jon and susan

[youknow_nothing]

Nighttime suited Ygritte better than the days did here. Perhaps it was the drop in heat, or perhaps it was that there were fires lit at night, their light glittering in the dark trees-- if one was high enough up to see it. She often climbed as high as she could to watch, and to see the dark sea beyond, staring at the water as if it might finally

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[onceaqueen]

Susan was not normally up at this time of night--that is to say, she was not usually out at this time of night. She was often up with Rickon, though as he had recently begun to sleep through the night sometimes this did not happen as often as it had.

This particular night Rickon had woken her to be fed; she nursed him and he went back to sleep, clutching his stuffed wolf, but Susan was still wide awake. After a while she got up, got dressed, whispered to Jon that she was going for a walk, would be back soon and was taking Shadow with her, (so he should not worry) and quietly went outside. Shadow tagged along at her heels, always ready to play, but Susan was not in the mood; she simply wanted to clear her head so she might go back to sleep again.

It would have been better for her state of mind not to have seen the small tent and fire down the path, and she made to turn away and go home, but Shadow darted towards Ygritte with an excited bark, wagging her tail furiously. Susan hung back, hesitant.

[youknow_nothing]

"Hello there," Ygritte said to the wolf, scratching behind her ears. "Why does your mistress hang back so? Is she afraid I'll bite her?" Lifting her head so her voice would carry, she said, "I won't, y'know."

Then again, it might be awkward for Susan. For them both.

[onceaqueen]

"No, I don't think that," said Susan, stepping into the circle of firelight that ringed Ygritte's campsite. "I'm just... not sure I should be here." She and Jon had carefully avoided any mention of Ygritte since their talk, and Susan had tried her best--unsuccessfully--not to even think of her.

[youknow_nothing]

"It's perfectly safe," Ygritte said, her nose scrunching up just the smallest amount with confusion. "And y'have well earned yourself a walk without baby or man." Honestly, she'd never understand Susan sometimes.

[handandahalf]

"I thought nothing could be worse than a husband," Jon said drily, stepping from the shadows into the circle of her firelight. Ghost beside him moved to shove his nose into Ygritte's hand, suggesting perhaps that her attention was wasted on the goat, which might better make a direwolf's dinner than a wildling's pet. "I hope you don't mind the company," Jon added, pulling up a stump for a seat without being invited.

[youknow_nothing]

"And here I thought you don't hear a word I say," Ygritte said loftily, and spared some attention for her old friend-- Ghost, not Jon. If asked, she would have fiercely maintained that the goat was less pet and more livestock. A herd of one.

She did care for it a bit much, though.

"If I minded your company, I'd have got rid o'you a long time ago."

[handandahalf]

The nonchalant way she spoke of getting rid of him pricked his sensitivity, reminded him (as if he'd had a chance of forgetting) that part of him was actually quite upset with her. But he knew he couldn't start an argument; in the anger department, at least, they were badly mismatched, Ygritte's temper outstripping his by a country mile. Instead of talking, then, he watched her sit and bury her fingers in Ghost's fur, scratching, the direwolf lying back with his tongue lolling out and his eyes squeezed shut in ecstasy. They made too pretty a picture, and suddenly Jon's heart ached with the memory of home.

[youknow_nothing]

Ygritte laughed at the wolf and kissed the top of his furry head before she turned her attention to Jon. "What are you sulking about this fine evening, Jon Snow?"

She'd supposed he'd already managed to make up with Susan.