Torrhen hated their new southern guests, it had been a fortnight since they arrived and already they were overstaying their welcome, most of all the crown prince, Joffrey, he took midday strolls around the castle with Torrhen's sister, Sansa, and claimed to be the greatest swordsman within these walls, though refused to prove his skill when questioned on it, always finding a ridiculous excuse to hide his shame.
He did get a spar in with Robb, though nothing suggested he had been trained by the finest knights in the realm as he loved to claim.
An arrow rippled through the air and pierced the bullseye of the target, regaining his posture, Torrhen drew another arrow from his quiver, and drew the bow string backwards, taking a deep breath, though as he took the shot, Prince Joffery yelled from the balcony above, and the arrow went straight into the stoned wall behind.
What the prince said was unbeknownst to him, though he only furthered Torrhen's anger, he turned his attention towards the prince, and there he was, with Sansa's arm wrapped around his as expected "I was trying to focus, you fool!" he yelled, his voice boomed across the courtyard.
"You would be mindful of how you speak to me, Stark." Joffrey appeared insulted to have even been called up on his actions, making his way down the steps towards him, an action Torrhen was hoping he would not make, for one could only ever have so much patience for the brat before knocking his teeth out "I am your crown prince, or had you forgotten?"
"And what are you going to do about it, Stag?" Torrhen took a step closer, watching the prince back off from him had been satisfying to watch, and a grin formed from his lips "Do I scare you? To think a southerner such as yourself will be marrying my sister…a weak pathetic excuse of a prince."
"Torrhen, don't…" Sansa pleaded.
"You could end all my doubts right now, let us duel against each other with all eyes to see - your mother, your little siblings, the Kingsguard." Torrhen challenged "Let them watch me humiliate you." He ignored the pleas from his sister, and he got close up to the prince once again and barked, causing him to stumble and fall backwards.
Watching the Prince fall on his arse and get all muddied was the highlight of Torrhen's day "I do not play these silly games, I am a prince, not some dirty soldier." he brushed down his legs and his backside, when Sansa went to touch him, he was less than pleased "Don't touch me!"he said bitterly, before storming off.
"Why must you ruin everything?!" Sansa screamed so loud that it could burst his eardrums, no doubt everyone in the castle heard the commotion "I hate you!" she spun around and chased after Joffery, yelling his name and apologising for something that did not involve her.
"Pathetic.." he sighed, turning back towards the target, removing another arrow from his quiver and positioning it, before pulling back on the bowstring and releasing, he managed to hit the target just slightly above the bullseye, though his attention was soon drawn to Jeyne Poole, daughter to the steward as she made her way into the stables nearby, sharing a glance with him.
He followed after her, gently placing his bow down against wall, some of the horses were gone as his father went out with King Robert on a hunt, along with Robb, though Torrhen decided to stay behind, he hated hunting in a large group, preferring the company of only a few so the forest still had some silence to it.
"Your sister appeared quite upset." Jeyne Poole was found at the very far end of the Stables, she was a year younger than himself and one of the prettiest girls in Winterfell, she had brown eyes, and curly dark hair, they spent a considerable amount of time together in secret since he first began learning from her father "What have you done to her this time?"
"It does not take much to displease Sansa." he smirked, raising his hand and trailing it across her smooth cheeks "I teased the crown prince, and then made him fall."
It was not long ago that he and Jeyne had rarely spoken to each other, though she was proved to be a great listener and good company, and with that they grew closer than Torrhen had imagined, and there appeared to be a real connection with her.
"My father spoke with Lord Stark today.." Jeyne said, before she was pulled into a gentle and warm kiss, Torrhen felt as her hand rested upon his chest, and the disappointment as she was quick to pull away "It's important."
"Very well, then." Torrhen grunted "Speak it."
"My father is travelling south to Kings Landing with Lord Stark." Jeyne revealed "As his daughter and a friend of Sansa, I am forced to go with them." Torrhen turned away, the circumstance of his father becoming the hand appeared to annoy him each day as more news was told to him, not only was both his sisters and his brother, Bran, leaving them for Kings Landing, but now another he had a connection with.
He closed his eyes for a moment, letting out a sigh before turning back around "I can ask my father to take me with him, my mother is not too pleased with Bran going, believing him to be too young." he had thought the idea was a good one, despite his dislike for southerners and their culture.
"I could not ask you to do that, Torrhen, you have spoken often of your thoughts about these people." her head shook in disapproval. "And what if someone was to learn of us? Sansa would not be too pleased, I am sure once Lord Stark is situated my father will return here to continue as Steward, and I can come home."
"Much could happen in that time, Jeyne." Torrhen responded "This saddens me, there are not many I enjoy the company of so much." he ran his hand through her curls as he stepped closer once more "Now…I say we speak no more of Sansa or on this, and focus solely on eachother." his hands rested comfortably against her waist "To enjoy the little time we have left."
Later on, his father and Robb had returned from their hunt with the king, Robb managed to kill himself a Boar, bringing it within the castle for all to see, Torrhen found himself seeking Jon not long after, when he had learned that he means to go north with their uncle, Benjen, and take the black, he felt utter defeat in the moment, for if he was to take their oath it would mean they may never see each other again.
Their connection was always firmer than the relationship Torrhen had with Robb, perhaps it was partially due to them looking alike, they shared the same distinctive stark features that their other siblings besides Arya did not, another reason would be that he felt he never had to compete with Jon.
The night's watch was an honourable calling, this much was true, and even the lowest of men had a chance to rise high in their ranks, but the wall was said to be a cold and dark place, and ghosts of their fallen brothers haunted the castles at night.
The order had dwindled much since its conception, as the years since the Long Night only grew, people began to doubt it ever happened, that beyond the wall only consisted of Wildlings, and not the creatures such as Giants, Ice Spiders, or the White Walkers, they had turned into stories to frighten little children.
Torrhen often read the pleas from their Lord Commander, Jeor Mormont, to his father asking for him to send more men so that they may man the other castles that had since been abandoned one by one as their numbers depleted, with only three currently occupied.
Jon was found in the godswood, three acres of untouched forest where one could get away from the noise of the great castle that rose around it, it had trees of every kind found in the North, sentinel trees armoured in grey-green needles, mighty oaks, Ironwood that was as old as the realm itself.
He was knelt down praying towards the hearts tree, where only the chirping of birds and the wind rattling against the tree branches could be heard, the heart tree's bark was white as bone, its leaves a dark red, and a face had been carved into it the trunk of the great weirwood, the deep cut eyes red with dried sap.
The heart's tree stood over a pool of cold black water, Torrhen wondered often if something lurked within, swearing he saw something look back at him whether he looked down at his own reflection, his father came here often to collect his own thoughts and often asked to not be disturbed.
Out of respect, Torrhen waited for Jon to finish praying to the Old Gods, as he rose back up onto his feet, he took a step towards the tree, and placed his hand on the face, mumbling something under his breath.
"Was father speaking the truth? You are to take the black?" Torrhen asked, his hands gripped tightly together as he looked at Jon, hoping that it had been a mistake on his father's behalf.
"Aye, I am to take the black and swear their oath…Lord Tyrion wishes to see the wall, so we shall be leaving when the King departs." Jon said "there is nothing for me here, Torrhen, with Lord Stark going south and Robb serving as Lord of Winterfell, I need to find my place, to be known as more than just the Bastard of Winterfell."
"You may never see us again, what if you were to serve with one of our bannermen? Like the Manderly's or even the Umber's, as a son of Ned Stark you would be more than welcomed there, bastard or not."
"Uncle Benjen comes to Winterfell often, there is nothing to say that I could not also, so long as I have a reason, there is great honour to have with the Watch, to defend the realm from what lies beyond." Jon replied.
"Oh I bet there is, what better place than one swarming with thieves and murderers who don't want their heads on spikes." Torrhen gave Jon a measured look "I is it my mother? Is she the reason you are truly leaving? I hear how she speaks of you, I am not blind nor deaf."
"I have grown used to your mother's words, no…that is not the reason I am leaving." Jon responded "Look at Uncle Benjen…he is honourable and brave, he journeys beyond the wall, venturing far and wide, that is what the night's watch are, a brotherhood of brave men willing to sacrifice their lives for the betterment of the realm, it matters not of their previous role in life."
"And if you come to regret this choice? This is not an oath where you can change your mind when things don't turn out how you expect." he tried his damndest to convince Jon to remain in Kings' Landing, he felt his family slipping away, Father, Sansa, Arya, Bran, and now Jon, what will Winterfell be without the pack? These thoughts clouded his mind.
"Then I shall have to live with it." Jon concluded "My mind will not waiver, Torrhen, enough with trying to convince me." He knew when Jon had something on his mind, he rarely strayed from that path, though he had hoped that another suggestion would have convinced him to change course.
"Fine…I will leave you in peace." he nodded his head, biting his lip before he would say something he would regret, he made his way down the cracked-stone footpath and back through the arched stone door.
There was a loud ruckus coming from the yard near to the broken tower, when Torrhen reached there, many of the guards and servants were surrounding something "Go and get Lord Stark and Maester Luwin immediately!" Ser Rodrik had ordered, Torrhen pushed himself through to see what had happened and his heart almost stopped when he saw Bran.
He dropped down on his knees next to Rodrik to inspect his younger brother "All of you, back away now!" Rodrik yelled, though the noise ringed through his ears as his sole focus remained on Bran, he didn't want to touch him but he'll never forget how his legs were bent in a way that would make anyone sick, flesh had been torn from his arms, though he was still alive, a weak brush of air leaving his mouth.
"Torrhen!" Ser Rodrik Cassel brought him back into the world, tears rolled down his face with each look to his younger brother, he had never fallen once, Torrhen looked up at the broken tower, not accepting what had taken place "Assist in finding the Maester." he placed a firm hand on his shoulder "This is no sight for a boy."
Torrhen had difficulty finding the words to respond back to Rodrik, so he rose back up to his feet and followed his command, rushing to find the Maester within his turret near to the entrance of Winterfell.
He must have stared at Bran for a week, debating within his own mind if he could have stopped him from falling, all those time he had bet Bran to climb that very same tower to see how high he could get, he only wished he could travel back at that moment and stay quiet, and now the boy he once thought could climb anything was fighting for his life.
Everyone assured him that Bran would live, but he promised himself not to leave his side until his little brother awoke from his long slumber, Robb urged him to put his mind off from the matter and focus on something else entirely, both his brothers had attempted to move him, but he did not waiver.
Magnar could be found at the end of Bran's bed, his head dug into the furs, playing with a bone which no doubt was meant for the hounds, the howling of the other direwolves could be heard from outside Bran's window.
"This was all my fault." he broke his silence while his mother sat beside Bran, tending to him and making sure he was kept cool, while also warm at the same time "He never would have been up on that tower if I hadn't told him to climb it so many times.." Torrhen stepped closer to Bran, kneeling down to the bed's level and grabbing onto the boy's hand.
"Yes, it is your fault..'' His mother was always sweet and kind, and had much love for her children, however, there was a difference in her when she said those words to him, they were emotionless and flat, she wasn't the caring mother that had watched over him whenever he had fallen ill, she was bitter, he knew not whether she had meant to speak those words to him but they came out regardless.
Her words did nothing to rid Torrhen of the guilt that he was feeling, it only made him feel more sorry than he was before, Jon arrived shortly thereafter, Torrhen turned his attention to him as he remained at the door, as if something was holding him back from entering.
"I've..uhm..I've come to say goodbye." Jon said hesitantly as he looked to Torrhen "We will be departing soon, and I thought i'd come see Bran."
Torrhen's attention moved towards his mother as she looked to Jon, the hatred on her face was showing "You've said it, now go away."
He had half expected Jon to leave, however he only took a step forward, bringing himself further into the room "Please." he urged Torrhen's mother.
"Mother, he just wants to say goodbye." Torrhen's words were faint and soft-spoken, he rose up from the floor and allowed Jon to pass, watching as he looked down on Bran, making sure to keep a distance between himself and Catelyn.
"Bran." he said, his voice like a whisper "I'm sorry I didn't come before, I was afraid." he revealed, looking up at Torrhen's mother before turning to himself " Torrhen could see it had great effect on him, as the tears rolled down his face, he was never one to show emotion in front of anyone "Don't die, Bran, Please. We're all waiting for you to finally awake, Me, Robb, Torrhen, and the girls..even little Rickon, everyone.."
"He'll wake, brother…the old gods watch over him at this very moment, working to bring him back to us." Torrhen spoke, and a howl came from outside the window from the direwolf Bran had yet to name.
"I have to go now." Jon said. "Uncle Benjen is waiting for me, I'm to go north to the Wall." there was hesitation in his brother's voice, and he had hoped Jon was perhaps thinking of not going, especially with Bran in his current condition, Jon wiped his face and leaned over Bran, kissing him lightly on the lips.
"I had prayed that he would remain here." Lady Stark said dully "He was my special boy, I went to the sept and prayed that Ned would change his mind and leave him here with me, and my prayers were answered."
There was an awkward silence between the three as the tears rolled down his mother's face.
"It wasn't your fault." Jon said.
"I need none of your absolution, Bastard." Torrhen's mother could be a poisonous woman to Jon, but that was above what Torrhen could handle, he had enough of the rude looks and slurs that had gone Jon's way simply because of his birth, and grieving does not excuse her "It should have been you."
"Mother, that is quite enough!" Torrhen intervened "I understand that you worry for Bran, we all do!" he shouted "enough with the bitter comments that make you sound rotten to the core."
"It's alright, Torrhen." Jon commented "Goodbye, Bran." Those were his final words, before he made his way from the bedchamber, and Torrhen looked at his mother with disgust before following after him.
"Jon!" he called out as they travelled the corridors.
"I said I am fine, Torrhen." he stopped in his tracks, but refused to turn to face him, Torrhen stepped in front of him and tears continued to roll down his face, and all he could do was place a hand upon Jon's shoulder "Please don't try and convince me again.."
"I understand my mother can be a bitter woman, Jon…but please, I need you here, not hundreds of miles away."
"And what would you have me do? I am not even allowed to see my own brother in her presence." Jon was angry, more than usual when it involved his mother.
""What if I were to speak with her along with Robb, once Father has gone she will have no choice but to listen to us." he suggested.
"Father has spoken with her a thousand times before, what makes you think you will have any effect on how she treats me?" Jon shook his head "I am done with trying to get her to even stand my presence, I want to go with Uncle Benjen."
"It will be difficult in Winterfell without you." Torrhen admitted, shrugging his shoulders "Who will I have? Me and Robb grow distant with each passing day, I'll have to deal with that pathetic excuse of a squid, who will no doubt trouble me now that you'll be gone."
"You will see that this is the right course of action, in a few years both you and Robb would have married no doubt, and you will hardly have time for the infamous Bastard of Winterfell." Jon stated "I need to leave, or I may find myself never going."
"Visit as often as you can." Torrhen said, finally admitting defeat after the days of attempting to convince him, bringing him into a long embrace "When Bran wakes, I will have Maester Luwin send a raven to Castle Black for you."
Jon smacked his hand against Torrhen's chest "Come on then, you will want to say farewell to Father and our sisters before they set off."
There was so much noise out in the courtyard as wagons were being loaded, men were shouting orders to the servants, and horses were being harnessed and saddled, being led from the stables, a light snow had begun to fall over the last couple of days, and all the southerners were eager to be off before it became heavy.
Robb was shouting commands as well, he was taking to his new role as Lord of Winterfell before their father had even set off from the castle and Torrhen was pleased to see he was taking it seriously.
"There you both are!" Robb shouted "It is good to see you finally out and about, Torrhen." as he came closer, Robb jokingly waved his hand in front of his nose "Best you ask the servants to pour you a hot bath."
"Hah! Forever the jester, brother." Torrhen chuckled.
"Uncle Benjen has been looking for you, Jon." Robb said "He had wanted to be gone ahead of the Royal Party, he doesn't like the noise."
"I know." Jon told Robb, before looking around "Leaving appears to be harder than I thought."
"For me too." Robb said, he had snow in his hair, melting from the heat of his body "I am judging by this one's appearance, have you seen Bran?"
"Aye." Jon nodded.
"He's not going to die, the boy is too strong." Robb said "I know it."
"It would appear both you and Torrhen have that faith then, besides, you Starks are hard to kill." Jon agreed.
"You have that right." Torrhen added.
"And our mother?.." Robb questioned, even he could see Jon was not dealing well with their mother.
"She was…very kind." Jon told him, and Torrhen looked at him with confusion, but he received a look which was just asking him to forget about it.
They said their farewells at that point, and soon both his sisters and father were also ready to depart. Lord Stark had told him to remain strong and to watch over his brothers, knowing that Robb would be too occupied with his newfound duties to care for them while their mother was focused solely on Bran.
He even managed to get a final goodbye in with Jeyne before she set forth with his father and the royal party, she was saddened as he was, though they both knew they would eventually see eachother once again, it was only a matter of time.