like so much kindling [ video ♐ 002 ]

[kindlings]

[ Ygritte activates the video feed. When the camera focuses she's seated cross-legged on Jon Snow's bed, looking into it intently, features stern—and with her other hand tapping the flat blade of a carved bone dagger against her sheepskin-covered thigh.

Her voice is steady and light, but with just a hint of iron underneath it. ]


...I'll speak now t' the Lord Commander of the Night's Watch, 'f he's willing.






[ ...No encryption of any sort, b/c wildling. Takes place after a particular conversation with Alayne Stone.

...Jon Snow, you got some 'splainin to do, boy. ]

Comments

[kindlings]

[ She cocks her head, lips tightening into a line. ]

I want t' know everything you're not tellin' me.

[ Because it's obvious to her now that there's pieces of the puzzle missing, and she doesn't like not knowing what they are. ]

[wolfinthesnow]

This place, it brings us here from different times.

I came from after you, and after Mance.

[kindlings]

[ Now it's she who can't take her eyes off of him.

Quietly: ]

After. An' you became a Crow, once again.

[ She looks down, swallows heavily. It's now obvious what's left unsaid—that the assault on the Wall was a failure. ]

...Mance?

[wolfinthesnow]

[He nods.]

He died.

[kindlings]

[ She nods in return. She hopes his death was a quick one, but she can't bring herself to ask. ]


...And me?

[wolfinthesnow]

[Jon opens his mouth, then closes it again.

He cannot say it.]

[kindlings]

[ She looks up at him again, as his silence tells her almost everything.

At least now she knows why he'd looked at her so strangely, when he'd first found her here. Tears threaten at the corners of her eyes. ]

...Did y'do the job yourself, then?

[wolfinthesnow]

Of course I didn't.

[But he found her.]

[kindlings]

[ ...So I died alone, she thinks, alone, and cold, and most likely in pain.

The tears recede, and her chin lifts imperceptibly. She slides off the bed and approaches him, slowly, dagger still in hand. ]

An' why didn't you? You're back t' bein' a Crow. You could've finished what you'd tried t' do in the Skirling Pass.

[wolfinthesnow]

I didn't want to hurt you.

[He watches, but doesn't move]

[kindlings]

But y'didn't want t' be one of us, neither.

[ Her eyes are hard, and she takes another step closer. ]

[wolfinthesnow]

I did, for a time.

[kindlings]

 

An' what changed your mind?

[wolfinthesnow]

[He can't do this. But he has to, he just watches her]

It's complicated.

[kindlings]

[ She shakes her head, slowly side-to-side, and her fingers tighten around the bone dirk. ]

That's no answer, Jon Snow.

[ They're standing directly before one another now, and she can see the conflict in his eyes. ]

You had your chance t' be free. An' you gave it up. For what? For your duty, to some shit old men who'd tell you what to' do?

[wolfinthesnow]

I'm the Lord Commander. It doesn't work that way anymore.

[Even Stannis couldn't tell him what to do.]

[kindlings]

So you're still not free.

Was it worth it?

[wolfinthesnow]

I don't know.

[kindlings]

[ Ygritte is quiet for a moment, as she stares into his eyes. ]

I told th' Lord o' Bones I'd cut your balls off myself, if y'flew from us.

[wolfinthesnow]

Will you?

[Because that's all that matters, here.]

[kindlings]

...Thought 'bout it.

[ And after another tense moment her head dips; she opens her hand, letting the dagger fall uselessly to the floor. ]

But 's much as I'm good as my word...I s'pose I'm more weak than I'm strong.

[wolfinthesnow]

[He takes a breath, that he has been holding, and bends down to pick it up.]

[kindlings]

 

[ Eyeing him carefully. ]

I can't kill you, Jon Snow. [ Even when all of my upbringing tells me I should. ]

I should be 'shamed of it, but 'm not.

[wolfinthesnow]

[And that's it.

He kisses her on the mouth, like it's easy, like he hasn't been wanting to do this for weeks, since she first showed up and they took that ridiculous bath]

[kindlings]

[ She's shocked into speechlessness, for once, and returns the kiss eagerly.

But she breaks the kiss just briefly, lips still open and wanting, to breathe: ]

Jon. [ Not even Jon Snow, right now. ] What're you doing.