That night the feast was a tense affair. To the common soldiers, it looked like any other celebration, but for Link, the air in the Great Hall felt thick with unspoken threats. He was stationed near the side entrance, his hand never straying far from the pommel of his sword.
Across the room, Jaime Lannister sat next to his brother Tyrion. Jaime wasn't drinking. His golden head was turned toward the high table, his eyes fixed on Bran Stark. The boy sat between his mother and father, picking at his food with a trembling hand. Bran hadn't spoken a word since the "accident" at the tower.
Link felt a presence beside him. He didn't have to look to know who it was. The scent of wine and old books gave him away.
"You look like a man waiting for an axe to fall," Tyrion Lannister muttered, leaning against the stone pillar. "Or perhaps you are the axe?"
"I am just a guard, My Lord," Link replied, his eyes never leaving Jaime.
"A guard who climbs towers faster than a squirrel and catches falling Lords," Tyrion said, taking a sip from his cup. "My brother is a very talented man, Link. He is talented at many things, but he is not very good at being ignored. He has been asking questions about you all afternoon."
Link turned his head slightly. "And what did he find out?"
"That you were a nobody from a village in the stony hills until a month ago," Tyrion said, his mismatched eyes squinting. "And then, suddenly, you started seeing things before they happened. The wolves. The spar. The tower. It is almost as if you have lived this all before."
Link's heart skipped a beat. Tyrion was too sharp. Even without magic, the dwarf was dissecting the truth.
"I am a quick learner, My Lord."
"Be careful you do not learn yourself into a grave," Tyrion warned, his voice losing its mocking tone. "My sister is not as curious as I am. She prefers simple solutions to complicated problems. And right now, Link, you are a very loud complication."
Tyrion walked away, leaving Link with a cold knot in his stomach.
As the feast began to wind down, Link saw Jaime Lannister stand up. The Kingslayer didn't look at the King or the Queen. He walked straight toward the exit where Link was posted.
Link felt the world slow down. He focused on his breathing, preparing to trigger a Reload at the first sign of a blade.
Jaime stopped a foot away from him. The golden knight was a head taller, and the sheer aura of his martial skill was suffocating.
"The boy hasn't spoken," Jaime said, his voice a low whisper that only Link could hear. "My sister thinks he is too scared to talk. She thinks we should wait and see."
"And what do you think, Ser Jaime?" Link asked.
Jaime leaned in closer. "I think dead men tell no tales. And guards who know too much have a habit of falling off bridges in the dark. Enjoy the night air, Link. It might be the last thing you ever smell."
Jaime walked past him, his white cloak brushing against Link's arm.
Link stood frozen for a moment. He looked at the high table. Bran was looking at him, his small face filled with a silent plea for help. Link realized then that he couldn't just "Save" and "Load" his way through this. He had to act.
[Status: Target Identified - Jaime Lannister]
[New Objective: Protect the Witness]
Link knew what he had to do. He couldn't wait for the Lannisters to strike. He needed to talk to Bran before they found a way to silence the boy forever.
....
Author Note
Hi guys! Thank you for reading my fanfiction.
I wanted to let you know that I'll be releasing bonus chapters for Power Stones. Here are the goals:
15 Power Stones: 1 Bonus Chapters
30 Power Stones: 1 Bonus Chapters
50 Power Stones: 1 Bonus Chapters
75 Power Stones: 2 Bonus Chapters
100 Power Stones: 2 Bonus Chapters
Thanks for the support!