mpowers045: Yes, there will later be lemons. I already have started a relation (Sarra Dustin/Tobyas Arryn), but I'll add more, promise ;-)

Guys, sorry to dissapoint you, but we'll not see much of anything else but the Royal Party in the next few chapters. Ok?

Rise, fall, hunt. Let's go!


Tobyas was not impressed with the sparring skills of Bran and Tommen. Sure, they were kids, Bran only 12 and Tommen 11, but for their age, they were a bit too clumsy and too unmannered. Even Robin could do better, he thought, though made sure to not voice his thoughts. He was besides Rodrik Cassel and Ser Alek Lannister, two very capable swordsmen. He had sparred with Ser Alek before the spar of Bran and Tommen, and Ser Alek defeated him, which was uncommon, not many could do that. Ser Alek was truly skilled in swordmanship.

In the end, Bran defeated Tommen, and offered Tommen his hand, which he gladly took. While the other attendees looked pleased, Joffrey just sneered. Proud, arrogant fool. It seems he and Lancel have something in common, the two. The prince then stepped forward, and called out for another round with Robb. While he took a dull sword, the prince just sneered. "We shouldn't play with toys, but with live steel."

"Done!", replied Robb, with a confident look on his face. Rodrik Cassel stepped forward. "You're not ready for live steel, you're still boys."

"Robb may be, but I am a Prince. I am ready." Such an idiotic move by the prince, considering he was younger than Robb.

"I decide if you are ready." Rodrik Cassel stepped forward, but before anything could happen, Ser Alek Lannister intervened. "Ser Rodrik, you are one of the best swordsmen, and you trained Lord Arryn, one of the best swordsmen I ever crossed the blade by. I believe you can vouch for Robb." The old knight just nodded. "I, on the other hand, trained Prince Joffrey, I taught him riding, sparring, archery and hunting. Everything I learned from the King and my uncle Kevan I have passed on him. He is ready." Tobyas was surprised when Joffrey gave Ser Alek a thankful look. The old knight nodded, and allowed them to use live steel.

They drew their swords and began sparring. Joffrey was good, better than Ser Alek expected. But Robb soon had slashed at his hip, and the Prince groaned in pain. Blood gashed out and he could hear Arya cheer for her brother and Sansa gasp at the wound Robb gave him. She still thinks Joffrey is a noble prince. Oh, how foolish she is. But Marlon soon will tell her, won't he? It was known that Marlon and Sansa truly cared for each other, and often Sansa and Arya only behaved because they loved their brother. It was said it was he who held his broth of siblings together. And Tobyas admitted that he was more of a leader than Robb will ever be.

The prince continued the spar, despite the wound. He didn't manage to hit Robb with a blade, and soon found himself on the ground, with Robb's blade at his throat. He yielded and stood up, and at first didn't want to take Robb's hand, but after he saw Ser Alek pointing with his eyes to do that, he grudgingly took Robb's hand and shook it. Maester Luwin soon came to inspect him, but it was just a small cut, in a few days, it'll be gone, the Maester said.


A few days later, Tobyas was on the perch, watching the group of riders leave Winterfell for a hunt. His falcon was perched on his shoulder, ever vigilant. He had named his falcon Altaïr, after one of the stars on the night sky. His small brother Robert called his Artys, after the founder of House Arryn. The King insisted for him to test out his falcon, but he refused, stating that he's not so keen at the moment of that. He had trained Altaïr and Artys together with Robert in the courtyard of Winterfell a few days ago, to everyone's amazement. It seemed the two falcons were very much like their owners. Altaïr was much more vigilant and quiet, while Artys was more energetic and loud. Robb, Joffrey, Lord Stark and a few others left with the King to hunt, leaving falcon as acting Lord of Winterfell, which clearly didn't make Marlon happy. He must fear that a deserter would be found and he'd have to execute him himself.

Tobyas left the perch to look around the happenings of Winterfell. Marlon was in the library with Tyrion Lannister, reading, Rickon and Robert went to the Godswood with their pets. He didn't know where Bran was, but he assumed he was climbing, even though his mother told him not to. Better I find him first, before Lady Stark finds him. Altaïr seemed to understand his thoughts, and immediately perched himself on the hawking glove. I swear these falcons and direwolves have something human about them.

So began the search after Bran Stark. He looked up the batterments of Winterfell, but he wasn't there. Tobyas went to the glass gardens, but he wasn't there. The old keep, that's where he is! The old keep was the first part of Winterfell to be built, and it's broken tower was said to be built by Brandon the Builder himself. The legendary founder of House Stark was also credited with building the first stone tower of the Hightowers, Storm's End and the Wall. The Wall seemed like the biggest achievement of his, Benjen Stark told him about it. 700 foot tall and the most impressive thing the world would build. While not as tall as the Hightower, it was certainly not only a tower, but a very long wall, reaching from the Shivering Sea to the Big Gorge, which acted as a natural barrier between the Wall and the Sunset Sea. Legends from the Reach claim he was a son of a certain son of Garth Greenhand, the first High King of the First Men, according to them. The Dustins would say the Barrow King was the first High King of the First Men, while the members of House Royce would say they were the first. Everyone claimed they were the first.

When he arrived there, he could see Bran climbing up. Sneaky little boy, climbing everytime. Tobyas had to recognize that the boy had skill, as he jumped with ease from one battlement to the other. Suddenly, he went to a window, looking for something. Then he stopped, as if he's seen something at the window where he was. He looked as if he wanted to flee, but a hand caught him. Who is up there? He stared there for a while. Maybe it's just one of the guardsmen, joking with him. But then the unthinkable happened. Someone pushed Bran and he began to fall. Tobyas rushed immediately to catch him.

He caught the child just in time, but his head hit the ground.


Marlon, Bran, Maester Luwin, Lady Stark and Tobyas were in Bran's room, where he was put to rest. He lost a bit of blood, but he should be fine. He wasn't in any life-threatening danger. As the maester said this, Lady Catelyn sighed in relief. "But there is the possibility of losing the memory of what happened at the Old Keep, or even the last few days. In any case, he is going to live, and most likely will wake up in a few days, a dozen at most. Tobyas cleared his throat and spoke:

"It was no accident." The group turned around to look at him in horror. The thought that someone wanted him dead horrified them.

"Tobyas, what do you mean?" Lady Catelyn was scared and horrified, and was about to lose her mind, it seemed like.

"I mean that someone pushed Bran from the tower. I saw a hand pushing him." The group gasped, and Marlon looked like he was going to murder someone. Lady Catelyn instead only embraced him. "Thank you for saving my son's life! He could've been dead, or... or crippled!"

"Who would do such things?", asked Catelyn again. The Lord of the Eyrie had already gathered a few alibis. Tyrion Lannister had been with Marlon in the library. Tyrek Lannister and Theon had been practicing archery together. Ser Alek Lannister, Lord Dustin and his son Torrhen were hunting with the King and Joffrey. Not that he suspected the Dustins, but for the record.

I don't know who did this, but I guess there'll be something in the Tower." Without another word, Tobyas left the room, with Marlon behind him, who brought his direwolf, Ice, with him. Tobyas had a sword in his hand, but Marlon just went to the courtyard and took a sparring blade. Not that it would be useful for him. They headed straight to the Tower. They entered and went to the floor where Bran had been pushed off. The scent of sex was in the air, and while Marlon, who was behind him, couldn't recognize it, Tobyas did from his time with Sarra.

"Someone was fucking here!", announced Tobyas, to which Marlon just shook his head. "So my brother was pushed down because he saw the wrong people fucking together?"

Tobyas nodded, it seemed like the only likely information. They searched around the room. A puddle of sex juices only confirmed the fact that sex had happened this room. In rest, nothing was here, and the room looked like no one had entered in a few hundred years. After five minutes, Tobyas wanted to give up the search. Suddenly, he heard Ice, the direwolf of Marlon, whimper at something he found. He looked around, only to find a string of hair, golden. Whoever did this, it was a Lannister. Tyrek, Tyrion and Alek have alibies, as did Joffrey... Lancel! Lancel was still in Winterfell!

"Found something?", asked Marlon. Tobyas nodded. "A piece of golden hair. Tyrion, Joffrey, Tyrek, Ser Alek, the Queen and the other royal princes have alibies or no strenght nor reason to kill him. This leaves..."

"Ser Jaime and Lancel.", ended Marlon bitterly.


Edit: Something went wrong during the publication. This chapter has been updated, for everyone!

Yeah, Bran does not become a cripple. So what? Anyway, next hints: snow, south, meeting

Your humble author.