The next visitor after Tyrion was a man named Yoren from the Night's Watch, Ser Alliser Thorne's bane. Taelerys recalled that House Thorne were Targaryen loyalists during Robert's Rebellion. Ser Alliser had been sent to the Night's Watch for that in order to avoid being executed. Yoren looked a little emotionally weary when approaching the table. "What is it?" Bran asked, sensing it as well.

"There's hard news, m'lords and m'lady, and a cruel way to pay you for your meat and mead, but the man as asks the question must bear the answer. Benjen Stark's gone." Yoren explained.

Taly's eyes widened. "Ben is gone? What happened?"

Fear and worry immediately struck her. No. Taelerys thought. This can't be happening. Poor Jon.

She wondered how Jon was taking all of this. One of the other men said, "The Old Bear sent him out to look for Waymar Royce, and he's late returning, my lord."

"Too long," Yoren informed them. "Most likely he's dead."

"My uncle is not dead," Robb Stark said loudly, anger in his tone. He rose from the bench and laid his hand on the hilt of his sword. "Do you hear me? My uncle is not dead!" His voice rang against the stone walls, and Taelerys was suddenly afraid. She grabbed Robb's hand. "Robb," Taly said in a warning voice, letting him know that he should calm down. "Please."

Old ragged Yoren looked up at Robb, unimpressed. "Whatever you say, m'lord," he shrugged. The youngest of the black brothers shifted uncomfortably in his stance. "There's not a man on the Wall knows the haunted forest better than Benjen Stark. He'll find his way back." He tried to assure them.

"Well," said Yoren, scratching his rough beard. "Maybe he will and maybe he won't. Good men have gone into those woods before, and never come out."

"Uncle Ben is not gone, he is the blood of the last hero that defeated the Others, hunted through the white woods by dead men and spiders big as hounds!" Bran blurted out, "The children of the forest will help him!"

Theon Greyjoy snickered with a wide grin on his face before Taelerys silenced him with a look. As ridiculous of a story as the Others even existing was, it helped Bran coop with his already difficult situation. There's nothing like a little imagination to lift our spirits, Taelerys reminded to herself. How she wished she could have a dragon so that it could rain fire upon all Lannisters.

Maester Luwin let out a sigh, "Bran, the children of the forest have been dead and gone for thousands of years. All that is left of them are the faces in the trees."

Bran had a firm scowl on his face. "Dragons were real and magical creatures, why aren't the Others?"

Yoren turned to leave, before muttering out an "Oh!" and approaching Taelerys. He pulled out an envelope and handed it to Taly, who was a little confused by it. "It's from Jon," Yoren stated. "I ain't no one's messenger bird, but I agreed to personally give it to you since Benjen Stark was his uncle and a member of the Night's Watch."

Taelerys smiled up at Yoren. "Thank you, sir. Please, send Jon my love."

Every eye in the room was suddenly on Taelerys and as much as she regretted saying that, she didn't. "I ain't kissin' him if that's what ya mean," Yoren said, before bowing and promptly departing to the hall.


'Taly

So much has happened. I would say that I am well, but that would be a lie. I knew what I was signing up for when I joined the Night's Watch. I think of you everyday whenever I sit by the fire or stand watch on the Wall during those cold nights. The warm fire reminds me of you. I can make it through the day because of its warmth. But, the winter isn't nearly as cold as Ser Alliser."

Taelerys couldn't help but grin and snicker to herself when reading that. At least he hasn't lost his sense of humor, Taelerys thought to herself, before going back to Jon's letter.

'Sorry I had to keep this letter short. Maester Aemon was kind enough to let me use a raven to send to you. How is Bran doing? Has he awakened yet? Please tell him that I'm sorry he couldn't be there to see me off to the Wall. I promise to be there by his nameday. I'll also be there for yours.

Jon.'

Taelerys fiddled around with the tin snowflake bracelet Jon had the local blacksmith make for her. That was his departing gift to her. She vowed never to take it off as long as she lived. Taelerys curled up the small and fragile letter from Jon. Picking up the large wooden board with a pen and paper, Taelerys began rapidly writing back to Jon. I should also make a letter for Arya and Lord Stark, Taelerys thought to herself. As Taelerys dipped the quill into the ink, she felt something very furry and wet poke at her neck. Taelerys turned around to see Summer sitting behind her. "Hey boy, how are you?" Taelerys asked, as if the animal could reply back.

Summer grumbled slightly. The dark grey direwolf leaned over her shoulder, as if it were reading Taelerys's letter. After about thirty minutes of sitting under the weirwood tree and writing, Taelerys packed up her things before returning to Winterfell with Summer. After having the cooks prepare supper, Taelerys decided to visit Bran and took a trey for the both of them. She entered Bran's room with Summer pouncing onto the bed. Immediately, Bran awoke with a startle. The direwolf was panting heavily in front of his master. Taelerys had a slightly bemused look on her face. "Rise and shine, Bran," she teased the little Stark, even though it was well into the evening. Bran didn't say anything back immediately. His brown eyes were lost in thought. Taelerys set the large brass food trey on the bedside table, making it wobble slightly. Roasted pork and gravy with boiled carrots, potatoes, beets, and a small wheat bread roll. She handed Bran his cup of milk while Taelerys poured herself a goblet of Arbor cranberry vodka. "Taly, were you in the weirwood forest today?" Bran asked.

Her eyes rose from her plate with surprise. "Yes," Taelerys answered, taking a big gulp of the alcohol. Taelerys missed the stinging drowsiness that relieved her of everything. Before she could go into further detail, Bran then asked, "Were you writing a letter to Jon?"

Taelerys froze when he said that, slowly lowering the goblet from her mouth with narrowed eyes. She was confused by how Bran had known that. He was in bed and asleep the entire time that Taelerys was away. Perhaps Maester Luwin told Bran, Taelerys reassured herself.

"Yes," she replied. "Did Maester Luwin tell you?"

Bran shook his head. "I was in Summer's body while I was sleeping, I saw you writing under the weirwood tree,"

Taelerys looked at him with raised eyebrows. He couldn't possibly expect her to believe that. "Oh really?" Taelerys nearly laughed, deciding to play along. "And what was I writing then?"

"A letter to Jon, father, and Arya." He simply answered

There was no way Bran could've possibly known that. This was beginning to disturb her and Taelerys had enough of that these past few weeks. She didn't want to talk about it anymore. "Eat your food, Bran." she simply said, irritating him that she just suddenly changed the subject. After a couple of rough breathes, Bran slid down into his bed. The food trey attached to his bed hovering over him. It was silent for the remainder of dinner. Bran refused to touch his food while Taelerys cleaned up her plate. "Jon won't be coming to my nameday," Bran then informed her.

She looked back at him with her eyes as wide as the plates. Maester Luwin couldn't have shown Bran the letters, she watched him send the ravens himself. Taelerys was too stunned and confused to say anything. "What do you mean?" Taelerys stuttered. "Of course he will, Bran."

"He won't be coming," Bran repeated in his monotone voice. "I saw it with my own eyes."

Taelerys didn't know how Bran knew she was at the weirwood tree writing letters, but did recall that Summer was there. He couldn't possibly have been telling the truth could he? Taelerys wondered. She felt disappointment in herself for believing Bran. After all, she had found two dragon eggs and the Dark Fay from Aegon's Vault.


An arrow hit the practice target with a thud. It was a bull's eye. Theon strode past Taelerys with a cocky grin on his face. She ignored him before drawing an arrow on the bow. After steadying it, Taelerys was about to fire until another arrow hit the target in the near exact same place. Theon began laughing loudly, before covering his mouth. Taelerys let out an irritated sigh. They were both wards of Lord Stark and yet Taelerys could hardily stand Theon sometimes. "Do you really?" Taelerys asked, not amused. "Just for once, can you stop showing off?" She then shouted.

Theon wiped his red face. "I am a show off, that's what I do." he countered. Taelerys now regretted ever taking up his offer on practicing archery, though the gods knew she needed it. Of course he would be all smug about it like Theon Greyjoy always was. Taelerys was going to have to find a new archery teacher. She winced once at the thought. She found that Jon Snow was a far superior teacher at archery and swordsmanship than Theon ever was. And he wasn't an ass about it like Theon is, Taelerys reflected. He was a good instructor too, especially when he got shy around me.

The thought of Jon accidentally placing a sword in the quiver made her smile. He had been so entranced by her that he hadn't been paying attention. It was more memories like those that Taelerys longed for. But she doubted that they would ever be again. Taelerys had no choice but to accept it.

Bran and Maester Luwin were seated at a table behind Taelerys and Theon. Bran was supposed to be studying but couldn't keep his eyes off Theon's target practice. The crippled boy longed to stand and practice archery. "Bran," Maester Luwin said, tapping a pointer on a map of Westeros.

"The Iron Islands. Sigil–a kraken. Words–'we do not sow'." Bran answered in a bored tone. He was scrapping the wooden table with the tin fish, the sigil of his mother's family, House Tully.

"Lords?" Maester Luwin asked.

"The Greyjoys."

Theon turned around with a smile on his face. "Famed for their skills at archery, navigation and lovemaking."

Taelerys fired an arrow, hitting the bulls eye and knocking Theon's arrow out of the target. "And failed rebellions." she added, causing Theon to glare at her. Maester Luwin tapped the map again. "Sigil–a stag–a crowned stag now that Robert's King." Bran explained. Upon hearing the description, Taelerys shifted uncomfortably in her stance. Something that didn't go unnoticed by Theon, who promptly smiled at the Targaryen. "Words–ours is the fury. Lords–the Baratheons." Bran finished.

Ours is the fury. A truly fitting motto for Robert Baratheon's house. Nothing could compare to the fury of the Usurper, Taelerys thought bitterly to herself. He hated all Targaryens, seeing them as being no different from her brother Rhaegar or the Mad King. That made Robert Baratheon no better than those he hated.

Maester Luwin nodded. "Good."

"The Westerlands–sigil–a lion. Words–A Lannister always pays his debts." Bran continued.

Taelerys then dreaded having to practice archery while listening to this wretched lesson. Did Maester Luwin not recognize that the Baratheons and Lannisters brutally murdered her family? Or did he not care? Taelerys had enough to put up with already. Theon was already irritating her enough as it was.

"No. A common saying, but not their official motto." Maester Luwin corrected.

Bran continued as if he had said nothing. "Lords–the Lannisters."

"We're still on their words."

"I don't know them." Bran said stubbornly.

"You do know them. Think."

"Unbowed, unbent, unbroken."

Taelerys broke in. "That's House Martell's words." she interrupted, firing another arrow. It hit the second ring of the target.

"Righteous in wrath," Bran then said. He wasn't even trying anymore at this point.

"House Hornwood."

"Family, duty, honor".

Maester Luwin let out a sigh with displeasure. "Those are Tully words...your mother's. Are we playing a game?"

Bran continued to carve into the table with the tin Tully marker. There was a small pile of wooden shaving beside him. The boy was clearly bitter over his mother leaving. " 'Family, duty, honor'...is that the right order?" Bran wondered aloud.

"You know it is."

"Family comes first?"

"Your mother had to leave Winterfell to protect the family." Maester Luwin reminded him, catching onto what Bran had been implying.

"How can she protect the family, if she's not with her family?" he scowled. Bran continued to argue with the Maester while Taelerys and Theon could only listen. They exchanged a few glances at each other before silently finishing up their archery practice.

If only Bran knew.