MASKS [Jon Snow]

NINETEEN • COMMANDER'S LITTLE SECRET

CHAPTER NINETEEN

•••

she buried her face in his shoul-
der as he held her. all that she
could think was that she needed
him. she needed his arms
around her, needed him to hold
her and whisper that they'd find
a way to be together.

•••

   SHE watched with curious eyes as the Lord Commander stepped from the lift with Ser Davos in tow. He was in a heated discussion, one that Jon wasn't pleased with, she could tell. His features were scrunched up in annoyance and irritation. Liliana couldn't hear what the men were saying from where she sat but she could see that Ser Davos was pleading.

   Jon was clearly trying to walk away from Ser Davos, quite unsuccessfully, she noted. He was following Jon, pestering him to give in to what ever Ser Davos was offering. But it wasn't working. Jon halted his brisk walk before the stairs to the courtyard and turned to Davos. He stopped abruptly behind Jon, certainly not expecting him to stop so soon as he almost went tumbling into the Commander.

   "Open the gates!" A man yelled, the noise vibrating through the walls, he was just outside the infirmary room that Liliana was staying in, she had been watching the days pass through the tiny window provided. It wasn't much but if she were to be on bed rest then it was better to be with a book in hand and a window to look out through. It was rather peaceful actually, Liliana reckoned, Scorch's head was rested in her lap, as she stroked his ears. It wasn't as good as where she could be, amidst a fight or trekking beyond the Wall, but it would do for now.

   Both Ser Davos and Jon turned as the great wooden door heaved open. A single rider trotted in, the red cloak and red hair immediately indicating who it was. Her face was solemn and grave as she hopped of her horse. Liliana suspected that Stannis' army had lost and the battle was a bust. The two men were already by Lady Melisandre, she didn't speak a word yet somehow her silence spoke for her, and their faces soon matched hers.

   Davos strode in front of her, blocking her path. Liliana still couldn't hear but she did catch one word by watching what Davos was mouthing. And that one word stilled her.

   Shireen.

   Nothing good could have come of it. Davos' face was shocked and full of grief as Melisandre didn't speak. What had happened to Shireen? No chance, she would not accept that the spirited girl she had grown to love was dead. No bloody chance. The red woman walked off leaving the two men stood speechless.

   In sudden stress she leaped from her chair, as best she could in her condition, and was out the door in seconds, Scorch on her heels.

   The men of the Watch stared at her, eyes either hateful or hungry or both. Despite wondering why the men suddenly had taken interest in her she didn't scare though, she was determined to find out what happened. As she reached were they were, Jon was already leaving but she managed to catch Ser Davos.

   "Ser Davos." She spoke and his head snapped to hers. "What of the princess?" She asked and he just stared back.

   "I saw you, you said Shireen. What happened to her, please tell me she's okay." She pleaded. His eyes bore into hers as he shook his head.

    "No." Liliana refused to believe it. "Stop." Tears brimmed her eyes. And that was it, she ran back to the room she was staying in and broke into tears.