This story is based on the Game of Thrones tv show. I haven't finished reading the first book so no spoilers please. Even though I am reading the books, the story will be based on the tv show. Thanks for reading. Please Review.

Disclaimer: I own nothing except the character Erin Black and the Blacks of Brimhill.

Chapter 1

Phoenix

The smoke could be seen from Winterfell and the stench of burnt bodies hunted the nostrils of every northerner in a 100-mile radius. The Blacks of Brimhill were burning. Lord Stark had led nearly two hundred men to Brimhill Fortress to assist his fellow lord but that had been five nights ago and there had been no word. Lady Stark was beside herself. The fire had died down but it was still going and the Fortress was no more than a day's ride away. She had hoped Ned would've been home by now. Her fear was interrupted by Sansa's wailing. Her first daughter was only three days old and the apple of her father's eye. Like Robb, she had the Tully coloring but the lungs of a Stark.

"There, there sweet child." She cooed and rocked Sansa to sleep. Robb, who had been playing with a wooden horse on the chamber floor, stared up at her with his huge eyes. "Mum?" He asked in his young words "Can I play with Jon now?"

"No." Catelyn Stark's eyes flashed with anger. She let her son play with Ned's bastard when he was around for she dared not express her feelings about the boy aloud in his presence, even if she was sure he knew them well, but the seven gods strike her with lightning if she let her Robb spend any time with that bastard boy when Ned was away. Robb looked disappointed and Catelyn was about to speak when trumpets sounded and the roar of hoofs resounded loudly as the gates of Winterfell opened.

"Nan!" She yelled waking up Old Nan who had been sleeping in a chair in the corner of the chamber. Catelyn handed her the child just as Maester Luwin walked into the chamber. "My lady" he huffed for he'd clearly been running "They've arrived."

"I know Luwin. I'm not deaf. Nan! Watch Robby too!" She yelled and ran off, desperate to see her husband.

The crowd that had gathered near the gates dispersed as she approached them. She breathed a sight of relief. There seemed to be as many horses returning as there had been leaving. "Where…?" She started asking Jory who pointed out towards the middle of the horsed men.

"He's over there my lady." He pointed and Catelyn saw him. Ned, dismounting his horse, his face stained with soot, sweat and snow. "Ned!" She cried out and ran to him.

"Cat." His face stayed grim but his eyes gave a glitter of happiness as he hugged her.

"I was so worried my dear." She whispered in his ear.

"It's alright. All the men are fine." Ned whispered back.

They parted and Catelyn finally took her eyes off Ned and looked at the returning men. They were all there, all two hundred men; no more, no less.

"Where are all the refugees?" She asked confused. Ned's grim face turned dark with pain and she understood.

"No one made it?" She whispered horrified. She'd been to Brimhill Fortress only once before but she remembered it well. The place was three times the size of Winterfell and at least five times as populated. The Brimhills lived farther north, closer to the Wall. The Blacks and the Starks had always been close, ever since Bran the Builder and Boron Black had joined forces to build the Wall. Castle Black was financed and created by the Blacks of Brimhill and ever since then, Brimhill Fortress raised and trained boys for service in the Nights Watch. Their Fortress had been breathtaking, Catelyn remembered. The mix of black stone and blue ice. They were people of honor and duty. Good people, just and fair people, so many people….they couldn't all be dead.

"Come on." Ned led her into a small chamber in the main building of Winterfell. Jory, Maester Luwin and Ser Rodrik followed them in. Rodrik was as sooted and grim as Ned. Ned started speaking before any of them could ask. "Everything was burning when we got there. All the people were nothing more than ashes. We stayed for five days, trying to ease the fire. Not even the summer snowfalls put it out."

"If everything was burned. If…everyone was burned, why did you stay for five days? The fire wouldn't have spread. Not all the way to Winterfell." Luwin asked. It was Rodrik who answered.

"We could hear screaming from the main building but we couldn't walk in. Every entrance was burning and even the tunnels Lord Black had shown Lord Stark long ago were blocked. The fire burned so hot it took us three days to tame the flames enough in one of the entrance."

"And they were dead?" Catelyn asked, already knowing the truth.

"Lady Black was dead. Lord Black was injured. Reddar…he didn't want to leave Allianne." Ned's voice broke. He'd known Reddar his whole life, their fathers had known each other as well.

"There was one survivor…" He spoke again when the door swung open. Jon Snow and his wet nurse walked in. Jon running in front and his wet nurse running in after him. "I'm so sorry Lord Stark, he got away from me…"

"This is a private meeting. Do your job and keep that boy out of here!" Catelyn hissed at the wet nurse who flinched and bowed, apologizing profusely. Ned however smiled when he saw Jon. He grabbed him in his arms and kissed his face. Catelyn felt her cheeks tinge red but she held her tongue.

"You were gone for a long time. Did you save anyone, father?" Jon asked Ned, his arms wrapped around his neck.

"I did." Ned said sadly and motioned to Rodrik who left the room.

"Who…?" Luwin started to ask when Rodrik returned, a squire by his side. The young squire was holding a little girl wrapped in a bundle of furs in his arms.

"Ned?" Catelyn asked "Is that…?"

"It was Reddar's last request." He grabbed the girl and put her next to Jon. "Jon, this is Lady Erin Black of Brimhill." Jon stared at the frightened little girl. She looked to be about two years old- near enough Jon and Robb's age. Her dark brown curls were half burned but her blue eyes shone brightly, contrasting with her soot-stained skin. She had her mother's features and coloring but her father's eyes. Ned looked at Catelyn who stared at him and the girl for a long time before nodding. "From today onward she is a ward of the House of Stark."

"Hi Lady Black." Jon smiled at her "I'm Jon Snow." And for the first time in five days the Little Lady of Brimhill stopped crying and spoke "Lady Erin Black…" she hiccupped, "of Brimhill."