When the hunting party returned to Winterfell, twilight was deep and the cold wind howled mournfully.
The entire castle was shrouded in gloom.
After dismounting in the courtyard, Robert and Robb did not dare to linger. Led by a servant, they headed straight for the main keep to visit Bran.
Galon, Benjen, and Jon followed close behind.
As for Joffrey, due to severe shock, Robert had Ser Clegane take him back to rest first.
The group ascended the castle steps and soon arrived outside the bedchamber.
Before the servant standing by the door could speak, Robb had already rushed into the room, followed closely by Robert and Benjen.
He cast a worried look toward the bed, and his heart sank sharply.
Bran lay there, his face pale and lifeless. To anyone looking, there seemed to be no hope of survival.
Robb looked panicked and instinctively started to call his name, but Maester Luwin stopped him.
Galon and Jon's steps were slower. Standing in the doorway, they peered inside, where a pungent scent of blood assaulted them.
Galon surveyed the room. The floor near the bed was littered with blood-soaked bandages.
Ned, seeing the King arrive, greeted him with a sorrowful expression.
Catelyn stood numbly to one side, completely motionless, her vacant eyes fixed intensely on her son.
Outside the window, his direwolf was still howling mournfully, one sorrowful cry after another.
At this moment.
Maester Luwin touched Bran's forehead, then straightened up to face the crowd. "Your Majesty, my Lords, his injuries have been treated for now!"
Catelyn's eyes moved slightly, and Robert immediately asked, "How is he?"
Maester Luwin shook his head and sighed.
"He has lost a lot of blood. His back is broken, and both his legs are also broken. I have done my best. Now, we can only hope the Old Gods will protect him!"
At this news, the spark of life in Catelyn's eyes vanished. Ned's face twitched a few times, and his eyes, fixed on the child on the bed, were filled with sorrow.
Robb and Jon trembled all over, unable to accept the reality that he might die.
Galon's face showed sorrow, but he remained perfectly calm inside.
As Maester Luwin said, an ordinary person who fell from such a height would have been dead long ago.
But he was different. Blessed with the gift of a greenseer, he was truly protected by the Old Gods.
His life would certainly be saved; he would just never be able to walk again.
"Your Majesty, my Lords, please leave now. Allowing him to rest properly might help his recovery. I am enough to look after him here!"
Seeing too many people in the bedchamber, Maester Luwin advised everyone to return and rest.
Ned nodded. He glanced at the grief-stricken Catelyn, knowing he could not persuade her to leave.
So, he said, "Cat, you stay and look after him."
She did not reply, still staring motionlessly at her son.
Seeing his wife's state, Ned sighed helplessly and said no more, forcing himself to maintain his composure as he walked out with Robert.
Benjen shook his head and led the grief-stricken Robb out as well.
The bedchamber door was closed once more.
"Seven Hells!"
Robert stood by the door, sighing.
"Why would he fall from the high tower like that?"
"He has always loved climbing. I warned him repeatedly, but he never listened," Ned regretted.
"If I had disciplined him more strictly, perhaps he wouldn't have slipped and fallen today."
"Alas..."
Hearing Ned's weary sigh, Robert also fell silent.
Just then, Galon's eyes flickered slightly, and he suddenly spoke, drawing everyone's attention to himself.
"Your Majesty, Lord Stark!" he said composedly.
"I have heard Robb and Jon say he is extremely skilled at climbing. Logically, he shouldn't make such a mistake."
He looked around at everyone, deliberately leading the line of thought: 'Could there be another explanation for this?'
Robb's pained expression sharply stalled.
He muttered, "Are you saying... someone wanted to harm him?"
The more he thought about it, the more convinced he became. "Yes, he has climbed that broken tower many times and has never slipped before."
"Why would he slip today?" Robb's voice suddenly rose, as if trying to convince himself.
"There must be a reason!"
Ned frowned deeply.
He did not believe there was any special reason; just because he hadn't slipped before didn't mean he never would.
Perhaps he was not feeling well or uncomfortable today, which could have caused him to slip and fall while climbing.
But as a father, he also wanted a reason to accept the current state, so he asked, "Then, Galon, what do you suggest?"
Galon met his gaze and said firmly, "Lord Stark, allow me to take a few men to investigate. We might find something."
Robb immediately chimed in.
"I'll go with you!"
And Jon, without hesitation, said, "I'll go with you too!"
Before Ned could reply, Robert already answered for him. "The three of you go together. I want to know who tried to harm him!"
Seeing that the King had agreed, Ned thought for a moment and said solemnly, "You may investigate, but do not disturb the Queen, the Prince, or the others who are resting, understand?"
The three nodded.
They turned and left the bedchamber doorway, hurrying to investigate before it got completely dark.
The three walked out of the main keep together.
Robb's earlier anger had subsided, and for a moment, he didn't know how to begin the investigation.
He could only turn to Galon and ask, "How should we start?"
Galon already had a plan in mind.
"Robb, you take men to investigate what others saw when the accident occurred. Look for any suspicious clues, the more detailed the better!"
Robb nodded, then asked, "And what will you do?"
Galon pointed toward the broken tower not far away.
"I'll take Jon to examine the scene for any signs or clues."
Seeing that Robb had no other questions, the three agreed to meet at dinner time. Then, Galon led Jon toward the broken tower in the First Keep.
The sky was dim. The two found two oil lamps and walked side by side.
Because the broken tower had been abandoned for a long time, they did not see anyone else on the way.
As Jon led him, he asked, "Galon, do you really think someone harmed him?"
Galon, of course, knew the answer, but couldn't reveal the plot, so he replied vaguely. "I am only guessing. Whether it's true will depend on the results of our investigation!"
Jon sighed, again feeling sad for his brother.
"Alas, even if he survives, his back and legs are broken. He'll never be able to ride a horse again, or serve Robb in battle, and he'll have to endure the mockery of others.
I can't imagine how he will face all this when he wakes up!"
Galon comforted him.
"Though I've only known him for a few days, I know he is a strong child. Jon, the blood of the Starks flows in his veins.
You must learn to have faith in him!"
Despite the words, Jon remained silent.
A bastard is mocked by the world. How is a crippled man supposed to live his life? Moreover, it was still unknown whether he would even survive.
The two continued in silence until Jon raised the oil lamp.
"The broken tower is here!"
__________
Upto 20 chapters ahead on patreon :-
patreon.com/Xorath