[Vale]
It took Hugh many days to finally reach the Vale. The narrow mountain paths were hard, and the Gates of the Moon were heavily guarded. But Hugh had nowhere to go. The only place he could get safety from the crown if the queen decided to go after him would be the Vale. He needed to meet Lady Lysa Arryn, and he would not leave until he did.
It took another few days of waiting before he was allowed an audience. The nobles of the Vale did not think much of Hugh even after Jon Arryn took him as his squire, for he was only a former squire, a low-born boy who once served their late Lord Jon Arryn.
When he was finally brought before Lady Lysa, Hugh was surprised. She sat on her high chair in the great hall, her young son Robert on her lap. To Hugh's discomfort, she was still nursing the boy, though he looked far too old for it.
Lady Lysa looked down at Hugh with a frown. "What do you want, boy?" she said coldly. "You were Jon's squire, nothing more. You have no place here."
Hugh bowed low but kept his voice steady. "I come with tidings, my lady. Tidings of Petyr Baelish."
The moment Hugh spoke Baelish's name, Lysa froze. Her lips pursed, her arms tightening around her son.
"You dare speak of him?" she snapped. "Petyr is far from here! He serves the crown in King's Landing!"
Hugh swallowed, then reached into his satchel and carefully pulled out a small bundle. Inside were a few ornaments—a ring, a brooch—items Hugh had taken from Baelish's chambers after Thor's plan was set in motion.
He laid them on the floor before her.
Lady Lysa stared at them, her face slowly crumbling. She knew these pieces. She had given some of them to Petyr herself, long ago.
"No," she whispered, her voice breaking. "What... what happened..."
"Assassination, my lady."
Tears welled up in her eyes. She clutched Robert to her chest and began to weep openly, not caring who saw. No one else knew the truth, but deep in her heart, she did. Petyr Baelish was not just a man she once loved—he was the true father of her son.
Hugh waited until her sobs slowed before speaking again. His voice was low, careful. "It was the Lannisters, my lady," he said. "I don't know why they did it but had some vendetta against him. They learned something which I don't know of. I only know that they talked about some debt which I couldn't place."
Lysa lifted her tear-stained face, her eyes burning with anger now. "The Lannisters," she hissed.
She knew Baelish was plotting against them; he even had her send a letter to her sister in Winterfell. But how did they find out?
Hugh felt a small pang of guilt for lying. But Thor had saved his life and trusted him to carry out this plan. He would see it done, if not for anything then for his own life. The Vale had to go against the crown if he wished to have any chance to live.
Otherwise, that mad queen would hunt him down. She wouldn't stop at anyone who knew of her secret.
Lysa wiped her eyes and stood, her body shaking with rage. "The Lannisters will pay for what they have done."
---
[Castle Black]
Days passed, and still there was no sign of Bran.
Robb, Jon searched every path, every tree line, every cave they could find, but Bran was gone as if the wind had carried him away.
Apparently, one team found some clues about them but couldn't pursue them since a direwolf ended up interfering. They didn't believe it; it had been ages since anyone had spotted a direwolf up in the North.
The best guess was that those men were drunk or making stories to end the search early. After all, who would wish to continue searching for someone in the bone-chilling conditions of the North?
Jon's face was grim under the hood of his black cloak. "Robb...," Jon said, his voice low and certain, "I think they crossed the Wall."
Robb frowned and shook his head. "How could they? The only entrance is at Castle Black and even if they found another way, like one of those wildlings, remember that Bran going with that bloody son of a bitch was only an estimation at best till now. Them crossing the Wall is highly unlikely."
Jon kept his gaze ahead. "Then where else could they have gone? There is no going south of here; that Hound would be hunted like a pig to slaughter by Northmen, he wouldn't go there.
He surely ain't here this side of the Wall, we searched every possible corner and pit, you know that. Where else could they have gone?" Jon said with a little heat in his tone, trying to pass the point across.
"Aye," Robb muttered under his breath. He didn't wish to believe it or even think about it, but there really was no other way they could not have found the two.
"Do you think we should send a team beyond the Wall?" Robb asked, genuinely not knowing much about the workings of Castle Black and the men who take the black.
"There's already a team that went out with Uncle Benjen. Convincing Lord Commander Mormont wouldn't be easy." Jon sighed.
"I'll talk to him." Robb had a determined face, no matter what, he would do what it took to bring his brother back.
Suddenly, hoofbeats broke the silence. One of Robb's men came riding hard toward them, his breath a mist in the freezing air. He carried a small scroll bound to a raven's leg.
"A bird, m'lord," the man said, handing the scroll to Robb. "From Winterfell."
Robb took it quickly, his fingers numb from the cold. He broke the seal and unfolded the paper. His eyes moved over the words once—then again, slower this time.
His face went pale, and his hand tightened on the reins until the leather creaked.
Jon noticed it at once. "What is it?"
For a moment, Robb said nothing. He just stared at the letter like it might change if he looked long enough.
"Robb," Jon pressed.
Robb swallowed hard, his voice rough. "Father... Father's been taken captive in King's Landing."
The words hit like a hammer. Jon felt like the breath had been knocked from his chest. He blinked against the biting wind. "Taken captive? How? Why?"
Robb shook his head. "It doesn't say how. Only that King Robert is dead and father is now a prisoner of Queen Cersei and her boy king."
Jon cursed under his breath. "The Lannisters," he growled.
Robb crushed the letter in his hand, his jaw tight with fury.
"Mother has called for the banners. I have to go back to Winterfell."
"I'll come with—"
"NO." Robb immediately denied, and Jon looked at him with confusion and contemplation.
"You're a black now, Snow. Your duty is here."
Jon's face clenched at this; he wished to retort, to say that Ned Stark was his father too but he couldn't. Because he knew his reality.
"Winterfell needs a Stark to bring father back home."
Jon's tightly pursed lips didn't loosen and he gave a sharp nod.
"And a Stark is needed here at the Wall to bring Bran back."
Jon's head all but jerked up to Robb.
"Can I leave Bran to you?" Robb asked, looking Jon straight into his eyes.
"He's my brother too."
"Bring me good news, Snow."
"Expect the same from you, Stark..."
And before they knew it, both were once again in each other's embrace like the brothers they were.
xxx
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