Hello all. Sorry I took a little longer to update. I took the advice of some of you who have read the original and did some re-editing to make it easier to read. Hope you're enjoying the story. Thanks to everyone who had read my fic and thanks for your reviews. Keep them coming

Chapter 9 – Educating Ned Stark

In another place, which did and did not exist at the same time, The Crone stood in front of the viewing pool with a look of confusion on her ancient face. "What is it Grandmother?" The Maiden asked in a soft voice. "The future changes." The Crone replied. The Maiden looked slightly worried. "For the worst?" she asked again. "No," The Crone replied with a note of wonder in her voice.

"For the Better."

Jon sat facing the Weirwood tree in the Godswoods thinking. Tyrion would be there in the next day or so and then they could finally get to work.

Since Death's visit a week ago, things had calmed down significantly for Jon. He still had flashbacks but the intensity of the memories had been dulled as Death had promised and while the nightmares were still there, they were less frequent and no longer left him wide awake and shaking for the rest of the night. He was sleeping better and eating more at meals. His color and health had improved tenfold and being with his family was helping to sooth his damaged soul.

For the last three day, Lord and Lady Stark had been discussing Tyrion's impending visit, wondering if it was a Lannister plot against the North in general or House Stark in particular. Well, there was a plot but it wasn't against House Stark, well not directly anyway and if things went the way Jon hoped, it would be for the benefit of both House Stark and House Lannister.

"You've been spending a lot of time here lately lad. Is there anything wrong?" The gruff but gentle tones of Eddard Stark came from behind him. Jon smiled but didn't move.

"I'm fine unc…father." He replied, silently cursing his near slip.

Ned walked over and sat down next to Jon. "Liar" He gently chided. "Don't think it slipped my notice that you weren't well last week."

It hadn't slipped Cat's notice either. She was the one to bring it up to him. Of course she was more concerned that Jon may infect her children, if he were sick. Whatever it had been, it seemed to have passed now but Ned still couldn't help but be concerned.

"Would you like to speak about what is troubling you lad? I won't push but I may be able to help even if it's only someone to listen to you." He offered and hoped his adopted son would do so.

Jon was silent for a moment. He knew that he wasn't going to get away without some type of explanation but if he were to tell the truth, his uncle would call him crazy. He wished Tyrion was here right now. Suddenly, Jon had an idea. If he pulled off, it would make things easier when the time came to tell his uncle the truth.

"Do you ever think about the future?" he asked. Ned frowned at Jon. "Aye, I do. I don't know a parent who hasn't thought about what may happen to their children. As Lord of Winterfell and Warden of the North, I need to think about it. I have a duty to my people to protect them from what may come." He answered. "What brought this on lad? Have you been wondering about the future?" he asked.

Jon looked at the Weirwood, the ancient face crying tears of blood red sap and took a deep breath.

"No" he replied. "I don't think of the future, I dream of it."

Ned gave his nephew a startled look. "Dream of it?" he asked. "I'm not sure I understand. Please explain it to me." Jon looked at Ned.

"About two weeks ago," he started "I started having dreams; well they were more like nightmares, of the future. Dreams of things that never happened. Dreams of things that seem impossible. The thing is, I know these things happened. I KNOW it." Jon said pausing to take a breath.

"After a week of these dreams, I went to the library to see if I could find a book on dreams to help me understand what I was seeing. What I found instead was very surprising." He said, just the right combination of seriousness and conviction in his voice that he knew would make his uncle listen to him without trying to dismiss what was said as a child's overactive imagination.

Ned looked at Jon in thought. Jon wasn't one to make up stories or indulge in flights of fancy. Of all his children, Jon was the most like him in temperament and demeanor. He wouldn't make up a story like this just for fun. He came to a decision. He would hear Jon out with all due consideration and seriousness.

"Please continue lad. I wish to know what you have to say." He told Jon.

Jon rose and walked over to the heart tree. "What do you know about the Stark bloodline?" Jon asked. "About the strange abilities that reside in our blood? And where they come from."

'This will help Bran.' He thought. 'Bran must go north of the Wall and I hope what I'm about to explain will make it easier for his father to let him go when the time comes' deciding to explain about greenseer's and wargs.

Ned had a look of concentration on his face while he considered the question. It wasn't unheard of for people to have gifts and strange abilities and he also knew that the Starks have had more than a few of those in the family. His own great, great, great, grandfather was said to be a Warg and a Greenseer, whatever that was and Lyanna was known to have dreams that occasionally came true but where these gifts had come from, none knew.

"I know some, not much. I admit I wasn't much for history when I was a boy. I know of wargs and have heard of greenseers but know not what they are or what they do and as for the origins of these gifts, I also know not. There appears to be no records of how we acquired them." Jon was pleased. This would make his explanation much easier as his uncle already had some degree of knowledge.

"I found a journal in the library," he began "it belonged to a Torren Stark. He was a third son of one of the Lords of Winterfell but the journal doesn't say which Lord. Anyway, what does make this journal interesting is that it is a personal record of an expedition he mounted north beyond the Wall. In it, he spoke of many things but there was one thing that stood out. Under the oldest Weirwood tree in the world, far to the north, he met with a Greenseer known as the Three Eyed Raven and the Children of the Forrest." Jon decided to stop there for a moment and assess his Ned's reaction.

Jon wasn't lying. There really was a journal. Tyrion had found it in dark surprisingly dry corner of the library in the Time Before. The journal contained detailed maps and directions to the great Weirwood tree as well as all the details of what he had seen north of the Wall. It would have been invaluable to Bran if they had of found it before he had to leave but unfortunately it was found long after he had returned home. Jon was sure if Bran had of had possession of the journal, he wouldn't of lost most of his companions.

Ned for his part was both astounded and intrigued. It seemed that some of the old tales weren't tales at all but truth. Yes, there would be a great deal of fiction woven in, they were stories after all, but they came from truth that would have been long forgotten if not for the tradition of verbal storytelling. Ned was convinced. He believed Jon and he wanted to see this book Jon spoke of.

Jon continued "Now a lot of what he wrote about greenseers probably will only make sense to someone with the gift. It appears Torren had some small skill but from what I can figure out, greenseers have visions. Visions of the past, present and occasionally the future. They also have the ability to Warg into animals. This apparently means that they can use their mind to enter an animals mind and even sometimes a person and take control of them. Now as you know it's not unheard of for people to possess these abilities although the gifts are rare. There are more of them in the north among the Wildlings but from what Torren said the Raven told him, it was more random chance then being passed down through blood. The Starks though are different. The gifts in our blood were bred into the bloodline from the very beginning, eight thousand years ago."

Ned was in shock. Never in his wildest dreams would he of imagined this. His head was spinning. He needed time to think on what he had been told.

"Jon lad, what you speak of, well it's hard to take in but I believe you. We will speak no more on this today but I will want to speak to you on this further soon." He stood up and stretched.

"Come on. It's almost time for the evening meal and Lady Stark will skin us if were late." Ned told him with a grin on his face.

"Yes, we should hurry. Flaying always ruins my appetite." Jon agreed with a grin and slight laugh.

Together, they turned towards the entrance and returned to the castle proper for dinner.

#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#

Tyrion's party breathed a sigh that was both relief and awe when the towers and walls of Winterfell and Winter Town came into sight. It had been a rough week. They were tired, sore and hungry due to long days in the saddle and little sleep. Two days ago, they had left two of their number in an unmarked northern grave, thanks to bandits that attacked them as they made their way along the Kingsroad.

Tyrion was tired, dirty and was nursing a cut on his arm from the bandit attack. All he wanted was a bath, food and a bed but before he could have any of those things, he would have to speak to his men, especially Bronn, in order to make sure none of them did anything to offend the Stark's.

Tyrion gathered his escort closer so they could hear him as he laid down the rules.

"Alright men, I know you are as tired and hungry as me but before we enter Winterfell, I want to make sure you know the do's and don'ts of surviving the North. Now, Lord Eddard Stark, Lord of Winterfell and Warden of the North is a good and honourable man but he has no appreciable sense of humour so watch words around him and his family closely. This means you Bronn. Remember, we are trying to make friends here in the North." Tyrion told his people. Bronn looked offended though.

"Oy, who are to tell me to watch me words around the high and mighty lord of the North? I'll have you know I can be quite refined when I need to be." Bronn said in a fake high class accent, waving his hand in an exaggerated manner.

It was all Tyrion could do not too fall of his horse in hysterical laughter.

It only took half an hour to reach the gates of Winterfell. The guards on the gate were expecting them and sent them with a guide to the main courtyard of the keep where a small welcoming committee was waiting.

Robb Stark, heir to Winterfell and in another life, King in the North, was waiting for them before the front doors. With him was Theon Greyjoy. Tyrion's face darkened for a moment before he quickly dismissed the expression. It would do no good for Greyjoy to see his feelings about him.

Like Jon, he was also torn between hatred and pity.

Robb on the other hand, wasn't at good at controlling his expressions as Tyrion was and a look of dislike, outright hostility and suspicion was running rampant on his face. Tyrion silently sighed.

'Some things never change' he thought.

"Welcome to Winterfell, Lord Tyrion. I am Robb, eldest son and heir of Lord Eddard Stark. On behalf of my father, I welcome you and your people to Winterfell." Robb spoke the words of welcome in a sour tone.

Tyrion bowed. "Lord Robb, I thank you for your most gracious and warm welcome." He replied with a slight mocking edge.

Robb flushed red in embarrassment. He knew his welcome had been less then polite and unbefitting a lord of Winterfell and felt thankful that while Tyrion had every right to reprimand him for his lack of courtesy, he had chosen not to make a issue out of it. Robb was about to ask Lord Tyrion to follow him to the great hall, when Theon spoke.

"Oy, watch how you speak to Lord Robb. He is heir to Winterfell where you are merely a second son….Imp." Theon spat at him. Before Tyrion could answer him, Robb turned on Theon in anger.

"Theon Greyjoy! You shame House Stark and House Greyjoy with you complete lack of manners and disrespectful attitude. You will apologise to Lord Tyrion at once then you are dismissed until the evening meal. Be sure that I will inform Lord Stark of your behaviour." Robb snarled at him like the Dire wolf that was his houses sigil. Theon paled then made a hasty bow to Tyrion.

"My apologies My Lord. Please forgive my rudeness." Theon said a semi contrite tone then turned on his heel and stalked away in shame and anger.

"Bit of a grumpy fellow isn't he?" Tyrion said in a mild voice, choosing to forgo any one of a number of nastier comments. Robb nodded his head in agreement as he watched his friend walk away in a huff. He shook his head and turned back to Tyrion.

"Anyway My Lord, My Lord father is waiting to greet you in the great hall. If you and your people will follow me?" Robb waited for Tyrion's agreement. Tyrion just gestured for him to lead the way.

Tyrion had been a welcomed guest here in the Time Before after he had returned to Westeros and so knew Winterfell quite well but he couldn't let Robb know that. As they walked down the main hallway that lead to the great hall, Tyrion was overcome by bittersweet memories of a future that he hoped wouldn't happen now.

They entered the great hall and approached the high table where Lord and Lady Stark and he Stark children were waiting for them. As they approached Tyrion's eyes darted around the room looking for one particular face and found Jon standing behind the table in the shadows of the hall, looking relieved and very happy to see that Tyrion had finally arrived. He gave Tyrion a nod then settled back into the shadows to listen.

"Lord Tyrion, we are pleased to see that you have safely arrived." Lord Eddard Stark proclaimed to the hall at large while gesturing to two servants of to the side bearing trays with the bread, wine and salt of guest rights.

"Please eat of my bread and salt and drink of my wine and know only safety under my roof as an honoured guest. This is my vow to you as your Host." He continued, speaking the formal words to invoke the sacred Guest Rights.

"I thank you Lord Stark for the protection of your house. As your honoured guest, I pledge to do nothing that will disturb the peace of your house or force you to forswear your Vow." Tyrion replied with the formal words that sealed the Guest Rights after partaking of the bread, salt and wine.

Now that the formalities were out of the way, Lord Stark now became Eddard and spoke to Tyrion in a more conversational tone. "My Lord, I have arranged for your guards to be stationed in the guest barracks and I have also arranged a room for yourself in the west guest wing of the keep if that suits you?" Ned asked him politely.

He had no true idea of why Tyrion was truly here but so far, according to the ravens he had received from various keeps and houses as he came north, the little Lord of Lannister and his party had been nothing but a polite and genial guests and Ser Wyman, the commander of Moat Cailin was praising Tyrion's name to any who would listen, thanks to his suggestion to improve the defences of the Moat. So until he did something to warrant his suspicions, Ned had every intention of treating Tyrion like any other Lord that may call at his home.

Tyrion smiled in relief. "It suits me just fine My Lord, although, may I make a slight alteration to the sleeping arrangements? I wish, if I may, to have my man Bronn sleep in a close by room. It's not that I don't trust you My Lord, I know your word is your bond, and while I personally haven't done anything to offend anyone in the North as far as I know, I am a Lannister and unfortunately my family has done little to endear themselves to the realm at large and the North in particular."

Ned quickly agreed. He was right. He was a Lannister and while he was under House Starks protection as their guest, it wouldn't stop anyone who had a serious grudge against House Lannister from trying to get revenge on the only representative of that house currently in the North. Before he could motion to the servants to show them to their guest quarters, Tyrion spoke again.

"I wonder if I might ask one small favour of you though before we leave the hall." Ned was instantly a little cautious. He couldn't think of what the Imp would ask of him. "Yes?" he asked Tyrion.

"Well, to be honest, I've heard the most interesting stories about the hot spring baths under Winterfell and was wondering if my men and I may use them before dinner? I've read that hot springs are wonderful to help ease sore muscles, especially after a long days ride. Apparently it has something to do with the combination hot water and certain minerals that are naturally found in them" he asked with a hopeful look on his face.

Ned couldn't help it. He started laughing. Of all the things he could have asked, that request hadn't even entered Ned's mind. He got control of himself but was still smiling.

"Aye, the springs are wonderful to help with sore muscles. I admit I've used them myself many a time just for that purpose. You have my permission to use them." He told Tyrion then told the servants to show his guests to their quarters.

"Rest and refresh yourself. Dinner is an hour after sunset and I'll introduce you to the rest of my family then.

"Lord Stark, Lady Stark." Tyrion and his men bowed and left the hall heading in separate directions after making plans to meet shortly in the hot spring baths.

Tyrion and Bronn followed a serving girl to the west wing. She stopped in front of a pair of doors that were on opposite sides of the hallway.

"My Lord, you're in here if you please and your man will be lodged in the room across the hall." She told them opening Tyrion's door then Bronn's. "Bronn, go and get our travel bags off the wagon please." Tyrion told him.

"Alright but only cause I need my things too." Bronn replied with a smirk. "Hey lovely, could you escort me to the where milord's things are?" Bronn asked the serving girl in his most charming voice. "By your leave of course milord." Was the last comment Tyrion heard as Bronn and the girl walked off down the hall.

Tyrion chuckled to himself and entered his room. As he closed the door he noticed a moving shadow in the corner of his room. "Who's there?" he snapped out, hand on the hilt of his dagger.

"Dwarf" said the shadow moving into the light of the window, revealing Jon with a fond smile on his face

"Bastard" he replied with a huge smile on his face

Next chapter, Jon and Tyrion compare notes and finally start to plan