End Game// Tormund Giantsbane (3)

3. Unimpressed

''You're not cold, my lady?" Jon asked the red woman as they moved up the lift.

''Never. The Lord's fire lives within me, Jon Snow." She informed him. ''Feel." She grabbed his hand bringing it to her skin. She looked Jon over intrigued. "Are you a virgin?" Jon was taken a back by the question. That was personal and strange but he answered all the same.

''No." Jon informed her confused.

''Good." She answered as the gate opened and she moved to Stannis. ''Your Grace. The bastard of Winterfell." She introduced.

"You know who rules at Winterfell now?" Stannis asked Jon.

"Roose Bolton." Jon answered stiffly.

"Mmm, the traitor who plunged a dagger in Robb Stark's heart. Don't you want to avenge him?" Stannis questioned.

"I want a great many things, Your Grace. But I'm a sworn brother of the Night's Watch now." Jon reminded him.

"I've been talking to your sworn brothers. Many of them love you."

"They're good men." Jon agreed'

"Many don't." he added.  "You were seen taking the body of a wildling girl north of the Wall. Why?"

"It's where she belonged." Jon answered honestly.

"Some of the Night's Watch feel you have too much affection for the wildlings." Stannis remarked, testing Jon.

"They were born on the wrong side of the Wall. That doesn't make them monsters." Jon answered. Stannis looked him over again.

"No matter. I shall take back the North from the thieves who stole it. Tywin Lannister is dead. He can't protect them now, your aunt married him." Stannis reminded Jon.

"She was not loyal to the Lannister's. She is loyal to her family." Jon assured. "She had no part in this, none of this." Stannis looked Jon over debating if Carolina Stark- Cassel- Lannister would be a problem, but as far as Stannis was concerned she was still at the capital.

"I shall mount Roose Bolton's head on a spike. But if I'm to take Winterfell, I need more men." Stannis declared looking around.

"The men of the Night's Watch are sworn to play no part--" Jon began but Stannis cut him off.

"I'm not talking about the damn Night's Watch. I'm talking about the wildlings." Stannis corrected. Jon stared back at him perplexed.

"Your Grace, you want the wildlings to march in your army?" Jon questioned confused.

"If they swear to follow me, I'll pardon them. We'll take Winterfell. Once the North is won, I'll declare them citizens of the realm. I'll give them land to live on." Stannis declared, he was meant to be king, the castle was crumbling and if he had the north he would win back the throne in not time.

"It's a fair offer." Jon remarked.

"More than fair. I'll offer them their lives and their freedom if Mance kneels before me and swears his loyalty." Stannis corrected pompously.

"I don't think that's likely." Jon admitted.

"You admire him, don't you?"

"I respect him." Jon corrected.

"He likes you. Convince him to bend the knee..." Stannis said in a way that was encouraging and threatening at the same time.

"Your Grace." Jon began shaking his head.

"...or he burns." Stannis added. Jon stared back at him.

"How much time do I have?" Jon asked miserably.

"Nightfall."

"The sun drops fast this time of year."

"Hurry, Jon Snow."

+

The wall. Caro stared up at it unimpressed.

''Jon?''  Carolina asked ''Jon snow or crow or whatever. Or Benjen! Is benjen here!'' Caro begged. "BENJEN!" Caro shouted. "JON!"

"Who are you?"

"Carolina stark." She told them proudly.

"Carolina stark?"

"Is Jon here? Im carolina stark."

"Yeah right." 

 "How do you want me to prove that?" Caro spat back.

"Aunt Caro?" Jon questioned

"Jon!" Caro declared as she pushed past.

"Auntie Caro!"

"I told you I was who I said I was." Caro hissed back at the crows as she moved to Jon. "Hi honey."

"Youre here. How are you here?" Jon questioned hugging her tight. "I got your raven"

''Jon! Oh honey you're okay." Carolina coed hugging him tight.

''Hello.'' Tormund waggled his eyebrows at her but carolina ignored him.

''Where are arya and sansa?'' Jon questioned.

"Fuck if I know," carolina muttered holding tight to him, she couldnt believe he was here, alive, okay.

"Come on lets talk inside," jon suggested, but he caught Stannis harsh gaze. Jon didn't care though, his Aunt was here.

''Arya was gone by the time i got back and sansa fled when joffrey was killed.''

''How are you here?'' Jon questioned and carolina refused to let go of him scared she was dreaming.

''I was forced to marry tywin and-''

''Lannister!'' Jon shouted "I know I got your raven, I heard the news but didnt want to believe it then I got your raven, Aunt Caro, how are you here right now?"

''I'm not happy about it either he said it would provide protection and get ned and the girls safe but the union was sealed and ned was dead and arya was gone.'' Carolina whispered ''now tywin is dead.'' right after she was getting used to him and his touch, his embrace and he was sweet to her... Caro shook her head away at the thought. "Tyrion killed him and i wanted to go home but the fucking boltons are there.''

''I know.'' Jon hissed.

''Where is Benjen?''

''I don't know.'' Jon told her softly

''You dont... oh...'' she let out a sad breath.

"Lady Stark." Stannis remarked, Caro turned slightly still not letting go of Jon.

"Lord Stannis." She answered.

"King." The red woman corrected.

"I don't see a crown and I was at the last kings wedding and murder, then I was at the new kings coronation." Caro countered innocently.

"Stannis is the-" The red woman began again but Caro spun back around.

"Are you really okay? You look good, you look strong." Caro remarked touching Jon's cheek.

"I'm... I'm alright, I'm good, I'm okay auntie." Jon assured as she kissed his cheek leaning into him.

"When did you last see Benjen?" Jon shook his head letting out a sigh. "Jon..."

"Day or two after I got to the wall..." Caro stared back at him confused. "Auntie he went on a hunt beyond the wall." Jon whispered. "He didnt come back."

"That was..." Caro tried to keep her breathing calm and steady but her teeth chattered. Her brothers were all gone then. Benjen, Ned, her eldest brother Brandon was long gone and her nieces and nephews were.... she looked to Jon again. "I'm glad you are safe." Caro told him never wanting to let go.