"Twenty coppers, lad, that's the price. Take it or bugger off."

Danny's lips thinned at the words of the bathhouse owner. He may have had a whole treasury full of gold, but it wasn't accessible at the moment, that's for sure. As of now, his pockets were void of any currency. If he had kept that stupid horse he could have sold it, but now he had nothing. Perhaps it was strange of someone to seek a bathhouse as his destination when they were penniless, but those were just habits. He hadn't washed in a while, despite being accustomed to doing so every other day. And since he just finished eating what he had stolen, Danny naturally sought the place out, happy to see one around at all. But now all he could do was to solemnly nod and sigh.

"Customer service sure needs some work," he mumbled.

"Ye aren't a customer until you pay," the owner argued.

"Yeah, yeah," Danny turned and waved his hand. "I'll come back once I make a fortune," he spoke with irony as he went for the door.

"Get a job, lad!"

Upon exiting, he took a look around the place. The teen noticed how few people actually lived in that town, composed of rows of neat houses, made from wood and rough, unpolished stones. Many of those houses were outright abandoned, and that confused him even more. Danny looked up the hill and saw a perfectly solid, even to an extent pretty castle which was supposed to house the local lord, but at the same time the town looked disused. It wasn't the case of cruel lord taking everything from his subjects, because that would mean plenty of impoverished peasants. But there were none, so what was exactly the purpose of that place? He knew not, and, honestly, didn't care, for such way of things meant he could move into any house he preferred and nobody would bat an eye.

But he still had no money. Danny could easily steal those, but just looking at the locals straight out of the Dark Ages he felt pity. They didn't need a ghost robbing them atop of what they were already had. That left him wondering just what job he could undertake to earn a coin. The half ghost tapped on the wet, muddy ground with his black boots and wondered. The thought of selling his obviously problematic clothes didn't even cross his mind. It was a gift. And gifts were not supposed to be given away. Besides, it was much pricier than what the locals could probably afford. What did the people even do for life there? Then, an idea struck him.

If there was one thing that existed since the dawn of time, it was violence. And the need to have someone protect you from it. Obviously, there wasn't going to be an adventurers' guild, but if RPGs ever taught him anything, it is that the taverns were the centre of all rumours. The half ghost did just that, and entered one of the bigger buildings around. Immediately the warmth and smells were felt by his skin and nose, and brought some comfort. Danny sat at the first table he could find and thoughtfully tapped on it, listening to the surroundings. And that's how it went for a while, until Danny noticed how the light from the fireplace was obstructed by someone.

"Goodness, a new face in our little town."

Danny turned to face a beautiful redheaded woman in rather...revealing clothes.

"And a handsome one at that," she gave him a charming smile. "What can I fetch you, darling?"

"Water, please."

She blinked in surprise. "You don't drink?" She asked.

"That and I don't have any money," Danny gave a dry smile. "Don't worry, I can stomach whatever disease is in the water and I won't take any issue if I can't."

"No, it is quite safe, I believe," the woman chuckled and examined him a bit closer. "I'm sorry, but I find it hard to believe that someone like you is without a coin."

"Forgot my wallet at home," upon seeing a questioning gaze, he clicked his tongue. "A...purse," he decided to rephrase it. The locals spoke some sort of English, which was comforting, but it would take some time getting used to some outdated wording. "And what makes you so sure?"

"I have an eye for such things," she leaned forward, closer to him, letting the teen get a good view on her very poorly conceived chest. And then she fiddled with the pin that held his cloak together, shaped like a flaming letter 'D'. "That's an interesting symbol, what does it mean?"

Danny violently blushed and moved a bit a way. "My...my friend came up with it. It combines the first letter of my name and the first letter of my nickname."

"Don't worry, looking is free," the woman laughed, "Aren't you a sweet little thing. Have you never seen a woman's privates before?" She whispered.

"I have," Danny said quietly and looked away, remembering all too well his peeks at the girls' locker room. "Not my proudest moment."

"There's nothing to be ashamed of!" She cooed. "In fact, if you ever want to go a step further, you are always welcome," she whispered. "I live upstairs. Me and many other girls."

"Is this a brothel?" Danny asked quietly.

Now it was the woman's turn to be surprised. "What did you think it was?"

The half ghost blinked and looked around, noticing all the flirting girls on the knees of needy men. "I was wondering if that's how all taverns work here."

"You are really clueless, aren't you?" She laughed.

Danny's lips thinned. "Now even a prostitute doesn't hesitate to call you out, Fenton," he muttered, before chuckling and shaking his head. "Still, I'm afraid you are wasting your time on a penniless guy. There are others you might wanna...service and actually get paid."

The woman's eyes once again fell on the pin.

"It looks like it is made of silver."

Danny blinked and glanced at the pin. He had never realised that it was made of a precious metal, but it seemed only fitting for a gift to the prince.

"I'm afraid I can't do that. I may be eating scraps and drinking from rivers, but this," he pulled the edge of his fur coat. "Is a gift from a man that is like a second father to me. I won't sell it. Not a single button...Actually, does this thing have buttons?" Danny looked down.

The woman chuckled. "A man of honour, I see. You will surely feel at home here."

"Thank you for a talk," Danny responded after a short uncomfortable pause. "Even though I've nothing to reward you with..."

"My name is Ros, lad," Ros introduced herself. "Now, your water?"

"If I may," the half ghost smiled.

But a conversation, no matter how pleasant, could not fill his stomach. But there was a little benefit. The locals, or at least Ros, from how she seemed to hand out said advice to a surprised barkeep, knew that a way to rid of most common diseases in the water was to boil it. When asked about how she learned of this, Ros said that she had once spent her night with one of the maesters. And that men love to talk after sex. Whoever those maester people were, Danny chose not to ask just yet. That, and he was too embarrassed to ask further. Somehow he felt like not knowing this would make people question him more than he wanted.

And thus, by drinking boiled water that was yet to cool down he tricked his stomach into believing he actually ate something. It wouldn't last for long, though. His powers needed supplement, and if it went on like this, he would remain powerless, the last shreds of his energy fuelling only his human body before it does...whatever would happen to a half-dead body like his. That is, if the medieval world would not swallow him beforehand. He was honest with himself, and there was the harsh truth: without them, he was as good as dead.

Danny exited the not-tavern feeling a little refreshed and determined to turn things round. Ros gave him a few pointers, for which the halfa was truly thankful. He hadn't met prostitutes before, but he doubted that each of them was just as helpful. So he considered this a lucky coincidence. She told him that one of the local shepherds could use someone to keep the wolves away at night. It wouldn't buy him a bath, a single day's pay would not buy him even a loaf of bread. But it was something. The aged shepherd, of course, was hesitant initially, but then reasoned that a deserter would not have sought an honest job. Danny was armed with a single pitchfork just in case and told to simply watch out for the nearby woods.

"Can I trust you not to die, lad?" The shepherd asked.

"I've seen bigger things than wolves," Danny smirked. "Although fighting with a pitchfork is certainly new."

"I ain't no bannerman to own a sword," the shepherd cackled and patted the boy on the shoulder. "Gods be with ya, lad."

And so, here he stood, in the middle of the night with nothing to do. But the goddess Fortuna smiled upon him, and the shepherd was a kind sort, to leave him a free loaf of bread and some cheese to keep him fed. That didn't sound like a lot, but the man was a simple shepherd at a time when even chickens weren't a commodity. It would be foolish of him to expect meat. At that thought the half ghost chuckled, sitting by the barn.

"Tucker, you wouldn't survive a day here," he mumbled, remembering his friend. "No tech, no meat...this is your personal hell. And Sam...in this cruel world I may just have to kill animals. So I guess this is your hell, too. What a wonderful place, it doesn't discriminate."

He was once again talking to himself. A habit, he supposed. His mouth always spoke what his mind thought. It was a vain attempt to somehow entertain himself. Because so far, up until way past midnight, nothing happened. Even the sheep slept soundly. The half ghost rose from his spot and moved his joints to push away the cramps. And then, Danny heard the rustles in the woods, for his hearing and other senses were above those of a human. The half ghost looked at the pitchfork, hummed thoughtfully and then tossed it away. He didn't know how to wield it, anyway. And as if on cue, the wild animals left the woods, four wolves, thin, with grey dirty furs. Danny stared at them, and they growled at him, tried to circle him, like wolves always did, but Danny's back hit the wall of the barn.

"Someone must be hungry," he mumbled. "Let me make it easier for you."

The half ghost walked forward, and immediately the wolves formed a ring around him, circling the teen. Danny stood, he waited for them to strike first.

"Well?" The boy smirked. "Go on."

-Linebreak-

The local trader saw a happy-looking boy put several wolf pelts on his stand.

"Are you buying?" He asked with a look of someone who finally found his calling.

With a bit of confusion, the fur trader took to examine the hunting trophies. And he didn't look convinced.

"I'll give ya a silver."

Danny blinked. "Only a silver?"

"Are ya blind? Take a look, lad," the trader said and laid out the furs. "These two," he pointed. "Have burned off fur. There's barely anything left, how is this burned skin supposed to keep you warm? This cut," he continued. "Is a work of an amateur. Or someone who just swashes the hunting dagger around trying to kill the beast without care for quality of fur. This...this may be the only proper one."

"Thank the shepherd," Danny mumbled.

"How in seven hells did you hunt? With a fucking catapult?" The merchant asked, handing him the coin.

Danny looked at the pelts. "No. Something deadlier," he smiled and strolled off.

Content with the ringing of a couple of coins between his fingers, copper and silver, the boy set off to enjoy the fruits of good work. And first of all, he would have his body and clothes washed. Not too late he was already sitting in a warm bath of the same bathhouse that he had fruitlessly visited before. But something was bothering him, or rather someone. Apparently, washing in a bath by yourself was not a custom there, with the job being done by some fine-looking girls. He had outgrown the age of having no restraints, and he was taught better than to indulge in debauchery with girls he did not love. And as he was washed and cleaned at the best of their abilities, with an interesting soap made of animal fat, wood ash and probably some thyme, another fair maiden was busy washing the black clothes.

After that they were at full display, drying by the fire on a rack, he took another good look at it. It's strange how they procured the materials to make such thing. Everything around them was ectoplasm — a material of thousand forms. But this was clearly leather and fur. And stylised in a way that everyone was mistaking him for a member of a strange band wearing black and sitting on a giant wall. Oddly specific.

"Did you know, Frostbite?" Danny mumbled thoughtfully.

It really seemed like a peculiar coincidence. And if it was not, then why?

Whatever it was, Frostbite was way out of his reach. Now that he knew how to get his fill, he could set his mind towards higher things: learning of this world, looking for a way back to one of his, and many others. And to do THAT he would need a source of information that were a rarer commodity before the advent of internet. And he doubted a shoddy town had a library, he doubted any local knew what he needed. The half ghost was once again at an impasse. But the boy was an undying optimist who never got tired of that pun, he would find his way. Now, finally cleaned up, rested and fed, the boy stepped back at the street. He saw that a small crowd had gathered out there and the teen decided to ask.

"Hey," he turned to the nearest kid, glancing at the small entourage on horses. "What's the ruckus, kid?"

"Lord Stark is back," he responded. "You not from around here?"

And as the horsemen got closer, a thought occurred in Danny's head. "I'm not."

Suddenly realising that he could get himself into more trouble than he wanted, Danny decided to turn around and move out of sight. Unfortunately, this was just not meant to be.

"You there, a boy in black," came an authoritative voice that made Danny automatically freeze.

"Just when my life was turning round," he muttered, sarcastically smiled and looked at the one who spoke to him. A well built, hardened looking man whose look was as commanding as his voice. "Uhm...do you...need something?"

Ned Stark examined the boy before him. He didn't want to believe it was the one from the reports, but every single detail matched. But he wouldn't be such a fool just to stand around and wait to be found, would he? It also wasn't the Night Watch, he had just executed the runaway. Who, per chance, also witnessed the boy help them against what he called a white walker.

"I'll be blunt. Are you the wildling the Watch warned me about?" He asked, and Danny could feel many shocked stares directed at him.

"You didn't have to call me that in front of everyone, but...I suppose I am. What did they say about me?"

"Not here," the man could feel the room, it seemed. "You are coming with us."

"Everything beats that shack I called home. Shame really. Took me a while to get that door to stay in place," Danny smiled.

Ned could see that the brother was right: the boy did not act hostile at all. And far more civilised than his kin. But his tongue was going to be a nuisance, he felt. Ned could already feel the typical disrespect they displayed towards the nobility of the kingdoms.

"Thanks for the service!" Danny turned around to talk to the girls of the bathhouse, as he was being escorted by several armed men. "If they don't chop off my head I'll visit again!"

"Move it," said a nearby knight and lightly pushed him forward.

"If you gave me a horse, I'll be faster," Danny smirked. "Or are you afraid you'll never see me if you do?"

"Boy," Ned turned his head around. "Stay quiet."

Danny considered this for a moment, that perhaps he could do just as he was told for once. If only to sate his curiosity about what would happen once they reached that castle. They were going uphill, and as they did, Danny curiously looked around. At the landscape and the entourage that accompanied Lord Stark. There were soldiers, bannermen, but there were also others. Danny's blue eyes fell on the youngest of the bunch, no more than seven, with neck-long hair and a wary look in his eyes when he met Danny's gaze. And then one of the older kids rode faster and stood between the two, giving Danny a warning, stern look. Definitely the lord's kid. He may not have had his father's rough features, but the look was the same. Sadly, he lacked the commanding presence that could have made Danny know better than to smirk at him. And the boy didn't like it.

They rode and went through the gates, into the lively courtyard that was full of people attending to their tasks. Especially now that their lord came back. The horses were dismounted and then led to the stables, and everyone was about to go on their way, but Ned Stark had a different idea.

"Kids, go inside," he commanded, not looking away from his captive.

"What are you planning to do, father?" Asked the same son that suspiciously eyed Danny before.

"For now, we ask questions. You have your direwolf whelps. Go show your sisters."

The boy was about to object, but decided not to. Instead, all the boys entered the building. But the knights and the lord himself remained in the courtyard.

"Wise choice," Danny smiled.

"What are you talking about?" Ned turned back to him.

"You know what I can do and don't know what I want to do. Wise of you to send them away. That's a big sword," the teen pointed at the two-handed weapon on the man's back.

"Do you ever shut up?!" Asked one of the knights, as Ned raised his palm and thus told him to keep quiet himself.

"I don't," Danny kept smiling. "So, is this a trial, lord Stark?"

Ned did not respond initially. "What are you doing here?" He asked.

Danny seemed to contemplate the answer. "I come from a distant land. Further than you can imagine. An accident left me stranded away from my home, to which I cannot hope to return by ship, horse, or even air. And...it's nice here," he looked around. "Nicer than the lifeless forest up there."

"Wildlings occasionally cross the Wall," Ned responded. "They seek the better life out here. But they always do what they did up there: plunder, kill, rape. And that's why we execute the wildlings when we see them."

"Oh," Danny responded, making a step forward. That alone made everyone but Ned to go for their swords. "Are you going to try the same with me?"

"First I want to know if any of what they told about you is true."

"And what did they tell about me?" Danny raised an eyebrow. "Something along the lines of child-eating?"

"That you command ice, for one."

The half ghost hummed. "I can do a great deal of things. I can vanish from sight, go through walls, I can turn a city to rubble by shouting at it. And yes, ice too."

Danny approached the collected and unflinching man even further. "And I can demonstrate it all," he said a bit more quiet, as it was intended for the man only. "Lord Stark, I am not like the other people from up there that you have met. Just this night I was protecting a herd of sheep from wolves. Ask the shepherd. I didn't steal or eat a single one, despite all my food so far being a sausage I took from the Watch."

"The sausage you stole. Just like the horse. After hurting the men of the Watch."

"I didn't kill them. They should have told you. I froze them in place and when I got far enough they were released. And those are the people that tried to hang me after knowing me for a couple of minutes. Will you believe that I haven't killed a single person in my whole life?"

"I find this hard to believe. And you are ought to step back," Ned responded, coldly and firmly.

Danny raised his hands in mock surrender and did as he was told.

"It is true, however. I am not a killer. I am not a thief. I am not a criminal to be executed."

Despite his face that hid every emotion, Ned was thinking. And one question bothered him more than any other.

"You really don't speak like a wildling. Even your accent is different."

"I had a good teacher," Danny smiled. "I told you. I'm not like them. There really are two ways out of this situation. You can try and execute me. But you will meet the same fate as the crows."

"Is this a threat?" Asked Ned.

"I am no killer, I told you. The worst you'll get is a couple of burns, frostbites and unfunny puns. I'm not threatening you, Lord Stark. I only say what you already have in mind. This is the first turn of events. The second one can benefit us all."

"What benefit? Are you suggesting to take up arms for me? Because I don't need it. The best thing you can do is to come back where you came from. And I have no guarantee that you will keep that word."

"What word?" Danny tilted his head. "I haven't given any. I said: I am no killer. I won't kill for you nor for anyone. But I admit, I have nothing but my battle prowess to offer."

"How does a man with powers that you claim to possess go about without killing anyone?" Asked Ned.

"My teacher once said that only those with greatest power can allow themselves to keep their enemies alive," the half ghost recalled.

Ned hummed. "Your teacher was a wise man."

"IS. And will be. The old man will outlive us all," Danny chuckled. "I don't mean that crows are enemies, per say, but you get the idea. I don't have anything against them."

"They have been killing your kin for centuries. And now, when they got themselves a king, we see you. Going around the North. Probably spying on us."

"That's just how all people around here are at this backwards day and age. They kill you, you kill them," Danny shrugged. "I don't serve anyone. Yet. But I can serve you, for as long as you are willing to bear with me."

Ned had to admit, the boy was sincere. He wasn't stuck in a stubborn defiance of everything around him like his kin, he was not grovelling at Stark's feet begging for mercy like a common deserter. The boy talked a lot, but it wasn't his words that Ned found the most telling. It was the pair of blue eyes. Those weren't the eyes of a child he acted as. Neither were those the eyes of a liar. No, those were the eyes of a man who would die or kill looking into your own. Since the latter is not an option, it's probably more of the former. So strange it was to see this gaze on one so young.

"You said you don't need my power in battle. But I am not only that. I was taught in sciences..."

"The role of a maester is taken," Ned responded bluntly, unimpressed. Some knights snorted.

"I know a tad bit more, but...worst comes to worst I can wash the floors. I really need a job, lord Stark, as I'm not ashamed of admitting. And think of it, before you are ready to set me off into the wild, I'll stay here, in your hands' reach, proving that I can be trusted."

"I'm not letting you near."

"Lord Stark, with all due respect."

He snapped his fingers and each and every sword of every knight snapped like twigs. Ned's remained intact, because Danny wanted for it to remain so. As everyone remained frozen in shock, Danny leaned forward and smiled.

"If I wanted to harm you, I could have done so many times over."

This time Ned reached for his sword and pulled it out. Nobody moved. Nor the soldiers, nor the servants, nor the boy and the lord.

"What sort of trickery is this?" Ned demanded to know.

"One that will not be directed at you. Or anyone else who doesn't try to kill me," Danny sighed. "Lord Stark, I know what impression I always leave behind. My home feared and hated me because I existed. Because I could do something they couldn't. And because I leave very dubious messages. But eventually, they stopped fearing and accepted me. I proved myself to them as I seek to do with you. I only ask to give me a chance."

"Is this how you wildlings do things? From threats to violence and then to begging?"

"We can try going in different order," Danny shrugged. "And no. That's how I do things."

"And he is surprised why everyone is out to catch him," sighed Ned and shifted his blade. "You will sleep under that roof," he pointed towards the stables. "You will wake up with all other servants and do as you are told. You disobey, I send a raven to the Watch. Not that this will stop you," at this Danny gave an innocent smile, "And you will not be doing your tricks anymore whilst you are here."

"Not even the small ones for convenience sake?"

"Don't interrupt your lord," a knight scolded him.

"Not even this," Ned said sternly. "And you will begin your duties by taking all the swords you've broken to the smith for reforging. After this, report to maester Luwin," he stopped to think for a moment. "You can identify him by the large chain he wears. And you should change clothes. He will find you some."

"Thank you, lord Stark," Danny bowed his head, raising his hand and letting all the dangerous shards of metal fly and form a pile in his arms. Noticing the displeased look, he sheepishly smiled. "This is the last time, I swear."

And as he carried the metal shards, the people around him parted like Moses and the Red Sea. Throwing him scared glances.

"I'll feel right at home," Danny mumbled and smiled.

Ned could only hope that he hadn't made a terrible mistake.

Upon finding his way and bringing the broken swords to a surprised blacksmith, the half ghost began to look for that 'maester' fellow. Perhaps, that could be a start towards knowing more about the world. The lord was bound to have some sort of a library. And since maesters sounded like people with knowledge, they could be of help, too. As he looked for the man, Danny got some clues about the layout of this place, about the network of corridors and doors and turns. Until eventually finding an old man wearing a long chain, made of surprisingly large rings.

"Hello, maester sir," Danny smiled.

The old man jumped from surprise and turned around to face him.

"Ah...you are the one," Maester Luwin spoke carefully.

"Yes, THE one," Danny repeated with irony in his voice. "Lord Stark said that I should find you and get told what to do."

Maester slowly nodded. "At least he is obedient," he muttered. "Very well, follow me."

And as he did, Luwin started explaining. "We have an abundance of servants as it is, so for now you will be working with the least demanding job. You will work with Hodor in the stables until we decide what else to do with you."

"I have many talents," Danny responded. "I can reach my elbow with my tongue."

The old man did not look amused. "Is this a joke to you, lad?"

"Don't worry, everything happening to me recently is a cruel joke," Danny shrugged. "You were saying?"

"I was saying that you should be mindful of where you are. Lord Stark gave you an opportunity. Show your gratitude by serving him with respect."

"I respect him. He seems like a decent man."

"Decent," Luwin huffed. "Lord Stark is the most honourable and just man I know. He took you in despite the difficulties you can bring. And since you serve him now, everything you do is his responsibility also."

"And being in high spirits is bad for his name?"

"No. But you are ought to show proper respect and manners. The fact that you can speak does not mean that you follow our customs..." Luwin sighed. "But I suppose we can always teach that. Depends on whether or not you are willing to learn."

"I am. Shouldn't be so hard..." Danny kept curiously looking around. "What's the deal with those chains, anyway?"

"I suppose I can start the lesson already," Luwin spoke with a note of amusement. "These chains are the sign of a maester. You see, each time a maester is considered knowledgeable in a certain field, he makes a link in the chain of corresponding metal."

"Certain field? Like what?"

"Well, like medicine, metalwork, reading the stars, history, you name it," Luwin chuckled. "I do lack several links, though."

Danny seemed to contemplate this for a moment. "The stars, you say?" He mumbled. "Wonder if I can get a chain for it."

"You first need to pass the test at the Citadel. I don't know how well a wildling can know any of our sciences. And besides, a maester with only one science is an extremely poor maester."

"That's dumb."

"Why do you think so?" Luwin asked curiously.

"Because if you try to learn everything, you learn only bits of everything. If someone learns to swing a sword and sing, he will be an average fighter and singer."

"An interesting observation," noted Luwin. "And one that was made before. It is true, but we have more than enough time to learn what's needed. After all, maesters are not allowed to hold land, marry or spend time on anything but studying."

"That's twice as dumb," Danny mumbled.

"Do they do things differently where you are from?" Asked Luwin not without irony.

"We don't get fancy rings for learning things," smiled Danny.

"I wouldn't call them 'fancy'," chuckled Luwin. "They are quite burdening for someone my age."

"Knowledge is always a burden," the boy responded sagely. "Quite symbolic, actually."

Luwin couldn't help but find himself agreeing with the wildling boy's words. That would be the first one.

After escorting the boy to the maester's study, Luwin handed him a simple light blue shirt to wear. Of course, Danny didn't expect anything pretty, but that's just how smallfolk usually lived. After getting changed, he, while carrying the normal clothes, went for the stables. There he found himself a spot not smelling that horribly of dung and put his only belonging in a small empty chest. Taking a deep breath and realising it was a mistake, he went to find his new companion in the glorious duty of cleaning the horses. And soon he found the guy. A hulking giant with a dim, but very kind look in his eyes.

Hodor was a man that could be described in one word, a word which happened to also be his name. That was the only word he always said, which complicated the learning process, but the man also obviously understood what was being said to him, thankfully. Danny was diligent when he set his mind to things, just as he was now. It wasn't really hard, he simply had to feed the animals, occasionally clean them up or sent to the blacksmith for pinning new horseshoes. Luckily, horses were not the animals that could see his nature and react fearfully upon it. So, the actual work was not all that burdening and certainly not humiliating as some would think. It's an honest work, for which he was fed and given shelter, subpar it may have been. Danny thought it was still better than working at a fast food joint as the CAT test had predicted. And Hodor was a surprisingly nice company for someone who spoke only one word. Despite being so large he still shared his food despite probably needing it more and still insisting after Danny continuously urged him to keep that stew to himself.

But Hodor wasn't the only person he interacted with. The rumours travelled fast. Other servants preferred to stay away from the strange boy and tried to finish the interaction as soon as possible. Danny was back to being a freaky kid with freaky powers, and he wasn't sure how to feel. On one hand, he was no longer chased by paparazzi and fans, being a famed hero and a saviour from a giant rock heading Earth's way. He was thankful for that. On the other, going back to square one felt like...nullification of everything he had done so far. He had learned to take such fearful and despising glances with head raised high, but it would be a lie to say that he didn't care at all.

But it wasn't just the servants. The Stark household was obviously split on what to make of him. Lady Stark, a rather beautiful woman, evidently didn't like him, judging by the looks she gave each time she passed him. Their children also limited their interactions only to when they needed horses, but that seemed to be the extent applicable to many other servants. The redheaded daughter was just like her mother, obviously disliking his presence. So, Danny observed them from afar, making conclusions of his own. From their interactions he learned several things. The elder boy, Robb, was lord Stark's heir, that's simple enough. The other, to Danny's surprise, was only a bastard child of the lord, Jon. The third one turned out not to be a Stark at all. The curly haired boy with a vicious grin was Theon Greyjoy, a ward of lord Stark.

He could watch it from a distance, how they trained with master-at-arms and among each other. The stables and the training field were nearby. And on one of those days, as he was pouring the horse feed, Danny's eyes were focused on the training duel between Robb and Theon. He could hear the conversation between the two even despite being a fair distance away, surrounded by quite noisy animals.

"Come on, Stark, aren't you a little bit curious?" Theon urged. "This is a wildling. You never fought a wildling."

"I never fought anyone out there for that matter," responded Robb, parrying the strike of a sword. They were old enough to practice with their actual weapons, not wooden toys. "Father told us not to provoke him."

"Oh, don't tell me you are afraid of that scrawny guy. Sure he is older, but he doesn't look like much."

At this Danny smirked. It always was the same. One look at him and they already thought they knew everything.

"You know what everyone says. He can break a sword without even touching it."

"And someone with that power just sits there and cleans up horse shit?" Theon huffed.

"Hodor kindly does that for me," Danny called back, getting the attention of two younger boys. "Thank you for your concern, sir Greyjoy."

"I ain't a ser," Greyjoy snorted and came closer. "You should have learned that by now, wildling."

"And you should have learned my name by now," the older teen responded casually, not distracting from his task. "It's Danny."

Robb put a hand on his friend's shoulder. "Theon..."

"I insist. Let our noble savage come and teach me manners," Greyjoy mocked. "I want to see this, and don't hide it, you want that, too."

Danny turned to Robb for the word of an actual Stark. After some contemplation, Robb sighed.

"Come, Danny. Show us what you can."

"I dunno," Danny pretended to heavily think. "I still have to brush the horses...oh, well."

A smirk of satisfaction appeared on Theon's face as Danny walked from the stables and into the circle of rocks that served as the training area. When the half ghost made no sign of moving to get a weapon, Robb got confused.

"Aren't you going to arm yourself?" He asked.

Danny glanced at the swords that stood on a rack.

"I must admit I never properly learned how to use it," he said upon finally deciding to take a blade in his hands. He gave it a twirl and nearly dropped it, earning laughter from Greyjoy. "Nobody in my family uses one. And since lord Stark forbade me from using my actual weapon, you may stand a chance," he pointed the sword at the confident Ironborn.

"Oh, you won't know what hit ya," Theon smirked, taking a duelling stance. Danny watched him and repeated it to the best of his abilities.

Without as much as a warning, the boy lunged at the half ghost and swung his blade. Danny managed to meet them with parries, as his reaction time was still superior. Robb, who had more time to actually consider what was going on, immediately noticed that Danny did all that only with one hand, whilst Theon struck with both. Was the wildling's strength so much bigger? When Danny tried to attack, however, his inexperience showed. Theon managed to easily avoid the slow and clumsy blade by ducking under it, but the counterattack once again met the impregnable defence, before suddenly he felt the ground slip right from beneath him when Danny hit the boy's legs with his own. With a yelp, Theon lost his footing, before being smashed on the chest for good measure. As he fell, Theon saw a blade pointed towards his throat and Danny's smirking face.

"You were saying?" He asked.

Instead of surrendering, Theon kicked Danny's leg and immediately struck the opponent's blade on purpose. It flew out of Danny's grip, but he himself stood in place. Theon still used the split second of delay to get back on his feet. With Danny's sword being far away, he was free to give a scare, as he perceived it. He swashed, in a way that was a very realistic attempt at beheading. But Danny did not dodge. Instead, to the boys' surprise, he caught the blade in his palm. And did so in a way that the sword didn't even leave a scratch. And then Danny pulled and ripped the blade out of Theon's grip, tossing it aside.

"So this is how you fight, eh?" Asked Greyjoy.

"You disarm your opponents," Robb added.

"Yep," the half ghost shrugged. "I can't wield a sword, so nobody will. I'm more of a ranged guy."

Greyjoy glanced at Robb and whispered something on his ear. Which Danny obviously heard still. Then, Robb's look turned shocked.

"We can't, Theon. Father forbade him."

"But he will just show it to us. He didn't forbid that."

"You know exactly what he meant and why."

"Don't know. Maybe I misheard," Greyjoy shrugged. "Say, Danny. How about you show us what you can ACTUALLY do?"

Danny seemed to contemplate this for a moment. This was the first time he was actually getting somewhere in terms of relations with anyone in this world. They were actually curious, not afraid of what he could do. He might even make some friends. Robb being the heir of the place was even better, as he could help Danny become something more than a stable boy. He could bear with it, but it didn't mean that he should.

"We can't do it here," Danny whispered. "And I can't agree unless I get a permission from someone high enough," he gave a pointed, mischievous glance at Robb.

"Which is why we will do it at night. Find a little spot in the forest," Theon said.

Robb's face crunched in heavy consideration. "We need a more solid plan than that. Gates are closed for night, you both know it."

Danny smirked. "So do I have your permission? To use my powers discreetly, that is."

Robb sighed. "Discreetly."

"Then the wall is not a problem. North gates at midnight, when the guard changes. I can pass the wall and we will go to the forest. Now, milord, should I go back to the horses?" He asked a bit louder.

At Robb's nod, the smiling half ghost went to the stables. Theon leaned closer to his best friend.

"Now you are a rule-breaker, huh? How shameful of you, Stark."

Robb lightly nudged cackling Theon and looked Danny's way. "He's been here only for a couple of days. He already knows when we change the guards and which gates are the least guarded."

"If he were a spy he would not have told you this so casually," Theon argued. "And if he is, I'll stick an arrow into his face before he blinks."

Robb didn't know if Theon would actually succeed, but he hoped it wouldn't come to that.

Their plan, simplistic as it might have been, went without a hitch. For the stable boy who basically slept near those gates it was simple. He just needed to make a couple of steps towards them. Theon also had a perfect alibi. He went to the town and everyone thought that Greyjoy would be spending his time in a brothel as usual. He would simply keep his distance until it was safe to join them. For Robb, however, it was more difficult. He needed to get out from his room, through the castle that had guards. Nothing would come to him if he was spotted, aside from the ruined plan, and Robb didn't like sneaking around his own home. It was something Theon kept teasing him about. Always as straightforward as his father. But the future lord of Winterfell knew his ancestral home perfectly, so it still took him little effort to get to the meeting spot, where Danny was already waiting for him.

"Took you long enough, milord," he smirked, leaning against the wall. His smirk fell, however, when he heard footsteps.

Robb heard them too and spun around. There he saw his bastard brother walking up to him with confusion on his face.

"Robb, what are you doing out here so late?" Asked Jon.

Robb's lips thinned. "Me and Theon planned to see what Danny could do."

"I know, I heard you talking," Jon responded quietly. "I'm coming with you."

Robb patted his half-brother on the shoulder. "Sorry for not inviting you. It's just..." he couldn't finish the sentence.

"I understand. We are doing something lord Stark forbade us. But where is Danny?"

Robb turned around and saw nobody there. Confused, he looked around, before hearing a snicker coming out of nowhere. And then he popped out of thin air.

"Shall we go?" He asked.

"How did you..."

"Keep a list of what you see, Jon," Danny smirked, putting his hand on the closed gate. "There will be plenty."

He figured that Jon, being a bastard son, wouldn't mind a little familiarity. Danny meant well, after all.

"Well? Go."

"There's still a gate," Robb pointed out.

Rolling his eyes, Danny pushed his other hand through. As if the gate wasn't even there.

"Where did it go?!" Asked Robb, raising his voice above the whisper.

"Just go through. I'll stay behind. The gate just stays intangible as long as I'm touching it."

Exchanging glances, the two boys reluctantly followed. Going through the gate felt...strange. For a moment, they felt blindness, unable to see anything. They also experienced a strange, tingling feeling, as if their whole bodies went numb. Everything went as soon as it came, the second they stepped through. The brothers looked at each other, before Danny went through the gates himself.

"Let's go then, my new countrymen!" He smiled and led the way.

"He marches to the beat of his own drum, doesn't he?" Asked Robb not without amusement.

"We should keep going. The guards will soon come to the walls...have you thought about how you will come back?"

Robb stopped. "Let's just hope he has a trick for that as well."

They followed Danny to the nearest woods, and the halfa was patiently waiting for them to catch up. Unbeknownst to them, he had left a duplicate up on the walls to secure the way back. If a guard would pass the invisible Danny number two at a time when the three teens needed to get in, he would simply make sure their minds were elsewhere. They soon reached a forest a fair bit away, and were soon joined by disgruntled-looking Theon.

"This damn forest is further than it seems from up there," he complained.

"A little physical exercise never hurt anyone, sir Greyjoy," Danny responded. "My father can chase an enemy for miles on foot in the middle of the night. While being built like Hodor and having the same grace in his moves...What?" He noticed the looks.

"If your father is so big, how are you so scrawny and short?" Asked Theon, tactful as he was.

"I don't know," Danny shrugged. "Genetics are always a coin toss."

"What's genetics?" Asked Jon.

"Have you ever wondered why one would get their parent's nose? Why they inherit hair or temper? That's genetics, the science of...inheritance. Don't ask, I don't know anything about how it works aside from basics."

"What's even there to learn?" Asked Theon.

"Well...it helps with growing plants, I guess," Danny hummed. "By making sure they inherit proper traits, you can make them resistant to cold, rains or disease."

"Why are we talking about stupid farming?" Theon complained. "Why would you wildlings bother? Nothing grows in that snowy hell."

"Something does," Danny smirked, looking around the forest. "Anyway, I guess that's the place. I know you have questions. I like you, so I'll answer them honestly. Just...don't share it with anyone unless you absolutely have to. Let me decide."

Theon was first. "We came here to see what you can do, show us."

Danny rolled his eyes. "Where do I begin? You saw the basic stuff, like going through walls, vanishing and such. I can also do this."

A flick of his hand and a green blast erupted from his palm, hitting the nearest tree, snapping it in half like a twig.

"I can change the power how I want. It can simply cause you discomfort, it can blow up a building," Danny tilted his head, seeing the worried expressions on his companions' faces. Then, his eyes glowed blue, and with a blue blast he covered the ground in a layer of ice. "Same deal here."

"How do you do this?" Asked Robb. "This..." he pointed at the destroyed tree. "This is not normal."

"You don't say," Danny responded. "Do you want a simple answer or the actual one?"

"Don't take us for fools," Robb crossed his hands.

"Well..." Danny gave him a look. "It's something I can do. What I learned during these three years after my heart was replaced by an orb of ice. It became this way after I was struck with a monstrous amount of energy. It...was painful. Like my skin was being peeled off. Seconds feeling like hours," he mumbled. "Wouldn't wish it to anyone."

"This doesn't explain why you can do this," said Jon, cautiously looking at him.

"This is why I offered a simple version," Danny rolled his eyes. "Would have called it magic. No, it's...how to explain it...this ice heart turns any energy I receive, even that from food, into energy I release in different ways," he pointed towards the same tree. "Of course, I'll prefer this energy in its pure form — ectoplasm. Green liquid, deadly to a normal human. Gets me going like nothing else."

"That's not something old nan would tell," muttered Rob. "A man with an ice heart. If I hadn't seen this, I wouldn't have believed you."

"Oh, you haven't seen the half of it," Danny smirked. "All my senses are more...sensitive," he grimaced at his own vocabulary. "I am very hard to kill, all my wounds quickly heal on their own, no poison or disease affects me...Pretty cool, eh?"

"Cool?"

Danny sighed. "Impressive. Pretty impressive."

"It certainly is..." Robb mumbled.

Theon looked confused. "Why would someone like you clean up horse shit?"

"Because I am lost," Danny answered honestly. "I don't know anything about the world around. Do you expect me to become...a conqueror? A king or lord? I don't want that. I already..." he cut himself off.

"Already what?" Asked Robb seriously.

Danny sighed. "Already did a lot. Not bad things, but I just don't feel like attaching myself to this place. I'll go back when I get the chance, and until then, I'm willing to do anything. Anything legal."

"What's stopping you from going back?"

"Magic," Danny said slowly and opened his arms wide. "Portals. Gates. Pop and close however they like anywhere. And they are the only way for me to get back to my very secluded home. I don't know when and where they will appear, so not much point in looking, they come and go in seconds most of the time. I just wait until I stumble on one."

Suddenly, an idea appeared in Theon's mind. He asked Robb to come with him to talk, leaving Danny alone with Jon. They remained in an awkward silence, as the bastard wasn't the chattiest one.

"What's it like?" He still asked.

"What do you mean?"

"The land beyond the wall."

"Cold, unwelcoming, snowy...oh, and with undead crawling around. Lovely place. Consider it as a vacation spot," Danny smiled.

"The...undead?" Jon asked slowly. "You are pulling my leg."

"I am not. I stumbled into them on the way to the Wall. Why do you ask?"

"I am planning to sign into the Night Watch."

"That bunch of grumpy crows?" Danny asked with surprise. "Why? The vacation part was a joke, it's horrid there."

"They shield the Seven Kingdoms from...well, your people," Jon said uncomfortably. "It's an honourable duty. And besides...I am a bastard, there is little else I can hope for."

"That bad, huh?" Danny asked slowly and sympathetically. "Your brother still seems to like you."

"He isn't the only one, but I simply...feel like I'll be more of use up there."

"It's not up for me to teach you, I guess. I never got to choose anything, so you are luckier than me," Danny nudged him lightly and smiled. "I never chose to have that thing in my chest."

"What happened to you?"

"An accident..." Danny shook his head. "Should have stuck with the 'magic' excuse. So much simpler," he complained, noticing Robb and Theon come up to him.

"What were you talking about?" Asked Danny.

"About you, obviously. Theon is right, your power is wasted on stables, Danny. Thus, would you like to become my squire?"