Although living conditions there were still harsh, they were worlds apart from those in other Free Folk settlements. To them, that place represented hope for survival, one of the destinations countless Free Folk struggled south to reach.
And given Ygritte's relationship with him, she would surely have a place there if she truly wanted to go.
Ygritte kept staring at Viserys after hearing his words. She fell silent for a moment, and the chill in the corridor seemed to deepen. Instinctively, she reached up and pulled the collar of her fur coat tighter, though the gesture looked more like an attempt to hide her dejection.
"Mance and the others are their own people. I'm my own person." At last, she spoke, her voice quieter but stubborn. "Their path and their choices aren't mine."
Having said that, she suddenly raised her head. Her blue eyes shone startlingly bright in the dim light as she took a few steps closer, almost pressing against Viserys.
"Besides." Ygritte stared into Viserys's eyes, a trace of suppressed hurt creeping into her voice. "You promised me before. You promised to take me south, to the real south. That's why I've kept my promise to you all this time, staying here at Castle Black and helping these Black Crows bring the Free Folk from Beyond the Wall into their ranks. You promised me."
She spoke those last few words very softly, but the hurt in her voice was all the more apparent.
Viserys calmly watched Ygritte, firelight flickering in his deep purple eyes. Suddenly, he gave a low chuckle, but there was no mockery in it, only a peculiar warmth.
He slowly reached out with an assured ease that brooked no resistance, gently wrapped an arm around Ygritte's shoulders, and drew her into his embrace.
Her body