The castle of Winterfell was different for everyone, now that Lord Stark was leaving for the South. Cyel had observed lady Catelyn those days; she was more quiet and more melancholic.
One afternoon she heard the Lady talk to Phelya, she said that she knew it was for the best, but it was still hard to let her children go. The girl couldn't even think about what Lady Stark was feeling as a mother.
Cyel learned about Antea's departure from Robb. Or better from Robb's shouting. She and Theon were in the gardens eating a waffle together, and even if he was denying it, she could tell that Theon was acting strangely. Then the future lord of Winterfell stormed out of the castle, with Antea close on his heels. Cyel then understood what was the cause of Theon's sadness.
She learned about Sansa and Arya's departure from the girls themselves.
Sansa was telling her how happy she was to go South and to learn how to be a good wife for prince Joffrey. The prince didn't made a good impression on Cyel; he could be quite whiny and to Cyel he had been even rude, frequently not understanding why she was treated as a lady, if her name belonged to bastards. But she knew that for Sansa that was the brightest future she could ask for. Every lady hoped to became Queen someday. Cyel could just hope that time would teach the future King kindness, making him a different person from who he was now. Or at least she hoped for Sansa.
Then Arya stood up complaining about how she didn't want to go, that she hated the South and that it was stupid to leave. And suddenly Cyel found herself trying to make peace between the two sisters that had different but very strong opinions.
And she had learnt about Bran that day. She'd found him in the Godswood, sitting on the branch of a tree. Cyel petted Bran's direwolf head before taking her shoes off and climbing up. She couldn't believe he was able to climb even the walls of the castle. She was already scared up on that tree.
"What are you doing up here?" He turned his head towards her, when he heard her voice and smiled.
"I'm looking at Winterfell" he answered. She looked at him for a moment; he usually went to the Broken Tower when he wanted to watch Winterfell. He stayed in the Goodswood when he was overthinking about something.
"Can I stay with you?" Bran nodded and move to make space for her. Cyel carefully let go of the trunk and made one step on the branch. Bran's laughter caused her to look up.
"You still look down" he said swinging his legs in the air without fear.
"Shut up" she answered finally managing to sit down, next the boy.
They sat in silence watching what was down them: the grass covered with a bit of summer's snow, the pools of hot water, the mist which covered all of it giving an almost magical atmosphere, and the scary weirwood tree, where lord Stark often prayed. Cyel didn't like it, as she knew Bran didn't like it. It was like that tree watched their every move.
"What kind of trees are there in the South?" He asked suddenly making her turn to look at him.
"Any kind" she answered sweetly. He nodded thinking about what she said.
"Do you like better the North or the South?" Cyel studied him with her eyes, Bran had always been curious, but all those question about the South were new to her ears.
"They are both beautiful places, in their own way" she managed to answer. She feared that there was more beyond those questions.
"Why do you ask?" Cyel said. She had a feeling she already knew what he was about to say, but she wasn't sure she wanted to hear it.
"I'm going South with Father" she looked at the ground. Even Bran was going away.
Suddenly, she felt so small behind Winterfell's wall. So alone behind those walls that now seemed so dark and austere.
"I'm sure you will love the South" Cyel was sure she had whispered because she didn't hear her own voice, but Bran nodded so he must have heard her.
She understood why take the girls away, but why take Bran too? Why did he have to leave?
"Don't be sad" Bran said turning towards them "I'm happy to go. I'll meet Ser Barristan Selmy, Father promised that."
Ser Barristan was for sure one of Bran's favorite knights and he knew all of their names and stories. Bran loved to listen to Old Nan telling them every sort of tales and since he was a little child. He asked her the ones which talked about knights, even Cyel had learnt the majority of their names.
"I'm sure you are" she answered forcing a small smile "When are you leaving?" Cyel asked after a moment of silence.
"Four days" just four days… so soon? Couldn't they wait?
"What is difficult is to have to say goodbye to everyone" Bran said and hearing the word goodbye hadn't been easy to hear.
How could they say goodbye?
How could she say goodbye?
Cyel looked in front of her, the cool wind was moving her dark hair, while she looked at one of the higher trees in the Godswood. That was the tree where Bran taught her how to climb. It was high, but Bran said that it was the easiest to begin with.
Well, maybe for him, she had been trying for days before climb just one foot from the ground. She was eight, he was four, they had so much fun that day.
The Godswood was her favorite place to play, with all those tree, pools and mist. When it was her turn to choose where to play, that place was always her choice. And then of course Theon teased her because she never changed it.
How would her life be like, once Bran had left for the South?
Noise of steps echoed around them, and both the children looked down to see Theon Greyjoy walking towards the tree. The golden kraken always well visible on his chest. And on his face, there wasn't his usual wide smirk. It hadn't been there for days, now.
"Cyel" he called "Lord Stark wants to see you."
"Truly?" she asked trying not to rise too much her voice and Theon answered with a nod of his head. She wondered what lord Stark had to talk about with her.
"I have to go, Bran."
When Cyel turned to the boy, Bran had a huge smile on his face and he was nodding his head vigorously.
"Go, go, Cyel" he said with joy "I'll come to look for you later."
Cyel did her best to smile back at the boy before moving to climb down.
The girl and Theon walked in a strange silence while going to find their lord. She felt his gaze on her every once in a while.
"What happened, little one?" He asked suddenly.
A bit too much, was the right answer.
All her friends were going away and looking at the dark walls of Winterfell she realized, maybe for the first time, how tall they really were.
"You do not smile, anymore" she said still looking at the walls and she felt him shift next to her, but without answering "Is it because of Antea?"
"Are you sad because of Bran?" Cyel put a strand of hair behind her ear, trying to remember what had been teached to her, for all her life.
"We knew this would have happened one day" she wanted to be rational, she really did, but she didn't believe in her own words.
Stopping when they saw lord Stark at the end of the corridor, Theon scoffed.
"It is easier for you."
They all thought that. Even Antea had asked her how she prepared when she moved to the North. Everyone thought that she was used to all those changes, but the truth was that she didn't even remember what she felt exactly when she left Dorne.
She was just four after all. All her happiest memories began in Winterfell, like everyone else's.
When lord Eddard approached them, Theon left without looking at her. Cyel knew how much he cared for Antea, he had real feelings for her and she hoped that he didn't feel mocked by her. That was not her intent.
How could it be?
She just wanted to make him feel better. They had all grown up knowing what was it going to be; Robb would have been lord of Winterfell. Bran and Rickon would have had ruled their own castles in his name. And Antea, Sansa and Arya would have left to merry other lords, becoming the ladies of beautiful courts. While Cyel would have married one of the Stark boys.
They knew that their childhood would have ended at some point, they didn't know that that day would have come that soon.
She thought that it would have been easier, but it didn't. It really didn't.
"Hello, Cyel" lord Eddard smiled down to her.
"My lord" Cyel said bowing with grace.
"Walk with me" her lord led their way in the corridors of Winterfell.
Lord Stark had always seemed a King to her, gentle, honorable and just. If the North had had Kings again, Eddard Stark would have been a great ruler. Even Cyel's father said that lord Stark was very honorable and that he deeply loved his country and his people. He loved the North so much to not even propose himself as King when him and Robert Baratheon won against the Targaryens. Why was he leaving his country now, then?
"How's your mother, Cyel?" the little lady looked at her hands. Her mother's fever was back, not strong as before, but Phelya was still unable to stand up from her bed.
"Not so well I'm afraid, my lord" she answered sadly. Her mother always watched outside her window, looking forward to the snow to fall on Winterfell. She loved the snow. Usually, the two of them ran outside and played with it; drawing on it with sticks, throwing snow balls to one another, building the castles that Cyel dreamt. Now Cyel prayed the Seven all nights to let her mother see the next snow.
"It pains me to hear that, dear" he said keeping walking nodding his head at the servants who passed by.
"You would want to know why I wanted to speak to you" Cyel looked up to meet the lord's grey gaze and she nodded lightly "I've written to your father, asking if it was possible for you to follow me in the South" he explained "Since you're Antea's most dear friend and my children love to spend time with you"
He wanted for her to move in the South?
Of course, she would have liked to go with Bran and the girls, but her mother… Phelya couldn't move, she couldn't face a journey so long and certainly Cyel would have never left her own mother alone behind.
"I had to write to him to hear what he thinks about it" last time she moved, her father made an arrangement, so she thought she knew his opinion "He refused for you to come with me" Lord Stark looked at her like she knew what he was talking about and she did.
Living in the South meant living with the Lannisters and Oberyn Martell hated the Lannisters.
"Of course, he was sure, as I was, that you wouldn't leave with your mother's condition, but he agreed on let you spend some days with us, when you'll visit Dorne next time" she smiled at his words, Lord Stark always thought about the wellbeing of all his people.
"I even want to let you know that me leaving doesn't change what we agreed when you came here" she hadn't even thought about it. She didn't think that them moving to the South would have change anything for her position, or it did?
Suddenly the noise of steps echoed through the corridors of Winterfell and turning her head, Cyel saw Queen Cersei Lannister, with her long golden hair, wearing a red dress with the embroidery of a golden lion, stopping in front of them. Immediately Lord Stark and Cyel bowed to her.
"My Queen" said the lord.
"Your Highness" followed Cyel.
"Good day, Lord Eddard" the woman answered before turning her attention on the girl "And Lady Cyel" Cyel looked up to meet the queen's green stare "Sand, if I recall correctly."
Cyel wasn't sure she liked her tone, it was like she was making fun of her.
"Lady Cyel is one of my wards" Lord Eddard said with a protective voice. Probably he had noticed too the way Queen was speaking.
"It was so merciful of you" the queen spoke again "Letting a lonely mother with her bastard daughter living with you and taking care of them" Cyel blinked her eyes unsure she heard her correctly.
She was talking about her mother like she was some unfortunate soul hiding for shame. Or worst.
"Lady Phelya Rosemberg is an old friend of mine, my Queen. A very fine lady" Cyel was sure that even lord Stark didn't like what that woman had said.
"I haven't had the pleasure to meet her yet."
"No, your Highness, you couldn't" Cyel spoke, before she could stop herself "My mother is very ill."
The Queen looked at her again, that mocking gaze never leaving her green eyes. It was hidden but it was there.
"I'm sorry to hear it" she could have said that, but her words were empty of any compassion.
"My lord" Maester Luwin's voice echoed in the corridor making the three of them look at him. His chain made of rings made that usual sound that followed the man everywhere. They all knew when he was coming "A word, my lord."
Lord Eddard seemed not sure what to do, he looked the Maester and then the Queen, before putting a hand on Cyel's shoulder.
"I'll be right back" the girl nodded.
"Do not worry, lord Stark. I'll keep her company" Cyel took a silent breath, trying to stay calm. That woman had just insulted her mother and she still wanted to talk to her?
The Queen studied her up and down, like a lioness with her pray. Cyel felt like she was just looking for something else to say. Her father always told her how the Lannisters were vicious, but Cyel didn't understand why someone should have been so rude. Had Cyel offended her in some way?
"How old are you, little Cyel?" She asked at some point.
"Eleven" the girl answered shortly, but trying to be polite. Her mother always told her to ignore people's comments about herself or her mother, but Cyel had to admit it was harder than she thought.
"Only eleven?" The queen seemed surprised.
Many were, Cyel had bleed for the first time very soon, it had been almost a year now. Her chest was growing every day more and even her hips. Sansa told her she couldn't wait for her to become a woman as well; it would have been easier to find a husband. Being able to bear a child was very important for a lady.
"I thought you were older, for the way that you look" then the woman tone became almost vicious "For the way that you dress."
Cyel looked down at what she was wearing, she didn't know what was wrong with it, she had little pearls in her hair and a dress that her father sent to her as a present.
"It is hard not to notice you. No northerner woman dresses like you" Cyel blushed. Were her dresses inappropriate?
Her dresses were made in Dorne; they were all colorful and full of decorations, perl and embroideries. Cyel was just happy to wear the dresses and jewels given to her from her family. Was she offending someone? But lady Catelyn never reproved her for that. She surely would have said something otherwise.
"These are presents from my Father" she said almost to herself than to the Queen. The woman gave a small cold laugh.
"Oberyn Martell is a smart man" at her words Cyel looked at her, what did she mean by that?
"He certainly knows how you could catch the eldest Stark's attention" she took a breath dramatically "It's normal for a father to want the best for his child. Especially for a bastard" a Lannister should not even talk about Martells, after what happened to Cyel's aunt Elia.
"I am indeed a bastard, but I've got money, lands and the claim on a throne" Cyel answered looking at Queen Cersei with her dark eyes "It's not my place to decide, but a lady has to act the best for her country and her future husband's, And I'm sure my lords will take the right decision for their sons and for myself" she answered, probably the Queen didn't think she would have said something, indeed she looked at her with surprised eyes. Cyel felt like she had run out of her breath, but she managed to maintain a straight face.
"You talk properly" the queen spoke again, Cyel was getting tired of her company, she was looking forward to Lord Eddard to come back "Maybe you are worthy of a future lord liege, but still you are a Sand away from Dorne."
That was all she wanted, making clear that she was superior over a bastard girl. She must have been really bored if she had fun acting like that.
"It is a shame though" she kept saying "That a beautiful young lady such as yourself won't probably achieve much" Cyel felt her eyes burn, that woman had insulted her, her mother, her father and now she was telling that some Starks were more important than others?
"Your Highness had enough time to meet all the Stark boys" Cyel said with a voice stronger than before "And you'll agree with me when I say that I'll be lucky to marry anyone of them. They had always taken good care of me and they are kinder and more polite than any other person I've ever met in my life" Cersei glared down at her and Cyel held her gaze trying not to show fear, she wouldn't bend to fear.
She was sure the Queen wanted to say something but Lord Stark interrupted her, putting a protective arm around Cyel, who was still glaring at the woman.
"She is lovely, lord Eddard" her fake smile didn't seem to enchant lord Stark. Cyel didn't think he had heard their conversation, Cersei seemed smart enough not to insult her host's children in front of him, but still he looked at the woman with a serious expression. It seemed emotionless for who didn't know Eddard Stark.
"Is this little snake coming with us?" the Queen asked.
"No, she'll be staying here with my wife" he answered and bowing his had he added "Excuse us, my Queen. It's time for us to go."
Cyel nodded and bowing her head lightly she followed her lord. Walking she turned her head to see the Queen's blond hair disappearing behind a corner. When Cyel had seen her for the first time, she thought that Cersei Lannister was one of the most beautiful women she had ever seen. There was no doubt that she was Cassie's mother. But it was almost unbelievable how rude that woman could be.
Sansa had a different opinion, though. She thought that the Queen was nice, like all the queens in the stories. Indeed, Cersei had always been polite to Sansa.
Cyel decided to not tell the lady about the little chat she shared with the Queen. Maybe she doesn't like bastards. Cyel thought helping Sansa packing her things. She was sure that the woman hadn't even looked at Jon Snow's direction, and he was Lord Stark's son. People like Cersei Lannister were the kind of people that her father had always been afraid Cyel would have met away from Dorne.
"Cyel!" Bran called for her as ran in Sansa's chamber with his direwolf following behind. Lady, Sansa's direwolf, looked up happily when her brother entered the room.
"Bran, you should knock" Sansa said shaking her head she had always told him that but he never listened. The boy rolled his eyes, before running to Cyel.
"Have you talked with Father?" Bran asked excited. His eyes were shining like they always did and an hopeful expression shown on his face. Cyel nodded putting away another Sansa's dress.
"Well?" He said again "Are you coming South with us, then?" the girl bit her lip, before looking at her friend, who seemed eager to hear her answer.
"No, Bran. I'm not" she said shaking her head, sadly "I'm staying here with my mother and the lady" Bran smile fall at her words and his direwolf brushed his nose on the boy's leg. Even Sansa had a surprised expression on her face.
"I thought that Father wanted to tell you that you could come with us" he said confused, thinking about what Cyel had told him. Then he looked up hopeful once again "But maybe when Phelya will feel better, you can come and stay with us" Bran always tried to find the good side of everything, he had always done it, but this time he wasn't smiling doing so.
"I do not know about that" Cyel said trying not to let them see how sad she was. They had to tell goodbye to everything and she didn't want to make it worst for them, spending the last days she had with them complaining "But lord Stark promised I can come and stay in King's Landing for a few days when I'll visit Dorne."
"Well, that is good, isn't it?" Sansa said stepping closer, trying to light up the mood, even if Cyel could tell she was sad. When Sansa was happy, you could hear it in her voice and see it in her eyes just with a glance.
"It is alright, I guess" Bran said nodding his head, then he looked at Cyel and gave her a quick little smile, but his eyes weren't happy "I'll see you later" he said before leaving the chamber with his direwolf. Cyel wanted to call for him, but no words came out from her mouth, and she let out a loud breath when Bran was out of sight.
"You really cannot come?" Sansa asked with hope in her voice, packing her things again. Cyel petted Lady's fur.
"That's what Father and lord Eddard want" at her words Sansa's eyes glow and she gasped happily.
"Maybe it is for the best" she exclaimed coming closer to Cyel and taking her hands in hers. Cyel looked at her surprised, what did she mean?
"Cyel, think about it" she was almost jumping with joy "You'll stay here alone with Robb, maybe they want for the two of you to get closer."
Could it be? Did they really want this for the two of them?
"They want for you to fell in love" Sansa exclaimed.
Cyel felt her heart beat get faster. She and Robb? Could they really fell in love? Robb was sure handsome and gentle, but she had never thought they would fall in love for each other. And then merry. She was really going to be wed with Robb Stark?
"Cyel, this is perfect" Sansa smile grew wider "I'll be Queen and you the lady of the Winterfell and we'll both be married to brave and gentle men, what can we ask for more?" Sansa said before hugging her close. She was right, every lady in the North hoped to become the bethroded of the future Lord Stark of Winterfell. What could she ask for more?
Then why her smile wasn't honest?
She felt a strange feeling at the thought of become Robb's wife. She felt anxious and unsure.
"I'm sure Father wishes the best for you too" Sansa reassured her with a smile. Lord Stark had told her; them leaving for the South did not change the agreement between their countries.
Was she going to merry Robb? That was what her future held?
Three days had passed in a blink of an eye. Fast, so fast, too fast. And that day Cyel should have said goodbye to all her friends. Not all of them, because Jon would have left for the Wall in a week, but still everything would have changed. She couldn't think about how silent Winterfell would have been without all the Stark children together.
Cyel woke up early, earlier than usual. She hadn't sleep much that night. She went in the kitchen to take two cups of milk and honey. The last secret breakfast, no more milk and honey with Antea in the morning. She took a long breath and faked a smile, before entering her friend's room. Of course, she wasn't asleep, she was very awake and throwing the last things in her baggage. Cyel looked at Antea's chamber; there was nothing anymore, just many luggage around the room, the black direwolf's fur under her bed and little Rickon sleeping under Antea's sheets. But looking closer, Cyel realized that under the bed was Shaggydog and not Shadow, she tried to spot her, but she didn't manage.
"You could have told me Rickon was here" Antea turned, when she heard Cyel's voice "I could have brought something for him too" the girl grunted throwing her last dress inside the box.
"He won't wake, not for other few hours" Antea said brushing her brother's hair "He cried until late night, he didn't want to leave the room" Cyel felt for Rickon, he was just three and everything was changing too fast for him, it was almost unfair.
"I do not want to go" Cyel sit next to her friend, listening her words "I mean… All my life is here. I don't even know how the South is going to be like!" She complained "Cassie just told us it's really hot, and I love the cool morning wind" then she took a breath keeping looking at Rickon "He is so young, how can I leave him?"
Rickon spent lot of time with Antea; they played together and sometimes ate alone together. She even put him to sleep, when Lady Catelyn was busy. Between all the Starks, Sansa was the most excited to leave, she could barely wait. Arya didn't get why, but Cyel thought it was better this way, at least one of them was happy.
When Rickon woke up, a couples of hours later, he clanghed to Antea, not wanting to let go, so the lady decided to pick him up to take a walk.
That morning all the men had left early for hunting, even Robb had gone and Antea thought it was good for him, but Cyel was sure she wasn't being totally honest. Of course, she wanted to spend some more time with her twin brother before going away, the following morning.
They were walking just outside the main entrance, when Septa Mordane called Antea's name.
"Gods, what does she want now?" She muttered under her breath, before walking closer to the woman. Cyel had never seen her friend so nervous.
"Cyel!" Bran's voice made her heart ache, he was leaving too the following day. Already? The day of his departure had arrived too soon.
Bran ran to her and she couldn't help but let a weak smile growing on her face looking at him
"Hi!"
"Hello, Bran" she answered.
"I had been looking for you when we broke our fast, but you didn't show up" he explained looking up at her with his curious eyes.
"I'm sorry, Bran" Cyel answered "I was helping Antea with her packing."
It was half a lie; the truth was that she didn't feel like eating that morning, not with Bran anyway. She wasn't happy about it, but she had spent the last few days away from the boy. She wanted to play with him and talk to him, but the thought that he would be leaving in a few days stopped her from doing it.
"It is alright" Bran said shifting from foot to foot "It's just… In the morrow I'm leaving for the South and I tried to say goodbye to everyone, but I almost cried" she smiled at how sweet he was, he had always been. Kind and sweet "But I don't want to leave without saying goodbye to you and I promise I will not cry" Bran looked down hiding his face and she had to control herself to stop her eyes from watering "So, I thought that maybe if we climb together, I won't need to say it out loud."
Go climbing together?
She climbed just to play with him. It was something they did together sometimes, just the two of them. Was that really the last time they would have climbed together?
Her heart was beating fast. So many changes, too many changes. She wasn't ready, she suddenly felt so even smaller behind Winterfell's walls.
Why did he have to go away?
"I'm sorry, Bran. I… I really can't right now" she said feeling every breath heavier and heavier. Bran seemed surprised by her words.
"Truly?" he asked "You really can't?"
"I'm… I'm sorry" she said in a whisper.
Bran looked down, on his forehead a frown; the same that shown everytime he was thinking about something. Then, suddenly, he looked up with the usual sweet smile.
"We'll leave in the morning" he exclaimed "We have plenty of time! I'll look for you later and we'll climb the high tree again" Cyel looked at him jumping up and down before turning to run away.
"Where are you going?" She called out to him, who turned unable to stay still.
"Climbing the Broken Tower" he shouted back "I'm doing it now, since you are too afraid of climbing it" she couldn't help but smile, when she heard his laughter echoed in the yard.
"You are so silly sometimes" Antea's voice made her turn.
The lady was alone now and she had her arms crossed over her chest and she was shaking her head with a little smirk.
"I do not know what you're talking about" Cyel said trying not to look her friend in her eyes.
"I've talked to him these days" Antea said stepping closer to her "Bran noticed how strangely you're behaving" Cyel looked down.
She had accepted Arya and Sansa leaving, she accepted even Antea's, but Bran was different. He was the one she played with more, the one who brought her sweets when she was sad, the one who always made her smile. It was difficult to let him go.
"Antea, I don't want to say goodbye to him" she said with honesty. Antea looked at her with her sweetest gaze and she linked her arm with Cyel's.
"Alright, take me company" she said "You could always change your mind" at her words Cyel let go a sad laugh… Maybe she was right, maybe she would have found the e courage to say goodbye.
The two girls were sitting on Antea's bed, the lady couldn't wait for Robb to come back from hunting. She was eager to spend some time with him.
"Leaving him will be the hardest" Antea said laying back on the mattress, looking at de ceiling "It has always been us; I don't know who I'd be without him."
The two twins were so close that being apart was like living without a limb, they said. Everyone said that twins shared a special bond, special and deep. And they were sure right, looking at the Stark twins.
"And now that even Jon is going away, he will need you and Theon more than ever" Antea kept saying.
Thinking about it, Robb and Rickon had been the most unfortunate, their brothers would had still lived all together, but they… They would have been alone.
"And Theon" Antea then said "He is acting so… strange, I do not see him smiling anymore" Cyel tried to maintain a straight face. She knew that Theon didn't want for Antea to know about his feelings and Cyel didn't want to betray him. Not that Theon had ever confessed anything out loud, but he knew Cyel knew.
"You don't need to worry, my friend" Cyel said with soft voice "I'm sure you'll be fine in the South. And if it makes you feel any better, I'll play and talk Rickon to sleep at night, if the lady can't" Antea looked at her while laying down "And I promise I'll look after Robb and Theon" Antea smiled before sitting again.
"You are a real friend" Cyel smiled back "But will you be alright?"
She had to be, there wasn't much of a choice. They were growing up, it wasn't easy, but that was the adults' world.
"I mean this will affect your life too" she wasn't the one moving away. Of course, she was sad that most of her friend were going away, but her life would have been the same, maybe a bit lonely.
Much more lonely…
"I think I'll be alright" Cyel answered after taking a breath. Antea looked at her again with a smirk on her face, shaking her head.
"You are so silly, sometimes" but their quite laughter stopped when a servant run inside the room.
"My lady, you have to come quickly" her face was red and her breath was heavy, she must have run all the way there. On her face a panicked expression, that scared Cyel in an instant.
"What happened, Heren?" Antea asked standing up, worried as much as Cyel was.
"Little Brandon, my lady" She said with tears in her eyes "He fell."
Cyel's heart felt like it had stopped suddenly to beat inside her chest. In her launghs there was air no more and, before she knew, she was running through the corridors of Winterfell towards Bran's chamber. Antea close behind.
He had to be alright. Cyel had to know if he was alright.
He must be, she thought.
Cyel had never run so fast in her entire life; her legs moved fast as her hands gripped the fabric of her gown, to pull it up so that she could be even faster. People of Lannister, northeners and guards observed them as they ran, many of them with pointed look, others were looking at them with sad expression and teary eyes.
How could that happen? Bram had never fallen before.
He never fell.
When they arrived in front of the chamber the door was open, Maester Luwin was checking up on Bran while Lady Catelyn cried, keeping calling her son's name desperately. Over and over, she called, but he didn't answer.
Why wasn't he answering? Cyel kept repeating in her mind. Where was Bran's sweet and light voice? He was always quick to answer.
Why wasn't he answering?
Antea ran into the room and she dropped to her knees to hug her mother, her eyes fixed on her brother's shape on the bed. Cyel made a step in the room and she immediately saw Bran's face. He was still and his eyes were open looking ahead of him, just they weren't looking anything, there wasn't life in them.
Was he dead? Bran could not be dead, but why wasn't he moving? Why wasn't he answering?
Cyel stepped out of the room gasping with her hand on her mouth. She had troubled breathing as she kept looking at the scene in front of her.
Why wasn't Bran answering?
"You cannot be dead" Cyel muttered "You cannot be dead."
It was only when she felt two arms around her, that she realized she was crying. Those arms made her step back, as lord Eddard surpassed her to enter the room, making the Lady's cries louder and louder, breaking Cyel's heart.
The girl's fingers clanched around the wool vest of the arms around her as her tears wetted the dark fabric as she started to cry.
Cyel didn't know for how long the Maester had been in that chamber. The only thing she could do was looking ahead of her, blankly and shaking.
She was sitting outside, with Jon Snow's arm still around her as Robb entered the chamber too. Many people had come, but Cyel didn't know how many. The only thing she could think about were Bran's eyes. They were so empty, so different from his joyful and curious eyes that she had just seen a few hours before, when he asked her to climb with him. They were lifeless.
"Is he dead?" she asked feeling her all body shaking "Is he dead?"
"I don't know" Jon's voice was like a whisper as she felt his arm tremble as well.
A sob left her lips.
"It was my fault" she said. Her voice was raw for all the crying, her cheeks wet for all the tears. She felt Jon's eyes on her.
"Cyel, no…" But she spoke again, not letting him finishing, because she knew what he wanted to say, but he was wrong.
"He asked for me to go with him" another tears fell down on her cheek "But I had been so selfish to say no."
Stupid, she had been so stupid and selfish.
"Because I knew it would have been the last time and I didn't want for it to be the last, because I didn't want for him to go away" she hoped he would have stayed, she wanted for Bran to stay with her in Winterfell. But not like this. Never like this.
She didn't even know if he was alive.
Why wasn't he answering?
"All of this is not your fault, my lady" Jon said, but she didn't look at him shacking her head. He didn't know, he couldn't know; because he wasn't there. He didn't know what had happened.
"Yes, it is!" She exclaimed putting her head between her hands "I should have been with him. I should have been there, by his side. I could have done something, I could have…" But she when another desperate sob left her lips and then Jon hugged her again. He held he close to him, kissing lightly her hair.
"You cannot do this to yourself" his voice was breaking and she felt something wet, falling on her cheek.
Jon was crying.
"He must have slipped; it could have happened anytime" Cyel immediately clanged to him. Bran was his brother; he must be suffering so much.
"How did that happen?" she muttered on Jon's arm who was still holding her. She didn't know for how long they stayed like this, crying together and trying to comfort each other, but when Maester Luwin exited the chamber they both stood up.
"How is he?" Jon asked immediately "Is he alive?"
"He is, Jon" at the Maester's words, Cyel felt like breath again as she gripped Jon's arm. He was alive. Bran was alive.
But yet… why wasn't he answering?
"Is he going to be alright?" she asked with shaking voice. She was praying to all the Gods she knew, but the Maester's face alarmed her once more.
"I do not know" he said with sad eyes.
"What do you mean?" She was grateful that Jon had managed to speak, because she felt like she had lost her voice.
"He is breathing, but he does not move at all" Cyel closed her eyes trying to forget what she had seen in that chamber, but that imagine came back stronger and clearer every time.
"Will he be alright though? Is he not maester?" She had spoken but she wasn't even sure she did. Everything felt like a dream.
The worst of nightmares.
"I hope so, Cyel" he said, but he stopped to take a breath "But we must wait."
That man had seen all the Stark children came into the word, he had seen them grew up; he was destroyed like the rest of them.
"I'm afraid, though, that if he ever will, Bran won't be able to walk again. His back it's broken" for the second time that day the world had stopped around Cyel. Her breath was laboured and her heart was hummering do fast that she was sure it could have been heard from the outside.
"This cannot be?" she muttered.
That could not be happening. It must have be a nightmare. There was no other explenation. But then why wasn't she waking up?
"Bran wants to be a knight" she said looking at the man in front of her "He loves to climb and run. There… there must be something you can do!"
He had studied at the Citadel, how was it possible that there was nothing that could help Bran?
Maester Luwin silently shook his head, his eyes filled with sorrow.
"I am so sorry, my lady" more tears fell on Cyel's cheeks.
"But…" she muttered "He never falls."
