The main problem I have now is there aren't many scripted scenes that would involve Torrhen until Episode 8, I'm lucky to get 1 an episode and the structure of my story is each episode is a separate chapter. So I'm trying my best to make it exciting for everyone but please bear with me.
The characters, scripts and locations still don't belong to me except Torrhen, everything belongs to George, Dan, Dave and HBO.
The Godswood was ever peaceful no matter how troubled its occupant's minds were. Rickon was chasing after Shaggydog and Balerion who were running through the three-acre area without a care in the world while Torrhen felt like he'd aged 10 years in the month and a half or so since the King left Winterfell. Sitting just by his father's rock, as Torrhen couldn't bring himself to sit upon the rock itself. All this trouble with the Lannisters and Bran worried him more than it should have and Torrhen didn't feel like he was doing anything to solve it. His job was to look after Rickon and make sure he kept himself occupied instead of bothering or worrying about Bran, and Torrhen thought running around the Godswood in relative peace would hopefully tire Rickon out early. Finishing up a small prayer for his family he noticed Rickon running over to him and the toddler sat himself down net to Torrhen with a tiny thud.
"Torr, why are you so sad?" Rickon asked.
"I'm not sad!" Torrhen put a smile on for his little brother.
"Yes you are!" Rickon exclaimed "I know you are and I don't want you to be sad anymore."
"I miss our family little one, and I can't wait to see them all again, if I am sad then it is because of that" Torrhen tried to explain.
"Everyone left us" Rickon said sadly, his little head drooping as he said it. This made Torrhen's heart melt.
"Not for ever my brother, Mother will be back very soon and we will see Sansa, Arya and Father when we go to Sansa's wedding to the Prince! Won't that be exciting to see Kings Landing and the Red Keep! You can show everyone what a brave swordsman you will become" Torrhen said, trying to lighten the mood a bit. Rickon's eyes shone at this, and he got straight up and bundled into Shaggydog telling the Direwolf all about the type of knight he would become.
A few moments later one of the serving girls came running into the Godswood as fast as she could.
"My Lord! My Lord! Lord Brandon has woken up!" She shouted. "Lord Robb bid me to come and tell you immediately and ask you to go towards Lord Brandons rooms!"
Torrhen immediately bolted upright, thanking her and giving the girl a gold coin for her troubles. Turning towards the far end of the Godswood where Rickon was rolling around with the Direwolves he swept over quickly towards them.
"Rickon brother, Bran is awake!" Torrhen exclaimed. Rickon cheered loudly, inciting excitable howls from Balerion and Shaggydog.
"Yay! Can we go and see him?" Rickon asked.
"Aye we will run up now, but remember to leave him be. We do not know how he is" Torrhen instructed, before chasing Rickon out of the Godswood.
The two brothers arrived at the door to Bran's room to find Robb already sat down by the bed, with Maester Luwin just finishing up checking on Bran. Lowering the boy's leg and covering him with the furs, he sighed at the lack of feeling Bran seemed to have.
"I'm very sorry My Lord, but it seems that the break in your back has impacted on the feeling in your legs, I don't believe it will be possible for you to walk again." The Maester said sadly. "If you'll excuse me My Lords I will go and send a raven to Kings Landing to inform your father" He bowed to Robb
and made his way out, visibly upset.
Robb grabbed hold of Bran's hand as Torrhen and Rickon went and sat gently on his bed, all seemingly lost for words. Stroking Bran's wolf gently Torrhen tried to get the conversation away from what they'd all just heard.
"Have you decided on a name yet Bran?" He asked. Bran just shook his head, looking up at the ceiling as if he just wanted to be swallowed up by the floor. Torrhen Looked away, not knowing what to do.
"What do you remember?" Robb asked, his eyes piercing Bran's face as if he was trying to read his younger brothers mind. Bran just shook his head again. "Nothing?" Robb asked. Another head shake was his only answer.
"Don't worry Bran, you are alive thank the gods. Mother will be delighted to see you again, she hardly left your bedside" Torrhen tried to reassure him, but Bran just pulled a face of anger.
"Where is she then?" Bran whispered angrily.
"Gone South to see Father, she will be back soon I promise" Robb said, grasping his hand even tighter.
Bran just huffed at that and turned his head away from his brothers, on the verge of tears at the situation he found himself in. "I'm tired, I'd like you to leave please" he said. Robb looked at his brother and opened his mouth ready to argue but thought better of it, sighing he squeezed Bran's hand once more and went to leave the room, gesturing for Rickon and Torrhen to follow him. Torrhen got up, but went over and kissed Bran on the forehead and tried to reassure him.
"I'll get Old Nan to come up and look after you. You feel awful now I can see, but it will be ok I promise, we will look after you" He said softly, before following his brothers out the room.
It had been a week since Bran woke up and he was still miserable. Robb was busy with his lordly duties so it was left to Torrhen and Rickon to try and cheer him up, to no avail. On the 8th day of Bran being awake the other 3 Stark boys were sat in the Great Hall breaking their fast, when Maester Luwin walked in holding a message.
"My Lord, a message from Kings Landing, from Lord Stark" the Maester said, handing the rolled up parchment to Robb. Breaking his father's new it carefully he rubbed his face with his free hand in despair, noticing confused looks from Torrhen and Maester Luwin he looked pointedly towards Rickon and shook his head, the Maester got the hint. "Lord Rickon, why don't you go and take some breakfast to the kennels for your wolves, I'm sure they would like some of that meat" Luwin said gently. Rickon bounced up at the idea and taking a full bowl of sausages ran out of the room. Torrhen looked at Robb to explain the message.
"It's not a response to our raven. Father and the Girls are well, they've arrived at Kings Landing and had his first small council meeting" Robb said, earning a sigh of relief from Torrhen. "But there was a bit of trouble at the Trident."
"Trouble My Lord? What trouble?" Maester Luwin asked.
"It seems that Arya and the Prince got into a fight, Nymeria bit Joffrey and ran away, the Prince complained and Lady was killed in her place" Robb said sadly. Torrhen felt himself well up, Sansa's direwolf killed because of the prince.
"The Prince got Lady killed? Does that mean the betrothal is broken and Sansa and Arya are coming home?" Torrhen asked hopefully.
"No brother, they're all staying in Kings Landing." Robb answered. Torrhen looked down at his food, stabbing a bit of meat forcefully with his knife, before eating it and storming up to Brans room again where he got the most peace normally, completely ignoring the concerned look on Robb's face. Robb looked questioningly at Maester Luwin after Torrhen had gone, mentally asking what was up with his brother.
"His twin had her Direwolf killed and yet is still seemingly besotted, Lord Torrhen was not happy in the first place at Sansa leaving, and now I believe he is even more worried for her after this news." The Maester explained.
"If any more happens he is going to want to ride down there I can feel it" Robb sighed. "My father always said Torr reminded him of his elder brother Brandon. He's far too hot-headed when it comes to the Girls."
"He cares for his family My Lord, and he doesn't have the responsibilities you do to distract yourself, he spends most of his days currently in the Godswood with Rickon or in Bran's room with his Valyrian scroll." Maester Luwin told Robb. Robb sighed again, bringing his face into his hands and massaging his temples.
"He focuses too much on Valyria and the Dragons, I fear for him some days" Robb admitted.
"He still trains My Lord, even harder now than ever before" Maester Luwin said. "He will be a fine soldier one day"
"Aye he will, that's what I'm worried about" Robb admitted. "If things with the Lannisters turn worse and we find proof then he will want to come to war with us, and I won't be able to say no because of his skill no matter how young he is".
"Things won't come to that My Lord we still don't know anything more"
"Yet Maester, but I still fear the worst" Robb said staring out of the window solemnly.
It was a nice day for the North Torrhen thought to himself as he took a break from reading the scroll. It didn't hold any importance other than the fact that it was all that was left of the Winterfell Library after it had burnt down. Torrhen thought he knew all about the story of Quellon now, but he kept at it in order to learn both Valyrian languages, high and low. Old Nan had told him it was a fool's mission, that he would never need it. 'As if her stories are any more meaningful' Torrhen thought to himself, looking over at the old woman sat by Bran's bedside knitting away. A crow was cawing in the near distance, until it suddenly appeared and landed on the window edge, drawing the attention of Bran.
"Don't listen to it. Crows are all liars." Old Nan told Bran. "I know a story about a crow." She added. Torrhen rolled his eyes, that woman had a story about everything.
"I hate your stories" Bran snapped impatiently.
"I know a story about a boy who hated stories" Old Nan said, enciting a snigger from Torrhen. "I could tell you about Ser Dincan the Tall." Nan added "Those were always your favourites"
"Those weren't my favourites. My favourites were the scary ones." Bran said, facing up at the ceiling again.
"Oh, my sweet summer child. What do you know about fear?" Nan asked. Torrhen sat up at this, he'd been around Old Nan enough to understand when she was going to tell some form of story. "Fear is for the winter, when the snows fall a hundred feet deep. Fear is for the long night, when the sun hides for years and children are born and live and die all in darkness. That is the time for fear, my little Lord, when the White Walkers move through the woods." Nan told, causing Bran to turn his head towards her widening his eyes. "Thousands of years ago there came a night that lasted a generation. Kings froze to death in their castles, same as the shepherds in their huts. And women smothered their babies rather than see them starve, and wept and felt the tears freeze on their cheeks. So is this the sort of story that you like?" Nan asked, causing Bran to nod, visibly scared. "In that darkness, the White Walkers came for the first time. They swept through cities and kingdoms, riding their dead horses, hunting with their packs of pale spiders big as hounds…"
The door opened loudly, causing both Bran and Torrhen to jump and look in terror towards the door, as Robb walked into the room. Looking between the terrified faces of his brothers Robb walked to the bed and spoke to Nan.
"What are you telling them now?" He asked humorously.
"Only what the little Lord on the bed wants to hear." Old Nan answered innocently earning a scowl from Bran at the word bed.
"Get your supper. I want some time with them." Robb instructed her. Obliging Nan got out of her chair and left the room. Robb walked over towards Bran, his face showing off a big grin. "One time she told me the sky is blue because we live inside the eye of a blue-eyed giant named Macumber." He told Bran.
"I remember that one" Torrhen laughed. "And the one about the castle being on top of a giant dragon, and that's why the Hot Springs never go cold because of dragon breath."
"Maybe we do." Bran said unimpressed. "Maybe it is".
Robb lost his grin at how lost his little brother sounded. "How do you feel?" He asked, sitting on the edge of the bed. "You still don't remember anything?" Bran shook his head sadly.
"I've seen you climb a thousand times. In the wind, in the rain... A thousand times. You never fall Bran, never" Torrhen said, getting up from his chair by the door and moving to be closer to the top of the bed.
"I did though. It's true, isn't it... what Maester Luwin says about my legs?" Bran asked, looking between Robb and Torrhen for an answer. After a long silence neither of the could say it, so Robb just nodded his head sympathetically. "I'd rather be dead." Bran told them.
"Bran!"
"Don't ever say that." Robb said at the same time as Torrhen's outburst.
"I'd rather be dead." Bran repeated defiantly, looking right into Robbs eyes, clearly shocking both Robb and Torrhen to silence.
Torrhen was out in the tiltyard practising his archery as he always did when he was ridiculously worried or stressed. With all that had happened in the last few months he had a lot of anger to let loose, and shooting helped him release that a lot easier than destroying one of the straw dummies in the courtyard. Releasing another arrow, he watched it sail yet again into the black spot on the rag the Starks used as a target, only to reload quickly and fire off another one, splitting an arrow straight down the middle for the first time in his life. Torrhen took a step back and laughed, celebrating silently at his achievement.
"Arya would have loved that" He muttered to himself, nocking another arrow and trying to split the arrow again, firing and missing by a whisker. 'Fuck' he thought, putting the bow down and walking into the courtyard to take in the day. Noticing Robb storming out of the Maesters turret in a rage with a piece of parchment in his gloved hand, he went to cut him off.
"Fucking Lannisters…" He heard Robb muttering.
"Robb? What's going on" Torrhen shouted over, causing Robb to turn around and his mood seemed to lift for a moment at the sight of his brother, before settling back into his bad mood.
"The Imp, he's on his way back from the Wall and he's stopping here." Robb said bitterly. "His family come into our home and try to murder our brother and he expects another welcome?"
"Careful brother, as much as I'd love to gut him from head to toe he's the Queens brother and demands respect" Torrhen said trying to calm him down, his shooting clearly putting the 13-year-old in a much better mood than he was in earlier.
"Respect? They tried to kill Bran!" Robb exclaimed.
"Fuck Robb, not here!" Torrhen said as he shoved Robb, pushing him into the Godswood. When they both got to the Weirwood tree Robb rounded on Torrhen.
"Be careful little brother, I'm still the Lord of Winterfell while Father is away and you need to respect me as such" Robb warned.
"I do and I will, but you need to be careful Robb remember what Mother said? Nobody can know of our suspicions, especially not Lannister when he gets here" Torrhen whispered. "If we are to talk about it, it needs to be either in here or only when we know we're alone." Robb relaxed a bit thinking about that, finally nodding his agreement.
"Aye you're right, he should get here in 3 weeks but I'll keep Bran away from it all. No need to encourage the fuckers to do anything else" Robb said, earning another punch from Torrhen.
"You shouldn't use such language in the Godswood!" Torrhen hissed, causing Robb to start laughing, setting Torrhen off as well. "Right, we best warn the servants to start getting prepared then, Lord Imp will inevitably want an audience with you brother". Torrhen chuckled, getting another quick glare from Robb before walking off to carry on his training.
There's Episode 3! Updated a lot quicker but I've caught the buzz now, which doesn't help when I have 4 assignments due in the next month. I hope it was alright but there was only 1 scripted scene, so I hope I've done the characters and the story a bit of justice even if these next few updates are a bit smaller.
Brandon of House Stark: I think I may have answered your question in this chapter. I'm so pleased to hear you say this is one of your favourites though! Hopefully it carries on being as such!
Mpowers045: Or Tyrion! I'm not thinking about pairings yet, he's only 13 and the family is clearly a bit pre-occupied for an arranged marriage, but if there are any suggestions for pairings from any reviewer I'll take it into consideration.
Spero.P: I think that's probably because the majority of Season 1 doesn't really have much 'Winterfell action' between the royal visit and until the banners are called, but it fits with my story so I'm glad to hear it's unique!