EDDARD
Bran had at first seemed hesitant to come with him to see Maester Luwin, but after taking his hand, his son had complied well enough. The Maester lived in a small keep above the kitchens. The main room of his keep served as a study, impromptu ward, and lecture hall, with his own apartments on the floor above. Eddard found the Maester in that very same main room, looking through a large thick book with a hand glass to examine the plant pressings inside.
"Lord Eddard, what is your trouble?" asked the old Maester as he looked up from his work.
"I need you to examine Bran for me."
"I feel fine, father." protested Bran, rather pointedly.
"What's brought this worry upon you?"
Eddard gave his old Maester a look that meant he'd rather not discuss it in front of Bran, and so the Maester put aside his questions and took a quick examination of the lad.
"His rather warm and I like not the look of that runny nose, and the throat seems slightly inflamed, but it's just a typical Summer cold, milord-nothing to worry yourself over."
It was then that Eddard led the Maester out of the room to discuss with him what he had seen. Once they had shut the door, Maester Luwin gave
"Would you mind explaining to me why you needed me to create an excuse to look him over and you couldn't say what you need to in front of the lad, Eddard?"
"I didn't want to scare my son. When I found him in the courtyard, he was crumpled against the wall as though he'd fallen, his eyes all gone white, and his body trembling like I ne'er seen before. I almost thought he was close to death-but then after I shook him, he seemed to snap out of it and appear fine."
"Indeed! That is a strange tale to be sure." tutted Luwin as he appeared to be drawn deeper into thought at Eddard's words. He struck Eddard to be far away in thought for a several moments before Eddard felt obliged to continue his response.
"I couldn't bring him to Cat. She would never forgive me if anything happened to any of our children-especially Bran. You know how she favors the boy."
"Aye, you did good bringing him here, but to be honest with you, Ned, I think not the lad has any lasting damages, if he did indeed fall. He's a fine hale boy as far as I'm concerned. Are you sure you saw what you saw? I know you've been getting less sleep than you should-your solar has been going through far too many candles as of late. Leave some for the rest of us," scolded Maester Luwin with a slightly playful tone.
"It may have been just that, but I could have sworn…"
"Get some sleep, my lord quiet wolf, and later you can-"
However whatever Eddard could do later, he completely forgot to ask, as when they'd returned to the Maester's main room, they found both a boy missing, and the window left wide open.
"As I said milord-the lad is hale and healthy." said Maester Luwin with a chuckle as Eddard looked out the window to see that Bran had obviously climbed out and down the keep to the ground, where he now had landed on his two feet.
"Bran! What are you doing?" called Eddard down to his son. Why was he doing this?
Bran gave a fearful look to his father and then without explanation took off for the Hunter's gate-which had been let open earlier for Jory and Ser Rodrick's early morning hunt.