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The Second Son of Winter: Ch.6
🕑 Added 2025-07-06 19:07:23 +0000 UTC“One….two…three!”, I heard two of the guards grunt as they carried a body into the forest, probably away from the Kingsroad to make sure that wild animals don't bother anyone that wants to pass through.
“Hah, keep calm, Torrhen. Just keep calm,” I murmured to myself, but I was just lying to myself as flashes of that man's eyes danced in my eyes, clenching my shaking hands before taking a deep breath and exhaling softly.
It's only been a few seconds since he battles had ended and my uncle had told me to just wait with the horses while he and the men cleaned up, which was mostly just the younger guards taking the bodies into the forest while the older guards and Uncle Bennard looted the bodies for anything of use.
Meanwhile, I was over here sitting on my own and still thinking back to how I took the life of a man. Granted, he was trying to kill me and wouldn't have thought twice about it, but I'm from a time where I didn't have to worry about killing someone to live the next day.
Despite having been here for over a year, there were still things that I wasn't ready for and there were most definitely things that I did not want to do right now.
The most worrying part is the fact that I felt happy after the few seconds of shock because the spirits felt overjoyed at another joining them as part of nature. It was as if I had felt their joy flowing into me.
Part of me wanted to shove it away and tell the spirits to let me feel some anguish and pain, but the spirits didn't care. To them, it was just as Uncle Bennard had said when we killed that deer.
'Death is part of the world's rhythm. To them, one life ending means a space has opened for another. Hell, they were older than the bloody North itself, so why would they flinch at spilled blood.'
“Torrhen!”, I snapped out of my thoughts and looked up, watching as Uncle Bennard walked over while wiping his blade on a rag and a concerned look in his eyes.
“Can you ride?”
“I think I can.”
“…Got it. Do you wish to talk about what happened?”, He asked as he knelt in front of me and I looked at him before smiling and shaking my head.
“Not right now, no. I…I think I need to figure it out on my own first.”
“Well, when you want to talk about it, you know where to find me. Also, remember-”
“It was me or him and since he didn't have any care for my life, I should not have any for his, right?”, I said with a smile, watching as the man looked surprised at my words before he gave a pleased smile and nodded.
“Yes, that's correct, but that's not what I wanted to say. What I wanted to say is that you should find something to keep your mind off of what just happened or to help you process it.”
“Like what?”
“That's up to you. Sing, dance, shooting, sword training. We have many things that we can do not only to keep our minds occupied, but also to help us deal with what has happened to us.”
'So, find a good hobby, huh?'
“That I can do, but the only issue is finding one that fits me.”
“Well, you can find one or you can make one up. It's all up to you. Now, mount up. We're in between the White Knife and the south-eastern Wolfswood and it's still a four day ride before we reach the Barrowlands. Find the thing to keep you busy on the way.”
“Right,” I nodded as I stood up, looking down at my clasped hands only to be surprised as they stopped shaking. A smile spread across my face as I took a deep breath, exhaling slowly as I heard the spirits dancing before walking over to the horses.
'Find something to keep me occupied?…I think I got just the thing in mind.'
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The barrowlands were just as I remembered them from the series, a vast open area filled with wide hilly plains that were covered with hundreds of barrows.
It was also an area that was flat and windswept, the wind being the spirits' singing and dancing letting the elements dance as our group rode along the Kingsroad.
“Oh, are we heading to Barrowton?'
“That's way too east. No, we're just travelling through here to Moat Cailin where we will rest for a day. Then, we continue on down the causeway of the Neck since it's the only safe way through the neck to Lord Harroway's Town. Once we've rested there, we'll continue on until we reach the inn at the crossroads. We'll rest there for a night, continue on and then drop you off at Harrenhal, after which Lord Larys and his men will escort you to King's Landing.”
'Larys…Larys…Where have I hea-Larys Strong. Oh, that's not going to be fun,' I though with a grimace, remembering the disabled man who had killed both his father and brother like it was nothing more than taking out the trash.
'Actually, what do I have to worry about him? I'm going to marry Alicent's daughter so she'll have no qualms with me and neither will he. Ah, such is-Wait, I forgot I'm marrying a girl,' I mean, I didn't think much of it considering I try my best not to think about the fact that I'm a man in the body of a child, but honestly, I believe I am a child considering how prone I am to moments of childish anger and recklessness.
Before, I would have thought twice about some of the things that I do and how extroverted I act, but at the same time, I just didn't care to do so, which means that I should probably just keep up the facade until I truly believe that I am what I pretend to be.
It's like the saying goes: If you keep on living a lie, it will become the truth eventually.
'Wait, what was I thinking about again? Ah, right, Uncle Bennard's travel plans.'
“Wait, so how long is this supposed to take us then?”
“On average, it takes a group of nobles escorted by their rights around a moon cycle and a half or perhaps more. With our plan, it will just take twenty days.”
“And the timeline Father gave us?”
“We have a moon cycle before we're expected in King's Landing.”
“Balls, and here I wanted to go and have a second son journey to a few castles and inns along the road.”
“Ha! That will be the day! Your father would kill us both for even entertaining the idea.”
“Hah, I know,” I murmured, watching Barrowton fading in the distance as we picked up speed.
'Well, there goes my fun journey I wanted to have.'
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“Urgh~ I miss the snow of the north,” I murmured as I walked beside my horse, Uncle Bennard and a few of the older guards chuckling at my words as we walked along the causeway.
We would have rode on the horses, but considering that the path here was very narrow and unsafe to cross fast with how muddy it was, we were stuck taking our time and make sure we made it to the other side alive.
“Oh, you say that now. Wait until you get to the warm city of King's Landing. When summer hits there, it hits like a hammer.”
“I can't wait for that. So, is there anything I should know about the royal family and/ or Lord Larys before I meet them?”
“Don't mention Lord Larys' clubfoot. He does not like it when people talk about it.”
“That is something I wouldn't have done. What else?”
“Always assume that each sentence has another three to five meanings behind it. If you don't, you will find yourself being manipulated like nothing.”
“Again, that's something I expected.”
“Good. Finally, don't ever antagonize any of the royal family please.”
“You can rest easy, Uncle. It would be idiotic of me to do that.”
“That's what I'm worried about. The royal family have dragons and we Starks have about a few dozen feet of snow to fight them with. Just…try to at least do what you can for them, but if they take it too far-”
“Stab a sword through their skul and cut my own throat to spare myself the pain of being drawn and quartered. Yes, I know.”
“…I was going to say try and talk your way out of it with that smart mouth of yours,” He answered with a sigh and I blinked as I saw some of the guards snickering before nodding.
“Very well. That is a better option, but I'm keeping the first one in my pocket just in case.”
“Of course you are. Anway, just do that and we might live long enough to see some wolf-dragons running around in the North.”
“Is everyone really that invested in my marriage?”
“The second daughter of the King is marrying a second son of House Stark. Believe me when I say that everyone's eyes on it,” I grimaced at his answer and nodded, our walk now turning quiet as I thought about that.
If that was the case, then there were most definitely big names that were not too pleased to lose to a family of northerners even if we were the biggest name in the North.
The Velaryons are the first that came to mind even though I do believe that Laenor and Rhaenyra are married right now. The second were definitely a tie between the Lannisters and the Tyrells since those are the two biggest families in terms of wealth…or was that just in the timeline of the War Of the Five Kings?
'Damn, I really am not the best when it comes to remembering stuff. Then again, what I do remember the most is DnD's wiki pages so that's at least good for me and my magic. Wait, the religion with the Seven don't like those with magic, right?…Perhaps, it's not too late to turn back home?'
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“Well, that's, uh…that's a big castle,” I murmured out loud with wide eyes as I stared at the giant castle off to the side, ignoring the soft laughter from the group while noting some of the younger guards looking just as surprised as I did.
Even though we were still a great distance from the castle, it towered over the surroundings, five tall towers rising bent and crooked into the sky with walls that looked just as monstrous.
However, the reason for my shock was the fire that I saw dancing on the castle, a sea of black, yellow and green flames enveloping its form before my breathing hitched as the flames vanished.
“Torrhen?”, I blinked before turning to Uncle Bennard, who frowned and looked concerned before I smiled and shook my head.
“No need to worry, uncle. It was simply the lunch from yesterday at the inn not agreeing with my stomach.”
“I'll agree to that. Why the hell is rabbit stew so delicious yet so harsh on the belly?”, One of the older guards grumbled and I laughed as Uncle Bennard simply shook his head with a smirk.
“Okay, then. Well, I thought it would take us longer, but it barely took a little over fortnight.”
“Well, you were the one who pushed us to not rest for long in the snow so we have that to thank for our swift riding,” I spoke, to which the man scoffed as some of the guards nodded in agreement.
“I simply did that to make sure that we did not miss the deadline, which we did not. Otherwise, your lord Father would hang us and throw you off a cliff.”
“I'd rather take the hanging. It sounds like a quick death compared to suffering for days to even years should I survive getting thrown off the cliff,” I answered with a shrug, the man just looking at me before shaking his head.
“Gods, I forget that you're not like the average boy I'm used to talking to.”
“You talk to little boys in your spare time?”, I asked with a raised eyebrow, stifling my smirk as the man gave me a flat stare while the guards hid their snickers.
“Careful there. I might just stop us here and have us a little sparring session.”
“And you'd beat my behind like usual, Uncle. We both know I'm one of the worst people when it comes to a sword.”
“You're…decent. None of the younger lads here can hold a candle to you.”
“But I don't want to be just good enough to beat them. I want to be one of the best.”
“Not the best?”
“Oh, please. I don't even believe for a single moment that I could be the best in swordsmanship forever. I will try to be, but everyone knows that sooner or later, a new 'prodigy' or 'genius' with the blade shows up and he simply becomes the new 'best'. Then, when he gets old, another shows up and this cycle repeats over and over and over again until the end of time because that's just how us humans are. The more we thrive and survive, the more our bodies evolve to reach the next pinnacle in history.”
“…Who are you and what did you do with my nephew's soul?”, Uncle Bennard asked with a smirk, but I caught the slight surprise in his eyes at my words, to which I let out a soft chuckle while spurring my horse on.
“I've always been like this, Uncle. Most just never notice.”
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“You must be Torrhen II Stark and Lord Bennard Stark. I, Lord Larys Strong of House Strong and Lord of Harrenhal, am pleased to welcome you at my abode.”
“We thank you for greeting us upon arrival, Lord Strong,” Uncle Bennard spoke as he bowed his head, the guards and I doing the same as Larys simply nodded with a peaceful look on his face.
Yet, I knew that peace hid the monster that burned his own father and brother alive, a man that would tear down entire castles and towns if it would make the royal family happy.
'I have to stay on his good side. This is one of the few men in Westeros that I feared on the same level as Littlefinger and Varys.'
“It is quite rare for a young man of your age to be this quiet, Torrhen.”
'And his attention is on me. Great.'
“Being a second son has led to me maturing a bit earlier than my brother, Lord Strong, and I find talking to be a tedious thing unless I am spoke to.”
“Hmm, I admit that is a quality we both share. Shall you be staying for supper, Lord Bennard?”
“No, Lord Strong. Unfortunately, we shall be returning to the Inn at the Crossroads before heading back to Winterfell.”
'Wait, what?', I thought in surprise, not voicing my thoughts as Uncle caught my look and smiled softly, kneeling down to place a hand on my shoulder.
“Like I told you, little pup, our job was simply to bring you here to Harrenhal and head back home. I wish we could stay a few more days, but unfortunately, your Lord Father has most likely gotten word of our arrival.”
“A raven was sent, yes,” Larys spoke with a soft smile and I grimaced at that before nodding as Uncle Bennard stood up.
“Lord Larys, may I ask that you protect him in my stead?”
“Of course. It would not be good for the name of House Strong if the dear princess' beloved is to suffer while under my roof.”
'Okay, now I hope he follows the laws of guest right or else I ate that piece of bread with salt for nothing,' I thought with a smile as Uncle Bennard climbed onto his horse, the man giving me one final smile before I watched as he and the guards rode off.
“Now then, I assume that you are quite hungry, yes?”
“We have last ate this morning…so yes, I am quite famished, my lord,” I answered with a smile, following the man as some of the servants picked up the bags and we began making our way to the castle.
Time to begin the next chapter of my life.
A/N: Sorry for the late upload~!! I had done half of the chapter for Ashe sto Ashes when I got bored of writing it and when I got stuck with figuring out the next big enemy so I decided to just move on and finish the chapter for Second Son.
Anyway, we are now in the South and resting for a bit in Harrenhal before moving on to King's Landing. What we're going to do here…well, we'll have to wait and see.
As always, read, enjoy, review and until the next one…
Ba-Bye~!!
