The howling wind swept across the sky, and wherever Bran looked, there was only endless white.
He had become a crow, flying over an infinite snowfield.
It felt as though he were the only living thing left in the world.
But within that pale stillness, a deep blue spread like a festering wound.
By the time he sensed something was wrong, countless icy blue eyes surrounded him like cold stars.
A scream tore from his throat—
And everything went black.
When the light returned, a massive weirwood tree stood before him, its pale bark like bone.
Within the tree, a hunched figure was entangled in its branches, as if it had become one with it.
Bran stared at him.
He noticed only the man's eyes—identical to Galon's—and then heard a voice, old yet clear, echoing in his ears.
"Come..."
"Bran Stark... come north... find me..."
"Before the long night falls..."
The next moment, Bran jolted awake.
His body was drenched in cold sweat, his heart pounding wildly in his thin chest.
Outside, dawn had just begun to break over Winterfell. The world was silent.
His direwolf, Summer, lifted its head at once, leaping onto the bed with a low, uneasy growl.
Its sharp eyes scanned the room, as if it too could sense the lingering cold from the dream.
Bran reached out and stroked its fur, as though calming both the wolf and himself.
"It's alright... just a nightmare..."
But even as he said it, his heart remained heavy.
This was not the first time.
Ever since the Reed siblings had arrived, these dreams had become more frequent... more vivid.
The call of the Three-Eyed Raven carried an irresistible sense of destiny.
It haunted him day and night.
He could not wait any longer.
The next morning, in the great hall of Winterfell—
The fire burned steadily, pushing back the cold.
Sansa was handling daily affairs, with Maester Luwin assisting her. Jon was present as well, reporting on the castle's defenses.
Bran was carefully placed into a fur-covered chair by Hodor.
Meera and Jojen stood quietly behind him, waiting.
"Sansa, Maester Luwin, Jon..." Bran's voice still held a boy's clarity, but his tone was firm.
"I have to leave Winterfell."
The hall fell silent.
Sansa's quill froze midair as she looked up, confusion written across her face.
"Bran... what did you just say? Do you mean you want to go outside the castle for a walk?"
Bran shook his head.
"I mean I'm going north... beyond the Wall."
"What?!"
Jon reacted immediately, shock and concern in his grey eyes. "Bran, do you know what you're saying?"
"Your legs... even if you could walk, beyond the Wall is wildling territory. You're not in the Night's Watch. Why would you go there?"
Maester Luwin frowned, worry flashing across his face.
He had noticed Bran's strange behavior for some time.
Especially after the Reeds arrived, the three of them often held secret discussions in the godswood.
And Bran had grown increasingly drowsy, often missing important meetings.
Luwin turned sharply to the Reed siblings.
"What have you been telling him?"
"Since you arrived, Bran has become more secretive, and his condition has worsened!"
Before anyone else could speak, Bran answered for them.
"It has nothing to do with them."
"I've simply understood my fate."
"Fate?" Luwin frowned deeply. "Bran, I know you've been searching for stories of the Three-Eyed Raven, but stories are just—"
Bran took a deep breath, knowing words alone would not convince them.
He turned to Hodor.
"Hodor... I need to use your body."
Hodor nodded obediently.
"Hodor."
The others looked on in confusion.
Then, suddenly, a strange ripple passed through the hall. Bran's head tilted, and he collapsed into unconsciousness.
"Bran?!"
Jon stepped forward instinctively—
But a deep voice spoke from the side.
"Jon... I'm here."
Jon froze.
His gaze slowly turned to Hodor.
"You... you..."
Sansa stood up abruptly, completely lost.
Even Maester Luwin, usually so composed, looked stunned.
"How... how are you doing this?" Sansa finally managed to ask, her voice trembling.
"It was taught to me by the Three-Eyed Raven." Bran spoke through Hodor, no longer hiding the truth.
"I was born with greensight. I have the gift to become a greenseer. Since my fall, the Three-Eyed Raven has been teaching me in my dreams."
At last, they understood why Bran had been so drowsy.
But even greater confusion followed.
"Why would the Three-Eyed Raven choose you?" Sansa asked urgently.
"Can he heal your legs?"
Hodor shook his head. "Because I am a Stark. Because this is my destiny. As for my legs... I don't know."
"But I will learn to fly."
"Fly?" Jon echoed, puzzled.
At that moment, Bran's consciousness returned to his own body.
He opened his eyes.
"Yes. Like a bird."
"That's why I must go beyond the Wall. I have to find him."
Hodor, now himself again, rubbed his head uneasily.
"Hodor..."
But Sansa had no attention for that.
She rushed to Bran, her voice breaking.
"Bran, please... you can't go!"
"It's too dangerous! You're my brother. I've already lost Arya and Rickon. I can't lose you too!"
"If Father, Mother, and Robb knew—no, I won't let you go!"
Jon stepped forward as well.
"I agree. Bran, I don't care about this Three-Eyed Raven. I won't let you leave Winterfell."
Warmth stirred in Bran's heart.
He smiled faintly. "No one can take my place... And I have to go."
His gaze swept across them, filled with unshakable resolve.
"Winter is coming."
"House Stark must be prepared."
"I must go north.. to find the Three-Eyed Raven. Only then can the North—and the world—have a chance."
His voice carried a weight far beyond his years.
Maester Luwin sighed deeply, his expression conflicted.
He knew that some ancient tales were true. And he knew a little of the Three-Eyed Raven.
"Perhaps... the old stories are not all false..."
"If this truly is fate..."
He did not finish, but his stance had softened.
Bran turned to Sansa.
She sank back into her chair, tears silently falling. She knew she could not stop him.
After a long moment, she took a deep breath.
"Fine... I agree. But you must take enough guards with you." She turned to the Reeds. "Bran is in your care."
They nodded solemnly.
Then she looked at Jon. "Choose the most loyal and capable men to escort him north."
Jon hesitated—but in the end, he nodded.
With the decision made, Bran smiled.
A few days later, everything was ready.
Bran Stark set out from Winterfell, heading beyond the Wall to find the Three-Eyed Raven.
And far to the south, his siblings' fates were already beginning to unfold.
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