13 | BLOODLINE

Reyanna was sitting outside watching the men train like little boys playing on a field. They were weak and untrained. She knew how to fight better than then and she was never properly trained as a knight or a swordsman. She sat next to Ghost on the cool soil, braiding her own hair back out of her face so that she could join the boys in training. But, as soon as she finished doing her hair, a woman with pale skin and deep red hair appeared before her. "The king wants a word." She told.

Reyanna didn't want to anger the man nor give him any incentive to kill her. She went to meet him at the top of the wall, where he stood enjoying the view. Reyanna curtsied before him, emphasizing his superiority. The woman with the deep red hair, whom Reyanna found out to be named Melisandre, spoke: "Your Grace, Lady Reyanna of Dragonstone."

The title sounded strange and not fitting for a girl like her who grew up past the wall with the free folk. "You seem like a smart little lady, Reyanna. A strong one, too. If I did not have my King's Watch, you probably could slit my throat in normal combat. Which is exactly why I wonder why I should still have you around. Your father was a traitor to my family." Stannis spoke.

Reyanna coughed. "What is it?" Stannis asked why she made such an uncomfortable noise in his presence.

"Well, a traitor is someone who betrays their allies. The Baratheons were never an ally to the Challinders. He was only remaining loyal to his friend. The Challinders are many things, but they are not disloyal nor are they lazy." Reyanna explained.

"You are intelligent, too, I see. Well, I do see that the Challinder genetics are quite prevalent in you. You are hardworking and strong. You are intelligent. You possess a leading figure despite being a woman. Perhaps your father's ideal fighting the Baratheons was passed down to you, as well." Stannis suggested.

"Fortunately for you, I am not my father." Reyanna told. She knew she would never be blindly loyal to any monarch unless she was that monarch, but there could be no way for her to ever become a queen. Her bloodline didn't stretch to the royal line, which could also be a bad thing— it meant that her bloodline was pure of incest and corruption.

"Very well, then. If there anything you ever need, Lady Reyanna, you tell me. And when I become King of the Andals— I promise you this, in order to restore order among the Seven Kingdoms, I'll give you the Reach, Westerland and any other kingdom ruled by an enemy." Stannis reached out his hand to shake Reyanna's as a pact.

"Why?" She asked, not shaking his hand yet.

"Because when this war is over, Westeros will be in shambles. And what it'll need are strong leaders who can give the people a sense of security and progress. In my observations, a Challinder can fulfill that role." Stannis admitted.

Reyanna nodded slowly and clasped her hand with his, shaking it firmly. "To our pact." Stannis nodded at her.

"To our pact." Reyanna repeated, smiling small at him as she imagined what she could could with all that power. All the progress she could make. She'd finally have a true home where her siblings could live and where she could have children in. Where she could live happily ever after. But that was if Stannis was to win.

* * *

That evening, Reyanna was excited to share the news to Jon of the deal she made with Stannis. She had even dressed appropriately for the occasion, with a satin dress hidden under her black robe so that she could reveal it to Jon. When they met in her room, she engulfed him in a hug. But, his mood seemed to be morbid and depressed. She quickly broke the hug and eyed him. "What is it?" She asked.

"Stannis told me I need to get the wildlings to fight for him against the Boltons who have taken over Winterfell. And if I didn't convince them by nightfall, they all burn. I talked to Mance, but he refused." He informed her, sighing in a stressed manner.

"They are to burn him?" Reyanna asked.

"Tonight." Jon sulked.

Sad silence then overcame the two. Jon respected the man because he knew he was truly a good man. Reyanna respected him because he took herself and her siblings in when they needed it most. "What was it that you wanted to tell me?" Jon asked, breaking away from the lingering mourning.

Reyanna shook her head. "I will tell you tomorrow." She turned to leave the room when Jon caught a glimpse of her shiny satin dress from beneath her robe. Jon stopped her by lightly grabbing her arm. He looked more carefully and noticed the expensive fabric she wore.

Cautiously, he peeled her robe away so that he could get a better look at the small dress. It was very provocative, showing off parts of her he had never seen. "Where did you get this?" Jon gulped.

"Melisandre gave it to me. I wore it for you." Reyanna told, looking down at the dress. She never was fond of dresses and she felt weird wearing them. She thought it didn't flatter her at all and they were extremely inconvenient to wear.

Jon flushed, his face lighting up into a bright red shade. Reyanna lifted his chin and smiled at him. "Do you like it?" She asked, her voice smoothing out like butter.

Jon nodded, his heartbeat quickening and his breaths were growing heavier. Reyanna chuckled and grabbed him by his collar, pulling him to her bed so that she could make love to him. It only felt natural, and it was about time.

* * *

After they were finished, Reyanna turned to stare at Jon. Jon was out of breath from their activities and droplets of sweat trickled down from his forehead. His curls were still shapely and clean, though. Jon turned his head to match Reyanna's gaze. "I love you." He told her, placing his hand on her cheek. His hand was rough and full of callouses, but it still felt warm and comfortable on Reyanna's cheek.

"I love you, too." Reyanna told. It was only Jon's second time doing the deed, but this time he felt he had truly connected with Rey. It felt real and it felt right. Reyanna already knew that she was in love with Jon, it took a lot from her to even remotely like someone— so when she realized she was attracted to him, she knew she was falling into a deep pit that would instantly take her to falling in love.

"No, Rey. I really love you. I want to have children with you. I want to grow old with you. I want to marry you." Jon told. Reyanna smiled, pressing his hand into her cheek even more. She imagined him with her and their future children running around on the lands that Stannis promised Reyanna.

"Children?" Reyanna giggled.

"Yes," he pushed her hair from her face, "they'll have our raven hair. And your blue eyes." Jon fantasized.

"We'd let them run free, like the free folk's children, and grow their hair out long and unruly." Reyanna laughed at the image.

"We would have hundreds of children. I have always loved big families." Jon pecked Reyanna's lips.

"Hundreds?! I guess we would have to start now." Reyanna told.

"I'm ready." Jon rolled on top of her, suggesting he would go for another round.

However, Reyanna playfully pushed him off. "We have larger tasks at hand, Jon Snow. We can't have children if we don't know they'd be safe with white walkers nearby." Reyanna laughed at his eagerness.

Jon nodded, then laid next to her just staring into her eyes for a few moments before he spoke again. "Promise me you'll never stop loving me. Even if I die."

"As long as you promise me the same."

* * *

That night, Mance was burned at the stake. And the next day, new problems confronted Rey and Jon. The Night's Watch was to choose a new Lord Commander, and depending on who won— they'd decide whether Reyanna could stay or must leave Castle Black. Stannis still wanted the free folk to follow and obey him. So, he proposed that if Jon were to somehow get the North to follow Stannis as their true king, he'd legitimize Jon Snow as Jon Stark, Lord of Winterfell. "I'm going to refuse him." Jon told Samwell and Reyanna.

"But you'd be Lord of Winterfell." Samwell was shocked at his words of rejection to legitimizing himself. It was every bastard's dream to no longer be considered a bastard.

"I swore a vow to the Night's Watch. If I don't take my own word seriously, what sort of Lord of Winterfell would I be?" Jon whispered over to the two before taking a seat in the dining hall before the voting of the new Lord Commander. Samwell and Reyanna plopped themselves next to Jon, not exchanging another word until needbe.

Then, Maester Aemon stood before everyone in the hall. "Does anyone wish to speak for candidates before we cast our tokens for the 998th Lord Commander of the Night's Watch?" Aemon asked.

One of Alliser's friends shot up. "Ser Alliser Thorn is not just a knight, he's a man of true nobility. He was acting commander when the Wall came under attack and led us to victory against the wildlings. He's a veteran of 100 battles and has been a defender of the Watch and the Wall almost all of his life. He's the only true choice." His speech was short yet full of lies. Another man stood up and proposed Denys Mallister as another candidate.

"If there's no one else, we will begin the voting." Aemon began until Reyanna shot a look to Samwell. They were both thinking the exact same thing: nominate Jon. But neither had the balls to do it.

Reyanna leaned over to whisper to Sam: "If you don't nominate him I'll throw you off the wall myself." Reyanna threatened. She knew she couldn't nominate Jon because she was no member of the Night's Watch. She was a woman! And she was considered a wildling and a child of a traitorous family at that. She had only managed to weasel herself into the camp because she was valuable.

Sam shot up from his seat. "Maester Aemon!" Samwell shouted out.

"Samwell Tarly, go on." Aemon told. Samwell gulped and Jon shot a worried look to Sam, shaking his head nervously. Reyanna jabbed him with her elbow so that he wouldn't convince Sam not to nominate him.

"Another wildling lover just like his friend, Jon Snow. How's your lady lover?" Slynt asked Sam over the crowd.

"Shut up, Slynt. Before you joined the Night's Watch your cock probably couldn't even reach the inside of lady parts. Must be sad to die a virgin." Reyanna sneered from across the hall.

"Woman!" Slynt shouted, only making Reyanna cackled.

"That's all you've got to say?" Reyanna stood up from her seat.

"That I am a woman? Yes I am. And I still can't beat you and your little friend down with a mere stick. Learn how to insult someone before you let words slither out of your mouth." Reyanna shouted. She was pissed at Alliser and his group of friends. Jon yanked Reyanna back down into her seat before she said anything else. All of the men in the room began laughing uncontrollably. Everything she had said was true, and Slynt was terribly embarrassed. His face was as red as fire.

"Lord Janos cowered in the larder during the battle for the Wall. With Gilly. A wilding girl, a baby, and Lord Janos. I found him there after the battle was over in a puddle of his own making," everyone laughed, "whilst Lord Janos was hiding with the women and children, Jon Snow was leading. Ser Alliser fought bravely, it is true. And when he was wounded, it was Jon who saved us. He took charge of the Wall's defense. He killed the Magnar of the Thenns. He went north to deal with Mande Rayder knowing it almost certainly meant his own death. Before that, he led the mission to avenge Lord Commander Mormont. Mormont himself chose Jon to be his steward. He saw something in him and now we've all seen it, too. He may be young, but he's the commander we turned to when the night was darkest." Samwell finished his speech. Almost everyone cheered. But Reyanna was most certainly the loudest of all the men. Jon was shocked at the turnout of supporters.

Alliser's petty ass then stood up. "I can't argue with any of that. But who does Jon Snow want to command? Night's Watch or the wildlings? Everyone knows he loved a wildling girl and loves another girl who was raised by wildlings. He even spoke with Mance Rayder many times. What would have happened in that tent between those two old friends if Stannis's army hadn't come along? Do you want to choose a man who has fought the wildlings all his life or a man who makes love to them?" Thorne finalized his concession and refutations.

"It is time!" Aemon stopped the debates and allowed for everyone to cast their votes.

Aemon took his sweet time counting the votes. And when it was finally over, Aemon casted his final vote that broke the tie between Jon and Alliser. He voted to for Jon. Making Jon the new Lord Commander. Nearly everyone cheered for the new Lord and Jon seemed to be a bit happy, a smile lighting up his face.

* * *

Jon and Reyanna were walking out in the forests south of Castle Black to clear their minds of all the commotion they had just endured. Jon was really the Lord Commander of the Night's Watch now. And Reyanna would soon be the Lady of at least two kingdoms after Stannis won King's Landing. And she had yet to share the news. She didn't want to tell him until the timing was perfect, and after all that commotion, they needn't anymore news.

The two were walking in silence, just enjoying each other's company when the heard the soft whimpering of a wolf. The two seemed to be drawn to the noise, then found where it was coming from. A small baby dire wolf, of an all black color and the brightest blue eyes— really Reyanna if she were born a wolf— sat sadly before her dead mother. It seemed as if a bear had came by and attacked the mother wolf. Even the other pups were either missing or mutilated into a pile next to the shredded mother. It was a horrifying sight. "Oh my god." Reyanna quickly grabbed the lone pup into her arms.

"When my father stumbled upon a dead dire wolf, he found the pups alive, much like this one, and counted enough for each of his children to have one. That's when I got Ghost. He was the runt of the litter. Much like me." Jon told his quick story.

"Let's get out of here, this poor baby has seen enough." Reyanna wrapped the puppy in her coat, keeping it warm.

Jon nodded and continued on their quiet walk. "You're going to keep her?" Jon asked.

"I don't see why not. Ghost can have a little friend. She wouldn't survive out here alone, anyway." Reyanna spoke as she pet the shivering wolf.

"What are you to name her?" Jon asked, taking a peek at the black wolf.

"Amira." The name just flowed out of Reyanna's mouth like it was exactly what the pup was named in the first place, before she had ever even met Reyanna.

* * *

As Jon was the new Lord Commander he was now in charge of the wildling prisoners. Both he and Reyanna knew the only way to get the wildlings to comply to his rule would be through Tormund, now. It was the last hope. Yet, Tormund was far too angry with Reyanna for her to try and convince him of anything. But, she still wanted to try.

So, she met him at his prison cell. "You've come to gloat?" Tormund growled at her, recognizing her light footsteps without having to even look.

"No." Reyanna sighed, finding a herself seat next to him. Tormund scooted away, not wanting to hear or see her ever again.

The two sat in uncomfortable silence for a bit before Reyanna opened her mouth to speak. "Tormund—" she began.

"You need me to lead the wildlings now that you've slaughtered Mance?" Tormund guessed.

"I didn't slaughter him." Reyanna told.

"Might as well have." Tormund grunted.

"I always found you attractive, but you saw me as a prize to be won. An object to hold when you laid your head to rest. And I would never lay with a man who thought of me in such a way. But I respect you, Tormund. You are the most stubborn man I know. And you'd make for a great leader. If you don't set aside your dignity, you and your people will die. Whether it be by execution or starvation or white walkers, your people will die. And those that remain south of the wall will have a fighting chance to live to see their grandchildren." Reyanna told.

"My question to you is, do you want to live? Do you want your people to live? Or will you let them suffer?" Reyanna inquired Tormund, poking at his ego.

Tormund was silent for a solemn moment, contemplating his next words. "You were never an object in my eyes, Rey." He mentioned, his thumbs fumbling over one another.

"As much as I hate you, I still love you. And I do anything for the ones I love." Tormund huffed, his strong persona weakening before her— although it wouldn't be the first time.

"You'll find another strong, warrior woman. One even better than me that can give you tall, strong babies. Something I could never do." Reyanna pointed at her own short and small stature. It was a blessing and a curse.

Tormund chuckled. "I'll help you and your crows to help our people." Tormund told her with a spark lighting up in his eyes, imagining a more perfect woman that seemed impossible to his mind.

"For our people." Reyanna embraced her friend, warming him with her thick coats which he had not been provided.

* * *

When Reyanna returned to Jon, all hell seemed to have broken loose. Slynt had challenged Jon's authority and was met with the consequence of an execution. Slynt was laid out to be beheaded, crying and begging for mercy. Reyanna only could see the event happen from afar, but she saw enough to know Jon didn't really need to execute Slynt. He was already apologizing and admitting his faults. "I'm afraid! I've always been afraid!" Slynt sobbed.

Jon hesitated to behead the man, and Reyanna hoped he wouldn't actually do it. But, only a moment later, Jon swung down his sword on Slynt and sliced off his head. Silence crept on over the men. Reyanna held her breath. She didn't know Jon had the willpower to actually do such an unnecessary thing. And when Jon looked over the spectating crowd and spotted Reyanna with a shocked expression, his eyes shot away from her to avoid feeling regret for what he had just done. He knew it was wrong but he knew it was necessary.

* * *

Reyanna was quietly petting Amira in her quarters when Jon barged in. Reyanna didn't even turn her head to look at him. "Melisandre just tried to seduce me." Jon told her, exasperatedly.

"Sounds like you enjoyed her." Reyanna snarked, pointing out his breathiness.

"No— I—" He was at a loss of words. He hadn't done anything with her, yet he was still flustered from her stripping before him.

Reyanna chuckled at his embarrassment. She that Jon knew if he ever tried cheating on her, she'd slit his throat— then go find someone else to fuck. "I didn't do anything with her!" He exclaimed, throwing his arms up in the air.

"What did you tell her? That you took a vow?" Reyanna toyed with him, mocking his cult's excessive vows.

Jon shook his head and sat next to her on the ground. "I told her I loved another woman." Jon informed.

"Oh! Ygritte?" Reyanna continued to play with Jon, riling up his embarrassment.

Jon lightly pushed her in a friendly manner. "You know who..." He muttered off.

"Who?"
"Stop."
"No, really. Who?"
"You!"

Jon shouted and attacked her with a squeeze. But, Amira was not having it. Her caretaker looked like she was getting attacked by a man in a large, dark burly coat. Amira pounced on Jon and began growling at him. "Amira, no!" Reyanna scolded the pup through her hysterical laughs from being crushed by Jon.

She pushed him off of her to eye the wolf, dominantly. "She really likes you." Jon admitted after realizing Amira looked like she was truly planning on killing him.

"I guess so." Reyanna laughed and scooped up Amira into her arms. She was enjoying Amira while she was still young, because she knew that dire wolves grow so quickly and so large.