So I decided to put the first chapter of 'As High as Honour' up early. I'd appreciate if you read it, but I'll be catching up with the show in this story before writing another chapter of that one.
I'm going to announce up here that I've chosen who Torrhen will marry, and I know that many people will be annoyed with it but like I've said before, the whole marriage side of things isn't that important to me in this story. Like in the world of Westeros, marriage is a means to an end.
This is the first place where we truly see what this story has done to Torrhen. Everything that has happened to him will be lashed out upon House Dustin, and House Ryswell will also receive the onslaught of Torrhen. Never piss off a Stark!
I changed the picture again, I'll keep this one until the end of Season 6 and then change it back to the sigil picture. This current cover image is my depiction of Torrhen now. If you are reading this after I've changed back, the link (should be) is here: .
As ever I don't own anything but my version of Torrhen Stark.
Torrhen noticed that he really hadn't appreciated what it was like to have Robb and his mother with him the last time he had rode out to war. He was pretty bored on the march towards Barrowton, but luckily Asher Forrester kept him talking. They could relate fairly easily considering the hardships both had faced, although Torrhen was amazed, as even though Asher had had it worse he still seemed fairly upbeat.
"How do you go on?" Torrhen asked him from atop their horses. Asher smiled sadly.
"I think about how my father would want me to act, how Rodrik and Mother died for me to live." Asher admitted. "It's just me left I think; I've not seen Ryon or Beskha since the fucking Whitehills took Ironrath."
"I promise you, we will make them all pay." Torrhen said icily.
"I know, that's why I'm following you." Asher grinned. "Mira believed in you, Talia believed in you. Even Rodrik managed to tell me how much believed in you before he died in White Harbour."
"I wish you'd have told us more about that day before it had happened." Wylis Manderly said from behind them. "My Father would have helped."
"We cannot stay stuck in the past, Ser Wylis. I could leave my thoughts back to before King Robert died, and all was well in the North." Torrhen told him. "We must focus on what is yet to come."
"Aye." Asher agreed. "How close are we?"
Torrhen made himself secure, and then he tried something that he had only managed to do once back in Meereen. He tried to find Balerion within his mind, and after a few moments he gasped, as his eyes rolled back and suddenly he had moved. He was at the front of the army at the foot of a hill. He climbed the hill and saw Barrowton in the distance, soft smokes rising from the buildings and fishing boats peaceful in the river. Great Barrow stood out, the place where the only kings House Stark had ever knelt to lay at rest. He retracted his mind from Balerion's, and gasped again, noticing he was slumped forward on his horse.
"Your Grace? Are you ok?" Ser Wylis asked, concerned.
"Fine, Ser Wylis. I'm alright." Torrhen said shakily. "We're here."
"What in the name of all the gods happened." Asher asked, scared out of his skin.
"It seems, My Lord." Torrhen began. "That I am a warg from one of those tales my uncles wet nurse spoke about."
"A warg?" Asher said, worry in his eyes. "So you…"
"Was in Balerion's head just now, yes. He saw Barrowton in the distance, over that hill." Torrhen said, pointing to a hill that his army were beginning to climb on the horizon.
"Excellent, by your leave I'll go and prepare the men." Asher said, and Torrhen nodded, letting the Forrester Lord gallop to the front of the line.
"Ser Wylis, find Lord Umber for me will you?" Torrhen requested, and Ser Wylis nodded and rode off, leaving Torrhen to contemplate what was about to happen.
Barrowton was just really wooden, Torrhen noted from one of the hills overlooking the town. His army were currently trying to break through the East Gate, and the Greatjon and Wylis Manderly had joined him. Lady Dustin had tried to send 3 ravens towards Winterfell, but they had all been shot down by Asher Forrester's men, the homeless lord being down with the soldiers trying to break the gates down.
"Greatjon, when we are through the gate you will lead the attack on Goldgrass." Torrhen ordered, looking at the small keep just inside the walls of the town. "Take the keep, then join us at Barrow Hall."
"Aye, Your Grace." Lord Umber bowed, riding off to sort out his men. Ser Wylis stayed with Torrhen.
"What's the plan then?" Wylis asked.
"Surround the Barrow, make sure that all escape points are cut off, and then I'll have a little chat with Lady Dustin." Torrhen grimaced at the thought. "My father always said she disliked the Starks after the war, never said why though."
"Many things happened during the war, My King. Willem Dustin though was a fine man, rode into Dorne and never came out again." Wylis explained. "I hope you have a plan though."
"Oh I do." Torrhen smirked. He stood watching his men assault the gate for a while longer, until a large cheer went up and Stark men stormed through the gates. Even from up here Torrhen could hear the Greatjon roaring. "Come, Ser Wylis. Battle calls." Torrhen said, drawing Winter's Bite and galloping towards the second largest town in the North.
Barrowton was one of the only strongholds in the North that Torrhen's father had never been to visit after Robert's Rebellion, and Torrhen didn't really know what to expect. He entered the gates and was pleasantly surprised at the wide roads between buildings, and his men were making the most of them as they fought to push Dustin and Stout men back to Barrow Hall. Torrhen dismounted his horse and charged into the fray. Winter's Bite had never truly seen battle before now, and Torrhen was so glad that he had melted down Brightroar, the Valyrian Steel sword carved into people like they were pieces of cheese, and even if the enemy parried, the swords began to chip wherever Torrhen hit. One particularly gory moment was when Torrhen slashed his sword in a roar, and carved through his opponent's helmet, taking the top of his head off and splashing Torrhen with warm red blood in the process. They were making good progress, pushing the Dustins back to the final climb towards Barrow Hall and the Great Barrow, only losing a few dozen men in the process it seemed due to the surprise attack. Torrhen was coated red with blood as he himself led the charge up the hill, roaring as he went. He was suddenly knocked off his feet as an arrow buried itself in his shoulder, and a Dustin man leered over him threateningly, about to strike when a black blur jumped over Torrhen and buried his teeth into the soldier's neck. Torrhen got back up and snapped the arrow shaft, reminding himself to deal with it later.
The Dustins had pulled back into Barrow Hall, and the gates had been barred, Torrhen silently cursed, but turned to his men, who were fanning out and surrounding the wooden castle. "Bring in the siege weapons, I want this gate down now!" Torrhen roared, and the Stark men went about preparing to break down the walls. Barbrey Dustin appeared on the top of the battlements, and Torrhen waved away the archers.
"Torrhen fucking Stark. I thought you were dead!" Lady Dustin shouted down.
"Not yet, My Lady!" Torrhen shouted up.
"What are you doing here?"
"Retribution. I saw Dustin men turn traitor at the Twins!" Torrhen shouted up. "Bend the knee My Lady, bend the knee and swear fealty to House Stark and I will let you live."
"You'll let me live? That's generous. Your father presented me with a horse instead of my husband's bones and you'll 'let me live'." Lady Dustin mocked. "I think not; the Starks are gone and good riddance! House Bolton rules the North."
"Very well My Lady." Torrhen snarled, turning away. The siege weapons were almost up the hill at the gates. "Ser Wylis, I give you command. Burn this fucking box to the ground."
"Your Grace… What about the people inside it?" Wylis asked shocked.
"If they want to flee peacefully once we breach the gates then, let them. Lady Dustin is to be brought to me if she flees." Torrhen said, walking away towards the Maester that Lord Wyman had sent as Balerion trotted after him.
After being patched up and also getting a small nap in, Torrhen awoke to the smell of smoke, turning around he couldn't see Balerion, and wondered if he could do the same thing as in Meereen. Reaching out in his mind for Balerion again, he gasped as suddenly he was outside the tent. Sprinting into the city he saw that the entirety of Barrow Hall was aflame, and a steady stream of surrendering soldiers and servants were pouring out of the castle. He felt Ser Wylis stroke his fur, before he was pulled back out of Balerion and into his own mind. Grinning, he got up, put his armour and sword belt back on and fixed his crown on his head, and left to go to the beacon of flame that Barrow Hall had become. He was glad to see that buckets of water had been collected from the river nearby so that they could control the fire to the keep. Torrhen was feeling merciless towards Lady Dustin, but these were still his people. He turned to the gathering crowd of terrified and crying locals, and spoke to them all.
"My name is Torrhen Stark! I ask you all not to fear, this is only what happens to those who betray their rightful ruler! Lady Dustin betrayed King Robb and turned her cloak, choosing treachery over loyalty! Loyalty to me shall be rewarded in kind, but treachery will also be dealt with! I promise you that I shall look after each and every one of you far better than the Boltons ever could!" Torrhen roared to them. "I am sorry about those who have fallen today, they defended their home bravely, even if they were defending a traitorous woman, but they shall all be commemorated for their loyal service to Barrowton!"
"THE KING IN THE NORTH!" Asher Forrester roared, blood soaked from battle. Torrhen's men began chanting that but Torrhen was surprised when a small number of Barrowton locals joined in, and the chanting spread until the majority of the population of Barrowton were chanting too. Torrhen smiled and walked in towards the gathered crowd, shaking hands and saying hello to many of the locals. He was kind of surprised at the reaction considering their Lady was burning alive behind him, but he pushed that to one side and embraced his people, only allowing one more glance back up at the wooden castle, watching as the last Dustin banner burst into flames.
He was talking to the people of Barrowton for a while, learning all sorts of things like Lady Dustin continuously badmouthed Eddard Stark, and refused to send more than the bare minimum in numbers when Robb called the banners and things like that. Torrhen was silently disappointed that she had burned to death, he wanted to make it more painful for the woman. Asher managed to pull him to one side finally though, with a grave look on his face.
"What?" Torrhen asked.
"It's the Greatjon."
Roose Bolton hated being woken up, so much that he was tempted to have the servant gelded for even daring to do so. He quickly got dressed and met Ramsay just before the battlements.
"This better be good." Roose warned. Ramsay bowed his head.
"Lord Karstark is approaching Winterfell father, and Lady Walda is in labour." Ramsay said, leading him up some stairs to the top of a tower.
"You had me woken for that? I should have you clean out the stables." Roose said unhappily.
"No father, I had you wake up for that." Ramsay said, reaching a window at the top of the tower they were in. Roose went to the window and squinted, before he saw the faint flicker of flames in the far distance.
"What is that?" Roose asked.
"I don't know, but it can't be good. Let me go and investigate." Ramsay requested. "It could be Sansa."
"No, I'll send a guard. We don't know how far away it is and I need you here, in Winterfell." Roose said. "After your last attempt at capturing Lady Sansa I'd not trust you at all with her. Now don't wake me again." He ordered, storming off back to bed.
2 years it had taken, 2 years since his fucking father had marooned him on a gods forsaken rock and told him to find his way home. It had taken a couple of weeks for him to recover properly, but he finally got into the right sense of mind to become who he was meant to be. He had challenged Yohn Farwynd for his small fleet, and he had won, killing the youngest son of Lord Farwynd. It took a year from there but finally he had gained enough respect and ships to have Lord Farwynd follow him. With the Farwynd fleet he had set sail for Great Wyk, challenging Lord Goodbrother to an arm wrestle for his castle of Hammerhorn. Lord Goodbrother accepted, and lost. Theon granted it back to him on the condition that he supported Theon in the Kingsmoot when his father died.
After Great Wyk Theon travelled with a fleet of 20 ships now over to Orkmont, and had taken another 10 ships from the fleet of Lord Orkwood. Harlaw was next, and Rodrik the Reader, Theon's uncle, happily bent the knee to Theon granting him 20 ships.
After Harlaw, Theon decided it was time enough. He set sail with his 50 ship fleet directly for Pyke. First he would make his father pay for what he had done, and then he would set his sights on the North.
Torrhen watched from afar as the casket carrying the Greatjon back to Last Hearth left the army camp. A raven had been sent to Last Hearth already. He was angry, the Greatjon had been his biggest supporter and now he was gone. Torrhen steeled himself and vowed to end this war quickly. House Stout had refused to bend the knee to Torrhen after he had burnt down Barrow Hall, so now the heads of House Stout were mounted on the walls of Goldgrass, and Malin Dormund was in charge of Barrowton, Torrhen having given Lordship of the Barrowlands to him for being a loyal supporter of the Stark cause.
They had lost 500 men in the attack, but gained a further 1,500 from the survivors. They rested in Goldgrass for two nights then marched off again, heading towards Rillwater Crossing, the seat of House Glenmore on the banks where the Saltspear met the river up to Torrhen's Square. Torrhen knew that word would reach the Boltons and the Ryswells of what had happened in Barrowton and he was glad. He wanted them to be scared.
Melisandre was sat staring into the flames of her room in Castle Black, but she may as well have been staring at a blank canvas. She couldn't see anything anymore, her belief of her faith had been shattered with the death of her king, Stannis Baratheon. There was a knock on the door.
"Come in." Melisandre whispered sadly.
"I'm sorry, my lady, didn't mean to interrupt." Davos said, seeing her looking into the flames.
"You interrupt nothing." Melisandre said, heartbrokenly.
"I assume you know why I'm here." Davos stated.
"I will after you tell me."
"It's about the Lord Commander."
"The former Lord Commander." Melisandre corrected.
"Does he have to be?" Davos asked, peaking Melisandre's attention as she looked towards the Onion Knight.
"What are you asking?" She asked him.
Davos took a deep breath, not really believing he was really asking this, and spoke. "Do you know of, any magic, that could help him? Bring him back?"
"If you want to help him, leave him be." Melisandre said.
"Can it be done?" Davos asked, not taking no for an answer.
"There are some with this power." The Red Woman admitted.
"How?"
"I don't know."
"Have you seen it done?" Davos tried.
Melisandre stared back into the fire for a moment. "I met a man who came back from the dead, but the priest who did it… it shouldn't have been possible." She breathed.
"But it was. It could be now." Davos exclaimed.
"Not for me." Melisandre said sadly, standing up and moving to her table.
"Not for you?" Davos asked disbelievingly. "I saw you drink poison that should have killed you. I saw you give birth to a demon made of shadows."
"Everything I believed, the great victory I saw in the flames, all of it was a lie. You were right all along; the Lord never spoke to me." Melisandre said tearfully.
"Fuck him, then. Fuck all of them." Davos spat kindly. "I'm not a devout man, obviously. Seven gods, drowned gods, tree gods, it's all the same. I'm not asking the Lord of Light for help. I'm asking the woman who showed me that miracles exist." He urged her. Melisandre looked up at him.
"I never had this gift." She cried softly.
"Have you ever tried?" Davos asked her.
They moved to the room that the now naked body of Jon Snow was being kept in, and Davos watched on as Melisandre gathered everything she believed she would need. She began by gently washing all of the blood off of his torso, softly scrubbing him clean until the only red was the remnants of the stab wounds that he had incurred. She moved behind his head once she was done, slowly cutting his hair while chanting, and throwing the cut hair into the brazier she had had placed next to Jon's head. She then washed the hair remaining on his head, still chanting in High Valyrian. Not really sure of what to do next, she stood over him and laid her hands on his torso, continuing to pray in her native tongue, but it wasn't working so she tried again, still to no avail. She chanted the words more and more, each more intently than the last, begging her Lord to help her.
"Please." She breathed, knowing that it wasn't working and trying to cling on to any remnants left of her faith. Moments passed and nothing was happening, so she devastatingly took her hands off of the body and looked sorrowfully over to Davos. The ginger wildling left the room, soon followed by Melisandre.
Davos was soon the only one other than the sleeping Direwolf left in the room, and he moved over to Jon, to look and find out if there were any signs of life at all. Not finding any, he sighed and left the room slowly. He closed the door and stood there or a moment, wondering on what to do next when a loud, breathless gasp from behind the door shocked him deep into his bones.
So there we are! Jon's alive of course and Torrhen has burnt Barrow Hall to the ground, a blaze that is visible all the way to Winterfell. The only thing wrong is that we've lost the Greatjon. : (
Some updates on the rest of the Forresters and Theon as well in this episode, just so we know where everybody is at.
I just want to say as well thank you for all the comments on 'As High as Honour'. I will respond to all reviews on that story when I come to write the next chapter but for now just know that they have all been read and they are very appreciated!
I hope you all enjoyed it, please let me know your thoughts, reviews really help me! Next Chapter: Torrhen gets some good news
Reviews:
Secorr: I could have a story with more depth into it in this case, Roland will be the first son of Jon Arryn, and cousins to Cersei, Jaime and Tyrion. The possibilities are glorious in my eyes.
RHatch89: I've already shown that she only sees Starks as their kings, I'm looking forward to their meeting!
C.E.W: Victarion isn't in the show so isn't in this fic yet. This chapter shows how different Theon is now. As for the Forresters the question of Ryon is answered here, and as for the latter part, Ser Royland is dead and I killed Bloodsong in the pit.
Fantasymaker76: Theon Stark is a bit of an inspiration with just how brutal he was, but I'm glad I got a chance to flesh him out properly first. The Umbers will be an interesting part of the story going forward, especially after the Greatjon's death here.
Brandon of House Stark: Indeed, it is!
jean d'arc: That's what I wanted, I didn't want an overpowered slaughter for the final battle, many people hate the Starks and many people hate the Boltons. Some won't declare, and some will later on in the story.
