Cold Hands

10

Ben waited at the front gate to be let back in and nodded upon his entrance. "Got a hair cut I see?"

"Yeah. No one touches this hair but her."

The young ranger nodded. "Aye. She cut mine just last week."

Benjen smiled and nodded. "Everyone right and ready?"

"Aye. Just waiting on your...hair cut..."

Benjen guffawed and rode in further, as one of the younger brothers trotted up to meet him to take the loosened reins from the older man's hands.

"Nice hair cut."

"Thank you," Benjen replied as he looked toward the wooden elevator. "Is Snow atop the wall?"

"Aye. Mormont posted him up there alone."

"What? No Tarley to keep him awake?"

"No...that fat lug nearly put me to sleep with his endless droning about nothing and everything!"

"Aye. But he's not your friend..."

"No he isn't."

"Might want him in your corner one day..."

"Not likely."

Benjen ascended the wall all too quickly, but he had time to think about his wife and their unborn child...would she name the babe Snow to save his neck or keep its lawful name to keep him or her safe..."Oiy! Jon!"

Jon Snow turned on his heel quickly hearing his uncle's husky voice. "Uncle Benjen!"

They greeted each other with a tight embrace and moved apart quickly as Jon resumed his watch atop the wall. "I love this view during the full moon..."

Jon nodded. "Everything glows blue..."

Benjen nodded. "Oh, your auntie sent these along..." He withdrew a pair of freshly crafted gloves and held them out toward his nephew.

"By the Gods...they're so soft..."

"They're like mine. Fur lined. Keep you plenty warm."

"Thank her for me..."

"You can thank her yourself in a few days time. She's going to teach the lads how to make a decent bread dough in a cold kitchen..."

"Oh...alright then! So, what brings you out tonight?"

"Since you asked..."

Jon frowned. "I heard rumors..."

"A two week mission..."

"Good. I'm ready!"

"You very well might be. But you've not earned the right yet..."

"But Uncle Benjen, I'm better than they are and you know it!"

Benjen nodded. "Aye. You are. But you haven't earned the right to go out there on a long mission yet."

"Aww, come on! I'm ready!"

"No, you're not! You've no idea what's out there! What's waiting for us..."

Jon sneered. "Wildlings..."

"Among other...things..."

"What things?! Whatever it is, I can handle it! Let me prove myself!"

Benjen closed his eyes and he sighed and lowered his head. "Truth is, I don't want you with me..."

Jon breathed in slowly, shocked and hurt by his uncle's words. "You don't think I'm good enough..."

"It's not that at all, Jon."

Jon turned his back toward his uncle and nodded, his eyes scanning the edge of the forest for movement, not realizing that watch during the full moon was the easiest shift to have.

"The truth is..."

"WOT!" Jon turned to face his uncle quickly.

"Izzy is pregnant," he said carefully.

"And it's yours..."

Benjen rolled his eyes and huffed a sigh.

"Of course it's yours. That was a stupid question. You want me to stay for her..."

Benjen cast his gaze toward the tree-line, having seen a doe emerge. He withdrew an arrow from his quiver and nocked his bow. Five seconds later, the doe was lying in the snow dead...the arrow instantly killing it. He turned to face Jon. "I trust no other. We'll talk when I return. Izzy will return within the week. She will have more information if you're interested."

"What do you hope for? A boy or a girl?"

Benjen smiled. "I don't care. As long as it's healthy and she survives the ordeal...She's already starting to show."

"Oh. She hides it well."

Benjen nodded. "Yeah. I only learned of it tonight."

"Is she afraid?"

"For me, yes."

Jon nodded. "I....She could name it Snow you  know..."

Benjen looked up as tears filled his eyes. Then he reached out to embrace his nephew over the irony of his words. He the pulled away and held him at arm's length. "I'll see you in two weeks when I return. We'll talk more then. Alright?"

"Yeah...I reckon so?"

Benjen turned toward the wooden elevator but stopped again. "I'll send men down for the doe."

Jon nodded silently.

"I'm very proud of you, you know...you really are one of the best we've got..."

Jon smiled and nodded. "Thanks Uncle Benjen!"

Jon Snow watched is uncle as he descended and returned to his watch so that the Head Ranger wouldn't see his disappointment.