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Ygritte, Near the Wall – the North.

“Is your nephew a God?” Ygritte asked with complete sincerity to the man riding beside her.

Viserys was his name, tall and handsome, a skilled warrior from what little Ygritte had been able to observe. And although under different circumstances the redhead would have loved to steal him for herself, the truth was that Aemon had ruined her for any other man.

Ygritte shuddered just hearing the name. Aemon Targaryen… by the Old Gods, she could feel her womanhood trembling with desire. She had no idea how she would accomplish it, but that man, Aemon… would be hers.

It had been an entire week since Ygritte had stared death in the eyes and lived to tell the tale. The animals that had killed Orell were now food for the crows, and although battered and bruised, Tormund was alive and recovering, thanks to the Gods and her Aemon.

Although the redhead knew the giant could hardly be having a pleasant time, considering that he was being escorted by a pair of those terrifying soldiers at all times.

Lycants, Aemon had called them. Enormous in size and power, although that did not matter at the moment. Ygritte’s attention was focused on Viserys’s answer.

“He isn’t, although… the line becomes blurry even for me,” said the young man with moon-colored hair, making Ygritte snort before replying.

“Hard to believe, considering the inside of that impressive carriage. It’s obvious you aren’t your typical Southern Lordings.”

Ygritte’s words made Viserys snort as well before answering.

“Tell me about it,” making the redhead laugh loudly, an action that was interrupted by Aemon, who brought the entire caravan to a halt with a single gesture of his hand.

“We’ll camp here. We’re a day from the Wall and it’s already getting dark. Chiara, coordinate the Lycants and secure a perimeter. Have their tents surround the carriage. Standard defensive enchantments and Muggle-repelling wards,” Aemon ordered, making the Shield Maiden who followed him everywhere like a shadow nod firmly before beginning to move with discipline.

“And here it comes,” Ygritte whispered to herself excitedly, watching with her cerulean eyes as Aemon drew his wand from his sleeve and began moving it elegantly around him.

“I never get tired of watching this… I can understand why you confuse him with a God,” Viserys said cautiously, watching just as astonished as Ygritte as the trees around them began to move… enormous roots emerging from the earth and, before the redhead’s incredulous gaze, beginning to walk as though they were legs, rearranging the entire forest according to the handsome Dragon’s will.

And while this was happening, the Lycants, led by the relentless Chiara, used their infamous wands. Ygritte did not know exactly what they were doing, but Aemon had said they were spells meant to keep intruders away during the night.

The spectacle lasted as usual, a few minutes of concentration, until the trees buried their roots once again around the carriage and tents, while the now-familiar invisible dome made its appearance over the camp, with an immediate effect.

The cold Ygritte was more than accustomed to simply disappeared, leaving behind a pleasant and utterly strange temperate climate. Snowflakes gently struck the Dome before sliding toward the ground, while all the soldiers began to relax and assign shifts to defend the place.

And now… came Ygritte’s favorite part.

The carriage.

Aemon dismounted his horse in a single leap. The animal walked on its own toward the area assigned to the rest of the beasts, where one of the soldiers was already brushing and feeding them.

All of this took place beneath the attentive gaze of the no-longer-so-small Ghost, the loyal and terrifying companion of Ygritte’s Future Man.

“He’s… incredible. The speed at which he grows is insane. In a few moons he’ll be the size of a fucking horse,” Tormund said, walking with the branch he had been using as a crutch toward where Ygritte stood, looking around with interest.

Ygritte rolled her eyes and replied.

“He’ll be a fierce beast, just as fierce as his Master, evidently,” the redhead said with obvious pleasure, making Tormund snort as he rolled his eyes.

“Gods, look at you, hahaha! You look like a bitch in heat over that boy, hahaha! Although after what we’ve seen, I understand perfectly, hahaha,” Tormund said, making Ygritte punch him in the stomach, silencing him with a painful groan.

“So… when are you going to steal him? We’re a day away from the fucking castle of the Crows, and I imagine you’ll want the protection that man can provide,” Tormund said, at the same time that Aemon approached once again, interrupting Tormund and Ygritte’s conversation.

“I see your leg is better. That Bolton bastard really fucked you up,” Aemon said with complete sincerity, making Tormund grimace in pain and nod softly.

“Aye, I thought I’d die. That fucking bastard was a twisted piece of shit. I’m glad your uncle fucked him up, although I wish I could have seen it,” the redhead said in the most respectful tone Ygritte had ever heard from Tormund.

Although she was not really surprised. Ygritte knew the giant redhead was far from stupid. He knew perfectly well that the white-armored soldiers would tear him apart within seconds, just as they had done to the men who captured them in the first place.

“Viserys, go to the carriage and make sure dinner is ready for everyone, as well as the provisions for the Night’s Watch. I have a conversation to finish with our guests,” the black-haired man ordered, making the aforementioned Viserys nod calmly and begin walking toward the carriage, which had already been arranged, leaving Ygritte and Tormund alone with Aemon.

“And now… what am I going to do with you two?” Aemon asked with a sigh, making Ygritte and Tormund frown, knowing that their lives depended upon this conversation.

“You won’t hand us over to the Crows. If you wanted us dead, you would have executed us already. You know we’re Freefolk, born beyond the Wall. We’ve never hidden it,” Ygritte said bravely, taking a step forward beneath Ormund’s incredulous gaze and Aemon’s amused one.

“Aye… I don’t make a habit of executing people without reason. However, I need an explanation as to why you were so far South. The Bolton lands are quite far from the Wall,” Aemon said calmly, but with an unmistakable tone of authority that made it perfectly clear he wanted an explanation.

And quickly.

Tormund and Ygritte looked at each other, having an entire conversation in a matter of seconds.

“You wouldn’t believe us if we told you, lad,” Tormund said sincerely, his solemn frown filling Aemon’s handsome face with confusion. The black-haired man simply nodded calmly, his expression twisted with curiosity.

“I had an interesting conversation with Lord Stark. He mentioned that raids Beyond the Wall had increased considerably over the past few months, and he also told me about something… peculiar. An execution involving a deserter of the Night’s Watch,” Aemon said calmly, making Ygritte and Tormund stare at him in surprise.

“An execution? You kill Crows?” the redhead asked curiously, making Aemon focus his heavy gaze on the enormous man before calmly nodding.

“We do, when they abandon their post and desert the Order. However… this man was different, at least according to Lord Stark. He did not possess the bearing of a coward, but when he was found… he was absolutely terrified. Will was his name, a Ranger, one who… apparently, had been sent to investigate mysterious disappearances beyond the Wall… entire clans vanishing without any signs of struggle. Quite curious, don’t you think?” Aemon asked calmly, making both Ygritte and Tormund avert their eyes uncomfortably.

“You’re running away,” Aemon declared calmly, but with a tone filled with finality and certainty, making both of them look at him solemnly.

Ygritte did not answer, but Tormund stupidly tried to deny it.

“Of course not, we… MMMMGM—”

The young redhead gasped, stunned, terrified, and somewhat excited as Aemon, with a simple gesture of his hand, simply erased Tormund’s mouth completely.

“I’m not in the mood for games or stupidity, Tormund of the Freefolk. I have responsibilities toward my people. If there is something Beyond the Wall terrifying enough to make thousands of you desperately attempt to cross it, then I need to know,” Aemon reprimanded him. His voice remained calm, but his tone made it clear that he was in no mood for games of any kind.

A message Tormund understood loud and clear, limiting himself to nodding rapidly.

Aemon held his gaze for several seconds of uncomfortable silence before, with a lazy gesture, restoring Tormund’s mouth, much to the redhead’s obvious relief.

Aemon leaned forward, observing both of them with a deep and penetrating gaze, the look of someone accustomed to dominating and commanding the attention of the men around him.

The gaze of a King, Ygritte thought, rubbing her legs restlessly as she felt feminine sensations stirring within her at Aemon’s imposing and dominant bearing.

“Now… I will ask one more time, and I expect an answer. What are you running from?” he asked, completely focused on both redheads.

Ygritte inhaled deeply before looking directly into Aemon’s beautiful and powerful eyes and answering.

“The winter, Aemon. We’re running from the winter.”

The redhead’s words were filled with sincerity and solemnity. She had seen Aemon do truly impossible things. Perhaps… he really could help them escape the winter.

It was her last hope, if she was being honest.

The black-haired man stared directly into her eyes for several seconds, analyzing the truthfulness of Ygritte’s words, until he simply nodded slowly, making the redhead sigh in relief.

“I believe your word. However… I’m afraid I’ll need more than words,” Aemon said with a sigh as he closed his eyes, making both Tormund and Ygritte frown.

“I don’t understand. What proof do you need? It’s not as though I can take you Beyond the Wall and—”

Alas, Ygritte’s words were interrupted as Aemon opened his eyes, which had changed from dark gray to a… brilliant purple, charged with power.

“I apologize in advance, but… there is no other way,” he said calmly, making Ygritte frown and open her mouth, but before she could say anything, Aemon spoke one particular word that would change everything, at least for Ygritte.

“Legilimens.”

And then… everything around her turned black…

At least… for an instant.

Aemon Targaryen, Ygritte’s Mind.

“OH, FUCK!” screamed the anything-but-discreet redhead, who throughout the seven days of travel had done nothing but throw provocative hints, trying to lure him into her bed.

Aemon had seen right through her with ease. His passive Legilimency had been a blessing in understanding that the attraction was genuine and growing stronger by the moment, but that the primary reason Ygritte wanted to share his bed was survival.

Hypergamy, they called it on Midgard. That primitive impulse within women to pair with the strongest man in their environment, and in Ygritte’s eyes, Aemon was practically perfect.

He was not cruel, possessed power and martial skill, and most importantly, the young Dragon could not deny the redhead’s attractiveness. Both the Wolf and the Dragon within him wanted to take her for themselves and make her cry out his name while claiming her and breeding her.

Alas, that would have to wait, at least until he had a precise idea of what the hell was happening North of the Wall.

“We are inside your mind, in your memories to be precise. I apologize for the intrusion, but I will not take risks with the safety of my people or my kingdom,” Aemon said calmly. His tone conveyed apology, but also firmness, making Ygritte frown.

“But what the fuck did you do? Where are we? I…”

Alas, Ygritte’s words were interrupted by Aemon, who gently but firmly took her chin, silencing and subduing the redhead instantly with a single look.

“Silence.”

To Aemon’s amusement, the redhead obeyed, although her frown remained for an instant, until…

“AHHHHHG!” Aemon cried out in pain when he felt the feral young woman bite his hand hard, forcing him to release her. To his surprise, the redhead launched herself at him with her fist clenched, more than ready to strike him for some strange reason.

Something Aemon obviously did not allow.

With a firm gesture, hands made of snow emerged from the ground of the memory, instantly paralyzing the redhead. With another movement, they forced her to her knees, completely subduing her, although to Aemon’s amusement, the young redhead refused to stop struggling.

Amused, Aemon knelt beside Ygritte, who was still struggling, and asked:

“Would you mind telling me what you’re doing?” The incredulity in his voice was more than evident, making Ygritte look at him as though he were insane before replying.

“I’m stealing you!” she said, as though it were the most obvious thing in the world and Aemon were an idiot for asking such a stupid question.

But before he could ask the young redhead for clarification, something caught Aemon’s attention in the memory they were witnessing.

In an instant, the sunny day turned… dark over the small village. Men, women, and children began looking around, cautious and frightened.

But the most disturbing reaction belonged to Ygritte, who, much to Aemon’s concern, had begun trembling as she watched fearfully while a dense and evidently magical fog began appearing around the outskirts of the forest…

When…

He saw them.

“By the Gods!” Aemon whispered, completely stunned and shocked as enormous beings, at least two meters tall, with thin and elongated bodies and carrying spears of ice began emerging from the trees.

They were… the most terrifying things Aemon had ever seen. Something truly incredible, considering the amount of shit the young Dragon had witnessed in such a short time. But these beings… there was something about them that was simply… wrong. There was no other way to describe it.

And then, without any warning, the apparent leader opened its mouth, which, for some strange reason, had an effect of induced psychosis on everyone present in the memory, while the Ice Giants began descending upon the village without a single trace of mercy.

Aemon looked all around him, observing every necessary detail, trying to obtain as much information as possible, until…

“No, please, stop, please…”

Aemon’s attention left the scene and focused on a terrified Ygritte, tears filling her eyes as she cried uncontrollably, her body trembling, undoubtedly because of Aemon’s actions forcing her to relive a traumatic memory.

Therefore, with immense embarrassment, Aemon severed the connection, returning to the camp, directly beside a terrified and trembling Ygritte, who, without hesitation, threw herself into his arms, seeking comfort that Aemon immediately allowed.

“Ygritte? YGRITTE! What the fuck happened?” Tormund asked in alarm upon seeing the state of the redhead, but Aemon simply frowned at his irresponsibility and limited himself to answering.

“She is fine. I will take care of her. From now on, she is one of my women, and you will become part of my household. I have seen the White Death that is approaching… we have much to do,” Aemon said firmly, making Tormund stare at him in surprise before hesitantly nodding.

Aemon simply nodded and carried the trembling redhead to his chambers. He would need a couple of potions to calm her, but he could not prevent worry from invading his mind.

Things… had become far more complicated than expected, and he knew he would have to consult Donna about this…

White Walkers.

There was too much at stake.