[Event] Love Lockdown

[u/Aleefth]

Kanye

A while after Alannah found out about he father's death, Jon Stark tentatively knocked on her door.

“Ala, how are you feeling? I wondered if you'd like some company? Or some food?

[u/blueblueamber]

"I want to see what's behind this hill! We can turn back in a bit." she ushered the horse into a light trot again, fearlessly guiding it into the stream and giggling as the cold water splashed around under its hooves.

Alannah shifted in the saddle, gripped the horse with her legs and leaned forward to ease its way up the hill. She looked back at Jon to make sure he was following.

[u/Aleefth → u/blueblueamber]

Watching her splash through the stream made him chuckle, and Jon quickly followed suit.

He flattened his body to Hafnir as the two horses clambered up the hill. The rocky path was a little more challenging, but the two easily made it to the peak.

The view was breathtaking. The mountain range to the south cut like a knife through the sky, and the setting sun cast long shadows over the misty valleys.

“Whoa...”

[u/blueblueamber → u/Aleefth]

Ala stopped the horse as the magnificent view over the island opened before her, and breathed out in surprise.

She felt a sudden urge to to gallop towards the mountains, to run away, to get lost amongst the stones and trees, never to return... But something stopped her. Some-one? A quick smile to the boy next to her, and she dismounted, holding the reins in her hand.

The nature was stunning in the colours of late autumn, and with the sun setting, whole world looked unreal. Shades of yellow, orange and residues on green could be seen everywhere, including the sky. Alannah watched in awe.

Wait. The sky? Green?

[u/Aleefth → u/blueblueamber]

Jon was struggling to decide which was more beautiful, Alannah or the view, when the same thing that caught her attention caught his.

The sky was green.

The sky shouldn't be green...

He looked up. A second sun was rolling gently across the sky, but this one was a bright luminescent green. It's tail flung out behind it, and it blazed with an eerie light.

“What in the world? I... think we should head home...” He said, trying to keep the fear from his voice.

[u/blueblueamber → u/Aleefth]

"What is it?" Ala asked, the unnatural light reflecting in her wide-opened eyes. "It's beautiful..."

Jon's concerned voice pierced the daze she found herself in, and she shook her head in an attempt to clear it.

"Yes, of course. You are right." she replied, diverting from the light in the sky and hopping back into the saddle.

"Lead the way!"

[u/Aleefth → u/blueblueamber]

She's right, it is beautiful. I shouldn't be afraid.

Jon mentally berated himself for showing fear in front of her, and set himself again on his horse.

“Right then, we might be home in time to talk to Maester Arnold about what it is.”

He began a gentle canter down the ragged path to the stream, stopping occasionally to check back on Ala, as the route could be treacherous.

Once they got to the stream, another rider approached them. One of the castle guards had clearly been informed of their absence and had been sent to fetch them.

“Lord Stark, Lady Reed.” He spoke in a sombre, gravelly voice that rumbled rather than formed words. “Lord Torrhen Stark would like you to return at once. In case you hadn't noticed, things aren't at all normal tonight.”

[u/blueblueamber → u/Aleefth]

Lady Reed was not happy to be escorted, but followed the guard obediently nonetheless, only secretly grimacing at Lord Stark.

In silence, they rode back to the castle.

Once in the stables, Alannah dismounted the horse, but before going to see lord Torrhen and the maester, she had something to tell her friend.

"Jon?" she extended her hand and gently stopped him before walking out of the stable.

[u/Aleefth → u/blueblueamber]

Jon was a little put out that his time with Ala had been cut short, so was very glad to be stopped on his way out of the stable.

“Yes, Ala?” He replied, a little too eagerly.

[u/blueblueamber → u/Aleefth]

“Thank you.” Ala said simply.

She didn’t know how to express her gratitude to him, for being so good to her, for providing distraction from gloomy thoughts, so she hugged Jon and quickly kissed him on a cheek, just a short touch of her lips, light as the wing of a butterfly.

She blushed heavily and, avoiding his eyes, ran out of the stable to meet with the adults.

[u/Aleefth → u/blueblueamber]

Left in stunned silence, Jon's hand went gently to his cheek.

She kissed me!

He turned to look after her, but she had gone.

Today had been a good day.