Chapter Text
Tormund
The wind whipped around the court yard as Tormund made his way through the front gate. He was tired and cold and a bit disappointed. He had been asking about the big woman ever since he got into winter town and was told the same thing time after time. She left with Lady Sansa and a small group to meet the king slayer and his party headed towards Winterfell. She would be only interested in southern men. What a waste.
Walking deeper into the yard he hears the sound of swords and arrows flying. It was music to his ears. What better way to get his mind off of everything than to bust a few skulls. He rounded the training yard and was confused on what he was seeing. There were two men in the ring fighting and it looked like a child had wandered in while they were. He was about to yell out to make sure the men noticed when they turned to spar with the child. He choked, what the bloody hell was going on. As he walked closer he could better see what was happening but it made less sense.
It wasn’t just a child in the ring, it was a girl. She was sparring two against one with the men who were both much larger than she. And despite their best effort they never gained an inch on her. She didn’t fight in the southern way that he saw most of these fools, she was controlled chaos. He would have thought her one of the free folk, for she held a confident smile as she blocked and struck at these men, a wildness in her eyes, but she was too small and too pretty to be from north of the wall. Maybe she was one of those Dothraki fighters he heard so much about. Her skin was a bit darker than most of the people he had met from these parts.
Whatever she was he was intrigued. He made his way to the fence to watch as she easily finished off the two men as if she had just been playing with them for training. She could have finished the fight long ago. There was a round of applause from around the ring and he couldn’t help but join in. Her face lit up into a breath taking smile as she over exaggerated a bow laughing as she lowered. Tormund felt his breath catch in his throat. This was no girl. This was a woman grown. Naturally small, but beautiful. Her dark brown hair still clung to her forehead where she had sweat, her steel grey eyes scanned the crowd.
“Is there anyone else?” She questioned. Her voice sure and strong. Not like these shy southern ladies he had heard around here lately. No this was a woman who knew her skill and dared someone to test her on it.
Around the ring most men shifted uncomfortably. It was fine to laugh and joke about a small woman besting a man in combat as long as you weren’t that man. She just shrugged her shoulders and started towards the rack to put her weapon away when Tormund cleared his throat.
“Aye lass I’ll have a go. “ he said sliding in between the fence into the ring. She turned to face him as he stood to his full height. If she was intimidated by the sheer size of him as most men were she hid it well. Her grey eyes sparkled up at him.
“As you wish sir. Choose your weapon” she gestured towards the weapons rack.
“I’m no sir like these southern cunts, and I’d love to see how the little lady handles a rod.” He grinned and wiggled his eyebrows as he pulled 2 staffs from the rack tossing one at her. She easily caught it raising an eyebrow. “These men are northern cunts , and I’m no Lady.”
He let out a deep heavy laugh as they began to circle each other in the ring. She’s cool calculated and thinking with each move he makes. Dodging each advance to counter with one of her own, it’s a memorizing dance for those on the outside of the ring to watch, on the inside it’s something else. Tormund feels a stirring in him he hasn’t felt in quite some time. This little minx is a rare find here in a land that values pretty dresses and finer thing she is the definition of a diamond in the rough. In her boy clothes and messy hair you can still see the absolute beauty underneath it all. With sharp features and big grey eyes that shine in the sunlight. Not to mention her slight build is muscled and strong and under her baggy shirt he can see the swell of her breasts and the curve of her hips. He starts to wonder if she is purposely covering up what all she has to offer, maybe she thinks being beautiful takes away from her powerful presence. Tormund disagrees and beauty that can beat handful of men’s easily is a prize to be won. And he is going to go for it. The girl takes the opportunity where he is distracted and lands whack to the top of his head.
“Dead.” She says flatly a triumph grin on her face.
Tormund goes to fake a bow and when he is bent swipes his staff around laying the girl out flat on her back.
Laying on the dirt with her hair spread out around her, her cheeks flush with exertion, Tormund reaches a hand down to her.
“Ay lass, a man could get used to seeing you in such a state. What a spear wife you will make” confusion crosses the girls face but before she can respond a terrible sound distracts them.
The roar of what can only be described of as death followed by the sharp cry of a wolf echos off the stone walls.
Without waiting for anyone to move the girl yells “bring my horse!” And is pulling her self up on Tormunds arm before he can react. She quickly hurdles the gate and heads towards the grey mare being led out with only the reins. No saddle, and as if it was normal body movement swings up on the beast and grabs the leather straps.
Definitely Dothraki Tormund thinks.
His body moving before his mind thinks he crosses the gate and cuts off her path.
“I’ll be coming with you girl.” He says. Not a question but also not a demand.
She just sticks her arm out and helps him swing up behind her as she pushes the horse to gallop out of the yard.
Tormund has never been small. Even as a boy he was bigger than everyone. After all you don’t get the name Giantsbane for nothing. So never in his life has he been one to share a horse. Unless you count the time he has slung someone over the rear, but he has never. Ever. Rode behind someone and not been the one to control the beast. He wanted to reach around her small frame and grab the reins but thought better of it. He had seen her temper and would probably be thrown from the beast for trying. He marveled the way her small legs were strong enough to grip the mare with out a saddle and maneuver it through the tree line. And the way her ears could still pick up the sound of the struggle while the thunderous sounds of hooves surrounded them. She pulled them into a clearing and dismounted before the horse came to a stop and before He got a chance to get off. She pulled her dagger from her waist band having forgotten her sword in the midst of training. She dipped a finger down into a dark spot on the ground and pulled it up. It was blood. She silently motioned for him to look around. He withdrew his own set of daggers and stalked the area. He heard a small gasp and quickly found his way back to her. On the ground near her were the bodies of 3 wolves. Mangled beyond recognition.
“What do you think happened to them?” She whispered to him. “The wolves have no predators in the north.”
“No, they didn’t before winter came, now they have many. Beast from north of the wall have come south, this was probably a bear.” He told her making sure to keep his voice low.
A low growl followed by a sharp yip erupted close by.
“Nymeria!” The girl cried and took off towards the sound.
“Fuck!” He muttered taking off after her. The girl was quick and quiet through the woods. He almost lost her direction twice. Unlike himself his large frame was busting twigs left and right. When he finally found her he had no choice but to yell out.
“Girl!” He hissed. “Back away slowly and run as fast as you can towards your horse. Don’t stop till you get back behind the walls of the keep you hear me. Get yourself out of here.” In front of the girl laid a direwolf badly injured. It’s tan and grey fur matted with blood. Behind the great wolf stood a beastly creature that had one time likely been a large bear. But now it’s skin hung in drips off his body and his eyes cut through the forest glowing blue.
“I can’t.” She said steady as if she was turning down plans for dinner. “It has Nymeria.”
He looked her up and down wide eyed. How did this tiny thing think she was going to fare against this thousand pound killing machine. He saw in her left hand she had a tight grip of her dagger but in her right she had a large rock. Apple sized. She was slowly rolling it in her fingers trying to get the best grip. All the time edging around the side of the bear.
“Go get help.” She said still as calm. “We both don’t need to be in trouble.” She met eyes with him taking her eyes off the beast for the first time. “Run. “ she said as she picked her arm up and flung the stone with all her strength at the bear hitting it right in the jaw dislocating it. The bone flopping in the air as the beast let out a blood curdling roar. The girl started yelling.
“Get out of here Nymeria. Home girl. Go home!” And to his surprise the wolf rose and drug it self up and limped out of the woods. The bears attention now focused on the girl. Snarling at her it’s jaw now useless but it’s claws still deadly as ever.
Tormund flashes back in his mind to the wight bear they fought north of the wall. It took every ounce of strength of the 8 men going at it and some didn’t make it. It was going to tear her limb from limb and probably him too. He watched the bear lunge for her and her take off towards the line the beast nipping at her heels. She ran to a tree flying up it like a squirrel. Her fingers gripping the bark and pulling up at super human speeds. She had made it half way up and the bear was on his hind legs pawing at her missing by just a few inches when it gave up his reach attempt and decided to knock her down by slamming its self into the tree rocking the ground beneath it and shaking the tree violently.
Strong as she was she couldn’t hold on much longer. Tormund watched as her thighs slid lower and closer to the bear. He had to do something, but he didn’t know what. He grabbed a few rocks and hurled them at the beast. Screaming profanities trying to get its attention. It worked too well. The bear turned around and raised on its back legs claws ready to dig into Tormund. He raised his blades to attack knowing they would be useless against a wight, when he saw over top the beast head a sight he will never forget. With both hands on the hilt and her blade extended down she jumped from the tree on to the back of the wight bear stabbing down into its head. It’s blue eyes flickered out and it collapsed into the tree smashing the poor girl in between the two as it collapsed into a pile of bones and gore.
He cheered only to get to the pile to see the girl was not ok. She was unconscious and bleeding from a shoulder wound and the back of her head. He grabbed her quickly to feel her her pulse and breathed a breath of relief when he felt it. Weak as it was. He scooped the girl up in his arms. Dagger still gripped in her left hand. Valerian he noticed. Now that makes more sense. He took off through the woods and threw himself on the horse still holding her to his chest.
“Hold on little wildling we will get you some help” he tried soothing her as he rode as hard as he could towards the keep.
He was met by four armed men on horseback he drew a blade instinctively until he saw the stark sigil on their breast plates.
“Get a healer!” He shouted “the girl needs help!”
A smaller man rode forward dressed in the same black that Jon Snow wears. Castle black colors.
“Give her to me.” He states not a demand but stern. “I’m the fastest rider out of us all”
Reluctantly Tormund handed the girl off her limp body pressed up against the other mans now, his own already feeling the loss of her. The man turned his horse and took off. Telling the men beside him :” someone needs to get Jon and let him know what happened.”
Tormund took off following the man but he was right. He was much faster rider. His small size an easier load for the horse to carry. He wondered why Jon snow would care that the Dothraki girl was injured. Perhaps he would have to keep the peace with the hoard of them if anything happened to her. He would ask him himself when he got there because he was damn sure going to check on the girl and make sure she was alright. She saved his life after all. The feeling in his gut and loins were purely coincidental.
When he returned to the keep he brought the girls mare back to the stable. Thanked the beast for helping get there and home safely with an extra scoop of grains. He walked off to find where they put the girl. He found the door where the maester was and it had a squire standing guard outside. He was a friendly looking boy in red leathers, a worried expression plastered to his face.
“Is the girl in there?” Tormund asked him, startling him out of his thought.
“Yes sir, and Jon would like to speak with you. He’s in there with her now.” The boy moved away from the door allowing him to pass.
When he entered the room he tried to take in his surroundings as quickly as possible. A trait of a man who’s spent the better part of his life at war.
The maester was fumbling around his supplies while the fat one was talking calmly at the girls head to Jon Snow who was sitting by her side holding her hand. A strange sight to see as well, maybe he wasn’t the only one with feelings for the wild one. Behind them standing guard against the wall was the big lady. She must have just gotten back because she looked exhausted when she met her eyes a furious expression crossed her face. Ok guess she wasn’t pining for him during her time away.
“How is she.” Tormund clears his throat and asks, startling Jon.
“Seven hell’s Tormund, what happened out there?” Jon stands walking towards him.
“The lass got her self caught between a tree and a giant dead bear.” He said plainly. “She killed the bastard though. Flew right off the tree into his back. Ferocious one she is. I will never need another woman as long as I have that memory and my hand!” He laughed some and raised his eyebrows at Jon who he swore eyes grew twice as large. Sam the fat Maester cleared his throat and he looked up and Brianne had her hand on the hilt on her sword, eyes narrowed at Tormund.
“I meant how the hell did she end up near a wight bear to begin with, why was she there. Why were you there?” Jon said loudly. Apparently not in the mood to jest.
“She and I were sparring in the yard when we heard the commotion from outside. I didn’t know it was a bear when we heard it, but then there was a howl of a wolf. And without asking anyone for help she started to ride off towards the sound. She was about to gallop past me alone so I told her to take me with her. Honestly I didn’t think it would be anything and I just wanted the opportunity to ride alone with her. But when we got into the woods she found blood and signs of a struggle. I was trying to suggest we go back and get help when we heard the wolf cry out again. This time it was close and clearly in pain. The girl yelled something. Some word I can’t remember and took off after the sound. By the time I caught up she was already facing the beast saying she couldn’t go back because the wolf was hers? I know that doesn’t make sense but it’s what happened.”
“Nymeria.” Jon said squeezing the bridge of his nose. Like the thought pained him.
“That’s it. That’s the word she said what does it mean?” Tormund questioned.
“Nymeria is the name of her wolf. The dire wolf made its way back to her.” Jon said taking his seat again at her side. Running his fingers over her small hand.
“Her wolf? Dothraki have wolves? I thought they were all about their horses?” Tormund wondered aloud.
“DOTHRAKI?!??” All 3 people questioned loudly, Jon and Brienne looked angry, Sam genuinely confused.
“Ay, is that not what the lass is. She’s too small and pretty for a free folk. And too ferocious to be a southern lady.” He gestured at her still sleeping form.
“Tormund, this is my sister.” Jon said and Brienne had also started speaking.
“That’s Lady Arya Stark of Winterfell.”
“I’ll be damned.” Tormund said finally putting all the pieces together in his mind. Arya the sister Jon talked about who reminded him of the free folk. Who he said he missed the most, who he was the closest to, who used to one up her brothers in archery. Now the grey eyes and dark hair did remind him of the crow. He just couldn’t see it before.
“Well, I’m glad I didn’t try to make her my spear wife then, I’m sure that would have been an awkward conversation with the king of the north.” He joked but Jon didn’t laugh.
“Can someone please tell me what a Spear wife is?” A small voice rang out.