BRAN

That morning had somehow seemed colder than it really was, after Bran's father had beheaded the deserter, on the way back to Winterfell they saw six Riders with a banner that was as black as night with two swords crossing over and a long bow in the middle, there was only one group that had that. The Draegar Rangers, old Nan had told them tales of them, they were supposedly sworn swords to the king, though when Robert Baratheon revolted against the mad king Rhaegar Targaryen, the rangers joined him and fought against rhaegar by ambushing his troops, turning the tide of the battle at storms end, sabotaging the red keep and in the grand scheme of things winning the war. But that was supposed to be a story. When the rangers rode up to them it seemed there were actually nine, six men one woman and 1 small boy and a girl about Bran's age. (Links on my profile for pics)One of the men, looking like the leader said" hello lord Stark, you remember me Garrett Hawke, The Draegar Dragonborn-"" but they're not real, are they?" Bran said. The ranger turned and said" tell me bran what does a Dragonborn keep with them at all times hmm" " a-" the ranger pulled out a golden ring with a ruby red as blood that was in the shape of a dragons head. Garrett said "Ned I need to ask one last favor, help us defeat the lich king." Robb who always could look fear in the face and laugh, looked quite scared, and Bran's half brother Jon snow, said "lord stark if I may be so bold as to say, why would he ask for help with something he knew wasn't real . Bran's father said" the lich king is a myth" "Ned wake up, I've seen him kill thousands of men in an instant he's real". "We'll talk on the way back,it's bloody freezing out here". So they set off for Winterfell once more,while they were coming up on a bridge they heard a sound in the woods next to them Jon dismounted and walked carefully down the small trail, the rest of them dismounted and followed. Jon called back up to them "Lord Stark! you should see this" Bran stepped down, a Direwolf with a pair of antlers in it's neck the blood dried in it's fur standing the hairs out under it's neck was what they had in store waiting for them by a small creek"There are five pups, one for each of the stark children" Jon picked one up and handed him to Bran "they're mother is dead they won't survive" lord Stark picked him up out of Bran's hand with knife in hand "NO" Bran shouted,Jon said "lord stark i believe they were meant to have these pups" Bran's father frowned and said"you will feed them yourselves, you will clean them yourselves, and if they die you will bury them yourselves" Bran muttered "that won't happen"Jon started to pick them up and hand them to Bran's brother, they were about to be off when Bran heard a scuffle, Jon heard it too he walked back down to find that there was another, white as snow with red eyes. Theon said"the runt of the litter that one's yours snow" as their horses walked along a clearing in the army of trees.

" come on, back on your horses and then were off" a short while afterwards Garrett said to bran " do you know the tale of the lich king?" " no nan never told it to me" "hmm well next time ask it of her" "i will" as they trotted along on their horses Bran could see the walls of winterfell the impregnable castle was a welcome sight to him. Later they were inside the castle at the lord's Bran had stabled his horse he walked over to the practice yard and picked up a practice sword,Garrett saw him and said" i have no doubt you are quite good at swordplay but practice is always good""do you want to fight?""sure"Bran replied Garrett picked up a practice sword and started off with a right,left,left Bran parried with his shield and fought back with a downward slash,a thrust and a right slash Garrett dodged all three strikes and caught him in the shoulder "ouch!"Bran yelped, "sorry Bran are you alright" "yes"Bran replied Robb walked up to them" Beating on my little brother eh!" he said with a smirk "step into the ring i'll wipe that smirk right off your face" Robb laughed at that he hopped over the fence and picked up a sword "alright then, i accept your challenge" he held his sword at the waist pointed upward Robb attacked first with a right,left,left combination which was countered by Garrett with a right slash and a uppercut. Robb dodged and fought him back with a series of thrusts and cuts that only hit air,6 minutes into it Garrett faked a downward strike to distract Robb then he tripped him, Robb fell face first in the ground, Bran shook with laughter and turned to go inside he walked through so many hallways he thought it would never end until he came upon a hallway that trailed echoes of a arguement he heard someone laugh,"oh, so you think it's a joke!" someone yelled,"no,i-" "will you two shut up!,please!" Bran walked toward the sound it increased in volume and intensity He kept getting closer and closer until it was right in front of him,He was about to open the door when he heard footsteps in the next corridor, He quickly turned and jogged quickly down the hallway he turned one corner and hid behind a wall could hear the footsteps getting closer, He turned the corner to get a look at who was there.

He was very surprised to see that the dark haired stranger was none other than his very own lord father, he gasped and went back behind the corner and walked away,after a number of turns He finally reached a stair and walked down it the sky was cloudier than he could ever have imagined and it was colder as and Jon were down at the archery range,Robb hit the mark perfectly, while Jon split the arrow right down the middle, "Damn!" Robb cursed "How did you do that?" "honestly, i have no idea" Jon said with a laugh. Bran walked over and asked"could i try?" " i don't see why not" Bran's father said from the balcony above " go ahead" Robb Bran picked up a bow and a quiver of arrows,he notched an arrow drew it close to his cheek and let loose,he missed by an inch,Bran twisted his mouth to one side and pulled another arrow from the quiver and notched the arrow "steady yer' bow arm"Jon whispered in his ear, Bran breathed in very slowly and shot as he arrow hit the outside of the middle ring,the men clapped and cheered some laughed and some didn't, Garrett came down in time to see Bran's shot" Bran?"he said"did you do that?" "yes" Bran replied "well...Damn good job!" "i hear that the rangers are expert archers" Theon Greyjoy said,"if they are than how about you beat me" "well,i guess I've got time,oh hell why not" Garrett picked up a bow and a quiver, he pulled out an arrow and notched it,a look of determination was plain on his face theon interrupted "I'll shoot first" he pulled back the arrow on his string and exhaled,as soon as that breath left his body the arrow went with it, he hit it straight in the center "ha ha!" "well there you have it! ha!" Garrett just smiled and loosed an arrow, the small shaft of wood split theon's arrow straight down the splinters everywhere,Garrett smiled and said "well Greyjoy i think you've just been beat HA!" Theon was in shock, a look of pure awe was plastered across Theon's face,Bran was shaking with laughter as he walked inside and tried to remember the hallway that he had walked down the wind bit through his clothes leaving him covered in gooseflesh why is it so cold he thought but that was the way of it in the north get warm or die he remembered something that Jon had told him,he couldn't find the room again it was as if it had vanished into thin air.

He decided to give up and go outside, After another array of hallways he finally reached a stairway leading down,he stepped down and looked around the courtyard was being filled with common folk and knights spotted his lord father and walked over to him "what's going on?"Bran asked him "the king is arriving " his father took the cloak and slid under into it, the cloak was already warm he stood up straight and stifled a cough.