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LYLIAN WATCHED THE kids below play with one another. They chased and laughed with one another. They were free. Lylian couldn't help but feel envious towards the other kids. She remembers playing just like them a few seasons ago. But the circumstances forced her to abandon her childhood and become the lady she was taught to be. She was doing the duties that a woman far much older than her should be doing. She is only ten. Far to young to govern people.

From afar, Bran and Osha watched as Lylian smiled sadly. Bran felt a large veil of dread cross him. Osha noticed the solemn look that crossed Bran's face.

"What's got you all upset little lord?" Osha asked. Bran continued to stare at Lyli.

"She looks so sad." He said. Osha lifted her head to where Bran was looking. Lylian was sitting by a window ledge with scrolls scattered around her. She stared longingly at the group of children playing in the courtyard.

"It's my fault that she's so sad" he added

"How?" she asked him. Bran sighed and teared his eyes away from Lyli.

"I made her grow up too fast. She was pushed into this mess. If she wasn't betrothed to me, she would still be in highgarden. She'll be happy there" he smiled sadly.

"She seems happy here" she lied. Bran knew she was lying.

"But she isn't. Not anymore, anyways. Not since everybody left" It was no secret how Lylian's attitude and personality changed over the times. Her voice became more serious compared to her cheery one before. She's traded the dolls in for scrolls and responsibilities. Bran wasn't any different. The once energetic child became reserved and quiet. Both of the children were forced into responibilities that was not meant for them.

"They'll come back and she'll be happy again and you lot can continue to be as childish as you want" Osha replied in hopes of lightening the mood. Bran gave her a blank stare

"They aren't coming back" he simply replied. Osha gave him a look of disbelief.

"Don't say that. Your family will come back" she assured him. But even she was not confident in her own words. No one really comes back from war and if they do, they are never the same as they once were. Silence passed between the duo. Osha stared at the townsfolk while Bran continued to stare at Lyli.

"Osha? What is something that girls like?" he asked. Osha shrugged

"It depends on the girl." she replied, leaning her arms on the stone windows.

"But what is something that all girls like?" Osha thought for a minute.

"Flowers. A girl could never resist beautiful flowers." she smiled. Bran's face slowly lit into a smile as he turned to face Osha.

"Let's go into the woods. I remember overhearing my father tell Sansa once that there were bushes of Blue Winter Roses just outside the godswood" he asked excitedly. Osha was glad to finally see Bran becoming happy even if the happiness isnt for him.

———

Bran and Osha soon ventured outisde the castle walls. Hodor and 2 other castle guards accompanied the pair. The small group walked along the castle walls until they made their way behind the godswood. bran's hope slightly faltered as he see's the fresh blanket of snow covering the tree's and bushes but he didnt want to give up just yet. He was determined to find at least one single blue rose. The group stopped at a clear opening. Hodor lifted Bran off his horse and into his arms.

"Let's split up. One of the guards can come with me and Hodor while the other goes with Osha. This way we'll find a rose sooner" the group agreed and eventually split up. Osha and the other guard walked along the snow covered floor

"Why exactly does Lord Stark want a winter rose?"

"It's for Lylian. He wants to suprise her. She's been depressed these past few days"

"I wouldn't blame her. If I was stuck inside all day listening to people complain, I'd be depressed too" he replied. Osha rolled her eyes and as she did, she saw a flash of blue. She pushed the guard aside and stumbled towards a bush. She knelt down and brushed away some of the fallen snow. Blue roses appeared before her. She turned to the guard.

"Go get the little lord." He complied and left her side. She was so busy admiring the beauty that she barley heard the sound of hooves and footsteps. It wasn't until she heard her name being called that she tore her gaze away from the flowers.

"Osha" Bran called out. Osha turned to see Bran being lowered down on to the snow by Hodor.

"Beautiful aren't they?" Osha asked. Bran slightly nodded. This was probably the first time he was seeing such a thing. Not much grows in the north and if there is anything that grows, there's not much to look at.
Bran reached over and pushed off the snow on the rest of the bush. Just as he did, he heard a soft sneeze. His hand froze. He turned to the others and they too seemed to have heard the noise. Osha pushed Bran behind her as she takes the spot that he once occupied. He reaches over and brushes some of the snow off. Another soft sneeze was heard. Osha reaches forwards and opened the bush. Inside laid 3 baby wolves. The two pups seemed to be asleep while the other pup was rubbing on its nose. Bran crawled beside Osha to see the 3 creatures. He eyes them carefully.

"Are they direwolves?" He asked. Osha took a closer look at the trio and shook her head.

"No. Just regular wolves." She pulled back. Bran looked around as if he was looking for something.

"How come they aren't with their mother?" He asked. Osha merely shrugged her shoulders.

"Probably out hunting for food. C'mon, grab some roses and let's go. I don't want to be here when the mother comes back" she said as she stood up. As Osha began to pick the flowers, the wolf pup cautiously approached Bran. The wolf eyed the child cautiously, as if determine if he's a safe or not. Bran reached his hand out for the pup to sniff. The pup sniffed his hand and slowly began to lick his hand. Bran smiled and reached for the pup and brought it into his arms. Osha glances down and groaned

"Put the pup down, little lord. We need to leave before the mother comes back" Bran sighed and gently placed the pup back onto the ground besides its sleeping sibling. Immediately the pup began to whimper and whine. Bran sighed and picked the pup back up and brought it in front of his face.

"You need to stay here. Your mother will come back and she'll feed you and your siblings. She'll keep you warm" he smiled sadly as the pup simply tilted its head. Bran sighed as he slowly lowered the pup down but his hands slipped and accidentally dropped the small pup on one of its sleeping siblings. The pup shook its head then walked back to Bran's side.
Bran's face grew in confusion but then turned to concern. He slowly reached his hand over to one of the sleeping pups and gently shook it. The pup remained still. He did the same to the other sleeping pup and it too did not move.

"Osha?" He called out to her. She glanced down once more and was surprised to see the look of concern on his face. She handed the small bundle of roses to one of the guards and knelt down beside Bran.

"What is it?" She asked. Bran turned his head to look at the pups. Osha followed his gaze and it fell on the small creatures.

"I think their dead" he told her sadly. The pup beside him barked and ran around him happily. Osha reached over to grab one of the other pups. It barley moved as she brought it into her lap. She pressed her ear onto the pups small chest. She waited and waited to hear a heartbeat but it never came. She placed the deceased pup beside her and grabbed the other one. She again pressed her ear to its chest and heard no beating. She sighed as she placed the two pups next to one another.

"They're dead. I can't hear any of their heartbeats" She muttered sadly. The pair sat in silence for a moment only for it to be broken by a happy bark. Bran glanced at the pup then back to Osha.

"We can't just leave it here" he told her. His eyes held worry and pity for the small wolf.

"The mother probably abandoned them or maybe she died. She wouldn't have let her children die" he reasoned with her. His eyes pleaded with her and Osha couldn't help but comply to his wishes.

"Fine but you have to feed it and take care of it" she sighed and stood up from the floor. The pup barked and jumped into Bran's arms.

"Actually Lilian would have to feed and take care of him" he smiled. The puppy barked in response