(A/N: I always preface my fics by stating that I'm a chronic fic starter. It's the truth, I am…I have no idea where these plot bunnies come from but right when I'm smack dab in trying to keep up with so many others, and keep up with life in general for that matter, I get inspired to crack into a whole new fic.

I'm basing this entirely on the show and not the books because I'll admit I've only read the first two and I read the second so long ago that I need to go back and re read before I start the third because I can't even remember where the second book leaves off. So, if your into book cannon and are going to be a stickler and a stick in the mud about it, this is not the fic for you.

Also, I love writing OC's and this is an OC centric fic. Though they can border on being sueish, I try to at least make them well written and enjoyable if not realistic. But again, they're not everyone's cup of tea and that's fine. Quite frankly though, if you don't jive with OC's you don't really need to be an asshole about it in my opinion (seriously have seen some RUDE ass reviews in other fics across many categories that were just uncalled for an immature.) But if you want to go ahead and flame you're more than welcome too…just know it's a waste of your time and energy :D

Fair warning though, there will be an OC pairing in future though, haven't QUITE decided and have several avenues that I could explore but am really indecisive at this point…to be honest I'm more or less in love with The Hound so that's probably the way it will end up, but I dunno..we'll see. If you don't like that then just don't read!

I own nothing other than my host of OC's…though I wish I did :(

I love, LOVE reviews, and they keep me really motivated. Also open to critique provided it's polite and not just an outright flame if you don't like something.

Enough talk, let's get on with it.)

Prologue:

Winter was coming, that much was certain.

For weeks, it seemed as though the lone thing every soul in Winterfell was concerned about. No one could say without doubt when it would arrive of course, but that didn't stop the constant conversations and the continued precautionary measures increasing in intensity and haste by the day. As long as it was in question just when the seasons would shift, the entire city would continue to be a buzz with worry bred by rampant rumors and half-truths. Which is not to say that either were without just cause. The winters that had befallen the land up until that point had been kind (if one could call it that) and brief for decades up until that point. There had been few deaths, and fewer that could be directly linked to the coming of winter. No famine, and nothing to turn man against man in the harshest of times during which they were meant to pull together. The cold was still cold and bitter as ever, but apparently nothing that could hold a candle to a "real" winter.

A real winter was something there were few now left alive to speak freely about and impart facts instead of silly superstitions and fears. The sort of thing that had passed through everyone's mind and still lingered on their lips as they scuttled about their business and tried to push the matter to the depths of their thoughts.

A real winter was something that for Westeros was long over due. After near a decade of summer, the speculation was the people would now have to face an unpredictably harsh winter to be of the same length if not even longer. More importantly, according to some, the coming winter would be the winter to bring the White Walkers with it and a night to blanket the land to aid in their attack. A first strike in over eight thousand years, and a speculated attack of which no one would even dare predict the outcome. And even then it was only little more than half certain to pass and that was speaking strictly if the walkers existed beyond the realm of lore passed down for generations.

Winter was coming, that was for certain.

What held anything but certainty, however, were the things to come in the weeks prior. A series of events, the impact of which few would go unaffected by. No one expected a chain of happenings that would bring about conspiracy, war, shattered alliances and those newly built. Treason and madness would resonate through near all of the seven kingdoms and change the shape of things to come.

No one would have predicted Jon Arryn's death would have been the linchpin come loose that would set in motion plans devised and deliberated long since prior. Everything was fair game in the battle for a seat atop the Iron Throne, not matter what the cost. Just who would overcome and take power of the Seven Kingdoms was anybody's guess.

Winter was coming, and with it, if nothing else, came immeasurable uncertainty.