Bleeding Ivory l Robb Stark

wolves on the wall

There was no time for a celebration over Jon's victory as word had reached the wall that the Wildlings were coming. Jon along with his brothers sat a s the loom of war could be felt in the air. Sam, riddled with guilt as the thought of Gilly and little Sam's possible death racked his mind.

"Gilly survivded Craster. She survived the long march to the Wall and she survived a White Walker. She might've have gotten out." Edd encouraged a pale faced Sam

"She might have..." he attempted to convince himself

"If they've hit Mole's Town, then we're next." Jon spoke up. He more than anyone understood the true extent of their skills in combat to recognize his concern "Mance's army must be close."

Edd shook his head in discouragement "Hundred men , that's what we have. What's a hundred men compared to a hundred thousand of them?"

"And there's what, five of us?"

"If you're counting Black Jack, Kegs and Mully, a hundred and two." Pyp adds "None seasoned in battle."

"That's not true, what about -" Sam replied to which Grenn scoffed

"Face the truth brother. None of us have fought wars, true wars and what Mance and his wildlings bring is not a fight- they mean war, to have our heads on spikes and burn the fucking wall down!"

an idea came to Edd as he turned to Jon"That's not necessarily true. We have someone who is more than just seasoned in war." They all turned to Jon as the realization hit him of who was being spoken of.

Jon shook his head in disapproval "No, I won't."

"Jon, he may not be a brother but he's the best fighter we have. By how things are we don't stand much chance." Sam replied "Not only that but I've seen him in studies, he knows Castle Black better than us combined."

"He's my brother!" Jon exclaimed defeated "I can not expect him to fight for us when his scars have barely healed. I won't take the risk of losing him again."

Gren took a seat in front of Jon and looked him straight in the eye "Jon, he might be our only hope. I've seen him train, we all have, he is ready."

Bayla sat by the Godswood with Ghost. There were so many times of the day where she simply could not stand to be constantly be under the eyes of men. She never complained but it sometimes felt as though some of the men of the nightswatch were undressing her with their eyes.

The only reason she had the reassurance to even leave her room was because she had Ghost follow her everywhere she went.

Though she was not religious she would sit in the godswood because it had become her only place of solace. Since telling Robb the truth she couldn't help think of Joanna, and though she knew Robb didn't blame her for the red wedding she couldn't help but wonder how she could have done more. If she had managed to save Joanna from Shae...

Shae. Her name only igninating a rage within Bayla. They were all each other had during the war of five kings. Each one of them constantly having to prove their worth during the war- whether on the battle field or like her in the war room.

If not for her spies Joanna had no leverage to plan strategies and command the armies, but not only that but they were friends. Childish as it seemed Joanna and Bayla trusted Shae- not just as allies but as sisters. Being surrounded by men the three of them knew that they could not trust anyone that was not them.

She understood why Shae did not support the marriage between Joanna and Robb, but she would forever hate Shae for betraying them in favour of the Freys and Boltons.

Heavy footsteps in the snow made her turn around as she played with a stick in snow to see Jon take a seat on the boulder next to her. He sighed deeply as Ghost nudged him with his nose, petting his sweet direwolf as he looked to the face in the tree.

"I take it another successful meeting with your brothers?" Bayla teased to which only Jon smirked "Does this have anything to do with the wildlings?"

"I wish I could undo it all." Jon said "Joining the wildlings because now I'm in an impossible situation. And not only that they expect of me to have Robb fight in battle."

"Why is that a bad idea?" Bayla wondered

Jon turned to face her "You're not serious?" He asked "I can't have Robb fight for the nights watch. Not when I couldn't even join him and Theon in marching South for my sisters. And not only that but who is to say he's ready to fight again.

Training is much different than being in battle. What happens when he hears the screams of men as they're killed-" he argued back "I just don't-" he stammered as he could see the pity in Bayla's face "I don't want to lose him again. I can't be the one to put him through the pain of a war again, not when it's not even his to fight."

Bayla placed her hand on his knee as she replied "Jon, I highly doubt that Robb would hold the war against you. Back then , never once did he speak ill of you and I think as king he understood more than anyone why you could not leave Castle Black. You swore an oath and he resepcted that." she truthfully answered

"And not only that, I've seen him train. The two of you best even the Lord Commander. He's your brother, he would fight for you without you even having to ask him."

Jon stayed quiet for a while as he had no choice but to ask "You've seen Robb in battle, with everything that has happened do you think he's ready?"

Bayla slowly nodded her head as in the back of her mind she could still see Joanna and Robb spar with one another

"Robb was not only a strategist but he was one of the best swordsman I've seen. He's quick and agile but also smart. He knew where to strike at his opponents weaknesses. He might now be as good as you remember when you grew up, but I've seen him train." She reminisced 

"He's faster and stronger, I think if he were to fight it would be and advantage to you and the nightswatch." Bayla removed her hand as she realized how close they were, shifting back "He'd fight for you, if you want him to."

"What about you?"

Bayla's heart stilled at his question "W- what about me?"

"I don't want you to get hurt." Her eyes softened at his words as he quickly replied "I mean-" he quickly added "I don't want anyone to die..." Jon stood up to create separation between them as her soft gaze made him feel nervous

"Don't worry about me. I have a way of taking care of myself." She rolled her eyes

"Doesn't mean you have to..." Jon answered as Bayla forced the corners of her lips to turn upward "I don't want nor Robb, my brothers or you to die on my watch Bayla."