Chapter 3

Cheese Knives and Warm Beds

I had never met another bastard with one of the Seven Kingdom's bastard surnames before, it made me feel like I finally found an equal.

"You're allowed to sleep wherever you choose as long as it is not my own bed, which happens to be the only bed, which also means you can either fashion yourself a little nest in front of the fire or request Jon to bring you one from the ah, East Chambers." The Old Bear advised, showing me around the small room. "I do hope you'd choose the latter and put my steward to some good use while I attend to a council meeting." He mused to himself at the thought of Jon Snow, struggling to bring a cot up to his quarters for the sake of a girl.

In front of the fireplace already was a chipped table stationed with all sorts of food, it seemed like an awful struggle to move the table to make space for a nest… "I'll have the bed m' lord but if I may, I'd like to help him carry it?" I requested, to which he raised a white bushy eyebrow in curiosity as he tore off a chunk of black bread and chewed slowly.

"Well that is something I'd like to see!" He finally roared with a bark of laughter, "Nonetheless I must be going, help yourself to some of this food and I'll be gone till late this night unfortunately." He waved over his shoulder, still munching on his loaf of bread he stepped back out into the snowy night.

All that could be heard after the door banged shut from behind him was the fire crackling and the shutters on the few windows groaning as wind hit them hard. I stood awkwardly by the table of food, wondering if I was meant to go find the other bastard or wait for him to come here. I sighed and instead, took a seat and ate away my hunger.

My crippled hand hovered over a cheese knife, debating on whether or not to keep it in case of the need for self-defense. I clutched the handle unsure, it wasn't exactly deadly, and my best chance was to get it in someone's eye or preferably throat. Shrugging my shoulders, I tucked the blade into the waistline of my apron for easy access and just as the door opened.

I gasped and hastily drew the knife back out and looked up at the intruder fiercely. My grip relaxed a little when I once again met eyes with the other bastard. Jon halted at the door observing the scene in front of him and then strode over to where I sat ready for if he tried anything.

He was silent for a second as he looked down at the cheese knife in my hand directed his way, "You should know I could disarm you within a second once you go for a swipe at me." He chortled lightly at my behalf, his dark curly hair falling onto his equally dark eyes.

I squinted at him, "For all you know, I could be very skilled with a cheese knife and I don't just mean cutting cheese." I challenged him, to which he let a louder chortle and snatched it from my hands in a mere second.

I flustered looking down at my hand and up to his, "I'm the son of Ned Stark, you don't think I'd be quick with a sword, bow or even a cheese knife?" He found this whole quarrel amusing and that annoyed me to no end.

The other bastard was examining the cheese knife and ranting on about how great he was no doubt, whilst I thought of the perfect revenge, "Your Lord Commander has told me to inform you that you must retrieve me a cot from the East Chambers, so scurry off." I interrupted his boasting with a smirk, he gritted his teeth clearly irritated.

Jon stared me down for at least a minute before giving up with a grumble, he dropped the knife into my lap to which I squealed, "You won't have use of it against me Alison… I joined The Watch voluntarily." He assured, "I'll fetch you your bed." And with that being declared he left me alone to my own mind once more.

The strange thing was that I believed it to be true, he'd mention to be Ned Stark's son, -well, bastard son- so that would explain the last name. I inhaled sharply through my mouth when I remembered a conversation I'd had with Marea several years ago and she mentioned how the Lord of Winterfell Ned Stark, had raised his bastard among his other children born within marriage.

Seven hells, I had brought Marea up again and I was going so well at not but I suppose that was because how side-tracked my mind had been the past week. I smacked at my forehead in scolding, why couldn't I just forget about her? Why did every thought of mine lead back to her? I couldn't take any more of it and so I prayed to the Old Gods of the Forest and asked for release from thoughts that consisted of her.

Tears struggled to escape my closed eyes as I prayed and prayed, Baron had always insisted that I didn't push her away and that I should cherish our memories. But Baron was nothing to me now, certainly not a father and this was the only way I could cope with the agony that burned an invisible hole in my chest each day because of her absence.

My prayers were soon disturbed when I heard commotion outside of the quarters, I wiped at my eyes frantically trying to leave no trace of despair that had marked my face. I grimaced at the feel of my puffy eyes and knew that there wasn't a chance the person at the door wouldn't know I was crying.

I could hear grunts and thuds on the other side of the door and furrowed my eyebrows in confusion, I left the table and opened the door in hesitation. I muffled a laugh once I saw Jon struggling to hoist a bed up the set of stairs, to the Lord Commander's quarters.

His eyes averted from the stairs and upon my face when he heard the door open abruptly, he looked irritated which only made me laugh aloud and it turned out I wasn't the only one cackling at him. A mass of crows had gathered around to watch Jon drag a bed in the snow so it appeared. The fat crow I had heard been called Tarly was the closest to Jon who expressed a look of pity unlike the rest.

"Are you sure you wouldn't like some help Jon?" Tarly stuttered stepping onto the first flight of stairs unsure. I watched him thoughtfully, aware that he was the only one asking Jon if he needed assistance. It was fascinating to witness the way Tarly stared at Jon, it was a mix of admiration and a hint of small jealously. The rest of the crows showed bitterness, jealously and humor in their faces.

"I'm fine Sam," Jon brushed him off gently, "Not much point for help now, I'm… at the top." He paused once he reached the top of the stairs. I hovered through the door frame while Jon shook the snow from his hair and began to pull the bed further towards me.

He motioned for me to open the door wider for him and I quickly moved aside to let him through. Once he dragged it further into the room I visibly shivered as a cold wind swept into the room, I went to shut the door again but not before seeing who I now knew as Sam, smile up at me from the stairs and I returned it with my own grin.

After I shut the door, Jon was still holding onto the bed hovering it over beside the fire and table, he looked up at me for approval of the chosen spot for the bed and I nodded, pleased with the position. He dropped it down carelessly and sniffed in annoyance before turning his back to me to warm his hands at the fire.

I admired his back intently, my eyes roaming freely along the black cloak he wore; black sheep wool traced along the collar, whitened with snow which flowed down to his ankles. He really did resemble a black crow.

"Well?" Jon snapped, breaking me from my semi-trance.

"Huh?" I blushed as he gave me an exasperated look over his shoulders, obviously noticing my staring.

He growled impatiently, "I just carried a bed across Castle Black for you, being made a fool of by my brothers and you don't have the decency to say thank you?" He turned to face me completely looking annoyed.

I scoffed at his behavior, "You know, I was planning on helping you with the bed but since you made a mockery of me before with the cheese knife I thought it was only fair for you to receive the same treatment and now we're even, yes?" I concluded triumphantly, daring him to say otherwise.

He stared me down for the second time that night with raised eyebrows and a small sneer across his full lips, "Do you even know who I am woman?" He hissed, "You're speaking to me as though you are above me and it is entirely the other way around. I am a brother of the Night's Watch and the Lord of Winterfell's –"

"Bastard. Yes I'm aware, and you're also the Lord Commander's Steward and he told me, you have to assist me with anything I desired so." My stubborn voice had drawn louder as I frisked over to my bed and plunked down with a sigh.

Jon clenched and unclenched his jaw and I soon felt sorry for what I had said, "Listen, I understand how being a bastard makes you feel, I'm-"

"No you don't," He growled at me, "You know nothing about being a bastard to a Lord, you're just a small folk girl!" His words were like venom and I cringed at them in hurt, "Is there anything else you require from me or can I leave?" He had stood up and was already heading for the door while he said it.

My face went crimson in offense and anger but mostly offense, "No… but if it weren't too much trouble for you can watch the door until your Lord Commander returns… I-I don't feel exactly safe in here alone while I sleep." I whispered solemnly yet irritated, trying to ignore the fact that I wanted to scream at him that I did know and he was wrong to make haste assumptions on me.

Some of his anger oozed away, and he gave me a brisk nod before he left, slamming the door shut behind him and perching up against it.

I debated if I should to tell him he could come guard from inside where it was warmer but I soon fell into an uneasy sleep before making up my mind.

A:N: In case anybody was interested, Alison looks like Adelaide Kane :) aaaand I also feel like these chapters aren't long enough... Do you guys want them longer or nah?