"Despite begin the most mysterious of characters in the history of seven kingdoms, Duncan Idaho play a key role in Robert's Rebellion, Greyjoy Rebellion, the War of the Five Kings, and the War of the Second Dawn. He began from begin a sworn shield of Lyanna Stark to a Noble House Lord of the North. Both a loyal servant and trusted friend to the Stark family. Eventually, Duncan Idaho would become a name spoken of in fear, respect, infamy, as the "Demon of the North". - Archmaester Marwyn

Chapter 1: Duncan

Duncan Idaho slowly opened his eyes and found himself staring at an unfamiliar ceiling. He blinked a few times wondering where he was. Strange, he couldn't remember anything except...the moment he died. In next moment, he recall what really happen to him.

Idaho was killed by the Emperor's Sardaukar by a blow to the head. He was trying keep them from following the Duke Leto's son Paul Atreides and concubine, the Lady Jessica. The Sardaukar were rightfully regarded as the most feared fighting force in the Empire. Yet Duncan manage to slain 19 of them before his death.

"But I'm not dead?" he wondered. "No man could survived a death blow to the head. How am I still alive?"

As he hopped out of bed and grimaced a bit. It was cold. Very cold in the air. Cold as it was hot on Arrakis...or Dune. Looking around, Duncan noticed the setting of the room was different. It was all soo primitive and crude. Just where was he?

The sounds of something coming outside made him turn around just as the door opened and in walked a strange man; tall, huge, and grizzly looking. He has a long stern face, with grey eyes and brown-grayish beard and hair.

Duncan tilted his head curiously as the man says. "Oh, I see you are awake. I am Lord Rickard Stark. I don't think you should be out of bed."

"Where am I?" Duncan asked. He then noticed something was strange about the tone of his voice. It almost like he was a child again or somthing.

"You are in Winterfell," Rickard told him. "The ancestral castle and seat of power of House Stark."

"Stark?" Duncan repeated looking confused. As a swordmaster in the service of House Atreides, Duncan was familiar with many Houses of the Landsraad, the body that represented all the Great Houses during the days of the Imperium. Yet he never heard of House Stark of Winterfell. Was this some kind of trick? Is this man in league with the Harkonnen? Or the Emperor?

Yet Duncan was highly experienced in detecting any deception; such as tone in their voice and reaction in their face. And this man, Rickard Stark, every sign tells him this man was totally honest him.

"May I asked your name?" Rickard asked.

"My name?" Duncan responded.

"Yes your name," said Rickard. "I like to know who you? Where you come."

Duncan was quiet for a moment before he says "My name is Duncan Idaho. I am a swordmaster and servant to House Atreides.

Duncan noticed that Rickard was looking at him with a confused look on his face before he says "House Atreides? Strange, I am not familiar of any House in the South, but I doubt there are any goes by the name of Atreides. And I doubt there is no Atreides in the North that I am not aware of."

"The North?" Duncan repeated.

Rickard stare at Duncan, more confused before he says "From the look on your face and sound of your tone, you seem to never heard of the North...or Westeros."

"To be honest Lord Stark," Duncan replied as well. "I'm more confused than you are. I...I'm not suppose to be alive. I was suppose to be dead."

"When my daughter found you, their were no wounds on you," Rickard says. "Perhaps you must-"

"Your daughter?" Duncan repeated.

"Yes my daughter, Lyanna" Rickard assumed. "She was riding through the woods when she found you unconscious, near a Heart Tree. You naked, and would had frozen to death if we didn't take you in."

Duncan was speechless, trying to understand his situation much clearer. He was about to say something until Rickard interupt him.

"It would be best if get some rest Duncan," Rickard told him. "I doubt any of us would get some straight answers due of all this confusion between us."

Duncan knew Rickard was right. This was all too confusing. Still he wants answer. Like why he was still alive? Where was he? What kind world he is in? And most important, if Paul and Jessica are safe.

0o0o0

Duncan open his eyes once and more, and find himself lying in the same bed he woke up from. He decided to get up as he felt lying on the best can be ineffective. Moving the heavy blankets off him, Duncan left the room.

Making his way through the hallways and doors, Duncan wonder if this place, called Winterfell, is some kind of castle. He has read ancient histories from Old Earth, and recall deep bygone era of stoned fortress.

Duncan then noticed that whole castle seem empty. There was no one in sight. Not even Lord Stark. Is he all alone here? Just where is everyone? It was when he heard a sound. Turning, Duncan saw that is was just a bird. A black bird. The only living thing that he encounter in this castle.

Duncan then noticed that there was something strange about this black bird. It was looking at him with unique human like intelligence. It was when Duncan noticed that this bird has three eyes. Whay kind bird would had three eyes?

The bird flew away, but not that far. From the looks of it, it seems like the bird was trying to make Duncan follow it. Duncan, for some unknown and strange reason, begin catch up to the bird. He can't understand why he is following this bird. Yet a powerful reason within him, tells him otherwise.

The bird seems to know it's way out of Wintefell and made sure Duncan keep pace. Walking into the open yard, Duncan see the black bird entering what looks to be a woodlands. Following the black bird into the woodlands, Duncan suddenly has feeling that he was not alone.

There was something strange about these trees. Something...alive. In a mystical way that he cannot explained. The black bird lead him into what looks to be the heart of the forest he enters. And he was standing before what appeared to be the most strangest tree he ever seen in his life. The tree looks to be ancient as if it stood for thousands of years or more. It has a face carved into it, blood coming out from the eyes and mouth, and standing over a pool of black water.

Yet as Duncan move closer he caught his reflection in the water and a shocked reaction covers his face. No longer he was a fully grown adult man. Instead was a young small child as he last recall.

"I don't understand," Duncan reacted as he stare at his reflection in the water. "What is this?"

"Perhaps your second chance in life Duncan Idaho," a voice from behind speaks to him.

Duncan quickly turn around and find himself face to face with an old man, wearing dark robes for clothing. Studying his face, he looks ancient and is masked by mystical rare wisdom that puts Thufir Hawat's in shame.

"Who are you?" Duncan demanded.

"I had two names," the old man says. "But I go by the other name, mostly."

"Where is everyone? Where is Lord Stark?" Duncan demanded.

"You need not to worried Duncan Idaho," the old man told him. "But those are not questions you wanted. You wanted to know why you are still alive. Why you ended up here instead of Arrakis? But above all, you want to know is Paul and Jessica are safe."

This caught Duncan by surprise before he asked "Yes. Those are the answers I want to know. I want to know is Paul and Jessica are safe. I want to know why I am still alive and why I am a child once more. And I want to know where am I, and how come I never heard of House Stark."

"To answer your first question," the old man says. "Paul and Jessica are alive and safe. They had taken haven with Fremen, living among them. Paul has risen as their leader, under the title "Muad'Dib", where he leads them to overthrown not only House Harkonnen and the Padishah Emperor."

"To answer your second question," the old man continued. "The reason you are alive is because you were dead before. Your old body has died, but you soul lives on. The Old Gods had claim your soul and renewed in a new body of yours, saved for your knowledge and skills from your old life."

"And to asked your third question," he carries on to the conclusion. "You are reborn in another world. Another timeline. Another reality. How else can you explain you never heard of House Stark?"

The old man's answers was very shocking to Duncan. He thought he was lying. He thought he was making a joke. But he senses everything this man says was true.

"Who are you?" Duncan asked.

"My name is the Three-Eyed Raven." the old man says. "And there is much to dicuss Duncan Idaho.