Burning Ice

Chapter 2. Jon Snow

His expression changed immediately from curiosity to surprise. It seemed like I had just said that I wanted to see Lord Eddard Stark instead of his bastard son. It was like I had just asked about a ghost. That thought sent an arrow straight to my stomach. He wasn't...dead, was he?

"Jon?" He repeated and I nodded. "Follow me. You! The new one! Take care of the horse!" When he said that, a boy who wouldn't be more than fifteen, ran towards me and took the reins of the horse to take him to the stables.

I have to admit that this situation was making me even more nervous. I didn't know what was going on, I didn't know if Jon was here, I didn't know a thing and I needed to know something. I followed him when he went up some stairs like I was a ghost while I looked around, expecting to see him at any moment.

We didn't have to walk much further. Soon he stopped in front of a door and knocked a couple of times. He gestured me to follow him inside and I did so.

The place was almost dark and it would have been cold if it wasn't because of the fire burning in the corner. The moment I saw the direwolf, white as the snow gathering outside, I knew he was here. Those animals had never left their owners and I had spent too many time around this one not to recognise those eyes that were red as blood. Ghost.

"Jon, someone is looking for you."

I looked away from the wolf the moment I heard his name. It was easy to find him since he was the only person inside this room. He was seated with a letter in front of him. It was him. The same boy I remembered but he was different somehow. His eyes showed maturity, wisdom and pain...a lot of pain. His hair was longer now but as curly as always. He also had more beard and a healing wound next to his right eye. He had stopped being a boy a long time ago. The Wall had made a man out of him.

His eyes were scanning every inch of my face. There were some signs of recognition in them but also confusion. We both had changed. We couldn't deny it. I was thinner, my hair was longer and, just like him, I had stopped being a little innocent girl many time ago.

"Do we know each other?" He finally said.

I had repeated this moment in my head over and over again during my journey and, every single time I did it, he knew who I was immediately and he hugged me strongly. A part of me had considered this option but I didn't really think it was possible. I wish I did. If I had, the disappointed I felt when I heard those words wouldn't have been so big nor painful.

"Yes..." I mumbled. I didn't know what else I could say. I looked at the man who had brought me here, who was now looking at me not only with curiosity but also with suspicion.

"Ed, leave us, please." The guy named Ed left the room, closing the door being him and leaving us alone. "Who are you?" He asked as he got up from the chair he was seated on.

"Don't you remember me?" I asked when I finally was able to speak again.

"Should I?"

He was still the same distrustful and rough boy I knew. I couldn't blame him. Back in Winterfell he may be was Lord Stark's son but he was still the bastard. He wasn't the most loved one in the family, except by the little Arya. And then, here in the Wall, living with murderers and rapists, he couldn't trust too many people. Or that was what I supposed.

"I'm Jeyne." Maybe my name would help him to remember me.

He supported himself against the table, his arms crossed in front of his chest, still looking at me up and down. He was already getting to my nerves. I as well crossed my arms in front of me and looked at him frowning. Eventually, his expression started to change from suspicion to confusion, but soon I started to see small signs of recognition.