"They're never going to leave, are they? It's already been two full moons." Arya whined as she watched King Robert bested Robb in yet another duel. The Royal family has decided to extend their visit until Bran's condition changes (there were only two options: he awakens, or another Stark would soon join the Crypt).
Ignoring Sansa's harsh look, Arya sighed, dropping her cheek against the wooden pillar. Normally Arya would be running across by now demanding Robb to teach her some moves but with the royal family still her she needed to be Lady Arya of House Stark. It was boring and tiresome to act like a lady all day and she truly didn't know how Sansa did it every day. "This corset is killing me when the King and his family leave." Arya whined further.
"We should only be grateful that the king and queen find Winterfell appealing enough to stay here longer." Sansa hissed, tugging her head high as she glanced towards Queen Cersei, princess Myrcella and Lady Stark at the higher railing. The Queen looked bored as usually as she drank her wine, but it was better than her normal look of disgust. While Lady Stark looked as if she just swallowed a spoiled lemon tart. "If only we had visited them in the South instead. I could have even witnessed Prince Joffrey dueling."
"You do know Joffrey is marrying Bran, right?"
"Shut up Arya!"
"No, you shut up!"
"Girls."
"Sorry father." - "Sorry…even though Sansa started it."
"Arya."
Jon didn't bother acknowledging Lady Stark as he entered the room. He kept his eyes fixed on the page before him as he scanned it (for some reason the Queen seemed to distaste his presence more than his father's wife so staying out of sight was ideal). Only movement was from Ghost who immediately jumped off the bed moving to rest at Jon's feet. Lady Stark didn't look in Jon's direction nor speak as she sat down beside Bran grabbing his cold thinning hand and began her daily prayer. This had become the routine for the bastard and Lady.
"Lady Stark, Lord Stark request your present in the library."
"Tell my husband I shall be there shortly."
"Yes Lady Stark."
As the footsteps of the soldier moved away from the door, Jon did glance up to find Lady Stark looking at him with an unreadable expression. Slowly the mother of his trueborn siblings moved until she stood before her husband's bastard ignoring the slow rise of Ghost beside them.
"Lady Stark?"
"Bran did not fall from that tower, did he?"
"No. Bran would never fall."
"That means whoever did this will be back to finish the job. To silence Bran if he ever-" "-when he wakes." Jon interrupted.
Lady Stark shook her head as she quickly wiped the corner of her eyes. Jon watched quickly as the emotion on her face cleared and the regal Lady Stark reappeared, "Yes, when he wakes. I dare ask-"
"With all due respect, Lady Stark Bran is my brother. Whoever did this will have to behead me first to touch him as they would to touch any of my brothers and sisters. You might not care for me, but I care for them and that is something we share so you don't have to force yourself to speak to this bastard to protect his own brother." with those words Jon went back to his book.
Lady Stark's feet stayed in his sight for a few more seconds before her footsteps were heard as she walked away, stopping as she opened the door to Bran's room. "Guards have a meal brought for my husband's son and his direwolf."
"Thank you, Lady Stark."
"No thank you Sn-Jon."
Robert Baratheon knew Bran Stark did not fall from that tower.
Bran Stark knew these walls better than everyone in Winterfell. He would never simply just fall.
Robert was a drunken fool he was but a foolish one he was not. He knew many things but never spoke upon them because a cautious king is a dead one. Take the Mad King for example, who believed betrayers were everywhere and for that he was killed by the same man swore to protect him.
So, Robert allowed those around him to believe he was a drunken fool.
Glancing down at the maps before him Robert Baratheon started thinking. He knew exactly where every member of his royal family was during the fall of Bran Stark but his wife and her kingslayer twin.
Interesting enough, he knew they would always be together.
"Father, may I have a moment of your time?"
"Guards, you are dismissed." Robert ordered as he watched Joffrey into his private chambers, closing the door behind him once there were no ears lingering outside. "Sit," but Joffrey ignored his father's order as he stood at the end of the desk. He noted the bottle of wine still sitting on the side untouched as the King viewed all the maps before him.
"Joffrey-"
"I am willing to face treason for the statement I am about to make. I am willing to face any torture that might come as punishment for this statement I am about to make. I am willing to face death that can come from this statement I am about to make."
"And yet you still will the statement?"
"For Bran always."
"Aye then make the statement Prince Joffrey of House Baratheon."
"Bran Stark, my intended, did not fall from that tower. He was pushed and he was pushed by someone from the royal family."
"And who do you believe that someone is?"
"Cersei Lannister or Jaime Lannister."
"Your mother or your uncle. Explain yourself."
"Both probably. Bran has been climbing since he was a baby. How did he suddenly fall when he had never fallen before. He is a cherished member of House Stark as he resembles his late uncle Brandon Stark. No one of House Stark would have wished any harm upon him."
"But someone from House Baratheon would?"
"Not House Baratheon but House Lannister. Mother was the one to argue with you for almost four full moons to renounce him as my intended. She called him unworthy, a kid even a peasant compared to us. Mother knows that I cherish Bran above all. His words are my law. His desires are my goals. His dreams are my passion. I will burn us all from the seven kingdoms to Dorne if he wishes me too. And that scares Mother."
"And the kingslayer?"
"Would follow my mother to her own grave. The Kingslayer has always done what's best for his Queen, his sister, his twin but never for House Baratheon."
Robert nodded. He knew Cersei was the only person able to do such cruelty to Bran, but a king never charges into battle without strategy. Even if he did accuse Cersei, Tywin Lannister would find some way to prevent the trial or even arrange for his death. No, he would need more than the word of his son. "Until Bran wakes this conversation never happened, understand?"
'Get to Bran.' something whispered into Joffrey's mind.
"INTRUDER IN WEST HALL!"
Joffrey took off running.