Devotion / Tywin Lannister / Sandor Clegane /GoT

14 Tully

Odetta looked frazzled as Bran grabbed her hand pulling her along. 

"I dont climb trees bran, I read books!" Odetta corrected. 

"Come on!" Bran corrected. 

Aelsa could see that Bran had developed a little crush on her book worm. 

"We will have fun, dont you want an adventure?" 

"No." Odetta admitted. "I'm happy with my feet firmly on the ground."

"You stay here," Bran told Summer. "Lie down. That's right. Now stay." The wolf did as she was told. Bran scratched her behind the ears, then turned away, jumped, grabbed a low branch, and pulled himself up. Summer started to howl out.

"Be careful Bran I dont want to have to come up there and get you." Odetta remarked. "I'm not as good in the air then on solid ground."

"I'm a pro!" Bran called down. "But I want you to come up with me!" He added with his attempt at a wink. Summer fell silent, staring up at him through slitted yellow eyes. A strange chill went through him but Bran began to climb again. Once more the wolf howled.

"Quiet," he yelled. "Sit down. Stay. You're worse than Mother." Bran grumbled. The howling chased him all the way up the tree, until finally he jumped off onto the armory roof and out of sight. Odetta looked around but she couldnt see him. 

Everything happened so quickly after that and Aelsa only knew that Odetta was crying and screaming and sobbing into her mumbling about Bran. Aelsa felt her heart stop seeing bran laying there lifeless, Catelyn sobbing over her son. 

+

Aelsa thought about her little Odetta laid up in bed beside Bran. Reading him stories, she was always the sweetest little thing. Sterling was with Robb and Jon while Tom was trying to console his sister to no use. 

Tom didnt know what to do, there was nothing to do. They all just had to wait. 

''Time for breakfast. Bread. And two of those little fish. And a mug of dark beer to wash it down. And bacon, burned black.' Tyrion remarked looking over the food.

'Little brother.' Jaime remarked. 

'Beloved siblings.' Tyrion answered. "Where are my actual beloved siblings?" Tyrion added looking between Jaime and Cersei. 

"Aelsa is with the children. Kinsley is, Gods knows where." Cersei remarked. She needed her sisters too but they were tended to the starks no doubt. 

"Aelsa is a good girl." Tyrion agreed. "Cares. A lot." Cersei rolled her eyes. 

''Is Bran going to die ?' Myrcella questioned

'Apparently not.' Tyrion told her picking at his food.

''What do you mean?' Cersei questioned, her eyes darting to Jaime.

''The Maester says the boy may live.' Tyrion told them and Cersei sucked in a breath trying to remain calm.

''It's no mercy, letting a child linger in such pain.' Cersei told him.

''Only the gods know for certain. All the rest of us can do is pray. The charms of the north seem entirely lost on you.''

"How is your sister?" Aelsa questioned. 

"Bad, she refuses to leave Bran's side, she is a mess." Tom remarked. 

"I wish we could do something, I brought her tea but... what she really needs is a bath." Aelsa admitted. "I can stay with bran, she can... clean up. It's ripe in there and the maesters are going to think its bran's decaying body." Aelsa whispered. 

"Can you not talk like that?" Tom begged 

"Sorry!" Aelsa declared. 

''I still can't believe you're going to the wall. It's ridiculous even for you.' Cersei tutted as Kinsley came in. 

"Ohh the wall!" Kinsley agreed. 

''Where's your sense of wonder? The greatest structure ever built, the intrepid men of the Night's Watch, the wintry abode of the White Walkers.' Tyrion mused. "Kinsley you joining me?"

''Tell me you're not thinking of taking the black.' Jaime teased and Tyrion scoffed.

'And go celibate? The whores would go begging from Dorne to Casterly Rock. I just want to stand on top of the Wall and piss off the edge of the world.' Tyrion assured them.

"Yes I'm coming but my pissing off the edge of the world will be harder, but I will try so we can share that experience together." Kinsley assured. 

'The children don't need to hear your filth. Come.' Cersei said leading her children away from the breakfast table, Tyrion's eyes followed them as he brought his cup to his lips.

"Flith!" Kinsley laughed out. "LOVE YOU CUTIES!" she chuckled turning back to her brothers. "Can you believe her?"

"Yes." Jaime agreed. 

"You two do and say worse." Kinsley countered bluntly. Jaime cleared his throat. 

''Even if the boy lives, he'll be a cripple, a grotesque. Give me a good clean death any day.' Jaime remarked.

'Speaking for the grotesques, I'd have to disagree. Death is so final, whereas life... Life is full of possibilities. I hope the boy does wake. I'd be very interested to hear what he has to say.' Tyrion remarked.

"Cersei, what are you doing?" Aelsa questioned. 

"I came to check on Brandon of course." Cersei answered. Aelsa nodded slowly. 

"Why?" 

"Because I worry for the boy." Cersei offered. "If he is suffering its-"

"Dont." aelsa begged. "She is already a mess enough." 

"I just want to offer my sympathy." Cersei assured. "Come sister."  Catelyn rose she looked a mess as Cersei entered. Aelsa closed the door behind them. 

''Please, sit.' Cersei assured as she looked over at Bran. Motionless on the bed. Aelsa moved to Bran's side, Odetta smiled back at her. 

"What story was it today, love?" 

"Jack and the beanstalk." Odetta whispered. "I thought he would like it because Jack likes to climb too." 

"Thats really sweet." Aelsa agreed. 

''Handsome one, isn't he?" Cersei remarked getting a good look at him. Odetta smiled back at Bran. 

"He is cute." ODetta admitted, Aelsa chuckled kissing Odettas temple. 

"I lost my first boy, a little black-haired beauty. He was a fighter too... tried to beat the fever that took him.' Cersei informed her. 'Forgive me. It's the last thing you need to hear right now.''

''I never knew.' Catelyn remarked softly. Aelsa reached out grabbing Cersei's hand. They all came up for the birth and they all were devastated when the baby died, there was no consoling Cersei. Aelsa couldnt imagine it. Hoped she never would.  

'It was years ago. Robert was crazed, beat his hands bloody on the wall, all the things men do to show you how much they care. The boy looked just like him. Such a little thing... A bird without feathers. They came to take his body away and Robert held me. I screamed and I battled, but he held me. That little bundle. They took him away and I never saw him again.' Cersei remarked. 'Never have visited the crypt, never. I pray to the Mother every morning and night that she return your child to you.''

''I am grateful.' Catelyn said softly.

''Perhaps this time she'll listen.'' Cersei added but she wasnt praying for Bran to wake but to die instead. Cersei headed out and smiled softly at Tom in the door way. Emmie in his arms he waved back at Aelsa. She excused herself as Odetta found another story to read to Bran. 

"Emmie was requesting you." Tom remarked. Emmie giggled into Aelsa. "You convince her to take a bath yet?" 

"That sounds more like a big brothers duty." Aelsa corrected.