I do not own any of the Game of Thrones characters in the story or from the novel, A Song of Ice and Fire. Only the OCs included are mine and any original plots.

Bran stared at the ceiling above them. At the wall. At the open windows. At nothing in particular. He hadn't said or did much of anything else since he woke.

As if the Gods were mocking them, the boy had woke up a little while after their mother set off for King's Landing. He couldn't recall what happened to him the day of his fall, having lost the entire memory from his mind. Other than that, he seemed like his old self, aside from the temporary loss of function in his legs.

Per Maester Luwin's previous assessment, the boy would probably never walk again. Bran took the news hard. He didn't want to be confined to a bed or chair for the rest of his life. He wanted to walk and run and climb. He wanted to swing a sword and ride a horse and shoot a bow. He wanted to someday become a knight. Sadly, all those dreams were now out of his reach. Brynden himself, hated to see the once lively Bran so sullen and quiet and his wolfish rage towards the Lannisters continued to increase exponentially.

The second son of Eddard and Catelyn Stark was perched next to Bran on his bed while Old Nan sat besides them and knitted. The cawing of a crow broke the silence and alerted Brynden to the black feathered animal that sat in one of the open windows. It seemed to have drawn Bran's attention, causing him to stare at the black bird with unblinking eyes.

"Don't listen to it," Old Nan spoke when she noticed where their gazes fell. "Crows are all liars. I know a story about a crow."

Brynden rolled his eyes at that. The old crone had a story for everything it seemed. Bran didn't seem amused as he turned to her with a glare. "I hate your stories."

Old Nan shook her head and proceeded with her knitting and she continued in a wispy voice, "I know a story about a boy who hated stories." Brynden sniggered quietly. "I could tell you about Ser Duncan the Tall. Those were always your favorites."

A mirthless chuckle erupted from Bran's mouth. "Those weren't my favorite. I always loved the scary ones."

Old Nan paused in her knitting and asked, an eerie smile crossing her features. "Oh, sweet summer child. What do you know about fear? Fear is for the Winter, when the snows fall a hundred feet deep. Fear is for the Long Night, when the sun hides for years and children are born and live and die, all in darkness. That is the time for fear, my little Lord, when the White Walkers move through the woods."

That caught Bran's attention and he shifted his head to look at Old Nan. "Thousands of years ago, there came a night that lasted a generation. Kings froze to death in their castles, same as the shepherds in their huts. And women smothered their babies rather than see them starve, and wept and felt their tears freeze on their cheeks. So, is this the sort of story that you like?"

Bran nodded, visibly scared. Old Nan glanced at Brynden, who just shrugged with a wolfish grin. If Bran wanted a scary story, he would get a scary story.

"In that darkness, the White Walkers came for the first time. They swept through cities and kingdoms, riding their dead horses, hunting with their packs of pale spiders, big as hounds..."

Brynden jumped when the door to Bran's chambers opened. He sighed, leaning against the wooden board of the bed at the sight of Robb, feeling slightly embarrassed. The tale of the Long Night was enough to scare anyone.

"What are you telling them now?" Robb asked with his eyebrow raised in amusement.

"Only what the little Lord on the bed wants to hear." Old Nan replied.

"Get your supper. I want some time with them." Robb instructed her. Obliging, Old Nan got out of her chair and left the room. Robb walked over to Bran, his face displaying a big grin. "One time she told me the sky is blue because we live inside the eye of a blue-eyed giant named Macomber."

"Maybe we do," Bran replied with a flat tone of voice.

Robb walked closer to the bed, looking over to meet Brynden's gaze. A silent question in his eyes. How was their little brother? Brynden simply gave him a shake of his head. He wasn't alright. Not in his mind, at least.

Robb sighed and moved to sit on the edge of the bed. "How do you feel? You still don't remember anything?"

Bran shook his head sadly.

Brynden knew what Robb wanted. He wanted it, too. For Bran to remember what happened to him, so they could know for certain if the Lannisters were involved in his fall. But to their dismay, he still remembered nothing.

"I've seen you climb a thousand times," The eldest son of Eddard and Catelyn Stark prodded. "In the wind, in the rain...a thousand times. You never fall."

"I did, though," Bran retorted, before his gaze turned to Brynden. "It's true, isn't it? What Maester Luwin says about my legs?"

Brynden and Robb exchanged a wary look before Robb gave their little brother a reluctant nod.

Bran returned his stare to the ceiling. "I'd rather be dead."

Brynden's eyes widened and he stood up quickly, forcing Bran to look at him. "Don't. Don't say that, Bran. Don't you ever fucking say that!"

Bran glared at his elder brother with a ferocity neither Brynden or Robb had ever seen before in him. "I'd rather be dead!"

Robb openly glared at the man at his feet, almost burning him alive with his Tully blue eyes. Grey Wind lounged on the floor next to the Lord's seat where he sat. His disdain was clear for all to see, including the one who was the object of his ire.

"I must say, I received a slightly warmer welcome on my last visit." Tyrion Lannister drawled his gaze shifting from Maester Luwin to the heir of Winterfell.

Robb purposely ignored the dwarf and looked at the man in black who had accompanied the Lannister from the Wall. "Any man of the Night's Watch is welcome in these halls."

"Any man of the Night's Watch, but not I, eh, boy?" Tyrion questioned in response. His words made Robb turn to him, his glare back in full force.

"I'm not your boy, Lannister. I am Lord of Winterfell while my father is away." The eldest son of Eddard and Catelyn Stark hissed through gritted teeth.

"Then perhaps you might learn a Lord's courtesy." Tyrion fired back at the Stark heir smoothly.

Robb chuckled darkly, his blue eyes blazing with anger. "Be grateful that it is I who is greeting you, Imp, and not my brother. Brynden would not be as restrained as me."

He spoke the truth. Whereas Robb was always able to rein in his anger before it could run rampant, Brynden was quick to it and often either failed to or outright refused to quell it at the best of times. When he had seen the Lannister banners being flown by a group of visitors approaching Winterfell, he had instantly called for blood. After a stern talking to from Robb though, Brynden grudgingly agreed not to behead the Imp upon sight. Not trusting in his ability to restrain his hotheadedness though, Robb had him go to Rickon's room and play with their youngest brother, hoping it would cool him down.

Tyrion opened his mouth to retort when something appeared to catch his attention. Robb followed his gaze to where Bran was carried in by a very large man named Hodor. Not his actual name but since no one remembered what he was actually called, they addressed him by the one word he could only ever say.

The Imp's eyes widened slightly as he caught sight of the injured boy. "So it's true. Hello Bran." Tyrion greeted with a soft smile, bringing Hodor to a halt next to him. "Do you remember anything about what happened?"

"He has no memory of that day." Maester Luwin stated from next to Robb.

Tyrion hummed as he scratched his chin. "Curious."

"Why are you here?" Robb questioned but was ignored by the Lannister man who kept his attention on Bran. Robb grit his teeth but decided to remain silent for now and watch the proceedings between his little brother and the dwarf. Much to his shock and great confusion, Tyrion handed the boy a scroll which contained instructions for building a saddle. A saddle which Bran would be able to use to ride a horse.

His confusion was so great that Robb couldn't help but voice it out loud. "Why do this? Why do you want to help my brother?"

Tyrion met his stare. "I have a tender spot in my heart for cripples, bastards and broken things."

Robb's eyes narrowed at the Lannister man's genuine sense of sincerity before he sighed. "Forgive me for my disrespect, Lord Tyrion. You have done my brother a kindness. The hospitality of Winterfell is yours."

Tyrion tried his hardest not to roll his eyes. "Spare me your false courtesies, Lord Stark. There's a brothel outside your walls. There I'll find a bed and both of us can sleep easier."

Robb set his jaw and nodded. "As you wish."

Tyrion nodded and gave a slight bow before he turned around and strode out of the Great Hall with his appointed guards at his heels. Once, he had left, Maester Luwin turned to Robb with a disappointed look present in his elderly eyes.

"You should not have spoken to Lord Tyrion in such a manner." The old Maester spoke up. "He should have been shown the utmost courtesy."

"The man who might have sent an assassin to kill Bran?" Robb countered and shifted his narrow stare to Maester Luwin. "The man who would have killed him had it not been for Brynden?"

"These are all only speculations. We do not know the truth of what really happened; we can only guess." Maester Luwin chided. "The last thing we need right now is to make an enemy of the most powerful House in the Realm. Tywin Lannister is not a man to cross."

"Let's drop the matter." Robb said briskly as he rose from the Lord's Seat. His muscles had grown rather stiff; he'd have to spat with Brynden to loosen them up. "Come, let's check up on my brother. Hopefully he's calmed down a bit."

Brynden clenched his jaw angrily as he sat in his father's solar, glaring at the wall in front of him. He wasn't angry with its poorly decorated state though; his source of anger lay far away in King's Landing.

A raven came earlier that day from King's Landing. A few days ago, his mother had taken Tyrion Lannisyer captive on the grounds of attempted murder. When news of the capture reached the Lannisters, the Kingslayer, Jaime Lannister, confronted his father. A confrontation that ended in the slaughter of many Stark men and the maiming of his father.

Rage had been his constant companion when Brynden learned of what had happened. Not only were several people he had known his entire life dead, his father was severely injured a thousand miles away from home.

Brynden wanted the Lannisters to pay for what they had done to his family. He wanted to litter the South with lion corpses. Alas, he was not the Lord of Winterfell. He did not have the authority to call the banners of the North. No, that authority lay only with Robb.

"When are you going to tell the boys?" Brynden asked. His eyes were focused in front of him but his words were addressed to Robb.

Robb frowned. "Not yet. I don't know how to break it to them, if I'm to be honest."

"The Lannisters need to pay for what they did to Jory and the others." Brynden growled, bowing his head in mourning for the fallen Captain of the Guards of Winterfell. "Blood for blood, Robb. A debt must be paid."

"You speak of war, brother." Robb said, his voice dropping low. He didn't want anyone to overhear them. "A war that we have close to no chance of winning.The Lannisters have one of the largest, if not the largest army in Westeros. They'd slaughter us."

"So you mean to let them go unpunished?!" Brynden exclaimed, outraged. "What about justice for our own?"

"Only the Lord of Winterfell can call in the bannermen and raise an army." Robb snapped quietly.

"You are the Lord of Winterfell." Brynden reminded him. He was getting sick of his brother's inaction. "The Lannisters tried to have our brother killed twice and now they put a spear through our father's leg and murdered several of our household, including the man who helped teach us how to fight. That is one slight too many. The Kingslayer rides for Casterly Rock where no one can touch him..."

Robb let out a mirthless laugh. "Do you want me to march on Casterly Rock? An impenetrable fortress and the heart of House Lannister?"

"I want you to do something!" Brynden shouted, rising to his feet. His entire body shook with rage as he glared down at his elder brother. "I want...no, I need to do something. I hate just sitting here like an old dame."

Robb stared at Brynden for a moment before speaking. "Have patience, little brother. We will take action when the time is right."

Brynden clenched his jaw, clearly unsatisfied with the answer but before he could voice his opinion once more, the door to the solar opened and in stepped Theon, an apologetic look on his face.

"Sorry, Robb, but Bran was quite insistent on having me retrieve you two. He's waiting in the courtyard."

"Of course." Robb sighed as he stood up. "We promised him we'd take him riding today."

Brynden silently cursed. "I completely forgot about that."

"Tell Bran we're on our way, Theon." Robb told the Greyjoy who gave the acting Lord of Winterfell a nod. Once he was gone, Robb turned to look at Brynden. "I want no talk of this in front of Bran or Rickon. Let them enjoy today."

Brynden nodded reluctantly. "As you command, brother."

"Robb, I write to you with a heavy heart. Our good King Robert is dead, killed by wounds he took in a boar hunt. Father has been charged with treason. He conspired with Robert's brothers against my beloved Joffrey and tried to steal his throne. The Lannisters are treating me very well and providing me with every comfort. I beg you: come to King's Landing, swear fealty to King Joffrey and prevent any strife between the Great Houses of Stark and Lannister.

Your faithful sister, Sansa."

Brynden stared at the letter in his hands with eyes as wide as dinner plates and his entire body rigid. He couldn't breathe. Air had simply left his lungs, leaving him struggling in its absence.

King Robert was dead but that wasn't his greatest concern. No, what concerned him was the fact that his Lord Father had been arrested for treason. Not to mention, the boy who had him arrested was now King. .

"Treason?" Robb questioned as he glanced at Maester Luwin from where he stood besides a table in the Great Hall. "Sansa wrote this?"

The old Maester sucked in a deep breath. "It is your sister's hand but the Queen's words. You are summoned to King's Landing to swear fealty to the new King."

"They will pay for this..." Brynden growled as the anger slowly began to take over. "This fucking boyking puts our father in chains and now he wants his arse kissed?"

"This is a royal command, My Lord." Maester Luwin informed Brynden. "If Lord Robb were to refuse..."

"I won't refuse." Robb spoke up, cutting the old man off. Brynden's narrowed stare snapped to him disbelievingly but before he could speak, Robb continued. "His Grace summons me to King's Landing, I'll go to King's Landing. But not alone." Robb turned to look at the Maester of Winterfell. "Call the banners."

Slowly, Brynden's glare faded away and a pleased grin appeared on his face while Maester Luwin's brows creased. "All of them, My Lord?"

"They've all sworn to defend my father, have they not?" Robb retorted with hard Tully blue eyes.

"They have." The old Maester confirmed.

Robb nodded. "Then we shall see what their words are worth."

Maester Luwin stared at Robb with an expression that shifted from proud to worried before he finally gave in and nodded. Then he turned around and shuffled his way out of the Great Hall ready to send a flurry of ravens to every Northern House.

There we go. I'm sorry it took such a long time to get this chapter out. It sort of just shows the sibling dynamic between Robb and Brynden and the difference between the two.

I'm trying to get through Season One as quickly as possible so I can get on with the juicy stuff I have planned. And trust me there is plenty.

Someone in the reviews asked me about whether Brynden will still marry Dacey. The answer is no...I won't reveal who the pairing is though but I have decided on one.

Next chapter, the Northern Lords come together in Winterfell. Brynden and Robb will both have chances to prove themselves as capable leaders and I will introduce a major change in the story.

Until next time!