The Children of Spring

Galladon II - The Cave

After making sure all the other young men were asleep or distracted, Galladon went out of their tent and met Jenny in the place they had agreed before. Sometimes, he wondered if they would ever be able to meet without being hiding somewhere or in secret. At least, today there's no one that can catch us, Galladon thought.
They had all agreed not to talk about what they had heard, however Galladon and Jenny had to talk or they would go mad, the younger were still a little bit oblivious of some of the consequences of everything they had heard, still they were not and, once they were going to a private place, they could as well talk about it.
When he got to her, she took his hand and led him to a place that he did not know.
"Where are we going?" Galladon whispered.
"I saw a cave earlier." Jenny whispered back. Today, we won't need to worry about who might find out, so let's make it count, Jenny thought.
"You saw a cave?" Galladon asked surprised, in a tone of voice more loud than he wished for.
"Keep your voice down or we'll draw attentions to ourselves." Jenny said in a low tone of voice.
"I'm sorry. I was just not waiting for you to say something like 'I saw a cave'." Galladon whispered and Jenny chuckled as they arrived at the spot. It was a vulcanic cave with a pond inside, the water was warm and it had a small waterfall. Surprisingly, it was neither too dark, for it had smooth, high walls that did not overshadow the torches' light and warm. Once inside, Galladon said,
"Well, this is really a cave."
"See, I told you." Jenny said smiling.
"How did you see it, really?"
"We're passing by and I was checking the area."
"You have to do that more often, Jen." Galladon said smiling and Jenny smiled. Then she went to him and kissed him. After the kiss, he looked at her and smiled.
"After everything that we heard today, how did I find a cave it's your question?" Jenny teased.
"Well, it's a very good damn question." Galladon said.
"Is it?" Jenny said and he kissed her.
"Do you want to talk about what we heard?" Galladon asked after the kiss.
"Not yet." Jenny said smiling and she kissed him.
"You're trying to tease me, are you?" He said smiling.
"What if I am? What are you going to do about that? Trow me into the water?" Jenny teased and he looked at the pond and then at her smiling.
"I was kidding, Gal. Don't you dare." Jenny said with a giggle.
"You suggested it. What's going on with you today?" Galladon asked surprised, normally they would be worried all the time if someone would show up and they would be caught, still, that day it seemed that it was only him that was worried and Jenny, who would normally freak out about it, was not even concerned. Well, I'm not complaining about it, am I?, Galladon thought.
"It's the North's effect." Jenny said.
"Then we're never leaving." Galladon said and then he kissed her and she kissed him back, in a few moments, they were indeed inside of the pond, which prooved to be formed by a warm steam. They felt free, even after everything that they had found out that day, the fact that they could be at ease to kiss each other, to be with each other, without being worried about who saw them or who might get in the room. In that place, there were just the two of them, for a moment, they were just the two people who mattered in the world, for a brief moment, nothing else mattered, only them. They had grew up together, had become best friends since childhood and none of them had ever known other love but the one that they felt for each other.
Passion ran free that night and, for the first time they were with each other, body inside body, soul united with soul. As they came together, Jenny whispered in his ear she would stay with him there forever, he hugged her and replied he would never let her go. They stayed there for a while, enjoying each others company in silence and bliss.
At lenght, he broke the spell.
"What have we just found out, Jen?" Galladon asked seriously.
"I don't know from where to start." Jenny said seriously too, knowing they had to have that conversation and it was getting very late.
"Uncle Jon came back to life. That's not normal, right?" Galladon asked.
"Yeah, it wasn't supposed to be. Uncle Jon and uncle Sam were in the Night's Watch." Jenny said.
"And they managed to break every one of their vows." Galladon said with a chuckle.
"The times weren't exactly ideal for that, at least, for what Tormund said." Jenny said with a giggle.
"They fought death. Not just the walkers, they fought dead things." Galladon said.
"That's not what scares me the most, you know." Jenny said.
"No? Then what is it?" Galladon asked confused.
"They were ready to die. They thought they would die. But they never gave up." Jenny said seriously.
"They had something to live for. That's why they were heroes. I think that they knew that if they couldn't stop them there, then the world was doomed." Galladon said.
"What is worst for me is that after all of that, they still had another battle to fight. At least, in Winterfell they had the Free Folk to help them, they were all together." Jenny said.
"How do you think they won the last war?" Galladon asked.
"With love, maybe." Jenny said and he chuckled.
"I'm serious. Think about it. Me and you were born in that year. There were two Queens in that year. Our parents married in that year, at least, I still think my parents married that year." Jenny explained.
"I see your point. Maybe you're right." Galladon said.
"You'd think that the strangest thing you've ever heard was that your parents married three times, but no, it isn't even close." Jenny said with a chuckled.
"So we're really going to talk about it?" Galladon said.
"Can you not do so? Because, I can't." Jenny said.
"Yeah, you're right, I can't. What the Seven fucking Hells?!" Galladon said.
"You bet. They were crazy." Jenny said.
"I can't believe my father... did... that. And I was worried?" Galladon said.
"Remember when they caught us, you said, 'We don't get to choose who we love'. That's why they started to laugh." Jenny realized.
"So we're the only ones that don't know." Galladon deduced.
"I think so, love. Besides, Tormund said that it was the worst kept secret in Westeros." Jenny said.
"Do you think my mother knew about my father and his sister, before they married?" Galladon asked. I hope she did, Galladon thought. Despite it being the weirdest thing that he ever heard, he would never imagine his parents not knowing everything about each other, because he knew that they trusted each other more than anyone. Also, he did not see his father hiding something like that from the woman he loved. It just did not make sense.
"I do. Women know those things." Jenny said.
"You do?" Galladon asked surprised, he might be in a relationship, however he knew perfectly that he still did not understand anything about women and he was good with it, because the only woman he ever liked was Jenny and he understood her better than anyone.
"Yes, we do. I knew you had kissed that Merryweather girl." Jenny explained.
"It was a game. I didn't know it was going to end up that way. And I told you I had." Galladon said.
"It was truth or dare. And you told me after I anoyed you for hours and I already knew you had, just wanted to have some confirmation." Jenny explained.
"You got pissed, didn't you? If I knew you'd got that way, I had left the game when you did." Galladon asked with a chuckle.
"I wouldn't say that. I left the game, because I knew where it was heading. I knew that some of them would get you to choose dare instead of truth and it would end up that way. I didn't want to admit what I was feeling, or break anyone's nose, so I left. Then, you came to talk to me and I had to know. To be honest, I'm glad you chose dare. Because, for the next four months, all I could think about was that. Didn't matter how hard I tried, it would always ended up in how it would have been if it had been me setting the bet. I realized that I had fallen for you. Then I saw you again and I didn't know what to do. After that weird year, came a half a year of awkward sillence, and other half year of flirting and pining, so it kind of worked." Jenny explained.
"The truth was if I liked you or not. That's why I chose dare. Because, no one had to know that, no one, but you. I regreted it as soon as they told me the bet. All I could think about when that happened was what if it had been you. What if I had left. What if I had gone after you and kissed you instead. When I talked to you, you started to tease about it and I thought, maybe it doesn't flow both ways. In the next four months, all I did was planing a way of telling you how I felt or of winning you over if that was the case. Deep down, I still had hope. Then, I saw you and it all went down, I was so nervous that I couldn't speak a word. After we started to flirt, the plan came back and I finally got the nerve to tell you." Galladon explained.
"You should have told me, but I understand. I should have told you too." Jenny said.
"At least, it turned out well." Galladon said with a chuckle and she kissed him.
"We're drifting away from the conversation, aren't we?" Jenny asked after the kiss.
"It's your turn." Galladon said.
"My mother jumped in a freaking frozen lake to save uncle Jon. Why were they beyond the Wall in the first place?" Jenny said, she would start with a small one.
"Really? That's your question?"
"I'm not going to start with the other one."
"Alright. Maybe they had to find something to stop the Walkers. Tormund mentioned the Battle of the Frozen Lake, maybe it's that one." Galladon said.
"Yeah, maybe. You don't think my mother and uncle Jon once..., do you?" Jenny said.
"What? No. Why would that happen?" Galladon asked.
"I don't know, Tormund made it sound like it." Jenny said.
"Tormund had a huge crush on my mother, and he thought she was into him as well. That should tell us something." Galladon said.
"Maybe. I seriously hope that Jeyne and Lya find that book." Jenny said.
"Yeah. I mean King Killer? Really? And my mother killed Stannis Baratheon for some unknown reason..." Galladon said.
"She must have had a good reason for it. And so must have had your father, if the word Kingslayer is to be taken in it's literal meaning." Jenny said surely.
"Yes, they must have had. It's just weird." Galladon said.
"I know. Can you believe my mother defeated a Dothraki and your mother defeated uncle Sandor?" Jenny asked with a giggle.
"I know, right?! It's amazing. Why do you think they did that? Do you think our fathers were there?" Galladon asked.
"I don't know. Maybe. I can't believe... you know what? I don't want to talk about it." Jenny said.
"You will have to talk about it sooner or later, sweetheart. I know you." Galladon said.
"I wished James had stayed quiet in that one." Jenny said.
"But he didn't."
"You know that my name is Jenny, because of the song, right?"
"Yes... maybe it wasn't that song."
"What the Hells? Common fucking knowledge?"
"Uh, I don't honestly know what to say." Galladon said.
"Just don't say anything." Jenny said.
"Just, wait, your father was a squire, right?" Galladon asked thinking.
"Yes?" Jenny said confused.
"How did he went to the brothel?" Galladon said.
"I don't know. You're saying that there's a story behind that?" Jenny asked.
"Yeah. Think about it, squires don't get paid and he was made a knight after the Long Night and by then he and your mother were already together." Galladon said.
"It had to happen in KingsLanding still. My father was uncle Tyrion's squire then and Joffrey was a monster, he would never make him a knight then. Wait, you're saying uncle Tyrion sent him there? Why would he do that?" Jenny said.
"He saved his life at the Blackwater. And I think that for some reason your mother wasn't in KingsLanding." Galladon said.
"Why?" Jenny asked.
"I don't know." Galladon said.
"Neither do I." Jenny said and they looked at each other with a small smile. Both knew that it was just the begining of the journey and that their parents hid things, important things. And that probably by the end of that journey, they would be the ones with some secrets to keep as well.
"This journey. It will change us, won't it?" Galladon said.
"I'm afraid it will. We have to be strong for them, we're the eldest." Jenny said.
"You're right. But promise me, that we won't change." Galladon said, he did not want for them to change. Everything was perfect between them and they had finally told their parents, it was not fair to ruin it by then.
"I promise. Do you think James and Cat will make it to the end of this before they realize it?" Jenny asked. All of them knew or suspected that James and Catelyn liked each other, however the two of them were completely oblivious to that fact.
"No. Not a chance." Galladon said, he knew that his sister would realize it sooner or later, for that journey would take a great deal of time and the two of them would get to a point that it would impossible to deny it.
"I do, actually. They are very stuborn and they still haven't realized it." Jenny said.
"You're right, but you're forgeting that they have never been together this whole time. Wanna bet?" Galladon said.
"Yeah. If I win, you'll have to take me to sail in your ship from Tarth to Casterly Rock. Only the two of us." Jenny said smiling.
"Deal. I'll do that anyway." Galladon said.
"I know, but I'm a bit rusty at getting ideas, today." Jenny said with a chuckle and he laughed.
"If I win, you have to let me surprise you. And no questions asked." Galladon said smiling, he had a plan for one and he had wanted to do it long ago, just had not had the chance yet.
"Does it involve me wearing a dress?" Jenny asked.
"No questions asked. But no, you can wear whatever you want. Still..." Galladon said.
"Fine, if I loose, you can do that and I might consider wearing a dress. Well, we should go back." Jenny said, she knew that he was a hopeless romantic and also that he would never ask her to wear a dress, even if it was an amazing party.
"I know." Galladon said and then they gave one last kiss.
They got dressed and then went back to their tents.
The next day, they woke up and, after breakfast Tormund said that he would go with them to the East-Watch and then he would go to Winterfell to help. It was great news for them and it gave them some relief because it would be a huge help for Winterfell and the Six Kingdoms' army. They started the trip that very day.
They had been walking in the snow all day, therefore they made a fire as soon as they made camp. Galladon was glad that they had stopped, it was freezing cold in there and he always hated the cold. He did not know why, but he always had hated it. Galladon and Jenny had come to the terms that they would have to stay without answers to the milions of the questions that all of them had, because they had to focus on the journey and on saving Rhaella, and they would not be able to do that if they had a thousands fragments of their parents past in their minds. The others did not want to stop it at first, however then they realized it was needed, therefore they agreed to it.
They were all sitting around the fire, Galladon and Jenny were siting next to each other and she had her head in his shoulder. James, Thomas and Catelyn were glad for them, because they were so happy for not having to hide it. Jorah and Mia were happy for them too, still they did not have the full idea of how it was hard for them not to be at ease, that their siblings had.
They were into their own thoughts, when Tormund asked,
"How are things down South?"
"They'd been fine for the past 17 years. Now, there's a war in the North." Galladon said.
"Who are the bastards?" Tormund asked.
"Some warlocks that came from the Free Cities. I think, they want to end my parents' reign. Something to do with my mother's reign in the Free Cities. They kidnapped my youngest sister." Jorah said, the angry tone could be noticed in his voice.
"If your sister takes after your parents, then they won't take any advantage out of it." Tormund said.
"Rhaella is a very strong girl and she won't go down easily." Mia said.
"You're right, still she's my sister and very young. I'm worried we won't get there in time." Jorah said.
"You will, I'm sure of it. You are like your parents and each one of them would do anything for their families." Tormund said and they smiled.
"What was the last time that you went to the North or the Six Kingdoms?" Jenny asked curiously.
"I've never been in the Six Kingdoms, the South is not for me. The last time, I've been in Winterfell, it was 15 years ago, I think. Have they finished the constructions?" Tormund said.
"Yes, it's all rebuilt. Also, Rickon said that they were building a new tower." Thomas explained.
"That's good. And in KingsLanding? I heard that the dam had been destroy." Tormund said.
"Well, I don't think we've ever seen the dam destroyed." Catelyn said.
"I don't recall it." James said.
"And your parents? How are them?" Tormund asked.
"The battles have been a bit harsh, but I think they are going to make it. My father and uncle Tyrion and aunt Sansa are inside Winterfell, along with Gerion. The rest are in the camp." Galladon explained. Then he looked at Jenny, she was a bit sad, he knew that as he was worried about his father not getting out of Winterfell, Jenny was worried about her mother, because last time they knew something was wrong. He took her hand and gave it a little squeaze to comfort her.
"That is if my father and Davos managed to get to Grey Worm in time." Jorah said.
"And my parents are lost in the sea, I don't know if they arrived yet." Mia said.
"Seems like you've been having a great deal of trouble. It'll all be alright, you'll see." Tormund said.
"Probably. But for now, we have to get to Qarth and kick some warlocks asses." James said and they laughed.
"I like the way you think, lad." Tormund said and, after sometime talking, they went to sleep.
In a few days time, they reached the East-Watch and in there they took a ship to the Free Cities. They rented a ship just for them, because Galladon, Mia and Catelyn knew how to sail and they did not trust anyone to take them to the Free Cities, and sailled out to the Free Cities.