𝐻𝐸𝑅𝑂𝑖𝑁𝐸 | 𝐽𝑜𝑛 𝑆𝑛𝑜𝑤

seventeen.

"𝙉𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙞𝙨 𝙟𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙣𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜"

Her heart had stopped. She wasn't ready to fight again, she felt fragile and unprepared, in desperate need of rest. The figure wouldn't normally bring this much panic to her, but after the battle, it worried her.

However, her fears were squashed when the stranger turned around and faced her. She was met with Jon. He was much cleaner than hours earlier, and he no longer wore the huge, dark cloak he sported around Castle Black. He still had his beard, reluctant to shave it off, and he still had the same long hair. Ashara was slightly embarrassed that she couldn't tell it was Jon, but in her defence, he is half the size when he does not wear his cloak.

"Jon, what are you doing in here?" She quizzed him as she took off her weapons and her cloak.

"This used to be my room. Catelyn had put me in this room, away from the main house. She thought it would be best that way." He wasn't really paying much attention to the woman he had grown so fond of. He was picking small memos up from the room. Specific scratches or broken pieces of wood or the one brick that hung funny over the fire place.

Ashara couldn't take her eyes off of him. He no longer looked like the strong, fighting man she saw hours earlier. He was now a weak and fragile little boy, who needed to be looked after.

"Roose gave me this room, for the same reason I may add." She smiled at him, and he curled his lips in reply.

"We wouldn't have won without you today Ara. Thank you." It was the first time he looked at her in the eye since she stepped into the room.

"You led the line Jon, the men followed you, not me. After seeing Rickon fall like that, you had to be strong, and you were. We would have been lost without you Jon." Ashara had walked over to Jon by this point, giving a consoling hand on the shoulder, remembering that he also lost another Stark sibling hours before.

They were now left in a silence. It wasn't awkward or uncomfortable, it was nice. There was no longer the ringing of metal clashing together or the screaming of dying men. It was just both of them, enjoying each other's company.

After some time, Ashara heard Jon's voice again.

"Do you want me to leave?" He asked, whilst she stood in front of the fire, warming herself on the cold winter night.

"Do you want to leave?" She fired back at him, not taking her eyes off the flames dancing before her.

"I think we both know the answer to that." Jon looked over at Ashara as the words left his mouth. He couldn't help but feel warm on the inside when he looked at her. She was beautiful, both inside and out.

Without saying anything, Ashara walked over to the bed, and started the pull the furs back. Her face was stern and not as soft as it was moments before. Jon knew this face; it was one of concentration and thinking.

"Jon, I know the feelings I have towards you are reciprocated, but can they be acted upon?" She was visibly sad now, and also tired. Her eyes were drooping and her facial features becoming more relaxed.

"Ashara, I would love nothing more than to court you, but we both know the time isn't right." Saying the words out loud made them real. Jon wished that he could live in his fantasy world with Ashara, where there were no roles to be played, and it could be just them.

But Jon knew this wouldn't be the case right now. He had just regained his home, and he wanted nothing more than to make it the Starks again. There was too much to be done, and with winter coming faster and faster each day, it made the task of loving someone selfish.

Ashara knew Jon would put his people first, but her selfish side was overbearing her. She wanted Jon to herself, to feel his love and she wanted the power to love him for all to see.

"I understand Snow." She spoke quietly, whilst removing herself from the furs and standing in front of Jon. Being this close made both their hearts race, their breaths shallower and their mouths dry.

"But just know, I'll wait for you Jon. I'll wait for an eternity if I have to." She looked down at her feet, feeling a wave of sadness overcome her all of a sudden.

It broke Jon's heart to see her this way, but this is the way it had to be, they both knew it.

But Jon couldn't resist, he slightly pulled her chin upwards so she would look at him. His eyes scanned hers, but all he saw was a worn-out woman. She didn't even look like a woman at this moment, she looked like a vulnerable little girl.

Jon couldn't stop himself, as he edged closer to Ashara, and her the same. They felt each other's hot breath on one another's faces as they still held the eye contact that had become so intense. Then Jon made his move, slightly pressing his lips to hers, making sure she was comfortable.

Ashara thought his lips were soft and smooth, an impressive feat for these winter months. Their lips moulded together, as they moved in sync, melting into one another. The kiss was soft and gentle, all the things they hadn't experienced in the last few weeks.

Both of them longed to stay here forever, their lips connected as they became one. It was the first time both of them felt loved for a long time. Jon hadn't felt this way since Ygritte, and Ashara was certain she had never felt this way before.

Her hands moved up his back, connecting behind his neck as his were placed firmly on her waist. The kiss was sweet, and perfect for their first.

With both reluctant to let go, Ashara broke away first. She couldn't help but smile when she saw his face, a recurring problem she seemed to face. Jon's face was the same as hers, showing his teeth.

"I'll leave you to it." He said to her, giving Ashara one last small kiss on her forehead. She nodded and said goodbye, with Jon walking out the door, closing the wood carefully.

Ashara was left by herself in the small room she loved so much. Everything was in the same place as when she left, the bed looked as if it was untouched and the fire didn't seem as if it was burnt.

Falling on to her bed, she surrounded herself with the covers and slowly closed her eyes, with the tingling of Jon's lips still apparent on her forehead.

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Hey guys, it's been a while since i updated this book but i've been so busy with work and life that this book slipped my mind. Sorry for not updating but i have a few chapters written for you guys so they'll be coming soon !! if your still waiting for this to be updated then thank you for sticking with this book, there's more to come for both Ashara and Jon ♡