"Here."
"Casterly Rock. The lords are House Lannister and their words: Hear Us Roar."
"Correct. Here."
"Riverrun. The lords are House Tully and their words: Family, Duty, Honor."
"Correct. Final one."
"Oh, Mom's house?"
"The House has a name and say 'Mother's house'. You are not lowborn, Torrhen," I smiled at Maester Arwin's words, to which the man shook his head as I chuckled and sat up right.
"Deepwood Motte. Their lords are House Glover and their words: Equal in Justice."
"Correct. Well done, Torrhen."
"We both know I don't really care for this. When can we get to the exciting stuff?"
"Lessons on battle tactics are done by Ser Bennard or your Lord Father. I am merely here to teach you your numbers and your letters."
"Which we both know I already know."
"What is 4 to the power of 3?"
"64 and if we're going by the count of 5, 6, 7 etc., it would be 125, 256, 343, 512, 729 and 10 to the power of 3 is 1000. We both know I'm the smarter twin while Cregan is the more martially-inclined twin. However, I wish to make sure that I know the map of the North like the back of my hand so that I may help in furthering our people."
"Like you did when you showed your…Runes to the common folk? It's a good thing you were born as the son of the most powerful man in the North for you would have been hung if you were a common man."
'Yeah, that was not my best idea there,' I thought with a grimace as I remembered the Heating Runes I had learned from Bran's books. In my defence, it was a simple spell that turned cold into heat by using the energy of the gods to warm up the stone, but I didn't quite expect my first one to be such a grand success.
I also shouldn't have made it in the centre of the Winter Village where every common man, woman and child would see and then tell tales of my 'mystical power'.
'I guess that's what a year's worth of training will do to you. You start thinking that you can do everything and then you find out that your dad will still be very pissed at you for doing so.'
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
"What were you thinking, Torrhen?! No, you weren't! No sane man, woman or child would resort to showing off something that could result in their death! Are you mad?! I swear if I weren't relieved at the fact that you didn't get hurt, I would punch you until you lose all the bloody teeth you have!"
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
"I admit. That was not my best moment, but it did work out well."
"Do you have a snide answer for every of my questions?"
"…I apologize for my rudeness. I like to use my snideness as a defence mechanism."
"Oh, anyone can see that, but I will say that most will not take it as well as I have."
"Do you?", I asked, giving an apologetic smile as the man just looked at me before shaking his head and closing the books.
"You are far more intelligent than most children your age, Torrhen, but wisdom is something you are severely lacking."
'Well, being from a modern society where I was a normal pleb can do that for me. Then again, I have magic and political power in this world so perhaps it's not all bad.'
"I don't, but wisdom is something that comes with age as I'm sure you'd agree, Maester," I spoke with a smile as I picked up the last of the books, the man nodding in agreement as the two of us walked away from the middle table.
As I helped the Maester put away the books, I thought of the chaotic mess that was the last year.
First, there was the situation of my Runes, which was a situation that Mother and Father had expertly manipulated like it was nothing. Before, most of the people would have been wary and/ or downright terrified of my abilities, but with just a few words from them, the common folk revere me.
The name 'Torrhen the Blessed' had seemed to replace the negative connotation my name had with my ancestor 'Torrhen the Kneeler' as everyone liked the new additions that was my runes being applied to the entirety of Winterfell and the Winter Village outside our walls.
Snow melted by the kilograms with the use of my Heating Runes and with my Filtration Runes, clean water was something that could be found in abundance around here. We didn't have any plumbing or water pipes yet as those require a crap ton of metal to make, which is why I'm currently busy with learning my latest rune.
It's not one that could be found in Bran's journal, but according to him, if you understand the language, you can make your own runes, but unfortunately, no one have tried to make a rune to detect metal ores deep in the planet.
Anyway, the second thing that had happened was the matter of my brother being sent to foster at the Dreadfort with the Boltons as a sign of good faith between Father and their lord while I was stuck here in Winterfell.
I do feel glad that he didn't send me away instead of Cregan as I was still struggling to relearn every lesson that former me had skipped because he could not become heir.
However, I also didn't want to be stuck here for eternity and wanted to go explore the new world around me, but with the Rune incident, I decided to just keep quiet lest I draw the man's ire to me.
Finally, the third thing was that my dreams have all but vanished. After I had found Bran's study, I didn't experience any more prophetic dreams, but I do admit that I have woken up and slept in the bodies of the animals around the city.
It wasn't a conscious attempt too as every time happened when I was asleep, which meant that I needed to figure out how to do so while I was still conscious.
'The only issue is that I only have Bran's attempts in the books and the series to do so and I barely understood how he did it,' I thought with a grimace before looking to the side, watching as a mouse crawled softly before stopping as it saw me.
'Alright, Torrhen. You need to be the mouse. Become the mouse, feel the mouse. Let your mi-I am the mouse,' I thought with a blink of my eyes, my perspective now low and close to the ground. The world was sharper and louder and the feeling of the stone under my tiny paws were nearly overwhelming as I stared at the giant in front of me.
Scurrying around slowly, I stumbled and fell onto my face a few times before I flinched as a shadow moved, looking to the side to see Maester Arwin humming as he arranged the books on the shelf behind me or should I say, my human body.
'Okay, I've had enough of my mouse body. How the hell do I get out of this?', I thought with a frown before I felt my control wavering, feeling a thread pulling at my mind and towards something.
So, I let go and closed my eyes, opening them once more while sucking in a breath as I found myself back in my human form. My hands were shaking and my heart was racing as if I had just fought against Cregan, but as I watched the mouse still standing in the same place, I shook my head and grinned.
A knock drew my attention to the door to the library as it opened, Maester Arwin raising an eyebrow while I furrowed my brow at the young squire that entered.
"Maester Arwin, Lord Stark has asked for Lord Torrhen's presence in his solar."
"Did he say why?"
"I believe it has something to do with the missive that came from King's Landing, Maester," The squire answered and I glanced at Arwin with a frown that the old man mirrored before I nodded.
"Very well. Lead the way."
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
"…Apologies, Father. I may have misheard you. Could you perhaps repeat that?", I asked as I sat in front of the man, who sighed at my words while Mother frowned as Father simply passed the missive over to me.
To Lord Rickon Stark, Lord of Winterfell and Warden of the North
It brings me great comfort to write to the one whose family has stood as a steadfast shield to honour and tradition. Though the cold of the North is far from the Red Keep, House Stark's warmth and loyalty has not gone unnoticed by my gaze.
Although my health is not as it once was, my mind is as strong as it needs be and I find that my thoughts often turns northward, to the lands where the blood of the First Men still run true and strong.
In this spirit of unity, there is no greater House that has served the House Targaryen since the beginning of our empire and to honour the long-standing bond between your House and the Crowd, I would like to see our lines drawn closer.
Thus, it is with great pleasure that I propose a future union between your second son, Torrhen II Stark, and my beloved second daughter, Princess Helaena Targaryen. In the coming times, when they are both of suitable age, let them stand together as a symbol of the peace and enduring ties between the North and House Targaryen.
May the Seven and the Old Gods alike bear witness to this promise of harmony as is written by my hand.
King Viserys of House Targaryen, First of His Name, King of the Andals, the Rhoynar and the First Men, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms, Protector of the Realm
There was a lot more fanciful language thrown in here and there and most of it was stretched out to help him over-elaborate, but I managed to get the gist of it and looked up to see Father looking back at me with his hands folded in front of him.
"…There is no way I'm escaping this, am I?"
"Not unless you wish to commit treason," Father answered and I looked at Mother who looked regretful before looking back at the letter.
"I don't mind doing it, especially since this is a far higher honour than any second son is going to get…but why me? Cregan would have been the first logical choice."
"Not unless the King has heard the rumours of your…unique mystical abilities and wish to see what they can do."
"That…is true. Man, that has come to bite me in the ass. Why didn't you punch me for my idiocy?"
"Your mother would skin my hide," Father spoke with an amused smile and I chuckled as Mother huffed while pulling her fur gown closer.
"I most certainly would have, but that is neither here nor there. What is your answer, Torrhen?"
"How much time do I have to think about this?"
"As long as you sit in that chair?"
"What if I drag-"
"For as long as you sit in that chair that cannot be moved," Father cut me off with a flat stare and I smirked as Mother hid her smile before my smirk faded as I looked at the letter.
"Did you two marry out of love?"
"Not in the slightest/ No," Mother and Father answered respectively, a chuckle escaping the man's lips when he saw me blink in surprise.
"Your mother and I were not in love from the very moment we laid eyes upon each other. That unfortunately happens only in those books you like to read. However, what we did do was work on our relationship. We talked, we listened and we understood that while we were forced together, it was up to us to do what we wanted to."
"Therefore, your father and I spent a few years to learn more about each other before we had you and Cregan. That is why our relationship has lasted for as long as it has. We listen, we talk and we understand. Do you understand, Torrhen?", Mother asked and I nodded as I put the letter down before nodding.
"Tell the King we agree."
"You were never allowed to disagree."
"At least let me fell like I have a choice," I mumbled, rolling my eyes as Father snorted while Mother patted my shoulder.
"You cause me too much stress so I will cause you some. Now go and prepare. You and half of our guard will be leaving tomorrow."
"…Wait, tomorrow?"
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
"Can't we wait until Cregan gets back? I want to say goodbye to him," I asked, letting out a disappointed sigh as Mother smiled sadly while Father shook his head.
"Unfortunately, as you read, the King is not well so I wish to get you to King's Landing as soon as possible. Now, remember. Sword on the left side of your waist and do not hesitate to take a life, understood?"
"I'll try my best," I spoke with a nod, shaking Father's hand before smiling as Mother leaned down and hugged me.
"And if you ever need a place to run to, always run back home."
"Or don't. I could use the stress-free days."
"Just for that, I'm coming back whenever I can," I muttered as I hopped onto the horse, Uncle Bennard shaking his head with a grin as Father sagged while Mother giggled.
"Well, people! Until I return, this is the last time you shall see Captain Torrhen Stark!"
"And what are you captain of exactly?", Uncle Bennard asked as we rode out into the cold, almost sixty guards riding after us before the man laughed when I turned my head with a grin.
"Captain of Chaos and Dismay!"
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
"Aim low and take a deep breath," Uncle Bennard murmured and I adjusted my grip as I took a deep breath before exhaling slowly, loosing the arrow at my last breath and watching as it sailed through the air.
With the wet sound of flesh tearing, a relieved sigh escaped my lips as the arrow sunk into the deer's eye and into his brain, Uncle Bennard looking pleased as he took the bow and we walked over.
"You know, Cregan may be the better swordsman and tactician, but you are probably the deadliest archer I have seen in our family."
"I'm sure there were better ones."
"Torrhen, I've just seen you hit a deer square in the eye from over two hundred yards away. Not to mention, it was in a dense area thanks to the bushes and it's a fairly windy day."
"There's barely a breeze," I said as we crouched in front of it, grimacing as he handed the dagger to me and gestured to the body.
"Do I have to?"
"He who shot the arrow should swing the dagger."
"Isn't it 'He who passes the sentence should swing the sword'?"
"Yes and you passed your sentence by shooting your arrow. Now, swing your sword," Uncle Bennard spoke while still holding onto the dagger and I took it with a sigh before touching the shoulder of the deer.
With a grunt and a slight gag that I suppressed, I sunk the dagger into its chest, grunting as I began to tear down towards its pelvis.
"Unce Bennard, were you ever! Jealous of Dad?"
"What makes you think that?", He asked, looking as amused as can be when I opened the deer up and dropped my smile as the stench of fresh blood hit me.
"You know, you two act like Cregan and I and I know I used to have a slight loathing for Cregan because he was heir and I was not."
"…Well, I will say that the same did happen to me, yes, but I held onto that grudge until my first battle against wildlings when I was ten and six."
"Why then?"
"Because when I fought that wildilng, I realized something. I could have been the heir, I could have died and Rickon would have just become the heir again. I wasn't the heir, I could have died and everyone would still have moved on. The world doesn't care who's the heir, who's the lord and who's the king. When we die, we are nothing but ourselves at that point of death."
"So…what you're saying is that it took a while to realize that the only true thing in life is death," I asked with a grin, gagging as I tore out its guts and stomach before I looked at Bennard as he nodded.
"Yeah, I suppose it did. Was it the same for you?"
"…No, I just realized that being angry was a waste of energy and time that I could put into something else."
"Like your runes?"
"Like my run-Oh gods~ Shit! There's shit on my hands! Get it o-Uwargh! Uwargghh~! Get it off! Uncle Bennard! Stop laughing!"
"Hahahahaha!"
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
"Something isn't right here," I murmured as I rode in front of Uncle Bennard, my eyes focused on the forest to the side of the pathway we were on.
"What makes you say that?"
"We haven't heard a single animal since we left that inn. Usually, we would have seen a squirrel or a bunny or something by now."
'That and the spirits feel wary,' I thought with a grimace as I felt the anxiety of the trees around me, closing my eyes and opening my mind to ease their pain before I opened my eyes again.
Yet, as I did so, I found myself sitting on a branch, my clawed talons keeping me upright as my sharp eyes caught a dozen men in ragged armour and clothing sneaking in towards the travelling humans from the left and another seven from the right.
Closing my eyes and feeling myself back in my human body, I quickly took the bow and an arrow on the side of the horse, aiming and firing in the same instance.
A gurgled cry came from the bushes as my arrow connected and my uncle and his men quickly hopped down as I watched the other eighteen wildlings rushing from the bushes.
Dropping from the horse, I did what any rational fool would do and stayed behind cover, taking one an arrow at a time and firing at a wildling when I could.
Unfortunately, RPGs made archery a lto easier skill to use in-game than I was expecting as my first arrow completely missed and took off a branch.
The next arrow was a bit better, but still didn't hit anyone as did the one after that and the one after that…and the one after that.
By the tenth arrow, I think I was just wasting them in my panic to try and hit something, ducking behind the horse and taking deep breaths to calm my shaking hands before my eyes widened as a wildling charged at me with a bellow.
With his sword raised, I took out an arrow and ducked as he swung at me, stabbing the arrow into his leg before whacking his wrists with the bow. Not giving him time to surrender, I hit his kneecap and heard it snap, the wildling collapsing in pain right as I picked up his sword and stabbed through his chest.
"Don't look them in the eyes. You'll be haunted by what you see," I heard Uncle Bennard's words echo in my mind as I stared at the wildling's eyes, watching as all life slowly faded from them before I flinched as a hand touched my shoulder.
"Torrhen, you…you looked him in the eyes, didn't you?", Bennard murmured as he knelt in front of me, a knowing look in his living eyes while I stared at the blood that covered the man as well as the bodies around us.
I…I think that this life might be a bit more gruesome than I was expecting.
A/N: And we end it off here. A bit of warging, some talking with Father and…a marriage proposal? But why? Why would Viserys do this, huh?
Is there something he sees that no one else does? Who knows?
Like always, you can go to my Pat-reon-.-com-/-KingCrimsonNova to read ahead on this as well as many other stories & even some that haven't been released out to this site yet. If you want to, you are free to, but if you don't want, all's good as I will still be uploading here. This is just me trying to get some extra cash.
Anyway, as always, read, enjoy, review and until the next one…
Ba-Bye~!