AN: yeah, I know I probably shouldn't be developing this with all my other stories but I had an idea that I liked and thought I might as well use. I'm actually now reading some Drama notes for an essay right now too.

Anyway, I guess I better get started with this. It's set when Matt's away being trained by Dartemis.

Disclaimer: I don't own GoT, so don't sue me; the only things I own in this are some aspects of the plot.

Prologue

She's sitting on the end of his bed, the woman in his dreams. He calls her that when he thinks of her but she is not a dream. He knows that she is not. She was real once, he is sure of it. He feels that he ought to know her as she reads him a story, seated at the end of his bed. Her hair is brown and pinned back out of the way while her blue eyes sparkle with intelligence and – he detects it first – love. She seems young, in her twenties, he guesses.

Every time he dreams, he sees her. She reads him a story. He falls asleep. Every time. But that's not all he sees in his dreams. If it were, they would not plague him. He never knew his mother. The woman was probably someone who looked after him for a while after she died. He wouldn't know; he can't remember anything before he was five.

The fake mother, he can cope with but not the fire and the screams. After the story, he knows will come the part of the dream he has been dreading.

The boy is rudely awoken from his sleep by a crackling noise. He opens his eyes, realising that he's still not alone. She's there too, looking worriedly into the face of a black-haired man about the same age as her. His expression mirrors hers.

After a momentary silence, during which, the boy keeps entirely still, she speaks, "Are you certain?"

The man nods, "however much I wish it is not so, I am certain she is here. She has come for you. You must leave. Take him and leave. I will deal with the intruder."

"You will do no such thing," She insists. "She knows nothing of your involvement. Let her think I am a minor enemy. Let her think I cannot take care of myself. I will escape and I will come to you."

"No," He whispers. "I will not allow it. I must deal with her. You are not suited to such a task. Take him. Keep him safe."

"You must take him. I remain to fight," she states.

His eyebrows rise. "You will not be dissuaded?"

"No," She answers, defiance raiding from her.

He looks away. "Then, however much it goes against every fibre of my being and pains me to do so, I must relent."

She sends him a small, sad smile. Her eyes sparkle. "Thank you." She risks a brave laugh. "Now, go on. Be off with you." She's already turning and walking towards the door. She spins around to face him pointing and raising her eyebrows. "And you keep him safe! Remember, I am the one who will have to pick up the pieces!"

He allows the corners of his mouth to turn upwards in a smile. "I will." Sobering up, he adds, "good luck."

She acknowledges his words with a nod. "And you."

The boy closes his eyes so the black-haired man does not find out he is awake. He is grasped and lifted up in strong arms. He hears the crackling sound get louder as a flood of warmth envelopes his body and he feels himself drifting off to sleep.

He fights it, wanting to remain awake to find out what is happening her. He struggles then a distinctly female cry of pain breaks his concentration, mixed with the cackling of a different woman and a sharp intake of breath from the black-haired man carrying him.

With his concentration broken, the boy loses the battle against the warm energy and loses his consciousness.

"NO! NOT YET!" he yells, sitting bolt upright, sweat pouring off his body.

Breathing heavily, he hauls himself out of bed to reassure himself that he's safe in his own room. He makes his way into the kitchen area to grab a class of water. He might as well make a start on the work he's got to do; he won't get back to sleep tonight.

AN: So, what do you think? It's a bit odd at first but it gets better in the next chapter, which I think will be in Ethan or Isabel's pov.

I really need feedback on this so: Please review :-p