Game of Thrones: Love in the Midst of Sorrow
First chapter of a new Bran/Meera story; set after the series, uses the TV show ages, enjoy.
Disclaimer: Game of Thrones belongs to George R.R. Martin.
A Fateful Decision
Bran sighed as he tried to move into a more comfortable position. It wasn't easy, due to being unable to use his legs. He had only been ten when an accident had broken his back and lost the use of his legs. He was now six and ten and with his companions, Meera and Jojen Reed and Hodor, he had travelled with his companions north of the Wall. They had sought out and found the Three-Eyed Crow from his dreams; they had been in his domain for almost four years now, with Bran perfecting his unusual talent, he was a Greenseer. His dreams often turned out to be prophetic visions, he could also 'change skins' mixing his mind with certain animals to see things through their eyes, feel what they feel. Bran personally liked this ability, particularly when he shared his mind with Summer, his pet Direwolf. At least, when he was in Summer's mind, he could walk, run, everything he couldn't do in his own body. Yet the years had made him wiser and relieved him of the bitterness he once felt upon learning he would never walk again. Now it was part of who he was, so he accepted it and made the most of what he had.
His mind wandered to his companions. First he thought of Hodor, the simple-minded stable boy of Winterfell; a giant of a man. Hodor had acted as Bran's legs, carrying him on his back, however this happened less frequently as Bran grew older; the muscle mass of his upper body has increased to compensate for the loss of use in his legs. Hodor still carried him around but could not do so for extended periods of time now. He then thought of Jojen Reed; a remarkably solemn and quiet young man who Bran considered almost a brother, certainly a close friend. Like Bran Jojen was a Greenseer and it was from Jojen that Bran had first learned the truth of his abilities. Jojen had been ill for a very long time since they arrived in the cave, but recently he had recovered and was almost his old self again. His mind finally went to the last member of the group, the one closest to his heart. Meera Reed, she was older than him true, being in her twenties; but they were very close, in love. Bran had strong feelings for her from the moment he first saw her; but his feelings matured and she realized her own for him, about two years ago. They kept their relationship secret but they knew they wouldn't be able to for long.
He shook his head; he shouldn't dwell too long on those thoughts. He was in this chamber, alone, for a reason. He had to focus on his Greenseeing, so he closed his eyes and cleared his mind. When his third eye opened he realized, from the now familiar sensation, he was in the Heart Tree in Winterfell. He had been getting better every day at his Greenseeing; he briefly wonders how much more training he would be given. However his thoughts return to what he would see about the Heart Tree. He dreaded seeing the ruin of Winterfell; dreaded the thought of seeing it still in Bolton hands. What he saw however surprised him; what he could see of Winterfell looked new, even better than how it normally looked. He also noticed two people before the tree, a boy and a girl; the boy was kneeling, apparently praying; the girl stood behind him, watching over him. The boy had wild, messy auburn hair that reached his shoulders; he looked to be five years younger than Bran. The girl had short brown hair and grey eyes and looked to be about eight and ten. Standing on either side of the girl were two Direwolves; Bran recognized both of them and by extension, the boy and girl. The Direwolves were in fact Shaggydog and Nymeria. That meant the two people were his siblings, Rickon and Arya.
Bran couldn't believe what he was seeing, Rickon and Arya in the Godswood; Winterfell whole, yet he couldn't be seeing the past. He knew this had to be the present, Rickon and Arya were too grown up and Arya's short hair had to be recent.
"Rickon, Arya." He whispered.
He was startled when they both looked up, their expressions curious. The Direwolves tilted their heads; all eyes on the tree. How he wished he could reach out, talk to them. They were right there.
"Rickon!" A voice rang out.
Bran watched in amazement as a beautiful auburn haired blue-eyed woman of twenty approached his siblings as they turned to face her. He recognized her too; it was Sansa; all his surviving family members were alive and well and back in Winterfell. Sansa was calling Rickon away for a meeting; Rickon's clothes told Bran right away that Rickon was, no is, King in the North. They walked away; Rickon cast a glance back at the Heart Tree before leaving. Bran pulled back and felt himself return to his body. He sat alone in the chamber, breathless; he knew well enough now, his family was home. They were home safe and Rickon was King in the North. He called for Hodor to take him back to the others, Hodor stood just outside the door and walked in easily. He lifted Bran up and carried him back to the chamber where the Reed's stayed.
Jojen was sitting next to the fire Meera had managed to get going. Meera sat nearby too; they were talking in low voices and both looked up when Hodor came in with Bran. They both smiled as Hodor set Bran down against the wall, near the fire. Bran nodded to them and gratefully took the food Meera gave him. Nobody spoke; they knew, after coming from the chamber where he usually sat alone and worked on his Greenseeing, that he needed to eat. So they decided not to disturb him while he ate, as he did so he found his thoughts turning to home. His mind was full of what he had seen and he felt the dull ache in his chest, he knew at once what it was. He missed them, he missed them all, Sansa, Arya, Rickon, all of them. However he was worried; however much he wanted to go home, he would be abandoning his quest here; would the Reed's hate him for that, what would the Three-Eyed Crow think? Finally he made up his mind; he had to tell them, so he told them about what he saw in the Heart Tree and how he knew that what he saw was in fact happening right now and not in the past, or the future. Finally he stops and, after a brief pause, he admits the truth.
"I…I think we should go back."
They both look at him, surprised at his sudden remark; Bran waited nervously for a reply.
It was Jojen who replied first.
"No Bran, we can't…You can't just abandon your destiny to go home." He said. "Your path is here…"
"I can come back…" Bran begins but Jojen shakes his head.
"So, you've just found out your family is alive and you want to go home…It's…"
Bran froze and glared at Jojen. "Wait, you knew…You knew all along, I thought they'd died…You lied to me."
Jojen at least had the decency to bow his head; suitably ashamed. "I didn't intend to…"
Bran wished now, more than ever that his legs worked; so he could get away from Jojen. But He realizes what he means; Jojen hadn't kept the secret willingly; he had been made to do so, by the only other person who could have known, the Three-Eyed Crow. Finally Jojen sighed.
"I think we know our own choices…But…" He trailed off as they both looked to Meera.
She had sat silently, looking down at the fire. Bran is nervous; he knows Meera loves him, but she usually sticks by her brother, trusting his wisdom. Finally however she speaks.
"I think we should go back." Jojen is about to protest but she cuts across him. "You almost died from that illness. A Maester could probably tell us what happened, even help you get better, you're still not completely recovered after all…Bran's right, he can always come back."
Jojen looked from Meera to Bran and then nodded slowly. "I see; you're right…I'm sorry, I was just…"
Bran nods understandingly and Jojen continues. "So, I guess we're going south."
Bran smiled and whispered. "We're going home."
Later Bran had Hodor carry him to the Three-Eyed Crow's chamber. Once he was seated and Hodor stepped back.
"Brandon." The Three-Eyed Crow addressed him. "What brings you to me; let me hear it in your own words."
Bran hesitated and then replied. "I…I know, my family is alive…back in Winterfell…I…I want to go and see them again. I promise…I will come back, finish what I started."
There was silence until finally the Three-Eyed Crow replied. "No Brandon…You will not be coming back."
"Wha?"
"There is nothing more I can teach you, everything you learn…you must do so on your own now. I was going to call you here and tell you tomorrow. But now that you know, there is no need to delay."
Bran smiled and nodded. "Thank you…for everything."
"Yes; go now…Your family will need your abilities; you need to go back to them."
Bran nodded and let Hodor carry him out of the room; he told the Reed's what had happened and they were just as surprised but relieved as he had been. Now it was time, time for them to go south, to go home.
End of chapter, hope you enjoyed it, read and review please.
