And here we go again, a brand new season for me to dig my teeth into and boy is it a good one for the Starks! I've updated the summary and the cover picture, the Black Wolf is good and it will be Torrhen's personal sigil from this season onwards (spoilers) but I figured that this picture fits in well, even if he does look a bit older than he should, we'll just say that it's the Northern way.
I still don't own anything but Torrhen.
Robb and the rest of the Northern Army were arriving at the Ruins of Harrenhal. Robb and Roose Bolton leading the march. The pair stopped as they reached the final straight to discuss tactics.
"We should set the siege lines…" Roose Bolton started.
"There won't be a siege." Robb interrupted him. "The Mountain can't defend a ruin."
"I imagine the Mountain will defend whatever Tywin Lannister tells him to defend."
"The Lannisters have been running from us since Oxcross." Robb told him. "I'd love a fight; the men would love a fight." Looking at the empty ruin he added. "I don't think we're going to get one."
They entered the castle, and Robb was horrified as all around him were piles of dead, tortured Northmen and Rivermen. Lords Bolton and Karstark followed him in, taking in the scene.
"200 Northmen, slaughtered like sheep." Lord Karstark said.
"The debt will be repaid, my friend." Roose Bolton told him. "For them and for your sons."
"Will it?" Lord Karstark asked, staring daggers at Catelyn. "They rot in the ground while their killer runs free."
"The Kingslayer won't remain free for long." Roose said optimistically. "My best hunters are after him."
Robb noticed a prominent sigil on the chest of one of the dead, stabbed in the heart.
"A Mallister?"
"Ser Jeremy." Catelyn told him solemnly. "My father's bannerman."
Robb seemed to tense up at her voice. Looking all around to see the castle sufficiently occupied by Stark men he turned away. "Find her a chamber that will serve as a cell." He told some guards, who led Cat away. Talisa walked up to him.
"She's your mother." She whispered.
"She freed Jaime Lannister." He countered. "The Lannisters robbed them of their sons and she robbed them of their justice." At that moment a man in the rubble started coughing violently, Talisa rushed over to him with some water, giving him a drink.
Looking at the man's wound she ordered. "This needs to be cleaned and closed."
"What's your name, friend?" Robb asked him.
"Qyburn." He wheezed.
"You're lucky to be alive." Talisa whispered to him, getting to work.
Looking around at the carnage that The Mountain and his men had left behind, Qyburn wasn't so sure. "Lucky?" He asked.
"Mrmph mmmrpph mmmrrrmph" Was the sound from behind him. After having to wait until Theon had joined them at Darry Torrhen was already impatient, and even gagging the bastard hadn't helped. His face still looked a mess, but his eyes were a bit better, a sharp and quick gallop, causing Theon to fall flat on his face quickly shut him up though.
Torrhen had decreed that he be dragged by horseback from Winterfell to Harrenhal, usually a Dothraki punishment but anything to cause him agony would have been fine. They were on the last stretch of the way to Harrenhal now, and you could already see it in the distance. Balerion having ran ahead as he was prone to do.
"They say one dragon did that, but they forget that Harrenhal was a battle site in the Dance of the Dragons." Torrhen said to Gregor Forrester on the next horse.
"I always thought it was just the Dread, then again I never cared for any Southern politics when I was a child, the only Southerner I care for a jolt is my wife." Gregor grinned, before it faltered slightly. "I need to tell you something lad, about your mother."
"Mother? Is she ok?" Torrhen asked worried.
"Yes, she's unharmed." Gregor reassured him, much to Torrhen's relief. "She let the Kingslayer go."
"What!" Torrhen cried out. "Why the fuck would she do that?"
"She claims he was to release the girls." Gregor explained, and Torrhen calmed down a bit.
"She's a fool to think he will help anyone but himself and his sister lover." Torrhen laughed bitterly. "I must see her when I arrive."
"You are to see the King first, his decree. He's been…" Gregor trailed, unsure of what to say.
"Say it Gregor."
"He's been rather unkind." Gregor said quickly. "I understand why he keeps her under guard, but many men don't. They think she got off… Lightly."
"You mean he's put my mother under house arrest?" Torrhen asked darkly. Gregor just nodded. "I leave for five minutes and he loses his head, he should just send her away from camp and be done with it."
"Lord Karstark isn't happy she got off, the Kingslayer killed Torrhen Karstark trying to escape."
Torrhen's heart missed a beat. "Torrhen's gone? Fucking Lannister, we should have sent him back piece by piece." Torrhen spat. "Torrhen was a good man."
"Aye he was, my son was rather saddened by it." Gregor admitted.
"What else has happened since I've been away?" Torrhen asked.
"Nothing of note that I can recall." Gregor told him, Torrhen nodded, accepting that and turning back to face Harrenhal in the distance, remembering every little detail he had learnt when he was younger to distract him.
Torrhen was relieved to finally see Stark banners. The camp outside the melted castle was quiet though, too quiet compared to what he had left in the Riverlands before it almost all went to shit. Riding on the horses they had received from Darry, Torrhen, Balerion and the Forrester party rode through the camp, stopping when they came to the Forrester tents and a handful of Ironrath men being led by Rodrik. Dismounting, but leaving Theon tied to his horse, Torrhen strode over to Rodrik and they hugged briefly.
"My Prince, welcome back." Rodrik said.
"Bugger that Rodrik, how are you?" Torrhen laughed.
"I'm alright, I need a fight, the Lannisters have been hiding from us and they've abandoned Harrenhal too." He said grumpily. "King Robb is in the castle; he requests your presence immediately."
"Aye, I'll see you later. Balerion, you stay here I'll come and fetch you afterwards." Torrhen said to the black Direwolf, his eyes narrowing slightly at the thought of his brother.
Even when dragging a gagged Theon in to the ruined castle Torrhen couldn't help but be in awe of the way the stone genuinely seemed to have melted. 'One dragon did this, one single dragon melted the biggest castle in the world.' What he saw inside the walls however wasn't to bring him any admiration. Bodies were being piled up into heaps, ready to be burnt it seemed, blood stained the floors and men were working trying to tidy the place up a bit. Being pointed towards the Kingspyre tower, Torrhen found Robb staring over some maps with a woman who was sat down. Not even waiting to be announced, he strode in, throwing Theon to the floor and catching the attention of Robb.
"Brother, welcome to Harrenhal." Robb greeted, ignoring Theon who was still gagged.
"Brother." Torrhen replied.
"You've grown a beard." Robb noted. Torrhen smirked.
"I couldn't let you have all the fun in that aspect, I've changed a lot since the last time I saw you." Torrhen said, mentally feeling his scar.
"I expected to see you return to the camp months ago, what happened?" Robb asked. Torrhen almost laughed.
"This heap of shit decided to fuck us in the arse." Torrhen said bluntly, kicking Theon hard. "I decided to fuck him back." He smirked.
"You should have told me; I could have spared the Bolton bastard's trouble." Robb told him, before sighing in relief. "Thank you though, how were Bran and Rickon?"
"Well as can be." Torrhen replied.
"Send this piece of shit to a cell, I'll deal with him later." Robb said, finally looking down and being shocked with the state he was in. Once Theon had been led away Robb asked. "What did you do to him?"
"No less than he deserved. Who's she?" Torrhen asked bluntly, nodding at the woman. Robb turned round and offered her his hand, and she accepted.
"Torrhen, may I introduce your Queen, Talisa."
"A pleasure to meet you brother." Talisa said, Robb was smiling. Torrhen wasn't so happy.
"I met the woman who was to be my Queen, this isn't Margaery Tyrell." He said bluntly again, ignoring her.
"I married Talisa."
"I can see that; did you forget you were betrothed?" Torrhen asked as if he was chastising Rickon.
"No I didn't, I followed my heart…."
"Well done." Torrhen interrupted, trying to come across as sincere. He walked over to a table and poured himself some wine. "I mean you followed your heart, that's commendable, no matter that you FUCKING WENT AND LOST US 80,000 MEN IN THE PROCESS!" He roared, throwing the glass down on the floor, smashing it into tiny pieces.
"Calm down Torrhen, I'm still your King." Robb warned.
"WELL FUCKING ACT LIKE IT THEN!" Torrhen roared. Robb did the sensible thing and ushered Talisa out of the room, before rounding on Torrhen.
"You were brought up better than to treat people like that." Robb snarled. "I expect you to apologise to Her Grace when you next get the opportunity."
"Do you know that I almost died to get that alliance with the Tyrells?" Torrhen said, ignoring him. Robb looked back quizzically. "Aye, Ser Loras stabbed me here." He pointed to the place where his armour was hiding his scar. "Bran and Rickon would have died without the men of the Reach, and you decide to fuck them over because of a foreign whore?"
Within a second Torrhen was on the floor spitting blood out of his mouth. "That is my wife." Robb growled. "You would do well to remember that."
"You would do well to remember your oaths, I helped you break one for 80,000 men. How many does she give us?" Torrhen sneered. Robb couldn't answer. "I thought so. I thought you were better than this, but well done Your Grace, you've just lost us this fucking war."
"Careful now." Robb warned.
"Where is mother?" Torrhen asked angrily, not wanting to be in his brother's presence much longer.
"Two floors above here." Robb said, equally as angry. Torrhen didn't need to be dismissed as he stormed out or the room, trying to process what had just happened, not even noticing Talisa who had tried to talk to him again on his way past.
Torrhen was still seething as he reached a room guarded by two Stark soldiers. He wasn't bleeding though which was good, he wouldn't want his mother to see him like that. Ordering the guards aside he knocked on the door before letting himself in. Sat on a chair facing the window, Catelyn Stark sat, her eyes red from where she had clearly been crying. Seeing him, she forgot all courtesies and ran towards him, engulfing him in a hug he had so desperately need for months.
"Torrhen, my son." She cried, as he hugged her back just as passionately.
"Hello Mother." He whispered.
"I am so sorry for leaving you."
"Don't worry about it, I was fine the Tyrell's looked after me." He reassured her. "Mostly." At her quizzed look he took off his armour, placing it on the bed and lifted up his shirt, revealing a slightly pink scar from where Ser Loras had stabbed him. Catelyn looked at it in horror, tears stinging her eyes.
"Who did that?" She asked.
"It doesn't matter." Torrhen waved her off, letting his shirt fall back down as he took a seat next to her. "How are you? I've heard Robb has been unkind."
Catelyn laughed. "He has, he doesn't see why I had to let the Kingslayer go. You were missing, Bran and Rickon could have been dead for all I know and Sansa and Arya are still in the clutches of Cersei Lannister, I was desperate."
Torrhen took her hands in his. "He was our best bargaining tool; you should have thought about that." He leaned back sighing. "He was right to punish you but this is unnecessary, he's losing the men and the war both. Sending you back to Winterfell or even Riverrun would have been wiser."
Catelyn agreed, standing back up to pour them both drinks. "Here, tell me, how are my boys?" She asked.
Torrhen smiled. "They are well, Rickon is growing and Bran…" He trailed, grinning widely. "Bran has grown up so much, they both miss you very much." Catelyn let out a sob of happiness at that.
"I will write to them at once, I'm to go home soon I hope, Robb told me that much at least." Catelyn said. "I suppose you'll go straight on to the council now."
"I doubt it." Torrhen snorted. "He punched me just now."
"What? Why?" Catelyn asked, outraged. Torrhen just shrugged back in his chair.
"I may have called his wife a foreign whore."
"You fool. She is still his wife."
"And what about when the Tyrells join Joffrey? I know Mace Tyrell now mother, he won't stay on the side line. They'll discard Sansa and put Margaery in front of Joffrey, the girl wants to be Queen above anything." Torrhen told her.
"Poor Sansa…" Cat trailed.
"I want her back, I'd do anything to get her back and Robb ruined one of the greatest opportunities we could have hoped for by marrying her." He snarled. "How did that even happen anyway?"
"They were close when I got back to him after Renly." Cat admitted. "I tried to warn him countless times..."
"But he wouldn't listen." Torrhen finished for her. "He's a fool."
"You are no better." Catelyn warned. "I suppose that Forrester girl warmed your bed enough when you were a guest at Highgarden."
Torrhen felt the heat rise into his cheeks, giving Cat the answer. "Mira was different, she told me from the start we couldn't marry even if I wanted too and came to my bed anyway, I wrote to Lady Talia while at Winterfell, I do still care for her even if I am in love with Mira."
Catelyn sighed. "My two boys, fools in love." She whispered to herself. Torrhen just laughed again.
"I know I was a fool for Mira, but the difference is I haven't ruined a powerful alliance for our cause. I'm not the one who failed in trying to win the war." He said bitterly.
"You will make it up with your brother, he may hate me but you have done him no lasting harm. He needs you Torrhen, more than he will admit." Cat told him.
"Aye mother." He said, as a knock on the door interrupted them. A guard poked his head through.
"I'm sorry My Prince, but the King has decreed that you have spent enough time with the Lady Catelyn today, you may visit again tomorrow."
Torrhen was about to get up and argue but a hand on his shoulder stopped him. Catelyn hugged him tightly again and ushered him out with her eyes. Obeying, Torrhen said his farewells and skulked off to the Forrester tents, he wouldn't share the castle with Robb when he was still this angry.
Tywin was trying to settle in to the Tower of the Hand for the first time in almost 25 years. His patience wasn't being helped by the constant interruptions. First his dwarf son and now the eunuch. Letting the spymaster in Tywin just gave him a look to show he wasn't impressed.
"I'm very sorry to interrupt Lord Hand, but I have received a little bit of a word from the Stark camp. It seems the Young Wolf has found himself a bride." Varys said.
"And?" Tywin asked. "Shall we send him a gift?"
"He was betrothed to the Tyrell girl, but it seems that a Volantene woman has found his way in to his bed, and not one that could bring an army from Essos." Varys told him. Tywin looked at him disbelieving.
"You mean to tell me." Tywin said slowly, processing the information. "That Robb Stark has thrown away the might of the Reach, for a foreigner from half a world away?" Varys nodded.
Tywin then did something he hadn't done since before his wife Joanna had died birthing a runt. He laughed, a full bellied laugh that sounded wrong, but Tywin couldn't help himself. He managed to calm himself after a moment, but a smile still played on his lips.
"It seems that Mace Tyrell isn't happy, he promised him a kingdom and his daughter a crown." Varys informed.
"I shall write to Lord Tyrell at once, this is wonderful news Varys, well done." Tywin told him. With a bow, Varys left Tywin to compose the letter. Tywin was still silently chuckling to himself as he grabbed a quill. The Tyrells may be twice turned traitors, but they could solve the food shortage in King's Landing, the soldier shortage he was facing and they wouldn't have to have the Stark girl as a Queen. Tywin could forgive the Tyrell's if they begged forgiveness in front of the king, he decided.
They won't be at each other's necks forever! I did love portraying Robb and Torrhen fighting though, even if Torrhen did go maybe a little too far in what he said about Talisa.
I guess that people may moan about canon being restored in a way, but please go with it. The Tyrells in King's Landing are important, and tensions will be even higher between Margaery and the Lannisters now she has met Torrhen, as well as Mira being a strong ally with Sansa's brother, that could play a part.
Loved writing the Cat scene as well, I felt so sorry for her in the show, all she did was worry for her children and she suffered greatly for it, at the hands of both her enemies and her family.
Keep the reviews coming in! I hope you enjoyed this chapter, brief hint, the next chapter will introduce some new characters as well!
Reviews:
Fantasymaker76: He isn't happy no, I think he's learning from his brothers mistakes now, and now that he has proven himself a capable leader he starts feeling that he can't just be blindly following Robb's orders.
Serenity000: Robb is stupid, he's thick in every aspect other than military command. He just thinks of how he feels for Talisa and he hadn't met Margaery yet. I get what you mean but he knew he needed as many men as he could get in canon and still didn't keep his oath but saying that nobody liked the Frey's isn't relevant in my opinion, quite a few houses of the Reach didn't like the Tyrells but the Tyrells still need their men, the Starks don't like the Bolton's but still need their men. Honestly I thought that with only Catelyn's thoughts in his ear about her, considering she didn't spend much time with Margaery, I couldn't see him changing his mind here.
jean d'arc: Robb is infatuated with Talisa and nothing else matters to him but her. He cares about his family and is still preoccupied by the war, but his priorities I felt in canon were all wrong, and the way I saw it was that he didn't have to worry about the North, and one less worry led to him having more time to worry about Talisa.
MrHam31: It seemed like he would have given up on his kingship if Talisa asked to me, so the armies of the Reach isn't that much of a stretch, as you can see he doesn't expect them to join Tywin and Joffrey as the idea of independence is in their heads, but then again he doesn't know Mace….
Narctia: How the show portrayed their romance is what happened here, so I believe they are truly in love, it's just the betrayal is all the more bitter for Torrhen to swallow because of the extent of what Robb gave up and how hard Torrhen worked to forge an Alliance and a friendship with numerous Reachmen.