The Journey We Face (A Sandor Clegane Fanfic)

The Night's Watch

It was finally the day Nymaria had been dreading since she heard the news. Jon was joining the Night's Watch and there was nothing she could do about it. She had spoken to Jon, trying to convince him Castle Black wasn't everything he thought it was. But, no matter how many times she repeated these stories, he just wouldn't listen. His mind had been set.

"Last chance. You still wanna do this?" Smirking, Jon continued his work, settling the horse. "It's not something I just decided to do. I've wanted this for a long time. And besides, black has always been my color." He chuckled sweetly. "I can't argue with that. But celibate? Forever? Isn't that a crime with this." She pinched his stubble covered cheeks. The hair pricking her fingertips.

He smiled. Looking down at the ground, only for a second before his stare found hers again. He went to say something, but stopped when his uncle had interpreted the two. "Are we all set?" Benjen had looked at Jon. "Unfortunately." Nymaria smiled at Jon. His eyes, she thought, crinkled with bittersweet affection.

Without a hitch, he swung his fur covered arms around her waist and pulled her close into a tight hug. She chuckled, wrapping her arms around his neck. "I'll miss you." Jon whispered against her shoulder. "You think I won't be sneaking in the castle walls every once in awhile to visit?" She joked. Still squeezing his body into hers. She closed her eyes and cherished the moment. He slid his arms from her warmth.

It was than Jon had settled on his horse. Wrapping his hands around the ripped leather of the reins. "See ya soon?" Jon looked down. "Sooner than you think." Nymaria walked over to a stable boy who had handed her the reins of the horse she came to think of her own. "Do I need to ask?" Jon questionably looked at his cousin. "I'm coming with you. It's about time I finally see that cold castle I have heard so much about."

"Coming along as well, Sandor?" Her breath was visible in the crisp air while looking over toward him.

"Someone needs to keep you safe, girl. who better than I?" Nymaria shook her head. "Hey, I've gotten pretty good with that stick. You'd think your bruises would remind you of that."

"Careful now, Little Bird, you are forgetting your own marks." They shared a small smile before they were out of the gates. The Wall awaited them all.

The journey had been going smoothly. Nymaria relished in the time she had left with Jon. She had been lost in conversation with the black haired boy. Spending as much time with him as possible before he would take the black. And the vowels that came with it.

"Do you remember when we were kids, old Nan would tell us all of those scary stories." Nymaria began. Looking forwarded as the horse took it's steps further into the direction. "You would sneak into my room. And hide under the covers with me." Jon finishing the end of Nymaira's intended sentence. She smiled the same old smile. Looking back into her childhood memories. "Then there was the time we got lost in the woods. We had to spend the night laying against some old mossy stump."

"And we got a horrible rash the next morning." Nymaria and Jon had been laughing so hard Jon nearly fell from his horse. if it wasn't for Nymaria grabbing his shoulder, keeping him steady. Things had calmed down and the laughter turned still. The conversation had taken a less then positive turn when the mention of Nymaira's mother surfaced.

She never mentions her. And she didn't like when anyone else mentioned her either. It was a part of her life she didn't want to ever think of again. But still every once and again, her soft beautiful face, sweet caring voice, would seep into her mind. Nymaira unable to help but have tears in her eyes all over again. "Jon." She spoke. Her voice cracking gently. "This trip isn't going to be easy as is. Let's not add to it." He nodded. Instead focusing more on the steering of his horse then he did the sad expression on her face. "Well," he trailed off, "It could be worse, it could be freezing."

Jon smiled sweetly as he looked up at the grey tinted sky while the summer snowflakes fell from the world above. Nymaria shook her head as she chuckled. Wiping a small tear from her cheek. Suddenly, she heard a scream ahead of them. followed by a thud, the sight of someone who fell from their horse to the ground.

Sorry if it sucks. but hopefully with the storyline I'm putting together it will also get better.