"Thank you," she murmurs gratefully as she nods and burrows into his arms a little more, lingering in the feeling of comfort and safety he's providing. He's always been that for her, the person who understood her the most and had her best interests at heart; that's why it had broken her when he'd told her he was leaving to join the Night's Watch, because until then she'd thought he knew that she wanted them to have a future together, regardless of her betrothal to Robb. Why else hadn't the wedding happened as soon as she came of age, as had been intended? She'd done all that she could to stall it, buying them time, trying to find a way so they could run away together.
Dropping by Bran's room, she's also grateful to see that the boys are unharmed — she'd made Theon promise not to hurt them, though as the days passed she'd grown less and less assured of their safety. They were the true heirs, after all, for she was just a proxy, and an unofficial one at that, only by virtue of her betrothal to Robb. Theon had been quick to strip her of her authority in the keep, of course, announcing that Robb had called off their engagement as he was marrying one of the Frey girls, although he'd also made it known that he would make her Princess of the Iron Islands instead. Her response had been to spit at his face, telling him that she would never be his, and that he knew why.
Jon was why. Robb hadn't been blind, and neither had Theon, though while Robb had grown to love her like a sister, Theon's feelings for her had always been desirous; he'd have had no second thoughts about sleeping with her if she'd shown any interest in him, even if she was intended for his best friend. But, no, she loved the bastard instead, and that had been why Theon had become even more derisive towards Jon as the years passed.
The boys are surprised to see Jon, too, though their attention is quickly drawn to Jane, concerned at seeing her hurt. "Will she be okay?" Rickon asks Jon worriedly, reaching up to hold Jane's hand and give it an comforting squeeze.
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Dropping by Bran's room, she's also grateful to see that the boys are unharmed — she'd made Theon promise not to hurt them, though as the days passed she'd grown less and less assured of their safety. They were the true heirs, after all, for she was just a proxy, and an unofficial one at that, only by virtue of her betrothal to Robb. Theon had been quick to strip her of her authority in the keep, of course, announcing that Robb had called off their engagement as he was marrying one of the Frey girls, although he'd also made it known that he would make her Princess of the Iron Islands instead. Her response had been to spit at his face, telling him that she would never be his, and that he knew why.
Jon was why. Robb hadn't been blind, and neither had Theon, though while Robb had grown to love her like a sister, Theon's feelings for her had always been desirous; he'd have had no second thoughts about sleeping with her if she'd shown any interest in him, even if she was intended for his best friend. But, no, she loved the bastard instead, and that had been why Theon had become even more derisive towards Jon as the years passed.
The boys are surprised to see Jon, too, though their attention is quickly drawn to Jane, concerned at seeing her hurt. "Will she be okay?" Rickon asks Jon worriedly, reaching up to hold Jane's hand and give it an comforting squeeze.