Chapter Text
“Bring him in here”, said the woman dressed in red, pushing open the door to the maester’s anteroom.
The two queen’s men grunted as they ducked down slightly and staggered through the narrow doorway, trying not to bump the injured man against the door frame.
“Gently, please”, she said as they laid him on the narrow cot. One of the men lowered the injured man’s arms to his sides while the other glanced with suspicion at Satin who stood frozen in the doorway. The queen’s man jerked a thumb at him and turned to Melisandre.
“What about him?” he asked. “Is he one of them?”
She shook her head.
“Leave him be”, she replied.
Satin had moved to a corner of the room and was keening softly. Melisandre pursed her lips in annoyance before turning back to the queen’s men.
“Please send your mistress my regards for your assistance and tell her that I am unavailable for the time being. I will update her when I have any news to pass on”, she said with a curt nod.
“Very good, milady”, said one of the guards. They both bowed briefly before turning on their heels and exiting the room, closing the door behind them.
“You”, she said as she turned to the weeping man.”Can you read?”
He pressed the heels of his hands to his eyes and wiped the tears away.
“Some”, he replied hoarsely. He tugged at the hem of his jerkin as he straightened up and then composed his face.
“Very well”, she said as she strode over to the desk. She picked up a quill, dipped in the inkwell and scribbled a few words on a piece of parchment before presenting it the man.
“Take this list to my room. There you will find a collection of bottles filled with herbs arrayed on a shelf. Bring me back the bottles with these names on them” she said. “And be quick about it…his life may depend upon it”.
Satin nodded as he lined the list carefully into his fist. Then he crossed over to the door and yanked it open.
A distraught looking blonde woman was just raising her fist to knock on the door. He gave her a stricken look before brushing past her.
“What happened?” asked Val. “I heard the commotion outside”.
Her face fell when she recognized the man lying on the cot. She gripped the door frame and stared at the gaping wound on the side of his neck and the blood that had spread under his armpits, staining the white sheet beneath his body.
“Does he live?” she whispered, her eyes fixed on the Jon’s face.
Melisandre glanced up at her before placing two fingers on his neck. Then she leaned down to place an ear to his chest, watching it rise and fall as he took irregular shallow breaths.
“Barely”, she replied while lifting her head.
Melisandre fumbled with the buttons on Jon’s leather jerkin.
“Help me get his clothes off…I need to examine the other wounds” she said.
Val strode over to the side of the cot and produced a bone knife from the sheath at her hip.
“This is faster”, she said as she slipped the knife underneath the buttons on his leather jerkin and cut them off one by one before peeling the garment aside. Then she ripped open his shirt and slashed the sleeves to uncover his upper body completely.
His belly was a mangled mass of slowly coagulating blood oozing from a wound that Melisandre determined to be at least two inches deep. Then they carefully lifted him and rolled him to on to his side to discover another wound, not quite as deep, between his shoulder blades.
The woman in red stared at the blonde woman, her eyes glittering with intensity.
“Have you ever cleaned and dressed a knife wound before?” she asked.
Val uttered a short, brittle laugh.
“Too many times to count”, she replied as she balled up his torn shirt and pressed it to his belly to staunch the slow flow of blood from escaping.
Jon suddenly uttered a sharp cry as his face twisted in pain. Val’s refocused her concentration on maintaining pressure on the wound as he began to flail. She called out in desperation to Melisandre who had already risen to root about in the maester’s cupboards.
“Milk of the poppy”, Val gasped, struggling to keep his hands away from hers as he writhed in agony.
Melisandre uttered a small cry of triumph before whirling around with a small bottle in her grasp. She quickly measured out a dose and administered it, drop by drop, between Jon’s lips. Then she laid it aside before pressing gentle but firm hands on his shoulders.
“Relax, Lord Commander”, she said soothingly as he continued to buck in response to the pain. “Give the medication a chance to take hold…we’re going to take good care of you”.
Minutes ticked by in relative silence, broken only by the occasional moan that escaped Jon’s lips, before his limbs began to slow in response to the painkiller. As the numbness crept over his body, his face took on a more serene look as if he had slipped into peaceful slumber.
Once she was assured that he would no longer resist her keeping pressure on his injured belly, Val slowly raised the bloodstained bundle of cloth and determined that the bleeding had finally stopped.
Melisandre filled a basin with fresh water and laid it next to the cot. Then she dipped a fresh cloth in the water, wrung it out and began to gently wipe away the blood from his body.
Val reached over and indicated that she would take over the bathing.
“See if you can find a needle and some silk”, she said. Melisandre nodded and rose to search the cupboard once more.
The door suddenly burst open, kicked in by Satin whose arms were full of small bottles that clinked as he entered the room. Hot on his heels was Jon’s great white direwolf, Ghost.
“He met me outside the Lord Commander’s quarters”, panted Satin as he unloaded the bottles on to the wooden examination table.
Ghost padded over to Jon’s side and opened his mouth in a silent whimper. Then he lowered himself to the floor and stretched out next to the cot, his head resting between his paws and his red eyes fixed on the open door.
Melisandre checked each bottle until she was satisfied that Satin had not erred.
“I have another task for you”, she said to him as she began measuring out the contents of each bottle into a stone bowl. “I want you to fetch a clean bucket from the kitchen, take it outside and fill it halfway with fresh snow”.
She paused and looked up at him.
“I need to emphasize that the snow must be pristine…no horse piss, no bird droppings, no mud trampled into it…and then take it back to the kitchen and melt it down. Allow it to come to a rolling boil…no less. Once that is done then bring the water to me. Be careful not slosh it…time is of the essence and we can’t afford to wait for more”, she continued.
“Yes, milady”, said Satin with a quick nod before fleeing the room.
Val rose with the basin full of bloody water and crossed over to the window. She pushed open the shutters and poured the contents of the basin on to the roof below. She watched the rivulets of red water race each other down the slope of the roof until they dripped off the edge to the muddy yard below.
She stood there for a few minutes to survey the ghastly scene before her. The bodies of Jon’s attackers still lay side by side on the ground while the queen’s men wandered about collecting the limbs that the giant, Wun Wun, had torn from the dead men in retaliation for their assault on the Lord Commander.
“That’ll teach ‘em”, muttered Val as she closed the shutters.
As Val refilled the basin with fresh water, Melisandre ground the dried herbs with a wooden pestle until they were the consistency of flour.
“What is all that for?” asked Val as she tenderly daubed around the wound on Jon’s back with one hand while the other supported his shoulder.
“This will become a poultice”, replied Melisandre as she laid the pestle aside. Then she picked up the needle and raised it to the light streaming in through the cracks in the shutters so that she could thread the fine silk through the hole at the end.
She was holding the needle over a candle flame when Satin arrived carrying the bucket of water.
“Bring it over here”, instructed Melisandre. Satin laid it on the table next to the bowl of herbs.
Melisandre passed the needle over to Val and told her to begin sewing Jon’s wounds closed while she finished preparing the poultice with drops of the boiled water added to the herb mixture. As she worked at the concoction, she glanced at Satin who hovered anxiously nearby.
“Don’t stand there with idle hands”, she said as she pointed at a small sheet of fabric resting on the table near a corner. “Start tearing that muslin into small strips”.
Jon uttered a low moan as Val’s needle bit into his sensitive skin. Satin stared at him as he reached for the fabric, his hands shaking slightly.
“Please don’t let him die”, he whispered as he gripped the muslin with both hands and ripped it apart.
Melisandre glanced at Satin and gave him a small, reassuring smile.
“I believe that the Lord of Light is not ready to welcome the Lord Commander into his arms just yet”, she said as she poured some water into a small wooden bowl. Then she added some yellow powder and mixed it together quickly.
Val had completed stitching the gash on Jon’s neck just as Melisandre knelt beside her. She daubed at the wound with a piece of muslin dipped in the yellow liquid before smearing the poultice on top.
“The liquid will help keep the wounds clean and free from infection”, she explained, “while the poultice will aid in the healing process”.
Val gave her a look of curiosity tinged with admiration.
“I never took you to be a healer”, she said as she laid the small square of muslin that Satin passed to her over the wound and pressed it gently in place.
Melisandre’s lips tightened slightly.
“I’ve had to perform many duties over the years in service of R’hllor”, she said as she straightened up. “The Lord of Light gave me hands to serve him and it is through his divine light that I have developed the skills to serve others in his name”.
They continued on in silence with Val sewing small neat stitches upon which Melisandre spread her healing medications. When they finished closing and preparing the wounds for sealing, Satin wrapped his arms around Jon’s shoulders and raised him up while the women bound his torso with the clean fabric. Then he tenderly laid Jon back on the cot and covered him with the warm furs.
They were startled by a rap on the door and the clearing of a throat. Ghost raised his head and bared his teeth menacingly.
“Begging your pardon, milady”, said the commander of the queensguard as he shrank back slightly, “but her grace is concerned for your safety and has asked me to post a couple of guards outside the door for the night”.
“That won’t be necessary, ser”, Melisandre replied coolly. “As you can see the Lord Commander’s wolf is more than enough protection”.
The commander took a couple of hesitant steps further into the room and then halted when Ghost rose to his feet and snarled silently at him.
“Milady”, he said, desperation rising in his voice, “right now tensions with the wildlings are at fever pitch…if the Lord Commander should pass there is great potential for a bloodbath. Please…let us offer you our protection…it would ease the queen’s mind greatly”.
“The Lord of Light is all the protection I need, ser”, she replied as she gestured to him to leave. “Go now and pray to him for guidance. May his light shine upon all of you and protect you from the powers of eternal darkness”.
“But, milady…” he sputtered as she shooed him out the door. He was still protesting when she closed the door firmly behind him.
“He’s right, you know”, said Val. “If Lord Crow should die then this fragile truce is at an end. Then there will be outright war because there is nobody left who has enough influence to stop it…not your hairy queen, not that self-proclaimed fool of a king, Gerrick Kingsblood, and certainly none of the other crows”.
Melisandre crossed over to the table and busied herself putting away the medical supplies.
“Then…” she replied as she stacked the linens, “it is in everyone’s interest to keep him alive. The next few hours will be critical. As long as there is no damage to his organs and he does not bleed internally then he has a fighting chance”.
As the darkness set in, Satin was sent to the kitchen to procure some food and drink while Melisandre and Val retained their vigil by Jon’s side. Once they had supped, it was agreed that the three of them would take turns watching over Jon with Satin taking the first watch.
“Wake me when it’s my time”, said Val in a low voice as she paused by the open door. Then she slipped into the corridor, softly closing the door behind her.
Satin sat down on the edge of the cot and took Jon’s limp hand in his. He brushed the back of Jon’s hand lightly while keeping his eyes trained on the injured man’s face.
“How long have you been in love with him?” asked Melisandre.
Surprise lit up his face as he locked eyes with her and then fear crept in unbidden. She could see the denial forming on his lips until he took a deep breath and a sense of resolve appeared to wash over him.
“Long enough”, he said with a sigh.
Melisandre smiled slightly and pulled up a chair.
“Milady”, Satin demurred, “please don’t feel the need to stay. You must need your rest”.
She shook her head as she folded her hands neatly across her belly.
“I no longer sleep”, she said. “The Lord of Light has given me infinite energy so that I am always prepared to do his bidding”.
She glanced at Jon before turning her attention back to Satin.
“Does he…does he know?” she asked.
Satin lowered his gaze and then gently released Jon’s hand. He shook his head.
“No”, he replied hoarsely.
Then he raised his eyes.
“And he must never know”, he said, his tone low and gutteral. “I can’t risk having him send me away like the others”.
She gave him a puzzled look.
“When he became Lord Commander, he started isolating himself from his friends and allies. Then he started sending them away to serve elsewhere”, he explained with a shake of his head. “I don’t understand…all of this might have been avoided if he had chosen to keep us nearby…to confide in us of his intentions. We might have been able to dissuade him, warn him or, at least, protect him from the knives”.
“To the Lord Commander, leadership is a burden that he chose to shoulder alone”, she said. “He knew that if he sinned then he alone would have to accept the consequences unflinchingly. And now he may be paying the highest price of all for his decisions”.
She leaned over to refill their flagons of wine and then sat back.
“Regardless of your feelings towards him he never would have sent you away,” she said before taking a sip.
Satin looked doubtful.
“How can you be so sure?” he asked.
“He kept you here to protect you. The men know who you are so that is why he made you his steward…to keep you safe”, she replied.
He scowled and stared into his cup.
“I’m not weak”, he retorted. “I’m an excellent archer and any one of them will tell you I’m fearless in a fight”.
“I never said you were weak”, said Melisandre with a slight shake of her head. “But you are…vulnerable”.
Satin swallowed hard and looked away briefly.
“I confess that I’ll be lost if he dies…but I’ll survive”, he said dully.
Melisandre gave him one of her rare smiles.
“Your brand of love is rare…altruistic love…you expect nothing of him in return…only that he be present in your life”, she said.
They sat in companionable silence for a while. Satin took up Jon’s hand again, stroking his face and murmuring encouraging words while Melisandre stared at the fire that burned steadily on the grate. After enough time had passed she could see Satin’s eyes begin to droop. So before fatigue could overtake him, she ordered him to fetch Val before retiring to his room for the night.
Val knocked on the door softly before pushing open the door. Ghost raised his head briefly as she approached the cot where Jon still slept soundly, seemingly oblivious to his state. She leaned over him to listen to his breaths, checking for that telltale rattle that usually signaled that the end was near. Then she glanced at Melisandre.
“Any change?” she asked.
Melisandre shook her head.
“He’s holding his own”, she replied.
Val leaned over and touched Jon’s face, tracing a line from his brow to his chin, and then placed the back of her hand against his forehead for a few seconds. She turned back to Melisandre.
“He feels a little warm to the touch…have you checked for signs of fever setting in?” she asked.
Melisandre shook her head.
“Stop hovering over him like an over anxious mother. I assure you that nothing is changed”, she snapped. “There is fresh water in the basin if you want to give him a bath. If nothing else it would give you something to do while we wait”.
Val opened her mouth and was about to retaliate with an angry response but changed her mind. She rose to fetch the basin and rummaged about for clean cloth. Then she sat on the edge of the cot and dipped the cloth in the water.
“That was uncalled for”, she said sullenly as she gently wiped his face.
Melisandre shrugged her shoulders.
“I never meant to give offense”, she said.
“Shouldn’t you be abed?” asked Val irritably as she dragged the cloth across Jon’s shoulders. Then she stopped and turned to Melisandre when she didn’t receive an immediate response.
“I couldn’t sleep any longer”, Melisandre replied.
Val chuckled.
“Well, I know that’s a lie because Satin told me that you kept him company during his watch”, she said as she returned to bathing Jon, carefully skirting around the edges of the bandage on his neck.
A secretive look passed over Melisandre’s face.
“Why do you continue to lie to yourself about your feelings for the Lord Commander?” she asked.
Val paused and turned to stare at the priestess. Then she frowned and turned back to bathing Jon.
“There’s no sense pining after something you can never have”, she replied as she wrung out the cloth. Then she set the basin on the floor and rose from the bed. She picked up Satin’s empty cup and poured herself some wine.
“Did it irk you when he refused the king’s offer?” asked Melisandre.
Val took a gulp of wine and raised her hand to swipe at her mouth.
“Not really”, she drawled. “I had no desire to be married off to a man I barely knew in order to satisfy the political ambitions of some southern king. But I admired his reason for not accepting the offer. My opinion of him changed when I found out why so I began to watch him more closely. Every day I watched him running himself ragged trying to please everyone… your king, the free folk, his fellow crows…and ending up not really pleasing anyone. And then, just when he tries to commit one selfish act by announcing that he was going south to save his sister from the clutches of a man who sounds like a monster and pre-empt an attack on the Watch, the crows try to kill him”.
She shook her head and looked away in disgust.
“They considered it an act of desertion”, said Melisandre, “and so felt obligated to execute him on the spot”.
“Bastards”, whispered Val vehemently.
“Is that when your feelings for him changed?” asked Melisandre.
Val shook her head.
“I knew how I felt about him when he entrusted me with finding Tormund and bringing him to Castle Black”, she said. “There were any number of others who could have done the same…but he turned to me. And I didn’t have it in my heart to refuse him”.
“I must admit I was surprised when you returned with your prize”, said Melisandre. “I would have expected you to disappear into the hinterland”.
“Oh believe me...it crossed my mind more than once”, replied Val. “But I knew I could never forgive myself if I betrayed his trust. And I knew how important it was to him to have Tormund by his side. So I gritted my teeth and pressed on until I found him and brought him here”.
Val glanced at Jon as he stirred in his sleep. She reached over and drew the furs back over his shoulders.
“So…what happens to him if he survives his wounds?” she asked as she furrowed her brow.
Melisandre laid her empty cup aside and leaned back in her chair.
“I have the ear of the queen…I will recommend that we delay any trial until the Lord Commander has recovered from his injuries and the situation has stabilized. And then, by that time, all that has transpired will no longer matter”, she answered cryptically.
Val had been on the verge of asking the red priestess what she meant when she was interrupted by a knock and the sound of the hinges groaning as door slowly opened. It was a bleary-eyed Satin.
“Sorry…I couldn’t sleep any longer not knowing how he’s doing”, he said apologetically.
“He is unchanged”, said Melisandre as she rose from her seat and crossed over to Jon’s side to lay a cool hand on his forehead.
Ghost yawned as Satin slipped quietly into the room and closed the door. He leaned against it wringing his hands.
“Many people have been asking about him…they are worried that he may already be dead and that we are hiding the truth from them. There have been some skirmishes between the brothers and the wildlings and the queen’s men have confined some to their quarters while others have been thrown into the ice cells to cool off”, he said. “And there is talk of executing him for breaking his oath”.
Val swore and stood up.
“I’ll steal him away before I let that happen”, she cried, her eyes blazing.
Melisandre gestured to them for calm.
“There will be no execution”, she said. “The Lord of Light has shown me the future in the fires. Soon the Lord Commander will recover from his wounds and there will be talk of a trial…and yes, talk of execution. But the Wall is doomed to fall and the powers of darkness will soon descend upon us. This will force us to band together in the face of a common foe. We will need the Lord Commander’s arm and his bastard sword unless we are prepared to meet a cold and certain death.”
There was a rap at the door and the muffled voice of a queen’s man from the other side.
“Milady…the queen said it is most urgent that you meet with her. The unrest is causing her much strain and she is looking for reassurance that the state of Lord Commander Snow’s health will not become the spark that starts an open rebellion”, he said.
“I’m coming”, said Melisandre.
Then she turned to Val and Satin before opening the door.
“I shan’t be long”, she said. “We shall speak more when I return”.
Val and Satin locked eyes after the door clicked shut.
“Do you believe her?” asked Satin.
Val’s eyes darted to the door before she returned her gaze to Satin and nodded.
“I don’t trust her visions but I have no doubt she holds some sway over that bearded queen of hers”, she whispered. “She won’t let him die if she truly believes her red god has need of him”.
“And what if she realizes that she is wrong?” asked Satin.
Val shook her head.
“She is too fanatical to ever admit that she is anything but infallible”, she replied. “But I will speak to Tormund in private…we will have to form a back-up plan just in case her queen is not so easily persuaded”.
She bent down to lay a hand on Jon’s pale cheek.
“Do you know of a way to get him out of here safely…past those blasted guards?” she asked.
Satin nodded.
“There are passages known only to a few…but you’ll need me to show you the way”, he replied.
Satin reached out and took her hand.
“We have a pact but I want to be clear…I go wherever he goes”, he said, glancing at Jon’s face.
Val smiled and gave his hand a squeeze.
“You and me both”, she whispered.