Revised chapter is up! I will be posting chapter two soon enough. Thank you for reading!

Chapter I – A guest

Life in Winterfell was just like it was supposed to be: calm, peaceful and the people were so trustworthy and warm, it was the complete opposite from the South, not only in weather but in soul and essence as well.

Jon Snow sat with his brothers Robb and Bran, as the younger one tried to improve his aim, but failed miserably, they could see the tension on the boy's shoulders and his expression was serious.

"Don't worry, Bran, you just have to keep calm before you shoot, you are getting too tense." His half-brother, Robb, said, making the little one smile gently before turning away to try once more, this time his expression a little bit relaxed, as well as his shoulders.

Just as the youngling was about to shoot, a loud horn echoed through Winterfell, making the three brothers jump and turn to the gate, all the three knew that it could only mean that someone unexpected was approaching their beloved town.

Pushing Bran inside their house, Jon and Robb ran to the gates, their hands lingering over their wooden swords as a calming and reassuring act, soon they were joined by their father, Lord Eddard Stark, the Lord of Winterfell.

"What is it?" The older man asked one of the guards, his voice and posture showing his authority. "It's a horse, My Lord. There is one person on top of it, I cannot see anyone else."

"Open the gate!" Lord Stark ordered, stepping out of the secure land and into the road once the gate was open. The horse was making his way toward him, he could see the person on top of it look back to the woods that distanced from time to time.

Before the horse could hit the Lord of Winterfell, it stopped, being pulled by the reins so strongly that made the poor animal flinch in pain and surprise.

Awkwardly, the rider got down of the horse, they all could see he was unarmed, but the person's face was covered by a helmet and he wore black pants and a shirt, both a little ripped apart.

"Stark… Are you Eddard Stark…?" A low, gentle voice whispered, only the man near could hear it. The person approached Eddard, the difference of stance and height apparent between them. While Lord Stark stood tall, the other shrunk. "Yes, I am."

Slowly the person removed the helmet, revealing his face, or better, her face, there was a deep cut in her cheek and she looked like she hadn't eaten in days.

Jon and Robb were now closer and observing and the Snow boy was taken back when he saw the young woman's face. She was beautiful, pale and her lips red from the cold. Her hair had fallen down when she took the helmet off, revealing to be long and black.

"I need your help… Please." She whispered softly once more, her body not supporting itself and making her lean on the horse for steadiness.

"Let's go inside." Lord Stark said, helping the girl walk inside the gates and then to his house as people watched curiously the scene and murmured about the unknown guest that had arrived. Once inside, the woman sat on a chair, under so many gazes. They were joined by some of the household and well as Lady Stark and the woman noticing that the young girl was shivered like mad, ordered the maids to bring blankets and they all were put over her.

"I was told you were the one who could help me… My gu… My friends and I were attacked when we got to the North… I managed to escape after my old mentor gave his life for me…" The older man looked into her eyes, looking for any sign of lies, but there were none.

"Leave us alone, all of you." He ordered and the two of them were left alone in the big hall under low protests and a surprised gaze from Catelyn, usually she'd stay with her husband, it was unusual for him to ask her to leave.

"Why are you here?" He asked firmly, but yet not cold or harsh.

"I cannot bring your family into this, My Lord… I just seek refuge for a few nights before continuing my way…" Her body still shivered from the cold, the clothes she was wearing were not suited for this type of weather.

"What is your name?" He asked, she knew she had to answer, his reputation as a noble man and his voice that showed concern and order at the same time made her feel like he was someone she could trust.

"I am Anne Gael, of House Gael, My Lord…"

The House Gael was a noble House, bordering North and South; they were not considered southern or northern. It was a small land, but yet a land and their name was once powerful in the past.

But they were almost extinct, despise their wealth and influential name, the only think about the Gaels that travelled the lands were rumors and nothing more, it had been years since one of them was seen.

"Why are you here?" Eddard asked, his eyes piercing into her hazel ones. She had the traces of the Gaels, the black hair, the hazel eyes and the skin so pale.

Outside the hall, the Stark children waited nervously. Arya was trying to hear their conversation through the door, but was unsuccessful, and she sighed deeply in frustration.

"Mother, who do you think that is?" Robb asked his mother, Lady Catelyn Stark, both were standing calm next to the other. "I do not know, Robb, but she sure looks important, or your father would not make me leave."

"Do you think she will harm us?" Bran asked, looking at his mother as well. But before she could answer, the door of the Hall opened and Ned Stark walked out.

The look on the family's faces screamed: SO?

"She is a guest here. Jon, take her to one of our most warm guest bedrooms." They all looked confused and expecting more information, but when it didn't come the young man obeyed the orders. He made his way to the woman, who still was shivering like mad.

"I will take you to a warm bedroom." He said, gently, making her turn to look at him. "Thank you…" She said, holding the blankets closer to her body as she got up.

Jon led the way, followed closely by the girl, he watched her by the corner of his eyes. She was shorter than him and looked really vulnerable, sometimes she stumbled on the blanket and tripped slightly without falling.

"Here we go… I will ask a maid to prepare a hot bath for you." He said, opening the bedroom's door, receiving a weak smile. "Thank you." She looked at his gray eyes thankfully before entering and closing the door.

The bedroom was warmer than the corridor, but Anne still felt every inch of her body shiver, but deep inside she knew it wasn't only because of the cold. Each cell of her body ached from exhaustion, physical and emotional, the memory of her journey still fresh like an open wound.

She felt alone, more alone than she had ever felt before. Her friends, her guards, the people who wanted her safe died because of her… Because she couldn't protect them.

The thought was wiped way of her mind when a knock on the door revealed someone's presence. "Come in…" She said weakly and a maid came in, holding a bucket with hot water. "I'll prepare you a bath, milady." The maid said kindly.

"There is no need to call me that…" Anne said as the maid poured the water in the bathtub, she also got a towel and left it on the bed. "You will feel better after taking the cold off your skin, milady…" My Lady again, Anne sighed as she thought when the maid left her alone.

The woman was right, the hot water did make her feel better, she hadn't realized until then that parts of her body, like her toes, were almost frozen and she had cuts on her arms and face.

She wanted to take her time and stay under water forever, but she knew that she was a guest, maybe even a prisoner there, she couldn't abuse their hospitality.

After bathing she got up, picking the towel and wrapping it around her body, the cold was starting to get to her again. One more time, there was a knock on the door and she opened it very slightly to see who it was, it was the maid again.

"My Lady, these clothes will keep you warm." She said, smiling and handing Anne the thick dress through the small opening on the door.

"Thank you…" She said, trying her best to smile and accepting the dress. The door closed once more and she let the towel fall before quickly stepping into the dress. It was comfy and warm, suited for the cold weather of the North.

Anne stepped out of the room, looking both ways on the corridor, but had no idea of where to go now. She needed to meet Lord Stark. Trying to remember the way the kind young man had guided her before, she walked down the halls.

After descending one flight of stairs, Anne ran into a woman around Lord Stark's age, she had auburn hair and blue eyes. "I was going to get you, my dear. Ned told me about your situation, I promise it will stay between us. I am Catelyn Stark, wife of the Lord of Winterfell."

She stood proud and kind at the same time. But Anne could see in her eyes that she scanned every little bit of her and it unnerved the young woman. "Thank you for your kindness, My Lady. I suppose you are the one who sent me the dress." The woman smiled kindly.

"Yes, I borrowed it from my daughter, but it seems you are quite shorter than her." She had started walking, motioning her hand for Anne to follow and she did.

"I am sorry for the trouble… I ran in such a hurry and my ravens were being intercepted…" She felt ashamed for appearing out of nowhere and demanding such attention. Noticing that Anne's voice was hoarse, Catelyn prompted to say. "Let's give you something to eat and drink. Here you will be safe."

She nodded thankfully and kept following Lady Stark until they reached the dining hall. In the table sat all the Starks, Anne let her eyes wander quickly through their faces and noticed someone was missing, the boy who took her to her room, he wasn't there.

"This is my older son, Robb. This is my older daughter Sansa. This is my younger daughter Arya. This is my second older son Bran. This is my younger son Rickon. And this is Theon Greyjoy, he is our ward." Lady Stark said, pointing respectively to each of them, who bowed and nodded, but something about the last one, Theon, didn't seem right.

"This is our guest, Anne Gael. She will be staying here with us until further notice. I believe I raised all of you with enough discretion, so her stay here must not be commented. " All her children nodded.

"Please, sit with us." Lady Stark pointed to the seat next to her older son, Robb, who got up to greet their guest. "My Lady. I hope you find your stay here pleasant." He said, politely as he took her hand and kissed it lightly.

"Please, there is no need to call me My Lady… Anne is just fine." He smiled at her comment and so did Lord Stark. "Your family is already doing so much for me, I do not require a special treatment of any sort…"

"Now, now, let's eat, we can discuss about that later." Lord Stark said, making the atmosphere lighten a little bit and Anne nodded.

Food soon arrived, it was varied, but Anne preferred just a soup to warm her. She couldn't remember the last time she had a meal like this. Being on the road eating bunnies for weeks was not what someone would call a proper meal.

Rickon watched her eat in amusement. "Calm down, the food isn't going anywhere!" He said, chuckling. Anne knew she wasn't eating so unlady like, but she was hungry and was taking in a lot of food.

She blushed furiously as the eyes landed on her. "I am sorry…" She whispering, feeling like she wanted to disappear on the chair, but the hosts were polite enough not to comment or laugh at her.

Anne waited until only Lord Stark was on the table, seeing that everyone else had already finished eating. "Huh… Lord Stark…?" She called uncertain, attracting his attention. "Yes?"

"If I may ask you… Who is that boy who escorted me to my room? I would like to thank him…" She said quietly, feeling uncomfortable.

"Oh, that is Jon. He is my son, my… Huh, my bastard son. I think you will find him on the kitchen, just go through that door." It was clear by his voice that Eddard felt really bad calling Jon a bastard, she could see it, but there was no other way to put it.

Excusing herself, she made her way through the door Lord Stark had indicated. The kitchen was empty, that was her first thought, but the sound of cutlery touching plates told her otherwise.

Anne followed the sound, founding the boy from before sitting on a corner, eating alone. "Hm… Excuse me…"She said and he looked up to her right away. "I am sorry for interrupting while you are eating, My Lord… I just wanted to thank you…"

Jon looked at her, his fork halfway to his mouth and he blinked several times before letting it down on the plate. "I am no Lord… I am a Snow…" He said and she felt a hint of anger on his words. "Snow or not… You behaved like a Lord, that is enough to me… Thank you…"

She bowed for a few seconds before looking at him again. "Jon, is it?" She asked, he simply nodded. "May I keep you company while you eat?" She asked, once more gaining only a nod of acceptance.

"Eating alone is not good, you know?" She said, sitting next to him and looking forward.

"Lady Stark does not like my presence at the dinner table." Anne smiled sympathetically at him, staring at his gray eyes for a few seconds before looking away.

"Well, it's her loss then."

Her words surprised her as much as they surprised Jon. She was usually a shy and quiet girl, so talking about someone who took her in so kindly like that was so unlike her, but her words were true and she felt like saying them.

"Do you prefer Snow or Jon?" She asked, as the boy kept eating silently, he didn't answer. "Jon it is. Oh, I am Anne by the way. Anne Gael."

"As in the House Gael?" He asked, surprised, but earned a smile. "Yes, as in House Gael. But that is a secret."

Jon couldn't help but think what had brought that girl there, a place so far from home and so different. And why was it a secret? Was she running from something?

"You call me Anne and I will call you Jon. No Houses or surnames involved, how about that?" She wasn't a chatter, but he spoke less than her, so someone had to do the talk.

"Looks fine to me, Anne." Jon said. He liked how her name played on his mouth. "Who told you I was here?" The young man asked between mouthfuls with slight interest. "Lord Stark. He said I might find you here after I asked."

She asked for me… Jon thought. Someone asking for him wasn't that common, normally they would ask about his brother Robb, or even about Theon, but not him, the Bastard of Winterfell.

He had finished eating, but they still sat there and Anne had noticed that words weren't always needed; the light mood between them spoke for itself.

Jon looked at her entirely for the first time, noticing her hair was wet and the dress she wore was a little too big for her, perhaps it was Sansa's. Her eyes were lost in an uninterested point of the wall in front of them and her expression was serene.

"Again, thank you, Jon." She said, getting up after a while, he copied her movement. "Do you need help getting back to your room?" He asked, the words slipping out of his mouth.

"I don't want to trouble you, but I am sure I would get lost if I went alone." She smiled, laughing slightly and he smiled at her.

He looked pretty when he smiled, she noticed. Well, he looked pretty anyway, his dark hair was almost reaching his shoulders and grey eyes sparkled with so many unknown yet intense feelings.

They slowly made their way to her room, Anne trying to memorize their way there, looking around often, act that Jon noticed and smiled as she did.

"Here you are, My Lady." The word My Lady went unnoticed by him, but not by her, she frowned. "My Lady? I can call you Lord Snow, if you'd prefer." Anne almost hissed, making Jon realize his mistake.

"I am sorry… I didn't realize it until I said it." He looked really sorry and Anne sighed. "Fine, but under one condition." She raised her index finger, making him look at it curiously.

"You will have to show me around tomorrow. I might get lost in one of the halls and starve to death before anyone finds me." He laughed, receiving an even deeper frown. "What?! It's true!" She said feeling indignant. "Sorry, sorry. I promise, I will show you around."

"Thank you, Jon." She smiled at the young man in front of her and waved before entering her room.

Maybe a new friendship was to be formed.

Or even more.