Bran
The morning had dawned clear and cold, with a crispness that hinted at the end of summer. The party had set out at daybreak to meet the visitors from these strange new lands, Japan and England. One of them was even a king. Well, she was a girl, but she insisted that she was a king nonetheless. Bran rode with them, nervous with excitement. It was the first time he had been deemed old enough to accompany his father on official business. It was the ninth year of summer and the seventh of Bran's life. They arrived at the Wall, where the visitors waited just outside the Lord Commander's keep. The boy, Shirou, waved to them as they approached. The boy's clothes were a little odd. The girl stood next to him and Bran could practically see the kingliness steaming off of her. She stood with a regal, confident bearing and had bright green eyes.
While the boy was smiling and waving at the coming party, the girl was far more cautious. She stood at the boy's side with her face in a slight scowl and one hand resting on her sword's hilt.
When they got close, Bran's lord father dismounted and walked toward the pair on foot. He bowed deeply to the girl. "Greetings, king of England, and envoy from Japan. I am Eddard Stark, Lord of Winterfell. I shall be offering you lodging until such time as you can be transported to King's Landing."
The boy nodded and bowed back. "Nice to meet you, I'm Emiya Shirou, er, Shirou Emiya. Thank you for offering us your home."
"I am Arturia Pendragon, King of England," said the girl. "Thank you for your hospitality."
"Well met. We had best be going. Has Lord Mormont prepared horses for the two of you?"
"He has," said Shirou. "Though, Saber doesn't really need one."
Bran was slightly confused at who "Saber" was, but figured it must have been a nickname for the king girl. They must have been close for him to use it so freely. Father seemed confused too, for a moment, but didn't question the boy.
"Very well, let's be off then," he simply said.
Bran rode with his brothers, well ahead of the rest of the party. His pony struggled to keep up with their horses.
"The visitors are strange," said Robb. "Yet, I like them. The girl seems strong and brave, yet not too hard on the eyes. The boy seems nice too, there is a strength about him."
Jon nodded along. "Indeed, the girl seems noble as well. The boy is very friendly and trusting."
"Race you to the bridge?"
"Done."
Jon kicked his horse forward. Robbed cursed and followed close behind. They galloped down the trail, Robb laughing and hooting, Jon silent and intent. The hooves of their horses kicked up showers of snow as they went.
Bran did not try to follow. His pony could not keep up. The girl, Arturia, seemed almost heroic. But the heroes in Old Nan's stories were never girls. Could a girl be heroic? He supposed one good, as an example was before him.
He was so deep in thought, that he did not hear the rest of the party until his father moved up to ride beside him.
"Are you well, Bran?" Father asked.
"Yes, Father," said Bran.
Jon then reappeared on the crest of the hill.
"Father, Bran, come quickly, see what Robb has found!" Jon yelled.
Jory rode up beside them. "Trouble, my lord?"
"Beyond a doubt," Father said. "Come, let us see what mischief my sons have rooted now."
Theon Greyjoy and Jory Cassel rode ahead of the rest, reaching the boys first. Greyjoy was laughing and joking as he rode. Bran heard the breath go out of him as he exclaimed "Gods!"
"Robb, get away from it!" exclaimed Jory, sword drawn.
Robb looked up from the bundle in his hands.
"Sha can't hurt you Jory, she's dead."
Father made the party dismount and approach on foot. Bran dismounted and ran to see what was going on. He saw an incredibly large wolf.
"It's a freak!" Greyjoy was saying. "Look at the size of it."
"It's no freak," said Jon calmy. "That's a direwolf they grow larger than the other kind."
Bran looked around. Arturia was looking softly down at the pups with a smile.
"You like them, Saber?" Shirou asked.
"Indeed. I find them rather endearing."
"Here Bran, you can hold him," said Robb, handing Bran the pup he held.
"We must kill them," said Greyjoy.
"No!" Bran cried out.
"Lord Stark," said Jon, "there are five pups, three male and two female. You have three trueborn sons and two daughters. Your children were meant to have these pups."
"It would be wise to heed such an omen, Lord Stark," Arturia piped up, still smiling.
Father considered this for a time, then consented.
As they left, they found an Albino pup who had crawled away from the others.
"This one is mine," said Jon.
