Jon Snow warned seven-year-old Bran that he would fall if he continued climbing. Bran nodded, but as soon as he turned his head, he started climbing The Wall again.
Bran didn't take Jon's warning seriously, even though Jon had already proven his prophetic gift.
That evening, Catelyn, Eddard, and the children ate dinner together.
Robb sat to Eddard's right, Sansa and Arya sat on Catelyn's side, and Theon and Jon sat at the edge of the long table.
Eddard had always treated all the children equally, whether it was his ward Theon or his Bastard Jon; Eddard always allowed them to dine at the same table as his own children.
Also dining with them that night was Eddard's brother, Benjen.
Lord Eddard and Catelyn did not allow the wolf pups near the table, so Grey Wind, Ghost, Lady, Nymeria, Summer, and Shaggydog played in the corner of the great hall.
Robb tasted the barley venison stew and playfully said to Bran beside him, "Bran, don't climb The Walls anymore. Jon's dreams always come true; he dreamt you fell from a height, so you'd best be careful."
Catelyn, who was tearing bread with her slender fingers, immediately became alert upon hearing Robb's words.
Bran took a sip of milk. "I won't fall."
Arya tore open a honeycomb and drizzled honey onto her steak. She said playfully, "Jon dreamt Bran fell? No way. Bran has been climbing since he was little; every brick and tile of Winterfell, every crack in The Walls and roofs, he's intimately familiar with."
Catelyn put down her bread and exclaimed, "Bran, you cannot continue climbing The Walls!"
Bran tilted his head. "Mother, do even you believe Jon's dream prophecies?"
Catelyn didn't even glance at Jon; her concern for her son was purely maternal instinct. Catelyn said, "This has nothing to do with someone's dreams. You often climb up and down like a gecko; there's always a risk of falling."
"When I was little, I knew a swimmer named Byer in Winterfell. He always boasted that he could swim in any current of the Seven Springs, Red Fork, Blue Fork, and Green Fork. But the year I turned thirteen, Byer drowned in Gods Eye."
"These things often happen when you swim in rivers; it's usually the skilled swimmers who drown. Bran, climbing walls is the same; those who fall to their deaths are the climbing experts. Those who don't climb may never climb a wall in their lives, and naturally, they stay away from danger."
Bran yawned and said carelessly, "Mother, I know, I won't climb walls anymore."
Benjen laughed, "Bran, you say that every time. I bet you'll be climbing up and down again very soon."
Catelyn detected the perfunctoriness in Bran's words. She turned to Eddard beside her. "Bran's promise is insincere. King Robert is coming soon; we should find a room and lock Bran up to prevent him from climbing then."
Bran was a little angry. "Mother, you can't lock me up! I still want to see the Kingsguard and the King!"
Lord Eddard drained his goblet of amber sweetwine. "Bran, when the King arrives, our whole family must greet the King and the royal family, so I won't lock you up. However, during the King's visit, you cannot climb. Otherwise, I will have to send you to a nearby manor."
Bran resignedly said, "Alright! I just won't climb."
Benjen laughed, "That's hard. Climbing can be addictive. In the Night's Watch, I knew a black brother named Stone Snake from the Vale. He climbed in the Mountains of the Moon since he was a child. After joining the Night's Watch, he often climbed the Frostfangs, Giant's Ladder, Windhowl Crag, and even The Wall. He said he felt a desire to conquer when he saw towering mountains and structures."
After dinner, everyone dispersed, leaving only Catelyn and Eddard in the great hall.
Catelyn was worried. "Is Bran truly safe? What if your bastard's dream really comes true? Damn it, why couldn't that bastard dream of something else? Why specifically my son Bran falling?"
Eddard said helplessly, "What Jon dreams is not something he can control."
Catelyn said irritably, "I think this is Bastard Jon's curse, a magic curse. Did you perhaps have Jon with a witch?"
Eddard gave her a cold, prolonged stare. "My Lady, never mention Jon's birth mother to me, especially during the King's visit. The King is almost here; let us properly welcome the King's Royal Fleet!"
Robb, Jon, and Theon stood on The Walls of Winterfell, overlooking the Kingsroad.
Robb excitedly said, "King Robert's party will be here soon! We finally get to see this legendary King! Back then, he single-handedly won the Battle of the Trident, wielding that warhammer in a one-on-one duel and killing his rival, Prince Rhaegar."
"One hammer blow ended the Targaryen dynasty of dragons! How mighty and heroic that was!"
Robb's praise for King Robert was effusive.
Theon said coldly, "Yes! King Robert is very formidable, and his second brother, Stannis, is also a tough character. Stannis actually defeated the Iron Fleet in the Battle of Fair Isle."
In truth, Theon secretly loathed Robert and Stannis. Back then, Theon's father, Balon, King of the Iron Islands, declared himself king. King Balon, using Euron's cunning scheme, launched a surprise attack on Lannisport, burning the Lannister fleet at anchor and catching the Westerlands off guard.
However, Robert immediately led a large army to the Iron Islands. Stannis led the Royal Fleet, along with Lord Paxter Redwyne's The Arbor fleet, and crushed the Iron Fleet in the Battle of Fair Isle. Theon's third uncle Victarion and fourth uncle Aeron were all captured.
After the naval defeat, the Iron Islands rebellion had completely lost its suspense. The royal army swept through the islands with irresistible force. King Balon was forced to kneel in submission again and offer a hostage. Theon, who was only ten years old at the time, thus came to Winterfell and became Lord Eddard's ward.
Although Lord Eddard treated Theon well, there was an unspoken rift between them. Both knew that if King Balon rebelled again, Lord Eddard could at any moment use the greatsword Ice to cut off Theon's head.
Robb mused, "Father said that King Robert's warhammer is so heavy that even he can barely lift it. King Robert is built like a towering giant; he must be the strongest man and warrior in Westeros."
Jon calmly said, "The last time Father saw King Robert was nine years ago when the Iron Islands rebellion was put down. King Robert was indeed one of the strongest warriors when he was young. Now, well! I heard King Robert is devoted to feasts and brothels. Wine and women are harmful; if a person spends all day feasting and carousing in brothels, his fighting ability will likely decline."
Strictly speaking, Robert was Jon's father's killer, but Jon was a transmigator after all, so he didn't harbor that much hatred for Robert. Robert's killing of Prince Rhaegar happened on the battlefield; at the time, Prince Rhaegar wielded a sword and fought Robert, who wielded a warhammer, in a one-on-one duel. If Robert hadn't killed Rhaegar, then Prince Rhaegar would have very likely killed Robert.
Jon understood that King Robert was the key figure in maintaining the balance of power in the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros. As long as he lived, Lord Eddard's relationship with Robert would ensure House Stark's position remained very stable.
Conversely, if King Robert died, then all factions would eagerly play the game of thrones and declare themselves kings.
When one whale falls, all things grow.
A cold wind blew, and ravens circled in the sky. Jon knew that the Others were stirring in the North, that his never-before-met aunt Daenerys was likely somewhere across the Narrow Sea, awaiting the Horse King's deflowering, and that the Lannister ambition around King Robert was rampant. Those conspirators had already murdered Jon Arryn.
The times were turbulent, and the road ahead was difficult, yet Jon liked this situation.
Chaos is a ladder. Jon was still just a penniless bastard; what was wrong with welcoming the arrival of the True Dragon amidst the chaos?