Jon Snow was no fool. He knew that attacking Craster's Keep would take precision and time. It would also take careful planning. He had done his best not to rush his men into anything. He only had so many men and he could not afford to lose them to Karl and his band of outlaws. He had demanded for them to wait until nightfall to attack. Attacking them when they were vulnerable seemed like the best idea, and the most sensible idea.

It was only when he wandered through the forest, his feet crunching in the snow did he heard footsteps around him. He had left his men to rest, deciding it would be for the best. They needed to be ready to attack when the time came. His hand moved to the hilt of his sword. He was ready to draw it if necessary.

But he had no chance. He looked to the side at the figure running through the forest. He watched how she tripped over her own two feet and landed in the snow. She scrambled around in the cold and turned her head over her shoulder. Her eyes were wide and tears appeared to be streaming down her cheeks.

Jon rushed after her as she scurried in the snow, falling on her face once more.

"You're alright," his voice spoke in a low and commanding tone. He bent down into the snow as she scurried onto her back, her arms outstretched behind her as fear rose in her eyes. "I said you're alright...you can trust me..."

"Who are you?" she snarled at him and he looked taken back by her bluntness.

"Jon Snow." He said quickly. "I am a man of the Night's Watch."

Her eyes seemed to widen even further with fear then. Shaking her head back and forth, it took her a few moments to inhale sharply and speak;

"Are you as bad as them?" she wondered in a small voice. "Is that why you're here?"

"The men at Craster's Keep?" he tried to clarify from her and she nodded to him. "I am here to stop them from hurting the women there. They killed the Lord Commander of the Night's Watch."

"You think that is all they have done?" she checked with him and he began to stand up. He offered her his hand and she rejected it, preferring to stand on her own accord. She dusted the snow from her body, but her face was pale and the cloak she wore was nowhere near sufficient to keep her warm once night fell.

"Are you from there?" Jon tactfully asked, not intending to ask whether or not she was one of his wives or just his daughter.

"I ran," she whispered. "One of them took me outside...he...he was fat and horrible...I kicked him and ran. I should have stayed...but-"

"-You did the right thing," John assured her in a soft voice. He did all that he could to bring a smile to his face, feebly attempting to reassure the girl. She nervously tucked her hair behind her ears, wondering whether or not she could trust the man in front of her.

She vaguely remembered him when he had come to her father's keep before. He had instantly disliked the dark haired boy.

"You should come back with me," Jon suddenly urged her. "I can keep you safe. I have other men with me. The outlaws will not hurt you now."

"He could be chasing me," she whispered and Jon shook his head, removing the cloak he wore from his shoulders. He handed it to her and she placed it around her shoulders, holding it tightly against her chest.

Jon couldn't help but how fair she looked. Her skin was as pale as the snow, but her brown hair only contrasted that. Her eyes were wide and blue and looked too large for her face. Her lips were clearly chapped and she looked thinner than she should be.

"He won't get you," Jon replied in a simple promise and she shook her head.

"How do you know that?" she wondered back from him. "You don't know him...one of them...he..."

"I know all of them," Jon responded. "I know how they think and I know how to stop them."

"Do you?" she asked back. "How can I trust you?"

"Because I am telling you the truth," Jon assured her. "Please, come with me and I can keep you safe. You can come back to Castle Black-"

"-And do what?" the girl snapped back. "The crows there have hurt us...and now you want to take me back to crows?"

"We are not all like that," Jon promised her and she shook her head. "It is only the men there who are like that. You can trust me...but...what is your name?"

She looked suspiciously at him for a few seconds before speaking as Jon held his hand out to her, trying to gain her trust. He knew it would be difficult. He could see from the bruise which covered her cheek that she had suffered pain.

"Anya," she whispered.

"Anya," Jon replied. "You have my word that no harm shall come to you, but I need you to come with me so that I can protect you. I have no intention of hurting you or allowing anyone else to do you any harm."

Slowly, she placed her fingers inside of his. She knew what was out there and she knew that it was dangerous to go alone, but she had been willing to do so if it stopped the crow from hurting her. She had ran without thinking, but she looked to the man in front of her and she had an incline that he was honest. She only hoped she was right.

"There are eleven men," she suddenly blurted out as Jon dared to wrap his arm awkwardly around her shoulders and guide her through the snow. "Eleven of them are at the keep...but they are always drunk...they rape the younger wives..."

"And did they rape you?" Jon asked the awkward question. He received a shake of her head.

"I ran before they could," she spoke in a low voice. "Even father never touched me...he was going to...before he died...mother had spoken of running before she died. She told me that there was more to this life than being his whore..."

"She was right," Jon promised her. "But you have nothing to fear now."

"Nothing?" she checked with him. "There is always something to worry about."

Jon couldn't help but agree with her as she tripped over the ends of her skirt once more. She fell forwards and stumbled on the ground before she pushed herself to stand once more. Jon bent down to help her to full height, watching as she looked him in the eye and did her best not to fear what he could do to her.

"Are you injured?" Jon wondered and she shook her head.

"I am fine," she replied. "I just can't walk in the snow too well."

Jon nodded and kept his arm around her waist to keep her upright. He looked behind for a few moments, wondering if anyone was following them like she had feared. Shaking his head, he looked down at the brunette who had her eyes on the ground. How many more women had been subject to vile treatment? Jon didn't know if he wanted to find out, but he did know that his grip on Anya increased as he led her back to his men.

...

A/N: I hope you do review the first chapter! And I hope you enjoyed it!