The Wars to Come - J.S.

2 - NEW RECRUITS

— castle black —

"Come on, then," Aurora mutters at the man standing across from her, ready to spar. He grins back at her with confidence. The training master stands a few feet away with a knowing smirk on his face as he watches her. She had only been walking by with her sword on her belt as usual when the man had scoffed and made a snide remark. She had in turn offered him a chance to try to beat her. 

There are a few types of men that Aurora ends up offering to spar with. The first is the kind that scoff and pull out their swords thinking they'll have a laugh. Some men will walk away immediately. Others will genuinely give her a chance, though those are the smallest group. 

He had been one of the ones that scoffed at the sight of her. 

He lunges and Aurora blocks his blow quickly and throws him off balance, swinging back and catching the man by surprise. He stumbles backwards when her sparring sword hits his chest. He rallies quickly and swings again and again but each time, Aurora blocks him. She soon has her sword at his neck and he drops his own to the ground, along with his jaw.

She breathes heavily and smiles. "That all you got?" He nods furiously and backs away to join the circle surrounding the two of them. 

Rory looks up at the men surrounding her, "Anyone else?" 

"I'll have a go," a black haired boy about her age steps forward. 

Aurora smiles at him and they get into position. 

She lunges first this time and he parries her attack perfectly. They clash swords for a while until the boy finally leaves a spot open and she knocks him down. He is quick to get up again though and immediately begins fighting again.

No one Aurora has ever fought has fought as well as this boy. He isn't scared of hurting her like the others. 

He prevails this time after their continuous parrying and for the first time all day, Aurora Mormont is knocked to the ground and has a sword at her throat. 

She lays on the ground for a moment glaring up at him, he looks scared for a moment until her facade breaks and she begins laughing. He helps her up and she shakes his hand.

"Well done. What's your name?"

"Jon Snow."

"Nice to meet you Jon Snow, I'm Aurora Mormont. 

—

Later that day, Aurora sits at a table in the dining hall next to Jon, Sam , Grenn, and Pyp. They laugh about the fact that Jon beat Aurora after she had beaten every other recruit that had tried. 

Aurora isn't used to being bested by the untrained recruits of the Night's Watch. But Jon Snow was something else. He was different and she knew it the moment she laid eyes on him.

"So Rory, if you don't mind me asking, what is a woman doing at the wall?" Jon asks after their laughter from previous jokes has died down.

Her lips twitch upwards when he uses her nickname. "My father found me outside Castle Black when I was a baby and took me in." she explains, taking a sip of ale.

The men grow silent after she answers, in fear of now saying something that may upset her. She rolls her eyes and punches Grenn in the arm. "C'mon, I'm not going to burst into tears now, boys."

They chuckle lightly at her response and the conversation resumes. She gets to know all about the four men who have just come to Castle Black and hears all their stories and reasons for taking the black.

In return, the blue eyed girl shares stories about her life at Castle Black.

Great friendships are formed at the dinner table that night. Ones that will last a lifetime. 

—

A/N: Okay I know the first few chapters here are short but they will get longer soon, this is basically just getting through the introduction of characters etc.