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THROWING another piece of wood into the fireplace, Maia watched the flames crackle and spit out random sparks in her direction. She wasn't the best at creating a fire, and was currently struggling as Sam and Jon spoke in the chilly, stone room. Usually, they would've had their conversation in private, but both men knew that they trusted Maia enough now to be fine with her presence. Honestly, she was glad to finally feel welcome in any setting.
"He raised his hands ... and they stood up at once." Jon muttered, staring off into nowhere. "Tens of thousands of them. The biggest army in the world."
Maia looked up from the fire to meet his eyes. He was utterly terrified.
Sam glanced at his hands on the table. "What're you going to do?"
"I'm going to hope they don't learn to climb the Wall." Jon released a fake smile before taking a gulp of the drink in his cup.
"But ... the dragon glass?"
The Lord Commander shook his head. "No one's ever getting that back now. It wouldn't have matter anyway. There must have been a mountain of it."
Maia stood up, dusting off her hands as Sam muttered, "But you killed a White Walker."
"With Longclaw," Jon finished. "Some shattered steel and acted like they were glass, but Longclaw –"
"Isn't Longclaw Valyrian steel?" Maia questioned.
Both heads turned to her. "In fact, it is Valyrian steel. How did you come to find out?" Sam questioned.
"It gets very boring around here sometimes." She replied, taking a seat across from Jon. "I've found that reading all your books is fine entertainment. I think I've read up on Valyrian steel so much I could make my own sword."
He chuckled, looking at Jon. "How many Valyrian steel swords are left in the Seven Kingdoms?"
"Not enough."
Maia rested her hand on Jon's arm, even though Sam sat right beside them, watching it all. He didn't speak a word. Jon sighed, thanking her with only his eyes.
"The first Lord Commander in history to sacrifice the lives of sworn brothers to save the lives of Wildlings," he mumbled, and the two friends didn't know if they were meant to hear. "How does it feel to be friends with the most hated man in Castle Black?"
Maia smiled softly. "We're still here, aren't we?"
"You were friends with me when I first came here." Sam recounted. "And I wasn't winning any elections back then."
Jon raised his cup. "Here's to us then. Long may they sneer."
They both raised their glasses, clinking them together. Maia faked a glass around her hands, touching theirs with her own and causing them to crack a laugh. The Watch brothers took a large gulp.
