Disclaimer: All rights belong rightfully to George R. R. Martin, who invented Westereos and all what is in it, including all characters and places in this story.
An additional course
They sat to feast again in the great stone hall in honoring his guests.
As the attendant sat the plate of the "surprise course" in front of him, Bran swallowed hard and recalled all the whispers of called names in his ears: swampmen, grasshoppers, frogeaters. Now he should experience all to well what it was like to be also their leader. Frog legs. They really expected him to eat them. Any longer to hesitate would have meant to show signs of distaste. So he reached for his knife.
"You eat them with your fingers, my lord, like chicken thighs", Maester Luwin said next to him.
Bran could hear giggling and knew from the sound that it came from the Walders. Slowly his right thumb and index finger reached for a breaded piece on his plate and bit with his incisors into the crust. The taste of fried butter, spices and onion filled his mouth together with a touch of chicken, but more delicate.
Next I'll eat snakes and snails, Bran thought. As he looked up, he met eyes with both of the Crannogmen sisters. Slightly, Jojen nodded to him approvingly and Meera's lips smiled for just an instant. It was only for Bran to see.
It sent his heart pounding with pride for Bran knew now. He had passed.
Was it a cruel joke the Walders might had thought of or just that the Crannogmen had probed his dedication as their now-in-turn ruler in place of his brother, he had passed.
He straightened a little bit more in his seat and ate his meal with delight.
Its taste was full of success.
Author's note:
I haven't finished reading "A Clash of Kings", yet, one quarter is still left. But since the appearance of the Crannogmen, the quotation mentioned below inspired me to write this short fanfictional story down. I have only read a few of "A Song of Ice and Fire" and "Game of Thrones" FanFicition stories, yet, so I don't know if somebody else already had the same idea. "Additional course" is my first story in this fandom. I hope you'll like it.
Happy New Year and all the best wishes for 2013 to all of you!
Quotation, which inspired me, page 299 of "A Clash of Kings":
The girl Meera got to her feet and helped her brother up. The boy stared at Bran all the while. "We bring you gifts of fish and frog and fowl," he [Jojen] said.
"I thank you." Bran wondered if he would have to eat a frog to be polite.