Chapter 3: Beginning of Vengeance

Bran stared in open-mouthed horror as 'King' Joffrey choked on the food and his own blood. The blood was all over him. His eyes were red, his face pale and blood running down his mouth. Even though it was a gruesome sight, it was nothing compared to seeing your own father beheaded.

At the thought of his father, he felt a stab of pain in his loudly beating heart. Then a savage satisfaction coursed through him as the person who killed his entire family writhed in agony on the ground. He saw Cersei cradling her son to her chest, her face stained with tears as he sobbed her heart out, trying to revive her now dead son .

Even as he tried, he couldn't garner any sympathy for the woman. This was the woman whose lies had destroyed his family and she was holding the man - no, bastard - who killed his family and subjected his sister and himself to torture. There was no sympathy in his heart for them.

Sansa! He gasped as his sister suddenly came to his mind. He turned around to look at the spot where his sister was, only to find her struggling against a man. The very same man who was saved by Sansa on Joffrey's nameday. He was wearing a disguise but Bran would know that chubby face anywhere. It was clear that the man was trying to take her away from the scene before something happened to her. But Sansa, the caring and stubborn sister that she was, was trying to get to Bran, no doubt his protection was the first thing on her mind.

'No,' Bran thought, 'she can't stay here.' She couldn't. Lord Tyrion was holding the cup that, for all intents and purposes, contained the very thing that killed the King in his hand. There was no doubt in Bran's mind that Tyrion would be accused, and Sansa, maybe even Bran, along with him. After all she had been through, Bran couldn't see her in pain anymore.

He subtly shook his head and mouthed 'go' at Sansa. And then he looked at the man, Ser Dontos, and jerked his head towards the bushes behind them, silently telling him to take Sansa away. The man nodded and pulled his sister along, despite her struggles.

Bran breathed a sigh of relief as Sansa disappeared from his line of sight. She should be able to get away in all the commotion. He turned his attention to the scene in front of him. Cersei was still holding Joffrey at her chest, her face twisted in outrage and grief. And her grief was nothing if not destructive enough to bring down empires. Bran realised that as soon as she turned her burning gaze towards Lord Tyrion.

She pointed an angry finger at the Imp. "He did it. This man killed my son, your King. Imprison him." He watched, horrified, as the only friend he had in this gods forsaken place was surrounded by guards. The former Queen then swept her eyes around the place, looking for someone, Sansa, most likely.

He was proven right when she said, "Where is Sansa? Where is his wife?" As she frantically looked around again, Bran looked up to see the other noblemen and women, to see if anyone had noticed where Sansa had gone. He turned his eyes from one person to another, watching if any of them had their eyes towards the spot where his sister had gone. Fortunately, everyone had been too occupied with three dead King in front of them.

Bran's heart beat a little slower as he gradually became assured that all had been too entertained by the dramatic death to notice his sister. But then, refuting his previous assumptions, a pair of gleaming eyes looked back at him as his own fell on their owner. All but one.

Oberyn Martell looked back at him with a knowing glint in his eyes, his lips were twitched upwards in an amused smirk. He held Bran's gaze for a moment and then flicked his eyes towards the dense garden, smirk still prominent on his face. And Bran knew, beyond any shadow of doubt, that Prince Oberyn had seen Sansa go. His heart instantly wanted to sink down at the look on the Prince's face, which was contradicted by the same heart wanting to leap to his throat in panic at the thought of his sister being caught.

Bran quickly looked away, unable to hold the man's intense gaze any longer but hoping against hope that he would not speak. He closed his eyes and sent a quick prayer to the gods that his sister might get away safe and sound. The feeling of cold metal against the side of his throat brought Bran to the present and he opened his eyes. He turned to see one of the Kingsguards in front of him, the tip of his sword pressed against Bran's throat. Bran gasped and stepped back, his heart racing and his eyes widened in fear. The knight faltered for a moment and it seemed as if he might lower his sword.

"Where is your sister?" The Queen Regent's voice boomed through the air and the pressure of blade at his throat returned. Bran barely suppressed a flinch. And then, the Queen stormed towards him and moving the knight out of the way and gripping Bran by his shoulders, eyes filled with so much rage and hatred that his mind reeled back. "Tell me, boy, where is that whore?"

It took a moment for Bran to register exactly what the Queen had called Sansa. And when he did, anger replaced fear in his mind and his face formed a scowl. Throwing every ounce of self preservation he had learned in the Red Keep over the last two years in the air, he came to his sister's defense. "She is not a whore," he snarled, sounding very much like the wolf that the Starks had prided in.

SNAP! His cheek burned, his head snapping to the side, as the former Queen's hand connected with it and the sound of the slap echoed off the walls. He put a hand on his cheek and turned to glare at Cersei, who glared back more fiercely than ever.

Cersei grabbed his cheeks. "Do not use that tone with me, boy. Tell me where she is or I will make you beg for death." She hissed through gritted teeth, looking every bit the grieving and angry lioness that she was.

Bran didn't want to answer but he knew he had no other choice. As much as his answer would infuriate her, he knew that the consequences of not answering would be infinitely worse. "I don't know," he managed to get out as clearly as he could with his mouth being squeezed.

"LIAR!" Bran grimaced as she shouted near him. "You had to know about your sister's scheming ways." Cersei abruptly released him and turned towards the Kingsguards. "Throw him in the dungeons. A few nights down there should loosen his tongue."

At the command of their Queen, the Knights surged forward, their swords raised and pointed towards him. Bran's short run of bravado left him in an instant and the fear was back with a vengeance. With each step the knights took, Bran took one back, his eyes widened like a scared puppy and his breathes coming out in short pants. This continued until Bran's back hit the wall. Just as one of the guards were about to grab, a voice commanded them to stop. Bran looked behind the Kingsguards to see Jaime Lannister glaring murderously at the guards.

The Kingslayer looked at Cersei. "What are you doing? He is a child. He is not capable of this."

Cersei snorted, her brother's words having next to no effect on her. "Of course he is. Joffrey killed his traitor father. They must have wanted revenge. No doubt they had been planning this for months. And Tyrion, the treacherous Imp that he is, helped."

Jaime sighed, exasperated by his sister. He opened his mouth to speak but his father interrupted him. Again, Bran felt a fresh dose of fear course through him as the Cold Lion opened his mouth, no doubt to give a verdict against Bran. A verdict that everyone would follow because no one was stupid enough to go against Tywin Lannister. But what he said next stunned everyone, including Bran.

"Jaime is right." He held up a hand when Cersei opened her mouth to protest. "Brandon Stark is the Lord of Winterfell. We have no proof against him. It would be unbecoming of us to treat him like a prisoner based on mere assumptions." Of course, that made sense. Of course Tywin Lannister would hate to make himself look like a fool by throwing a young Lord into the dungeons.

"And what if he is?" Cersei asked, again through gritted teeth. "What if he conspired to kill my son? What if, by letting him roam free, you are giving him opportunity to help Tyrion and Sansa? Huh? Tell me, what then?" She rapid fired the questions, her voice mounting with each word.

Before Lord Tywin could answer though, another voice came from among the crowds. "I believe I have a solution for that."

Bran's heart turned into lead as he saw the man who spoke. Oberyn Martell was walking towards them with a gait and an expression that was the epitome of sadness and grief. No one would actually suspect how happy and absolutely giddy he was feeling right now if they didn't know exactly how much the man hated the Lannisters. Even so, no one was stupid enough to point that fact out. He was a prince and, unlike Joffrey, a very capable and competent one at that.

"Is that so?" Everyone could hear the frost in the Lord Tywin's voice.

Prince Oberyn smiled 'sadly' and nodded. "House arrest. Keep him confined in his room with the necessities provided. Station two guards outside. The only ones allowed inside would be the ones that you decide, Lord Tywin. That way, you can keep an eye on him and it wouldn't upset his lordly status. Much."

Lord Tywin looked looked thoughtful for a moment, no doubt weighing his options in response to what was a good plan. Finally, with a sigh, he nodded. "Guards, escort Lord Bran to his chambers."

Again, the guards were stopped by Ser Jaime. "I will take him." And then, without waiting for any answer, he strode towards Bran and gently put his good hand on Bran's shoulder. "Come, little Lord." Bran supposed he should be grateful to the man for stopping Cersei from throwing him into the dungeons. So he meekly nodded and let the man lead towards his chambers and a very, very uncertain future.

Oberyn smirked as he walked down the corridor that led to Bran Stark's chambers. Even though he hadn't planned this particular event - he had a sneaking suspicion as to who did - everything had panned out nicely. More than nicely, in fact. Now he could implement his plans quicker than he had expected.

He pulled himself out of his thoughts as he reached the room that had two guards standing vigil in front of it. As he reached for the door handle, one of the guards spoke up. "Forgive me, Prince Oberyn, but you are not allowed to go inside."

Oberyn raised a challenging eyebrow at the man but didn't step back. He was a predator. It wasn't in his nature to submit. "Really?" Neither of the guards missed the dangerous edge to his tone as he asked that.

They shifted uncomfortably from one foot to another as the other guard said, "Yes. Lord Tywin gave us orders to not allow anyone outside himself, Ser Jaime and the royal family."

The Prince of Dorne smirked. "Are you insinuating that I am not of royal family?" He asked and paused to let them realise exactly what they had implied. Realisation dawned on their faces, followed by panic. And then they exploded, stuttering out words and their voices overlapping each other, making it almost impossible for Oberyn to make out what they are saying.

"That is not what we meant..."

"Our orders..."

"Lord Tywin told ..."

"We did not..."

"We assumed..."

"Enough," he barked and both of them went quiet in an instant. Oberyn scoffed and spoke in a lowly hiss, resembling the very snake that he had been dubbed as. "I wonder what Lord Tywin will say when he finds out that in addition to disobeying direct orders from his guest and the Prince of Dorne, you also thought fit to waste my time with your incessant babbling."

The guards' eyes widened again and then they opened their mouth, no doubt to apologise. But before they could get a word out, Oberyn held up a hand and spoke, "You know your options. Choose wisely."

The guards looked at each other for a moment in a silent conversation. And then they stepped aside, informing Oberyn of their choice. Oberyn again gave a smirk. "Wisely indeed." And with that, even opened the door and stepped inside, closing it behind him.

Bran was sitting with his back towards the door on the edge of the bed, one leg bent at the knee on the mattress and the other leg on the ground. His shoulders were hunched and Oberyn could see him making a conscious effort to stop shaking. No doubt he had been crying and now was trying to compose himself when he heard the door open.

The boy clearly thought he was someone else, because he said, "Go away. I said I am not hungry." So this had happened before and he was giving a default response.

Oberyn's lips twitched into a satisfactory smile. "Good. I hadn't thought to bring any food."

Bran got up and turned so fast he could have gotten a whiplash. Oberyn could see his red rimmed eyes and dried tears on his face. "P-Prince Oberyn. Forgive me. I meant no offense. I ... I thought ..." He stuttered, trying to come up with a response.

Oberyn waved hand to dismiss his stuttering. "It's fine, Lord Brandon. Quite understandable, given the ordeal you went through."

Bran nodded uncertainly. "May I ask why ..." Bran hesitated, probably thinking whether or not to ask a question that could offend him. Oberyn, though, knew what he was going to ask. "Why I came to meet you here?" Oberyn finished the question for the boy, who nodded.

"Well, to see how you are doing after that horrific event. What else?" Oberyn smiled innocently at him. But Bran looked at him suspiciously, as if knowing that that could not be the only reason for him to visit. The boy was smart.

Nevertheless, he answered, "I am well. Thank you for asking, Prince Oberyn." Politely, too, like a true Lord.

Oberyn chuckled. "Good. I am glad to hear that." Then his concerned face took a smug quality to it and sinister look spread in his eyes. "But I cannot say the same for your sister, if Tywin's lackeys happen to stumble upon her."

Bran gasped, his eyes widened at the implication. "What? He ... does he ... know.." Bran couldn't seem to get the words out, no matter how hard he tried.

Oberyn's ever existent smirk grew wider as he smirk shook his head. "No, he doesn't. But what will happen if an anonymous letter came to him with the information that Sansa Stark is heading towards the Vale?"

Bran took a step back, his chest heaving up and down with the short panicked breathes he was taking, his eyes widened with fright like no other. He hadn't looked this afraid even when Cersei had ordered the Kingsguards to size him and they had their swords pointed at him. Oberyn figured. If there was anything that Starks cared about and would do anything for, it was family.

"How ... how d-do you know this?" The little Lord's voice brought him out of his mind and towards the boy he craved to claim.

Oberyn pursed his lips before he spoke in a voice like that for a teacher explaining a difficult topic to his student. "The Spider is not the only one with birds chirping into his ears."

The boy's bottom lip quivered as he tried to hold in his tears. And Oberyn wanted nothing more than take that single lip between teeth and pull on it. "P-please. Please, my P-Prince. Please don't t-tell them. They ... they will k-kill her."

Oberyn hummed. "I suppose they will. But that is what happens when you kill a King." He paused a moment in thought, remembering the Kingslayer, before saying, "Well, it's usually what happens."

"She didn't kill him." For the first time since Oberyn had come into this room, Bran raised his voice. "My sister is not a murderer."

"Do you think that matters? To anyone?" Oberyn asked with his eyebrows raised. "As far as Cersei is concerned, she and Tyrion killed her son. Now I will stand on a very high pedestal for the people of Westeros if I hand them their King's killer."

By now, Bran was on the verge of a panic attack. But before he could say anything, Oberyn spoke again, "But fret not, little wolf. I will not do that. But do you not think I should have something in return for keeping such a scandalous secret?"

With that, Oberyn strode towards the boy, who took one step back for each step he took forth, until he hit the wall behind him. This was the second time this had happened to Bran today, only now there was no one to help him. And so, as the Prince drew closer, Bran could do nothing but shrink in on himself, pressing himself against the wall, trying to put a distance between the towering man and himself.

Oberyn put a hand on his face and gave a satisfied smile when he saw the boy flinch at the touch. "W-What do y-you want?" The boy managed to whisper out.

Oberyn bent down and Bran hunched even more, if that was possible. He spoke against the boy's ear, "You will know what I want soon enough. And if you want your sister safe, I suggest you give it to me without making any fuss." With that, Oberyn pressed a chaste and gentle kiss on Bran's cheek, as if he actually cared about him, feeling the flinch that Bran gave under his lips. He smiled and straightened up. "I will see you later, little Lord."

He turned and walked his way towards the door. As he reached it and placed a hand on the handle, Jeremy spoke again, "Oh, and you should eat something. You will need all the strength you can get for the coming days." And with that, he opened the door and stepped outside. He nodded towards the guards and walked back the way he came.

Oberyn chuckled as he heard the door clicking into place, once again confining the little wolf, knowing that Bran's innocent mind couldn't possibly imagine what he was thinking when he spoke about his strength. He gave out a little laugh, one that could send chills down the spine of even Tywin Lannister, thinking about all the things he could and would do to the pretty little boy. Oh yes, the Red Viper could not wait to get his fangs into the little wolf of Winterfell.

A/N: *hides behind a couch* I am so sorry. I know I promised I would try to update regularly. But real life intervened. And I do have many other stories. Rest assured, I am not abandoning this story. I love it too much. But updates won't be regular. The study pressure is more than ever and I will be busy. I will try to update ASAP though. Meanwhile, enjoy. Reviews are life. Leave them on this story and tell me your opinions. Trust me, they help. A lot. Any and all mistakes are mine. Forgive them please. *puppy dog eyes*