Investigation

When the hunting party returned to Winterfell, dusk had settled in and the cold wind howled mournfully.

The whole castle lay beneath a blanket of gray gloom.

After dismounting in the yard, Robert and Robb didn't dare linger. Guided by a servant, they went straight to the main keep to see Bran.

Garon, Benjen, and Jon followed close behind.

As for Joffrey, he had been badly shaken, so Robert had Clegane take him back to rest.

The group hurried along the castle's stone steps and soon reached Bran's bedroom.

Before the servant at the door could speak, Robb rushed into the room, with Robert and Benjen close behind.

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

Bran lay there, deathly pale and lifeless.

No one looking at him could see any hope that he would live.

Robb looked panicked and instinctively started to call Bran's name, but Maester Luwin stopped him.

Garon and Jon were a step behind.

The two of them stood in the doorway and looked inside as a sharp stench of blood washed over them.

Garon surveyed the room. Bloodstained bandages lay scattered everywhere beside the bed. Seeing the king arrive, Ned greeted him with a grief-stricken expression.

Catelyn stood motionless nearby, numb, her vacant gaze fixed on Bran.

Outside the window, Bran's direwolf continued to howl piteously, one cry after another.

Just then,

Maester Luwin felt Bran's forehead, then straightened and looked at everyone.

"Your Grace, my lord, Bran's wounds have been tended to for now!"

Catelyn's eyes shifted. 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 both his legs are broken too."

"I've done all I can. Now we can only hope the Old Gods will protect him!"

At those words, the light in Catelyn's eyes faded. Ned's face twitched as he looked at Bran, his eyes filled with sorrow.

Robb and Jon trembled all over, unable to accept that Bran was about to die.

Garon looked sorrowful, but inwardly he was calm.

As Maester Luwin had said, an ordinary person who fell from a tower would already be dead beyond any hope of saving.

But Bran was different. Gifted with the power of a Greenseer, he truly had the Old Gods' protection.

He would certainly survive, though he would never walk again.

"Your Grace, my lord, please go outside for now."

"Let Bran rest. It might help his injuries."

"I can manage here on my own!"

Seeing that there were too many people in the bedroom, Maester Luwin urged them to leave and get some rest.

Ned nodded and glanced at Catelyn, who was overcome with grief. He knew there was no point trying to persuade her to leave.

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

Catelyn didn't answer. She remained motionless, staring at Bran.

Seeing his wife like this, Ned sighed helplessly. He said nothing more, forced himself to keep his spirits up, and walked out with Robert.

Benjen shook his head and led the grief-stricken Robb out as well.

The bedroom door closed again.

"Seven Hells!"

Standing outside the door, Robert sighed. "How could he have fallen from the tower out of nowhere?"

"Bran always liked climbing walls. I warned him about it several times, but he never learned," Ned said remorsefully. "If I'd been stricter with him, perhaps he wouldn't have made a mistake like this today."

"Alas..."

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

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

"Your Grace, Lord Ned," Garon said calmly. "I've heard Robb and Jon say that Bran is very good at climbing walls. By rights, he shouldn't have made a mistake."

He looked around at them, deliberately steering their thoughts. "Could something else have happened?"

Robb's pained expression suddenly froze. "You mean... someone tried to hurt Bran?"

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

"So why did he fall today?" Robb's voice rose, as if he were trying to convince himself. "There must be a reason!"

Ned frowned deeply. He didn't believe there was any special reason. Just because Bran hadn't fallen before didn't mean he never would.

Perhaps Bran hadn't been feeling well today, or his body was weak, and he'd lost his footing while climbing.

But as a father, he also wanted to find a reason that would help him accept Bran's condition. So he asked, "What do you mean by that, Garon?"

Meeting Ned's gaze, Garon said gravely, "Lord Ned, let me take a few people and investigate. We might find something."

"I'll go with you!" Robb immediately volunteered.

"I'll go too!" Jon said without hesitation.

Before Ned could answer, Robert spoke for him.

"You three go together. I want to know who tried to hurt Bran too!"

Seeing that the king had already agreed, Ned thought it over, then cautioned them, "Go ahead and investigate, but don't disturb the queen, the prince, or anyone else while they're resting. Understood?"

Garon and the others nodded to show they understood.

Seeing that neither Ned nor the king had anything else to say, Garon and the others turned and left the bedroom. They hurried to investigate while there was still a little light in the sky.

The three of them left the main keep together.

Robb's anger had begun to subside, and for a moment he didn't know how to investigate.

He could only turn to Garon and ask, "Where should we start?"

Garon had already worked out a plan.

"Robb, take some people and ask what others saw when Bran had his accident. Look for anything suspicious. The more details, the better!"

Robb nodded, then asked, "What will you do?"

Garon pointed at the Broken Tower nearby. "Jon and I will investigate the scene and look for any clues."

When Robb had no further questions, the three agreed to meet at dinner.

Then Garon took Jon to the Broken Tower in the First Keep.

The sky was dark and gloomy. The two of them found a pair of oil lamps and walked side by side.

Since the Broken Tower had long been abandoned, they didn't see anyone else along the way.

As Jon led Garon onward, he asked, "Garon, do you really think someone hurt Bran?"

Garon knew the answer, of course, but he couldn't spoil the story for Jon, so he could only answer vaguely.

"I'm only guessing."

"We'll have to see what our investigation turns up!"

Jon sighed, saddened by Bran's plight.

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

"He'll never be able to ride a horse again or fight for Robb. He'll even have to endure other people mocking him."

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

Garon comforted him. "I've only known him for a few days, but I can tell he's a strong boy."

"Jon, Stark blood runs through his veins. You should learn to believe in him!"

Even so, Jon remained silent.

Even a bastard was mocked by the world. How was a cripple supposed to live out his life?

What's more, it was still uncertain whether Bran would survive.

They walked on in silence until Jon raised his oil lamp.

"We're at the Broken Tower!"