Editing A Clash of Kings-Chapter 21 (section)

==Synopsis==
[[Bran Stark|Bran]] rides his horse [[Dancer]] into the [[Great Hall of Winterfell]] for the [[harvest feast (299)|harvest feast]]. He wishes [[Summer]] was with him, but Ser [[Rodrik Cassel]] was unyielding. From the crowded benches, men shout "[[House Stark|Stark]]!" and "[[Winterfell]]!" as he passes. Bran knows they are cheering for the harvest, for victory, and for all the Starks who came before rather than for him, but he still swells with pride and even forgets he is broken until he reaches the dais. There [[Osha]] and [[Hodor]] unstrap him and carry him to the high seat. Rodrik, his daughter [[Beth Cassel|Beth]], and [[Maester]] [[Luwin]] are seated to Bran's left and [[Rickon Stark|Rickon]] to his right, his hair uncut since [[Catelyn Stark|their mother]] left because he bit the last girl to try. After Rodrik bellows for quiet, Bran welcomes the guests and asks them to thank the gods for [[Robb Stark|Robb]]'s victories and the bountiful harvest. His toast of "May there be a hundred more," brings an echoing cheer and Ser Rodrik says [[Eddard Stark|his father]] would be proud.

They feast on course after course, including seafood brought by Lord [[Wyman Manderly]] from [[White Harbor]]. Wyman has also brought musicians,  but only Hodor seems to be listening and the songs are drowned beneath the talk and laughter. Ser Rodrik and Maester Luwin talk over Beth's head, while Rickon screams happily with [[Walder Frey (son of Jammos)|Big Walder]] and [[Walder Frey (son of Merrett)|Little Walder Frey]]. Bran did not want the Walders at the high table but Maester Luwin reminded him they would become kin when Robb weds one of their aunts and [[Arya Stark|Arya]] marries their uncle [[Elmar Frey]], though Bran argued Arya would never stand for that.

Each dish is served to Bran first, and soon he is full and must nod approval rather than taste everything. As instructed, he sends particularly delicious dishes to the lords as a gesture of friendship: salmon to sad Lady [[Donella Hornwood]], boar to [[Mors Umber|Mors]] and [[Hother Umber]], [[goose]]-in-[[berries]] to [[Cley Cerwyn]], [[lobster]] to [[Joseth]] the [[master of horse]] for training Dancer, sweets to Hodor and Old [[Nan]] because he loves them, and beets and turnips to the Walders because Ser Rodrik insists he give them something.

Bran watches the feast detachedly, seeing everything yet a part of nothing. He sees Osha break a flagon over the head of a [[House Tallhart|Tallhart]] man for sliding his hand under her skirts, though another woman does not seem to mind [[Mikken]]'s hand down her bodice. He watches [[Farlen]] make his red bitch beg and Old Nan pluck at the crust of a hot pie. On the dais, he sees Lord Manderly attacking a plate of [[lamprey]]s in his special wide chair, sad Lady Hornwood picking listlessly at her food, and the Umber brothers playing a drinking game. 

The heat and noise soon grow too much and Bran finds himself dreaming of the cool in the [[godswood of Winterfell|godswood]]. Studying his father's ornate goblet, Bran recalls the [[Feast in honor of King Robert's visit to Winterfell|welcoming feast]] for King [[Robert I Baratheon|Robert]] and realizes everyone else is gone—either to war, captivity, the [[Wall]], or their graves. Even the men at the tables are new, since everyone who went south with his father is dead and the rest rode to war with Robb. When he wonders who will be missing next year and the year after, Bran feels like crying but reminds himself he is the Stark in Winterfell and almost a man grown.

[[File:Jojen and Meera Reed.jpg|thumb|250px|left|Meera and Jojen Reed - ©Amok]]

The doors to the hall open and [[Alebelly]] leads in two new guests: [[Meera Reed|Meera]] and [[Jojen Reed]] of [[Greywater Watch]]. Bran recognizes them as [[crannogmen]] from the [[Neck]], a shy and simple folk who rarely leave their swamps, but he hears Little Walder calling them "mudmen" and explaining to Rickon that they are thieves and cravens with green teeth from eating [[frog]]s. As places are hurriedly prepared on the dais, Ser Rodrik explains that these must be the children of [[Howland Reed]], a great friend and staunch companion of Bran's father during [[Robert's Rebellion]].

The slender girl Meera is armed with woven net, [[bronze]] knife, and frog spear as well as an [[iron]] helm, leather shield, and bronze-scale jerkin. Her younger brother Jojen is unarmed and dressed all in green, which brings out the deep green of his eyes. Kneeling before the dais, the Reeds explain that they have come to renew [[House Reed]]'s fealty to the [[King in the North]]. Bran explains that Robb is away fighting but says they may say their words to him. Together, the Reeds recite their ancient oath, swearing by earth and water, by bronze and iron, and by ice and fire never to fail the Starks of Winterfell. Unsure how to respond, Bran finally decides on "May your winters be short and your summers bountiful," and bids them rise. Meera offers gifts of fish, frog, and fowl, and Bran offers them the meat and mead of Winterfell in return.

Jojen immediately asks where the [[direwolf|direwolves]] are and Rickon answers that they are in the godswood because [[Shaggydog]] was bad. When Meera says that Jojen would like to see them, Little Walder warns that they will bite. Pleased by the Reeds' interest, Bran promises that Summer at least will not bite and will keep Shaggydog away. He cannot recall ever meeting a crannogman and would like to talk more, but the feast is too noisy. When he learns from Ser Rodrik that they truly eat frogs, Bran sends the Reeds [[mutton]], [[aurochs]], and [[beef]] stew, which they seem to like. When Meera catches him staring, Bran blushes.

After the tables are cleared away, the music and singing grows wilder. Mors Umber grabs a passing serving girl and begins whirling her about the floor and others soon join in. Hodor dances by himself, while Wyman Manderly and then Cley Cerwyn partner with little Beth Cassel. Ser Rodrik approaches Lady Hornwood, but she excuses herself. Once again unable to participate, Bran watches long enough to be polite, then calls Hodor to carry him to bed, conscious of the stares of onlookers.

Just outside the hall, they come upon Joseth and giggling woman with her skirts above her waist. The girl screams when she sees Hodor watching, so Bran has to tell him to leave them be. After getting help with his boots and breeches, Bran dismisses Hodor and lies down to sleep. Then he recalls his father telling him the [[Kingsguard]] were once a shining example, and the finest knight he ever saw was Ser [[Arthur Dayne]], who would have killed him but for Howland Reed. His father became sad at that and spoke no further, but now Bran wishes he had asked what he meant.

Bran goes to sleep thinking of knights, but his dreams are of wolves in the godswood again and he can hear and smell the feast still going on. At the rattle of iron, he and his brother race to confront the strange intruders: a female and a young male with no taint of fear. Bran recognizes Meera's voice when she asks if Jojen knew the wolves would be so big. Jojen points out they are still growing and opines that Shaggydog is full of fear and rage but Summer is stronger than he knows. Meera cautions her brother, but Jojen insists this is not the day he dies and reaches out to touch Summer. At his touch, Bran loses contact and suddenly feels he is falling again.