Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
for the night is dark and full of terrors.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
The day of the King's departure from Winterfell was marred by a heavy silence, an oppressive weight that settled upon the castle like an unyielding shroud. Bran Stark's continued unconsciousness cast a pall over the proceedings, a somber reminder of the fragility of life. Maester Luwin had declared that Hermione's potion, Spes Bona, had pulled Bran from the brink of death. Yet, the boy's return to consciousness remained as elusive as the spring thaw.
"Maester Luwin says his heart is tenfold stronger than before," Robb reassured Hermione, his voice a beacon of fragile hope. The bruises on Hermione's skin were beginning to shift from angry purples to fading yellows, the result of the Arnica Essence crafted by the maester. "You did that. The tomes are no longer necessary."
That night, Hermione and Lady Catelyn maintained a vigil by Bran's bedside, trading shifts of rest and watch. The boy's complexion had regained its pink hue, and his body was no longer cold to the touch. Yet the progress seemed insufficient, and Hermione was plagued by doubts. She feared she might have faltered in her efforts, despite the knowledge that Spes Bona was meant for grievous injuries and would take time to fully manifest its effects.
"I know it's supposed to take time," Hermione admitted as they walked through the castle's courtyard, heading towards the awaiting horses and carriages. "But I can't help but worry that I've made a mistake."
"It's not possible," Robb said with a reassuring smile, though Hermione's skepticism was palpable as she neared the preparations for their journey back to King's Landing.
Lord Eddard had accepted King Robert's offer to become the King's Hand, a decision that Lady Catelyn had taken with deep reluctance. With him would go Sansa and Arya, each driven by different motivations: Sansa's desire to be closer to Joffrey and to live the life of a princess, while Arya sought to explore the world beyond Winterfell's walls.
Hermione caught a glimpse of the King as he prepared to leave—draped in his royal finery, a golden crown perched atop his head, his cheeks flushed with the indulgence of wine. The sight struck Hermione with an unexpected wave of nausea, a visceral reaction that clenched at her stomach. She gripped Robb's forearm for support as he inquired about her well-being.
