Game of Thrones Imagines Book Two

The banner "man" - Part 4 - Jory x Reader

"No, no, no! Will you two stops before you kill each other! That's not what I showed you." (Y/n) exclaimed. She and Jory watching the latest two men to try and demonstrate the new techniques that she had been trying to teach the guard, almost eviscerated one another. (Y/n) and the captain rolling their eyes and groaning, as the guards sheepishly left the practice area.

"It's no good, Sebastian. They aren't gonna get it." Jory groaned again, as he made his way over to where (Y/n) had just slumped onto an empty barrel. The bannerman pinching the bridge of her nose, trying to fight back the headache that seemed to be hammering behind her eyes.

"No, they will. They just need a little more time. It has only been a month. I practiced with my father for hours every day for years, before I could even come anywhere close to being as good as he was. You just have to have a little faith, Captain. Let's face it, there have certainly been a lot less injuries this week, than last. So, they must be improving." (Y/n) tried to assure. Not sure whether she was actually trying to convince the captain, or herself.

From the day that she had arrived at Winterfell. From the moment that she had proved herself to the captain. The captain that had just taken a seat by her side. (Y/n) seemed to have been working none stop, to try and teach not only the new recruits, but also the long serving guards, her fighting style. Rodrik deciding that everyone should try and learn some of her father's techniques. (Y/n) even hearing that Ned's oldest son and his ward, were interested in learning how to use twin blades. And the long training hours, the night-time watches, and the fact that she wanted to tear what was left of her hair out, every time Rodrik had asked to see the improvements that the guard had made, only for them to make it look like they had made none. Was beginning to take its toll. And the only thing making the fact that she had to share a barracks that stunk of flatulence, body odour and sweaty feet. A barracks that was full of men that would talk about subjects that had opened up her eyes to a lot of things that she hadn't wanted them opened up to. Was Jory.

Over the past month, the pair had fallen into a kind of comfortable friendship. A friendship that made it feel as though she had known the handsome captain all her life. And she was glad for it. When Rodrik had informed them that she was to help with the training of the men, she had expected the captain to be resentful. To not like the idea that some young "man" had appeared from nowhere, and had all of a sudden been placed into the position in which she found herself now. Yet Jory had done none of that. And, in fact, he had asked her to teach him the techniques, whenever they had a spare moment. The pair often even training into the early hours. (Y/n) more than happy to spend as much time as possible with the handsome captain. But all that had just made her love him more. All that, had made her want to love him more.

He had a way of smiling whenever he thought that no one else could see. A different way that he spoke to her, than he did the others. And the most infectious laugh that she had ever heard when he was under the influence of one or two jugs of ale. But most of all, it was his eyes. They were deep and dark, and housed a maelstrom of emotions. Emotions that most of the time, he kept bottled up. And whenever he sat close to her. Whenever they would talk together, she was finding more and more, that she wanted to lean over and kiss him. To unbottle those emotions. To let them wash over both of them. (Y/n) wishing that she had been able to find another way to become a bannerman, other than pretending that she was a man. But she hadn't, and she was. So, as long as she wanted to remain as part of the household guard, (Y/n) would have to stay that way.

"There is faith, Sebastian, and then there is expecting miracles. Lord Stark appears to be happy with the improvements that the men are making, though I cannot say the same for my uncle. But you are right. A month is nowhere near enough time to learn to fight with two full size blades. To learn to fight as well with ones unfavoured hand, as with ones favoured. Perhaps I should just let you lose on them all again. That might scare them into learning to fight. The Gods know that you scare me." Jory replied, with one of his rare laughs. The captain slapping the young man heartily on the back.

Jory still hadn't figured out what it was about Sebastian, that had been gnawing away at him when they had first met. Yet, after these few long, busy weeks, Jory was no longer worrying about it. The young man was proving to be worth more than his weight in gold. The was strong, loyal, dedicated, and was willing to do anything that Jory, his uncle, or Lord Stark asked of him. He had a way of dealing with the other men. A way of talking to them that they seemed to respond to better than his and his uncle's coarse barks. Sebastian was also a lot more patient than most other man that served under him. The captain putting it down to his own long hours of training. The discipline that he had had to learn, in order to be able to fight as well as he did. Yet whatever made Sebastian that way. Whatever made him so different, was what adhered the young man to him.

Jory would never admit it, not even to himself, but there was something in the way that Sebastian smiled whenever he thought that no one else could see. A different way that he spoke to him, than he did the other men. And the young Sharpe had most infectious laugh that Jory had ever heard when he was under the influence of a jug of ale. But most of all, it was his eyes that caught Jory's attention. They were deep and sparkling, as if they hid some great secret. A secret that Jory was sure that Sebastian wanted to tell. And whenever he sat close to him. Whenever they would talk together, Jory was finding more and more, that he wanted to learn everything he could about the young man. That he would always be happy to have him by his side.

"Ya look awful, by the way." Jory suddenly said. (Y/n) turning to look at him. Chuckling at the captain's comment.

"Thank you so much, sir. But you'd look terrible too, if you were forced to listen to Garvay and Tadd argue over cards until the small hours. If you had to listen to Warne complain about his feet. And Camren whine about being hungry. If I didn't know better, I would say that your men were a bunch of children that had just been dragged from their mother's teat." (Y/n) replied with a chuckling yawn. The young woman glad that it was coming to the end of the day. And despite the fact that she knew she would have to deal with the other men in the barracks, her bed was calling to her. (Y/n) sure that if she could get a good night's sleep, then tomorrow she would have a renewed energy to start this all over again. The young Sharpe now sure she knew how her father must have felt, when he was trying to teach her.

"We should get ya a girl. They would love a boy like you. I know some of the men are going to..............."

"No! I...........I'm fine. I just.........I just need some sleep, sir. If some of the others are going into the villages, I will perhaps take the opportunity to rest. That is if you no longer have need of me." (Y/n) interrupted, as she jumped to her feet. Not wanting the subject of her going to a brothel to be brought up yet again.

Since she had been with the men, she had had to think up every excuse imaginable, to stop from being dragged to see some local girl. The others always informing her, that a lad that was as pretty as she was, would go down well with the women. But for Jory to suggest it, somehow hurt. Made her wonder if he would be going too. And the last thing she wanted to think about, was her captain being in the arms of some woman whose favour he had to pay for. When with just one look. Just one word. She would happily give Jory all that she was, and had.

"Yes.........I.........I'll see ya in the morning, Sebastian." Jory replied. Watching in confusion, as the young bannerman quickly disappeared into the castle.