"Torrhen, where have you been?!", My mother, a beautiful woman with long, straight black hair and shimmering blue eyes, asked with a frown as Cregan and I walked out of the Godswood. I didn't answer her question as I hugged her softly, smiling as she hugged me back despite the anger she had before.
"Good morning, mother."
"Good morning Torrhen," Gilliane Glover, the wife to the Lord of Winterfell and my mother, greeted before pushing me back and looking me over.
"Now, where have you been?"
"Where he usually is after he and Father has an argument about the Old Gods and whether or not he can hear them."
"I can hear them. You all simply do not care to believe me," I countered and Cregan shook his head while Mother turned my head to face her.
"Torrhen, I know that you wish to be like your ancestor Brandon…but the tales of magic and the Others…they are simply tales, my son."
"There is a hint of truth in every fable, mother. How does one explain how Brandon Stark manage to create a wall of such proportions that it divides the North from the Land Beyond? Magic."
"No, he used Giants and wildlings that wished to help him," Cregan spoke up with a snort and I smiled before shrugging.
"And how did giants come to be? If there is no such thing as magic, where did dragons come from? Let's not mention the direwolves larger than horses and the tales about skinchangers and greenseers? It's all magic, brother dearest."
"That…I do not have an explanation for, but I know there is a logical one," Cregan spoke with a scoff and I rolled my eyes while Mother shook her head with a soft smile.
Before she could say what she wanted to say, I heard the crunch of boots on snow, looking past Mother to see two men approaching with their fur-lined cloaks billowing in the cold northern wind.
My father, Lord Rickon Stark, was at the front with his commanding strides, his grey eyes that my brother and I inherited sharp and wary while his younger brother and our uncle, Ser Bennard Stark, looked more relaxed as he gave a small grin.
"There he is. We were about to ask the ravens if they'd seen the missing pup," Uncle Bennard began as he looked at me and I bowed my head in apology while looking to Father's stern gaze.
"You were gone too long. I had sent Bennard when you didn't return by the fourth bell. You should stop making your mother worry."
"I apologize, Father. I simply meant to clear my thoughts. I didn't not wish to cause worry."
'So, my father is as stern and dutiful as Eddard Stark and his children, huh? Well, he is their ancestor so it would make sense that he's like that,' From what I could see and remember from my memories, the man reminded a lot of Ned Stark and his stoicism. It appears this man was the same as he simply gave a grunt at my apology, which was as close to forgiveness as I'd get from him.
"You always seem to need to 'clear your thoughts' after a discussion about the Old Gods. Maybe try doing so before the argument next time, Torrhen," Uncle Bennard spoke with a chuckle and I nodded while looking at father.
"Perhaps."
"He was in the Godswood again, staring at the weirwood tree like he was waiting for it to blink," Cregan said and I shrugged as Father's sharp gaze remained on me.
"And what exactly…did you see this time?"
"Well, I was first a pack of wolves in a blizzard. Then, a murder of crows descended upon me and it was actually really warm in-between them as I heard the cold wind whisper of dark times com-"
"Enough," Father cut me off and I blinked as I saw the disappointed look in his eyes.
"Hah, enough, Torrhen. There is no harm in believing in old tales, but you speak of it as if it were the truth. As the younger brother to the future Lord of Winterfell, the lords of the North will listen not with amusement to your words, but with scrutiny and fear. Know when to speak and when to keep your faith to yourself."
"…Okay," I nodded, holding my hands behind my back as Father sighed and walked away, Cregan and Uncle following after him while Mother softly placed her hand on my shoulder.
"I know you think that you are in the right here for thinking of your…hobby, but perhaps it's time to grow and find something better to do with your time?", She asked and I looked at her before nodding slowly.
"Maybe."
'Not in the fucking slightest! If you common folk don't want to believe in magic, that's got shit to do with me,' I just got the opportunity to manipulate reality as I desire and they expect me to just…what, play with swords in the yard and sip soup like some Northern Stark?
Hell no, but I couldn't say that so I kept my smile on my face for Mother's sake.
Inside, though, my blood burned like hell as I frowned.
'They don't need to believe me, but they will see one day. After all, Winter is Coming.'
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
'Okay, this is a lot more than I was expecting to need to learn,' I thought with a slight frown as I sat at the desk in my room, staring at the books that I had taken from the family library to read.
Apparently, it was the right move as Uncle Bennard had given me a thumbs-up at me doing so while Father didn't look as disappointed as usual, but did I care? Not in the slightest.
…Okay, there was a small part of the old Torrhen that did care a little, but most of the new Torrhen was more focused on the new life ahead of me. There were parts that lamented the fact that I had an old life that I was never going back to.
It was a life of comfort and certainties, but it was one I had to forget about now considering that I had access to something that was considered mystical and fantasy in my old world.
'Nope, you're Torrhen II Stark now, son to Rickon Stark and the spare heir should something happen to Cregan, not that I do want anything happening to him. Wait a second, I forgot! I'm at the time where dragons were everywhere! Holy shit!'
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
"Torrhen!", I gave a startled grunt as I was woken up by a loud banging on the door, sitting upright before another knock from the door startled me. Wiping the drool on my face, I opened the door with a confused grunt while Cregan just palmed his face when he looked at me.
"Did you forget about training?"
"…I was reading?"
"Hah, of course you were. Were you reading up on your precious 'spirits'?", He asked as he walked in and I rolled my eyes as I closed the door while walking over to the cabinet that held my training gear.
"No. If you must know, I was reading up on Legends Beyond the Wall."
"The book about the Last Hero? So now you've forgotten about spirits and the Old Gods and gone to stories about fictional heroes?"
"No, it's about how the Night Watch was formed. After all, one of Uncle Bennard's sons or I are to be sent to the Wall since there always needs to be a Stark at the Wall, right?"
"You're not getting sent to the Wall."
"You think Uncle Bennard is sending one of his beloved sons?", I asked with a raised eyebrow, grunting as I put on my boiled leather and hauberk that we wore for training.
I struggled a bit with the gloves before giving Cregan a thankful smile as he handed them to me, the two of us walking out before I closed the door behind us.
"Arie, could you please return my books to the library? And tell the Maester I'll be back later for more."
"Of course, Lord Cregan," Arie, one of the younger maids, said with a smile and I smiled in thanks before following after Cregan who walked calm strides.
It was a bit weird to get used to the fact that I was now part of a family that was very rich and I had to make sure the power didn't go to my head.
"Like I was saying, unless Uncle Bennard decides that one of his sons needs to go, I'm the one going."
"What makes you think Father is sending you?"
"What makes you think he's not?", I asked with a raised eyebrow and he went to respond before I smirked as he couldn't find a reason.
It was a good thing he didn't as we exited the castle and walked into the training ground, which was alread alive with the sound of training swords clashing and grunts of effort coming from those that trained.
The cold wind bit at my face, but both the old Torrhen and the new one enjoyed the cold as it kept me awake, but it also reminded me that I was no longer the little boy that tried to live up to his family's expectation and the older man that struggled to find his way in the world.
'Hah, I am Torrhen II Stark. Do not regret what you had and look forward to what you have,' I thought as Cregan walked ahead of me, the two of us walking past the younger squires and older guards that were training together.
However, while most of them gave Cregan respectful nods, there were a few of the younger squires that nodded at me while the rest looked amused at my passing them, as if they were about to be treated to a good show.
'Okay, I got your face memorized and yours and-Ooh~ When the war starts, I'm definitely throwing you at a dragon.'
"One round, first to drop or yield," I blinked as Cregan spoke up, tuning back to him before scrambling to catch the practice blade he threw at me while taking off his own from the rack.
"Why not first blood?"
"Last time we did that, you refused to yield and got your nose broken."
'…Damn you, past Torrhen,' I thought with a grumble as I put my cloak on the table, the two of us taking our stances as we began to circle one another.
Cregan's stance was confident, one that was honed from years of diligent training. Mine however…was a combination of training that I was forced to do and a few Youtube tutorials I saw of those SellSword guys.
"Ready?", He asked and I barely finished nodding before his first strike came, fast and aimed for my wrist.
Quickly stepping back while parrying it, I winced at the force rippling through my arm while adjusting my grip, Cregan thankfully giving me the chance to do so.
"Already flinching? Did you think that fighting was the same as reading?"
"Eh, it builds character," I answered as I tightened my grip, circling to the right while keeping my blade between us. He tested me again with two light feints, the second which I fell for as he lunged forward with a strike aimed at my thigh.
Twisting the sword to parry it just barely, my eyes widened as he adjusted mid-swing before I moved backwards and dodged the swing at my ribs.
"Oi, since when do you aim for the ribs?"
"Since you decided to focus on the spirits," He answered while continuing again and I frowned as I parried the swing at my head before countering with my fist aimed at his side.
It seemed to be a surprise for him even as he caught my wrist and smacked the side of my left thigh, making me hiss as I held the sore area while hopping around.
"Damn, that smarts!"
"No honour in battle?", He asked with a smirk and I rolled my eyes as I hobbled back into my stance, still rubbing my thigh.
"Honour in duels, but in battle, whoever wins can be as honourable as they please."
"…Fair enough. Anyway, do you yield?", He asked and I shook my head as I held my sword before we clashed again. I ducked under a horizontal slash while swinging at his own ankle, but he hopped over it with ease while I wheezed as he stomped onto my back and pushed me face first into the ground.
"You dropped. The round goes to me, the better twin."
"…Go jump in a lake," I grumbled as I pushed myself up, grabbing onto his hand and standing up with his help.
"You have improved. I will say that."
"Hey, we're twins. I'm supposed to be as good as you…I think. Then again, I am the more handsome twin so I suppose you did inherit the skill," Cregan snorted at my words as the two of us stepped away from the sparring grounds, giving the next pair a chance to go at each other.
"Handsome? When was the last time you got any proper rest or do you think book ink counts as war paint now?"
"Hey, unlike you, I'm not skilled in the blade. Therefore, I have to sharpen my mind instead of my sword."
"Uh-huh. Just make sure you're not dampening your skills while chasing after stories."
"Hey, some stories have teeth. Even Master Alther said there's often truth buried in legend and if winter truly is coming as Father likes to say, I'd rather be prepared for the monsters that come with it."
'That said, if these guys are more terrifying than the White Walkers like most fans seem to believe, I am fucked,' I thought as the two of us continued walking, remembering just how hard it was for Jon and his army to beat the Night King and his army.
I was still a bit pissed at the fact that it took only Jon, Daenerys and their army to beat the Night King and even more pissed at the fact that the Night King's army was that small.
I mean, the guy was alive for thousands upon thousands of years so why was his army that small? It should have numbered in the millions at least.
'Wait, what the fuck am I saying? I should be glad if it's that weak of an army that I have to worry about if I even have to worry about them.'
"If that is what you believe, then I will support it, but just don't forget about your actual training while you're reading."
"Eh, I'd rather just be good enough to survive until you come to fight for me. After all, I am the one with the brain," I said with a smirk and snickered as he gave me a flat stare.
"Badger."
"Brute. Anyway, you want to go and get something to eat? I think I missed breakfast."
"You did. Oh, before I forget. Father wanted to see you after our training and after you ate," Cregan said as we walked up the stairs to the dining hall and I blinked at that in surprise.
"Really? What about?"
"He didn't say, but he did say it was something that could determine the fate of House Stark."
'In other words, it's something that could determine my fate.'
"Okay, then. You want to come with?", I asked, not surprised when he snorted and shook his head.
"No thank you. This seems to be a private discussion."
"Got it. So…did they make bacon?"
A/N: And this is a quick chapter to showcase the Stark family and next chapter, which is probably going to be tonight, is going to be more about magic.
Also, I know that most don't seem to care for the pairing, but I was actually surprised when no one tried to suggest anyone else for the pairing. Guess Alys Rivers it is, then.
Like always, you can go to my Pat-reon-.-com-/-KingCrimsonNova to read ahead on this as well as many other stories & even some that haven't been released out to this site yet. If you want to, you are free to, but if you don't want, all's good as I will still be uploading here. This is just me trying to get some extra cash.
Anyway, as always, read, enjoy, review and until the next one…
Ba-Bye~!