Chapter 3

Benjen Stark POV

The missive from the Greystarks weighed heavily in his hands, as he gazed upon the black direwolf sigil on the unopened seal. His mind began to wander at the choice he had made that night in Harrenhall. 'What is I told father or Brandon that she left,' thought Benjen sadly. His thoughts continued to be about his missing sister and the deaths of his father and brother. 'Why did I not speak up…Why did you have to run away Lyanna…Why did you have to be some hot-headed brother…Why did you all leave me?' thought Benjen as his bloodshot eyes once again rained tears upon the unopened letter in his wavering hands. With an agonizing breath Benjen broke the seal of the letter and looked upon they Greystarks message.

To the Acting Lord Paramount of the North Benjen Stark,

House Greystark was received some unsettling news. Tales have reached White Harbor from Kingslanding, that Lord Rickard Stark and his heir Brandon have been slain by the Mad Tyrant. House Greystark has begun to raise troops and supplies to aid House Stark to defeat the second coming of Maegor. We share the grief and desire of vengeance against House Targaryen for they have taken away family from us both. We will reaffirm our loyalties to the Stark of Winterfell and aid him and his kin in these dangerous times. For times like this kin must come together to weather the upcoming storm. We have sent word to our vassals of our upcoming task. We recommend that you begin to muster all forces of the North to answer your brother Eddard's call, only if the order has not been sent already. Word has also reached us that Lord Eddard is seeking to return to the North from the Three Sisters, our Lord Brandon has seen fit to send our swiftest ships to see him safely on to White Harbor and from there to Winterfell. House Greystark will stand with House Stark in these tumultuous times for the lone wolf dies, but the pack survives.

- Lord Barthogan Stark of the Wolfsden

With a weight he has never experienced before Benjen, called Maester Luwin into the Lords solar. His voice was filled with grief and anger, "Maester has word already been sent to all our bannerman about answering Eddard's call to muster our forces to face the Targaryens. We must strive to be ready for his return. For we must avenge my father and brother." , said Benjen full of rage.

The youngest Stark's rage filled gaze and words shocked Maester Luwin as the young lord looked upon him with the eyes of a predator. He had grown used to seeing the youngest Stark as a calmy collected boy, but it would seem that when the pack was threatened even the most mild-mannered Stark would succumb to their wolfsblood.

"Of course, my lord it has been done. As of right now the Lords and Houses closet to Winterfell have received Lord Eddard's summons. As we speech Houses by the hour will be informed of the order. It will probably take more time for the ravens to reach on Houses on our furthest borders", said Luwin.

"Is there any way we can notify our bannerman sooner Luwin? Eddard has called upon me to see that the North is ready for war", said Benjen with a growl.

"I feel your pain too, but we must be smart about this. We cannot do anything to expediate the call to arms. Your brother, Eddard, is still down south in the Vale, by the time he returns the North have mustered a grand host for him", said Luwin with a sigh. It would be up to the old to install a sense of patience in the youngest wolf.

Benjen could see the sense the wisdom of Maester Luwins words as they had already done what they could. It would be up to the Northern Houses to see their forces armed, armored, and trained for the upcoming campaign. Yet the thought of standing idly by did not sit right with Benjen, for he sat idly by when Lyanna was whisked away and it led to the deaths of his father and brother. A part of him knew that even if he had said something it may have still happened. Yet, he still felt an immense sense of guilt as his inaction led to this.

Benjens wolfsblood soon cooled and his tired grey eyes looked upon Maester Luwin and said, "Aye you are right, but I still feel that I can do more though". Said coolly

"You have done enough Benjen. You and your Uncle Thorren are the only Starks left in Winterfell. Let him see to the mustering of the men, while you rest", said Maester Luwin as concern oozed from his voice.

Benjen's bloodshot eyes once again grew heavy as his body slumped further into the ironwood chair. "I think I will Luwin. The Greystarks are mustering and will see Eddard safely to Winterfell. My Uncle can see to the mustering of our forces here and if anything of importance happens please let me know," said Benjen as he once again felt the weight upon his shoulders.

Maester Luwin soon stood straight up as he mustered the energy to head to his study. He would have much to do to prepare much needed supplies and arms for the soldiers. He would need to speak to both the seneschal and master-at-arms to see everything done. His gaze grew heavy at the thought of the carnage the wolves would cause to get vengeance for their slain Lord and his heir.

Torrhen Stark POV

The smell of sweat and fresh air filled the courtyard as the gathered smallfolk trained in the yard. He could see the green boys being drilled into formation as the older veterans ran them through formations and training. The time spent here would see whether these men would be hammered into steel-boned warriors or just another corpse in the muddied fields of the battles yet to come.

Thorren had been tasked alongside Sir Roderick to see to the mustering of men from Wintertown and others who wished to join the army. Many men from Wintertown, villages, and hamlets in House Starks domain had answered the call to arms willingly. For they wished to avenge their fallen Lord and his heir as much as any northerner.

Thorren could feel the call to battle enter his wolfsblood at the thought of a strong Northern host smashing into the lines and breaking a Targaryen shield wall. He could almost picture himself carving through the smallfolk levies and pledged knights of House Targaryen as he sought to fill the void they caused with his nephews and brother deaths. Their transgressions stung even harder as rumors had already been spread of the Silver Prince abducting his niece. His wolfsblood demanded retribution and he would see it paid ten times over.

Thorren could feel his muscles tense and uncoil at the thought of slaughtering the Silver Prince though it only soothed his aching soul for a moment, for Thorren was finally feeling the years catch up to him even if he did not look it.

Time had been kind to Torrhen as he still maintained the slender and muscular build of his younger years. His black slowly graying hair reflected the candlelight as he worked at his desk. He stood at six feet with large shoulders and muscles even though he was starting to grow gray. His lightly trimmed beard and long face gave way to his typical Stark features. Though with news of House Targaryens transgression got out he could feel himself feel older than he looked. For his House had not faced such a calamity since the troubles Cregan Stark faced the aftermath of the Dance of Dragons.

Thorren would do his duty to see these men trained and prepared for the war ahead. For as soon as Eddard arrived the North would finally march down south to exact their vengeance. House Stark would need as much men as they could muster. For the North, while expansive was never the most populous, though that had changed over the years. With his return to Westeros from the Company of the Rose had seen some of the Northerner descendants return with him. It had allowed Wintertown to expand and grow in population alongside with retaining the smallfolk who had decided to settle in Wintertown over the previous winters. With the increase of population his House could now call upon more men. And it would be his duty to see the descendants of those who followed him into battle returned safely.

Seneschal: the steward or major-domo of a medieval great house.

Master-At-Arms: responsible for the training of soldiers during peace time, or actively involved in leading the defense of a fortification during war time.

Marshall: A high-ranking officer in the household of a medieval prince or lord, who was originally in charge of the cavalry and later the military forces in general.

Thorren Stark (OC): Second born son of Lord Edwyle Stark and Lady Marna Locke and younger brother of Lord Rickard Stark. Along with his brother he served faithfully for House Targaryen during the War of the Ninepenny Kings. Having grown used to war he served in the Company of the Rose for a time. After his service in the Company of the Rose he would return to Winterfell and serve as a Marshall during his brothers rule as Lord Paramount of the North.

Wintertown: Decades ago, it could only be called a town during the winter seasons. It would be the Northern descendants from Company of the Rose who followed Thorren back to Westeros who would increase its population. Alongside more of the smallfolk permanently settling in Wintertown which would see it expand and become one of the North's few cities. It would become the heart of Northern economic development as many craftsmen and merchants would settle in during Lord Rickards reign. The trade coming from and going into Wintertown would speed up its growth as it received overland trade from White Harbor and trade from the Norths western territories.

Author's Note: Something I decided to change in the story was to have Thorren Stark stay in Winterfell. Originally I was having trouble figuring out what I wanted to do with Thorren, but after reading KingOfSummer 245 review I decided to have him stay in Winterfell as the Marshall. I wanted to keep the original idea of him being in the Company of the Rose since then the Starks will have a close connection with the mercenary company when the War of the Five Kings starts up, and I have some ideas for them when that part of the story takes place. Also, I wanted to have the Starks have a bigger Wintertown since it was always strange to me that Winterfell could be considered the heart of the North, yet it was not also the economic heart as well. In later chapters I will talk more about it as I wanted to briefly mention it in this chapter. Furthermore, any information regarding House economic or military strengths will be in its own thing. Please leave a review or PM about the story since your feedback has truly helped me grow as an author.