Jon

           Jonclimbedthestepsslowly,tryingnottothinkthatthismightbethelasttimeever.Ghostpaddedsilentlybesidehim.Outside,snowswirledthroughthecastlegates,andtheyardwasallnoiseandchaos,butinsidethethickstonewallsitwasstillwarmandquiet.TooquietforJon’sliking.

           Hereachedthelandingandstoodforalongmoment,afraid.Ghostnuzzledathishand.Hetookcouragefromthat.Hestraightened,andenteredtheroom.

           LadyStarkwastherebesidehisbed.Shehadbeenthere,dayandnight,forcloseonafortnight.NotforamomenthadsheleftBran’sside.Shehadhermealsbroughttoherthere,andchamberpotsaswell,andasmallhardbedtosleepon,thoughitwassaidshehadscarcelysleptatall.Shefedhimherself,thehoneyandwaterandherbmixturethatsustainedlife.Notoncedidsheleavetheroom.SoJonhadstayedaway.

           Butnowtherewasnomoretime.

           Hestoodinthedoorforamoment,afraidtospeak,afraidtocomecloser.Thewindowwasopen.Below,awolfhowled.Ghostheardandliftedhishead.

           LadyStarklookedover.Foramomentshedidnotseemtorecognizehim.Finallysheblinked."Whatareyoudoinghere?"sheaskedinavoicestrangelyflatandemotionless.

           "IcametoseeBran,"Jonsaid."Tosaygood-bye."

           Herfacedidnotchange.Herlongauburnhairwasdullandtangled.Shelookedasthoughshehadagedtwentyyears."You’vesaidit.Nowgoaway."

           Partofhimwantedonlytoflee,butheknewthatifhedidhemightneverseeBranagain.Hetookanervousstepintotheroom."Please,"hesaid.