Lord Commander gone missing

It has been three days now since the lord commander along of some fellow night´s watch members should have had returned from a mission but none of them, not even one of their horses did. Therefore a few crows as well as Naerys decided to go searching for them. After all that was going on in her former home they just couldn´t wait to leave castle black unlike many others, especially from the wilding side. The small group has been out starting from dawn this day and were almost about to ride back to the castle since the sun was already about to set soon when Naerys eventually noticed something familiar in the snow, John´s sword right next to a big heap. Immediately she got off the horse -her behind being very thankful for this- and ran to the pile to wipe away the snow and discover a lying John, wounded and by far too cold as his skin even was already getting blueish. "John!"

Everything had been so chaotic. The attack happened all of a sudden. He had tried to search for Naerys brother just to make Naerys happy. And then maybe make Minha stop biting him from time to time. The search was without result and when they were heading back, a new group of white walkers had appeared and attacked them. All he could remember was their blue eyes and then the pain at his ribs and leg, and that they were standing over him. Then the world went black for him. His body was left alone in the snow and his thoughts went back and forth. Was he dead? Alive? He was unconscious when Naerys found him, he barely opened his eyes once he thought that he heard her voice. Could it be? He felt so cold and the words wouldn't come out from his lips.

As he opened his eyes Naerys was close to cry. She wanted to hug him, kiss him, raising his body temperature again but she needed to control herself since they weren´t alone. Quickly she got the remaining snow off of him and soon after the other crows arrived and tried to help John stand up or at least carry him to one of the horses to get him back to the castle.

"Naerys," he whispered. Was she really here? Or was he dead and his spirit was with her? Suddenly he could feel other hands and arms around him. "Thank the seven," he could hear one of his men say. "Come on Lord Commander," he heard another say. They tried to make him stand, but the pain in the leg was to much and he sank down again making the others to carry him toward the horses instead. His consciousness went in and out many time and he barely noticed that they were riding back to the wall. One of his men were already in full speed back to tell the master at the wall about the situation.

Naerys was watching the crows carrying John very closely. If they would have dared to cause him unneeded pain or even let him fall they would experience REAL pain. Luckily for them though they did good in putting their commander on a horse which Naerys climbed right after so she could actually speak to him more or less freely. Once everyone was ready to ride back again she made her horse move as well though of course struggled a little, making them being the last ones of the group. Just when the crows seemed to be far enough Naerys stroke over John with one hand and looked down at him rather worried than angry. "You better don´t dare to die on the way or me personally will kill you! And believe me, compared to me a white walker appears like a kitten."

He thought that he heard her voice again. "So sorry..." he tried to mumble. He wasn't able to find her brother. He wasn't able to save his men from the attack. They finally reached back to the wall and the men helped Naerys to get John down and carried him to the master. The respected older man spoke gently to Naerys, and with her help they cleansed his wounds. The master had to cut of some parts of his pants to get a closer look at the wound before he cleansed it. "It's a miracle that he survived." the master said while he bandaged the leg and then checked the wounds at the ribs. If he had been stabbed right in the heart, then he would have died. He then made some milk of the poppy to ease the pain. His body would hurt when John awoke. He was then carried back to his chambers and the steward made sure to make a fire so the Lord Commander wasn't cold. He needed to get some warmth back. The master trusted Naerys enough to let her watch over John. John were dreaming of the last fight. His men were dying and he couldn't save them.

Naerys had helped the maester with Johns wounds and actually started to like the old man. At least he was smart enough to let her stay and even take care of her husband. Also she was almost sure the maester even knew about that as well from the looks he had given her. Once he was gone Naerys got out of her shoes and some of her clothes to get under the sheet with John and warm him up with her own heat additonally to the fire.

Before he fell back to sleep, he opened his eyes and caught a glimpse of Naerys next to him. He wrapped his arm around her waist and curled himself next to her. She was so warm. Then he fell back to sleep again.

Just when he seemed to be alright, at least enough to fall asleep with holding her, she sighed in relief before anger hit her and she slapped him awake. "How could you do this you stupid crow!"

It felt like his head was falling down against cotton, then he felt the slap and was back to reality. "How could you do this you stupid crow!" Naerys almost yelled at his face. Okay, he wasn't dead. He was really alive and back at the wall. "Sorry," he said while he rubbed his eyes. "It just happened all of a sudden." He was thinking about the attack from the white walkers.

"Why didn´t you just try to run away?" She almost screamed at him scolding. "Feelings aside how could you dare to risk to die? Don´t you know what will happen if you´re not there anymore?"

"We were surrounded," John explained slowly. The milk of the poppy made his head dizzy. And that didn't help against Naerys anger. Of course he knew what would happen if he had died. The other members would throw Naerys out or even kill her. "And I can't run away. I have a duty."

"And what is with your duty to protect your southern people? With you gone free folk and night´s watch only would go into war with each other again and will be completely wiped out by the white walkers and their wights." She said while hitting him.

"Ow!" John screamed when Naerys slapped him. "Naerys sweetie, please stop." He had to fight against the dizziness. The duty was only to protect the north against what was beyond there. "I was on the search of your brother." Maybe not the wisest way to tell in that way. But he owed her an explanation.

After giving him one last hurting hit she eventually stopped. She was indeed touched that he did so much just to search for her brother, a wilding in the crows eyes. However at the same time she thought it was only fair since it was John´s fault that she and her brother got seperated anyways, not to mention that their marriage was completely his fault. "Thank you for searching for him ... but that still doesn´t make anything better! You could have died dammit!"

Thank the gods, she finally stopped hitting him. But still she had a point. He had to be more careful. "I'll be more careful," he promised her. "But it will take time before I get to fight again." His leg started to hurt again. The master peeked inside to just check how it was going. He seemed happy that the commander was awake, but he needed to rest. The hawk that belonged to Naerys stared sceptical at him, therefore he gave the hawk some meat before he went outside again. He would check upon the commander again later.

"Don´t you dare to ever be that risky again!" She told him while staring warningly at him before her expression got softer and she cuddled him. "I don´t want to loose you my beloved John." At his remark about needing time to recover she nodded. "I will help you until then, don´t worry I can protect myself and few others."

"I promise to not be risky again," he replied sleepy and cuddled her back when she cuddled him. "I don't want to lose you either. Thank you for helping me." He smiled sleepy when his head rested at the pillow. He knew that Naerys was able to protect herself. "Don't forget to bring Minha along you," he said mumbling before he went back to sleep. This time he was dreaming about the warm spring and the moment with Naerys there.

"You better! Otherwise I will be the one to kill you!" She said, almost purred against him as she cuddled him tighter and soon fell asleep like him.

He almost slept for two days while Naerys and the master watched over him and cleansed his wounds and changed the bandage. John had to take it easy to recover and ate just some bread and soup to get his strength back. It would take time for his leg to heal, so he had to use a crutch for a while. He already grew tired of being inside, almost wandering around like a caged animal. And it even didn't get better once he learned of his comrades fate. He was the only one survivor after that search. Ravens were sent to the families of the fallen to tell the news. More lost men, and the white walkers were getting bigger. Normally, he didn't use to pray, but this time he decided to pay a visit to the sept. And Naerys of course helped him on their way, he leaned on her while he used the crutch.

Naerys softened her behavior a bit over the past days though she still was scolding him actually far too often. At least though only when they were alone. When he recently told her about going to the church she looked quite skeptical at him. First since he didn´t seem to bee too religious in her opinion, second since she hasn´t seen any sept in her life yet and wasn´t sure what to think of the idea of visiting one. However she still didn´t hesitate to go with him and help him on the way. The crows probably wouldn´t do it right anyways.

The fresh air actually did some good for him. It cleared his head from all that milk of the poppy. It sure helped with pain, but it made his head all foggy. The sept were silent once they reached it and went inside. The statues of the seven were big and tall once they reached the altar. He nodded toward the statue of the warrior and Naerys helped him toward the statue. It was here he had taken his oath once he became a full member of the nights watch. And now, he was gonna pray for strength for his comrades against the white walkers.

Naerys surely was impressed by the sept as she has never seen anything like this before, especially the big statues almost scared her even. She helped until where he wanted to stop and then made sure he was standing stabile before she backed off as she didn´t think it would be good otherwise. While John was praying she wandered around the hall, taking a closer look at each statue. This surely was a strange religion.

Warrior, give my comrades strength and courage to fight against the enemy, John prayed in silence before he limped over to the Mother. Mother, please help me to contain the peace between the Night's Watch and the free folk. Help me to avoid more bloodshed between them. He then limped toward the Crone. Crone, I ask for your wisdom. Please guide me trough the decisions to come. He then bowed his head for all the statues. Please help me, keep the wall to still stand and not tearing down by the white walkers. Help us against this winter god who leads them. He looked up again and spotted Naerys watching the Maiden, the one who represented purity, love and beauty.

Naerys stopped at the statue of the Maiden for a little longer than for the others. So I assume that is what the ideal woman looks like for the crows and the southern people. She didn´t know why but somehow she didn´t quite like the statue.