Bad Blood // Theon Greyjoy

16. Scary

 'Don't listen to it. Crows are all liars. I know a story about a crow.' Old Nan told Bran, Nova sat beside him in bed an arm wrapped around him as she leaned her head on his.

''I hate your stories.' Bran told her.

'I know a story about a boy who hated stories. I could tell you about Ser Duncan the Tall. Those were always your favorites.'

''Those weren't my favorites. My favorites were the scary ones.'' Bran corrected.

"I like the not scary ones." Nova mused. "The one were the guy gets the girl and they live happily ever after." Nova winked at Theon in the doorway.

"Scary!" Bran declared. "You can cover your ears Nova." Bran suggested.

"Oh, thank you." Nova said with a chuckle. "Theon you might need to protect me, scary story coming."

"Always." He assured coming to her side.

''Oh, my sweet summer child. What do you know about fear? Fear is for the winter, when the snows fall a hundred feet deep. Fear is for the long night, when the sun hides for years and children are born and live and die all in darkness. That is the time for fear, my little Lord, when the White Walkers move through the woods.' Old nan told him and Bran smirked, a scary story as Theon kissed Nova's head. With their mother still gone Nova took it upon herself to be the mother and tend to Bran and Rickon as Catelyn would. Better than Catelyn would, Nova thought confidently.

'Thousands of years ago there came a night that lasted a generation. Kings froze to death in their castles, same as the shepherds in their huts. And women smothered their babies rather than see them starve, and wept and felt the tears freeze on their cheeks. So is this the sort of story that you like?' Old nan questioned and Bran stared at her.

"No," Nova said slowly glancing down to Bran's face, it dropped his smile gone as he processed what old nan said. "That's enough for today." Nova told her. but she didn't listen.

'In that darkness, the White Walkers came for the first time. They swept through cities and kingdoms, riding their dead horses, hunting with their packs of pale spiders big as hounds...''

"Stop it now.'' Nova demanded hugging Bran to her.

'What are you telling him now?' Robb questioned

'Only what the little Lord wants to hear.' Old nan assured

''Get your supper. I want some time with him.' Robb said and she got up slowly and headed out. Bran watched Robb sit next to him. He hated being stuck in bed not being able to move his legs.

'One time she told me the sky is blue because we live inside the eye of a blue-eyed giant named Macomber.' Robb remarked.

''Maybe we do.'' Bran suggested

"She told me that too, I asked father, he said no." Nova said confidently. "And father is the smartest man I know." Nova added.

''How do you feel? You still don't remember anything?' Robb asked and Bran shook his head hesitantly. 'I've seen you climb a thousand times. In the wind, in the rain... A thousand times. You never fall.'

''I did though.'' Bran said softly 'It's true, isn't it... what Maester Luwin says about my legs?' Robb nodded ''I'd rather be dead.'' Bran spat

''Don't ever say that.' Nova told him.

''I'd rather be dead.'' Bran repeated.

"You would break my heart!" Nova told him. "Robb would miss you, rickon and theon, mother and father, summer are you going to leave summer alone? She would be a mess and rip the bedding." Nova told him confidently. "I would die without you-' Nova went on.