MASKS [Jon Snow]

TEN • HOME

CHAPTER TEN

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love is composed
of a single soul
inhabiting two bodies

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SHE couldn't stop her mind wandering as she sat beneath the stars that night. She was terrified, yet exhilarated and relived at the same time. She could be killed any moment. Jon could have told anyone or everyone, and they might appear from the shadows with swords and blades ready to spill her guts on the bed of snow beneath her.

Or Jon could have told no one and she was worrying for no reason. For some strange reason, she was relived that he knew. Like a weight had been lifted from her chest and she could breathe again. It was a odd feeling, that she cared what he thought of her, like really cared.

But still Liliana enjoyed the danger of the possibility of death just around the corner, not knowing when it would jump out and consume her.

She was laying on an empty wagon, arms curled up behind her head as she stared blissfully into the night's sky. Scorch sat peacefully on her lap, eyes shut, oblivious to the dangerous world around him. She enjoyed the company of her wolf more than she thought natural. And felt safer with him than no other. The only person who rivalled his top spot was Jon. She felt unspeakably and unexplainably safe with him.

That night, the stars were particularly prominent. Her eyes lingered on her favourite constellation. Her mother had taught her the main constellations she was young, they would lay upon the roof top of their hut and watch the night sky shine down on them.

Her mother, Eveline, had told her of how her maid when she lived in the North used to tell her stories of how the stars were the souls of the deceased, and if you watched carefully you could see them wave.

"Liliana?" Whoever had spoken was on the ground before they could take another breath. She released the knife from his throat as soon as her eyes rested on the raven haired man.

  "You do not speak that name." She hissed as she got up from kneeling on his body.

"Apologies, My Lady." Jon stood up from the floor, brushing off his now snow covered clothes.

"I am no lady." She slid her dagger back into the holder by her waist.

"I really need to learn not to sneak up on you." He watched as she laid back down on the wagon.

"Yes." She didn't take her eyes of the sky. "Did you need something, Commander?"

"No, uh. Well I came to say you shan't worry about getting kicked out. I won't tell a soul."

   "Thank you." She nodded. He leant against the cart as silence filled the air.

"What is it you love so much about the sky?" His gruff voice pierced the quiet.

"I don't feel comfortable disclosing that information." She sat up slightly as he sat on the end of the wagon by her feet. "Well, to you anyway."

"Why just to me? I haven't told anyone your secret." He honestly wanted to know. As he pulled himself properly onto the end of the cart, Scorch rested his head on his leg. "Come on, indulge me." His eyes connected with hers, she sat mesmerised by the soft dark brown colour for a moment before clearing her throat.