Cold Hands

7

The following morning, the Stark men readied their horses and said their farewells to their families. Izzy saddled up her horse herself, and watched as Ned and Jon said their farewells. Soon, they were riding along the King's road with the King's Guard a head of them. Ned wanted to ride with his family and promised that he would ride ahead at the fork in the road where the two parties would separate.

"I need you two to do me a favor," Ned said.

"And what's that," Benjen replied.

"Look after Cat and the boys."

"I'll do what I can, of course," Benjen replied.

"I'll look after them, when he cannot," Izzy promised.

Ned smiled and shook his head, then he sighed. "Would be better if you moved back to Winterfell, especially since Bran's accident...Damn it, I hate leaving them..."

"Then don't go," Benjen said.

"I've given my word, Ben."

Benjen shrugged his shoulders. "As you say."

All too soon, the fork was upon them and as the King's Guard kept the convoy moving, Ned stopped his horse to have a few moments alone with Jon.

"You do what they tell you..."

"I will, father."

"Won't be easy, but it's a great honor to serve in the Night's Watch..."

Jon nodded. "I know. I'm proud that they'll have me!"

"You could stay, you know? I'd rather that you did..."

Jon shook his head slowly. "Lady Stark..."

Ned chewed on the inside of his mouth and nodded. "Yeah," he whispered finally. "Well, for thousands of years, the Starks have strengthened the Night's Watch..."

"Yes father."

"Look Jon...you might not have my name, but you have my blood. You'll always be my son...and I'm so proud of you taking this step toward manhood..."

Jon's face tightened up as he tried to smile, nodding his head.

"When I get back, we'll talk about her. Your mother...Alright?"

Jon nodded. "Yes father..."

Ned pointed toward his brother. "Better get a move on...Ben's actually stopped!"

Jon looked to see his uncle and his aunt as well as the rest of the riders waiting for him. "Well, I reckon this is farewell then?"

"I recon it is. You take care. Listen hard and work harder...When I return, you'll be a fully fledged brother of the Night's Watch!"

Jon smiled and nodded as he turned his horse and trotted away toward his uncle. He looked up to see Izzy waving good bye at Ned and he turned in the saddle, halting his horse to see his father's arm lowering. Then he turned his horse in the other direction and galloped hard toward the convoy.

_____

Night fell as they rode closer to the wall. They had to deviate to pick up new recruits along the way. The new men, made Izzy a little nervous and Jon, Benjen and Tyrion made it a point to stay close to her. "Get some sleep. We leave at first light," Benjen announced.

Benjen kept watch over the travelers, but especially, his Izzy as she slept uneasily between her horse's legs at it's belly. Tyrion continued to read the book that Izzy had gifted him with all throughout the night, also keeping an eye on his aunt...and Jon remained awake as well, too excited to sleep.

In the morning, they packed up their makeshift camp and headed in the direction of the Wall. They rode through tiny villages of mostly farmers and their families. Soon, climbing up an incline, it finally came into view and filled the landscape as far as the eye could see. There was nothing else around it except the occasional tree and the snow that was covering the landscape was blinding.

"I knew it was big, but..." Tyrion whispered, completely mesmerized.

"You get used to it," Izzy told him. "I don't even see it anymore."

"How can you not see that!"

She shrugged her shoulders.

"Don't let her fool you," Benjen said. "First time she saw it, her reaction was the same," he chuckled.

Izzy sneered and rolled her eyes.

Soon, they heard one horn blast and were before the wooden gates of Castle Black before they knew it. Izzy rode through the gates with them and dismounted her horse. As she climbed the stairs toward her uncle's office, a new recruit that had ridden in with them whistled in her direction. She stopped mid track and turned to face him. "You're new," she said. "So you don't know the rules yet..."

"Aye!"

She smiled and nodded. "Hmm..."

"Hey lads! I think she likes me!"

Everyone stood completely still and watched as the Head Ranger approached him stealthily from behind, and swiped his feet out from under him. "That woman is off limits, recruit," Benjen said as he continued toward the mess hall.

Once in the mess, Jon and Tyrion took their seats on one of the bench seats, while the other men did the same. Benjen took his place at the head table and Izzy led the Maester to his chair. "Soon, there will be a recruit to do this," he joked. "And you can go back home..."

"I don't mind," Izzy stated quietly. "And you know it..."

Maester Aemon smiled and nodded. "How was your visit?"

"It was lovely," she replied, pouring a cup of wine and placing it in his waiting hands.

"Yay! Lady Izzy's back! Now the food will be palatable again!"

She looked up and stared at the young ranger as she shook her head. "Now you know, the men have all the recipes...I think they muck them up on purpose!"

"Probably do," Aemon mused.

"Well, it's business as usual, Maester Aemon. I'll work with the new recruits and then go back home." She continued to fill the cups for the men sitting at the high table not missing a beat, keenly aware that the eyes of the new recruits were on her.

Lord Commander Mormont tapped on his cup and rose to his feet. "Brothers! I would ask that you welcome the new recruits with open arms and teach them well!"

"We've a rather motley crew this time...a nobleman and five criminals..." Brother Thorne muttered. "Who's the pretty one?"

"My nephew," Benjen replied quietly.

"The Bastard of Winterfell....Well, just so he doesn't think he's going to get special treatment just because..."

"He doesn't," Benjen replied, cutting him off. "But I do expect you to be fair to him, Thorne."

"Oh no worries there, Stark...There is one more highborn arriving tomorrow."

Benjen nodded as his eyes wandered around the room finally settling on his nephew as the boy hungrily ate his soup, washing it down with the ale that was provided with a grimace.

Jon's eyes looked toward his cup and then up at his uncle.

Benjen replied silently with an apologetic smile.