archeressofhornhill:
The rescue seemed quick, certainly quicker than she had expected. One moment it was raining fire and the next the longship had left it all behind, with little but the smoke visible in the distance. But perhaps that was just because it was such an awful experience Talla wished to put it behind her, to throw it from her mind and focus on the here and the now – it would be difficult not to with Jon in front of her and Ghost at their side.
Her eyes closed briefly as Jon’s hand brushed her hair from her face; it was simple affection, but Talla savored it for it had come completely unprompted. He was not one who gave affection easily – or one who took it easily – and Talla felt a strange sort of acceptance at the gesture. The smile that twitched at the corners of her mouth was genuine and though the moment was sweet, she could not ignore the jest that rose on her lips and spilled out, into the space between them. “We?” she inquired, her voice pleasant and tinged with teasing. “Are you planning to join me for that warm bath and then lace up the back of my dress?” Her grin grew. “I assure you – I wouldn’t mind.” She was teasing – mostly – but Talla rather thought the look upon his face at the thought would be amusing in a way that little else was.
For the rest of her life, this moment would reverberate inside of Talla’s memory, how she had leaned in first, how Jon had wrapped his arm around her to lean into the kiss, how the feel of his lips upon her own made her stomach fill with a warmth she had not yet known. When they pulled away, Talla’s free hand moved to his side and she lowered her legs back down to the ground; Jon might not have been incredibly tall, but Talla was a rather petite woman and she liked the way that she needed to look up to meet his eyes. Her eyes twinkled at his attempt at flirting and while it was not, precisely, the best attempt, she couldn’t care for it was so Jon and endearing that it made her heart swell.
“Only the once?” she asked, arching one eyebrow as her hand moved along his jawline, feeling the hairs of his beard, her thumb moving over his lower lip, uncaring at any of the eyes that gazed upon them. “And here I was hoping that this could be how my impertinence was always rewarded.” The smile was impish and her gaze grew soft. “Whether you are His Grace King Jon, or Jon Snow or Stark or Targaryen, or just simply Jon…” Talla’s voice grew low. “I will adore you until my very last breath.”
his eyes were roaming her face as he brushed her hair back and when she started teasing him. it took him a moment to realize her words and when he did, his face turned red. he opened his mouth to speak but no words came out. instead his gaze moved away from her and a smile broke out onto his face — an awkward smile that held in silent chuckles. ❝ you wouldn’t mind? ❞ his eyes went back to her in question, echoing her words. ❝ that sounds like a perfect night. ❞ again, awful, but he was too flustered to think of anything else. and possibly much too awkward. he just wasn’t a good flirt.
ever since he had met talla in highgarden there had been something about her. something that caught him in a way most women didn’t. she was different from them all. she had known about him before he ever knew she existed. she had known him when he was still jon snow all thanks to sam and his letters. sam was always trying to talk jon up and he was grateful that he hadn’t let talla down. who knew what sam was telling her in his letters and jon assumed he was living up to his best friend’s words. the lad was always talking jon up to his highest, even if jon didn’t believe he was that great.
the kiss was long past due it seemed and when they pulled away, jon kept his face close to her’s and let his eyes roam over her face. ❝ i might make an exception, ❞ he said, a grin tugging at the corner of his lips. ❝ i am a fair king. ❞ the grin grew a bit wider as her fingers played with his beard and his bottom lip. he brought a hand up to caress her face while his other arm still remained around her.
his eyes searched her’s as she spoke and his smile faltered some at her words as he soaked them in. his heart was beating loud in his chest and it thumped in his ears loudly. he was sure she could hear it thumping under the metal armour that was wrapped around his chest like dragon scales. the look on his face became softer and he wasn’t sure what to say to her. part of him felt that this was a losing battle for her only because of his duty and the small fact that he didn’t know if he would make it through the war to come. he also felt she deserved someone less brooding than him.
he was staring at her too long and his mind was solely focused on her. his hand stroked at the side of her face just to make some movement. ❝ as do i, lady talla. ❞ he finally said, the small smile returning to his face. ❝ adore you, that is. ❞ he added in awkwardly, still unsure of what to say. ❝ i know i don’t always show it, but i hope you know what a light you are in my life — during a time that is confusing and frightening; i take one look at you and things don’t seem so dark. ❞















