MASKS [Jon Snow]

EIGHTEEN • GILLYFLOWER

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

•••

i never fully realised
what it meant to hurt
to truly hurt
until i wanted you
to such a great extent
only to have no other choice
but to convince myself
that i didn't

•••

   WHEN she awoke she could tell Jon wasn't beside her anymore. Her arm lay across the cold empty side of the bed, where he was as she drifted off.

Liliana sat up suddenly, her wound twisting with pain. She winced as she swung her legs over the bed and onto the floor, struggling to her feet. She was still in her clothes that she had worn in Hardhome, blood soaked and dirty. A bark came from the wolf who was sat in the chair beside the bed, as he noticed her sitting up.

"Scorch." She smiled and he barked again, running into her arms, he began to lick her face. "Come on boy." She got to her feet and headed for the door.

Knowing where she wanted to go she ambled down the corridor and towards the library using Scorch to help her walk. She had to see Gilly. The halls were empty as she passed, Liliana guessed they were most likely eating dinner.

"Gilly?" She pushed open the library door, peering round the corner. At the table sat Sam and Jon, who looked deep in conversation. The two men looked towards the noise, Sam smiling as he saw the girl but Jon just frowned.

   As soon as her eyes met the handsome man's face she was sorely reminded of their moment the night before. And desperately wished she could return to it.

"What are you doing out of bed?" Jon's eye brows crumpled, rising from his seat to help Liliana.

"I was bored." She huffed pushing away his hands, fearful she might not be able to let go of him if he grabbed her. "I don't need your help." She stepped away from Jon and sat at the table by herself, Scorch settling by her feet.

"We need to talk about the bone men. How are we going to fight them?" She moved straight to the point.

"Who?" Sam asked, looking to Jon as he sat down opposite her. "I don't understand."

"The hundreds of thousands of men who just died and are now part of the army of the dead. I know about the walker raising all the dead Wildlings." She leaned forward on the table, wincing as she stretched her wound.

"You were out as we left Hardhome, how do you know about that?" Jon questioned as he too leant forward.

She sighed, closing her eyes briefly in annoyance. "You still don't believe me about the dreams, do you?"

"You saw it happen." He stated. "I don't understand, it's impossible." He shook his head.

Frustratedly she stood from her seat, Scorch sat up too, attentive to what she did, grabbing Jon's hand she went for the door. "Follow me." It was a brief walk from the library to her chambers and one they did in silence. Jon daren't ask where they were going, he could see she was tense and didn't want to anger her further.

As they rounded the corner to the door way she stopped, letting him walk ahead she gestured for him to walk in first.

Uncertainly he slowly pushed open the door and stepped in, his eyes immediately going to the walls. She followed.