Wildcat, Wildling
Wordcount: 3,838 words
Summary: A northern lord travelled beyond the wall roughly thirty years ago. Now, Jon Snow brings wildlings south and secrets are revealed, family reunited, lives lost, and love won through free folk tradition.
tl;dr When Y/N embraces the culture of her free folk brother, Tormund Giantsbane is all too eager to steal her for himself.
*This is explicit enough for me to repeat MDNI*
Masterlist | Requests are open
“What do you mean he’s brought wildlings through the wall?” Y/N’s father asked, “They’re here? Now?”
“Yes.” She nodded, confused at his sudden worry, “They’re safe, Jon would not betray us like that.”
“Betray us indeed.” Her father muttered, “You stay away from them. Am I understood?”
Despite her promise to her father, she may have found herself being introduced to them.
“Just, please?” Jon asked, “I need someone I can trust that isn’t a member of the watch.”
So, she was brought over and a good few of them were trying to figure out the situation before anyone spoke.
“This is Lady Y/N-” Jon had barely begun when he was interrupted.
“Who gave you permission to bare that symbol?” One of the wildlings demanded, approaching her.
“This is my family crest.” She said, fingertips grazing the wildcat stitched into the fabric, “It is my right.”
“It is my family too.” The man insisted, “My father came from the south and went back through the wall.”
Edd came over panting, clearly having been sent with some urgency, “Father- yours. Wants you back now.”
So, she was sent to her room like a child. She did, however, take the opportunity to ask him about it.
“You went beyond the wall.” She reminded, “Is what he says true?”
“That is your brother.” He admitted, “Arnas.”
“I have a brother?” She asked, realizing that meant her brother was the heir to everything- if wildlings even believed in any of that.
That night, she watched her father sneak out and stayed up to hear how it went. Instead, she heard the sounds of swords, fighting, men dying, the screams of people coming across the bloodshed.
So, she barred the doors, hiding to stay safe. Come morning, she heard the scratching on the door and a whine- Ghost.
Ghost she could let in, and she undid the bars, the direwolf coming in. Shortly behind was Jon, with Edd and Arnas and another wildling man.
“See?” Jon seemed relieved, “She’s resourceful, a survivor.”
“What happened?” She asked, “He left and then-”
“He’s dead.” Arnas said, “He came to see me, the crows mounted an attack and he stood with us. He died defending me.”
She had to take a second, though she had feared the worst, “Did he at least get to speak to you?”
“I am his heir.” Arnas nodded, “More importantly, I am your brother.”
“If you’re to lead your house, you need to take responsibility.” The other wildling said, “Be a real leader.”
“I will keep you safe.” Arnas promised her, “My little sister, nothing will hurt you.”
She was surprised at the vow until she realized, “There’s quite the target on my head now, isn’t there?”
Jon offered a sympathetic smile, “I’ll do what I can.”
That day, they burned their dead and Y/N was given her father’s weapon and his cloak with their wildcat sigil clasp. She knew the only right thing to do was to bestow them upon her brother.
She laid the cloak over his shoulders, clasping it on and offering his sword, “Welcome to our family brother, there aren’t many of us left. So, I’m glad to have you.”
He nodded at that, taking the sword and thrusting it into the air. She had no idea what the future would hold, but Arnas seemed like he truly would hold his promises. She would at least feel safe while protected by him, and she was glad to have a brother.
For the first day at least.
After that, he insisted on training her to fight like a ‘free woman’. It was rough, she was all types of bruised and sore- she was beginning to hate him.
“She’s proven to be useful at a distance.” Jon interjected, putting her out of her misery as she was handed a bow to show her skill. She was beyond relieved when she could stop taking a beating and prove that she could in fact hit her marks. Very well. Consistently.
“A hunter then.” Arnas approved with a grin, “Like a proper wildcat.”
“I wouldn’t tease her, she bites.” Edd threw at him, getting a laugh from the others and a glare from Y/N. She mimed a bite in his general direction and Arnas seemed to be thinking.
“Is this the one you’ve chosen?” He gestured at Edd with his sword from afar, “I don’t like him.”
Y/N did actually laugh at that, assuring him quickly that Edd was a friend and a crass one at that.
“You wound me my lady.” Edd said, before clearing his throat, “Though, it is true. We are friends. Good friends, I’d say.”
“Good.” Arnas approved, “Friends are good, especially these days.”
“When did you grow so wise?” Tormund teased him, “Has the duty gone to your head?”
“I must do what is right.” Arnas stood firm, like he was convincing himself of what needed to be done, “I must be a lord and defend my family.”
Y/N furrowed her brow, setting down her bow, “You don’t have to be like our father. You can do things your way, however that may be. Propriety can be thrown out the window- especially if the damned dead are coming back to life.”
That earned a couple smiles and Jon jumped in.
“You’re a good man, a good fighter, you need to trust that you’ll make the right choices.” He said, glancing to Y/N, “And, seek council if you need it. You’ve got a resourceful sister, she can help guide you when it’s needed.”
Arnas didn’t want to appear weak but seemed to feel much more comfortable with that. He clapped a hand on Jon’s shoulder and passed him, pulling his sister into a hug.
“Oh.” She said, holding him back, “You’ll be great, you just need to trust yourself.”
He insisted on learning more about his sister, her childhood, her life before. He took to watching her if he saw her at a distance, quickly noticing how she watched some of the other free folk.
That night at dinner, he joined her at the table and leaned in, “Do you have a lover?”
“I’m sorry?” She asked, “What?”
“A lover.” He repeated, “Someone to take care of you should I die.”
“Arnas…” she said, “I don’t.”
He didn’t seem pleased at that, looking around the room, “Do you want a cock or pussy?”
“Arnas!” She hissed, her voice much quieter.
“Do you not know?” He asked, “It is easy to figure out, I’ll buy you time with a cock and a p-”
She shushed him harshly, earning a grin across the table, “Firstly, if you must know, ladies aren't supposed to ‘have time’ with either, but right now…”
Arnas followed before lighting up as he made the connection, “You have your eyes on someone, who? A free man?”
“Why would you assume that?” She asked, cheeks beet red at this point.
“I’ve seen how you watch them.” He said, gesturing with a chicken leg, “The big, strong, free men. Do you want one of them to steal you?”
“Steal? What does that mean?” She asked.
“Our tradition.” He nodded, “Someone has their eyes on someone else and steals them. They sneak to the person’s tent, throw them over their shoulder and make off with them to their own tent in the middle of the night.”
“Someone would take me from my room while I sleep?” She asked.
“Not unless I tell them it’s allowed.” Arnas said, “If you were a free woman, they would have already. You’re a southern lady and they know customs are different, or they aren’t interested.”
She began to poke at her dinner at that.
“I can declare you a free woman.” Arnas said, “Declare our house a free house.”
“I don’t know about all that.” She said, “Beyond the wall, they don’t even have houses.”
“Then I’ll tell them you can be stolen, by someone worthy enough.” Arnas said, “Don’t worry, if they aren’t worthy, I’ll kill them.”
He did tell the others that, though he went off to let Jon know next. Y/N heard a commotion out in the yard and leaned over the rail to see a group of free folk fighting.
“What’s happening?” Edd asked, appearing at her side.
“They’re fighting.” She said.
“Over what?” He asked.
The two didn’t know and ran down to see if they could stop it.
“Enough!” Edd shouted, his voice not breaking through the shouts.
Y/N saw it getting worse, whoever was at the center of this was doing some serious damage. She climbed barrels beside the nearest building and hoisted herself onto the wooden overhang awning, “Enough!”
The closer free folk turned her way, the confusion spreading and she shouted again.
“Enough! What is going on here?” She shouted again, seeing Arnas and Jon finally reach the yard.
The fight had stilled and she could see Tormund in the mix. She at least knew his name and addressed him directly.
“Tormund, what the fuck is going on?” She asked.
“These boys think they could steal you.” He spat at one of them, who he still held by the furs around his shoulders, “I’m just putting them back in their place.”
“Steal me?” She asked, recalling the conversation from the night before. She whipped her gaze back to her brother, who seemed a bit smug until he met her eyes. Then his smile fell, “Arnas. Inside. Now.”
She got off the awning and crossed the yard, a path clearing as she approached her brother. The three went inside, discussing things as they walked.
“You didn’t say no.” He told her, confused about her reaction, “They’re fighting for you, this is good.”
“Good?” She asked, “This is chaos.”
“She’s right.” Jon agreed, “We can’t lose fighting men over this.”
“We won’t lose them.” Arnas said confused, “They just know they can’t have her.”
“We’ll place a guard at her door tonight.” Jon said.
“A guard won’t do any good.” Arnas said, “If he wants to steal her, he has every right to beat or even kill anyone in his way.”
“Kill- no.” Jon said, “He can’t kill my men.”
“Whoever he is- do you know who might do it?” She asked.
Arnas was more confused, “You saw him, you spoke to him.”
She gawked at that, “Tormund? The Giantsbane?”
Arnas nodded proudly, shoving her shoulder, “Good catch sister.”
“Tormund?” Jon relaxed, “We’ll speak to him, he should understand.”
“It’s tradition.” Arnas shook his head, “He won’t do away with it for the comfort of some crows.”
“Do you want us to hide you?” Jon asked her.
“Why can’t I just talk to him?” She asked.
“You can.” Arnas said, “He’ll still steal you.”
When she went to bed, Y/N couldn’t sleep at first. She would jump with every creak of the shutters, every crackle of the fire. Eventually, she drifted off.
She awoke to a hand over her mouth in the dark and panicked, gripping that wrist with both hands. Her fire had burned out, she hadn’t a hope to see.
“Come now wildcat.” He spoke and she couldn’t recognize the voice. She hoped it was just the darkness and the fear, not that it was someone other than Tormund.
She was hoisted over his shoulder and he started out of the room. He looked up and down the hall and began to walk rather briskly out of there. With the torches lit in the halls, she looked over, not recognizing the mop of dark hair.
She felt her heart drop. She didn’t know who this was.
She did the only thing she could think to do, fight him.
“Let go of me!” She shouted, punching at him, elbowing his cheekbone, kneeing him in the ribs. He grunted, falling to his knees and she clambered off of him. She started down the hall a bit, hearing laughter behind her. She turned to see Tormund, looking rather amused as he watched her from where he now stood by the other man.
“Run wildcat!” He called with a grin before grabbing the man by the hair and kneeing him in the face. The man collapsed fully and she hoped he was dead. How had he gotten into her room without anyone seeing? Without her waking up?
She realized that Tormund was gaining on her and ran off, turning left and running down the hall, hoping to get out to the yard, if not to Jon.
She came to a sliding stop, spotting a wildling down the hall. She turned to try the other way and saw another coming up that way. She returned to the middle seeing Tormund give the other guy one more good kick before he looked up her way.
The other two wildlings were armed too- armored and armed, and she was in her sleep clothes. As they neared her, she ran towards Tormund, surprising the man.
“You aren’t going to put up a fight?” He asked, laughing at the scene until he saw the two men following her. His smile changed and he readied for a fight, “Get behind me wildcat.”
She did in a heartbeat, looking up the last remaining hallway and seeing another coming, “Tormund, there’s another.”
He started to fight off the first two, sending one skull first into the stone wall. He fell to the ground and didn’t move.
Tormund was fighting with the other when he looked up her way. He ripped a hand axe from his belt and threw it, striking someone close to her. She took her chance to run back to her room, only for her to be grabbed by the one hit with the axe.
“Let go of me!” She struggled.
“I just need a better hold of you.” He laughed, pulling the axe from his shoulder with a grunt and taking both hands to grab her chest, “That’s better.”
She felt warm wetness from his hands and saw his blood was smeared into her clothing now. She heard a growl from down the hallway and saw Tormund had finished that fight and was coming for the next one.
The man behind her choked out a laugh and shoved her down. She grunted as her knees met the stone and took off back to her room. She got through the door, barring it and trying to find somewhere to hide. In the end, she dove under the bed, praying if someone came in, it would be Tormund.
The door didn’t hold up long, the bar splintering across the floor. She held her breath and clenched her fists, hoping for a sign it was him.
He whistled, “Here kitty kitty. Come on out.”
She heard poking at the fire, before she saw flames again. He had relit the fire.
Feet stopped at the edge of the bed, she could see the toes of his boots, “You can come out now.”
She didn’t move, fear keeping her frozen.
“This isn’t how a stealing goes.” He lamented, “The castle, the crows, it’s tainted a good tradition. Four men have died tonight, come out, my wildcat.”
She recalled a dagger she had hidden and slid out the other side of the bed, barely peeking over the edge of the mattress to see who it was. At the same time, she closed her fist around the handle of the dagger. She relaxed in an instant, the ginger hair being the best thing she could have seen.
His shoulders dropped at the sight of her, and he waved her over his way. She felt like a child with the way she went right over and let him bring her to his chest.
“It’s alright now.” He repeated, “Take off the bloody clothes and go back to sleep.”
She tensed a bit, unsure of what he was working at.
“I’ll stand watch, be your guard.” He said, “No one will get into this room.”
He let go of her, moving to look at the fire and she slipped out of the bloody shirt. She dropped it to the floor and climbed into bed, pulling the covers up high. She was technically still covered, but it was much less than she would rather be.
When Tormund heard the sheets stop moving, he turned back, spotting the shirt on the floor. He picked it up and returned to the fire, tossing the fabric to the flames.
He let her drift off and did stand guard all night. When morning came, she stirred and her breath caught when she saw him still at the door.
“They’ll leave you alone now.” He said, “The sun has risen, I’ll talk to them and you should wear this.”
He laid a fur pelt over the bed. Probably some barbaric claim staking tradition. He took another step towards her, up the bed, trying to gauge her reaction. He leaned over her, pressing his lips to hers.
He moved to rest his forehead to hers, shutting his eyes as he stroked back her hair.
“This isn’t how the night should have gone.” He admitted, pulling away, “You should have been screaming in pleasure not fear.”
Her cheeks burned at that and he smiled before leaving.
She pushed up the second he left, dressing in record time and making sure she looked put together. She didn’t want anyone to think she had been frightened by the night. That would only make her more of a target. She donned the fur over her shoulders and looked at the splintered remains of the bar for her door. She went right down the hall, determined to look unbothered by the blood still soaking the stone.
She would find Jon, tell him she needed a new bar for her door- then find her brother.
She didn’t find Jon at first so she went for Arnas. Tormund must’ve had the same idea. She found her brother being held by the collar and Tormund in his face.
“You are not a crow, you are one of us.” Tormund was furious and right in his face, “You know how things work and how we are. Four men died last night, and I found her covered in blood, hiding under her bed.”
Arnas tried not to react. He had to stay strong.
“She could have died.” Tormund shook him, “Do you understand that?”
“Tormund.” She said and he stopped shaking Arnas, but did not release him, “I came to say the same thing. Arnas, that was reckless and you broke your promise. You swore you would keep me safe but you were the one to put that danger onto me.”
Tormund let him go when Arnas finally dropped his head at her words. At least he understood.
“You are the only family I have left Arnas.” She said, “I need you to understand that, to think before you act, to trust that I can help you if need be.”
Arnas dropped his head fully and Tormund put a hand on Y/N’s shoulder.
“He’s not your only family.” He said, “After last night, I am too.”
That put it into perspective for her, last night she got wildling married to Tormund. She thought it was some kind of courting practice, not a marriage.
“I am glad to call you brother Tormund.” Arnas said, “You are a respected leader and… I hope I can learn from you.”
Tormund just grunted at him and used his arm around Y/N to guide her out of the room.
As they walked, other wildlings took notice and Y/N felt much safer at his side. She noticed Jon across the yard and told Tormund she had to speak to him. So, the two approached a very confused Jon.
“I need a new bar for my door.” Y/N said.
Tormund seemed confused at that, “A new bar?”
“To hold the door shut.” She said.
“I’ll be there.” He said, “No free folk will enter and if a crow does, I’ll kill him.”
Jon cleared his throat at that, “I think a new bar can be arranged, to prevent any more unnecessary bloodshed.”
Tormund allowed it and was starting off, but Jon stopped her. Tormund looked for a sign she was okay with it and when she nodded, he went off aways to let them talk.
“What happened?” Jon asked, “Are you alright?”
“I think we’re married?” She said, “He killed the one that took me, then the three more that came. He stood watch the rest of the night.”
Jon shook his head, “And you’re okay with that?”
She considered it for a second, as she had been off and on all day, “I think I am.”
There was nothing Jon could say to that, “Then, congratulations.”
“And good luck.” Edd revealed his presence, “That man is a wild-ling if I’ve ever seen one.”
“We’re free folk.” Tormund appeared again, eyes locked on Edd, “Now, I’ve come to finish what was started last night.”
He threw Y/N over his shoulder again, bringing her up to her- their room and tossing her on the bed.
“We’re free folk.” He repeated, “We don’t abide by crow rules and we like to fuck.”
She was a little terrified of what was to come and he just smiled at her.
“I know crows don’t like to fuck, don’t let their women fuck until they’re wed. Even then they don’t always make them come.” He didn’t seem to approve of that, “I won’t stop until you’re spent.”
The fear she felt quickly melted to butterflies as she found out what he meant. He made good on his word, the two recovering around what must’ve been dinner time.
“We need to eat.” He said, “Keep up our strength so we can keep going.”
He nipped her bicep at that, grinning as he left the bed. He went to the door, bare ass and cock still half hard as he called for a servant to bring food and wine.
He shut the door with a grin, climbing back over her to just lay atop her a moment. She groaned at the weight of him, biting his shoulder until he laughed and rolled of her.
“You do bite back.” He seemed glad to discover it.
A servant came shortly after, with a tray of food, a carafe of wine and goblets.
Y/N tried to hide her face, embarrassed at the state she was in and the idea that someone knew what she was up to.
Tormund watched her cover her face with her hand, glancing to the servant and moving to take her breast in his mouth. She gasped and tried to push him off, mortified when the servant ran from the room.
“Get off of me you beast.” She said, smiling when he finally did.
“Beast?” He grinned, “I’ll show you beast- but first, we eat.”
The others saw how happy she was and accepted that whatever had happened was good for her. Arnas was thrilled to have Tormund be his brother and was learning from both him and Jon how to lead.
