JON

He watched the whole exchange between Ben Solo and Maester Aemon. A part of him was annoyed that the taller man was so invested in a weapon, but if there was another sword of light, it may be worth it in the end. Deciding it was in his best interest to tune out the remainder of the conversation, Jon focused on getting all the ravens out. He was thankful for Samwell's help and company. He felt much more comfortable working with Sam than Ben. Maybe that's because Ben had zero knowledge of the world around him or that there was a slight ominous aura he gave off. Jon couldn't pin point it, but he was worried. How many more were like them? Dangerous, wielding a great power that could kill thousands.

Sam murmured, "Do you know them well?" Jon snorted at Sam; he felt it too.

"Aye, my sister in law is good. Her brother is new to these parts." Jon kept his eyes trained on the letter before him-it was a report to Robb. Much was developing and Jon knew that Zipporah couldn't reach Robb their normal way. He also knew that she was overwhelmed. Her eyes constantly shifted between uncertain and determined.

"He came back with you from the deep north..." Sam whispered in a confused tone.

Sighing, Jon paused his writing and met Sam's eyes, "Trust me. You don't want to know." His whisper was hoarse, and it held a warning to the bigger man. Appearing to get the message, he returned his attention to the various messages that needed to be transcribed. As time passed, Jon gripped the feather harder. There was so much to unpack, and he wasn't sure how to proceed after this. He figured he'd help wherever he could to make the transition of the wildlings to Stark land go smoothly. He'd also needed to figure out a way to learn more about his heritage.

How was he going to face his aunt? The Realm?

                                                                                  ZIPPORAH

Maester Aemon regarded her brother with a small, wistful smile. Zipporah was slightly saddened, whoever had ended up here had to have been killed during the infamous Order 66 or some time after as some force sensitive individuals had survived but were then hunted down. She pondered Caleb's demise. Was it the Order or later? For some reason, it mattered to her, perhaps it was because her brother had descended from the Chosen One, who had executed Order 66; or it was just for her curiosity's sake. Who knows?

"The weapon is here, but damaged. The dragon's fire made the light go out." The Maester motioned to the chest he'd previously placed on the desk. Hesitantly, Ben lifted the lid, peered inside, cautiously reached and withdrew a lightsaber hilt, burned around the outside. Ben quickly dusted off the relic and inspected it.

"The power cell looks to be undamaged. From what I can tell, the activation has been burned into the off position. I'll need some intense heat to undo the damage done." Ben stated animatedly. Zipporah smirked at his childish excitement over a lightsaber, but then again, she'd admit that him knowing exactly what was wrong was impressive. Clearly, this relic gave him some semblance of his previous life.

"I'd wait til you return to House Stark to fix it. Too many eyes around here." Maester Aemon advised with a nod.

"I can't possibly accept this." Ben stated backtracking, offering the weapon back. Zipporah quirked a brow at him. Why the hesitancy?

"Who else will know how to fix it, let alone wield it. This is divine providence by the gods." The Maester stated with certainty in his voice.

"Thank you. I am in your debt." Ben stated as he attached the broken saber to his belt. Zipporah sighed and corrected, "He means we are in your debt, Maester."

The Maester remained silent but nodded. Zipporah didn't like the feeling of being in debt. The feeling of owing someone something did not sit well with her. A part of her was annoyed, but she understood the notion.

"Jon Stark, we must talk. Come." The Maester beckoned. Zipporah turned her attention to the one was meant to be king of the realm. Zipporah mentally reminded Ben of Jon's true standing in this world.

He's the heir to this world's throne...Sometimes he's too self righteous though. Also, he's always about the manners.

I can see that being the case. Everyone has their negatives.

Jon regarded the group, "Aye, Maester?"

"We must talk of what you are to take back with you. This young man takes a weapon; a Queen takes new subjects, but what does the true King of the Realm take?"

Silence and tension engulfed the room. Ben, Zi, and Jon exchanged worried/surprised expressions; meanwhile, Samwell had stiffened and paused his work. He had been standing by a Targaryen?

Breaking the silence, the Maester continued, "I knew the minute I saw you. Have no fear. Your secret is safe. However, you are in need of something too. I don't have much time left on this earth, and I will not spend my moments reminiscing or explaining my past. Nevertheless, I must confess that I am your great-great uncle."

"You're a Targaryen?" Jon questioned with a curious expression. Everything they had been taught seemed to slowly crumble. Hadn't the Baratheons hunted all the Targaryens and their loyalists down? Clearly not.

"Yes. I have a gift for you, but unfortunately, it is further North and you must go immediately to retrieve it."

"What are we exactly talking about here?" Zipporah cut in with a raised brow. A quest? Right now?

"Dragon eggs, at least two." The elder answered with a knowing look.

"Where am I headin exactly?" Jon questioned, cautious but desiring the eggs.

"The large godswood; it's beyond the Wildling camp and Craster's Keep. If my memory serves there should be a pale cream egg streaked with gold and one that is black, as black as midnight sea, yet alive with scarlet ripples and swirls."

Jon looked to Zipporah and Ben. He'd need them both to help. With White Walkers and bands of Wildlings going to and fro, he'd need people who knew how to fight.

"I'm in." Zipporah announced with a smirk. This would help even the playing fields and make Jon's claim formidable.

"I'm in, too. I'm used to looking for rare items." Ben offered with a similar smirk that his father often wore when knowing that he was needed.

"It's settled. We leave immediately." Jon stated with alarm in his eyes. Zipporah's eyes widened; this would change their whole plan. Now, she'd be even more delayed from seeing her husband and son. Fight the good fight. End the war. Ben told her with conviction. Trust me, peace of mind is invaluable. "Alright, today it is." Zipporah confirmed and then the trio headed out to repack their horses and depart. Go change Ben. The Watch should have some warmer clothes.

It wasn't long until they had gathered to depart yet again. Sir Alister pulled Jon aside and whispered, "Beware Craster. He's an ally but not a friend. His lifestyle, while an abomination, must be tolerated until the white walkers are defeated." Jon read between the lines. The man was needed for the Watch's survival, especially for the Rangers. A small pang reached his chest. Was Uncle Benjen okay? No one had heard from him.

"What lifestyle?" Jon questioned with concern strewn across his face. His mind held many different options.

"Daughter-wives." His stomach churned at the notion. His honor would be at war with practicality. Jon would have to weigh the consequences should he or Zipporah put an end to such practices. What about the baby boys?

"What about the boys?"

"Unknown." Alister replied with sad eyes. "I've never heard of one being born nor seen one." Jon nodded, sighed, and gave his thanks. Zipporah had noted the quiet conversation, but easily decided that she would not listen in. Jon needed to have his own adventure. If it was important, he'd share.

As they mounted their horses yet again, the trio could hear shouting from behind them, "Wait for me! Wait!" The three turned to see Sam desperately running after them with a horse in hand. They waited with somewhat amused expressions. "Wait! Uh, Wait." Sam finished as huffed and puffed from his urgent jog. "The...Maester...wants me to go along." He took a deep breath and continued, "To document everything."

"Great. Someone to look after." Ben snarked as he gave his sister a look as if to say 'You're watching him, not me.' Zipporah scoffed but conceded with a minute nod. Sam clumsily mounted his horse, and the four set out.

"I'm rather excited to finally experience a quest." Sam offered to the group with a genuine smile. Ben and Zipporah simultaneously rolled their eyes, while Jon annoyedly corrected, "This is not a quest."

"Yes, it is. Textbook definition of one." Sam stated with a determined look.

"Quests are for children." Jon fired back.

"No, quests are for the brave." Sam replied as he turned to face the vast snow covered wasteland before them. Jon's anger was instantly quelled. Sam thought the three of them were brave? Well, technically, he's including himself. Zipporah offered mentally. Ben chuckled at his sister's quip. At least they had that on this trip: two Solos capable of intelligent banter.

                                                                                            SAMWELL

Hours passed, and the sun began to set. Jon, noting the time, recommended, "We should stop and set up camp. Zi, would you go hunt? You're the most agile out of all of us."

The beautiful young woman nodded and departed, leaving the three men to set up, well two. Sam watched helplessly as Jon and Ben set up a fire pit and cleared the area of snow. They did not have tents, so Sam silently prayed to the gods that there would be no precipitation in their future. He figured there wouldn't be as there were no signs of such weather patterns, but he'd admit that the North was wild and unpredictable. Just like this quest would be.

"Sam, gather some wood." Ben ordered with his back to the younger man. Sam gulped and headed toward a mysterious thicket off to the left of their camp. Sam's heart pounded and his mind began to ask frightening questions, 'What if there's a wild animal?' 'What if there's a wildling?' 'White walkers?' Constantly glancing about, Sam haphazardly picked up wood; he'd try to pick less damp wood, but the options were slim. With his arms full, Sam paced back to where he believed that camp was, and luckily, this time, he was right, but off to his left, he caught a glimpse of quick movement. He paused at the edge of the thicket. What or who did he see? Turning, he saw no one. He did a quick 360, no one. Then an amused cough sounded behind him causing him to panic and drop most of the wood. A small chuckle sounded after, "I'm sorry Sam. Didn't mean to frighten you." Sam visibly relaxed and replied, "Oh, that's alright Zipporah. I was nervous being alone out here."

"See that's where you're wrong, Sam. As long as Ben and I are out here, you're never really alone." She passed by him with three white rabbits tied to her dual swords. Sam's eyes, how had she found three rabbits that quickly? He had a hard time understanding how a beautiful queen was capable of such actions. Clearly, she wasn't cut from the same cloth as the other Houses.

Magic.

Sam froze. Her voice was in his head. Shaking his disbelief, he reasoned that he had concocted her voice, "I'm losing it. Not even a day on this quest, and I'm hearing voices and talkin to myself." He muttered bitterly as he trudged back to camp.

                                                                                              BEN

Ben smirked at the young man as he returned, Zi had filled him and Jon in. Poor guy was hopelessly lost in the adventuring realm. He supposed that Sam was lucky to have all three of them with him. If it had been up to him, the steward would not have come. This terrain was relentless and painful. He knew pain as did Zipporah, and he gave some credit to Jon who seemed to have his own personal storms. Meanwhile, Ben was skeptical of Sam. How had a scholar ended up in a place for prisoners to work off their debt to society? Then again, how did a resistance pilot or a sith lord/ reformed jedi end up eating snow rabbit while on a mission to find theoretical dragon eggs? Ben wasn't even sure what a dragon looked like. Nevertheless, they were all here, because it was a part of their destiny. It was necessary for their cause.

'Come back to me.' A small, sad voice echoed in the force. His eyes flashed looking for another to have spoken. Zipporah was staring at him with a warning look causing him to push into the force. Who was trying to communicate with him? 'Be with me.'

Ben inwardly crumbled. It was Rey calling from the other side of the force. It was not yet their time. Ben could feel the barrier between himself and the sad jedi. He had died to save her; didn't she know that he was always with her? His energy flowed through her.

She's in mourning; she's not thinking logically. Zipporah reminded in a guarded tone.

                                                                                              ZIPPORAH

Zi despised watching others be tortured by their past, and Ben was no exception. A part of her wished that she could tell Rey that it wasn't the right time, to be patient and maybe Ben could somehow return to her. However, for now, that was not an option. He had a role to play here.

Dinner had come and gone with the remainder of the sun. Jon offered to take first watch, and the other three headed to bed. Zipporah slept lightly as she wanted to be able to help Jon at a moment's notice. It wasn't long before her turn came. As she heard Jon's body thud against the ground, her eyes swept the dark frozen landscape. Only the sounds of her companions breathing reached her ears. It was comforting; as was the notion that Ghost, Jon's dire wolf was nearby. Unlike Grey Wind, Ghost preferred to be aloof but near his master should trouble arise. The two wolves matched their human partners well. Zipporah stole a glance at the stars; they were beautiful. A whole different pattern than what she had grown used to. A part of her missed the various planets that teemed with various lifeforms and customs. While this world varied customs, the lifeforms were no where near as diverse and the adventures always seemed like life and death here. Sighing, Zi shook her head of negative thoughts about her new life and focused on the beauty of the sky. Every so often, she scanned a full 360 to be sure that there were no threats to them. Tiredness never came, so she never woke Ben to watch. The sun came up and the men began to stir.

"You never woke me." He muttered in annoyance. Zi could sense that he had wanted to pull his weight on this mission.

"I wasn't tired, and I enjoyed the starry view." She murmured in reply with a small smile.

Rolling his eyes, Ben nearly commanded, "Next time, wake me."

"Aye Aye, Lord Ben." Her quip cost her a deadly look, but there was a small amount of mirth in his eyes. They were almost to the point where small jokes of his former life wouldn't bother him as much. Didn't he know that out of tragedy comes comedy? At least, that seemed to be the Solo's trademark sense of humor.

They quickly ate breakfast, packed up, and proceeded on their journey. It was uneventful for the most part until they reached the infamous Craster's Keep.

"We don't have to stop." Jon breathed with optimism and what she could detect as relief. He was absolutely right; they had plenty of daylight and three masterful fighters. There was no need to stop at what only Zi could describe as something she'd see on a junk planet like Tatooine.

Watch it. That's where my grandfather was born. Someone was extra sensitive today, and there was no way she was going to put up with it.

Yeah, but he didn't stay there, did he?

*Silence*

She'd won; that perturbed look on his face spoke a hundred words or more: all of his defeat. Ha.

"We could get more supplies?" Sam proposed with a thoughtful look. The other three all exchanged looks for they knew it was more of his curiosity than supplies.

"I'd prefer not to." Ben supplied with a crossing of his arms. Sam glanced about and recognized that there was no way they'd be staying at Craster's this time.

"Maybe on the way back, then?" He proposed, hopeful in expression and tone.

"Doubt it." Zi ground out causing Ben and Jon to chuckle, and Sam to audibly sigh.

Hours later, Zi's keen eye spotted a familiar looking tree, "That's it, right?"

"Oh force, I hope so." Ben conceded; this adventure was boring him. It had just been cold and snow up until this point. Jon ignored him, pulled out the sketch that the Maester had supplied, glanced at it, and confirmed, "From Maester Aemon's directions, it looks like it."

As they approached, the trio of fighters noticed the uneven ground and signs of death. Zipporah jumped off her horse and cautiously approached. Since she had the quickest reflexes, she had to be the scout. "I am one with the force, and the force is with me." She breathed as began to stalk toward the large, old Weirwood. Her eyes could make out a cave that was adorned by the tree's strong roots. This had to be it. But before she could get a closer look, something stirred to her left. Her lightsaber came to life. Better safe than sorry.

Before she knew it, two skeleton creatures were running at her with rusty swords raised. She easily dispatched them and was not surprised to see more rise. Their wail was quite startling, but she soon blocked it out. Between power strokes of the saber and strong kicks, Zipporah noted that she'd killed at least 30 thus far. They seemed to materialize out of nowhere. Noting the large amount flanking her right, she pulled in and then pushed the force out and sent them flying against the rock wall. The cracks of their bodies was an unsettling sound, and it reverberated across the rocks. That group was down and did not get up. Zi didn't let up. It felt like the skeleton men kept coming, until they didn't. How many did she re-kill? She glanced about, but could not count as it was just a pile of bones. Her hearing noted that the men had decided to join her. How convenient.

"Nicely done." Ben offered as he moved to stand beside her.

"You could've helped." She spat, fire in her eyes.

"We both know you were never in danger, and those things didn't stand a chance." It was a compliment, and it meant a lot. However, those men still let her fight those things alone.

"Thanks Zipporah." Sam greeted with a nervous glance at the bones. How was he supposed to describe them and then what she had done?

"Yeah, well, didn't have much of a choice, did I?"

"I suppose not."

"Don't be bitter. You like fighting." Ben scolded as he followed a silent Jon into the cave. Zipporah was right behind them. Ben ignited his saber for light, prompting Zi to do the same. The cave lacked light causing Sam to pause at its mouth. "I'll be...uh, look out." The siblings shared a smirk and continued deeper. Zipporah felt eyes watching them; they weren't ill-intentioned.

"They're curious," Ben commented with a glance about.

"Yeah." She confirmed as she moved to the other side of Jon. The sabers did an excellent job of lighting the cave. Zi could see Jon sweeping the cave for a trunk or box. That's when they all saw it: A trunk with gold elements and a Targaryen Sigil. Jon carefully approached, and with steady hands moved to open the trunk. Zipporah had a force push ready should the trunk contain a threat. Ben had something similar ready on his side.

The trunk creaked open, emitting dust and other particulates into the air. Jon gave a slight cough in response. Ben held his borrowed saber in a position to light the contents of the trunk.

"Holy shit," Zi commented as she began counting the contents. Not only was there at least two dragon eggs, there was a Valyrian sword that had belonged to a powerful house, no doubt the Targaryens.

Jon's silence during this whole discovery was unnerving to the two. How could he be so quiet? Glancing at the two, he closed the trunk and stated, "This trunk is my birthright. Surely, this will change the course of history. When we return to Castle Black, I must write my aunt."

"For what?" Ben questioned, unaware of every aspect of the new culture.

"A Targaryen alone in the world makes for a dangerous one."