TO ROSLIN, WITH LOVE

TO ROSLIN WITH LOVE

Lady Roslin stoked the hearth, filled with nervous energy as she listened to the sounds of violence raging outside her room. She flinched at every scream and clanging of swords. She scanned her chamber, the dim lighting revealing scant furnishings, her eyes resting upon a bookshelf.

            "I shall miss my books most." she said to herself as a tear ran down her cheek.

            She walked to the door and pressed her ear close. She rubbed a hand over the small bump of her stomach as she listened and waited. The sounds of swords increased in volume and the screams of terror were mixed with the wailing of women and children. She heard fighting in the space outside her room and held her breathe, trying to hear the words.

            "For my brother." she heard a voice say. A sword crashed to the floor, followed by an anguished groan of pain.

            "I..." a voice began to say, a voice that sounded like her brother, but did not continue. A heavy thud of a sword meeting flesh silenced the voice.       

            She gasped and took a step away from the door. Heavy footsteps approached and a loud pounding on her chamber door followed.

            "Doom is come," she whispered.

            The pounding continued and she reached her tiny hand toward the latch.

            "Open the door."  A familiar male voice said.

            She removed the latch and opened the door to see Jon standing before her, sword in hand. The blade was dripping with blood, which caused her to gasp again.

            "Jon..." she began, but he pressed a finger to her lips, silencing her.

            He sheathed his sword, entered the room and closed the door behind him. He pulled her against him in a deep embrace, taking in her scent and gripping her hair in his hand.

            "What is going on out there, Jon?" she asked, her voice filled with tears. She reached up with a hand and ruffled his black curls.

            "Justice." he said. He led her towards the bed and sat beside her, taking her hands in his own. He ran a finger over her palm, caressing her smooth skin.

            "I trust you received all my ravens." she said, staring into his dark eyes, which were filled with intensity and desire.

            "I did and appreciate the constant letters to keep me company on the wall. I responded as often as duty allowed." he said, moving closer to her. She blushed and stood, hurrying to her bookshelf to retrieve a letter. She held it out to him, reading the salutation.

            “To Roslin, with Love.” she read with a smile and wiping the tears from her cheek. 

            “You kept it.” Jon said. He looked at the letter for a moment before pulling Roslin against him, her thin waist between his legs.

            “I kept all of your letters.” she said. She brushed a curl of hair away from his face and ran a finger over his cheek. 

            Jon put a hand in her hair and pulled her closer. He pressed his lips against hers and kissed her, a slow kiss that seemed to last for minutes. He kissed her neck and she moaned into his ear, her hands gripping his hair. His hands ran over her body, tugging at her dress and pressing against her chest. She brought his mouth to hers again and kissed him, biting his lip.

            The sounds of violence came to an end outside the chambers, leaving them in silence. Roslin looked over her shoulder at the door and knit her brows in concentration.

            “They will be coming for me.” she said in a soft voice. She turned to him, tears in her eyes once again. 

            “I will protect you.” Jon said.

            “And the baby.”

            “The baby.” Jon repeated with a sigh. “That makes it difficult to bear.”

            “What?” she asked.

            “Nothing, I will protect you and the baby.” he said, embracing her once again. 

            She waved him away and walked to the window and opened the shutters. A soft breeze touched her face as she looked at the sky. She felt Jon place his arms around her shoulders and lean against her.

            “I wish things didn’t turn out this way.” she said, tears streaming down her cheeks.

            “I was sorry to hear about your wedding.” Jon whispered to her. His voice was thick and cracked with emotion.

            “I wanted to have a great wedding, but it turned into…” she began, but was interrupted by a pounding on the door.

            “Jon, are you in there?” A voice said.

            Jon put a finger to his lips and Roslin nodded that she understood.

            “I wish I could have met you before all the war and tragedy befell our families.” he whispered into her ear. She shook her head again, wiping at a tear with her delicate hand. 

            Jon kissed her cheek and hugged her, squeezing her tight against him. Again, someone pounded on the door and yelled for Jon. Jon looked at the door and sighed as Roslin began to shiver in his arms. She shook as fear overtook her self-control and she began to cry in deep sobs.

            “No.” she cried.

            “Yes.” Jon said. 

            He grabbed her by the waist and shoulder and heaved her out the window. He leaned over the sill and watched her fall.

            “For my brother.” he said.