Game of Thrones: Tragedy and Reunions

Next chapter of my Game of Thrones story, enjoy.

Reviews

Noek: Thanks, glad you enjoyed it, ha, it's not completely me; I have a beta reader to help me out :)
Emeloo2: Thanks, glad you enjoyed it, yeah well, I'd rather know about reader's opinions of the whole story, rather than just specific chapters.

Now onto the story.

Disclaimer: Game of Thrones belongs to George R.R. Martin.

Bran

Their progress was slow but steady. Bran looked around warily, keeping a close eye out for any signs of movement. Every now and then his gaze would stray down towards Meera. Carrying him would surely make her tire quicker; at the moment however she seemed to be managing without difficulty. Like him, she was wary, but she was also checking the ground searching for recent tracks. Bran wasn't sure how long they had been walking, but suddenly Meera gasped and knelt down, making sure to hold him steady.

"What is it?" He asked, surprised and concerned at the same time.

His concern disappeared however when he saw she was smiling.

"I've found the tracks left by the others," she explained. "Look!"

He looked down to where she pointed; his eyes narrowed, he could only just make the tracks out. "Are you absolutely certain?" He asked cautiously.

She nodded and then indicated to what looked like long gouges in the dirt.

"That's what made me certain," she stated. "Jojen did that. When we were younger, out exploring the lands of our home, we would arrange a place to meet should we become separated. To make sure the other knew they were going the right way, we would drag our heels and make tracks like this one."

She stood up and smiled. "Jojen wants us to know they went this way."

Bran smiled when he heard this, the conviction in her voice was convincing enough for him. He shifted his weight slightly and held on as Meera continued onwards.

However their journey was longer than expected, even as the tracks became clearer. Even Bran could now pick out the gouges Jojen's heels had left in the dirt; also there was no mistaking the large footprints that belongs to Hodor. He couldn't see the other prints but Meera could, she had informed him that at a certain point Rickon's prints disappeared. The fact that the other prints kept the same steady pace meant likely that one of the others was carrying him. However by now the sun had set and night was falling.

The pair decided to stop for the night; Meera carefully put Bran down, helping him settle comfortably against a tree. After a light meal Bran noted that the exhaustion was finally starting to show on Meera's face. That wasn't all that he noted off course; he smiled lightly as he looked at her, taking in her appearance once again. He was jolted back into reality by her voice.

"Bran, Is something wrong?"

He gulped and quickly recovered. "I-I'm fine, yes. I think... I think we should get some rest, it's been a long day."

Meera nodded slowly. Bran shivered as the cold bite of the night air struck, taking him by surprise. Meera noticed his discomfort.

"Bran, you're shivering," she stated. "I would make a fire, but we can't risk it being seen."

Bran nodded slowly. "I know. But we can cover ourselves though, right?" He asked, gesturing to the thick blankets they had brought with them.

Meera sighed. "That won't do it, but there is a way we can stay warm. We use both blankets and lie together, share body heat."

Bran froze at that; stunned.

He couldn't believe what he had just heard. Meera was suggesting that they lie next to each other to keep each other warm, this would involve holding each other. The thought alone made his heart hammer and his mouth go dry. He prayed his face wasn't red.

"I... I don't know, I mean... It's..." He stammered; Meera however raised an eyebrow.

"It's the best way, Bran; if we're not careful with it being so cold, we'll end up being taken by some sickness," she reasoned. "If we keep each other warm we can avoid that."

Bran knew she was right so he offered no further argument and instead focused on trying to slow his rapidly beating heart. If Meera noticed it he didn't know how he could explain. She grabbed their blankets and got to work, Bran did what he could to help and soon he found himself in a rather awkward position. He was lying wrapped up under the blankets, Meera lay next to him, her arms around him. After an awkward pause he did the same. He could feel her warmth and the shivering stopped. However the awkwardness and the dryness in his throat remained. It took a long time for him to try and sleep that night, Meera was asleep long before him. Her face was a balance of peace and contentment; and it was completely distracting for him –he couldn't take his eyes off her, and only made him feel even more acutely his feelings for her.

When he did finally sleep he dreamed. Not his usual wolf dreams either, it was different. In the dream he was whole, walking on his own two feet, back in Winterfell. He was older too, all his family were there, talking and laughing. Even his father was there, just as Bran remembered him. He had dreamed like this before, but this time something was different. For at his side, her arm linked with his, was Meera. The complete ease they had around each other made it clear to him that they were married. Such happiness radiated from them; the dream ended however just as he turned to kiss Meera. His eyes snapped open and he was aware of how his breathing had sped up. He was certain he was blushing and he swallowed and tried to calm himself. It wasn't easy however as he lay facing her. Just seeing her brought the dream back in vivid detail and he found her closeness uncomfortable and yet almost intoxicating at the same time.

'What am I thinking?'He thought to himself, 'I've got to face reality, it was just a dream. It's not going to happen; especially since I'm broken.'

It was then he realized that it was nearly dawn. He gently shook Meera's shoulder.

"The sun is nearly up, we need to move now if we want to catch the others." He said, looking up at the forest in the pre dawn gloom.

Meera was awake instantly, and immediately got to work gathering everything together. After Bran agreed with her about her suggested sleeping arrangement, she hoisted him onto her back. Ensuring sure he was hanging on, she continued onwards and they resumed their tracking.

Bran was concerned the trail would've gone cold, but Meera reassured him. She followed the trail easily enough and occasionally Bran noted that even he could see and follow the tracks. Rickon was walking again too and they were still heading south. However Bran had the strangest feeling of unease which had nothing to do with his dream. True his dream made it even more awkward for him to be close to Meera, especially with her carrying him on her back. However the feeling he had right now was one of dread, a creeping sensation up his spine which made him look around warily.

"Meera I feel like someone's..." He began but she nodded.

"Watching us, I know, I feel it too." She replied. "We just need to be careful."

They proceeded onwards, wary. Suddenly, as they reached another clearing, Meera yelped and fell forwards, landing face down. Bran was thrown forwards and hit the ground with a thump which knocked the air out of him. He turned his head and saw Meera; she was sprawled on the ground, reaching back towards her right leg. Around her ankle was a thin rope, from what Bran could see, it was a larger version of the snares Meera used when hunting. They heard rustling and then found themselves surrounded. The Bolton men had caught up at last.

The men closed in, one of them picked Bran up, another released Meera's leg from the snare and yanked her to her feet. Bran watched helplessly as two of the men held Meera while a third searched her and her clothing thoroughly for weapons. Once she was disarmed he signalled to the men and stepped back. Soon Meera's hands were tied in front of her, and as the man turned to Bran, Meera screamed out.

"Leave him, he isn't armed," she cried, "I'm the one with the weapons, you have them all..."

She was cut off by one of those retraining her; he struck her across the face with the back of his hand. He glared down at her as he spoke to man who appeared to be in charge.

"Luton, this Frogeater bitch is being too loud." He snarled.

Luton rolled his eyes. "So make her quiet, search the cripple; at most he'll have a dagger on him. He doesn't have the strength for anything else."

Meera tried to beg them again but one of her guards forced a rag between her teeth and tied it behind her head, silencing her. The men briefly searched Bran; he did his best not to give any indication of discomfort from the search. They found nothing of course as he was indeed unarmed. Luton nodded.

"Good, right, we'll take them to Dreadfort. Lord Ramsay wishes to see them." He stated.

He began to walk back to his horse.

However before he could mount the man holding Bran suddenly complained.

"I'm not carrying this cripple all the way to Dreadfort."

Luton sighed and turned around, he looked at the two captives and an idea seemed to come to him. He gave some instructions and the men acted upon them. Bran found himself on Meera's back again; his arms were pulled over her shoulders, and his hands were tied together. More ropes were passed around his torso and hers; pinning her arms to her sides and his hands to her chest. Finally they tied his legs together and stepped back. They were helpless now and soon the journey to Dreadfort began. As they forced Meera to walk, Bran heard some of the men laughing and then one of them turned to him.

"Hey, cripple, I get why you and the young lady ran off now. But what happened?" He asked.

Bran looked at him, confusion and terror clouding his mind. "I...What...?"
The man laughed. "I guess you just weren't good enough, not hard to believe, crippled as you are I doubt you could please any woman, let alone this Frogeater. Seven Hells, the only way to know she's a woman for sure is to check she hasn't got a cock."

Bran didn't know exactly what the man was saying but he could guess mostly and his face burned in shame. Meera blushed too, likely at the insult to her lack of a womanly figure, her almost completely flat breasts, where Bran's hands were now secured. Still laughing at their pointed insults towards both of them the men continued to force them onwards. Their fates uncertain.

End of chapter, hope you enjoyed it, read and review please.