Chapter 30

Bran was tired of his mother. She was constantly asking if he was fine; if his leg hurt, if he needed anything. He loved her but she was overbearing and had almost denied his uncle's idea of riding. Bran begged and even cried. Jon had finally convinced mother. He smiled, he was happy because after begging for a day and a day Jon and him had convinced her to let him ride Dancer outside of the courtyard and into the woods. Jon would be with him, so would be Rodrick and maester Luwin who had matters to discuss with his oldest brother.

The little boy missed father and his other siblings. When father was in Winterfell mother was not as sad and Jon had time for him. Now he was lucky if he could talk to Jon while in dinners and mother was sad. Jon told him that they would have to go to King's Landing now that he was better and before mother's belly swelled. She was carrying another baby. Lan had stayed with her back in Winterfell. Bran did not want to go to the capital and neither did mother but it had been a month since Robb and uncle Tyrion left. It was time for them to join father. Mother used harsh tones whenever Jon or him mentioned father. The boy had never heard mother speak like that about his father. She usually called him Ned or my love now she called him Lord Stark or Eddard.

Bran led Dancer to a clearing. Rodrick droned on about the men while Luwin spoke about the harvest or some other boring matter. Bran felt free for the first time since he had that dream about the three-eyed crow that told him he would not walk but he would learn how to fly. The boy did not like to think about the dream. In essence he could walk but only for very short periods of time and he limped. The pain was excruciating. Bran was a cripple but on top of a horse he was like old Bran who could ride and use a bow.

He looked back at Jon. He was too busy now and he would not be far from them. Summer had run ahead. He needed to make sure the direwolf was near. He went ahead and felt happy, the happiest he had felt in a very long time. He was alone, riding. There was no Hodor, no mother asking him if he was fine or if he remembered anything before the fall or Jon with his sad and pitying eyes. He was just Bran, riding, going to an adventure.

He did not notice how far he had gone. The boy forgot about Summer and enjoyed the wind whipping his face. Suddenly he heard sounds and four disheveled men surrounded him. They were wildlings two men and what looked like two women. He was sure when he heard their voices. There were also men of the Night's Watch, deserters Bran thought.

"What do we have here?" A man said or at least Bran thought he said that, his accent was strange.

"A little lord." One of the women, the one with the red hair said.

"Get down boy. We will not hurt you much if you help us boy." A tall man asked.

"Shut it Crow." The woman said, "He's important we can take him back to Mance."

Bran was paralyzed with fear. The man had a big knife and pointed at him. The other man, who was even bigger than the other one hurried him. "Kill the boy. Go on, there's bound to be people waiting around for him."

He felt the man and the brown-haired woman tried to shake Dancer, his mare whined and got scared. It was then when the red headed woman noticed the saddle.

"He's crippled." She said. Bran frowned. He hated that word.

"I am not." Bran said loudly and then three things happened at once. He saw as Summer leapt and attacked the man that was far away from him. Jon and Rodrick Cassel got there. The master at arms killed him an arrow to his neck. The brown haired woman tried to run and the red headed wildling yanked him from the saddle and pointed a knife to his throat. Ghost killed one of the Crows and then went to the other so did Summer once he was done with the first man.

Jon leapt from his horse while Rodrick followed the other woman. The two male wildlings were dead. Bran closed his eyes.

"Let him go child. He is just a boy." Maester Luwin was there. Bran could hear him trying to reason with the woman.

"Do not move or I will cut him. I will." She hissed. Bran's leg hurt so bad he had to sit. He slumped against the woman who could not be that much taller than him. She was certainly shorter than Jon.

"Let him go." Jon said with an angry voice.

"I don't have to do anything kneeler. Get away from the horse." In that moment Bran understood that he had to something or this woman would kill him. He looked at Jon and then let his weight fall. His leg would not withstand his body. He fell and suddenly Jon pushed him aside and grabbed the woman's knife.

The redhead gave his elder brother a fight but then Summer and Ghost were by Jon's side. Their teeth bared and the woman stopped. "Call them off." She sounded afraid for the first time. Maester Luwin was by his side and tended to his sore leg.

"You were very foolish Bran. She could have killed you." The maester helped him sit down by a three.

"Ghost to me." Jon said and the albino direwolf went back to him.

Summer growled and circled the redheaded girl. Bran heard Rodrick come back with the bigger woman. "Summer to me." Bran's direwolf did not move from his spot in front of the wildling.

Jon looked at him. "Call him off Bran."

"Summer, to me." The direwolf came to him and meekly licked his palm.

"We must go back to the castle." Jon mounted his horse.

"What shall we do with the wildlings?" The master at arms asked once the women were tied up.

Bran was helped to Dancer. "We'll take them to Winterfell for questioning." Jon spoke, he was Lord Stark now and commanded Winterfell. He saw as Rodrick and maester Luwin followed Jon.

The Lord and future Warden of the North addressed the women then. "Your lives have been spared for the moment but if you try anything none of my men will hesitate to take them."

The brown-haired woman looked deflated but the redhead, well she looked like she wanted to kill Jon.

They made their way back to the castle. The boy feared mother's reaction. She would of course deny him more trips to the forests and even the Godswoods. He rode back in silence. Jon did not speak to him either, his brother was angry because of his actions. Bran could feel it. Jon chose silences, Robb lashed out at anyone in anger. Joanna and Arya would glare and be insufferable in their own ways. Tommen chose silence too.

Bran saw the gates and worried. Mother had been sick for the past few weeks. She was with child. The maester had said she needed to rest because she was not as young as she had been. Mother frowned and taken offense at the quip about her age but heeded every word the maester said. She was resting in her quarters when they entered the castle. Maester Luwin insisted on him resting for the next few days.

"My lord, I will take the prisoners to the servants' quarters and wait for your commands" Cassel said with deference.

Jon nodded. Bran noticed that he no longer hesitated. It had been months since father left and finally Jon understood that he was lord. "Keep an eye on them both especially the small one." His brother said.

Hodor appeared out of the kitchens. "Hodor." He said and rushed to pick Bran from a chair by the fireplaces.

"I will speak with Lady Stark and then see to the wildlings." Jon said still looking at the redhead.

"Free folk. Kneeler. We are called the Free folk." The woman said defiantly.

"Rodrick, see to them. Strip them of all weapons, if they still have them." Jon said. The master at arms took that as a dismissal and led the women away from the Hall.

Bran let Hodor hoist him to his arms. Jon stopped Hodor from taking him to his room. "Do not tell mother we found the women while riding. Do not worry her."

Bran nodded, "Thanks Jon." He said and smiled. Jon smiled, nodded and ruffled his hair. "Go up and do not speak to mother about the wildlings. I will handle her."

The boy smiled. Jon, Tommen and Joanna forgot easily when it came to him. Arya and Robb would not have forgiven him quite so quickly. Bran rested in his rooms until supper. Mother and Hodor entered his rooms.

"Sweetling, it is time for supper." She said and kissed his forehead. Mother rubbed her growing belly and smiled.

"Mother, I do not feel up to supper." Bran did not, his leg had given him pain the whole evening but he did not wish for milk of the poppy. It made him groggy and he did not like it.

"I wish you to be there. I want your brother and you to explain the wildling capture." Mother said with a determined tone.

Bran nodded and let Hodor escort him to his place in the table.

Jon was seated in father's place again. Bran frowned but remained silent. Jon was Lord now. He had responsibilities now and he had to understand. He never spent any time with Bran anymore. Jon was either busily corresponding with father, or speaking with mother, in private of course or taking care of Winterfell.

"Mother." He said and helped her to her chair. Bran sat opposite to her, where Jon used to sit.

They ate without much small talk. Bran was sure mother would speak any moment now. She did so after the last serving of chicken pie.

"Those women you have downstairs will not stay in this household." Mother said primly.

"They will stay in Winterfell mother." Jon replied while wiping his mouth with a napkin.

Mother frowned. "They attacked your brother." She supplied.

"The matter has been settled. I will question them again in the morrow. They will stay here until I have made a decision." Jon looked into mother's green eyes.

Bran looked at Jon and then mother. The room was tense until mother dropped her fork. "Very well then. I await your decision son but keep in mind that these women are not ladies or even westerosi lowborns. They are wildlings and will not hesitate to kill anything that comes their way. I want them watched and away from my son. They will not serve in the castle and that is final."

She stood up and addressed them both. "No more rides outside of the castle grounds for you Brandon. Jon, write to your father, your brother and I will ride for King's Landing in two weeks. Find a discreet ship and make sure they can accommodate me and your brother."

Jon frowned. "I do not think it wise. Mother, you should wait until the babe is born. Father would not want you travelling while you are heavy with child…" mother interrupted him. "Which is why you have not said anything about the babe. I will explain to Eddard once I see him."

"Mother, I am sorry but I will not let you leave." Bran gasped audibly.

Lady Stark replied very politely but plainly. "My love. You are Lord of Winterfell but I am your mother and Lady Stark, wife to the Warden of the North and Hand of the King. Your father needs me by his side. I am very cross with him at the moment but the heart of the matter is that my husband and I had planned for me to meet him when you were ready to take over Winterfell and you are. We will sail in two weeks. I shall need some men to escort us." Mother then kissed them goodnight and left for her quarters.

He had a dream that night, he was Summer, and ran with Ghost through the forests. Bran was the wolf; he was running fast, he could feel the all the smells. He could smell the prey; a stag. Alone he would not have had a chance but he had his brother with him. They could easily overtake the stag.

It was thrilling, his blood sang with anticipation. He lunged at the prey. The stag fought back but Ghost attacked quickly. Summer helped his brother and in less than five minutes they were eating the remains of the animal.

Bran woke up sweaty, with the taste of blood and raw meat in his mouth. In the other side of the castle Jon Stark woke up too, with the same taste, puzzled by the rather vivid dream.