Hi everyone! Thank you so much for your patience. I know its been more than 24 hours, but I had a big wifi problem in my building. I am going through chapter by chapter and editing. I am adding more detail and fixing spelling errors. I appreciate you bearing with me. Please continue to review, favorite, and follow. I plan to update more frequently this summer. I think I have finally thought of the end to this story.

He hated himself. Ned Stark was known to have honor in his blood. Jon had always tried to uphold that. Always. He may not have had the Stark name, but Jon wanted to live by its virtues. Maybe all the whispers were right. Bastards couldn't have honor. They were born out of lust and were designed to corrupt all that was good around them.

But how could he corrupt her? She was so pure. He looked at her and felt burning guilt in his stomach. She was in this condition because of him. Because of the secret he kept from her.

These were the thoughts that flew through his mind when he looked at Lilly, unconscious on the bed. Sam was working over her, Ser Allister standing solemnly in the corner of the room. Jon could feel the old man's angry stare turn towards him every now and then. He blamed Jon for the condition Lilly was in.

She should look peaceful in sleep. But her eyebrow was furrowed, distress clear on her face. Anyone could see something wasn't right.

He knew he should have told her. He should have as soon as he found out. But he was a coward. They would never have to face the truth if she never knew. But he saw the horror on her face. The heartbreak. The self-loathing. She thought she was a monster.

The memory of her tearing her arm away from him surfaced. She thought he would be disgusted by who fathered her. She had asked how he could stand to touch her. That broke his heart even more. He would not allow the Night's King to harm her. To take her soul.

Sending her South is the only way to keep her safe. If he sent her with the Free Folk, she would only be a day's ride away. He could see her in the evenings, so she wouldn't become sick. It could work.

Jon was jolted from his thoughts, when Sam turned to face him.

"She'll be alright." He whispered, pulling off the gloves that protected his hands. Jon sagged with relief. "She is just in shock. Sleep will do her well."

Jon trusted his judgement. He had been working under Maester Aemon for so long, he probably earned himself a few links on the chain. It would only be a matter of time before he was sent to receive formal training.

"Thank you, Sam" Jon whispered.

He nodded and quickly shuffled out of the room.

Jon made his way silently to her side, sitting in a chair next to her bed. He wanted to fix this. Fix his mistake. He picked up her hand and gently pressed his lips to her knuckles.

Rustling in the room reminded him that he wasn't alone. Jon felt eyes on the back of his head. He turned and saw Thorne eying him. He was looking at where their skin met. He didn't understand why Jon could touch Lilly.

Ser Allister signed.

"You are fool, aren't you bastard?" he whispered harshly.

Jon's eyebrows furrowed, his attention going back to Lilly. He was in no mood to trade insults with this man. Ser Allister realized Jon was going to pretend that he wasn't there.

"You told her?" He accused.

"She had the right to-"

"Aye. She did." He interrupted. "But somethings are better left in the past. Mormont never wanted her to know. Never wanted her to hate herself for something she couldn't control."

The old knight did not hide the disdain in his tone.

"What would you have me do?" Jon demanded. "He was outside the wall. He was across the battle field. She looked him in the eyes. It was only a matter of time."

"What if she decided to go to him?" Ser Allister whispered.

"She wouldn't." Jon replying, sitting back down next to her. She was to good. She valued the lives of others too much. Lilly would never go across the wall to a father who killed innocents to pass the time. Ser Allister didn't know her nearly as well as he thought he did if he would even suggest such a thing.

"You're right, Lord Snow." He agreed. "She wouldn't. But he knows she exists now because of you. He knows where she is because of you."

Jon looked at the old knight, anger burning in his eyes. He was clenching his fists so hard, he could feel his bones grinding together.

"You heard me Bastard. She followed you North. No one else." Ser Allister said, leaning toward him. "Weaknesses are not so difficult to point out, I saw it as clear as that thing did. She killed one of them for you. She would die for you Bastard."

Jon sighed. He didn't have the patience for word games.

"Stop insulting me. Tell me what you truly want to say." He snapped.

"Lilly is a good girl." He whispered, looking at her. The care in his eyes was clear. "But she loves you. I know it. If that thing, her father, got its hands on you she would destroy the world to save you."

"She wouldn't." Jon said.

"She would. You know it as well as I do. She wouldn't be able to help it. No matter how good, how honorable." He said. Before he left the room, Ser Allister whispered, "Love is the death of duty."

The door slammed, leaving Jon to ponder that final thought.

Love is the death of duty? Maester Aemon had told him this all those months ago because he rode off to fight Robb's war. Jon's feelings for Lilly were just beginning then. He thought he understood at that time. But he didn't.

He feels an all-consuming love for her now. He would fall on his own sword if that meant saving her. How many would he let die, so she could live? He didn't want to admit the truth to himself. But he knew, that love was indeed the death of duty.

Ser Allister POV

He knew what he had to do, even if it broke her heart.

He knew realistically, killing her would be the best solution to the problem they were facing. She couldn't join her father if she was no longer alive. She couldn't destroy the wall, kill hundreds, or raise the dead if she were dead herself. But Ser Allister knew he would never have the heart to hurt her.

He knew Lilly would never join her father without good reason. The only reason he could see her going North would to be to save the bastard. She wouldn't retreat into the safety of The Wall until she saw Lord Snow return from battle. She did not leave his side, not even when the ice monster began to attack them. She would do whatever it took to save him. For love.

The boy was always trying to be a hero. He risked himself to save thousands of wildlings. Thorne had no doubt it would only be a matter of time until he was face to face with the Night King again. Jon Snow would not get away unharmed every time. The Night King saw how his child defended the Bastard. It would be easy to use Jon Snow to turn the tides of the war.

Ser Allister could never kill Lilly. No.

But Lord Snow. Ser Allister had no love for Lord Snow. The bastard stole her away in the middle of the night, nearly killing her with that infected bite to her neck. He knew Lilly loved Jon Snow. But Jon Snow had to die.

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