Jon had tried to speak with Robb over and over up to the point where he huffed and dropped a summation of all the things he wanted to say. He kissed Arya, Sansa and Meera goodbye and left with Uncle Benjen. Their uncle had shaken his head at Robb when Robb summoned him to his chambers and said the King could clamber down from his bed if it was of import. Maester Luwin was with the household as they carted what few supplies the Freys had released. No more than two horses, a wagon of grain and a paltry purse of silver. Bran had gasped on seeing the small resources and Ser Rodrik swore in anger when Maester Luwin said the Freys intended to cut off the gifts to the Night's Watch. Ser Rodrik openly called the Frey marriage an error and their appointments a horror. Ser Perwyn had threatened Ser Rodrik that more of that would see Winterfell getting a new Master-at-arms. One who did not cower and allow girls to take a man's place. The three of them held Winterfell for Robb when he went south and now they were all being threatened. They were almost at Maester Luwin's turret when a raven burst forth Northwards. Maester Luwin looked shocked and Bran raced ahead. The door was open, but no one was inside. Maester Luwin said he would count the birds and see where the raven went.
"What happened to the boy? He was well enough before he left south!" Ser Rodrik set about grouching as soon as they sat down.
"Perhaps he seeks to please his wife's family for some slight or other." Maester Luwin suggested.
"Unless he killed her father the lad goes too far. I spoke to Lady Stark and she said Robb was strong and firm enough with his lords. You told me yourself of the affair with the Greatjon, Luwin. Mors Umber's face anytime he neared the wolves was enough proof of that!" Ser Rodrik huffed as he spoke. Whether or not Ser Rodrik liked the Freys was answered. Maester Luwin on the other side, was still unsure.
"The Freys are from a large and unloving House. Perhaps they are used to fighting for every scrap and bite. We need only temper them. After all, they are merely looking out for each other's welfare and comfort." Ser Rodrik was squinting at the Maester while he spoke.
"Luwin? What did they tell you? Do not deny it. Why are you so long suffering?"
"Yesterday, Queen Roslin said that well, old as I was I should have another Maester assisting me. She suggested her brother. Maester Willamen." Maester Luwin quivered as he spoke.
"And did you tell Robb?" Bran asked.
"His Grace was there in the chambers." Ser Rodrik shot up from his seat.
"Bran, training yard. And call the girls and your brother. I have heard enough of Freys for a lifetime."
They trained for over an hour and a half. Ser Rodrik was displeased with the slightest error and Rickon soon burst away weeping. Olyvar Frey sauntered into the yard, Robb's hand around him. The two chatted away. Like brothers, Bran turned his eyes away till Olyvar Frey ripped out a tourney sword and shield and challenged Bran. Bran turned to face the older boy and Robb hung back uncertainly. Ser Rodrik called and they went at each other.
Olyvar Frey was better in every way possible. He knocked Bran down twice and turned away. Bran realised he had not yielded and bull-rushed the Frey. Olyvar Frey swung at the last second but Bran interposed his sword and used the shield to knock him flat on his face. Bran ripped out the dagger in his belt. He pressed the blade to Olyvar's neck. But before he could call for a yield Robb's gauntlet smashed into his face and he fell backwards. He tasted blood and a piece of tooth fell out. Robb looked at his own hand and caught his breath at the sight of the gauntlet. Bran's eyes rolled in his head and he fainted.

He woke up beneath Mother's watchful eyes. Sansa poured him water from a skin and Bran noticed he was in Father's bed.
"Where? Robb."
"Easy my dear. Robb can not trouble you now. He has enough worries of his own."
"Worries?"
"Someone sent out word to that the Freys were sending off your grain and meant to withhold tax to the Night's Watch. Lord Medger Cerwyn is here from the south and Lord Manderly is blustering threats and secession. Was it you?"
"No. It was Lyanna. She knows the ravens. Please keep her here." Bran whispered to them
Robb walked in the door.
"Say it again. Who did it?" He used the voice of Robb the Lord. Bran looked straight at him.
"Wolves never betray the pack."
"Then give me-"
"Get out!" Mother hissed.
"Get out and go rest in another whore's arms. Or your queen's. Your father would have been disappointed at you. Go!"
Robb went red with shock and walked away. Whore? There was an interesting story there. He just had to weasel it out the right pair of ears.

He persuaded Lyanna Mormont to send off another letter to her sister, Dacey and this time he was the one who asked Maester Luwin to send the bird. Maester Luwin was considerably hesitant and refused to send it till he read it himself. When he did he tucked it in a raven and pulled a bell-rope before releasing the bird. The only thing that Bran gathered from the Maester was that Lyanna's raven had caused a great deal of trouble; with House Umber clearly stating that no further taxes would be sent until Benfrey Frey was no longer steward. Lord Manderly as ever, outdid them all by declaring he intended to follow a King who would not try to dictate how he could spend his own coin and starve his household for greedy fools in the south. Lords Hornwood and Cerwyn came to ask why Bran could not remain as Steward. Lord Hornwood claimed that since Benfrey Frey became steward not once had there been an inquiry about the granaries or his lands. Even the Wull asked what business the Freys had in Northern lands when the dead were coming. Robb ordered Maester Luwin to appease the Northern lords as best he could and returned to his chambers. Maester Luwin agreed to try his best and asked for Leobald Tallhart to be Steward of Winterfell in Ser Frey's stead. Lord Cerwyn conceded the once castellan would be a right sight better than a Frey and a few days later a smug Leobald Tallhart rode in and informed the deposed Frey of his new position. Tallhart winked at Bran and Bran decided that he liked Leobald Tallhart after all.

As concession to the Freys, Robb declared that Bran and Lyanna's betrothal would be broken off and Bran would be sent off to foster at the Dreadfort. Bran shivered all over. Not only had he killed Roose Bolton's son, the man was married to a Frey. Mother was horrified and screamed at Robb but he would not be moved. With the Freys behind him he stood solidly. A fortnight was all the time he had to pack and he would be going with Ser Rodrik. Ser Perwyn would be the new Master-at-arms. Dacey Mormont's letter arrived two nights before his departure and all House Stark including Ser Rodrik, Lyanna and the Reeds crowded into the Maester's turret; As Maester Luwin read the heart of the matter.

"Just after we took the Crag, the family inside tried to seduce Robb Stark. The morning the letter from Brandon Stark arrived, Robb had been hearing rumours of the Ironborn sacking the north. Then he was resting from a festered wound when Jeyne Westerling made to sleep with him. Somehow or the other, young Olyvar Frey burst in on hearing them and Robb realized what he was doing. You must not blame him, Lya. The Westerlings had slipped a sort of poison to cloud his senses and heat him in all the wrong ways. Robb Stark was wroth. With the Westerlings and with himself. He asked me never to be in a room with him and ordered the Smalljon to put the castle and the family to the torch. Yet when it was done he broke down that he wiped out a house for his own selfish weakness. He never let Olyvar out of his sight after that. He swore a thousand oaths to House Frey and refused to be touched by women during the bedding at the Twins. His mind was strong enough but it broke him. That he was as weak as his father to make a bastard. That he was honourless.

They were all silent when Maester Luwin finished. Ser Rodrik stood and stared at through the window in the turret and the Reeds left in Arya's company. Bran could not believe he had been so unfair to Benfrey, Olyvar and Roslin. And most of all to Robb. He stumbled to his chambers and pushed the door behind him. He took off his boots and buried his head in the bed.
Death.
Bran knew the Crow's voice and he shot up from his bed. His door was open and a candle moved in the corridor to Robb's room. Bran grabbed his sword and slipped on an engraved breastplate. He moved as quietly as he could to Robb's room. Three stark men were bent at the lock. Bran stepped forward and one of them chuckled.
"Seven hells. This one is good." Seven hells? Seven? Northmen didn't believe in the Seven. He realized why his own door was open and begged Summer to howl. He tried to get to Shaggydog as well. And all the wolves in Winterfell howled. Rickon's door burst open and Shaggydog stalked out. Summer growled loudly and the three intruders turned to see Bran blocking them as the wolves approached. Grey Wind blurred past and stopped when the shortest of the men stepped forward. In the light of the candle Bran could see the clear face of Olyvar Frey and Grey Wind sniffed the boy's hand and licked him. Guards came bounding round the corner swords drawn led by no less than Ser Perwyn. Olyvar stepped forward.
"We just came to see to His Grace's safety when he called the wolves on us." Ser Perwyn rounded on Bran and threatened to put down the wolves if they ever attacked his family. He posted a guard by Robb's door and ordered Olyvar and his friends away.
Bran was as embarrassed as possible but even more disappointed that through it all, his brother never once came out though he must have heard. He must have heard. He tried to sleep again.
Death
He woke up as a dark crow loomed over him with only one eye shining. A thick hand shot out of the mist and choked Bran. Bran coughed and tried to bat the hands away but it was as choking as the smell that oozed from the crow.
The smell of Salt.