DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN GAME OF THRONES IT BELONGS TO HBO AND GEORGE R. MARTIN
A/n: Well I hope everyone had a good Holiday season. I sure as hell didn't since I had to work. Oh well!
As a Late New Year's Present it is the event you've all been waiting for! So stay tuned and if the title of this chapter is not a dead giveaway then this is.
THE WARRIORS OF WINTERFELL
Chapter 08: An Accident Waiting to Happen
WINTERFELL
The sounds of laughter were giving Ned Stark a headache. He could hear them all the way up to his solar from where the King was currently occupied with his many whores. The queen was currently out and about with her brother probably sleeping with him while the children are doing their own deeds. Already he was busy trying to decided whether to give into the headache or just hit something.
He had just received his reports from all over the western coast and things are not looking good. Already the slavers had attacked more then twenty different ports along the coastline. From as far south as Kracken Town all the way north to Bear Island. From what he had learned they had been sent by lady Lynesse Hightower of the Reach. Or that is what the reports are there to believe.
The other report astonished him as it was from the Iron Islands. Asha Greyjoy reported her home of Pyke being burned to the ground and Balon Greyjoy is now dead. A Moot is being called upon all the captains that remained, but Asha being a woman was not allowed to participate. Theon can't because he is not a ship's captain and has not earned the respect of the other Sea Lords yet. So that leaves her uncles to represent their family. Victarion is heavily injured and was taken to Kraken Town to be treated while Euron who has started the invasion is no where to be seen.
Though the report is fresh and the poor bird who delivered it flew nonstop it was enough to give Lord Stark a migraine. Already he dispatched riders and wagons of supplies from other settlements to help those who live along the effective areas. His main worry was both the Iron Islands and Bear Island. The two most effected. From what Jorah Mormont described Bear Island had been hit hard, but they were able to kill off most of the invaders. Those that they imprison were kept in the dungeons for them to interrogate.
"Dealing with the invasion again my love?" a soft voice said and Lord Stark looked up to see his wife at the door.
"Yes, I've been receiving more and more reports as of late about these slavers. I don't have enough information other then what Jorah and Asha already gave me," Lord Stark replied. As he looked at the documents.
The letter he had received from Sansa detailing what happened during the attack on Bear Island, and the reports of the damages done did not bode well. It seems as if someone from Essos wanted to invade the North and the Iron Islands cutting both off from trade with the east. But from what Lord Jorah told him something else is stirring.
If what he had read is true then Westeros is in for a full scale invasion. But….things don't add up.
Such as the copy of Lord Jorah's letter from Lord Hightower about his daughter. If Lynesse wanted she could have just hired one assassin to kill Jorah but why disgrace him and then try to invade the North? For that matter why invade the Iron Islands with the help of Euron Greyjoy? That archipelago has no place in all this.
Asha mentioned in her letter that Euron Greyjoy was the one who slaughtered Balon. Both Greyjoys are now in Kracken Town tending to their uncle who would not have made it if they did not find him first. It seems as if these slavers knew what they were doing. He would have to write to the other lords to see what sort of damages had been done and how many were killed.
"You've been up here for a while Ned it is time to sleep," Catelyn said to him.
Lord Stark sighed as he stood up from where he was sitting down on the large chair. The chair that was once occupied by his brother and his father. Now Ned Stark owns that chair as he slowly made his way towards his wife and to bed.
The sounds of laughter still fill the air as well as the hard grunts of the King as he slept with all the whores.
MEANWHILE
"So Bran if Joffery is a Bastard then that means that Tommen is the rightful king?" Myrcella said to Bran as they both sat in Myrcella's room along with Arya and Tommen. Rickon was already sleeping in his room.
The children had taken it upon themselves to study in one room a night. Tonight it was Myrcella's turn seeing as their mother insisted that their lessons still are carried out.
"Yes, but seeing as your mother never brought it up with you or the king then things can happen if the King dies." Arya said.
"The Bastard King has a ring to it," said Bran.
Indeed the laughter that came into the room had filled the room. They felt safe here since Joffery or the Queen for that matter does not come here.
"Alright how about The Mad Bastard King?" Arya said to them.
There was silence till….
Everyone fell on the bed laughing as if there was nothing funnier then the picture of Joffery in a jester suit on the iron throne.
Tommen along with Bran was laughing harder then the rest. As time would have it they eventually started back on their studies.
"So tell me House Arryn is the symbol of the falcon why is that?" asked Myrcella as she read the question given to her by Tyrion in their lessons.
"It is because of the Eerie in the Vale. The smallest castle in Westeros. From what I read the castle oversees the valley in which it lives by the builders who built it. It was placed on a mountain peak known as the Giant's spear." said Tommen who was looking at his book.
Suddenly there was a knock on the door. All four children looked up right when the Queen entered the room.
"Alright children it is getting late and time for bed," she said.
The four children walked out being guided by one of the guards towards their own rooms. As they walked away the queen closed the door after saying goodnight to Myrcella and guided Tommen to his room. Bran and Arya looked at each other before hearing the sounds of laughter from the rooms the King resides in. Both children shuddered before finding the hallway that leads to their own chambers. As they walked down both Stark children gave each other a look before entering their chambers.
It was when the door was shut that Bran waited. Sure enough Arya slipped in through the window.
"Wow it is getting rather late," Arya said as she leaped onto Bran's bed.
"Yeah, I bet the King and Queen wanted to go to bed," Bran said.
"I doubt it with all the noise the King is making from his room. I am surprised the Queen doesn't share the same room as him," Arya replied.
Bran thought back to when he and Myrcella stumbled upon the queen and her brother in the library. Those thoughts made him shudder. He did not want to think about it but it was already there.
"What are you thinking about?" Arya said to him.
"I was thinking about the week before where Myrcella and I stumbled upon the Queen and the Kingslayer in the library. They were having sex in the library," Bran said.
"Have you told father this?" Arya said to him.
"I think father already knows or at least Lord Tyrion," Bran replied.
"If they did it in the Library I am sure everyone heard it," Arya said remembering that sometimes if you are in the right room everyone can hear you.
"Yeah you should have seen poor Myrcella. She was disgusted that her mother and her own brother could do something so gross," Bran replied.
"What did Myrcella say about being a bastard?" Arya asked.
"Well I don't think she is a bastard," Bran said.
"Why not?" Arya replied.
"Because she told me the king forces her and Tommen to dye their hair and put glass in their eyes. That way her eyes looks like her mothers," Bran replied back.
Arya was shocked when she heard this, "Are you sure?" she asked.
Bran reached towards the table next to his bed and pulled out some hair. Myrcella gave it to him to show as proof. Handing it to Arya she delicately held the hair and looked at it from the light of the fire.
Most of the hair was of course Lannister blonde, but the very root and a small bit from the root that the hair was pulled was dark. As dark as that of the shadows of the closet.
"What color was her eyes when she removed the glass?" Arya asked her hand shaking.
"They were blue like the kings," Bran replied.
"Dark blue?" she asked.
"Stormy blue but blue all the same like any Baratheon. She said Tommen is the same as her with his hair and eyes." Bran said.
"What about Joffrey?" Arya asked.
"No Joffrey is the real deal nothing fake or hiding," Bran replied.
"So that means that Joffrey is a bastard then?" Arya said.
"Yeah, wait Arya if Joffrey is a bastard then he has no claim to the throne!" Bran said.
Suddenly there was a knock on the door and Arya quickly ran towards the window. Just as the door opened and Robb appeared.
"I knew someone was sneaking about," he said smirking. Arya breathed a sigh of relief as she climbed back into the room.
"What are you two doing up this late?" Robb asked.
"We were talking about the Princess," Arya replied.
"I know I heard it just before I came in. Now both of you off to bed it is late," Robb said.
Both Arya and Bran sighed as Arya was escorted out of the room by Robb.
LATER
Robb walked out into the courtyard doing his duties when he spotted a shadow going across the walls. Recognizing the figure Robb smirked as Bran headed towards Myrcella's room once again.
MYRCELLA'S ROOM
A knock on the window alerted Myrcella to her nightly visitor. Quickly going to the window she opened it up for Bran to enter. The boy was quick as he entered and quickly closed the window again.
"Are you ready?" Bran said to her.
Myrcella was wearing breeches instead of a dress. She borrowed them from Arya whom was nearly the same size. The girl was growing like a weed and at the age of eleven the same age as the princess herself. She was about the same size. So Myrcella was wearing the same clothes that Arya would wear. Bran led her out onto the window sill. She gasped at the sight of how high they are from the ground.
"I hope you are not letting the Princess go out the window Bran without proper training?" a voice said.
Bran quickly turned his head upwards to see Robb holding onto the side of the tower. His smirk was ever present as he held made his move into the room. Bran quickly gotten out of the way of his older brother before he too leaped into the building.
"Bran give me one good reason why I shouldn't be telling father of your late night adventures?" Robb asked.
"Myrcella and I wanted to see for ourselves the Queen and her brother. We saw them at the library Robb she was having sex with him." Bran said.
"I asked Bran if we could borrow the magic mirror that your Septa had hidden in her chambers. I heard that it can see into the past and it can record events of the present." Myrcella said to Robb.
"Bran what did father tell you about the mirror?" Robb asked.
"That it was dangerous," Bran said.
"Yes, it is dangerous and it should be used with extreme care," Robb replied.
"But Robb if we can prove the Queen was having an affair with her brother then Joffrey will be denounced as a bastard!" Bran said.
"That is no way to speak about the crowned prince Bran," Robb replied.
"But Robb if we can prove it then we can prove that Joffrey is not King Robert's son," Bran said.
"Now why are you saying this?" asked Robb.
"Because my brother is a monster! He would rather torture his people then rule them as a just king should. Mother forbids both Joffrey and Tommen from learning how to fight because she wants them at her side always. But I want to learn how to fight and so does my brother. We want to be a proper prince and princess to be worthy of our name. But Mother? She wants us to be weak and dependent on her. I think she wants us weak so that Joffrey can beat us. I wish….I just wish I was not allowed to dye my hair and to show my true parentage. I wish I didn't have to wear these glass contacts that hurt my eyes." she said now rubbing them.
"Dye your hair and glass in your eyes?" Robb said.
Slowly Myrcella took out the glass that was in her eyes. And Robb saw for the first time that her eyes were not green like how everyone thought, but stormy blue like the Kings. She then plucked a hair from her head and presented him to him. Robb took the hair and examined it and sure enough he saw the dark roots stemming from the golden locks.
Shock came to his face, "So it's true," he said.
"Yes its true I as well as my brother Tommen are the true heirs to the name Baratheon. My brother Joffrey is nothing more then a golden bastard. And I want to prove once and for all that my mother and my uncle are seeing each other in secret. To do that we need to find where they went," Myrcella said.
"I think I saw them heading towards the broken tower. Perhaps that is where they meet," Robb said.
"Then let's go!" Bran said going for the window.
Robb offered his back to Myrcella who can't climb and the princess reluctantly went to grab her.
"We should find Tommen first I am sure that he also would want to come," said Myrcella.
"I already have him," said another voice and they all looked towards the window to see Arya with Tommen waving.
"My Prince be careful!" Robb said to him.
"Don't worry Lord Robb, Lady Arya was teaching me how to climb. I have a safety rope to keep me safe," the prince said to him.
Sure enough Robb looked out the window to see the Prince was indeed tied to a rope. The rope was the safety rope that the Starks use to prevent fatal falls. And it helps with training the younger children in climbing.
"Very smart Arya! But what about the Princess?" he asked.
"Already covered," she said and held up another harness.
It took a few minutes to change the Princess's clothes into something more akin to climbing. She was in her night clothes but seeing as she was the same size as Arya it was not very difficult to change. The two girls looked alike in their clothes with Myrcella's hair in a braid and wrapped around her head like a hat. She looked rather silly but at least they can now travel.
Climbing down took time on behalf of the two royals but they managed to get down onto the lower levels.
As they climbed they saw the king in his bed. Several naked girls were sleeping soundly with only the last one being ridden hard by the king. The children gasped at the sight.
Robb snorted in disgust at the King for his disgusting example to the people of the North. He quietly guided his siblings and the royals away from the window further down towards the courtyard.
MEANWHILE
The hallways were quiet save for the sounds of the guards that frequent them. It was enough for the Septa to wonder them with caution. The Lannister men who are guarding the Queen have no idea that their lady had gone. The Septa knew it was only a matter of time before the forbidden lovers made a move. Looking at the courtyard below she could make out the figures of the lovers.
They were making their way towards the broken tower. It was also then she heard the laughter of King Robert and his many whores. Sighing to herself she was surprised to see the first snowfalls of the night.
It was common in the North for snow to fall during the summer. In fact the passing clouds that deposited the light snow was enough for the Septa to smile. She remembered going to the true north on occasion to see the world beyond the wall. In fact she was due to go there to pay a visit to her old friend the Three Eyed Raven.
As she looked around the castle she continued to do her rounds unaware of the events taking place near the children's lodging.
MEANWHILE
"Hurry up!" said Bran as Robb finished reaching the bottom of the tower.
"Well you try having someone on your back Bran!" Robb whispered to him.
"Shut it you two!" Arya said as Tommen was released from his harness. The pudgy boy was smiling head to toe.
"That was fun!" he said a little to loudly. It was only the sound of multiple "SHHH!" could be heard from everyone else.
"Oops!" he said.
"You need to keep quiet Tommen!" Myrcella scolded him her voice a whisper.
Tommen put his hands to his mouth and nodded.
"I've seen them head towards the broken tower. Maybe if we climb up the sides we can get a better view of them?" asked Bran.
"No, what we need is to see if they are actually in there then come in the morning to scout the area. We need to find evidence and for that we need to find a black mirror," Robb said.
"But first we need to see them actually in the tower," Arya said and the four of them nodded before running in the direction of the tower.
MEANWHILE
It was the movement that caught the Septa's attention. She was just about to enter the courtyard when she heard, "That was fun!"
Quickly she hid in the shadows to avoid detection. As she hid she spotted several figures scolding the form she had come to recognize as Young Prince Tommen. The others she easily recognized such as Bran, Arya and Robb Stark. What surprised her was young Princess Myrcella accompanied them as well.
Now what are they up to? She thought as she followed from the shadows.
THE BROKEN TOWER
"Remember to be quiet," said Robb to Arya and Tommen. Both of them nodded as they began their climb up towards the top. Bran being lighter was able to reach the window where he could see the light first. Robb had Myrcella on his back while Tommen was once again placed in a safety sling. When they reached the top the sounds of grunting could be heard.
All four heads hid as they climbed into the window. When they came around the corner they had hidden behind some broken debris. It was with luck that Myrcella's dress and hair were hidden under a dark cap. Tommen also hid his golden locks to hide them from being seen. The Starks hid in the rafters or behind another pile of debris.
The Queen was the first to enter. Already her long hair was being held by the Kingslayer as he crushed his lips to hers. His hands wondering around her body. Both royals held their hands to their mouths in horror at what they had seen. The Starks looked at them in disgust.
The Kingslayer continued to touch the Queen and her moans grew as he slipped his hands beneath her skirts.
When they got a bit too intimate the children hid when the Queen looked up. Only Robb who was hidden almost completely in shadow and an unknown figure that watched from the rooftops can see the spectacle full on.
When the Queen's cries of pleasure finally came to an end she started speaking.
"We leave in two days," she said.
"I know and I will only have one day with you before we are too busy to have time to ourselves," Ser Jaime said to her.
"Oh my love how can you say that? We can make time for ourselves," the Queen said.
"My beautiful sister don't forget that we will be constantly traveling across the North and then into the Riverlands. It would be with constant movement and I can't both protect the King and see you. He would bound to notice if this happens," he said.
"I don't fucken care about the King. He can screw himself to death with all those whores or maybe drown in wine for all I care!" she said rather loudly.
"You must be careful for sound travels through these stones," Ser Jaime said to her.
"Fuck the Starks and their bannermen what do I care." with that they watched as she put her hand to him.
"All I care about is us, everyone else is an enemy." she said.
"What about the children?" Ser Jaime said.
"I wish Myrcella and Tommen were from your seed, but alas I fear only Joffrey shares the same. He was born gold of hair you know with my eyes." Cersei said.
"Cersei, my love you know it is dangerous to consider it. If the King finds out that Joffrey is my son then..." Jaime said.
"Don't worry about the King, that fool would drink his way to oblivion before he finds out about us," the Queen said as she kissed Ser Jaime.
Robb turned towards the children and found their faces full of disgust. When the lovers left the tower they waited as their steps exited the tower. Bran even went to the window to ensure that they had left to go towards the keep before letting a sigh of relief.
"That is just disgusting!" said Tommen.
"I should say the Queen with her own brother...EEEEWWW!" Arya said.
"Keep your voice down Arya!" Robb scolded. Arya put her hands to her mouth but looked out and no one moved.
"So the rumors were true then. Joffrey is a bastard," Myrcella said as she came out of the shadows.
"Aye just like you said they are seeing each other," Robb replied.
"My, my this is quite the scene I see here," a voice said.
All of them turned at once with Rob, Bran and Arya placing themselves in front of the royals. A light suddenly is shown from a small object as the Septa of Ice made her appearance. Her face illuminated by the light of the small object that she carried.
"Is that a black mirror?" Tommen asked as he looked over Arya's shoulder.
"Indeed and thanks to you I have the evidence I need to see them both hanged. But there is a slight problem," the Septa said her voice a bit scolding as she came closer.
"Why are you children out of bed," she said.
LATER THAT NIGHT
"How could you let them go through with it!" Lord Stark roared at Robb.
Robb had his head down a face that was clearly ashamed for what they had witnessed, "I had no other option father. It was either they were supervised or they go on their own and someone gets hurt," Robb defended.
"Or you could have persuaded them to remain in bed," Lord Stark said.
"Don't you think I tried father? Ever since Bran saw them together in the library…." at that Lord Stark's hand went up.
"He saw them in the library?" he said and Robb nodded, "Both he and the princess saw them father. That is what he told me," Robb replied.
Taking a deep breath Lord Stark stared down his son, "Bran already put himself at risk as well as the princess for his foolish actions. You were lucky this time but what about next time? You have to learn how to think Robb a Northman must be ready at all costs. Bran knows this and so do you. The royals were also put at risk when you climbed the tower and worse! You had them spy on their own mother and uncle! If the King were to know of this they would be put to the sword!" Lord Stark said.
Robb hung his head, "I know Bran told you about Myrcella and Tommen, but I just wanted to prove they were doing it. I wanted to be the one to go to Casterly Rock and show Lord Tywin what his children are doing," Robb said.
"And what if Lord Tywin didn't listen had you considered that?" Lord Stark said.
"No, father," Robb replied.
"You need to learn Robb that you are a man grown not a boy anymore and your actions have consequences. Now go to your room and when you get up in the morning report to Lord Tyrion he will have your punishment ready." he said dismissing his son.
Robb huffed as he made his way out of the room. The other children watched the oldest son of Ned Stark storm his way to his chambers.
"Bran!" he called to his next son. Bran hung his head as he walked into the room to get his punishment.
THE NEXT MORNING
"This sucks!" Arya said as she, Bran and Robb were busy helping Lord Tyrion clean the toilets in the library.
That's right toilets!
Because the Library of Winter is so large and so deep underground there are privy's built on every level for everyone to use. There was even special ones for the women and the crippled.
And all three Stark Children were forced to clean the privy's of all the levels.
Bran who could not contain his stomach put his head into one and began to puke his guts out. Arya took deep breaths to keep her stomach in tact. Robb did the same for they were in this together.
The Royals were no different as they were punished in their own rights by their mother. It seems as if Lord Stark had informed the King and Queen of their children leaving their rooms. Thankfully he did not tell them where they really were. He only told the Royal couple that they had been sighted by the Winterfell Guards for leaving the grounds. The Queen was angered and wanted the men who was supposed to guard them dead. However it was the King who found that to be folly.
"They are just children and all children cause mischief once in a while so shut it woman!" the King bellowed.
The argument was loud between the couple which ended in the Queen being struck by the King.
The Queen glared daggers at her husband but he glared at her. "All Children act up woman now get a hold of yourself," he said.
Myrcella and Tommen were confined to their rooms and were not allowed to see anyone not even their siblings and father. Joffrey was laughing at them for this folly but the Queen had forbidden him from seeing them. That was the only relief for both royal siblings.
The Starks on the other hand…..
LIBRARY BATHROOMS
"Bran stop it I will get sick if you keep puking," Arya said.
"I….can't…..help….it!" Bran said between heaves.
Both siblings sighed as their brother was sick to his stomach. They had only gotten to the third floor from the bottom when the sound of flushing was heard. All the Stark siblings turned to see a very fat maester exit from the one on the far side.
The largest one.
"Oh shit!" Arya cursed.
SOMETIME LATER
"Awk! I don't want to ever clean those toilets again!" Arya complained as they exited the library.
The servants gave them a wide berth at not only the smell on all three siblings but their appearance. When they entered the great hall all activity stopped as people turned towards the three that entered. Though the faces did not betray much the twitching hands did.
"You stink!" a high pitch voice said and little Rickon was quickly hushed by Lady Catelyn as she gave her son a quick scolding.
"But mother they do stink they smell like poop!" Rickon said to her.
"Now dear you need to learn some manners it is not polite to say things in front of everyone," Catelyn said to them.
"Yes, mother," the six year old said to them.
"As for you three I hope this will teach you all a lesson about sneaking out at night?" she stood up glaring at all three of them.
"Yes mother," they said together.
"You will remember to report to Lord Tyrion first thing tomorrow morning is that understood?" she said
"Yes mother," they all said.
"No go on and take a bath you really do stink," she said holding her disdain for the smell.
All three of them exited the room much to the relief of the servants, "Someone please open the door and the windows I don't want the smell to permeate the room," she said.
LATER THAT NIGHT
"So did your mirror catch anything?" Lord Stark asked.
"It caught some but I was above them so the mirror only caught the tops of their heads. It was at a bad angle that it saw them," the Septa replied.
"We need to get to a place where the mirror can catch them fully but where?" asked Lord Stark.
"I know they are going to the tower often perhaps I can get up there and place the mirror where they can't see," she said.
"Perhaps, but do be careful Shifu we don't want our girls to think you died yet again of a tragic accident," Lord Stark said.
"How can one forget," she said as she walked out of Lord Stark's solar towards her destination.
The Broken Tower has always been a place of meditation. But it's appearance is only deceiving. It appeared broken but in actuality it is a training tower to help the students learn to climb towers without aid. The stairs is where the instructor will be sat and instructed his students. The broken things in the tower and the many pieces of trash all over the empty tower are proof that the tower was used more for training or….other activities.
The Septa carefully looked around and saw that no one is in sight.
Now where to hide it? She thought as she looked around till finally she spotted a small ledge hidden from the light. It was here that she planted her mirror and turned on the timer.
Now if my calculations are correct then they should be here around mid day. That when the King goes on his hunt with Lord Stark tomorrow she thought as she smiled to herself.
Turning around she walked out of the tower hidden from view. She made her way towards her chambers deep underground. There she opened the door and walked in. As she walked in she made sure to lock it behind her just in case. Once in she flipped the old switch on the side and the candles lit up once again illuminating the room in the same faint glow as before.
"Now let the games begin," she said.
LATER THAT NIGHT
"Lord Stark! Lord Stark!" Maester Luwin's voice said as he pounded on Lord Stark's door.
Getting up from his furs he called the Maester in. The Maester looked put out when he entered. But when he did he carried a scroll with him.
"What is it?" Lord Stark said as the Maester quickly handed the scroll to him, "A messenger came just now to deliver this," he said.
Lord Stark looked at it before handing it to Catelyn, "It is from the Eerie," he said and sure enough when Catelyn looked the dark blue falcon flying across the moon was shown.
"Thank you Maester," Lord Stark said and he bowed before leaving. His gait was long and tired.
"What does it say love," Lord Stark said as he turned towards his wife.
"It is from my sister Lysa she says that the Lannisters are the ones who killed Jon Aryn...but I know for a fact that something does not smell right," Catelyn said.
"I agree something does not smell right at all," was what Lord Stark said.
"What do you mean?" Catelyn said.
"Didn't you say that your sister was often considered crazy after her marriage to Jon Arynn?" Lord Stark asked his wife.
"Yes, I've heard she had not been right in the head since the death of her children. Varys informed me that she had been visiting someone." Catelyn said.
"Does he know who?" Lord Stark asked.
"No, I don't but I can find out," Catelyn said.
"I hope so Cat for our sake as well as our families," Lord Stark replied.
THE NEXT DAY
"Mom how come Robb gets to go hunting with the King while we are stuck at home scrubbing toilets!" Arya complained while she was eating with Catelyn.
"Because Robb is heir to Winterfell and future Warden of the North. He has to be with your father when the King goes out to hunt, and the King felt that he intruded on us long enough so he wanted to repay us by helping us stock up on stores." Catelyn said.
"Will father go south with him?" Arya asked.
"No, your father made that loud and clear with him," Catelyn said.
"So why are they going hunting?" this time it was Bran who asked.
"The King feels bad for using up our stores for the winter. So he decided to go on a hunt to replenish our supplies and luckily your father knows where to take him that won't let him discover our secret." Catelyn told her son.
"The North remembers," Bran recited.
"The North remembers and the North also remembers that you two still have several toilets to clean?" Catelyn said with a smirk.
Just as she said it a horn sounded announcing the departure of the King. Then as one the King's men and the men of Winterfell all marched out towards the Wolf's Wood to start the hunt.
Groaning Arya went into the direction of the library while Bran went to put Summer back in his pen.
On the way back towards the pens however he looked up at the broken tower. Bran knew he was breaking a rule for doing it but he had to know for sure. So he started to climb and using the foot holes in the wall that they use for training. Summer started whimpering as he climbed but Bran ignored the pup and continued to climb towards the top. As he did he could hear the sounds of someone moaning.
Grinning to himself that he caught them again he started to make his way towards them…
MEANWHILE
Tyrion Lannister waited patiently for Brandon Stark to show himself. With him was the Septa of Ice. Already she had Arya cleaning the twentieth floor privy's much to the girl's dismay.
"Brandon is late," Tyrion said.
"It would seem so," the Septa said as she walked out from the entrance to the Library.
"How is Lady Arya doing?" he asked.
"She has already started and I made sure she is kept under close watch by one of the older children. But Brandon is usually here on time. So where is he and why is he taking so long?" Tyrion asked.
"I will watch the library you can look for him Lord Tyrion," the Septa offered.
Tyrion nodded as he walked out towards the entrance.
MEANWHILE
Bran was just at the window. The sounds of grunting and moaning filled his ears as he peeked once again into the window. Trying to stay out of sight he caught sight of Ser Jaime once again with the Queen. Both of them giving sounds of pleasure as he was thrusting into her. Bran watched in fascination and cursed himself for not getting a black mirror.
But as he watched however his fascination made him fail to realize one important flaw.
Stealth.
While in the throws of passion Ser Jaime who had mounted her like a hound. Lifted her up so he could give her the best pleasure when Bran's shadow over came them. The Queen who had not noticed at first gasped in alarm at the sight of Bran.
Knowing he was caught Bran was petrified when she ordered Jaime to stop. When Bran went to climb down Jaime's arm reached out and snatched him. Bran struggled when he was pulled once again into the window.
"He saw us!" the queen said to him.
"How old are you boy?" he asked.
"Ten," Bran said nervous.
"Quite the climber you are," Ser Jaime said to him.
"He saw us!" the Queen shrieked.
"I heard you the first time," Ser Jaime said.
Bran was about to start climbing down when Ser Jaime's hand shot out again and caught him.
"The things I do for love," he said and shoved Bran out the window towards the ground below.
All he saw was black when he hit the ground.
MEANWHILE
The Septa was making her rounds around the castle. After Tyrion returned empty handed they both decided to switch places. Tyrion had other duties to take care of leaving the Septa to do her duty. The King's presence has forced her to train her girls in secret as to hide their true fighting prowess. But when she rounded the corner she could hear one of the direwolf pups barking in alarm. Something in the way the wolf was howling and crying alerted her that something was wrong. Running as fast as she could across the grounds she was the first to find Bran on the ground.
"SOMEONE SEND FOR THE MAESTER NOW!" she shouted.
Several guards showed up and one of the passing servants ran to find the Maester.
"You! Get a stretcher and under no circumstance must you move him," she said to a guard.
The girl returned with the maester along with a stretcher to carry the boy in. The guards remembering their training in the medical field helped roll Bran onto the stretcher before hauling him off towards the Maester's tower. Another servant went to fetch Lady Stark while a third under the Maester's orders went to fetch Arya.
MAESTER'S TOWER
It was not even twenty minutes later that Lady Stark along with her daughter burst into the room. Arya knowing that she would be needed hurried towards the bath area. It was an area used to clean one's self off for surgery. Since she was cleaning toilets that has come as no surprise. So as soon as she was cleaned and properly dressed she raced into the room. Her training with the Septa on emergency aid has helped and she was often seen helping the Maester since her hands are small.
"Lady Stark I need you to get the tools used for spinal surgery," the Maester said.
Arya quickly ran as fast as she could to get the tools needed.
"Lady Catelyn I need you to bind young Bran's ankles and wrists so that way he does not move," the Maester said.
Catelyn knew her medical training came in handy and now was the time to use it. She began to strap him down having already changed into the proper clothes to help with the surgery.
"Lady Catelyn I need you to feel along his head and see if there are any injuries there," he said to her while she felt along his temples and then the back of his head.
"There is a growing bump and I see some blood," she said.
Cursing the Maester quickly gave her some shears and knowing what to do began to trim away at Bran's hair to get to the wound. Once she trimmed away most of his hair the wound was there to see.
The gash was quite large and blood was pouring out. Thankfully the moss and mud had cushioned his fall saving his life. If he had hit any of the rocks he would have surely perished underneath. Quickly Catelyn started probing for other things such as where there any fractures to his skull and if there is any breaks in his vertebrae. As she searched she found only signs of concussion.
"I don't see any permanent damage but I do see some signs of concussion," she said.
"That is good the stitching equipment is there if he needs stitches," the Maester said as he felt along Bran's spine.
"I brought the venom you requested," this time if was Robb that broke through the door.
"Good bring it here," he said.
Robb quickly turned to the Maester as he pulled out a strange device with a needle attached to it. Squeezing the large wide side of it he quickly injected it into Bran's back. The boy remained unmoving throughout the whole ordeal as the Maester continued to feel along Bran's back.
"Lord Robb you've studied Warging is that right?" the Maester asked.
"Yes Maester," Robb replied.
"Good do you possess any warging abilities?" he asked.
"Yes sir," Robb asked.
"Good, I need you to warg into one of the bats that I keep in my tower. I will need their help to find where the break is," the Maester said.
Lady Stark watched as her oldest son's eyes had gone white as he warged into a bat. She heard the flapping of wings as a bat landed softly on Bran's back. Its mouth moving at a rapid rate while its icy white fur glistened. She watched the creature's ears twitch this way and that till finally it flown off and Robb's eyes returned to normal.
"There is a break here Maester!" he said pointing to a spot along Bran's now bare back.
"Good anything I should know," the Maester said.
"It is dislocated and a piece of the bone has pierced the nerve here," Robb said.
The Maester cursed as he reached for his tools. He then injected more of that venom that Robb asked about into the spine before making his cuts.
The venom itself is both a numbing and a blood clotting agent. The straight stinger that was used did its work while both he and Arya started treating Bran's afflictions. As the Maester started to work he could feel the back swelling meaning things are working to their favor. The swelling will help with pulling away the flesh from the spine allowing the Maester to remove the bone.
When he gotten down to where he wants to be he could see the break in the boy's spine.
If this was the south or the citadel then Bran would have been a cripple for the rest of his life.
But he was in the North, and the Maester used the ancient knowledge that he had learned from the library of Winter to help him.
Using a lamp with a mirror that reflects sunlight into the room he began to work.
"Lady Arya you know what you must do right," he said to her.
"Yes, Maester remove the bone from the nerve," she said.
"And any other pieces that are broken in there," he said as he started to make his mixture.
Arya's hands were shaking as she stared into the bloody hole that was Bran's back. She knew the risks for a child of eleven years doing the work of a master surgeon. But the Maester needed someone with smaller hands. Plus it was part of the women's fieldwork training making them ready to help the men as well as fight.
Arya breathed slowly with her mask in place. She had a cloth wrapped around her face to protect it from any blood or fluids that might squirt out of Bran's back. Taking deep breaths to calm herself she was ready to do this. After all they had practiced on animals and dead things. Now was the time to practice on a live human.
Not just any human, her own brother.
If she does not do this then Bran will forever be paralyzed and with winter coming they can't do this to him. So without further cause she started using the tweezers given to her by the Maester to start removing the bone.
Piece by piece she took out the bones that had broken and chipped along the wound. The broken spine was evident on Bran. She knew what she had to find and after what felt like hours of digging she finally found it.
There after taking out all the broken pieces she found that one piece that mattered most. She remembered reading about nerves in the library the strings in the body that allows one to feel pain and helps with movement. The ancient books they had studied said that without them men could not function, and remembered that the ones for the spine are the most important ones. They help a man to walk and fight and without them a man was nothing more then a cripple. Any damage to them was like death to a future warrior.
So Arya carefully reached with the tweezers and started to pull on the bone. Using her other hand with the other tweezers she pulled the flesh away to allow for safe removal. When she removed the bone she had a happy face attached to it.
"I did it!" she said to the Maester.
"Good now put that one here and I will do the rest," the Maester said.
Arya quickly put the large chunk of bone where it should be, and watched as the Maester put something in the place of the broken spine. Two rods of flesh has hard as steel as well as a strange spongy substance into where the bone was removed.
"Lady Catelyn I need you to stitch this up for me," he said to Catelyn.
Giving her the needle and string lady Catelyn started to sew up the wounds using the curved needle to expertly bring the flesh together. Arya could see that Bran's hair was removed from the top of his head to relieve him of the stitches. When he was stitched up he was fine and his face looked pale but peaceful.
"He will sleep here for the night to see if the danger has past. We had done all we can for now and I suggest we all get some rest," the Maester said.
LATER
"Robb what are you doing back early?" asked Catelyn as they were cleaning themselves up from the blood and gore.
"One of the men had gotten hurt while on the hunt. Father sent me to tend to him while they continued. I only just got back when word got to me about Bran," Robb replied as he finished dressing in his regular tunic and breeches.
"Well how is the man you brought to the Maester?" asked Arya.
"He will live that gash was nasty but he will live. The stag got him across the gut and thankfully not deep enough for his intestines to spill," replied Robb.
"I guess I have to go back to cleaning toilets after this," Arya said.
"No I think you are done for today dear. Inform Lord Tyrion of what happened and the Septa must know of this as well. As for the Queen inform her that Bran is unconscious but he will live. I am sure she is full of worry as to why I have left the solar suddenly," Catelyn said to her youngest daughter.
When Arya left to fulfill her duties she was left with Robb.
"Do you think the queen….?" Robb did not finish before Catelyn cursed.
"That foolish child what was he thinking! He knows full well what happened last time and he did not listen! When he walks again he will be cleaning all the toilets in the library himself!" Catelyn said her fury was evident.
Suddenly a knock was heard and three heads poked in.
"Is Bran going to be ok? We just heard what had happened," said Princess Myrcella. Behind her were Prince Tommen and little Rickon.
Her anger suddenly vanished and her smile at the three became evident.
"The Maester said if the mud had not cushioned his fall he would have perished. But he will not be able to walk if he awakens," Catelyn said.
"Can we see him?" Rickon asked.
"I'm afraid not sweetling for he is right no\w under watch of the Maester. Bran had a bad fall and did not wake up. The Maester will take care of him until he is ready to see visitors," his mother said.
"Ok," downtrodden Rickon was suddenly lifted up by Robb.
"Don't worry yourself Rickon soon Bran will be able to play with you again," Robb said to him.
"I wish he could play now," Rickon said.
"I know sweetling but Bran needs his rest and when he wakes we can come in to say hello ok?" Catelyn said to him.
"Ok, mamma," Rickon said.
"I better ride out to inform Father and the King of what happened," Robb said as he made his way out.
"Be careful Robb," Catelyn replied.
"Oh I will," Robb replied.
LATER THAT NIGHT
When Lord Stark returned after hearing about Bran Catelyn quickly filled him in on what happened. At first he was surprised then he was enraged.
"Who could have done this!" he said.
"If it is my sister who had done this rest assured the King must know," said Lord Tyrion.
"As if Robert would believe such things. Even if he did he can't do anything about it because Tywin Lannister is backing him," said Lord Stark.
"My father will only back them so long as he was faithful and loyal to my sister which we all know he was not. And also my father knows this too but doesn't care. However if we were to show proof of my sister's betrayal then my father has no choice but to banish them both." Lord Tyrion said.
"Why are you so against your siblings Lord Tyrion? Surely you must have some spark of love for them?" Lady Catelyn said to the dwarf.
"I have love for my brother Jaime for he was the only one who loves me. My sister and my father on the other hand don't give two shits about me. My aunt and my uncle also care about me, but not as much as Jaime did. But even I can't forgive him for harming a child all because he wants a quick fuck with his sister. To harm an innocent child for the sake of a sick twisted sense of love has gone too far in my opinion," Lord Tyrion replied.
"Surely you must have known growing up with them?" asked Catelyn.
"I had seen the signs my Lady and had I known they had truly been fucking each other then rest assure you that I had no idea they had gone so far. But if they truly did the unthinkable we need proof," Tyrion said.
"How can we get proof?" asked Ser Rodrick.
"Am I interrupting something?" a voice said and they turned to see the Septa as she entered the chamber. She was followed by the Maester.
"Maester how is Bran?" asked Catelyn.
"He will be fine Princess Myrcella and Prince Tommen are watching him. The direwolves are with them also to keep him safe for I fear that whoever did this will try to finish the job," the Maester said.
"I believe I know who did it and I have proof," said the Septa as she produced something from her sleeve.
"A Black Mirror!" said Catelyn in surprise as she stood up.
"I placed one in the tower in case the two are meeting there again. You should see what the mirror has seen," the Septa said.
She ran her finger along the mirror's surface again to show the image there. Then with a flick of her finger pressed the appropriate symbols. Then it lit up to the image of the window in the broken tower. There they watched the scene unfold once again from start to finish. When it was over some of them wanted retribution.
It was only with a raised hand that Lord Stark silenced the room.
"This act of treason must not go unpunished but we must act carefully. After all Cersei Lannister is the Queen and wife to Robert Baratheon. If we show this to the King I am sure that retribution will be at hand. But the Lannisters are not as forgiving as one sees fit. We need to act carefully. Lord Tyrion since you are the second son of Tywin Lannister you know him best. Tell us how long has it been since you were at Casterly Rock?" Lord Stark said to him.
"Many years my lord. Fourteen to be exact I left when I was not even twenty my lord," Tyrion said.
"I remember Lord Tywin was most cross with you and tried to get you back. But we held him at bay until he agree to allow you to remain here," Lord Stark said smiling.
"My father does not forget so easily but he often times remembers his place when dealing with a much more powerful house. Besides the Greyjoys gave him a run for his money at that same moment if I recall correctly," he smiled.
"He remembers his place normally he won't even back down from such a challenge?" Lord Stark said.
"He remembers because the North is nearly a third of the continent. We have the largest nation and the largest army. Father doesn't know about the second one but he remembers the first. I won't put it past him to try something stupid," Tyrion said.
"He already did remember? Try to slay me in my sleep and ended up with several heads on his dinner table instead. But as far as I know he will believe you if you show these to him?" Lord Stark replied.
"He would have no choice my lord the Mirrors only show the truth. And when he gazes on them he will only see the truth. He can't hide behind it. He can rant about sorcery all he wants but the mirrors can only do what they are made to do." Tyrion said.
"The time will come when Tywin will have to listen. Until then all we can do is pray for Bran's recovery," Lord Stark said.
Catelyn and the others can only agree.
TBC
A/n: Whew that was going to be a lengthy one! Wow anyways how was everyone's new year? Mine was boring because I had to work. And as always please leave a review and remember no FLAMES, BASHINGS OR LORE MONGERS PLEASE! Thanks.