Until the Seven Hells Freeze Over

Chapter 9- A New Start

Your POV

You didn't realize how hard the waiting would be. As the seconds ticked by at an excruciatingly slow rate, you realized you would rather be downstairs, facing Timothy yourself, than hiding up here, not knowing what was transpiring down below.

The windows in the Lord Commander's chambers faced the courtyard rather than the front doors of the castle. But even if they did face the front, it was unlikely you'd be able to see Timothy's approach, due to the blustering snow that had turned the outside world into a singular sheet of gray and white.

It occurred to you as you watched the snow fall that the storm may have been too severe for Timothy to travel to the Wall today.

As if Gilly had realized this at the same time as you, she broke the silence. "Maybe he'll wait until the snow lessens before he comes."

You tore your gaze away from the window to look at her. "Perhaps," you replied. "But he's a Northerner. He's used to weather like this."

Gilly left your side and went to sit down on the sofa facing the fire. Little Sam continued to sleep soundly in his basket, blissfully unaware that anything was the matter. She patted the cushion beside her. "Come sit down," she said kindly.

You nodded, crossing your arms over your chest as the cold window sent a chill through you. You took a seat beside her without saying anything, gritting your teeth together out of nerves.

"Were you able to get any sleep?" she asked.

You thought back to how content you felt cuddling with Jon and replied, "Yes, thankfully."

Gilly smiled. "Good. I remember it took ages before I could actually sleep through the night here."

You shifted on the couch to face her, tucking one leg underneath you and resting your arm on the back of the sofa as you asked, "How did you end up here at Castle Black, if you don't mind me asking?"

Gilly looked away and took a long breath. "I'm a Wildling," she said softly. "I was raised with my father, Craster, along with dozens of my sisters. Craster, my father..." She trailed off, looking down at her hands as she searched for the words. "He would...marry his daughters to have children. He kept the daughters to take care of his home and his land, and the sons..." She shook her head, lowering her voice. "The sons didn't stay."

You furrowed your brow, not understanding what she meant by that, but you didn't push. Gilly looked over at you as she continued. "A group of men from the Night's Watch came to stay with us north of the Wall. Samwell and Jon were among them. I was pregnant at the time; Samwell was there when I gave birth. We knew that my son wouldn't survive if I stayed there, so Sam...he ran away with me. We escaped Craster and ended up here at the Wall, where I've been given shelter."

You were speechless for a moment as you took this in. You knew that Gilly's life had been hard, but you never imagined anything like this.

"Gilly, I'm so sorry," you whispered.

She shook her head. "Don't be. I'm one of the lucky ones. I got away, and my son is alive."

You leaned closer to her. "Why didn't the other sons stay there with all of you?"

Gilly's expression darkened. "There are more than just Wildlings north of the wall," she said, her voice low. "And the other creatures that live there.... They demand payment if you expect to survive."

Your mind was spinning with possibilities as to what creatures she meant. You'd heard stories as a child about undead White Walkers who roamed beyond the Wall, with fearsome blue eyes and bodies that refused to be destroyed. But those were merely nightmarish fairytales, or so you thought...