Two Lions Of Gold And Red

[Captain]

~ A Game of Thrones RP between

@Lucyfer and @Captain ~

And who are you, the proud lord said,


that I must bow so low?


Only a cat of a different coat,


that's all the truth I know.


In a coat of gold or a coat of red,


a lion still has claws,


And mine are long and sharp, my lord,


as long and sharp as yours.


And so he spoke, and so he spoke,


that lord of Castamere,


But now the rains weep o'er his hall,


with no one there to hear.


Yes now the rains weep o'er his hall,


and not a soul to hear.
​

There it was; The Wall. Tywin had seen it numerous times before, but the last time had been years ago. He had to admit that it looked as imposant as always - but with the knowledge that it was the sole thing keeping the creatures out of Westeros, it did not look so sturdy and invincible anymore.


His cool eyes looked over at the lands he and his army marched by. Snow had fallen in some spots and judging by the brutally cold wind it was clear that the sombre Starks were finally right; Winter has come at last. The fact had been easy to ignore in King's Landing, where the sun shone still strong. But here they could do nothing but acknowledge it and bear under it.


"Prepare the banners," he said curtly to the ser on his right. The ser nodded shortly and drew back his horse to arange the men carrying the banners more to the front. Now that they were so close to the Wall and in view point of Castle Black, it was wise to openly show the banners more already. The men carrying it quickly joined Tywin just behind him on either side, and held up the red banners with the golden lions on them.


Tywin looked up at them briefly and felt the usual surge of pride went through him. His banner. His army. His mission. It reminded him of the all days of Robert's Rebellion and even before that. It was his duty as Lord to lead his own army, and so here he was. Going to aid the North with keeping out the monsters he was told of as bedtime stories by his mother.


~~~


"Alys," Finn said as quietly as he could, but despite his efforts his deep voice almost echoed out over the cool fields. "Lord Lannister has callen the banner carriers. We must be really close! Could that big thing over there really be the Wall? Do you see it too?"


Finn straightened himself up and stood in the irons. His horse protested loudly beneath him but he didn't hear him; Finn was too excited by the sight of the Wall in the distance. This was the first time he was in the North and despite the biting cold he was exhilarated by it all. A great adventure was awaiting them in the North and he couldn't wait to slay some monsters down. How proud his father would be of him once he heard about his son's actions!


Looking over at Alysanne again, he sobered up a little. He hadn't forgotten about his special mission and he knew it was his duty to fulfill his Lord's wishes. But somehow it didn't feel very right to do so. Alysanne was so nice to him and he really liked her. But of course, he would answer to Lord Tywin Lannister's command. There was no other choice. Besides, it wasn't like she was secretly a witch or something.

 

[Lucyfer]

Crows flew no banners, and bastards had no real banners to raise, either. Black was their sign alone, and black was how Jon robed himself. Black leather and a black cloak, and beneath him was a black horse as he marched out with a few others of the Night’s Watch to escort the host from the south to the Wall.


Tywin Lannister was leading, on orders of King Tommen. Jon Snow had never met Tywin Lannister, but rumors reached the Wall. Jon Snow knew that the man was behind the so-called “Red Wedding” that killed his brother, his friend, Robb Stark. He knew the Boltons had destroyed Theon Greyjoy, who had in turn killed Bran Stark and Rickon Stark. Arya, sweet Arya—well maybe not sweet—was supposedly married now to Ramsay Bolton, and Jon could not imagine that fate for her.


He refused imagining it.


Yet, not a whisper told him of Sansa, except that she was wanted for killing Joffrey. He hoped it was true.


Despite all of this, Jon Snow knew that he had to accept the help, and offer hospitality to Tywin Lannister and his armies, which likely came from all across the Seven Kingdoms. There would be Northernmen, Dornish, men of the Iron Isles, and men of Dragonstone, among others. Not all of them were his enemies.


‘And we will all be dead if I do not do my duty.’ It was what his father would want him do. To be honorable. Dutiful. For the sake of the realm, he had to accept Tywin’s help.


Jon saw the crimson easily in the midst of all the white and dreariness, and he hastened his steed beneath him. Ghost was ever at his horse’s hooves, dancing around them, but both came to a halt before Lord Tywin Lannister. “My lord Lannister, welcome to the North,” Jon’s voice was as cold as the wind when he greeted him, “I am Lord Commander Snow. My men will escort you the rest of the way to the Wall,” not that they could get lost at this point, “I can brief you on what is known on the way.” His voice did not ask permission.


He was Lord Commander, and here, he had authority that matched Tywin’s, at the very least. He could not afford to show weakness or doubt.


~***~


The lion of red did not so much as shiver beneath her silver cloak, lined with the fur of silver foxes. Black gloves covered red claws, and the rest of her attire followed the blue and silver colors of House Farman. It would have been easy to incorporate the red of House Reyne, but Leora Reyne, so called Alysanne Farman, was not willing to be so bold yet—the Farmans did border their coat of arms with the Lannister gold and red. Yet, with Tywin Lannister marching ahead, the Reyne woman would be a bit more subtle.


Even if, to her, it was obvious. Red Rain was at her hip. The horse beneath her, a gray thing, was named Deluge. Her ship back home was the Black Rains.


Not a soul would ever guess, though. Who would question Tywin’s efficiency?


Finn Serrett came to join her, the peacock man with the carrying voice. It certainly wasn’t the trill voice of a bird. His question earned a wry smile from the woman, “It is the Wall, or it is a mountain, and I don’t see the Mountain with us,” no, the Mountain was gone, at least in name. Leora knew otherwise; the unchained Maester that Cersei had employed was a fascinating individual. “You sound excited, Finn,” she noted.


There was a part of her that was, too. She’d never been this far north, “Looking forward to fighting White Walkers?” She hoped to avoid that part, but she knew she was equipped to. Valyrian Steel harmed them, after all. “I hope you know not to let them touch you. I can’t heal a frozen heart quite yet,” she jested.

 

[Captain]

Tywin saw the lad long before he reached him and his men. And it was still a lad, really. He was clad in nothing but black, as was customary of the men of the Night's Watch. His pale white face was the only distinctive thing he could see of the boy until he stilled his horse at last in front of him. Beside his horse, there was a giant white Direwolf who looked up at him with dark red eyes. Tywin looked back at the animal until it silently turned his head away for a moment. Then, Tywin looked up at the Watcher with a coolly gaze and nodded once.


"Lord Commander," he acknowledged. "We will follow your lead."


Tywin wanted to say many things more, but he settled on being politely passive. For now. It was ridiculous that men by their right minds would ever appoint a boy as Commander. It only further proved his opinion of the Night's Watch. He had never really thought much praise about it. Most of them were thieves and murderes, or even worse than that. Only a handful serve voluntarily, like this lad. A Snow. And now here Tywin was, having to treat the bastard of the traitor Eddard Stark as his equal. Of course he wasn't really and would never be.


Moving his horse forward, he gave a brief hand sign and the rest of the enormous army slowly began to move forward again as well. Tywin looked up at the Wall with pale eyes and pressed his mouth in a thin line. His stay here was not going to be very pleasant, but he did not mind much. The thrill of war was upon him and he felt better than ever. He did like to rule of course, but leading an army definitely topped that.


~~~


Finn laughed boomingly at her joke and blushed when he saw heads turning towards him. Bowing his head, he looked at his gloved hands. They were extremely large to fit his big hands. The tailor had to adjust the biggest pair of gloves he had to make them big enough for Finn. Sometimes he felt a bit ashamed of being so large, but the positive thing was that no one ever dared to pick a fight with him. That was a bit of a pity though - he would love to beat up the brat who would dare to throw a punch at him.


"Of course I am excited! We're going to battle! We're going to fight against creatures people didn't even know still existed! I can't wait to put my sword through their frosty chests."


He considered for a moment to draw his longsword to demonstrate how exactly he was going to stab the White Walkers, but decided that that wasn't a good idea with people surrounding him so close by.


"They won't even know what hit them. Don't worry my lady, I'll keep my distance... But they should too, because else the last thing they'll see is the silver of my sword!"


They were moving forward again, and when he craned his neck he could see a dark figure riding besides Lord Tywin.


"By the Gods! That Watcher has a Direwolf with him. The stories were true after all. They have returned to the North! Do you think I could get one as a pet?"

 

[Lucyfer]

Everything Jon Snow knew of Tywin were things he’d heard in rumors, in song, and from his deceased father, who wouldn’t trust Tywin with anyone. Yet, Jon Snow also heard it was Tywin Lannister who made the Mad King’s rule endurable to the smallfolk. There were voices on the Wall that praised Tywin still.


There were others who feared him, some who had been sent to the Wall by Tywin. It was a rarity, considering how Tywin preferred to deal with his enemies. There were no Reynes or Tarbecks at the Wall, after all.


Jon settled alongside Tywin, but he kept his gaze forward and not on the man. He was not sure if he did so out of weakness, or out of personal distaste. He decided on the latter, and gave that reasoning to Ghost, as well. He’d seen his wolf look away from the lion. “The Wall appreciates your assistance, Lord Lannister,” Jon began, though it was clear he was speaking from a memorized script. There was no real gratitude there. “What we know of the White Walkers has led us to believe that they make their home in the Lands of Always Winter. Unfortunately, we have no maps that extend so far,” not that anyone had found, “and we have not been able to map how large an expanse of land that is through sailing or scouting. No one has returned alive. We are also under the impression that the Others bring the winter storms, and not the other way around,” that the Others came with the winter storms.


“We have identified one of the leading figures, an Other in a crown who destroyed Hardhome. He came with only a few Others—they never come in great numbers themselves, but build their army up with wights. The wights are easy to destroy with fire. The Others are not so easy to defeat. We have a store of dragonglass to equip your men with, but we need more,” Tywin ought to be more than aware that the Night’s Watch wasn’t rich. “Valyrian Steel is the only other known weakness of the Others.” Besides dragon fire, but that was hardly worth mentioning. “At present, there is only one Valyrian sword at the Wall.” His own, “If any of your men have such a blade, they should be included in any missions, or their sword included. Dragonglass breaks easily against the weapons of the Others.”


Jon glanced to Tywin himself then, looking over what was on Tywin’s own person. He did not see Valyrian steel, but he supposed Tywin might not be wearing such a thing. Then again, he knew that the Lannisters had lost their sword, Brightroar, a long time ago. “I have ten men and five women, Night’s Watch and Wildlings, prepared to assist in organizing your own forces and working alongside your own leaders when we begin to move. I would like to introduce you to them tonight at dinner, and to meet your own leaders as well.” He knew Tywin might not like the idea of women or wildlings, but the wildlings would have it no other way, and Jon knew too well what their women were capable of.


~***~


Finn always drew attention to himself in some way, that Leora thought he’d be used to it. Yet, he blushed like a maid, and it caused her to smirk at his own small embarrassment. She shook her head a bit at his enthusiasm. She was no warmonger, and she was not so enthused to meet these things. It was not at all her reason for being here—well, not the major reason.


She did want to stop the Endless Winter that everyone feared.


“You realize your silver sword isn’t going to do much, don’t you?” The Red Lion asked, canting her head a bit. She was not sure how well-educated the soldiers were, and knew in that regard she often stood above them. When she’d learned from the maester, it had not just been the arts of healing. History had fascinated her, and she’d gotten all that she could out of that man before he was sent away from her.


There was truth to every fiction. The Others, she heard, were only defeated by dragons—but in different forms. Dragonglass, Dragon Steel, and Dragon Fire. It was almost enough to make one think those priests of R’hllor got it right. ‘But not quite.’ No, The Reyne was still an adherent of the Seven, the Crone being her favored aspect to pray to.


Finn was distracted by the direwolf, and Leora looked ahead to see the beast. ‘Pretty.’ She thought, having a desire not to run from it, but to pet the thing that may as well have been a horse itself. “If you do, find me one as well.” Given, she’d always prefer to have a lion, but those things were notoriously untamable. A dire wolf, though, was tamed before their eyes. “You’ll be going beyond the Wall. That’s where they say they are,” she glanced to him, wondering if he really would try to get one, “Do you think the Lord Commander would let us pet his?” She really wanted to. It was ridiculous, childish, but she wanted to pet the dire wolf!


She’d never seen such a thing before, and it was truly amazing. Besides, if she and Finn were to walk out of this with a dire wolf, they should find out about care for them. Grooming, eating, how cuddly they were...the important things.

 

[Captain]

Tywin did not look at Jon Snow as well. Instead his gaze was fixed on the Wall. He listened to the monotone words that came out of the bastard's mouth, but at the same time Tywin was already making plans in his mind to defend the Wall. To come to full conclusions on the matter he would first have to see the other side of it. A place he had never seen before. It must be a very magnificent sight when standing on top of the Wall; so high above all else. Unless you were counting the mountains surrounding the Vale, there was nothing as tall and broad as the ice mass in front of him. It grew larger still as they approached it bit by bit.


Tywin listened and looked. His face gave away nothing of what he thought. The things the boy was telling him sounded ridiculous, but he said it with such honesty that tywin was almost inclined to believe him. Almost. He believed the threat of the corpses coming back to life again. Otherwise he wouldn't be here with a large portion of his army. But there were still things he just had to see for himself before he could believe them.


Jon Snow - Tywin kwen things about him. He knew about rumours and also about what he believed to be the truth. He wondered why Lord Stark, as honorable as he was, had never told the truth to his own blood. But perhaps it was honor that kept him silent.


"I see," Tywin said eventually after a moment's thought. "You have many curious names of things. I'm afraid that the larger part of my men will not be able to remember even half of them. Names can be powerful, but we will just have to accept the matter." Tywin looked at last at Jon and continued; "We have about two dozen men with Valyrian steel. That should be enough for those missions you mentioned. As of obsidian - or dragonglass as you called it - I will send a raven to the Citadel to send us every last bit they have of it. Your blacksmith could make swords and daggers out of it. As for the rest of my man, torches and fire arrows should do well enough. That should be enough to battle those things."


Naming them by their proper name was not something Tywin wanted to do. As he said before; names hold power. He was not going to aid those things by calling them by their true names.


"I will look forward to dine with your people," he said with a slight snide, but nothing too patronizing. It was well known that the new Lord Commander had a love for the Wildlings. Another fact that made Tywin want to draw a sword in the boy's stomach and get someone else - preferably someone of his chosing - as Lord Commander. He knew that Snow would give him a lot of trouble once they arrived. It was already clear that the bastard shared the same feelings towards him. Understandable, but not very fortunate. But for now he just had to accept the boy's authority and wishes. For now.


"Point my men to the place where they can set up camp. I don't want them bothering your people too much. Ser Hugh here will take them there. As for myself, I would like to see the Wall staright away if it would not be too inconvenient for you," he finished politely enough. It was time to see the land beyond and to stand on top of the world - this time literally.


~~~


"Hmm? What do you mean? What's wrong with my sword? It was made by one of the best blacksmiths in King's Landing."


Finn furrowed his brows in confusion. He had thought he would keep about anything out of his way with help of his longsword. However, he quickly forgot about the matter as his attention was drawn to the Direwolf again. It was a very magnificent animal.


"I'll do my best to find two of them beyond the Wall; one for both of us. And of course! Why wouldn't we be allowed to pet it? He's probably been asked that a lot though, so we should wait until he's in a good mood. and not busy. People always get angry when they're busy."


Finn frowned again and thought of Lord Lannister. He was normally kind of frightened of him, but when he invited him a few weeks ago for a cup of wine, he had been really nice to him. He had promised him a lot of things, if only Finn did what he said. And it wasn't something bad the Lord was asking of him - Alysanne was as normal as Finn was, he was sure of that. But why was he so keen on any kind of information from Alysanne?


"I can't wait to stand on the Wall. We should go there too when there are not too many people there!" Finn was always afraid to bother people. It was something he had carried with him since childhood, when watching his older brothers getting taught in the matter of ruling and jostling by their father. Finn, as the third son, was quite unimportant in his parents' eyes. They always seemed bothered by him when he spoke up or even dared to ask them something. Luckily he had a lot of friends at the castle, who were ll the sons of the servants in the castle, or people from the town nearby. Another thing his parents greatly disapproved of, but they mostly left him alone with them.

 

[Lucyfer]

Tywin listened and did not interrupt. For that, Jon Snow was grateful. He did not seem to be questioning anything that was said, either. Jon did not see what expressions the Gold Lion might be making, but did not care so much.


Tywin must have had difficulty following with all the strange names, though. He pointed out the oddity of them, only to add that names had power. Jon looked at him as he said this, and caught Tywin’s gaze momentarily, before the lion continued to speak. He gave a nod about the Valyrian. ‘Hopefully.’ They did not, in truth, know how many Others there were. The wights were easy to deal with; fire was effective enough, and that was easy to come by.


Fortunately, Tywin was willing to help them get more dragonglass—or obsidian, as he called it. “Thank you. That is what we have been doing with dragonglass,” he did not humor Tywin’s name for it. That would be a lie.


Then his nose wrinkled in disgust at the emphasis Tywin put on ‘your people’. He understood. Even in the Watch, Jon was not admired by all for his dealings with the Wildlings. “We will be honored to have you join us,” Jon remained cordial. He had to. He turned to another of his brother’s to give the direction that Tywin passed on to him, however, he saw Ghost’s movements then.


“Ghost?” The dire wolf didn’t even give him a second glance, and he looked to try and see what it was Ghost found that made his wolf disturb all the horses of those following. He didn’t see it until the woman dismounted—the flash of red hair cuing him in as she dropped from the saddle, only to reach out and, of all things, pet his dire wolf.


People usually wanted to stay far away from Ghost, so attention was a rarity from strangers. Jon assumed the promise of it was what drew Ghost from his side. He had been so negligent. ‘It would be a red-head.’ He was quite certain all of them were crazy. Even Sansa.


He couldn’t help but laugh, and wondered briefly who this woman was among Tywin’s forces—she even had a sword! It made him think of Arya, and then, of course, his heart hurt.


His laughter ceased, and he looked to his brother-in-black, “See Lord Lannister’s forces to the camping grounds.”


A stern nod followed, and then the brother let his voice boom out to carry across the heads of Tywin’s forces, and to direct them to follow him from this point on.


~***~


‘Later.’ Leora determined. That was when she could tell Finn about the Others. When it was dark, and fires cast shadows everywhere. That was when she would scare Finn. It was a little unkind, but it would be easy enough to make it up to him. There was the Wall to look over. If she timed it right, they could go to the Wall, to stand atop it, after she let him know how pointless his pointed blade would be.


She couldn’t be too mean to someone who said he would get her a dire wolf. “Thank you!” could she get a red one, or one with a ruddy coat? Did they come in that color? “I wasn’t sure if Snow’s wolf was friendly,” though with the way the white thing was not fussy, it must be. Leora wondered if she could summon it like any dog. “We’ll go to the Wall later tonight. It shouldn’t be too busy then, and we should be all set up,” camp. Leora hated breaking to make camp. It took so much time. “We shouldn’t go on an empty stomach.” They’d only eat after camp was made.


Given, everyone knew how to do it, and so it went smoothly without any hiccups, but it was still such a process to raise all the tents. They painted the snow crimson.


It was just as Jon Snow turned to one of his men that Leora decided to see if she could get the wolf’s attention. She clicked her tongue on the roof of her mouth, and watched as those white eyes looked to her. Oh yes, the wolf had heard—how could it not? She lowered one hand from the reins, and brushed her thumb over her fingers, a gesture she’d found worked with cats and dogs alike.


Ghost moved from Jon’s side and stalked through the following column. Though they could clearly see each other, there were other horses and men to move by, and none of the horses appreciated how close Ghost game. They were startled, stepped back, or whinnied in protest as their riders tried to calm them.


Deluge was none too happy, either, but Leora gripped the reins tighter in one hand and kept a steady grip to let the horse know she understood what was going on. “Well, hello there,” she greeted when Ghost was much closer. Without a moment’s hesitation, she slipped from the saddle and to the ground, and reached out her hand. She had brought this moment upon herself, might as well enjoy it before the Lord Commander got mad at her.


Ghost scented it, then brushed his head against her hand, and urged it to his ears. She took the hint, and scratched behind one of them.


She heard Jon Snow laugh, still a boy at heart, and looked up, pleased he was not angry. Then, she looked to Finn and with a gesture of her head, invited him down. Someone up ahead started to call to the others of Tywin’s army that they had clear spaces to set up camp, and would lead them to it.

 

[Captain]

Tywin merely nodded as the boy answered him. There was no need to waste words if it wasn't absolutely necessary. Words could be used against you - but in this case, he was just tired. It had been a long trip and it took quite a lot of effort for him to stay shapr and fresh of mind. Too easily could the mind be fooled if you did not pay attention well enough. You could miss small gestures, little details of the people around you. Sometimes those details could tell you a whole story; Tywin had sniffed out a lot of traitors this way. Not that he expected this Snow to be a traitor. He told the truth so far of the situation at hand; but little more than that. He was polite, but not slimy like Lord Tyrrell was. If there was one man Tywin hated then it was that spineless excuse of a Lord. He was also intelligent and definitely had the potential to become a good leader. Maybe even a great one. In different circumstances Tywin might have even liked him. But he didn't.


The hairs on Tywin's arms involuntarily rose when he saw the beast Snow had called 'Ghost' walked past him without making a single audible sound. The name fitted the wolf perfectly. Tywin followed the way the wolf went and saw with a slight tightening of his mouth the Lady Alysanne dismount to touch the animal. She showed absolutely no fear and the wolf accpeted her. That was something Tywin was certain he would never be able to do - the wolf would surely bite him if he ever got to close. He wasn't good with animals, in particular pets, and he did not feel like overcoming it now. Wolfs and lions did not go together. Everyone knew that.


Tywin did not respond visibly as he heard the bastard surprised laugh, but he had to put a lot of effort into tearing his gaze away from the scene behind him. He did not trust the girl. Now that the beast took a surprising liking to her he was even more suspicious that something was off about her. What he did not know. That was why he had put the son of Lord Serrett on the case. He was a third son desperate to prove himself and become a Ser. Basically, one of hundreds of similar boys trying to become something they know deep down they can never be. Tywin had heard the smallfolk talk about the Black Son's curse; a son that was welcome, but could never become something as great as his older brothers.


Tywin looked forward again and silently let his army pass him.


"Now, Lord Commander. Be so kind to show me the Wall. I have heard many stories about it, but I can imagine that they are all bleak in the sight of the real thing. As most stories are."


~~~


"Yes, I like the sound of that! I'm as hungry as a- well, as a horse I think. Or maybe a direwolf since they easo much meat, right?"


Finn looked forward and saw the Lord Commander speaking with Tywin again. It was strange to see a man so much younger than Finn as the leader of the Night's Watch. A surge of jealousy surged through him, but he quelled it immediately. It was a strange feeling, but it was not unfamiliar to him. It as just so frustrating to see the success of others. And he had even heard rumors that the Commander was the bastard of the late Eddard Stark, a traitor to the Crown.


Finn blinked away his thoughts when he realized the direwolf was coming towards them, and he quickly found out that it was Alysanne who had called him over. He quickly followed her to the side and ignored his nervous horse. In awe he watched as the wolf let her pet him. The Commander laughed in the distance.


Eager to touch the wolf as well, he dismounted from his own horse, Hygo, and carefully approached Ghost. Looking at Alysanne he smiled and stretched out his hand as well - but he quickly withdrew it when he almost got bitten in his hand; had he hesitated just a moment longer his hand could've bitten clean of.


Yelping he jumped back and bumped into the flank of his horse. The animal got even more nervous, but Finn managed to snatch his reins before he could bolt. He heard several men around him laugh harshly at him and his stupidness and his cheeks colored crimson.


Averting his gaze from everyone looking at him he mounted his horse again. He thought of leaving Alysanne behind, but he did not want to leave her without saying anything. Besides, he saw Lord Tywin looking their way.


"Guess he doesn't like me that much," he said with a small smile stating the obvious. He still did not look at her and tried to hide his embarrassment. Suddenly he wasn't too eager anymore to find a direwolf for himself. Maybe this trip wasn't going to be as fun as he had anticipated.

 

[Lucyfer]

Leora was not even amused when Ghost snapped at Finn, “Do not.” Her tone was as harsh as if Ghost were her own, and the crimson eyes of the wolf met hers, clearly not pleased to be lectured in that tone.


She, however, held that gaze. ‘Oh, you know me, wolf.’ Leora had always gotten on well with animals. She needed to, if she was going to extract poisons from snakes and scorpions. ‘I am Queen.’ For the lions ruled, kings and queens of the jungle, and she’d not let a mere wolf think otherwise. “They can smell fear, Finn,” she told him when he mentioned it didn’t like him, and she looked away from him with a smile, stroking behind the dire wolf’s ear when it decided not to snap at her for the tone. “Or maybe it just knows you’re a tasty bird.”


Some man snorted at that and eyed the two of them, before he walked on by. Leora stepped back and nodded politely to Ghost. “Good boy. Thank you.”


A whistle broke across the cold air, and Ghost turned back to his master and trudged towards Jon Snow. Jon called over the crowd, “What’s your name?” looking to Leora as she got back up into the saddle of Deluge.


“Alysanne Farman, Lord Commander,” she called back to him. She then looked to her taller companion and gave him a smile before moving her horse to his side, and then falling in line with the rest of the Lannister forces.


‘Farman.’ He made a mental note of it. He knew that house—he knew most of the houses, still, from helping Robb learn them all. He knew it from Theon, as well, some bitterness over the island rivals. The Farmans were of the Fair Isles. Naval, more than anything, but she sat a horse like many of the knights in the party. He could see the fabric of slacks beneath the skirt of her dress. He’d have to see if she knew how to wield the sword. If it was Valyrian steel, she’d be needed out and about, though he wondered what she was doing there in the first place.


In Westeros, it wasn’t a woman’s place.


Ghost returned to his side, and Jon gave a nod to Tywin, “Right this way,” he said, and pushed his black horse to a trot to get them closer to the wall, faster. With just them, there was no reason to delay.

 

[Captain]

Finn looked with awe how Alysanne stood up for him against the direwolf. Against Ghost. She was much braver than he was in so many ways. He had expected the wolf to turn against her now as well, but he didn't. Instead he simply turned at the whistle and went away. Unconciously Finn could breathe with more ease now.


"But I wasn't afraid - not until he bared his teeth, that was," he answered somberly. Finn knew he was being just like a child now, pouting and complaining. But it was the truth - after seeing Alysanne with Ghost he had thought that the beast was harmless. But apparently not for Finn.


The Lord Commander even asked for her name - that clearly meant that he was impressed that someone other than him could handle his wolf. Or maybe he just liked Alysanne - many men did.


"Oh well. Maybe a normal dog would be more of a fit for me. Let's go see where we will sleep for a large period of time." Finn tried to sound as cheerful as always, but he could not help but let a little bit of bitterness slip through. He also turned his horse back on the road and followed Alysanne and the rest of the army to their camping place.


It still took quite a while to get there - the Wall was far more bigger than he had initially thought. It rose so far in the sky that his neck hurt to look at it. Occasionally thick droplets of water fell from it and when they hit the ground they spat harshly apart. Winter was coming, and it was very cold, but still not exactly cold enough to keep the Wall from dripping a little. It was astonishing to know that even this harsh coldness was not enough yet. It made him a little homesick, to his father's lands where it must be still quite warm.


"I'm not going to put my tent to close to that thing - what if suddenly a big part broke off and came down?" he said mostly to himself, but he heard several other men mumble their agreement.


~~~


Tywin glanced aside at Jon, and wondered what the boy thought of Lady Alysanne. It was clear that he liked her already - apparently not many could handle his beast. The wolf in question dartled in front of them again and Tywin's horse nervously swept his tail and ears. But it was too well trained to bolt or do anything else that would make Tywin look like a fool who could not even handle his own horse.


Tywin kicked his horse in the side, and he swiftly followed the bastard's trail. The Wall grew and grew as they approached it. It appeared to get darker as they went near it, and the temperature dropped down even more. Tywin could feel the chilling colld radiating from the enormous structure and he had trouble breathing for a while. His lungs weren't as strong as they used to be - none of him was. But he did not show it.


At last they had arrived at Castle Black - a strange name for the few buildings and towers that stood here, but oddly fitting. This was in a way the capitol of the Night's Watch - not that there were many other keeps at the Wall. The sight of the Wall drew most of his attention though and he looked up at it in the same way Finn had done.


"Impressive," Tywin said at last. He dismounted his horse and gave him over to the care of an even younger lad than Jon Snow. It was almost as if the Wall really just accepted everyone they could. There was a lot to be done here, that was for sure. But he hadn't expected anything else. The Night's Watch had long since lost it's true worth. Now it was just a mere shadow of what it once was.

 

[Lucyfer]

There was only one other reason for why a wolf would react the way it had, if fear wasn’t the cause, but the idea was too ridiculous for Leora to accept. That would be if Finn were an untrustworthy individual, which, if any of them were that, it was herself. Finn seemed like an open book to her, easy-going and easy to talk with. He expressed himself almost like a child, defiant about the fear, and so many other things.


No, she didn’t really suspect him of any measure of duplicity, “Maybe you just smelled tastier,” she offered instead with a laugh in her voice as she followed the others to the camping grounds. “Another dire wolf might have different tastes,” doubtful, “I still want one. A pup shouldn’t be able to gnaw off your arm.”


Or, maybe it could. She didn’t know.


At the Wall, more protests from the Lannister men. Aemilia gave Finn a dull stare, “You know that winter is coming, right? The Wall melting is the least of our concerns.” She didn’t have much of a say so far as where her tent went. She wasn’t a soldier, but a medic. She would be with the other maesters; her only advantage was being female. She got a tent to herself, but it would be near the center, supposedly protected by all the soldiers. As a maester ought to be; even if she couldn’t wear the chains, she had the knowledge.


She wouldn’t be here, otherwise. “I’ll see you at the food when you’ve found a safe place for your tent, Finn,” she said anyway, and then urged Deluge into the mess of tents being set up to figure out where her ‘group’ was setting up. Finn knew better where to set his own tent, and they both knew the lay of these camps well enough to know where the food would be.


~***~


The brothers in black moved about the Wall as Jon and Tywin showed up. A few wildlings were about, as well, but they had their own encampment apart from the night’s watch. Mingling occurred only between the bravest.


Among those brave were Mance Rayder, who had revealed himself alive after Stannis perished, and Val, of course.


Jon nodded at Tywin’s assessment of the Wall. It was hard to become jaded to such a thing. It was a beautiful and intimidating structure. Jon dismounted his own steed, and offered the reins to the same boy who took Tywin’s horse, and gave him a nod, instructing him that was all without words. Off went the lad with the horses. “Over this way is the lift to the top,” Jon motioned, not intending to stop to chat with Mance or introduce them. That would happen during dinner, soon enough for the two to decide they hated each other.


He was almost certain they would. It would be a clash of personalities and arrogances.


Jon would lead Tywin to the lift, and have them taken up if Tywin did not get himself distracted with some other matter.Ghost would, of course, ride up with them. If Ned wouldn't trust a child to Tywin, Jon wouldn't send Ghost away for Tywin's comfort.