He came to a halt outside of Bran's room, they were all there, all his children. They were all there, Sansa and Rickon huddled close to Robb, Jon with his arm around Arya's shoulders. Further down he could see Theon pacing hesitantly. Seeing them all there was like taking a blow to the chest from Rob's warhammer.

Blinking he became aware that Cat was speaking to them. He was too dazed to make out the words but he still picked up on the look she sent Jon.

Realising he could break down if he looked at them in the eye he just gave a brief nod and followed his wife into Bran's room. He almost walked into her as she had stopped just inside the door way, her hand not fully masking the noise that came from her mouth. Instinctively he turned to close the door but not before catching Robb's eye. Thankfully there was enough momentum for the door to keep closing by itself but he still found himself staring towards his oldest. "He is still growing his beard." Blinking he realised he was looking at a closed door. Turning towards his son's bed he found himself blinking again as he took in the state of his son.

The boy was lying flat on his back and his eyes, dear gods his eyes. It was like he was blinking but in the most horrifying way possible. His eyes flickering back and forth from normal to almost pure white, like they were being temporarily replaced by marbles. Luwin was faithfully hovering over him whilest Septa Mordane stood with her hands clasped close to the side wall.

His wife was already by Bran's side, nearly shoving Luwin completely out of the way."Luwin what is wrong with my boy!?"

The old man looked concerned which was enough to make his blood go cold, it was rare to see the maester look fazed. "He appears to have a seizure of some kind I dare not give him milk of the poppy without knowing how it will effect his condition." He looked up at the two parents. "Has he had any accidents recently? Perhaps a fall during one of his climbs?"

He shook his head and saw his wife do the same. "Not that I'm aware of, he has always been ..." Suddenly it all came back, Rob's visit, the direwolves, Bran lying unconscious in his bed. Feeling pressure on his arms he came back to his senses to see Cat on one side of him, Luwin on the other, both with hands on his arms.

"I think you should sit down my lord." The two eased back to Bran's chair beside his desk, and as much as he wanted to he did not have the strength to protest. "How are you feeling my lord? Any dizziness, or lack of strength?"

"He had trouble sleeping last night, woke himself from a bad dream which he has not done in years."

Even though he still felt disjointed he looked up at his wife. "Wait what are you talking about? When have I ever woken up from that?"

She gave him the patient smile she only retained for when she though he had said something silly. "Another time Ned."

"Nether less I will have someone bring you up some light food for breakfast. And with your permission my lord I am going to need to check my books to see if I can find anything to give guidance." Giving Luwin a brief nod he watched as stride out the door the best his body allowed Ned turned back to the bed to see Cat make her way back over to it. Slowly she sat beside their son placing one hand on his head whiles the the other gripped the boy's hand. He could hear words coming out of her mouth but they were too low to make out. Probably a prayer to the seven. Could it be the old gods that had sent him back? The seven even?

Shaking his head to clear it he tried focus on what was happening in front of him. "It will be alright Cat, Bran is strong he will pull through this."

"How can you know that Ned? Even Luwin doesn't even know what this is, even if it is natural or if someone did this to him."

He felt his brow furrow in confusion. "Did this to him? Cat you can't think he was poisoned. By whom?"

She looked up at her husband and the look of malice in her eyes caught him by surprise. "By someone who would benefit from having him out of the way, someone who wants to take what isn't rightfully his."

But that didn't make any sense, the Lannisters hadn't been here yet who could she possibly be ... no. He rose from the seat, causing it to rock slightly as he desperately tried to keep his composure. "Cat listen to me because I only expect to ever say this once. Jon may not have your blood in him but he has mine and he would as soon as hurt Bran as Rob would. If you had bothered to get to know him, to actually see what type of man he was you would have seen that."

He could tell she wanted to respond but she must have seen something in his face to suggest it wasn't a good idea. The Septa did not seem to be able to since his mood quite as well. "My lady has a right to be suspicious my lord, it is in a bastard's nature...

"Stop!" He rounded onto the Septa who took a step back, pressing herself against the wall "Not another word. If I find out you have been trying to feed my daughters this same poison I will personally see you escorted back to..." He suddenly realised that despite all theses years he did not even know where the woman hailed from or even if she had family somewhere.

He sighed, he really could something to eat he couldn't even recall when he last had anything. They had hardly feed him at all in the black cells. But he hadn't been in the black cells had he? Atleast his body hadn't been. Could it all have just been a dream? A bad nightmare? He sighed running a hand down his face. "Get out. Make yourself useful and get the children down to the hall for breakfast.

"Ned you can't..."

"Last I checked I was the Lord of this castle, only reason I even allowed her to stay was because I knew it made you happy." The two woman looked at him in stunned silence before the septa gave a quick bow and left the two parents in the room. Cat stared at him but then shook herself slightly and looked back at their son.

He went over to the other side of the bed "Bran, Bran my boy can you hear me? Can you hear us? We're right here."

There was no response just the same his wife looked up and across with him in despair. "What do you think is wrong with our boy Ned?"

"I don't know I don't understand any of this, none of it makes sense." He looked up at his wife, his partner for nearly 18 years. "But we will work through this together. The pack will survive, our family will survive. And winter will come for anyone who tries to make it otherwise." He turned back towards their son missing the look of fear and confusion that his wife was giving him.

Sometime later.

Hearing a knock he saw a servant walk in with two bowls. It was not much but the smell had him almost salivating, with just a nod in thanks he wolfed it down. They had feed him a bit towards the end to make sure he had enough strength to make his confession. Looking up between mouthfuls he saw Cat staring at him with a look she usually reserved for their children. Actually his mother had used a similar look on him and his brothers and sister. "Sorry it just a feels like I haven't eaten for awhile."

"Ned is this really the time?" Looking up he saw the slight blush on his wife's face he realised she must have misinterpreted what he was referring to. Wiping his mouth he gave her a brief smile before sitting his bowl down. "I can't stay here Cat as much as I wish to. The other children must be getting worried and I can check on Luwin as well."

Only getting a brief nod he moved around the bed to place a gentle kiss on her forehead. "It will be alright Cat you'll see."

Walking down the hallway he felt guilty for what he was about to do but he could not put it off, he needed to get to his study. He was so caught up in his thoughts he was shocked to find himself bumping into someone. Reaching out he managed to grab the woman before she completely toppled over, only then realising who it was. "I'm sorry Old Nan." Helping her to stand straight up. "Are you all right?"

She gave him a soft smile. "I am fine my lord, I know you have a lot on your mind. Is there any word on the little lord?"

He smiled down fondly in return at the woman who seemed to be as much a part of Winterfell as the stones that built it. A face he had thought he had seen for the last time even before that day at the Sept. "No but he is strong, I have no doubt we will see him climbing again in no time.

"He has my prayers my Lord as I'm sure he does from everyone else in the castle."

"Thank you, you've always been good to him, to all my children." He paused a thought forming in his mind. "Maybe you can do something. Bran's eyes are changing back and forth from normal to completely white to normal again. Luwin is looking in his books and scrolls but I was wandering if you had ever heard of anything like it." He knew he was grasping but considering what had happened to him...

She closed her eyes, when she reopened them they were wider then normal, her face having gone pale. "There are stories of skinchangers my lord whose eyes turn that colour when they have warged into a creature. They say that the longer that a person is in a creature the more they are at risk of loosing themself. Of not coming out." She shook her head fearfully. "I'm sorry my lord but I swear I know no more"

Bran oh gods Bran what was happening to you? "Can you think of anyone who might?"

"The crannognmen are long believed to have remained close to the Children of the Forrest, even after they disappeared elsewhere south of the wall. If anyone had the answer it would be them."

He stepped back and took a breath. "What you have said is of great help Old Nan. Thank you." Howland Reed of course. Deep in though he walked off, grabbing hold of a servant passing by. "I need you to find Jory Cassel and send him to my solar immediately."

He was vaguely aware of the door closing as he entered his solar. Hurrying over to his desk he looked at the latest messages and notes. Finding one with a date he sat down heavily in his chair. No one had told him how long he had been in the black cells but if Robb was marching south it had to be two months atleast. Calling the banners of Northern houses was no easy task with the distances involved. Best he could tell it was 7 months before Robert turned up. Why that long? Why not longer or shorter? Shaking his head he concentrated on a more important matter of what the hell was he going to write. How much detail did he go into?

He'd just done his second version when a knock at the door interrupted his thoughts. Seeing it was Jory he once again found himself tongue tied, images of him lying in the street of Kings Landing as the smug bastard ...

"My lord?"

He blinked, realising Jory was standing there awaiting orders. "Jory I want you you go down to Moat Cailin with this message and a Stark banner flag to fly off what's left of the eastern battlements. You are not to leave till one of the crannognmen pick it up. In fact don't leave till you get a response or Lord Reed joins you " He paused for a second. "Take Alyn or Hallis down with you in case you have any problems. Try and get a look around the place while you wait. See how much usuable stone there still is, and check out the Drunken Tower. I'm curious how stable it actually it is."

"Yes my lord."

"Jory." He felt his tongue dry up in his throat. What do say to someone you had gotten killed? "I don't think I've ever thanked you for all you have done for this family. Your father would be proud."

Some dust seemed to have gotten caught in the man's eyes as he tried to stand straighter. "Thank you my Lord, it has been an honour. I will leave immediately."

Sitting back in his chair he was in deep thought. When he heard knocking at his door which turned out to be Luwin. "I came to check on you my lord your wife had said you would be with the children."

Ohh gods he had forgotten about the rest of his children. "Thank you Luwin. Has there been any change? Were you able to find anything?"

"His temperature has improved but his eyes are still ... changing. " The old man shook his head. "I hate to say it my Lord but I still have no idea what alles him."

He had to tread carefully here. "What if it is not an ailment as such. There have always been stories that the Starks of old had certain abilities. Abilities from the old days, back from when my ancestor married the daughter of a wildling King."

His old confidant gave him a sad smile. "It is natural for one to reach to folklore and tales when a medical solution is not readably available. But I believe one will be found either by myself or the citadel." The maester eyed him suspiciously. "Would this by any chance be coming from talking to Old Nan?"

He found himself shuffling in his chair. "Be that as it may I have taken other steps. That is why Jory is on his way to Moat Cailin to try and raise Lord Reed. I realise it will take time, time that Bran may not have, but I must do what I can. Besides there are other matters I need to discuss with him"

Luwin looked at him, but what ever question was on his lips died when the door opened to see a very angry Catlin looking a him. "Ned Stark you said you were going to speak to the children."

Ohh now he was in trouble.

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