By the ti the hunting party returned to Winterfell, dusk had already fallen, and the cold northern wind howled endlessly through the castle walls.
The entire fortress seed wrapped in a heavy atmosphere of gloom.
After Robert and Robb dismounted in the training yard, neither of them lingered for even a mont. Led by a servant, they imdiately hurried toward the main keep to see Bran.
Garon, Benjen, and Jon followed closely behind them.
As for Joffrey, the prince had suffered severe shock after the giant bear incident earlier in the day, so Robert ordered Sandor Clegane to escort him back to his chambers to rest.
The group climbed the stone steps of the keep and soon arrived outside Bran's bedroom.
Before the servant stationed at the door could announce their arrival, Robb had already pushed the door open and rushed inside, with Robert and Benjen entering imdiately after him.
The mont Robb's gaze fell upon the bed, his heart sank heavily.
Bran lay motionless beneath thick blankets, his face pale and lifeless. To anyone looking upon him, he seed to have already stepped halfway into death itself.
Robb instinctively moved forward, wanting to call Bran's na, but Maester Luwin quickly raised a hand to stop him.
Garon and Jon entered a step later.
Standing near the doorway, they imdiately slled the thick scent of blood lingering throughout the room.
Garon's eyes quietly swept across the chamber. Bloodstained bandages had been discarded everywhere beside the bed, while Ned stood nearby with a sorrowful expression, greeting the King's arrival.
Catelyn, anwhile, stood silently beside Bran like a statue.
Her eyes were vacant, fixed completely upon her unconscious son, as though nothing else in the world existed anymore.
Outside the window, Bran's direwolf continued to howl mournfully into the darkening evening, one cry after another echoing through Winterfell.
At that mont, Maester Luwin finished checking Bran's forehead before straightening up and looking toward everyone gathered in the room.
"Your Grace. My lords."
"Bran's injuries have been treated temporarily."
The faint light that had remained within Catelyn's eyes instantly flickered.
Robert imdiately asked, "How is the boy?"
Maester Luwin shook his head slowly and sighed heavily.
"Bran lost a great amount of blood."
"His spine is broken, and both of his legs are shattered as well."
"I have done everything within my power."
"Now…"
"We can only pray that the old gods protect him."
The mont those words were spoken, the last trace of life disappeared from Catelyn's expression.
Ned's face twitched painfully, and his eyes filled with sorrow as he looked at Bran lying helplessly on the bed.
Robb and Jon both trembled visibly, unable to accept the fact that Bran might truly die.
Garon also revealed a sorrowful expression outwardly, though inwardly he remained calm.
As Maester Luwin had said, any ordinary person who fell from such a tower would already be dead beyond saving.
But Bran was different.
The boy possessed the talent of a greenseer and carried the blessing of the old gods themselves.
His life would undoubtedly be preserved.
However, his legs would never move again.
At that mont, Maester Luwin glanced around at the crowded room and spoke gently.
"Your Grace, my lords, Bran needs rest."
"Too many people here will only disturb him."
"I alone will remain to tend to him."
Ned nodded heavily before glancing toward Catelyn.
Seeing the state she was in, he already understood there was no persuading her to leave.
"Catelyn," he said softly, "stay here with Bran."
Catelyn did not respond.
Her eyes never moved away from Bran's face.
Seeing his wife like this, Ned silently sighed in helpless grief and forced himself to leave the room alongside Robert.
Benjen also shook his head sadly before guiding the distraught Robb outside, while Jon followed silently behind them.
The bedroom door slowly closed once again.
"Seven hells…"
Robert stood outside the chamber and sighed deeply.
"How does a boy simply fall from a tower for no reason?"
Ned rubbed his forehead tiredly.
"Bran always loved climbing."
"I warned him countless tis, but he never listened."
"If I had disciplined him more strictly…"
"Perhaps this never would have happened."
His voice carried deep regret.
Hearing this, Robert also fell silent for a mont.
At that exact mont, Garon's eyes flickered faintly before he suddenly spoke, drawing everyone's attention toward him.
"Your Grace. Lord Stark."
"I once heard Robb and Jon ntion that Bran is exceptionally skilled at climbing."
"Logically speaking, soone like him should not have slipped so easily."
Garon slowly looked around at everyone present before continuing deliberately.
"Could there perhaps be another reason behind this incident?"
Robb's sorrowful expression suddenly froze.
"You an…"
"Soone tried to harm Bran?"
The more Robb thought about it, the more convinced he beca.
"That's right!"
"Bran has climbed the Broken Tower many tis before and never once slipped."
"Why would he suddenly fall today?"
"There must be another reason!"
His voice unconsciously rose, as though desperately trying to convince himself.
Ned frowned deeply.
In truth, he did not necessarily believe there was a conspiracy.
Just because Bran had climbed safely before did not an he could never make a mistake.
Perhaps Bran had simply been careless today.
Perhaps he had felt unwell.
Any small error while climbing could have caused such a tragedy.
Yet as a father, Ned also desperately wanted an explanation that would allow him to accept what had happened to his son.
Finally, he looked at Garon seriously.
"What exactly are you suggesting?"
Garon t Ned's gaze calmly.
"My lord, allow to investigate the matter."
"Perhaps we may uncover sothing."
Robb imdiately stepped forward.
"I'll go with you!"
Jon also spoke without hesitation.
"So will I."
Before Ned could answer, Robert had already spoken first.
"Then the three of you investigate together."
"I also want to know whether soone truly hard Bran."
Seeing that even the King had agreed, Ned finally nodded cautiously.
"You may investigate."
"But rember this."
"Do not disturb the Queen or Prince Joffrey while doing so."
"Understood?"
Garon, Robb, and Jon all nodded.
Seeing there was nothing more to discuss, the three imdiately turned and left the main keep, intending to begin their investigation before night fully descended upon Winterfell.
As they walked out into the courtyard together, Robb's earlier anger had gradually settled into confusion.
For a while, he did not even know where to begin investigating.
In the end, he looked toward Garon.
"How should we start?"
Garon already had a clear plan in mind.
"Robb, take so n and investigate what people saw around the ti Bran fell."
"Question everyone carefully."
"No matter how small the clue seems, bring it back."
Robb nodded before asking again, "Then what about you?"
Garon pointed toward the distant silhouette of the Broken Tower.
"Jon and I will inspect the tower itself."
"Perhaps the scene still holds clues."
Seeing there were no objections, the three agreed to et again at dinner.
Afterward, Robb departed to gather n for questioning while Garon and Jon headed toward the Broken Tower together.
The sky had already grown dim by then.
The two of them each carried an oil lamp as they walked side by side through the cold stone corridors.
Since the Broken Tower had long been abandoned, they encountered nobody along the way.
As they walked, Jon finally broke the silence.
"Garon…"
"Do you really believe soone hard Bran?"
Garon naturally knew the truth.
But he could hardly reveal it directly to Jon now.
So he rely answered vaguely.
"I'm only making a guess."
"Whether it's true or not depends on what we uncover tonight."
Jon sighed heavily.
His thoughts once again returned to Bran's injuries.
"Even if Bran survives…"
"His spine and legs are ruined."
"He'll never ride again."
"He'll never fight beside Robb."
"And people…"
"People will mock him for the rest of his life."
Jon's voice beca increasingly low.
"I don't know how Bran will endure that when he wakes up."
Garon glanced toward him before speaking calmly.
"Bran is stronger than you think."
"Stark blood flows through his veins."
"You should believe in him."
But Jon still remained silent.
He understood too well how cruel the world could be.
Even bastards were mocked endlessly throughout Westeros.
So what kind of life awaited a crippled boy?
Moreover, Bran's survival itself remained uncertain.
The two continued walking quietly until Jon finally raised his oil lamp higher.
"We're here."
"The Broken Tower."
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