Falling Like ✸ Jon Snow ✓

06| 𝔴𝔢𝔦𝔯𝔴𝔬𝔬𝔡

castle black, the wall

— NYMERIA'S BOOTS CRUNCHED THROUGH THE SNOW AND ICE IN THE TUNNEL. She was part of the small group trekking North to the Weirwood tree for Jon and Sam's vows.

"It's only right," her grandfather had said. "You know the area, and you took your vows at that very same tree."

So here she was.

Ghost barreled ahead of them as the gate opened, galloping out into the frozen wilderness with a few scattered barks. Nymeria never ceased to enjoy the looks on the faces of new recruits when they stepped beyond the Wall for the first time.

It didn't take them long to reach the Weirwood, sitting in a small clearing just beyond the first treeline. Jon and Sam passed their torches off to kneel before the pale bark face and speak their vows.

"Hear my words, and bear witness to my vow. Night gathers, and now my watch begins. It shall not end until my death. I shall take no wife, hold no lands, father no children, I shall wear no crowns and win no glory. I shall live and die at my post. I am the sword in the darkness. I am the watcher on the walls. I am the shield that guards the realms of men. I pledge my life and honour to the Night's Watch, for this night and all nights to come."

"You knelt as boys," one of the men said gruffly, but proudly. "Rise now as men of the Night's Watch."

Jon rose to his feet, lending a hand to Sam before the two of them grinned, pulling into an embrace. A few chuckles arose as hands were shaken.

Nymeria's smile was the first to drop when she noticed Ghost. "Jon."

He turned, frowning at the concern in her voice. Then he saw the frozen arm in his direwolf's mouth.

"What's he got there?" Sam frowned.

Jon knelt, holding out one hand to the animal. "To me, Ghost. Bring it here."

Just as he was instructed, Ghost laid it on the ground before him.

"Gods be good!"

Nymeria's amused demeanour, the relaxed way she moved within the walls of Castle Black, were gone. They could all see the ranger now as her sharp eyes scanned the treeline for any sign of danger, her right hand lifting to grasp the hilt of one of her daggers warily. Nothing moved.

"Jon, can he lead us back to the body?"

"Should be able to."

She nodded slowly. "Dallin, Crod, go back to the wall. Inform the Lord Commander."

The two of them turned and left, leaving the others to follow Ghost.

The direwolf led them through the trees for about five minutes. Nymeria kept her eyes warily on the thick trees around them all the way. Then they stumbled across the bodies. Black cloaks; they had been rangers of the Night's Watch. Probably part of the group Benjen had taken far North. So what were they doing there?

Their eyes were wide open, their flesh white, blue, black and stiff from frostbite. Hoofprints led away into the trees, but the tracks were frozen over. Wherever the horses had run off to, it was a while ago. They weren't nearby anymore. A small wood sled sat nearby, the supplies it had carried either gone or frozen.

"Get them onto it," Nymeria ordered. "We're taking them back with us."

They moved the bodies to the sled, using a length of rope from their supplies to tie them down before beginning the walk back. They were slowed by the extra weight, but it still didn't take them long to walk back through the gate and the tunnel and into the courtyard where Lord Commander Mormont and some others stood waiting.