Northern Conqueror

Chapter 36: Night With Wolves

Chapter 36: Night With Wolves

"Sorry I'm late," Jon said as he took his seat at the center of the high table with Sansa, the Starks and Davos to his right and Daenerys and her advisers on his left.

Sansa smiled as she brushed her thumb against a spot at the base of his neck to remove a black smudge. For a moment she'd regretted it, feeling like her mother doting on Bran and Rickon, but Jon's thankful smile reminded her he hadn't dealt with that. If anything he might have felt a bit envious when he saw it when they were younger. She let her thumb brush his jaw affectionately. Thinking back she would realize that was when she'd decided.

Even as he spoke with Daenerys, Sansa found herself smiling when she glanced his way. When one of the maids came around to refill their glasses, she pulled the girl aside and whispered in her ear. When the girl shook her head, Sansa gave her an order and the girl nodded before rushing off.

She noticed early on that Melisandre had finished her meal and went to sit with the Brotherhood, freed from their cells and sat at one of the lower tables on her suggestion. Jon had been amused to find the Hound sat in their cells, but deferred to Sansa's trust of him and released the men once they vowed to aid them in the war against the Night King.

Sansa noticed Thoros kept looking to Jon as if he expected him to burst into flame and reveal he was the Lord of Light himself. Instead Jon smiled and nodded at one of Tyrion's comments and Thoros returned to his conversation with Melisandre.

After the maid returned and gave her a nod Sansa noticed Jon's plate was empty and his mug was nearly drained. Placing a hand on his forearm to draw his attention, she leaned closer to ask quietly, "Do you have plans with Daenerys tonight?"

He looked surprised and wary of how he should answer. "Not yet," he decided was safest.

"Come to my solar," she said rising from her seat.

Jon watched her move to Daenerys' side, leaning close to whisper to her. Daenerys seemed surprised until she heard Sansa say, "Forgive me, Daenerys, but Jon and I won't be meeting in his solar tonight."

Daenerys turned to meet Sansa's azure eyes and her confusion shifted to amusement. A knowing, teasing smile played on her lips as she nodded and whispered in return, "Good luck."

Sansa's cheeked reddened as she nodded and departed the hall for her room.

It wasn't very long before the door opened and Jon found Sansa stood beside a large bronze tub full of steaming water. She'd tied her hair back, biting her bottom lip as she looked to Jon in the doorway.

"I thought you could use a bath after a day in the forge."

Jon looked from her to the bath about a dozen times in a few seconds before closing the door. Still wary, he put on a smile. "Hopefully this isn't some kind of way to tell me I should have had one before supper. I washed what I could."

Sansa quickly shook her head. "No! You-It's fine. It was fine."

Jon nodded, walking over and looking from the water to her. "Are you..."

Sansa took a breath and nodded. "I'll help you."

His eyes met hers and seeing she was sure he gave a nod while removing his cloak. He turned away, setting his cloak on a chair near her hearth, smiling when he noticed a small pile of his folded clothes laying on the table, stolen from one of his chests so he wouldn't need to change into the same dirty clothes.

At first she'd averted her eyes, as if she hadn't seen him nude multiple times. With a shake of her head she turned and watched him unlace his breeches, flashing her a sheepish smile as he kicked them off slightly before putting them on the chair. When he turned to her she offered a small smile, glancing at the large scar at the center of his chest while he stepped into the tub.