Author's Note:
Hey guys, so sorry for the long wait. I've just been really busy with school, I really need to boost my GPA, but thank you all for your great reviews. Please remember to review and check out my profile for my other stories, outfits and pictures.So here is the twenty-first chapter of Winter's Dragon. Enjoy!
Chapter XXI – Dangerous Words
As agreed Leila and Jon kept their suspicions to themselves, even from Sam, but as it would turn out their secrecy was unnecessary as the next morning, Leila stood before Catelyn with the small group, which consisted of herself, Robb, Theon, Maester Luwin, the castle master of arms, Roddick Cassel and surprisingly Jon and Sam as Catelyn voiced what they had suspected for some time now.
"Someone tried to kill him twice…Why? Why murder an innocent child? Unless he saw something, something he wasn't meant to see." Catelyn continued and all could hear the anger in her voice, the anger that someone could have tried to kill a ten-year-old boy and her son no less.
"Saw what, my lady?" Theon asked frowning and Catelyn shook her head. "I don't know. But I would stake my life the Lannisters are involved. We already have reason to suspect their loyalty to the crown." Catelyn replied and Leila frowned momentarily as the thought of Jaime being involved with Jon Arryn's death and Bran's fall crossed her mind, before she placed a passive look upon her face, that went unnoticed by everyone else except Jon would stood beside her.
"Did you notice the dagger the killer used?" Roddick asked, drawing the attention of Robb and Theon. "It's too fine a weapon for such a man. The blade is Valyrian steel, the handle dragon-bone. Someone gave it to him." He explained and Leila's eyes narrowed in suspicion. A blade such as that would have belonged to the Targaryens, but when King's Landing was sacked during the rebellion all their possessions where either burnt or divided among the royal houses, with a few exceptions to the minority of the houses in Westeros, the list of suspects was getting longer.
"They come into our home, and try to murder my brother...If it's war they want…" Robb spoke with a deadly expression, disgust tainting every word as Theon, like dog always eager to please quickly stepped forward, nodding at Robb. "If it comes to that, you know I'll stand behind you." Theon said as Leila, Jon and Sam rolled their eyes, the act that did not go unnoticed by the adult generation.
"What? Is there going to be a battle in the godswood? Too easily words of war become acts of war. We don't know the truth yet." Maester Luwin said sounding rather amused and serious all at the same time before he glanced across at Catelyn. "Lord Stark must be told of this." He concluded and Catelyn shook her head vigorously.
"I don't trust a raven to carry these words." She replied. "I'll ride to King's Landing." Robb said, his tone firm. "No. There must always be a Stark in Winterfell. I will go myself." These words startled everyone, it would be dangerous for Catelyn to go to King's Landing and Leila could tell Robb didn't agree as he shook his head.
"Mother, you can't…" Robb began to protest before his mother cut him off. "I must." She said firmly. "I'll send a squad of guardsmen to escort you." Roddick added and Catelyn shook her head again. "Too large a party attracts unwanted attention. I don't want the Lannisters to know I'm coming." Catelyn retorted.
"Let me accompany you at least…King's Road can be a dangerous place for a woman alone." Roddick protested as Catelyn glanced at Maester Luwin, who nodded inconspicuously, which prompted Catelyn to incline her head to the master of arms as Leila stepped forward. "I shall accompany you as well." Leila said as Catelyn stared at her for a moment and as she opened her mouth to protest before Leila cut her off.
"My presence is requested in King's Landing and it is too dangerous for you to be alone even with Ser Cassel. You both can travel with me and my men, we won't draw unwanted attention. We are already expected. You both can hide among my men and when we are safely in the city we can part ways." Leila said firmly as Catelyn mulled over her words and knowing she was right; nodded in acceptance; but it seemed Robb; however, was not at all appeased by this.
"What about Bran?" He demanded as Jon grasped his sister's hand lightly as he noticed her eyes flash in anger as she came to stand back beside him and she looked at Robb, clearly agitated by his narrow mind as she glared at him. What did he expect Catelyn to do? She was attempting to solve this mystery of who wanted her son dead as best as she could and her oldest son wasn't really listening.
"Your mother has done what she can…Bran will wake up in his own time and there's nothing that any of us can do now except watch over him until he does. Then we'll find out whatever it is that he saw." Leila said sternly as Jon and Sam restrained from laughing as Robb looked absolutely terrified from the fire in her eyes. "Well then now that has been settled. We'll leave first thing in the morning." Leila said firmly as Catelyn and Roddick nodded in agreement before Leila walked away with Jon on her arm and Sam following.
"Idiot." Leila hissed under her breath but Sam and Jon still heard her as they chuckled lightly, already knowing she was referring to Robb. "He may be and idiot, but I still love him." Jon said as Leila smirked. "I know." Leila replied, smiling as they continued to walk back to castle when her expression became somber. "I noticed you both were very quiet during the meeting." Leila commented lightly and Jon nodded.
"Well I didn't want to risk saying anything that would upset her, I'm surprised that she even wanted me there." Jon replied. "I agree. I'm even surprised that she wanted me there as well." Sam commented quietly as Leila shot him a soft smile. "Well you Samwell, I can't understand her reasoning behind you, but I do understand for you, Jon. Because no matter her dislike towards you, she still knows at the end of the day that you love Bran and would protect him." Leila replied softly and Jon smiled at her.
"Perhaps while we are on the King's Road, you and her can come to some common ground and make peace." Sam said sounding optimistic. "Perhaps." Jon said calmly but Leila could tell that he doubted his words as Leila squeezed his arm encouragingly as he gave her a small smile.
"Sam, Jon before you both get ready for the journey ahead, could you find Draco and tell him to ready the men." Leila asked as they arrived back at the castle and Jon and Sam nodded in acceptance as Leila gave them a grateful smile. "What are you going to do?" Sam asked as Jon looked at his sister curiously and Leila sighed. "I'm going to find Rickon." Leila said as they both nodded in realization.
"I'll join you shortly." Jon said and Leila nodded as she began to walk away and went to go find Rickon to prepare him for her and Jon's departure before she herself would prepare for the long road ahead and although it would break his little heart, it was better than leaving without warning like last time, but luckily she found him easily enough with Shaggy Dog following closely behind him.
Leila smiled sadly, picking him up and held him in her arms as he immediately wrapped his arms around her neck, clinging onto her as she hugged him tightly. "You're leaving again aren't you?" Rickon asked, hiss voice filled with sadness as Leila could feel his tears soaking through the material of her dress on her shoulder.
"Yes." Leila said quietly but he heard her. "Why?" He asked desperately and Leila sighed not sure what to say, Rickon was just a boy, he didn't fully understand the depth of what was going on around him and he was still far too young to understand even if she did explain, so what could she do to provide comfort.
"Because we have to. There are things that have to be done. " Jon said as he came to stand beside Leila as she pulled Rickon away from her so that he could look at them both. "You're leaving too!" Rickon exclaimed on astonishment and heartbreak and it broke Leila's and Jon's heart to hear him so distressed. "I must go." Jon replied calmly as he tried to get his emotions under his control.
He didn't want to leave Rickon behind, but King's Landing was a dangerous place and with Leila's plans already in play, it was gonna get bloody before it got better and it was no place for a boy as young as him and although Jon was sure Leila could take care of herself, he did not want to leave her to fend for herself. .
"Everything will be okay, Rickon." Leila said softly. "How do you know?" He demanded, tears running down his redden cheeks. "You just have to believe, Bran's going to wake up and be better again." She assured, said wiping his tears away softly. "And father? Will he be okay?" He asked sniffling as he stopped crying.
"Father will be just fine. We'll bring him home soon." Jon promised. "And Sansa? And Arya?" He asked hopefully and Jon and Leila smiled. "Them too." Leila replied, smiling softly. "You'll see us all again, you just have to be patient little one." She continued, he nodded. "We'll miss you." Jon said with a sad smile that mirrored the one on Leila's face as she spoke once more.
"Take care little one." She said as both, she and Jon both hugged him tightly and with a kiss to his cheek, Leila set him down and he was off again with Shaddy Dog immediately following after his master as they watched before he was out of sight and they began to make their way to Bran's chambers.
"Are you considering returning to the North after everything is done?" Leila asked as they continued to make their way down the hallways of Winterfell as they continued headed to Bran's chambers. "I do not know...If we are successful, I'll will be needed in King's Landing, so I haven't decided." Jon replied and Leila nodded in understanding.
"Well you'll have to decide soon. We will be successful." Leila retorted and Jon smiled at the sound of confidence and pride in her voice. "Of course we will be." Jon agreed with a smile, that Leila eagerly returned as they reached Bran's chambers. The smiles completely vanishing off their faces as the guards standing vigilantly at the door greeted them with a nod as they opened the door and saw Bran no different from the night before, except for Summer, who had not left his master's side since the attempt on his life and Jon and Leila knew that he had no intention to, for which they were grateful.
"Get out." Leila commanded sternly to septa that sat at the fireplace sowing away as she tended to Bran while Catelyn was away, for which she would be doing for a long time now that they were all departing Winterfell come morning. The septa gave no argument as she stood, bowing in respect before she walked out of the room, closing the door behind her.
"Good boy." Leila said softly once the Septa had left them in private as she rubbed Summer's head lovingly, to which the direwolf wagged its tail happily as Jon and Leila came to stand on either side of Bran's bed as they kneeled down to his level and looked at him with sadness, love and determination as they both grasped his pale hands within their own.
"We have to go away Bran. I'm sorry we have to go, but there are things that must be done." Jon said sadly his voice cracking under his sorrow. "We won't be here when you wake up, but we're going to find out who did this and we promise you they will regret." Leila said, her voice matching Jon's as stray tears fell from her eyes.
"We love you so much. No matter what happens in the days to come, that will never change and we promise everything will be alright." Leila continued, her voice no longer containing sadness, but instead her voice was strong and filled with a conviction that no one could challenge and the seven kingdoms would soon find out why.
CLIFFHANGER!
What will happen next? What will happen in King's Landing? Will Jon and Catelyn finally make peace? Will Leila find out the truth about what happened to Bran? So many questions.
I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. I will try to update as soon as possible.
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- Dark Alana.