Within the Great Hall of Winterfell the Royal party and northern people joined together under the House of Stark by feasting. It was a lively event that everyone enjoyed and would have been a merry event if wasn't for the King being drunk and openly lusting after an overweight servant with large breasts. Or the Queen's deathly stare she was giving to her husband and let's not forget her look of disdain she gave those who tried to make conversation with her. However, within in the hall stood a broad shouldered man at 6'4 with dark intimidating green eyes and golden long hair that reached his shoulders but had half of his hair pulled back in a bun.

There he stood in the hall with his back against the wall with a stoic expression on his face. No one dared approached him but gave him nervous side glances. People whispered to one another talking about the intimidating man. He heard them all. Each and every whisper was about him and he listened intently to what they had to say about him.

'That's Damon Lannister'

"Damon Lannister? Hasn't he lived in Essos and the Free Cities for the last 5 years?"

"Aye they called him Shadow Knight."

"Why do they call him that?"

"Some say it's because he will follow you like a shadow and you'd never know till he came for you and it was too late to do anything to stop him. But I thinks it's him being too intimidating that you can't even look the man in the eye."

"How did he get those scars on his face?"

"They say it's from when he fought a mountain lion at 10 and 2. He killed the beast and he skinned that monster and walks around with the skin as a cloak."

"Didn't he take the mountain lions Cubs as his companions."

"Aye he has three of those monsters. And he brought them here! They're inside the castle! In his room! The man sleeps with them! Such a fierceness to have such creatures as pets!"

"He quite handsome if you ask me."

"You fancy him?"

"How could I not? He has the Lannister beauty and charm with his hair, eyes. Oh! Those high cheekbones! Oh and those full lips! The man makes me swoon!"

"Have you seen his hand?"

"What's wrong with hand!?"

"Nothing is wrong but just look at his right hand. It makes him even more intimidating. Gives me shivers that run up and down my spine. His skin has been inked on the back with a lion roaring it says hear me. And then on his knuckles he branded the word roar. He is a man to avoid."

"Avoid but still makes me swoon." A round of laughter was heard from the the people discussing Damon Lannister the Shadow Knight.

Smirking internally Damon slowly pushed off the wall and that did not go unnoticed by anyone within the hall. Walking towards his sister the Queen people began to move out of his way. He didn't need to say a single word one look and people got out of his way for fear. Though there was no real reason to have fear of the man. He hadn't done a single thing or even talked since he arrived here in Winterfell. But the rumors and gossip put fear in people's souls. Finally approaching his sister he took her hand and gave it a kiss out of respect.

"Sister. Lady Stark." He said in low husky voice.

"How do you do Lord Lannister. I hope the travel was well. I know you and those that come from South must not be used to this kind of weather. When I came here and married Ned I was not used to it as well." Said Lady Stark who desperate for conversation and was getting nowhere with Damon's sister. But he already knew this, that's why he was here to try to keep the peace and be a bridge between the two who wanted to be away from each other.

"Aye it's cold but it's not bad. I've had my fair share of different weathers that are hard for many people to adapt to. But this weather is not the worst. At least in summer. And I do quite alright Lady Stark...You may call Damon if you like Lord Lannister is my father after all."

"Then you may call me Catelyn." Pausing Lady Stark took her time to assess him. Taking a closer look she took in his appearance from his black black breeches and black boots. To his black black tunic with golden stitching. Truly his clothing represented the dark appearance and the dark cynical personality he had. Looking down at his hands she saw his lion tattoo and to the left hand his pointer finger had a silver ring with the words that said 'mischief ahead'. "Mischief ahead? Wherever did you get a ring like that?"

Looking down at his left hand Lady Stark believed she saw a ghost of smile but it as soon as she thought she sworn she saw the smile it was gone.

"A smith from Volantis gave it to me when I was 10 and 6. When I was first starting out in Essos trying to make a name for myself I was always getting in trouble. Always looking for a fight, a damsel or some innocent soul to save, I gave hell. I visited him all the time to repair things or make new weapons and designs, and every time he saw me he had this...excuse my language but it's the only way to describe his facial look. He had this shit eating grin on his face every time he saw me limping in to come to him. He forced me to sit down and he would clean me and my bruised aching body up. After he was done he would look me in the eye with that shit eating grin and would say, "boy! You're just filled with mischief! Your eyes just dance with it! Hell! Just your appearance says it all. So when I turned 10 and 6 he gave me this ring, took me out and got me drunk. Asked what I missed the most I said home. And the next thing I knew I woke you with a pounding head, the ring, this tattoo on my hand in tub filled to the rim with jam."

"Jam? Brother why would you be in a tub of jam?"

Sighing Damon looked at both woman who were looking at him with matching facial expression of raised eyebrows, bewilderment and a hint of amusement-or Damon like to think the were at least somewhat amused of the story.

"Sister I ask myself that question every night. Sometimes it keeps me up all night and haunts my dreams. So far I've come up with I was a young lad that couldn't hold his drink, was pranked by others or I'm just incredibly strange with some type of fetish of wanting to bathe in jam. If one of you have a theory on my odd behavior please share I'm all ears."

Cersei who tried to suppress her laughter and failed miserably looked at her brother with the first genuine smile on her face since traveling to the north.

"Baby brother. I think your just a strange person. No one in their right mind would ever come up with the idea would fill in tub with jam and decide to bathe in it."

"Ah but whoever said I was in the right mind? Hmm? Well I hope I've managed to make this feast a bit bearable for you two ladies but the outdoors appears to be calling me!"

"Where are you going Damon?"

"Sister" Damon drawled in a bored voice. "Did you not just listen to a single word I just said? I said I'm going outside."

"Yes Damon I heard." Replied the queen a bit snappish and with annoyance. "But what will you be doing outside?"

"Why doing the thing you hate that I do the most! I'll be spending my time with my pipe!"

Turning forward and walking with purpose and superiority people quickly notice him and made a path for him to get outside. Pulling out a golden pipe with golden lion and ruby eyes wrapped around the pipe. Pushing in some herbs within the pipe and lighting the match using the roof of his mouth and teeth he lit his pipe and took in a big gulp of the smoke. Holding it for a moment he noticed his brother Tyrion drunkenly walking away from a figure with shoulder length black hair. Slowing exhaling the smoke he watched the figure fighting the dummies.

He watched the mystery closely and watch how he fought. He was impressed by the young man and way he moved. Burning out his pipe Damon pocketed his pipe and slowly approached the figure.

"Good thing that dummy isn't a person eh? Or there be nothing left of him."

Startled, Jon quickly whipped around to see Damon standing there studying him.

"Sir Lannister. What are you doing out here? I did not expect to see you out here."

"Well what are you doing out here? Swinging away with your sword like there is no tomorrow? And not inside with the others and watch the king drink himself to death? Maybe you just like freezing your balls off. I don't know."

When Jon looked a bit annoyed at the last remark Damon decided to carry on.

"By that look I guess you don't enjoy freezing your balls off. Well that's good. And if you must know I was out here smoking...Now, you seem to have an upper hand on me since you clearly know my name but I don't know yours. Your name is?"

"Snow, Jon Snow."

"Oh you're one of Lord Stark's many children! Well it's a pleasure to meet you Jon and well you already know this but I might as well make an introduction. My name is Damon Lannister or better known as the Shadow Knight." Damon said the last few words sarcastically with an eye roll.

"You don't like being called the Shadow Knight?"

"It's a terrible name. They couldn't find anything better to name me?"

"I think it's a great name that inspires people and makes them fear you."

"Now you're just kissing my ass Jon." Seeing that Jon once again -and probably not the last time-looked annoyed, Damon again decided it was best to carry on the conversation, "Well since you don't like freezing your balls off come back inside the feast with me."

"I can't, Lady Stark said it would be an insult to the King."

"She's joking right? Does she know how many bastards King Robert has? Too many to count on both hands! Trust me the only thing that would be insulting the King if you allowed a Targeyn to come and feast and like its the finest thing in the world."

"But I can't go-"

"Oh Jon! Don't tell me your balls already froze off! Trust me you can! And if it makes you feel better you'll just walk in with me! And if anybody asks I take the blame and say you're with me and your my...escort! Yes there we go my escort!" See it works out perfectly!"

Seeing the Jon had no faith whatsoever with Damon. He decided wrap his arm around his shoulders and forced him with a few food kicks to back of his legs into the Great Hall with everyone else.

"Don't look at the others expect for your family everyone will be whispering not just because you are a bastard but because you are a bastard with me. People seem to love to talk about me." Damon said under his breath.

People moved out their way as soon as they walked near them. Jon was beyond grateful for this act people were doing in order to steer out of Damon's way. They were finally approaching his brother Robb, his sister Arya and his father's warden Theon. But their path was blocked by none other the king himself, Robert and the heavy barmaid with overly large breasts and who was giving looks of lust towards the men.

"Damon! What are you and Ned's son up to?"

"Well Jon here decided to stay outside and freeze his balls off. Me being me I decided to save the young damsel distress." Damon says while touching Jon long hair to empathize on him being damsel. "And now we're here inside looking for a table to sit, some food and something to drink in order for our stomachs to be filled. And maybe some stories to shared between one another. If the damsel and I have some time in the end and for some reason actually get along with one another without wanting to silt one another's throats maybe will have a blossoming friendship." Damon said in a dreamy voice of girl who talking of a love story.

King Robert laughed and told them to carry on hoping to see them for the hunt later on in the week and said he would be praying to the gods that they have a blossoming friendship as Damon put it.

Finally reaching their destination with Jon's siblings and Theon. Jon introduced Damon to everyone and he kindly shine hand hands and kissed the back of the girls hands causing Arya to look away and frown while Sansa blushed and moved to talk to some girl Jane.

Between Damon, Robb, Jon, Theon they closely bonded and became good friends. They shared stories together, mainly Damon who was forced by a persistent Arya to tell of his time in Essos and the Free Cities. They all enjoyed his stories and Sansa would listen from time to time, mainly during his heroic moments with a dreamy look on her face. This continued on through the night, till of course Arya decided to throw food at Sansa causing Sansa to scream and leave with her friend Jane. Robb has to take Arya to bed. Bran and Rickon had already left in order to sleep, and Theon had left some time during the night to visit Ros at the brothel. Leaving Jon and Damon at the table.

Deciding to leave on Jon's behalf since he could no longer take the scrutiny of Lady Stark's cold stare. They left the festivities with two skin pouches of wine. Deciding on Damon's behalf to get pissed drunk since Jon had never been drunk before. And so they drank, laughed and somehow during their time Damon convinces Jon to take a shot at his pipe which caused him choke for it was his first time. Under Damon's persistence he continued smoking till he was high and Damon took the pipe and decided to get high as well. In the end they were high and drunk filled with laughter and laughing over nothing.

They woke up the next morning. Finding themselves in godswood bathing in a large hot spring across from one another naked as the day they were born with four woman companions who were also naked as the day they were born. Both of them had one on each side of them wrapped around their bodies. Damon and Jon looked at each other with questioning looks for they did not remember a single thing as soon as they left the feast. In the end they both knew that they had a blossoming friendship of a night they would never know what truly happened.