Summer child~Brandon Stark x Reader

Chapter 3- The Feast

After a while of talking with the Starks a man from the kitchens comes in. He bows. "My lord, the feast is ready when you are." Ned Stark nods and rises. "Come friends let's fill our stomachs with the best Northern food we have!" Light chatter arises as my parents and the Starks leave the den. "Hodor" "Hodor?" "Bring me to the dining hall Hodor." "Hodor." I watch Hodor pick up Bran and he holds a finger up telling him to wait. "Come with me. Id like to sit next to you." I smile and follow next to them. The walk to the dining hall was silent. Once we reach the hall there's one single long table and most are seated. Bran points to a seat next to his brother Jon. Hodor places him there and I sit next to him. Ned Stark sits at the head of the table next to Jon and Robb. My parents are seated next to each other next to Robb and on their side, Rickon is seated. Lady Stark is at the end of the table and next to her is Sansa and Arya on my right.
The first course is given to us. It consists of fresh fish, a paste of herbs and butter covering a juicy mutton chop, and a slice of pie that consisted of onions, potatoes, mushrooms, carrots, and venison. On another plate next to it, was a pork chop and a large baked potato with cheese and seasoning inside. Drinks consisted of wine and water. There was a soft murmuring among people until Lord Stark stood. Everyone fell silent. "Most allies do not stay allies. Most forget what it is to be friends. To make amends with enemies they use marriage. I believe that strengthening ties with good old friends is best in our case. And so a marriage between our two families suffices and will keep this bond strong. To marriage! To our dear friends. May we be allies for centuries to come under the old gods and the new." Everyone cheers and clanks their goblets together. I smile and take a drink from my goblet. Im not really huge in drinking wine but it is quite lovely. I gaze at the centerpieces which consisted of a silver vase with dark blue winter roses. They were beautiful. I ate in silence and gazed around the table. Everyone one at a time. Robb Stark was making good conversation with my mother and my father and Lord Stark were laughing about something. Sansa was scowling at Arya who was giggling for whatever the reason. Rickon was stuffing his face with mutton. Lady Stark was scolding him for making a mess as his face was shiny with butter and basil. I laugh and look to my left. Bran is staring at me. I blush and look down at my food poking at it slightly. "I like your laugh." He said softly. I blush brighter and look up hoping it isn't noticeable. "Thank you my lord." I giggle. He smiles. "So what do you think of Robb?" I sigh again, wishing he didn't bring it up. "He's handsome. He's kind. ...mature. He's...an adult really. See how he talks with my mother? Sure I'd want a husband to be kind with my family but he's so adult like he isn't..fun or..or free. He is so strong exteriored. Like he needs to make a good mature tall impression. He joins in with fun once in a while but he's the eldest. He's expected to be perfect and mature and he is. That's not the type of person I want to be with." I try explaining it best I can. I blush realizing im rambling. I quickly glance over to Bran. He is watching my face carefully and listening to every word I say. "I like people like you." Each word was like silk. My chest tingles as that feeling of hope arises. "People like what?" I question. "Well..im not exactly sure. People aren't really like you. Maybe that's why you're so special to me." My mouth opens a bit and I close it. I want to say something but I can't help but just wish for him to say he liked me. It'd make my night..it'd make my life! "Im special?" I remark pathetically. "Of course! You're my best friend. You're perfect." I feel doubt. Best friend. Is that all? I frown. "Don't frown! Why are you frowning?" His eyes are as wide as a puppy's. I bite my lip and watch him. He blushes. "what?" I watch him not sure what to say. I stare into his eyes and bite my lip again. "W-what?" He blushes brighter and looks at his lap then his plate, then me then back to his plate. He take a drink from his goblet and fidgets. He starts to play with his cloak. He looks at me again and blushes more. I decide I like his blush and to play with him a bit. I giggle and stare him dead in the eyes. He looks away uncomfortably and then back to my gaze. "What did I do?" He blushes. "Nothing little lord." His eyes narrow and he blushes again flustered. I snicker. This is fun. I look down at my plate of food and finish off the delicious pie and baked potato. Im still hungry and my plate is clean as a whistle. I feel his gaze on me. I look fully over at him. "Yes Bran?" He looks down and his cheeks are red again. I giggle. "You're blushing." I say. His face grows brighter. "why are you blushing?" I smirk. "Because you keep staring at me your eyes are so intense!" He stammers. I laugh. "So!" I sit up straight in my chair. "Are you promised to any girl?" He looks over at me, seemingly grateful for the change in conversation. "No im not. What girl would want a cripple? If my father tried yet, I bet the girl or her family would decline." "You're just like your brother sometimes. You look alike. And you're both just pouty pessimists. 'Oh im a bastard! Oh im a cripple! No girl will like me!'" I mock. Jon Snow glares at me as does Bran. I laugh at their expressions. "And you BOTH have these puppy dog eyes!!" I tease. They glare into my soul. I laugh harder. The next entree is served. Honeyed chicken, beef and barely stew, a loaf of bread with rose petal sauce, cod cakes, and beef and bacon pie. Our goblets are refilled with a new type of wine. The color is a dark rich red. It looks good. I don't believe I'll like the taste. Alcohol was never appetizing to me. The look is way better than the taste. I take a bite of my honeyed chicken and glance innocently at the boys. They're scowling and watching me. "What? Are the wolf pups angry with me?" I smirk and take a bite of the pie. Their glowering stares make me almost choke. Jon Snow finally looks down at his food and stiffly takes a bite of it. He washes it down drinking half of his goblet. I press my lips together, trying not to laugh. Bran's face is red and he stares down at his food. "Have you any interest in girls?" I ask. He looks down at his food and grimaces. "No. I..I mean yes..one girl..I don't know." I cock my head and eat the rest of the pie. I poke my food thinking. "Ok well why don't you ask this girl to hang out?" "Like I say, and don't tease me for it. You know it's true. Not many girls are interested in a cripple." I blush. Well I am. Very interested actually. But this one girl.. Who is she.. I frown and play with my food. "Who is this girl?" He glances over at me and scans me. "A very beautiful girl. Northern. High born. She'd never go for me." "Well why not? You're a lord. High born. Very attractive. I don't see why she wouldn't." He blushes brightly and stares at me wide eyed. "Well..maybe she would." He says. I smile and finish off my plate. After that Bran and I make conversation about climbing and direwolves and horses. We talk about things we could do for fun. He asks me to join him for horseback riding tomorrow. I agree. We become quite infatuated with our conversations, we don't realize we're leaning in towards each other. We don't notice the giggles behind us or the whispers. The only thing I notice is how close his hand is to mine on the table. We're facing each other completely. "He was dreaming about her i am positive of it." "Well she wants to marry him you know!" "How do you know?" "She practically told me!" "Did you hear them? They're going to go horseback riding tomorrow. ALONE!" Snickers. "I bet you they'll be doing LOTS of riding tomorrow" more snickers. I look up and turn around to see sansa and Arya watching us and giggling. I blush darkly. I look back at bran. His nose is flared and his jaw is set. His cheeks are as bright as mine. I look back to his sisters who are smirking. "What? Why are you too watching us?" Sansa laughs. Lord Stark and my parents walk off and into the kitchens. "There is one more type of wine Id like you two to try. Only good friends can have this" I hear lord stark's voice trial away. Most of the table is watching us. My chest is pounding as I look over at Robb. But he doesn't look mad. He seems to be smirking and holding back his laughter. "Aren't you going to kiss her bran?" Robb snickers. Everyone starts laughing and Rickon is giggling. I blush harder. "We weren't.." Bran tries. Jon snow is watching us with a smirk. "It's quite obvious" Sansa remarks. "You like her." Brans cheeks flare up and he stammers trying to deny it. "What? What? Sorry what?" Arya teases. Bran shuts his mouth and watches his siblings carefully. "How long has this been going on Arya?" Sansa innocently asks. "Im not sure Dear sister. But I recall finding y/n all mangled with. Whatever did our dear brother do to her?!" She smirks. I gasp. Bran looks down at his lap. Jon watches him smirking. "All he thinks about his her." Brans head shot up and glares at his brother. "That's not true!" Bran chokes out. "Oh y/n ungggh!!!!" Arya mocks. Bran glares at her angrily. I blush brighter. Sansa speaks up again watching Bran and I. "Oh you two! Just ask father. Im sure he wouldn't mind you two can getting married." She smiles teasingly and laughs. We both gasp this time and lady stark looks down at her lap stifling a laugh. Bran looks at his mother disbelieving. "Yah you better hurry and marry him y/n before he shows you what's inside of his breeches." "ROBB!" I screech blushing brightly. "️Haha! Her eyes are like a deer's!" Sansa laughs. "Mother.." Bran watches her. "Im sorry Bran but it IS obvious." She smiles. Both of us look down not saying a word. "Y/n isn't so innocent either." Arya says. I look up glaring at her. "See I was innocently walking around Winterfell last year." I blush. She wouldn't. "I happened to walk up to the tower." "DONT YOU DARE!" I shriek. "And she was riiiight on top of Bran!" She laughs I scream. "ARYA!" Everyone starts laughing and bran shouts at her "SHE FELL IT WASNT LIKE THAT!" "Oh it wasn't? You both remember it so clearly!!" "She FELL!" He shouts. "Oh? Where was Hodor? You told him to leave DIDNT you? You wanted to be alone with her DIDNT YOU?" She presses. He growls. "She..s-she. We didn't it wasn't..we fell..she fell..i .." Jon snow was cackling up. "Alright alright leave the poor children alone." Lady Stark smiles. "Come y/n." She stands up. I follow her into another room. She turns around. "Tell me the truth." She says. "Do you want to marry Robb?" I frown and look at my feet. "I won't be angry. He is very much older than you." I look up at her. "No..im sorry my lady." "It's alright. Now answer this." I blush knowing where this was going. "Would you rather marry Bran?" I blush not answering. "Well it doesn't seem like you realize it. Perhaps by my devilish children's acts tonight you do now. But bran fancies you quite a lot. He's tried to hide it but he hasn't done a good job. He talks about you quite a lot. He was very noticeably upset when he learned of your marriage to Robb." I frown. "Im not sure I understand." "Robb needs to Marry first. He is the eldest. You don't need to marry him. I suggest you speak with my husband. As long as Robb marries someone first, you don't have to marry him." I smile. "Really?" "Of course not you're quite young anyway dear. Let's go back to the dining hall before anyone gets suspicious." She smiles and brings me back. I frown. There is something else..my father..he won't be happy.. Does bran really talk about me? Does he like me? He was very flustered...maybe he does...maybe I could marry him...my face lights up at the thought of it. I hear jon snow talking before I enter the room. "Of course she likes you. Just talk to her. It's not that hard." Arya speaks. "Come on you'd be adorable together I know she likes you!" "How do you know that? Im not going to risk being her friend for something like this. You're all attacking me. Just stop it!" "Leave him be." Robb says. "Besides she's supposed to marry him." I walk in. Bran looks down at his lap. Once Lady Stark and I sit down, my parents and Lord Stark also return. Everyone is quiet. "Something happen while I was gone?" Ned asks smiling. The chatter raises again and the third course is served. Strips and cuts of meat. Northern meat. There's potato and carrot stew with bits of beef. Spruce tip shortbread tops it off with a slice of steak and kidney pie. I focus on my food. It is delicious. Once I finish all of my food I realize Bran looks uncomfortable and sad even. "Bran are you okay? They were only teasing." "You aren't bothered?" He asks. "No. It doesn't change anything." He smiles then frowns. I piece that together. With a spike of confidence I comment. "You're really cute when you smile so..so don't frown." I blush at my fail. He only smiles and looks at me with his beautiful brown eyes. "You're my best friend for a reason I've never met a better person in this world." I smile. "You're an asshole but you're still my best friend" we laugh and continue talking until dessert is served. Lemon cakes, chocolate cake, a fresh loaf of bread with gravy, and an array of cheeses. After easy chatter and eating bran and I leave the table together (with hodor). I see Arya smirking after me. "Why do you spend all this time bothering me when you could be bothering.. Ooh..GENDRY!" I laugh and she glares at me. She's gonna kill me but Ooh sweet revenge. Her parents glare at her and she looks down at her lap. I giggle and follow Hodor and bran.

"Are we going back to the den?" I ask. "Yes. They're all probably going to come back here. Your parents are leaving shortly after breakfast tomorrow so they're making the most of it." I nod. "It's cozy in there." He smiles "I know I love going there. It's always warm no matter the time of the year. Old nan says there's a dragon living underneath Winterfell to keep us warm." I smile and walk with a bit of a skip in my step. Once we reach the den 6 pairs of eyes look up at us. Summer trots over loyally to Bran and we sit where we were waiting for everyone else.