MASKS [Jon Snow]

FIVE • STARS

CHAPTER FIVE

•••

falling for someone you know you shouldn't
trying to fight the feelings but just couldn't
falling in deeper with each passing day
and trying to hide it in any possible way

•••

LILIANA refused Gilly's offer to help her down the the dining hall later that evening. She had decided she didn't need help, that she would get herself to the hall alone. After all it was the night that the Lord Commander was to be named.

   Once the food had been eaten, Maester Aemon silenced the bustling hall full of men in black. "Does anyone wish to speak for candidates before we cast out tokens for the 998th Lord Commander of the Nights Watch?" His old croaky voice echoed through the hall.

   A balding man stood up from one of the benches, adjusting his belt before starting. "Ser Alliser Thorne is not just a knight, he's a man of true nobility. Who was acting Commander when the Wall came under attack and lead us to victory against the Wildlings."

   A chorus of "Hear, hear." Echoed through the crowd.

   "He's a veteran of a hundred battles, and he been a defender of the watch and this Wall almost all of his life." The man paused for effect. "He's the only true choice."

   The men hooted and yelled in agreement as the man sat back down, as if all competition had been wiped off the board.

   The next man stood up, gesturing to another older man who was sat down. "Ser Denys Mallister joined the Watch as a boy and had served loyally longer than any other ranger. Through ten winters he's served. As commander of the Shadow Tower he kept the Wildlings away. We could do no better."

   Just as before, cups bashed on the tables in appreciation, men hollered and cheered as the man who spoke for Ser Denys sat back down.

   "If there is no one else, then we will begin the voting." Maester Aemon spoke over the racket. "The triangular tokens count for Ser Alliser Thorne. The square tokens for Ser Denys Mallister. Each brother will-"

   "Maester Aemon!" Sam interrupted the Maester and the whole room turned to him.

   "Samwell Tarly. Go on." The Maester acknowledged. Sam looked to Jon, who fiercely shook his head.

   "Sam the Slayer." The bald man from before jeered. "Another Wildling lover, just like his friend, Jon Snow. How's your lady love Slayer?" He sniggered.

   "Her name is Gilly." Sam corrected him. "Brother Slynt knows her quite well. They cowered together in the larder during the battle for the Wall." Laughs and sneers echoed through the room.

   "Lies!" Slynt cried, But the laughter didn't stop.

   Sam continued. "A Wildling girl, a baby and Lord Janos. I found him there after the battle was over in a puddle of his own making."

   The laughter broke out again, filling the whole room with a deep manly echo. Liliana could have sworn she been saw the Maester laugh.

   "Whilst Lord Janos was hiding with the women and the children," Sam tried to hold back his own laughter. "Jon Snow was leading. Ser Alliser fought bravely, it's true. And when he was wounded it was Jon who saved us. He took charge of the Wall's defence. He killed the Magnar of the Thenns. He went North to deal with Mance Rayder, knowing it most certainly meant his own death. Before that he led the mission to avenge Lord Commander Mormont. Mormont himself chose Jon to be his steward. He saw something in Jon and now we've all seen it too. He may be young, but he's the Commander we turned to when the night was darkest."