AN: Hey guys, ok so firstly I am so sorry about the late update. I've been really busy of late as I have been multitasking with a lot of things. Anyway on a happier note this is chapter 10; this was actually quite a difficult chapter to write as I was finding myself lagging a bit with it even though I knew what direction I wanted to go with it.
Anyhow, I hope you enjoy it and I will promise that my next update will not be nearly another month of waiting. There needed to be more mention of Torin as he hasn't appeared in the later chapters since chapter 5.
Ok, so please and review.
Thanks.
xx
Torin's POV
Rain struck at the face of the wildling prince's face; as he stood atop the mountain of ice watching with emotionless eyes as the silhouette of a horse and its rider rode up to the mountain peak to where he stood.
All the time he was watching, he knew who it was that returned to them now; it was the spear wife named Ygritte; the bastard crow's lover; or had been up until the moment when the traitor turn cloak had fled their camp. Ygritte had followed him with intent to kill; anger strong and revenge burning furiously within her heart. The legend of the flame haired spear wife was true; she loved to cut throats more than she loved to kiss them.
Through the rain; he watched on as the rider approached ever nearer; and then the horse thundered up to where he waited, his eyes staring up at one of his fellow free folk.
"What news?" he demanded as soon as she was near him, the horse whinnied as Ygritte pulled the great black beast to a stop, snorting and kicking white dust from the snow that surrounded them.
At first the spear wife did not answer Mance Raydars son; instead she studied him with her cold eyes; Ygritte the crow lover was known for her stubborn fiery ways and known even more for her defiance; riding off after the two crows had been great proof of that notion; she could not control her anger; so like an arrow notched to a bow; Ygritte the spear wife had to be let loose.
"They've made it back to that big pile of ice m'lord" her voice husked.
"Dead?" his gruff voice questioned; Ygritte stared at him then, remembering the confrontation between she and Jon Snow; Torin was no fool, he knew that the spear wife was in love with the bastard like a love sick puppy; and as regards to wanting him dead? That was even more proof that she cared for the wingless crow.
"Alive" she confirmed, watching the princes eyes carefully "Barley, I tracked them as far as I could; but I lost their scent the moment that they reached the gates of the wall"
Torin absorbed the news that she provided him and instantly he felt his anger boil to the surface; the thought of his crow back at the wall sickened him; she was a free woman at heart and he would prove that to the traitor bastard with the taste of his blade.
Focusing his hard blue eyes onto the flame haired spear wife, Torin said to her, "what else did you see?" he demanded "My father will want you to tell him every little detail that you know"
"I know what your father will want to hear prince" she countered abruptly, her eyes staring into his coldly; Torin knew that he wasn't the spear wife's favourite person to be around since his strange fascination with the crow girl named Bryanna. Staring at her for a long moment, the prince answered the free woman by saying.
"And what is that?" he questioned. A wide sly grin suddenly spread across the wildlings girl face; harsh and mocking.
"So eager to find out about the whereabouts of your little crow lover?" she taunted;
"Hold your tongue woman" Torin warned her; Ygritte laughed aloud then.
"I am free woman" she said to him "I can speak my mind as I see fit"
Torin's eyes narrowed at her then through his hair; the rain struck at his face, stinging his eyes. "Aye" he began "As free as you want to be; but I am the prince beyond the wall; you may be a free woman but Mance will not hesitate to cut out your tongue in order to teach you respect" he threatened.
At his words, Torin saw that the flame haired girl raised her chin stubbornly; the free bitch never took well to threats either. It was then that Torin Raydar, Prince beyond the wall revelled In the power that he had over his father's fellow followers; and he liked it; it set his blood on fire and suddenly he found himself desiring the crow girl more furiously than he had ever done whilst she had been his captive.
Why the girl was so important to him, Torin could not say; all he knew was that she was different; she had a heart that yearned for freedom, had a fire within those eyes that had set his own soul alight whenever he had looked into them; she he had fought like one of the free folk and when he had stolen a kiss from her chapped lips; he had tasted the fire that fuelled her strength; and he had craved her more.
Fixing his eyes firmly upon the spear wife's, he commanded, "come, my father will be waiting"
At that, Ygritte the crow lover stared down at the prince beyond the wall, the fire in her hair now dulled and dampened from the rain; she glared at him haltingly before she kicked her horse into motion and began riding down the snow-capped mountain peaks; trying to save the rest of her wounded pride as she rode.
With the icy winds of the north blowing his matted hair over his face, Torin watched with strong eyes as the bastard's lover rode off down the mountain and then sauntered into a thundering gallop back to the king beyond the walls camp.
Before he followed pursuit, the prince beyond the wall turned his ice blue eyes to the vastness of white behind him; his eyes squinting through the snowy wet fog that hung low over his head; in his mind he thought bitterly to himself;
Heal quick bastard, for I am coming to steal back what is mine.
…..
Jon's POV
"Where is the girl?" Ser Allisters Thornes harsh voice spat down at Jon from the table from where he sat. News had reached the new Lord Commanders ears of Bryanna's sudden attack atop the wall and now Allister Thorne wanted it confirmed and wanted to know the reason for it.
That was why Jon had been summoned to the Long hall; standing in front of a long table where the mock commander sat glaring down at Jon Snow with malice within those piggy eyes. The scene was meant to intimidate him; but Jon was not intimidated; for three years; he had endured thorn's endless provocation and jibes because of his bastard status and for three years Jon's hate for him grew anew each day that passed.
Jon glared at Thorn haltingly; daring him to challenge him before he answered the question that had been bestowed upon him. There was a drawn out silence before Jon answered the new Commander.
"She is sick" he answered shortly "she is under the care of Maester Aemon"
Thorne listened impatiently; all the while his mouth turning up into a hard grimace.
"What is so sick about her?" Thorne demanded. Jon felt himself bristle at his lack of respect when talking to a fellow brother of the watch.
"She was taken ill" Jon countered "Atop the wall, not three days passed"
Thorne grunted, "That bitch is always taken ill" he spat venoumsley "she should have been left beyond the wall and dealt with by the wildlings; I'm sure they would have found some use for her; after all; what man could refuse a woman who is sworn to an oath of celibacy? Crow or no crow?" a sick satisfied smile spread across his ugly face then; pig eyes staring into his; trying to make hi snap; but Jon refused to be drawn in to Thorne's game; so he kept a calm exterior despite the anger that threatened to boil to the surface; his dark eyes calm and collected. But behind those eyes, Jon Snow imagined Longclaw being thrust down throne's vile throat; by his own hand.
At his words about Bryanna, Jon felt his burned hand twitch; he would protect her honour while she was sick, even though she would scorn him for such negligence; but he was Jon Snow, a man of the Nights watch; he was no longer a boy; Ygritte had made sure that she took the last of his boyhood away.
as he stood before Thorne now; Jon was still unsure as to why Bryanna was ill; when Jon had brought her to Maester Aemon's chambers; carried her in his arms through the snow as eyes of the watch looked on at him, her head hanging limp over his arm, unconscious; did he wrack his mind with worry as to what was happening to her. Never had he witnessed the fear in her eyes as he had at that moment; not even when she was raped did she show any signs of fear; she was always strong; always accepted what the gods had in store for her one way or another.
When Maester Aemon had begun attending to her; Jon watched on in silence; his face dark; looking upon her face so pale and so sickly he truly feared for her life; but being the man that he had become; Jon Snow taught himself to hide his emotions well; the deaths of everyone that he had ever known had taught him to do that; Ygritte had taught him and so had Bryanna. After everything that they had been through beyond the wall; she was all that he had left; and that was the truth of it.
Maester Aemeon had known that it was Jon who had come to him in the dead of night; the old man may have been blind but his senses were strong; and Maester Aemon had sensed that it was Jon who had brought the sick girl to him out of desperation. When the old man had asked him to leave; Jon had obliged the old Maester; and had not visited her since. Part of him resented the fact that he could be so cold towards the woman that he was torn to love; but what else could he do? He was already mistrusted within the watch, since their return; all eyes of the black brothers turned cold and resentful towards the traitor bastard and his lover.
But Bryanna wasn't his lover, Jon was not even sure what she was to him to anymore. She had grown distant towards him, turned cold and angry; bitter. The young girl that he had grown up with at Winterfell; had died the moment that she had reached the wall; when he had first come to the wall with his uncle Benjen, Jon had not even recognized the face of the little lady that he had sparred with; so grown up had she become.
But thinking of the past was trivial now; it meant nothing; how could the past help him now? So; focusing his brown eyes upon the sly looking man that sat before him, judging him; Jon said "Am I free to go now? I have told you all that I know" Jon said calmly; inside his blood was boiling. He stared up at Ser Allister Thorne from beneath dark curls, eyes hard and focused upon the fake lord Commander before him.
The lord Commander slyly grinned down at him then, "For now" he rasped, "But do not get in my way Snow for you are already awaiting a trial to determine whether you will keep your head for the crimes that you have committed beyond the wall; you and that little bitch of yours"
Jon knew nothing of a trial; his brows furrowed at thornes words.
"Trial?|" he questioned him "I was not made aware of any trial"
At that thorne grinned down at him again slyly enjoying the power that he now suddenly had over the bastard of the wall. "don't question your Lord Commander Snow" he hissed "If I say there is to be a trial than a trial there shall be; don't try to get out of it bastard; it would be wise to follow orders for once; though I know that proves to be a problem for you"
I have followed more orders than you know, Jon thought bitterly to himself, I followed the orders of qourin Half hand; now he is dead and I on trial.
Jon said nothing, just glared at the ugly man before him; slynt raised his chin cockily before he spat out, "now get out of my sight Snow, you will be called when we are ready for your trial; bring the bitch"
On that Jon turned on his heal and made way for the door; but before he walked through it thornes voice called out to him one last time.
"Snow" he said, " go and find piggy and attend to your duty's that you were assigned to before your heroic descent into the wild" he mocked "your back at the wall now, and your still no ranger; so get my dinner ready bastard, you serve me now"
…..
Torin's POV
The small brazier cast a shadow on the wall of the tent revealing two shadows alive and unmoving. The news that Ygritte had supplied his father of the whereabouts of the two traitor crows; had greatly displeased the king beyond the wall; he was a patient man; but now as he sat in waiting to make the biggest descion of all time; Mance Raydar grew impatient and his mens thirst for spilt crow blood was craved day by day; the wild men would not be satisfied until their thirst for blood was sated and it seemed that they were no where near getting what they desired.
The thought made torins blood rage with anger; the blood of the wildlings flowing through his veins. He to, longed for the kill, yearned for the death crys and craved the blood of the enemy smeaered across his face in triumph. Above all the crow blood at castle black, torin raydar desired no other crows blood as much as he craved the traitior bastards Jon Snows; thrusting his sword down his skinny crow throat was a recurring dream for the young prince; unlike his father; Torin did not show mercy when it came to the kill; no; if a man ever betrayed his people beyond the wall, then death would be imminent; and the tritor would know no bounderied to the pain that would be inflicted upon them for their punishment.
But that fate was not to be for Jon Snow; he was going to die slow; he would make sure of that; Jon Snow was going to suffer and he would suffer well.
Mance refilled his son's wooden cup full of dark brown ale before refilling his own. It was bitter tasting, strong and could cloud a man's thoughts from just one single sip.
"You look like shit my boy" the king beyond the wall stated to his son, "has the ale clouded your ability to speak?"
Torin lifted his grey eyes to his lords and stared at him.
"Aye" he muttered gruffly "it has been to long that I have drunk good ale; the last lot tasted like horses piss"
Mance raydar regarded his son steadily then; he could see that he was his father's son; a true born wildling. Torin watched from beneath slightly drunken eyes at his father's reaction; he could see the serious look return quickly to his father's stern face.
After taking another mouthful of his ale and setting his eyes upon the king beyond the wall; torin began to talk business.
"ygritte's news has disappointed you" he stated bluntly to the king; mance watched his sons eyes with a strong intensity behind them; there was power inside those eyes, cleverness and strategy; mance raydar was a deceitful man who knew how to the play the crows at their own game; that was his advantage.
Lifting the untouched cup of ale to his twisted mouth, he drank deep and then in one fluid motion drained the cup dry and placed it back upon the table; staring directly into the young wildlings eyes.
"Aye" mance muttered "the crow has flown back to his nest and has taken one of our folk with him; that does not sit well with me"
"she too was a crow" torin reminded his father abruptly.
Mance smiled slyly at his son before returning his answer, "Aye, that she was" he told him bluntly; arching an eyebrow before finishing his sentence by saying, "until she met you"
Silence past between father and son then; until torin released a deep laugh at his fathers words. "she was no crow my boy" Mance confirmed, "I saw the way she looked at you"
"she had eyes for the bastard" the young prince said "I watched her"
"and you watched her well" the king beyond the wall muttered "but not well enough that she is back at that big pile of ice now, locked inside hiding behind black wings"
Torin stared at his king then; his heart growing angry at her absence; he battled with himself day and night to why he felt so strongly towards his enemy; and enemy she was; she may have been a woman of the nights watch but she was still a crow; a crow with a black heart. Perhaps it was her black heart that had drawn him to her, made him want to know her, feel her, taste her; his feelings had all been on impulse; after all he was taught to take what was his and not wait to be given permission; he was a hot blooded wildling; wild and free, alive and stole what he desired, including women folk; crow or no crow.
"she would have still been under my watchful eye if we had not been betrayed by the bastard" torin spat.
Mance grunted at that, "yes" he said sternly "that is true; I know how you long for revenge my boy" he told him leaning forward to look in his sons eyes; the prince beyond the wall stared into his father's cold eyes, "and revenge is what you will get"
His fathers words pricked the attention of the prince then and instantly his brows furrowed, "How?" he demanded "what do you intend to do?"
One last time, the king beyond the wall filled his cup full of thick brown ale and then reached over the table to fill the cup of the wildling prince; torin watched the action of his father, noted how his eyes were downcast and a how a sly smile graced the small twisted mouth of the nights watch traitor; it was plain to see that the king beyond the wall had a plan; his wit was still that of a crows; sharp like a razor that would cut like a knife.
"I intend to light the biggest fire that the north has ever seen" the king beyond the wall declared; leanig back in his chair and raising his cup in mock salute to his young son. Torin studied his father for a long moment before wrapping his own callused fingers around the small wooden cup and raised it to his lips; he didn't drink just stared at his father in silence. "and when we have all the strength of the north behind us, that's when we will make our attack; we will climb the wall" mance raydar leaned forward again and firmly fixed his cold eyes on his sons, "and then my boy, you will get the revenge that you seek the woman that you love and the blood that you want spilled; does that make you happy?"
The prince beyond the wall merely stared at his father at first with an emotionless expression eteched upon his young face; he had heard right; his father intented to go to war with the nights watch and that thought alone excited him alone; pumped his heart full of adrenaline, made his strong hands twitch at the thought of burying his sword into the pretty boy bastards skull; oh yes, torin raydar was very happy.
Raising his cup in the air in mock salute like his father before him; the prince beyond the wall smirked slyly and said "Aye, let's kill some crows"
The sound of wooden cups clanking in greeted union, sounded through the air.