Investigation

The hunting party returned to Winterfell as twilight deepened and the cold wind wailed.

The entire castle was shrouded in a gray gloom.

After Robert and Robb dismounted in the courtyard, they did not dare to linger, heading straight for the main keep under the guidance of a servant to check on Bran.

Garon, Benjen, and Jon followed closely behind.

As for Joffrey, he had been severely frightened, so Robert had Ser Clegane take him back to rest first.

The group traveled along the castle stone stairs and soon arrived before Bran's bedroom.

Before the servant standing at the door could speak, Robb had already rushed into the bedroom, with Robert and Benjen following right behind.

His worried gaze fell upon the bed, and his heart sank heavily.

Bran lay there, his face deathly pale and devoid of life.

To anyone looking, there seemed to be no hope of survival.

Robb's expression was frantic, and he subconsciously moved to call out Bran's name, but was stopped by Maester Luwin.

Garon and Jon were a step behind.

The two stood at the bedroom door looking in, and a pungent smell of blood rushed toward them.

Garon scanned the bedroom; blood-stained bandages were strewn everywhere around the bed. Seeing the King arrive, Ned walked up to meet him with a sorrowful expression.

Catelyn stood numbly to the side, motionless, her hollow gaze fixed tightly on Bran.

Outside the window, Bran's Direwolf continued to howl mournfully, one cry after another.

At this moment.

Maester Luwin touched Bran's forehead, then straightened up to look at the others.

"Your Grace, my lord, Bran's injuries have been temporarily treated!"

Catelyn's eyes flickered, and Robert immediately asked, "How is Bran?"

Maester Luwin shook his head and sighed, "Bran has lost a great deal of blood, his back is broken, and even his legs are shattered."

"I have done all I can; now, I can only hope the Old Gods will protect him!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the spark of life in Catelyn's eyes vanished. Ned's face twitched, and his eyes were filled with sorrow as he looked at Bran.

Robb and Jon were trembling all over, unable to accept the fact that Bran was on the verge of death.

Garon appeared sorrowful on the surface, but his heart remained calm.

Just as Maester Luwin said, an ordinary person falling from a high tower would have been dead long ago.

But Bran was different; possessing the talent of a Greenseer, he was truly protected by the Old Gods.

His life would certainly be saved, though he would never be able to walk again.

"Your Grace, my lord, you should go out first."

"Let Bran rest properly; perhaps it will have an effect on his injuries."

"I am enough to handle things here alone!"

Seeing that there were too many people in the bedroom, Maester Luwin urged everyone to go back and rest.

Ned nodded, then glanced at the grief-stricken Catelyn, knowing he could not persuade her to leave.

So he said, "Cat, you stay and look after Bran."

Catelyn did not reply, still staring motionlessly at Bran.

Seeing his wife like this, Ned sighed helplessly in his heart. He said nothing more and forced himself to accompany Robert outside.

Benjen shook his head and pulled the sorrowful, weeping Robb out as well.

The bedroom door was closed once more.

"Seven hells!"

Robert stood at the door, sighing, "How could he just fall from the high tower like that?"

"Bran loved climbing walls before. I had warned him many times, but he never changed his ways," Ned said with regret. "If I had disciplined him more strictly, perhaps today's accident wouldn't have happened."

"Sigh..."

Hearing Ned's helpless sigh, Robert also fell silent.

Just then, Garon's eyes shifted slightly, and he suddenly spoke up, drawing everyone's attention to himself.

"Your Grace, Lord Ned!" Garon said calmly. "I have heard Robb and Jon say that Bran is extremely skilled at climbing walls. It stands to reason that he shouldn't have made a mistake."

He looked around at everyone, deliberately guiding them, "Could there be some other issue behind this?"

Robb's painful expression froze, and he muttered, "You mean... someone wanted to harm Bran?"

The more he thought about it, the more certain he became. "That's right, Bran has climbed the Broken Tower many times and never once slipped."

"Why would he slip today?" Robb's voice rose sharply, as if he were trying to convince himself. "There must be a reason!"

Ned's brows were locked in a deep frown. He did not believe there was any special reason; not slipping before did not mean he would never slip.

Perhaps Bran was simply not in good form today, or feeling unwell, which could have led to him slipping and falling while climbing the wall.

But as a father, he also wanted to find a reason to convince himself to accept Bran's current state, so he asked, "Then Garon, what do you mean?"

Garon met Ned's gaze and said in a deep voice, "Lord Ned, let me take a few men to investigate; perhaps we will find something."

Robb immediately responded, "I'll go with you!"

And Jon said without a second thought, "I'll go with you too!"

Before Ned could answer, Robert, who was standing to the side, had already agreed on his behalf.

"The three of you go together. I also want to know who wanted to harm Bran!"

Seeing that the King had already agreed, Ned thought for a moment and said cautiously, "You may investigate, but do not disturb the rest of the Queen, the Princes, and the others, do you understand?"

Garon and the others nodded, signaling that they understood.

Seeing that Ned and the King had no other matters, the three of them turned and left the doorway of the bedchamber, hurrying to investigate before the sky turned completely dark.

The three of them walked out of the First Keep together.

Robb's earlier anger had subsided, and for a moment, he did not know how to conduct the investigation.

He could only look at Garon and ask, "Where should we start our investigation?"

Garon already had a plan in mind for this.

"Robb, you take some men to investigate what others saw when Bran's accident happened. Look for any suspicious clues, the more detailed, the better!"

Robb nodded and asked again, "Then what will you do?"

Garon pointed to the Broken Tower not far away and said, "I will take Jon to examine the scene and see if there are any traces left behind."

Seeing that Robb had no other questions, the three agreed to meet at dinnertime.

Then, Garon took Jon toward the Broken Tower of the First Keep.

The sky was dim, so the two found two oil lamps and walked side by side.

Because the Broken Tower had long been abandoned, they did not see anyone else along the way.

As Jon led Garon forward, he asked, "Garon, do you really think someone harmed Bran?"

Garon naturally knew the answer, but he could not spoil it for Jon, so he could only reply vaguely.

"It is just a guess of mine."

"Whether it is true or not depends on the results of our investigation!"

Jon sighed, feeling sad for Bran once more.

"Sigh, even if Bran survives, his back and legs are completely broken."

"He will never be able to ride a horse again, nor will he be able to fight for Robb, and he will even have to endure the mockery of others."

"I really can't imagine how Bran will face all of this once he wakes up!"

Garon comforted him, "Although I have only known him for a few days, I know he is a strong child."

"Jon, the blood of Stark flows in his veins; you should learn to believe in him!"

Even so, Jon remained silent.

A bastard is mocked by the world, so how is a cripple supposed to get through life?

Not to mention, whether Bran can even survive right now is still an unknown.

The two walked in silence until Jon raised his oil lamp.

"We've reached the Broken Tower!"