Viserys looked at her, his violet eyes betraying no emotion, but he did not look away.
Only after a long while did he speak. "Have you thought this through? Life at my side will be far more complicated than your life in the North, and King's Landing is no pleasant place either. Besides, I'll probably spend most of my time in Valyria from now on. If you come with me, you might never return to the North."
"I know." Jeyne answered without the slightest hesitation, a hint of excitement even creeping into her voice. "But at least it will be my own choice. I'm willing to stay by your side forever."
Viserys did not agree immediately, but he reached out and took the towel from her hand, casually draped it over his shoulder, and turned toward the door. Only when he was about to leave did he say, "Then pack your things now. When we leave, you'll come south with me."
Jeyne stood where she was, watching Viserys push open the bathhouse door. The cold air outside rushed in at once, sweeping away the warmth within.
Her lips moved as though she wanted to say something, but in the end, she merely nodded firmly, her eyes quietly reddening.
By the time Viserys left the bathhouse, most of the oil lamps in Winterfell's corridors had gone out. Only one remained at each corner, and even those looked ready to flicker out.
Winterfell was far quieter at night than King's Landing. Only the occasional footsteps of distant guards changing shifts echoed through the castle's stone corridors.
Viserys followed the route he remembered back to the tower that housed the guest chambers. When he pushed open the heavy oak door, he found the fire still burning brightly in the room's hearth, occasionally throwing