CHAPTER – 1

CASTLE OF WINTER

Percy Jackson was fully awake, looking at the hell around him that even the worst titan can only remember now with horror.

"At least she's safe," muttered Percy under his breath. Annabeth's blue eyes flitted in his mind and as though zapped, Percy started his journey into the dark abyss…..

Ned Stark was kneeling in front of the ancient heart tree of Winterfell. His thoughts were far away and his face was cold and grim as ever. The recent events were quite troubling and this confused the old man. Jon, his bastard son had apparently changed, according to Maester Luwin. It wasn't that he couldn't see the changes himself. He never really confessed to anyone that the molten gold colored pupils that had replaced Jon's Grey ones bothered him. Even though he remained respectful towards him, Jon had become extremely cold and distant towards the rest of the family, especially towards Catelyn.

Ned sighed and pondered over the report he had read in the morning regarding Jon's status. Jon was shifted two months ago to a remote hut in the mountains under the instructions from his wife in response to the mysterious sickness that he had developed. His generally uneventful stay was interrupted two weeks ago by a stray lightning strike that happened to hit the makeshift cottage at midnight. The guards on duty had witnessed the cottage going up in flames but Jon emerged from the side, unscathed.

Upon preliminary analysis by Maester Luwin himself, four hours after the incident, Jon was declared to be completely cured of his sickness and to be in excellent health. The change in eye colour was yet to be understood and he couldn't find any signs of infection.

The sudden change in Jon's demeanour was what really concerned Ned. Of course, he was happy to see his son alive and close by him but he desperately wished to see the old crinkling smile and enthusiasm that Jon had. He wanted Jon to be respectful to Cate no matter how cold she was to him. He wanted him to be the cheerful lad that he used to be.

A sudden pick in the wind blew snow into his eyes and the lord of Winterfell stood up with a sigh. The heartwood's red eyes seemed to contemplate along with him. After a brief mental exchange, he turned his back to the tree, and started off towards home.

For the last time, Jon turned in his bed. The restless day had left his mind buzzing and he was thirsty for more. His new but annoying friend, Percy had been a good mentor for the past week and he has learned so much from him.

All those maester and scholars in the citadel would kill for half the things that I know now, thought Jon. Percy seemed to be asleep and he decided not to poke him. After all, it must have taken him considerable effort, at least mentally, to teach Jon all those complex sword movements and analysis in such a short time. Jon was now confident that he would be able to take even Ser Rodrick, one of North's fiercest warriors. Percy was dear to him now and he would do anything to please him…..

Coming through to a new reality as nothing but a soul was quite an unpleasant experience and nobody could have prepared Percy for it. The only relief he had was that he had a soul to work with, which could have been easily erased by him, had he not done the ritual. It was fortunate or even fateful that a mortal body was in the vicinity when Percy squeezed through. The child was sick, with an unstable fever ravaging his body. He was almost at the brink of death but the magical energy seeping out of his body was clearly noticeable. Percy's soul was in search of such a body but the physical weakness of it provided quite a challenge for the son of Poseidon once he settled down in his new host. The choice was actually brilliant although in the long term.

But what worried Percy even more was Jon's tie to a prophecy that seemed to be as important as the great prophecy that he was tied to, years ago. Although he couldn't say for sure, Percy's interference was unprecedented and it must have altered Jon's role.

"Well, what's done is done," murmured Percy's soul while Jon slept. He couldn't sleep himself but merely rest. "I'll have to see where this boy will take me." Percy's thoughts stretched on as he started on thoughts of new battle stances and how he could perfect the boy's body for the complex magic and the excruciating journey he was intending to put him through…

DUE TO SOO MANY ERRORS IN THE STORY THAT MY READERS KINDLY POINTED OUT, I DECIDED TO REWRITE IT AND HERE THE FIRST CHAPTER AND A BIG THANKS TO ALL MY FELLOW READERS AND TO MY DEAR FRIEND WHO GREATLY HELP ME TO REFINE THIS STORY..