Chapter 7: Talents Unleashed

Upon hearing the news of Bran's fall, I immediately ran to his room, and upon reaching it found all the women in tears, as the men had not yet returned.

Only Maester Luwin and Catelyn were inside, and so benches had been set up in the corridor for everyone to wait. I sat down next to Margaery, putting my arms around her as she moved towards me and sobbed into my shoulder.

"Why? How?" she sobbed, "he was such a good climber, you said, why would this happen to him? He was so sweet."

I hugged her tight and whispered assurances that everything would be fine as we waited.

What seemed like hours later, Luwin came out, giving us all the good that that "Bran will live, but is still asleep, and will never walk again." Relief washed over me, and I breathed deeply for what felt like the first time in weeks.

People went in to see him in pairs and, as I was the last arrival, Margaery and I went in last.

He looked so peaceful, so much so that it seemed as though he was sleeping. I was surprised that there was so little blood after such a fall.

As I sat next to him and put my hand on his, I felt a power surging through me. I couldn't pull my hand off. I could almost feel his bones mending, and I heard some snap back into place. After approximately half a minute, I felt the sensation, that incredible feeling, stop.

As soon as it stopped, I saw Bran's eyes open, before mine closed and I slipped off the chair, exhausted all of a sudden.

:::::::::::

My eyes snapped open, and I realised it must be night, as there was only moon light in the room. I soon realised that I was in my own room. I sat up, feeling pain as my body felt incredibly tired, yet my mind was wide awake.

I looked around, seeing Margaery asleep on a chair beside my bed, and, though it pained me, I reached out and pulled her into bed with me. She muttered something incomprehensible, but curled into my embrace nonetheless.

:::::::::::

I awoke many hours later to Robb nudging my shoulder lightly, with the entire Stark family standing around us, including Mya, Luwin and Bran, which, as he had fallen a long distance only the day before, was astounding.

Margaery too soon awoke, and she blushed Lannister crimson at the family seeing us in bed together.

Seeing this, Lady Catelyn said, "Don't worry, Margeary and Daniel, we have no qualms with this, because you have our eternal thanks. You saved Bran's life, even if he has no memory of it."

I sat up and wiped the sleep from my eyes. "I guess you want answers." They all nodded vigorously. "I have none. I honestly have no idea what happened in that room, although I have a good idea why he fell." At their continued silence, I continued, "I can't tell you here, as there are ears all around us. I'll meet you all in the godswood at midnight. There we can discuss what happened and why but also what will happen."

As they filed out, I leaned over and kissed Margaery, before rolling over and falling back asleep. My body was still exhausted, and soon my dreams were filled with magic and awe.

I awoke many hours later, around noon, and although fully rested, I felt lonely as Margaery had obviously not gotten back to sleep. I quickly changed my clothes, as I was still wearing my hunting clothes from the day before.

I quickly exited the room, heading down to the library to find a book on magical healing. I soon found a huge stack, and behind it sat Margaery. I sat down beside her and, by midnight, we had read our way through it, as well as some others that concerned the histories of my parents' houses, which revealed a lot to me.

Just before midnight, we snuck out of the library, without any of the Lannister guards noticing, and met Ned, Catelyn, Luwin, Mya, Robb (holding Mya's hand) and Jon.

Eddard looked expectant, as though waiting for me to start. Instead, Margaery started. "We've looked back through history, and it seems as though House Mackinnon has a history of magic. Merlin himself, Aegon the Conquerer's right hand man, was the founder of House Mackinnon. He built The Cross on the border with Dorne and the estuary of the river Wyl for that purpose. It was a brilliant defence. Any army marching down the Boneway would be instantly crushed by that fortress."

I continued, "Merlin hatched Aegon's eggs, and House Mackinnon hatched all the Targaryen dragon eggs until the dance of the dragons, when five members of my family were slaughtered at 'The Storming of The Dragonpit.' After that, we renounced magic and refused to hatch the Targaryen dragons any more.

"After that, there were no more dragons, so the Targaryen influence began to decrease, and then Aerys began relying on wildfire to do the work of the dragons, and then he went mad, and then my father rebelled and ended the Targaryen dynasty."

Ned seemed perplexed, "But why would Bran fall? Does it have something to do with your magic?"

"No, Bran falling was the work of something much more sinister. The Lannisters." Catelyn, Ned and Luwin shared a look. "What was that look?" I asked, "Do you know something about them?"

Eddard hesitated, before saying, "You seem to be giving us your information, and so we will give you ours. The night you arrived, Catelyn received a message from her sister, Lady Arryn, at the Eyrie. She believes the Lannisters killed her husband, and that the king is in danger. It's why I decided to take the job as Hand of the King, to be able to protect him."

"I suspected the same, but have only a slight idea why. The Lannisters have a secret, and I know it without a doubt, because I've seen it. However, I can't prove it, because, well, I have no proof. Cersei and Jaime are lovers. The Kingslayer was sleeping with her in that tower. We raced across that tower several times on my second day, and he was somehow not at the hunt yesterday. All her children are a result of their incest. Mya and I are the only legitimate children of our father.

"Understand this: there will soon be a war, and they will pay for our actions, but we cannot let them know that we know until we have already made our move. Tywin Lannister is ruthless, and should he discover that we mean to act against his children, many more people than necessary will die."

The Starks were silent for a moment, before Eddard spoke. "What of the children? I trust that you will not do anything Lannister-ish to them. I raised you to be honorable." He looked at me with a cold look.

"I thank you for your lack of respect for me, my lord. I haven't been in the south for that long. I would plan for the boys to take the black and for Myrcella to become a septa, maester of silent sister." He seemed pleased by this option.

"Jon," I continued, "I understand you want to take the black. I beg you to come with me when I go south, I could call you my sworn sword, even though you would be free to do whatever you want, but it's a way to have you with me without. Gods know, I'll need a loyal friend, and I don't have many in the rat's nest of liars people call the capital."

He looked hesitant, before looking toward my betrothed. "Lady Margaery, would you agree to this? I would not wish to be a burden on you."

"Of course Jon," she replied, "My brother, Ser Loras, is often at court, and he would be my guard and confidant, other than Daniel, of course. I'll have my brother, and he'll have his." I pulled her close at this and kissed her; she always had a way with words. Jon blushed red, obviously at being called my brother.

"Jon, what she says is true. We will need all the loyal friends we can get, especially when we travel to The Cross and Storm's End, and I feel that, as Cersei's children hold no warmth for me, my true siblings are you, Robb, Sansa, Mya, of course, Shireen and Willas."

"Dan, I'm honoured by your words, and I will gladly accept." I smiled and pulled him close for an embrace.