Game of Thrones: Passions and Hopes

Chapter 9 of my Game of Thrones story, enjoy.

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Now onto the story.

Disclaimer: Game of Thrones belongs to George R.R. Martin.


Chapter 9

Bran was smiling lightly as he returned home. He had been out with Meera, they had been with Jojen and Jyana out shopping for baby clothes. He could hardly believe it was almost time, any day now, he was going to be a father. Unfortunately his good mood evaporated when he found his parents waiting in the living room.

'I don't see any of the others...' He noted. 'So, they are actually waiting for me. But maybe I can...'

"Bran."

Bran sighed. 'I guess not.'

Resigning himself to his fate, Bran entered the living room. Sure enough, it was just his parents sitting there, both with disapproving expressions.

"Mum, dad."

His mother raised an eyebrow. "Where have you been?"

He sighed. "I was out with Meera, Jojen and their mother. We were shopping...for the baby."

"So, she's still..." His mother began.

Bran cut him off quickly. "Yes and it's almost time. Why can't you just-?"

His father glared. "Bran, enough, don't raise your voice like that. We are trying to help you."

He glowered at that; they were still clinging to that delusion; that much was clear.

"No you're not." He said at last. "You're trying to help yourselves. Just don't want the scandal, a teenage pregnancy in the family."

"Bran." His mother hissed, clearly outraged.

"Meera and I have made our choice, I don't see why you can't just accept that." He shot back.

There was a momentary silence but Bran wasn't optimistic, he knew they wouldn't change their minds so easily.

Finally, with a sigh, his father spoke again.

"You're still too young Bran, you're still a child." He said firmly. "You're smart, you should've known..."

Bran shook his head. "We've been over this already and-"

But his mother wouldn't let it lie. "Yes but still, you should've taken responsibility and done the right thing...Meera is an adult, she should have."

"You want us to murder our child, don't you?!" He yelled. "Why is it always about what you want, about the family name, never what we want as individual people!?"

Finally Ned sighed. "Bran, we are trying to give you a good chance in life. This baby will..."

"Be a blessing." Bran interrupted. "Oh it'll be hard, I know that, but still. Meera and I are happy together, we are ready for this. We can't live our lives by how the media and others view us. We're people, regardless of our family name."

There was an awkward pause and Bran could see his parents were looking for any excuse.

But he'd had enough. "I can't take this anymore, listen, I'm standing by Meera, if you can't accept that, accept us. Then I'll have to leave. It's the only way."

"Bran..." His mother tried to interrupted.

But he wasn't done. "It's not like I'm the only one, you're not fair on Arya either. Her and Gendry..."

Bran could see right away he'd struck a raw note, the way his parent's expressions flickered.

Clearly trying to salvage the situation, his mother began to speak.

"Bran, this isn't about Arya-"

But at that moment, the girl herself entered, glaring.

"No, of course it's not." She said; her voice shaking, with anger, or something else. "It never is, is it."

"Arya, don't start..." Their father began, already sounding tired.

But Arya flared up. "Oh no, I will. It never is about me, I might as well not even exist!"

"Arya!" Cat gasped; sounding horrified.

Arya narrowed her eyes. "When is, the last time, you even bothered, to show up at one of my games. Never! You don't care, that's the way it looks. I get you're busy, but really...Just one time."

Bran's eyes widened in horror, as did their parents.

Ned spoke, his voice softer. "Arya..."

For despite her efforts, Arya's eyes were filling up with tears.

"You just don't understand, you never have." She snapped, despite the tears now falling freely. "Just because I wasn't 'girly' enough for you. I have my own life, I'm doing something that makes me happy, that means so much to me...But it still hurts, knowing my family are never there for me."

Cat stood up, looking as if she was about to approach Arya, but Arya shot her a glare.

It was clear she wasn't accepting anything from them, instead she turned and began to leave.

"Where are you going?" Cat cried.

"Gendry's." Arya shot back. "I'll be there tonight, not that you care."

With that she left, leaving nothing but an uncomfortable silence behind her.


End of chapter, and now the dam breaks, read and review please.