. He smiled back at her.

She said kindly, "Alright you take it for me then."

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The next day, Jorah was standing in front of Lord Stark who was looking hard at him standing in front of his desk in his study. Jorah had four guards behind him.

Ned said flatly, "What are you doing here, Jorah? Last I heard about you was that you took your wife, sent your sword to your father and ran off to Essos. You escaped your beheading."

Jorah shuffled from side to side and said, "Now I serve, Mistress Ivy Brightflame, owner of the merchant galley ship 'The Flaming Star'. She is my patron and I have sworn my oath too. She has procured me a pardon from King Robert." Jorah handed Ned the paper. Ned read it and handed it back to him.

Ned said stoically, "It seems she has done something that most would not have."

Jorah nodded and said, "She is a kind and generous woman." Jorah handed him Ivy's message.

Ned read Ivy's message to speak with him. He said indifferently, "So it seems. So, your benefactor wants to meet with me?" Jorah nodded.

Ned asked curiously, "Do you know what it's about?"

Jorah said formally, "She did not say, but I know it is important and I know she wants it to be private."

Ned said authoritatively, "Tell her to join us for the midday meal tomorrow to introduce herself. We can speak in my study afterwards."

Jorah said firmly, "I must tell you that Mistress Ivy has a half grown shadowcat that is always at her side. It is no danger to you or your family. She has the cat very trained and well behaved. She is an unusual woman of many talents and abilities. Mistress Ivy is highly respected by anyone who knows her."

Ned said skeptically, "I guess I'll have to judge for myself." Jorah nodded, turned and left.