I was Bran Stark once.

Summary: Short little ficlet set after S8E03. Just some wandering thoughts of the Three Eyed Raven.

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I was Bran Stark once… I was a happy and wild boy, a climber, who didn't listen to his mother and seldom suffered consequences… until I did. Do I regret the day I climbed the first keep and accidently caught Cersei and Jaime together? Maybe? There is the part of me that was Bran Stark once, the part that wanted to be a knight, a hero, they think I'm a hero now. They think I used myself as bait, I didn't, I used them. Theon and the men that followed him, Jorah and Lyanna Mormont… I even intentionally put a rift between Jon and Daenerys to ensure they weren't thinking straight. I manipulated Sansa to think the crypts would be safe, knowing that Arya would put a weapon in her hand and Tyrion would protect her, but of all the people I manipulated, I manipulated Arya the most.

She saw it, the moment I gave her the dagger she realised something was up, she never said anything, but I saw the question in her eyes. The part of me that was Bran Stark once wanted to tell her, to warn her, but I couldn't. The trap could only work if the Night King believed he had won. I had to be so careful, even in my own thoughts… so distant. It broke my heart to see how willing Theon was to risk his life for me, how much he needed redemption, how could I tell him that I was using him, that he was the bait, not me. I couldn't watch it. I was Bran Stark once, and part of me is Bran Stark still, if I had stayed I would have said something, warned him, told him to run. So I had to warg away to ensure I held my tongue.

I can see the shock in Arya's eyes… she's slowly piecing it all together… she's the only one that could. What she doesn't realise is that it's not over yet, I've seen glimpses of the path she's on. I was Bran Stark once, and the part of me that is Bran Stark still wants to warn her of the heartbreak to come, but I can't. The future is not set, the ink is still wet, I wasn't sure that she would get to me in time, but the part of me that was Bran Stark once had faith.

"Bran…" She's lost for words, she still can't quite get her head around what just happened. I could warn her about what is to come, but that might change it, the part of me that is Bran Stark still wants to change it, but that is not my place.

"Gendry is alive, he's looking for you." I say softly. "Go, Jon will be here soon."

"What will you tell him?" She asks.

"I don't know." I reply honestly.

She nods and turns, to find the man she loves, the man that loves her… completely unaware of the child already growing in her womb. If I tell her that she's pregnant will she be more careful? Or will it make her hesitate and get her killed? I don't know. That's not fair, I'm the Three Eyed Raven, I'm the one that should know, but her path is clouded, even to me. I was Bran Stark once, and Bran Stark is going to be an uncle… maybe… if Arya lives.

I was Bran Stark once… I don't know what I am now, but I'm not a hero.

~~/FIN/~~