The crypts of Winterfell. The place where the Stark kings of old and lords rested. They were entombed in stone with rusted swords on their lap, some had the Direwolf statue beside them. For some reason the oldest Stark was buried the deepest, he wondered what they would do when the crypts were filled fully.
The crypts had a pull on Torrhen, he felt safe and comfortable among the dead as he lay on the floor with his back to the wall and an old Stark statue beside him.
His mother was back to her old self, restrictions put on everything and making everything in life a chore. She had forbidden the Direwolves to be present when the King would arrive, wanting them to be locked up in the Kennels along with the other hounds. His siblings obeyed their mother and chained them in the Kennels.
They knew nothing of Direwolves. You don't chain an animal such as a Direwolf, they are the hunters of the wild, apex predators in the food cycle. They were meant to roam in huge forests hunting for prey in packs consisted of familiar direwolves.
So Torrhen didn't put Winter in the kennel instead he escaped from his parent's attention and went back to free them when he was in the clear. He took them to the crypts, they could stretch their legs as much as they wanted here.
The crypts were a huge place filled with statues from the bottom to the top. The Direwolves stirred in their sleep. They slept on the floor beside him and on top of his legs. Torrhen didn't want them waking up. They could be hard to control when they were in a pack. But Torrhen was somehow improving his ability to command them.
They all woke up when the voice became louder. Winter was on his feet in a moment.
"Stay," Torrhen said.
They all stood still, trying hard to obey him. But Winter, ever the curious soul, turned his head at Torrhen and ignored his command as he charged down the crypts, the rest following him.
Torrhen cursed and followed the Direwolves.
He found Winter on the heels of his father, trying to seek his attention. The other man with Father was no doubt the King. He had become much fatter than the last time he saw the King.
So Torrhen let the King know, "You have become fatter, Robert."
"Torrhen," Father said.
Robert was laughing with his face red.
"That I have boy," Robert said. "I was looking for you in the yard."
"I wanted to spare you your dignity when I wouldn't kneel before you in front of all the others."
"Torrhen kneel before his grace. Now." Father said.
"For god's sake, I do not want to hear you say grace again Ned. It's fine the boy and I have an understanding from when he met me at Kingslanding. He has an oath to keep and it concerns your honor. I was laughing when I heard it the first time as he refused to kneel before me. You should have seen Jon Arryn when he heard what your son had to say about that."
"Kingslanding? Did you go to Kingslanding? What of this oath?" Father said
Robert laughed as Torrhen said
"I made an oath, Father, to the old gods in the Godswood on your honor that I would never kneel before any person in submission before I ran away."
"Why did you make such an oath, Torrhen," Father sighed. "You must one day kneel before your Rightful Liege Lord if you mean to give him no cause to anger."
Torrhen looked at his father as he said the truth that he hadn't told anyone, "Because I hated Robb with every breath. I didn't want to bend the knee to my brother. It was not fair you see. I was born just a few seconds later than him and for that, he would inherit your title and Winterfell."
"Torrhen, You should have told me what you felt towards Robb," Father said. "Is that why you ran away?"
"Oh, it's fine father. That was a long time ago, I have grown a lot since I was a child. I don't care about that anymore. My eyes have been opened to the real world. I have come to fear ever getting that responsibility because I can't do what a lord must do. Instead, I want to travel the world and have women to love instead of getting married just for my House."
"The kid has the right to it, Ned," Robert said. "Half the days I wonder why I won this damn throne."
"Set that matter aside, Father," Torrhen said. "What is this I heard about an offer of Hand and marriage proposal."
"I told your Father to be my Hand and a match between your sister and my son, Joffery."
"You asked the wrong person about the marriage."
"Then whom should I ask then." The King said amused.
Torrhen smiled and said, "Me of course. It won't be of much use asking for my Father's permission, If I don't sign off on it. Especially my own sister's marriage. I must consider whether your son is worthy of my sister's hand."
"He is the crown prince," Robert said, challenging him. "The one who will inherit the seven kingdoms after me."
"That doesn't mean that I trust him yet. Trust develops slowly over time and after I get a measure of him then you can announce the betrothal. Until then it will be better if you don't announce it because it would look awkward if the marriage won't take place."
"Well then I will go now and let you both to pay your respects, if that is all." Torrhen said as he walked out, the Direwolves following on his heels.
***
The feast was in full swing when he entered the hall. The crowd was laughing when Jon lurched sideways into the serving girl knocking the flagon of spiced wine to the ground. Torrhen tried to steady him but Jon wrenched free of his grip and ran out of the hall. Ghost followed him out after he stopped to greet his brothers and sisters who had entered with Torrhen.
Torrhen picked up the flagon and gave it to the serving girl, "Have some meat bought for the Direwolves, they are hungry and I would like to feed them before they have the thought to have us for dinner."
The wolves were not big enough yet to kill a man by themselves. But it would mean a great deal in how they behaved in the future if they behaved properly now.
Torrhen ignored the stare, that could scare a Direwolf down, from his mother from the high table. He didn't like how quickly things changed the way they were. His parents back to always complaining about his duties and how he should behave.
Torrhen nodded his head to the high table then moved to take Jon's seat among the pack. He didn't want to go sober that night, he had a thirst to quench and a headache to quell. The headaches were becoming more common now, only subsiding when he was with the Direwolves or resting.
"Uncle Ben, a word please," Torrhen asked his uncle who served in the nightswatch.
They exchanged pleasantries and asked about the situation at the wall.
"Uncle what is this I am hearing about the king beyond the wall. Mance Rayder, I thought he was with the Night's watch."
"He was before he turned cloak to the wildlings. He is gathering the tribes to launch an attack on the wall. That is why I am here on behalf of the night's watch to ask the King for assistance on that matter."
The Direwolves devoured the huge pieces of meat, the serving girl bought.
"What was that with Jon?"
"He wants to join the Night's watch."
Torrhen laughed, "Why would he want that? No offense to you uncle I would sooner have my brother beside me than serve beside criminals."
"The Night's Watch is not what it was, I agree," Benjen said. "But it might be a place where even a bastard could rise to a prominent position."
"Don't worry about him, uncle," Torrhen said. "He is having one of his moods, I won't let him go, Black before he enjoys all the fruits that life can offer."
"Well, I have to go and ask the King on behalf of the Night's watch." Benjen went to the high table.
Torrhen cheered along with the rest of the table as the Bard sang a new song. For some reason, the men at the table were looking oddly at him, no doubt Owen had started telling of Torrhen's adventures.
Torrhen eyed the Bard closely as he finished his song. For some reason, the Bard looked familiar to him.
"I asked you guys to look after Jon," Torrhen said.
"The boy had too much wine," Jax said. "I didn't want to dampen his happiness. It's not every day that a child gets to drink as much as he wants."
The rest of the Pack was talking with each other and the guests.
Owen telling a story about Torrhen to the others on the table, even some from another table were listening in. So that was the reason for the strange looks.
Torrhen pulled Jax close to him. "I want you to keep an eye on that Bard."
"Why is there something amiss?" Jax said
"Yes," Torrhen said. "I feel like there is something familiar about him but I can't figure out what it is."
The wolves were gnawing on the bones by the time the feast was over.
The next chapter: Torrhen kidnaps the Bard at night after he finds the Bard lurking about the castle and has him imprisoned in the crypts. Can he figure out who the Bard is and what he wants?
Maester Luwin was seen going to his parents chamber at the middle of the night so Torrhen decides to have the talk with the Maester after all this time and try to figure out what his parents are trying to hide.