Marian chewed on a piece of rabbit meat, talking with his mouth full.
The silver Aragorn had given him was long gone.
He’d just come back from the brothel, hair messy and reeking of cheap perfume.
“What the hell are you going up there for?
Snow’s flying everywhere, you have to bundle up like a damn bear just to step outside, and the northerners are boring as shit.
They don’t understand art.” “Essos doesn’t get much snow.
I want to take a quiet walk through it.
Maybe your singing will finally find an audience that appreciates it.” “Those mud-footed savages wouldn’t know good music if it bit them.
My voice was made for kings and great lords.” “The Starks are great lords.” Marian kept bragging while Aragorn thought about the king’s party that had left just two days earlier.
The bard had been blowing through the gold Aragorn gave him the whole time Robert’s camp was here.
“Starks don’t know music.
They only like the sound of wolves howling.” “Is that so?
Now I’m even more curious.” Robert heading north was big news.
Even with how slow rumors moved, Marian spent every day talking to travelers coming and going.
There was no way he hadn’t heard.
The only reason he was badmouthing the North was because he was broke.
The road was long, the weather brutal.
Without coin he’d either starve or freeze before he got halfway.
So he sat here talking shit instead.
“Oh, you’ll need a thick cloak.
You’ll freeze to death in what you’re wearing.” Marian pulled out an old, mangy fur.
“I got this in Riverrun.
The young Tully lord gave it to me himself.
We’re like brothers.
Every time I visit they set aside a private room just for me.” He gave a sly little smile.
“For the sake of our friendship, I’ll sell it to you cheap.
Eight silver stags.
You won’t find a better deal anywhere.
Up north this thing will save your life.” Aragorn smiled politely and waved him off.
“Thanks, but I already have winter clothes.
I’m good.” Marian wasn’t ready to give up.
“Don’t underestimate this cloak, it’s—” Martha Hyde walked over, arms crossed, glaring at him.
“Marian, if you try to sell that piece of garbage to one more person, you’re cut off.
No more credit here.
You’ve been eating and sleeping here for free long enough.
Have some shame.” Marian deflated like a punctured wineskin.
He muttered something and stuffed the cloak away.
Willow Hyde looked stunned when she heard about it, then went back to her usual quiet self.
“He’s a traveler.
He can’t stay in one place forever.” Martha watched Aragorn talking with Bronn and the others.
Willow looked the most shaken.
She knew he was leaving and didn’t want him to go.
People came and went from the inn all the time.
She should be used to it by now.
But Aragorn had made an impression these last few days.
“I can’t stay here forever either.” Aragorn dropped to one knee so he was eye level with Willow.
He put his hands gently on her shoulders.
“Don’t worry.
We’re not saying goodbye forever.
I’ll be coming back this way from the North.” “Really?” “Of course.
I promise I’ll return.” He handed her a small pouch of the golden rock candy.
“This is for you.
It’s our secret.
One piece a day, no more, or your teeth will rot.
Don’t let anyone else have any.” She nodded seriously.
“I’ll remember.” They smiled at each other.
Aragorn felt awkward as hell inside.
“You’re really going north?” Bronn spat on the ground.
“That frozen shithole’s poor as dirt.
The lords are all big dumb brutes and the wine tastes like piss.” Kiggen nodded.
“I grew up there.
Nothing but snow and ice.
People are thick in the head and only know how to swing steel.” Aragorn just smiled.
“I want to see the snow.
And the Wall.” Bronn stared at him like he’d lost his mind.
“You’ve got a good thing going here and you’re running off to freeze your balls off?
What’s wrong with you?” “Call it curiosity.” The moon was full that night.
Aragorn lay on a haystack behind the inn, staring up at the stars.
Someone sat down beside him.
“Did I wake you?” It was Jenny.
She was still wearing her usual simple dress.
“No.
I wasn’t sleeping.” “Lord Aragorn… thank you.” He blinked.
“For what?” “You saved me twice.
I wasn’t hurt either time.” “You already thanked me.
Anyone would have done the same.” Jenny didn’t answer.
She just kept looking at the sky and kept talking.
“Those men were strong and there were a lot of them.
You came alone and you still ran straight in to help me.
It surprised me.
I couldn’t believe it.
But more than anything… I was happy.” Her sad expression softened into a small smile.
“I’m glad you didn’t get hurt.
You’re a traveler.
Getting injured would have been terrible for you.” If she hadn’t run into him that day in the woods, she probably would have only ever seen him as another passing guest.
“I’m pretty tough.” The emerald on his chest seemed to agree.
It caught the moonlight and flashed once.
A light breeze carried Jenny’s sweet scent to him.
She had leaned in without him noticing.
Her head was resting on his shoulder now.
If he turned his face just a little, his lips would brush hers.
…Go back inside.
He killed the thought.
He didn’t have real feelings for her.
Acting on simple lust with someone who trusted him and had no defenses up would make him a piece of shit.
“It’s late.
You should get some rest.” He gently lifted her head and stood up.
“I leave tomorrow.
Take care of yourself.” Jenny froze for a second.
A flash of disappointment crossed her face, but she smiled anyway.
“May the Seven watch over you, Lord Aragorn.” At noon the next day, Aragorn left with Sherlock’s caravan.
Martha Hyde and a lot of other people came to see him off.
He felt like a young man who’d come back to the countryside for a visit and was now heading back to the city.
“He really made friends here.” “Martha looked after him well.” “If you had his skills, she’d look after you too.”