Falling Like || Jon Snow ✔

24| 𝔩𝔬𝔯𝔡 𝔰𝔫𝔬𝔴

castle black, the wall

— "I ORDERED MANCE RAYDER BURNED AT THE STAKE." Jon and Nymeria stood before Stannis in the chamber that he'd taken up residence in as he scrutinised them from behind his desk, though his gaze was fixated more so on Jon right now. "You prevented that order from being carried out. You showed mercy to Mance Rayder. A king's word is law. Perhaps you should ask Ser Davos how much mercy I show to lawbreakers." Jon's eyes flitted to the Onion Knight's missing fingers before turning back down to the floor. "Show too much kindness, people won't fear you. They don't fear you, they don't respect you. If they don't fear you, they don't follow you." Stannis recited these things as if teaching simple facts to a child, something Nymeria did not appreciate. He may have led men into battle and lorded over Baratheon lands, but there were no kings at the Wall, and now, thanks to him, there were none North of the Wall either. And he thought he could just swoop in and take control? As if he had any right because his brother usurped the Iron Throne from a madman a couple decades ago? It was ego. Nothing more. Not the stuff of a true king.

"With respect, Your Grace, the Free Folk will never follow you." Jon told him. "You're the man who burned their king alive."

"Who then? You?"

"No. Only one of their own."

Stannis stared at him a second, his expression unreadable before his gaze shifted to Nymeria, and he gave her a small nod, moving to hand her a small roll of parchment. "Do you know this wretched girl? Lyanna Mormont."

Nymeria blinked, a little surprised at the familiar name. "My grandfather's niece. My cousin." She took the parchment.

Stannis nodded. "Lady of Bear Island and a child of 10." Her heart ached slightly at the mention of her old home. Even after nearly seven years, it had not faded. "I asked her to commit her house to my cause. That's her response."

In rough handwriting, there was etched only one sentence there on the scroll. "Bear Island knows no king but the King in the North, whose name is Stark." Her lips curved up slightly as she read it, trailing off into a soft breath of a laugh.

"That amuses you?"

She straightened, clasping her hands behind her back and doing her best to compose herself quickly. "Apologies, Your Grace. I have not been home in many years, but I have always been fond of my cousin. Northerners... are not unlike the Free Folk, I suppose. Stubborn. Loyal to our own."

"I know." The undertone of amusement in his admission was so faint and so unexpected that Nymeria almost thought she'd imagined it. "My brother, Robert, went on often and loudly about how difficult it was to control them..." His eyes shifted to Jon. "Even with your father's help."

"Tonight, the Night's Watch elects a new Lord Commander." Ser Davos spoke up. "Ser Alliser Thorne is going to win." Nymeria didn't bother trying to hide the distaste in her expression.

"Most likely." Jon agreed.

"Unpleasant man. He thinks you're a traitor," He nods at Jon. "and that there is no place for you here at the Wall." he nods at Nymeria.

She shrugs. "Technically he's not wrong. Jon worked with the Free Folk and women do not belong in the Night's Watch. Truth is truth."

"What are your lives going to be like here with Thorne in command?"

"As unpleasant as he is, I imagine."

"I've rarely witnessed such raw courage in a man before." Stannis spoke. "And never once in a woman. But you both had it, and it made him look weak. He'll punish you both for it. I don't punish bravery. I reward it."