章 33: WiSh - Chapter 33
Chapter 33: The "I Don't Know" Game
Ely stood frozen. He saw young master Bran hanging from the ruined tower, as if he might fall at any moment. How did Bran get up there? Ely couldn't believe his eyes. He had been guarding the tower, not neglecting his duty. He had just been about to walk away but hadn't actually left.
Ely wanted to shout for Bran to be careful, but he was afraid that a sudden shout might startle him. If Bran lost his grip, the consequences would be unimaginable. From the ground, Bran looked like a small leaf fluttering in the wind, leaving Ely in a desperate and helpless state, fearing that the young master might fall at any moment.
Atop the tower, the queen quickly dressed. Her face was pale, as if she had been seriously ill. The man beside her was none other than the famously handsome man in the Seven Kingdoms: the queen's twin brother, Jaime Lannister, one of the Kingsguard.
Jaime Lannister was Bran's idol.
He was charming, tall, and had a captivating smile. Anyone standing next to him would instantly seem coarse. However, Bran's brother Robb said that Jaime Lannister could no longer be considered a member of the Kingsguard because he had broken his oath and killed King Aerys Targaryen, the king he had sworn to protect.
Yet in Bran's young heart, no one could match Jaime Lannister's heroic handsomeness. Even Jory, his father's captain of the guard, paled in comparison. In the entire North, no one could rival Jaime Lannister's noble demeanor, except for his father.
Jaime quickly dressed, but didn't button up his shirt, leaving his chest open to reveal strong muscles and light golden chest hair. He wore the charming smile that Bran admired as he walked to the window.
"Bran, what are you doing?"
"I, I wanted to see if the king's hunting party had returned from the top of the tower," Bran said, feeling flustered. He suddenly wanted to escape from there and began to move his feet.
"Hey, don't panic. Come in, let's play a game, shall we?" Jaime said, reaching out to grab Bran's wrist.
Bran wanted to escape his idol's grasp, and his foot immediately slipped. Dust and dry grass from the cracks in the stone fell into the air.
Jaime said, "The things I do for love."
Below the tower, Ely, who was so nervous that he was sweating all over, shouted, "Young master, hold on!" He spread his arms, ready to catch Bran, his body as taut as a bow. Then, he saw Jaime's face peering out and his golden, flowing hair.
"Ser Jaime, please hold onto young master Bran!" Ely shouted. "Hold onto him, I'm coming up!"
Jaime smiled slightly, his handsome face twisting a bit. He didn't respond to Ely's shouts but said, "My dear sister, perhaps you should leave first. I'll take care of the rest."
"How will you handle it? He saw us. And why should I leave? I'm the queen. I can go wherever I please, including the highest point of Winterfell, the ruined tower. You're my and the king's guard. Isn't it your duty to protect me when you're by my side?" The queen's voice was calm and composed, the earlier panic and fear completely gone, as cold and unyielding as a rock in the ice. — It was as if she had donned not just clothes, but an impenetrable shield against all attacks.
"Well, you have a point, sis," Jaime said, his voice also becoming unhurried. He lifted Bran into the tower with one hand and waved to Ely below with the other. 'There's a Stark lackey down there. This could be a bit troublesome, my dear sister.'
Bran looked at Jaime's charming smile, his mind blank.
"Do you like playing games, Bran?" Jaime's voice was gentle and friendly, full of affable charm. Bran relaxed a little and nodded.
"Have you played the 'I Don't Know' game?" Jaime squatted down to be at Bran's eye level. His smile was sincere and full of kindness.
Bran shook his head. He thought, Jaime is such an elegant nobleman.
"I have, and I play it often. It's a very fun game. When someone asks you what you've seen, you say 'I don't know.' Of course, the real standard answer is 'I haven't seen anything.' If you can stick to it for ten days, you win the 'I Don't Know' game. That's the reward for the game, a gold dragon. No, let's raise the stakes this time, three gold dragons."
"I don't have any gold dragons," Bran said softly.
"It doesn't matter. The bet will be settled in ten days. Little Bran, let's give it a try. I'll ask you, for example, what did you see in the tower? According to the rules of the 'I Don't Know' game, what should you say?" Jaime's smile was captivating, and he was graceful and charming.
"I haven't seen anything," Bran said, his voice a bit louder. Jaime and the queen exchanged a glance, the queen's eyes cold and indifferent.
"Correct, that's the right answer. Look, this gold dragon is yours now, as an advance reward. Do you want to win the other two gold dragons?" Jaime reached out and gently ruffled Bran's hair. Bran nodded, no longer nervous.
"Then remember the standard answer, 'I haven't seen anything,' for ten days, and you'll win the 'I Don't Know' game. These two gold dragons will be yours. You believe in the Old Gods, right?" Bran nodded, as if it were a given.
"I'll go with you to the heart tree in the godswood later. I'll bury these two gold dragons under the soil of the heart tree. We'll swear together before the heart tree that we'll abide by the rules of the 'I Don't Know' game. Ten days later, if you keep your oath, these two gold dragons will be yours. The Old Gods will witness you taking out your reward from under the soil. Do you want to play this game?"
"I do, and I'll win," Bran said with certainty. He was confident in playing the 'I Don't Know' game.
Jaime affectionately ruffled Bran's thick red hair again. "Good boy. Let's see who wins in the end. If you say a word within ten days, you lose, and you'll owe me three gold dragons. Do you have any gold dragons?"
Bran shook his head.
"Then remember not to lose. I like you, Bran, and I also like your Old Gods. Let's go swear under the heart tree. This game is the ultimate test of a man's honor. I've heard you want to be the most honorable knight and join the Kingsguard like me. Is that right, little Bran?"
Bran nodded vigorously; this was exactly the dream that filled his young heart.
"That's right, let's go. A knight never breaks his oath or honor. We'll go down together." Jaime took Bran's small hand.
A fragrant breeze wafted over, and Bran's other hand was gently held by the queen. "Bran, let's play the 'I Don't Know' game together. I'll bet ten gold dragons. If you swear before the heart tree and promise to stick to 'I don't know' for ten days, I'll lose ten gold dragons to you."
"What if I say something?"
"Then you'll never be able to become a knight, nor join the Kingsguard. Your Old Gods will never forgive you."
"Oh!" Bran's eyes lit up. "I'll win, but Mother won't like me taking your gold dragons."
"It doesn't matter. This is the 'I Don't Know' game. We'll keep the secret together. That's the charm of the 'I Don't Know' game—whoever lasts until the end wins." The queen said gently, squatting down to be at Bran's level, giving him a light kiss on the cheek, exuding warmth and friendliness.
***
That evening, Eddard Stark and Catelyn were in their bedroom when a knock was heard, and the voice of Captain of the Guard Jory called out, "My lord, Ely has something to report."
"Does it have to be said now?"
"Yes, my lord. Ely says it concerns young master Bran and the Lannisters." There was a brief silence in the room.
"Let him in."
Ely entered. "Lord Eddard, Lady Catelyn, this afternoon, young master Bran climbed the ruined tower from the direction of the graveyard."
Eddard and Catelyn both looked at Ely silently, not speaking. Ely began to sweat. "I was guarding the front of the godswood, facing the ruined tower, and Bran managed to evade my sight."
"What happened between Bran and the Lannisters?" Eddard's voice was low and authoritative. This was the focus of concern for both him and Catelyn.
"When Bran was almost at the top of the tower, Jaime Lannister suddenly appeared inside the tower and grabbed Bran's wrist, leaving Bran's body dangling in the air. If Jaime had let go, Bran would have fallen."
Catelyn and Eddard both stiffened, and Catelyn let out a soft gasp.
"... My lady, please don't worry. I shouted Jaime's name from below in time, and he pulled Bran into the tower."
"What was Jaime doing up in the ruined tower? The stairs are broken in many places, making it not only difficult to navigate but also dangerous."
"That's the strange part, my lord. Jaime and Queen Cersei came out of the ruined tower holding Bran's hands."
Catelyn and Eddard exchanged a glance. Catelyn began to put on her outer garments, while Eddard had already risen from the bed.
"Ely, bring Bran here quietly. Make sure not to alert the king or the Lannisters."
"Yes, my lord."
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