WiSh - Chapter 34

Chapter 34: Swords Drawn

Bran was lifted from the warmth of his bed by Ely. "Where are you taking me?"

"To a good place, young master Bran," Ely said with a smile. Bran's direwolf followed along. It was smaller than its siblings but had the most alert eyes.

Ely and Bran arrived at Eddard and Catelyn's bedroom. Catelyn gestured with her eyes, and Ely bowed and withdrew. Catelyn picked Bran up. "Did you sleep well, little Bran?"

Bran's direwolf sat on the ground, looking at its young master, then at Eddard and Catelyn, tilting its head as if it were very interested in figuring out what was going on, showing a very human-like side.

Eddard said, "Bran, you climbed the high tower again this afternoon."

Bran's smile, which had been amused by his mother, turned into unease; his father's tone was not friendly. Bran slipped from his mother's embrace and stood before his father, toes together, eyes downcast, looking at the ground. "I'm sorry, Father. I won't do it again."

"The stairs in the ruined tower are broken and very difficult to climb. Jaime Lannister and Queen Cersei were on the highest floor of the tower. Did you see what they were doing inside?"

"I didn't see anything, Father."

Catelyn noticed that Bran was looking at his toes. This was a sign that Bran was lying. Catelyn said, "Eddard, you're too serious. You're scaring the child." She walked over, squatted down, and wrapped Bran in her arms.

"Bran, do you know why Father and Mother don't allow you to climb the ruined tower anymore?"

"Yes," Bran said, looking up into his mother's eyes. "You're afraid I'll fall from the top."

"That's right, because it's not safe, and also because of a divine revelation. I heard from Ely that you were in danger this afternoon. You were dangling in the air, and if Jaime hadn't held onto you tightly, you might have lost your life." Catelyn kissed Bran's soft hair and didn't let go for a long time. She then took a half-step back, holding Bran's small shoulders. "Son, are you hiding something from your mother?"

Bran blushed; his mother could always see through his secrets.

He had indeed lied, but it was a knight's promise game, and he had sworn before the heart tree. Although Bran didn't like the heart tree, because he felt that a tree shouldn't have human eyes, and the leaves shouldn't be shaped like human palms, let alone be a bright red color. These things seemed eerie and ominous.

Eddard said, "Bran, is there something you can't tell even Father and Mother?"

"I can't say. It's a knight's promise, and I've sworn before the heart tree," Bran said, not daring to meet his father's eyes.

"If you don't tell us about something bad, you're helping others to turn against your parents." Eddard's tone was stern.

He was convinced that Jaime and Cersei couldn't have gone to the ruined tower for no reason, because there was nothing to see there, and the towers in King's Landing were much taller than Winterfell's ruined tower. Moreover, the broken stairs in the ruined tower made it dangerous. Why would Cersei, as the queen, take such a risk?

The divine revelation had foreseen that Bran would fall from the ruined tower. Without the warning of the revelation, the most likely cause of Bran's fall from the ruined tower would be related to Jaime and Cersei. Without external influence, Bran was unlikely to make a mistake.

Furthermore, a few days earlier, Catelyn had received a raven from her sister, saying that the queen had murdered Hand of the King Jon Arryn.

The Lannister family was ambitious and the most untrustworthy family in the realm. Initially, Jon Arryn had sought to stabilize Robert's rule by allying with the wealthy and powerful Tywin Lannister, persuading him to support Robert as king and advising Robert to marry Cersei. Yet, fifteen years later, Jon Arryn died at Cersei's hands.

Bran lowered his head.

Catelyn said, "Bran, I understand. Are you playing a game that you can't talk about? It's fun, right? Oh, no, it's about a man's honor, isn't it?"

Bran looked up; his eyes bright. His mother always guessed his thoughts accurately. Bran nodded vigorously. Eddard's breathing became heavy. How could this child listen to the Lannisters so easily! His usual cleverness seemed to vanish.

"In that case, if Mother has a way for you to keep your honor while still letting me know the secret, would you be willing to try it?"

"Yes!" Bran said.

"Let's play a game called 'I Guess If You Blink.' What does it mean? I'll guess the answer, and if I'm right, you blink. If I don't guess it and give up, I lose and you win."

"Yes!" Eddard also squatted down, controlling his anger, trying to speak gently. "Son, this way, you won't have to break your oath. The new and old gods will bear witness, and your honor will remain intact."

"Okay!" Bran said, his eyes brightening and his voice stronger.

***

"Tell me, brother, have you grown tired of the brothels in Winterfell? Now you want to play around at the Wall, where spit turns to ice, not a place for humans." Jaime Lannister laughed.

He had golden hair, golden armor, a golden sword at his side, and even his horse's saddle had gold in it. The hooves clattered softly and leisurely.

Jaime Lannister, accompanied by five members of his family's personal guard, walked down the streets of Wintertown. Beside him was a dwarf he called "brother," bleary-eyed, with a broad forehead and face and a large head perched on a small body. You'd worry that his head might fall off and hit his almost invisible little feet.

As they walked down the street, they immediately attracted the attention of the entire road.

"I just want to take a piss at the end of the world," the dwarf said, indifferent. On his black silk lapel was the Lannister family crest: a golden brooch adorned with a lion. This dwarf was none other than Jaime Lannister's brother, Tyrion Lannister, nicknamed "The Imp."

"Didn't Rose's dimples satisfy your needs?" Jaime laughed. Three Lannister guards wearing red cloaks laughed together. Everyone knew who Rose was; she was the most popular serving girl in the brothel, embodying every man's fantasy about women.

"That's different. I've decided that when Eddard Stark's brother Benjen returns tomorrow, I'll go with him to see the Wall. The Wall that has stood for eight thousand years is worth seeing at least once in a lifetime."

"You don't plan to return to King's Landing with us?"

"No, this way you can travel more happily, especially my sister."

Suddenly, the sound of hooves echoed, and a group of cavalry appeared ahead, led by the renowned Northman knight, Harris. His skill with the lance was unmatched in various tournaments.

Harris blocked the path of Jaime Lannister and his party.

"Ser Harris, what do you want?" Jaime asked with a laugh, his expression flippant and full of disdain.

"I've come to arrest you by Lord Eddard's order," Harris said calmly.

Jaime Lannister and his three family guards drew their swords! The hooves clattered, and a pale-faced Tyrion looked back to see the road behind them also blocked by a group of Northmen cavalry, their spears raised, slowly advancing with a menacing gaze.

"Lord Eddard has ordered that all Lannister members be captured alive for questioning, and anyone else who resists will be killed!"