Disclaimer: Game of Thrones belongs to G.R.R. Martin and Eragon belongs to Christopher Paolini

One reviewer did ask where Ghost was, this wasn't an oversight, I love Ghost but for the circumstances of this story Ghost never existed.

Chapter Two

The return to Winterfell was uneventful after the addition of five new dire wolf pups to the Stark party, as Jon kept the large stone supported in his cloak so as to not fall from the jostling and swaying caused by the movement of his horse.

The high walls of Winterfell soon came into sight and the party picked up their pace, eager to be home after the grim work of an execution, enough to bring a cloud over any person's day.

Entering through the North Gate of Winterfell, the party road quietly through the courtyard before dismounting at the stables as four stable boys quickly came out to attend to the horses.

Nodding at the boy who took his horses reins in thanks, Ned headed past the Library Tower and towards the Godswood. Hurrying to catch up to his father's long stride, Jon jogged up beside him, "Father, I would speak with you if I may."

Turning his gaze onto Jon as they approached the entrance to the Godswood, "Come, we will not be disturbed in the Godswood Jon."

Jon and Ned walked past the many weirwood trees in silence before Ned sat on his customary rock beneath the heart tree in the centre of the woods. Gesturing to the other rock next to him Ned waited for Jon to take a seat before asking, "So, does this have anything to do with what you've been hiding under your cloak since you convinced me to let your siblings raise dire wolves?" Ned chuckled.

Looking at his father in shock, Jon gapped as Ned continued, "Don't be so surprised. I was raised around my sister Lyanna and I'm raising your sister Arya who shares her love of mischief and adventure. Now what is it you want to show me?"

Shaking off his shock as well as surprise of hearing about his Aunt Lyanna, who his father rarely spoke of, Jon pulled the stone from within his cloak, "I found this beneath a tree back with the dire wolf pups, I'm not sure what it is but thought I might bring it back and see what you thought before showing anyone else."

Reaching over to take the stone, Ned studied the veins of the stone carefully as he turned it before drawing a knife and lightly tapping the edge. A hollow sound emitted from the stone, putting his knife away Ned turned and passed the stone back to Jon saying, "I've never seen any gemstone of that like before, it sounds hollow so its worth might be less than it looks."

Nodding at his father's words Jon got to his feet tucking the stone once more into his cloak, "Thank you father, I'll wait till some traders from the south come to Winter Town to see if it has any value."

Walking away from his father, Jon bowed his head to the Lady Stark as she came to see his father, ignoring the glare she shot him he noticed she carried a letter from a raven as he exited the Godswood.

Crossing the courtyard once again, Jon entered the Great Keep and headed upstairs towards his room. Just before entering his rooms he saw Arya sprinting around the corner of the hallway outside looking over her shoulder. Grabbing her arm he pulled her inside before shutting the door and holding a finger to his lips, they waited as they heard Septa Mordane shouting as her voice disappeared past his room.

Arya laughed as she hugged Jon round the waist, "Thanks for hiding me."

Jon chuckled and ruffled her hair to her detriment as she let go of him and twisted away from his arm. Ignoring whatever the newest exploit was in the war between Arya and the Septa, Jon pulled the stone out from under his cloak to show his sister, "Here have a look at this," he said as his sister gazed transfixed at the beauty of the stone.

"I didn't take you for one that liked pretty things," Arya teased her brother as he raised an eyebrow at her teasing.

"Dear sister of mine, I'll have you know I'm a celebrated romantic here in the North, with a great love for pretty things," Jon smirked at Arya as she guffawed loudly.

"Great love for your pretty hair you mean," was her reply as Jon's smirk dropped from his face as Arya laughed harder.

Shaking his head at his sister before smirking again winking at Arya before replying, "And don't you all know it, jealous the lot of you."

Laughing together before their chuckles died down and Arya's eyes drifted back to the stone Jon was still holding. "So what is it?" She asked nodding towards the stone.

"I'm not sure," was Jon's reply as he shook his head, "I asked father and he said he'd never seen anything like it before, he did determine it was hollow though."

Crouching down in front of the chest at the foot of his bed, Jon opened it up and pulled out some spare shirts and a second pair of breeches and placed the stone at the bottom before covering it with clothes and shutting the lid. "I'll leave it there for now, just until I decide what to do with it."

Arya nodded, "Maybe you can sell it and buy me a real sword, not that mother would ever let me use it," She pouted.

"Don't worry yourself over it, I'll sneak you a sword one day. As long as you don't tell anyone about this stone," Jon looked in Arya's grey eyes as she looked back before she laughed.

"Okay, but only because you're my favourite," She said as she flounced out of the room.

Chuckling to himself Jon looked out his window noticing how dark it had become during his talk with Arya. Resolved to grab a bite from the kitchens before turning in for the night Jon left his room as well making sure to close the door behind him.

Jon was woken from his slumber by a rattling sound. Sitting up and rubbing the sleep from his eyes he noted it was still dark outside by the lack of light streaming through his shutters. Another rattle came from the foot of his bed.

Jumping out of bed Jon grabbed the candle he kept on his bedside table and unlocked his door and seeing no one outside, proceeded to light his candle with a torch kept on the wall further down the passage before returning to his room locking it once again.

Another rattle was heard and with the light from the candle he saw his chest move slightly. Opening the chest, Jon took his clothes out and brought the candle over to light up the inside of the chest. What he saw was the large stone shake again, causing the chest to rattle and move.

Throwing one of his shirts on the floor Jon placed the candle back on his bedside table before picking the stone up as it shook in his hands. Placing it in the hurriedly made nest of an old shirt on the floor Jon looked at the stone in wonder.

Before long a mighty crack was heard as cracks appeared all along the stone causing Jon to move backwards from the stone turned egg. Finally with a loud snap, the egg shattered as the thing inside pushed away with its body causing parts of the egg to fly everywhere.

Jon could only look on in complete shock, mouth hanging low as a small creature no longer than his forearm with four limbs, a long tail and neck with tiny little spines running its length and two wings, larger than its body unfurled awkwardly as the baby creature shook itself before looking up at Jon with eyes that looked as though they were made from ice.

As if in a trance, Jon's dark grey eyes gazed into icy blue as his right hand came up to touch the top of the creatures head as it leaned into his palm. A searing blast of icy energy surged through his hand and raced up his arm turning his blood to fire in his veins as he seized on the ground. After what felt like hours, sensation began to return to his limbs, leaving behind a tingling feeling. As he pulled himself upright he looked down at his hand. He could only look on in shock as the part of his palm that first touched the creature began to form a diffused white spiral, what appeared to be similar to a spined snake twisting into itself.

Jon blinked, try as he might he couldn't figure out what had just happened. Something brushed against his consciousness, like a bare finger running along his skin before retreating. The feeling came again, only this time Jon felt the feeling solidify into a tendril of thought which expressed wonder and curiosity. It was as though a barrier around his thoughts had fallen away and was now bumping against another. Pulling away from the curious being, Jon retreated back into his own mind, scared his thoughts would drift away from his body, unable to return. Glaring down at the creature as it rubbed its head against his knee, Jon shifted uncomfortably but the energy did not return. Curious himself now, Jon held his hand out to the creature who started to nuzzle his hand and he once again felt a thought tendril running across his mind, radiating joy.

The small creature reminded Jon of a cat as it gazed up at him with its big eyes, pupils dilated and arched its back to shake off the remainder of the egg fragments still hanging from its wings by the gelatinous membrane it was contained in. The tendril of joy soon changed to one of overpowering hunger as Jon clutched his own stomach in confusion before glancing at the creature. Letting out a keen wail the creature stalked away from Jon and explored his room taking great joy at searching under his bed for food but finding none.

Standing up Jon looked at the head that peaked out from under his bed at his movement, "I'll, umm, I'll be right back with food."

Jon exited and closed his door, shaking his head in confusion before sneaking his way through the Great Keep down to the kitchens kept on the ground floor.

It was not the first night Jon had snuck around Winterfell at night, not that the guards or anyone else besides the Lady Stark would have cared but all the same, Jon did not want to have to answer any questions tonight. Sticking to the servants passageways Jon easily made it to the ground floor without seeing anyone and only needed to pause once for a guard to pass him by as he hid in the shadows of an alcove.

The kitchens were empty at whatever time of night it was, telling Jon it was still well before dawn as the ovens had yet to be fired. Crossing over to the icebox, Jon retrieved a strip of beef from the middle where it wasn't as cold and moved a strip from further back to cover his presence. Slinking out of the kitchens Jon made his way back towards his chambers where to his horror he saw his door wide open.

Rushing forward Jon swung into his room only to stop dead as he saw Arya frozen, eyes wide as she stared down towards the creature in the middle of the room who looked like an angry cat, hissing with sharp little teeth exposed and ivory white claws glinting menacingly as it flared its wings as it balanced on its back legs.

Jon shut the door quickly which caused Arya to jump and turn towards Jon and hiss, "Jon! Why is there a dragon in your room?"