Winterfell had plunged into a deep sadness. The people mourned for their little lord who had fallen from the tower. The king and his court were due to leave the day after the hunt that he went on the day young Bran fell from the tower. Now, they had to wait another five days before the could depart from the frozen landscape because their king wanted to stay for his dear friend whose son fell from the tower. The Stark's themselves seldom talked to anyone but themselves and worried over the fate of Bran. The lady Stark wouldn't leave her son's side for anything. The lord Stark tried to manage his time between his kingdom, his guests, and his injured son. And all the Stark siblings - save for Rickon who was too young to understand - prayed constantly for Bran.

It had happened so quickly it took a while for Torrhen to comprehend what happened. She'd been stubbornly hidden away in her room because her mother had forbidden from going on the hunt with the king and her father. Then there were shouts from outside and the curiosity got the better of her as she went outside to investigate.

Nothing could have prepared Torrhen for walking outside to see her little brother lying unconscious on the ground, looking half dead. His direwolf was howling beside Bran's body, and her own wolf sniffed around Bran before joining in with the howling. She didn't even realise she was crying until Torrhen knelt on the ground by her little brother and watched as her tears fall on his face.

Everything after that was almost a blur. Someone was taking Bran away to take him to the maester. Torrhen screamed. Catelyn and Maester Luwin came out to see what was happening. Catelyn screamed as well. They took Bran away, Torrhen tried to follow but was told to wait outside. That's where the rest of her family found her. Sitting quietly outside Bran's room where Maester Luwin and Lady Catelyn were working to save Bran. Her father went inside, and the Stark children just stood outside and looked at the door, each of them looking worried. Even the direwolves sensed something wrong, as they were all howling from outside.

"What happened, Tori?" Robb asked, sitting down next to her.

"I don't know," she whispered. "I don't- I don't know. I don't know."

She couldn't say more because she started sobbing. Robb put his arm comfortingly around the shoulder of his obviously upset twin sister.

"I was in my room. I should've been outside with him, maybe I could have caught him. Robb, I should have been there."

"You can't be everyone at once, Tori."

Robb was met with silence from his twin sister who just stared at her hands. He sighed inwardly at her behaviour. Didn't she see that their other siblings needed her to be strong for them? Acting the way she did was going to upset them, and the last thing Robb wanted to deal with was distraught siblings. Robb needed her help with them. Just as Robb was about to suggest that they move away from the room and go somewhere else, their father stepped out of the room once more. Torrhen shot up straight away and the rest of the Stark children crowded their father.

"Is Bran okay?" "Is he going to live?" "What did Maester Luwin say?"

The Lord of Winterfell was bombarded with questions from his children about their brother who lay unconscious on the bed in the next room. Ned sighed as he faced his children. "Maester Luwin is doing all he can for Bran. All we can do is pray to the gods for his recovery."

"Was it true? Did Bran fall from the Broken Tower?" Torrhen asked quietly.

"Yes, he was climbing and slipped on a loose stone."

"But Bran never falls! He knows better than that!" Robb protested.

"He did fall, we must accept that fact. And we still royal visitors to attend to," and with that Ned departed from his children.

The Stark children were left staring after their father. Torrhen hesitated a moment before running after her father. "Father! Father!"

Ned slowed to a stop as he turned around to face his eldest daughter. "Yes, Torrhen?"

"What's going to happen now?"

Confused, Ned asked; "What do you mean?"

"Are you going to stay in Winterfell with Bran?"

"No, Torrhen. We are still going."

This shocked Torrhen. She had thought that with Bran balancing between life and death Ned would reconsider travelling to Kingslanding to become Hand of the King. Although Torrhen had never liked that her father's supposed 'friend' would ask something like that of him. As far as she could see, King Robert was an incompetent king and relied on other people to rule for him. Torrhen didn't want her father to be one of the those people.

"But what about Bran?"

"He is my son, but there is nothing I can do for him."

Torrhen had never seen her father look so sad. She had just realised the gravity of the situation for her father as well. He was about to lose a son, and instead of sitting by his side like mother had opted for, he was continuing on in doing his duties for the realm. Surprise registered in Torrhen as she momentarily forgot that he was a father and a husband before he was Lord of Winterfell.

Swallowing her shame, Torrhen decided to return to the dutiful daughter. "When do we leave?"

"If I can get his Grace to agree, five days from now. Is that enough time for you to say your farewells to your brothers?"

"Yes father," Torrhen nodded.

A moment passed between them before Ned pulled his daughter in his arms. The comfort was much needed on both sides. For Torrhen, her entire life was going to change, and for Ned, he was moving to the one place he never wanted to go since the end of Robert's Rebellion for a friend he wasn't sure fully appreciated him anymore. They were both hurting over Bran and unsure over going to Kingslanding. However, they both had duties to attend to and sacrifices would have to be made.

After several moments, Torrhen released her father. "Thank you, father."

"Go to your brothers and sisters."

Taking a breath, Torrhen nodded and turned toward her siblings. They were all staring at the door. She smiled at them. Even though they fight all the time, the Stark children love each other. Torrhen only hoped that Bran would wake up to realise that.


Robb greeted Torrhen that morning without his usual bright smile. "Today's the day," he said sadly.

Sighing quietly, Torrhen picked at the food in front of her, not entirely ready to leave the only home she had ever know. "I don't want to go," she whispered.

The king had agreed to the extra five days in Winterfell to mourn for Bran's horrible injury. In that time, Maester Luwin had managed to stabilize Bran's condition and informed the people of Winterfell that the worst was over. Even though this was a relief to hear for Torrhen and the rest of her siblings, their mother had refused to leave Bran's side. Torrhen could barely comprehend what her mother was going through, but Bran was not in danger of dying anymore so Torrhen couldn't understand why she hadn't come out to attend to her other children. This forced Torrhen and Robb to step up attend to her lady mother's responsibilities. Not even Maester Luwin was around to help out since he was busy with keeping Bran alive.

During this time, Torrhen hadn't interacted with Ser Jaime since the incident with Greyjoy in the stables, which she was thankful for. She had seen glimpses of him in the yard sometimes where he sparred with other men. Despite her dislike for the golden Lannister, Torrhen couldn't deny how handsome and capable knight he was, even if he was a dishonorable one. However, Torrhen could only manage glances since every time he was in the yard as she passed by, Robb was with her and she could feel the glare he was giving. With as many problems as they had, Torrhen didn't want to risk upsetting Robb anymore than he was, and she was far too busy to worry about the likes of Jaime Lannister, betrothed or not.

Instead of worrying about her future husband and his family who seemed uncomfortable more now than they were when they arrived and had stuck to themselves through the entire affair, Torrhen focussed on spending whatever time she had left with her brothers. It wasn't that difficult considering Rickon never left her side and Robb was determined to be as close to his twin as possible.

It was not enough time in Torrhen's mind as the day they were set to leave for Kingslanding had finally arrived. Torrhen was afraid to say the least. She was moving to a new city, surrounded by people she didn't know and probably won't like just to married off to the most infamous oathbreaker in the entire Seven Kingdoms. It seemed absolutely terrifying. And most of all, she'd have to do it without Robb.

That was the hardest part; leaving her twin brother. They had spent their entire lives by each other's sides, how was she suppose to get through the biggest change in her life without him? They had never been apart for extended lengths of time. The past few days they had spent at each other's side. Robb had ditched the company of Greyjoy in favour of Torrhen, and Greyjoy had avoided her altogether, thankfully. Leaving was going to be difficult. But Torrhen understood that it was time to become her own person and leave Robb behind, even if she didn't enjoy it. She would miss him, though.

"You'll get used to Kingslanding, Tori, maybe you'll love it as much as Sansa does," Robb replied quietly.

"I doubt I'll be there long enough to get used to it," Torrhen muttered sadly.

Resisting the urge to cringe, Robb gave a quiet sigh. How had he forgotten that his twin sister was getting married and moving to Casterly Rock. He wouldn't even be at the wedding either.

"You slept in late, everyone is already outside saddling the horses and getting ready to leave."

He stood and offered his hand to Torrhen who looked pained at the thought of leaving so soon. Robb felt the same kind of pain but had it hidden behind his 'lords face'. It is better to hide his pain and be strong for Torrhen whose life is changing drastically. Torrhen took his hand and together they walked out into the yard arm in arm.

Once outside the doors, they were met with bustling servants and people tying luggage to carts and horses. Leaving Winterfell became painfully real to Torrhen as she realised that her trunk full of her own things were probably packed and put one of these carts. She forced herself to blink away the tears that were forming in her eyes. They were really leaving to Kingslanding.

Torrhen had gone her whole left thinking she wouldn't leave the north, which now that she thought more about it, was a preposterous notion. She was a lady, and often most ladies had to leave their own homes and move elsewhere. Torrhen was a lady of one of the most noble houses in the Seven Kingdoms, which meant that even if the king hadn't come to ask her father to be Hand of the King, she would've had to go south to court. Torrhen was a Lady of the North, and this was her duty no matter how much she disliked it. The Tully words rang in her head as she crossed the yard. Family. Duty. Honor.

Across the yard, their bastard brother was saddling his horse. Confused, Torrhen turned to her twin. "Is Jon coming?"

Robb looked almost sad. "Just to the King's Road, then he's following Uncle Benjen and joining the Night's Watch."

"The Night's Watch?!"

Robb let out a small sigh as they approached the stables. "He doesn't belong here, Tori, not around mother. The Night's Watch is the only place for a bastard."

"No, it's the only place for Jon."

Her family was breaking up. Jon was going to the Wall. Herself, father, and her two sisters were going south to Kingslanding. Whereas mother, and her brothers were staying here in Winterfell. She was afraid for Jon going to Wall, something her father told her made Torrhen nervous over Jon travelling to the Wall alone. When the snow falls and the white winds blow, the lone wolf dies but the pack survives. No doubt he'll have the other men in the Night's Watch but he shouldn't be alone.

Although Torrhen thought it was better than travelling south. Nothing good ever came from Stark's going south to the capitol. They always ended up dead, with the exception of her lord father. All he lost was his entire family with the exception of Benjen Stark who resided at the Wall. Well, maybe Jon won't be as alone as I thought.

"Why don't you go and say goodbye to mother and Bran while I saddle your horse," Robb suggested, growing tired of the depressing talk of the future of their bastard brother.

Mutely, Torrhen agreed and walked back toward the castle. Saying goodbye to Bran and mother was going to be just as painful as watching the Lady of Winterfell waste away next to her unconscious son. Another reason in the list of reasons why they shouldn't leave Winterfell. Another factor in Torrhen's life that she couldn't control or change, and was running away from. The Stark words rang in her head. They were going south but she had this cold feeling in her stomach that winter was rapidly approaching.

The grey direwolf pup trotted along beside Torrhen. If there was anything Torrhen was glad for, it was her direwolf was travelling south with them. Probably not the wisest decision for a bride-to-be who is relocating her entire life south to take an infamous animal known for being dangerous and vicious. But Icus was apart of Torrhen, more than a common pet to its owner. It's as if Icus was Torrhen in wolf form. Her wolf was closer to her than even Robb was.

She knocked on the door lightly before pushing it open. Her mother sat on the chair next to the bed staring at her son. Catelyn was quiet, and unnervingly still as she stared at her son. Torrhen studied her for a moment, wondering when was the last she ate, or blinked. It was her mother, but it was like looking at a different person inhabiting her mother's body. Torrhen always thought of her mother as a strong woman, but seeing her now made her doubt that. Although, her apparent weakness wasn't without cause.

Sighing, she walked over to her little brother's bedside. The words were caught in her throat as she stared at her unconscious brother. He looked so peaceful, almost as if he were asleep. She ran a hand through his auburn hair that was a shade lighter than hers.

"We're leaving for Kingslanding soon," Torrhen started. "If you were awake, we'd take you with us and we could explore the castle together, or go riding in the Kingswood with our direwolves. I promise I'll write to you, and when you wake up you can write to me and tell me what you've decided to name your direwolf." Torrhen paused to wipe the tears that threatened to fall. "I'll miss you Bran. Wake up soon."

Pressing a kiss to Bran's forehead, Torrhen stood up and walked around the other side of his bed where her mother sat. Following Torrhen's lead, Icus leapt up onto the bed and licked at Bran's cheek as if she too was saying goodbye, before jumping down again. She pressed another kiss to her lady mother's head.

"Goodbye mother, remember to take care of yourself."

Torrhen walked out the door, desperately trying not to look back. Her mother didn't say anything to her when she said goodbye. She didn't even look in Torrhen's direction, just stared at Bran. It upset Torrhen a little. She was going south to be married off and probably won't see her mother for a long time, and Catelyn didn't even look at her. There wasn't a glance, or a smile, or any words of wisdom and encouragement that Torrhen desperately needed. Some kind of reassurance from her mother about getting married. Instead, she got nothing.

It wasn't until she bumped into someone that she realized she was staring at the floor since she walked out of Bran's room. Immediately, she began apologising to the person she bumped into, until she look up and saw the golden knight she was set to marry and the apology died on her lips. He was dressed in his kingsguard armour, wearing the white cloak he metaphorically stained with the Mad King's blood. Ser Jaime smirked down at her and he held her arms to keep her steady. It was difficult to tell which was shinier, his hair or his armour.

"You should be more careful with where you are walking, my lady. You don't know who you could bump into." Ser Jaime sounded amused, as he always did whenever he talked to her.

"I'm sorry, Ser, I'll watch where I'm going from now on," she said quietly, moving to step around him. Icus, who had been sniffing at his feet, growled suddenly. Both peered down at the grey direwolf curiously.

"Is something the matter with it?" Jaime asked.

"I don't think so."

Torrhen stared down at her wolf, confused as to why Icus would growl like that. She had never made that sound before, it was strange behaviour for her, or not considering Icus was in fact a direwolf. Jaime vaguely wondered why the animal would growl like that, but decided to forget it and instead focussed on the lady standing in front of him. "Are you excited to go to Kingslanding?"

She avoided look at him, he was intimidatingly attractive and it made Torrhen nervous. "Oh yes, I've always wanted to see the capitol."

It seemed like Torrhen didn't even attempt to sound genuine. She couldn't find the energy to stand here and converse with the Kingslayer, let alone attempt to lie to him. Ser Jaime seemed to be studying her. His bright green eyes staring into hers, searching for something. That stupid smirk still on his face.

"How about you and I make a deal? Since we're to be married," to her credit, Torrhen didn't cringe at the word, "it would be much easier if we promise not to lie to each other. Trust is key to any marriage."

For an unexplainable reason, Torrhen became annoyed with the Kingslayer. "My little brother fell from a tower five days ago and still hasn't woken up and will live as a cripple for the rest of his life, forgive me for not being excited about leaving him."

A tense moment passed between them as Jaime felt the guilt of pushing that poor boy out the window rush through them, and Torrhen silently and unnoticably seethed at him for being quite annoying when all she wanted to do was go back outside to Robb. Torrhen wondered why he wouldn't leave her alone before remembering that they were supposed to get married.

Jaime's tense expression cracked as he started smirking again. "See? Doesn't the truth feel so much better?"

Resisting the urge to roll her eyes, Torrhen stepped out of his grasp. "I'd better go saddle my horse."

Without waiting for any kind of response, she stepped around him and continued walking out to the yard, desperately hoping that he wouldn't follow her and continue the conversation. Icus let out a low growl once more before following behind. Luckily for her Jaime saw that the conversation was heading no where and simply went over to his own horse.

Robb was waiting next to her horse that he had already saddled. Everyone who was leaving with them were already on their horses, waiting for the king's word to leave. Torrhen approached her twin brother, blinking back tears that threatened to fall. Their brother, Jon, sat atop his own horse waiting as well.

"How did it go?" Robb asked as she approached.

"As well as could be, I supposed," Torrhen replied.

As soon as she got close, Robb pulled her into his arms, clutching his twin sister tightly. They said nothing, just hugging because they knew it would be a while before they saw each other again. Next time they'll see each other, Torrhen would be the Lady of Casterly Rock, and Robb would be acting Lord of Winterfell, and maybe married as well. They'd be older, more responsible with the adventures of their childhood far behind them. The almost identical Stark twins would be two different people. Seperate.

"Don't forget to write, Tori," Robb started loosening his grip on his sister so they could face each other. "And don't hold back on the details, I want to know everything."

"I promise, Robb. Take care of mother, and Rickon, and Bran."

"You as well, make sure Arya doesn't kill Sansa and make sure father gets enough sleep."

Once again, Robb pulled Torrhen against him before letting go completely and keeping her horse still as she climbed on. She settled on the saddle before looking down at her brother. To their credit, neither of them let them cried. Although Torrhen was dangerously close from doing so, and was blinking often so her tears wouldn't fall. Icus keened and jumped up on Robb, pawing at his stomach. Robb chuckled and bent down so that Torrhen's wolf could lick his face. Even Icus didn't want to leave.

"Maybe I should leave Icus here with you and Grey Wind," Torrhen half-heartedly joked.

"Then who else will keep you safe in Kingslanding without me there?" Robb replied with a grin, standing up to get away from the direwolves affection.

"I can take care of myself, Robb."

"I know, I'll just feel better knowing you'll have Icus with you."

Torrhen agreed silently, knowing she felt better with Icus around too. The direwolf was only a pup, but it was far more dangerous than any dog. Although, Icus and the other direwolf pups were far too cute to be considered dangerous.

"Robb," Theon said as he appeared next to Robb, startling both Stark's.

Immediately, Torrhen tensed at Greyjoy's appearance. She had hoped to avoid seeing him before she left. One thing she liked about going south was being away from Theon Greyjoy. Being away from his constant flirting would be refreshing, if it wasn't being swapped for the company of Jaime Lannister.

"You forgot this," Greyjoy told Robb, holding up something covered in cloth.

"Right, thank you for reminding me," Robb said, taking the object out of Theon's hands.

Greyjoy nodded, muttered some form of a farewell to Torrhen before walking away. It seemed that he was as eager to get away from her than she was of him. Robb gave a confused glance at Greyjoy's retreating figure before ignoring it and casting his attention on the cloth covered object in his hand.

"For you," he said, removing the cloth and handing it to her.

It was a quiver. A dark leather quiver with small light grey intricate patterns around the top and bottom. There was also the direwolf sigil the same colour as the patterns stamped proudly across the centre. The quiver was filled with at least a dozen arrows and a bow to match. It was beautiful, and much more appropriate for Torrhen than a sword would be.

"Do you like it?" Robb asked, obviously excited. "I had it made after you told me about your betrothal."

"Why?" was all Torrhen could manage while studying her gift.

"So you're able to protect yourself from the Kingslayer," that made Torrhen grin, "and to remind you that no matter who you marry, you will always be a Stark of Winterfell."

"Thank you, Robb."

He nodded and grinned up at her. The same boyish grin that she had been looking at her entire life. A smile she was going to miss.

There was a shout from the gate and people started shuffling out of the yard. Torrhen slung the strap of her quiver over her head so that it rest on her shoulder, and the quiver on her back. She looked around her as people started moving. She was actually leaving Winterfell, the only home she had ever known. Her eyes started to burn with fresh tears, but Torrhen blinked them back. She looked down at Robb, who somehow still held a smile even if it lost most of its happiness.

"Goodbye, sister," Robb said, his voice heavy with sadness.

"Goodbye, brother," Torrhen managed to choke out.

Another moment passed before Torrhen spurred her horse forward. They stared, Tully blue and Stark grey eyes searching each other. The inseparable Stark twins actually being separated. This was a sad day for the Winterfell.


A/N: And they're off! Yeah... hi. Again. Sorry for the long wait, I've been busy doing nothing really. Just, graduated highschool and stuff so now I have plenty of time for this story! Sorry for this kinda crappy chapter but I promise to make it up. Also trying to incorporate the direwolf more into the story, and perhaps more Jaime/Torrhen interaction? Again, incredibly sorry for the long wait. Reviews are always welcome. :D