The characters, places and everything else in this story is the property of George RR Martin, D.B. Weiss and David Benioff. This is just my imagination being put into words for the world to see for absolutely no profit. I'm claiming nothing except the creation of Torrhen Stark and a slight obsession with Maisie Williams.

This story will be quite close to canon, but it won't be just an OC observing. Changes will be made when it fits the story.

It also won't be finished until the end of Season 8. Each chapter is an episode, so there will be 73 chapters of the actual story, and any extra will be one shots.

Brandon Stark was getting frustrated, his archery lessons were seemingly hopeless and he just couldn't hit the target. Lining another arrow up he squinted, aimed and fired, missing yet again as the arrow sunk itself into a barrel. With a glare he stomped his foot on the floor, wanting this all to be over. His elder half-brother Jon came up behind him placing both hands on the young lord's shoulders. "Go on." Jon said encouragingly lowering himself to look into Brans eyes. "Father's watching." The 2 boys looked up to the area above, where Lord Eddard Stark was watching his sons intently, with his wife Catelyn stood to his right. "And your mother" Jon continued. Bran took encouragement from this and with a small nod to his parents got ready to try again, nocking, aiming and firing the arrow over the wall behind the target, causing all of Bran's brothers watching him to burst into laughter.

"And which one of you was a marksman at ten?" Ned scolded gently at the laughing boys. "Keep practicing, Bran. Go on."

"Torrhen" Bran whispered quietly, not wanting his father to hear.

"Aye he was good, but he still had to learn and train hard at it." Jon said softly. "Just don't think too much, Bran."

"Relax your bow arm." Robb instructed as Bran went to fire again. Encouraged, Bran pulled the arrow back, but could only look at the target in shock as an arrow flew past him to hit the bullseye. Snapping his head back he saw his sister Arya with a bow in hand, who quickly curtsied. Annoyed, Bran gave chase, leaving the laughs of his brothers behind him.

Torrhen Stark, second son of Eddard and Catelyn, meanwhile was in the castle forge watching his sword get repaired when Ser Rodrik Cassell approached him. "I'm sorry to interrupt My Lord, but your father has requested your presence, a deserter has been captured." Torrhen sighed, he hated attending these, but the law was the law and the man had to be beheaded.

"I'll be along shortly then, thank you, Ser Rodrik" Torrhen responded. Ser Rodrik bowed his head and left, just as Mikken the Winterfell blacksmith came up to Torrhen with his sword.

"There you are my Lord, good as new" the blacksmith said, handing Torrhen the weapon. "Next time don't be swinging so bloody hard at the dummies." He laughed.

"Aye I'll try but I can't promise anything, many thanks again Mikken" Torrhen said, sheathing it again and going off to saddle up his horse.

As he crossed the courtyard he noticed Ser Rodrik scolding Bran for chasing Arya. Reaching his horse Torrhen saw his younger brother get to the stables. "Father told you to come too Bran?" Torrhen asked confused to which Bran only nodded. "You're young, he didn't make me go until last year when I was twelve. Just don't look away and remember why Father must do it and you'll be ok" Torrhen added, ruffling his brother's hair before going back to his horse, her sleek black coat somehow shining in the bleak Northern sky.

The area surrounding the execution block was too hilly, Torrhen thought. Good for keeping the scene private but awful to get to. The Stark party arrived and quickly dismounted, forming an audience around the block. Standing in between Robb and Bran he heard a trembling voice mumbling, and listened in intently.

"…. Saw the White Walkers. White Walkers. The White Walkers. I saw the White Walkers." The scraggly haired man in black was escorted to the block, where Ned was standing. As the Lord and the prisoner faced each other the deserter spoke directly to Ned. "I know I broke my oath. And I know I'm a deserter. I should have gone back to the Wall and warned them. But I saw what I saw. I saw the White Walkers. People need to know. If you can get word to my family, tell them I'm no coward. Tell them I'm sorry." He said, calmly for a man about to die, Torrhen thought. Ned nodded to the guards and the deserter was pushed onto the block as Theon Greyjoy, ward of Winterfell offered Ned the large Valyrian Steel great sword Ice that had belonged to House Stark for thousands of years.

"In the name of Robert of the House Baratheon, first of his name …" Ned began

"Don't look away." Torrhen heard Jon whisper to Bran. "Father will know if you do."

"… Lord of the Seven Kingdoms and protector of the realm. I, Eddard of the House Stark, Lord of Winterfell and Warden of the North, sentence you to die." And with that he took half a step back, swung the great sword and in one clean stroke brought the deserters head off, only inciting a sharp wince from Bran.

"You did well." Jon told his younger brother before turning away back to the horses. Robb and Torrhen then turned as well, with the latter putting his arm around Bran and guiding him to his horse.

"What did you think?" Torrhen asked.

"It was… quick." Bran answered, and Torrhen let out a small snort of laughter.

"Father is kind." Torrhen told him as they got to the horses.

"How can he be kind if he killed him?" Bran asked.

"He broke his oath, so the punishment was just. Jon was right back there, you did well. Next time you'll know what to expect." Torrhen continued, patting Bran on the shoulder. Ned walked towards the two at that moment clearly wanting a word with Bran. "Father." Torrhen bowed his head before walking to his own horse and start preparing to ride away.

They didn't get too far on the road back to Winterfell when a horrendously ravaged stag halted the group a while down the road, and Ned dismounted to investigate further, the rest of the party soon following suit.

"What is it?" Jon asked, staring at the carcass.

"Mountain lion?" Theon questioned, wondering what could possibly leave such a mess.

"There are no mountain lions in these woods." Ned replied sombrely, looking around and following a trail that led away down to a stream nearby. Unsheathing their swords as a precaution they made it down to the stream, only to find a giant of a wolf with antlers through its throat, with 6 wolf pups whimpering around the massive beast. The group looked on in horror at the size of the wolf.

"It's a freak" Theon said.

"It's a direwolf" Ned explained, glancing at Rodrik before kneeling. "Tough old beast" he added, ripping the antlers out of the direwolf.

"There are no direwolves south of the Wall." Robb said worriedly, unblinking.

"Now there are five." Jon added.

Torrhen bent down towards the pups and picked one up, handing it to Bran who looked slightly scared. "You want to hold it?" He asked.

"Where will they go? Their mother's dead." Bran questioned.

"They don't belong down here." Rodrik said.

"Better a quick death. They won't last without their mother." Ned said.

Theon moved swiftly at this, taking out his knife and lunging for the pup in Brans hands. "Right, give it here". He said taking the wolf

"NO!"

"Don't!" Both Bran and Torrhen exclaimed.

"Put away your blade" Robb commanded Theon disgustedly.

"I take orders from your father, not you" Theon countered.

"Please father" Bran pleaded with the older man.

"They're only babies, we can't just slaughter them needlessly" Torrhen added. Ned just shook his head and apologised to the two boys.

"Lord Stark?" Jon said quickly, having not taken his eyes off of the wolves through the whole exchange. "There are six pups, one for each of the Stark children. The direwolf is the sigil of your house. They were meant to have them." Everyone looked at Ned at this, Bran with a great amount of hope in his eyes.

"Please let us father, it seems wrong to kill them" Torrhen begged.

Ned sighed, defeated, before he spoke sternly directly to Bran and Torrhen. "You will train them yourselves. You will feed them yourselves. And if they die, you will bury them yourselves." He said, sheathing his sword and walking off to his horse, leaving the younger Starks to grab the pups between them to take home.

"What about you?" Bran asked Jon, cradling the pup that Torrhen handed him earlier.

"I'm not a Stark." Jon replied sadly. "Get on."

"Thank you Jon" Torrhen said, laying a hand on his brother's arm before being handed another direwolf. As they walked back up to the horses however Jon stopped, and started heading down towards a tree.

"What is it?" Robb asked, as Jon pulled a small, all white wolf out from the shrubbery surrounding the tree.

"The runt of the litter" Theon said smugly. "That one's yours Snow."

News of the Royal concession coming up to Winterfell had made the castle even busier as everybody worked to get the place fit for the king, and the few weeks that followed were the busiest that Torrhen could remember since the first week of his father being away fighting in the Iron Islands, and his mother had been keeping everyone busy. The weeks went by and soon enough it was almost time for the King to arrive, and the elder lads were told to visit the barbers by Catelyn.

"Why's your mother so dead-set on us getting pretty for the king?" Jon asked Robb.

"It's for the queen, I bet. I hear she's a sleek bit of mink" Theon answered.

"A sleek bit of mink? That some stupid Iron Islander slang?" Torrhen laughed, getting a light slap round the head for his trouble.

"Why are you even here Torrhen, you got a couple of hairs poking out unseen have you?" Theon said, grabbing and peering down at the youngster's chin.

"Be quiet you two, can't I go one day without you arguing like children." Robb moaned. "I hear the prince is a right royal prick."

"Think of all those southern girls he gets to stab with his right royal prick." Theon grinned, letting go of Torrhen as Robb got up from his shave.

"Go on Tommy, shave him good! He's never met a girl he likes better than his own hair." Robb joked, slapping Jon towards the imposing figure of the barber.

"I wonder what they're all like though, I'd love to spar with the Kingslayer" Torrhen said wistfully.

"The only time you'll get to spar with the Kingslayer is if you run at the King with a sword in your hand, he'll have no time for little boys" Theon joked.

"Fuck you Greyjoy, I could take you even now and I'm 9 years your younger." Torrhen said angrily, with Theon just laughing and walking away with Robb. "How can Robb be friends with that cunt" Torrhen asked Jon, who just shrugged his shoulders.

"What do you imagine the Queen is like?" Sansa asked wistfully as she brushed her hair, with her twin lounging on her floor playing with his jet black direwolf. After they had been told that the Royal party were on their way to Winterfell, Sansa had decided that she was putting extra effort into her appearance, and often spent at least an hour in front of a mirror. Torrhen found it all really boring, but enjoyed spending time with Sansa, even if it was only to annoy her.

"I don't know, she's a Lannister, tall and smug probably" Torrhen shrugged, earning a stern look from Sansa. "What?" He protested. "Father always said that they looked down on us when they know nothing of us".

"I bet she's beautiful, oh I can't wait to meet them, why do you think they're coming?" Sansa asked. But before Torrhen could answer there was a knock on the door and a servant told them that they were required in the courtyard.

"I don't know, but I want the King to teach me how to fight like he did on the Trident" Torrhen said excitably getting to his feet. "Balerion stay here with Lady" He commanded his direwolf.

"Don't be silly, he won't be teaching you to fight he'll be with father all the time, they are best friends you know". Sansa said getting up and running down to the courtyard leaving Torrhen to chase her.

The entirety of Winterfell seemed to be out in the courtyard waiting on the King, everybody in the castle except Arya, a fact which hadn't gone unnoticed.

"Where's Arya? Sansa, where's your sister?" Catelyn asked Sansa, who just shrugged. A few moments later and Arya came running in with a guard's helmet on.

"Hey, hey, hey, hey. What are you doing with that on?" Ned asked Sansa, taking the helmet and handing it to Ser Rodrik as Arya moved over to where she was supposed to be between Torrhen and Bran.

"Move!" she told Bran, shoving him out the way as Torrhen chuckled quietly. The procession then rolled in as Prince Joffrey rode in, earning a smile from Sansa and a glare from Torrhen as he noticed that. Following the prince came the Royal Carriage, and then the King himself on horseback strolling up to the Starks with a stern, kingly look. The courtyard gathering kneeled as he approached on his horse, staying like that as the king hauled himself off of his horse and walked towards Ned, stopping before his old friend and signalling him to rise.

"Your Grace" Ned bowed.

"You've got fat" King Robert said bluntly. A small awkward silence followed, until Ned just gestured down to the kings overly large middle inciting laughs from the pair of them as they embraced.

"Cat!" Robert moved over to Lady Stark enveloping her in a hug.

"Your Grace." Cat responded as Robert ruffled little Rickon's hair and went back to his friend.

"Nine years. Why haven't I seen you? Where the hell have you been?" He asked Ned.

"Guarding the North for you, Your Grace. Winterfell is yours." Ned responded. The queen took that moment to descend from the royal carriage with a group of handmaidens and the youngest children of the King and Queen.

"Where's the Imp?" Arya asked Torrhen, earning a shush from him.

"Will you shut up?" Sansa scolded her sister as King Robert started going down the line of the Stark children.

"Who have we here? You must be Robb." Robert stated shaking the Stark heirs hand. "My, you're a pretty one." He said to Sansa but quickly moving along. "You remind me of your Uncle Brandon." He said to Torrhen, who just smiled politely before the King moved on again. "Your name is?"

"Arya." The girl replied, and Robert moved down the line again towards Bran.

"Show us your muscles." Robert said jovially, and Bran pulled his arm out of his cape and flexed his right arm for the King, inciting a laugh. "You'll be a soldier".

Torrhen noticed one of the Kingsguard taking his helmet off to reveal lengthy Lannister gold hair, and instantly knew who it was. "That's Jaime Lannister. The queen's twin brother." Arya confirmed quietly.

"Would you please shut up." Sansa pleaded as the Queen approached, offering her hand out to Ned, who kissed it politely.

"My Queen." He said.

"My Queen." Cat repeated, bowing for Cersei.

"Take me to your crypt, I want to pay my respects." Robert told Ned from the end of the line, much to Cersei's annoyance.

"We've been riding for a month my love" Cersei said, feigning kindness. "Surely the dead can wait."

"Ned." Robert said dismissively walking off. Ned looked apologetically at the Queen and followed the King towards the crypts.

"Where's the Imp?" Arya asked again, bringing with it a cold look from the Queen who walked over to her twin brother.

"Where is our brother? Go find the little beast." She told him.

Catelyn then turned and started giving orders to the servants behind her to show the royal party to their rooms, prepare the meals and all the things that needed attention, as the children were told to go off and get ready for the feast later that night.

Later that evening Catelyn was helping Sansa get her hair ready, as Torrhen, who was already dressed in his finest clothes for the feast was again on the floor playing with the direwolves.

"Why do you insist on behaving like a dog with them?" Catelyn asked, annoyed.

"They can't well act like us. This makes them happy." Torrhen shrugged, letting Balerion chew playfully on his hand.

"Do you think Joffrey will like me? What if he thinks I'm ugly?" Sansa asked her mother, ignoring her brother.

"Then he is the stupidest prince that ever lived." Cat replied reassuringly.

"He's so handsome." Sansa said wistfully as Cat rolled her eyes and Torrhen snorted with laughter, earning a stern look from his mother.

"When would we be married? Soon or do we have to wait?" Sansa continued.

"Hush now. Your father hasn't even said yes." Cat replied

"Why would he say no? He'd be the second most powerful man in the kingdoms." Sansa said, a bit bemused as why anyone would turn that down.

"He'd have to leave home. He'd have to leave me." She said sadly. "And so would you." She added, Sansa however wasn't deterred.

"You left your home to come here. And I'd be queen someday. Please make father say yes." She begged.

"Sansa…"

"Please, please. It's the only thing I ever wanted." Sansa continued begging, earning another laugh from Torrhen.

"Didn't you want to drown me in the hot springs not three days past for getting mud on your dress?" He said, having to dodge a broach Sansa decided to throw at him. "I'm sure you definitely used the word want."

"Right, out, go and learn how to behave like a true highborn before the feast!" Catelyn snapped, shooing Torrhen and Balerion out of the room, as he was still chuckling to himself.

The feast was in full swing, loud laughter filled the Great Hall of Winterfell as King Robert was getting rather intimate with a serving girl. Theon and Robb were talking to one another, Sansa was talking to the queen and Catelyn and Torrhen was telling a story of the direwolf to Arya, Myrcella and Tommen.

"She was bigger than a horse, with teeth the size of a small dagger. I can't wait for Balerion to grow that big, I'll ride him into battle and strike fear into the hearts of Robbs enemies!" Torrhen told her, but Arya shook her head.

"No! It'll be me on Nymeria, people will see me and shit themselves!" She boasted, swinging her knife around making Myrcella laugh Tommen duck back a little.

"Aye my lady, you'll be the most fearsome northerner that ever lived!" Torrhen laughed. As Sansa passed to sit back down next to Jeyne Poole, and giving a small smile towards Joffrey.

"Don't call me lady!" Arya growled, punching Torrhen in the arm, before she began to grin mischievously. "I bet I can hit Sansa" She grinned, twirling a spoon around her food.

"Never, she's too far away for you" Torrhen told her with a laugh.

"Is not! If I do it then you have to teach me how to use a proper sword" Arya told him.

"Aye alright." Torrhen nodded, knowing his mother would never allow it. "But if you miss you won't miss a single lesson with Septa Mordane for a whole month" He said, spitting on his hand and holding it out to shake hers. Arya pulled a thoughtful face for a moment, then spat on her own hand and shook it vigorously. "This will be good to see" Torrhen laughed, handing her a spoon. Arya dipped it in her food, aimed and let loose, sending the contents of the spoon flying onto Sansa's cheek. The table erupted into laughter.

"Arya!" Sansa shrieked. "It's not funny!"

"It is from over here sister, look at how good the aim was!" Torrhen shouted over to her, earning a deathly glare. Robb came over and grabbed the youngest Stark girl.

"Time for bed." He told her, leading her away from the feast groaning as Torrhen couldn't contain his laughter.

"If my brother had done that to me, mother would have been furious and not just sent her to bed, are you alright my lady?" Joffrey asked Sansa, playing the concerned bystander.

"If you had done that to him it would be a big improvement" Torrhen whispered to Tommen, earning a laugh from the younger boy.

"What did you say Stark?" Joffrey snapped.

"Nothing my prince" Torrhen bowed, smirking at Tommen who was still giggling. Sansa looked furious, and turned to Joffrey.

"Ignore my idiot twin brother, if it's not mucky he doesn't think it's any fun" Sansa said. "He's not at all proper like the southern lords".

"No I'm not, and thank the gods for that!" Torrhen laughed getting up and walking towards his father and Benjen Stark, who had just turned up. "Please excuse me Princess, my princes, Sansa, I'm off to go talk to Uncle Benjen."

"You were right Robb, the prince is a prick" Torrhen said, walking his horse out of the stables. The King had decided that a hunt was required, and it was the first major hunt Torrhen had been allowed to go on, so he was quite excited.

"Watch your words little brother, Lannisters are everywhere at the moment" Robb said looking around nervously. "I'll be glad when all this is over."

"When all this is over your father will be gone south to Kings Landing with your sisters and Bran, don't wish it too soon Robb" Benjen came over and told him.

"Can't you stay Uncle Benjen?" Torrhen asked. "It's always more fun when you come home"

"I'm a sworn brother of the Nights Watch lad, Winterfell was my home, but I'm needed at the Wall. While your father is my brother by blood I have a thousand others that need me more." Benjen explained grimly, placing a hand on Torrhen's shoulder.

"Come on, boys, let's go kill some boar!" Robert roared from the front, and he started to lead the party off out of the gates of Winterfell.

"Aye, but let's face it we're better looking than those at the wall." Torrhen laughed, mounting his horse quickly and riding off to follow the king for the hunt, blissfully unaware of what was to follow.

So, there is Episode 1! Just a few things to mention about this story just in case you get confused:

- Torrhen is Sansa's younger twin.

- Balerion is as black as Ghost is white, Shaggydog will be a mix of black and brown.

- Torrhen is an expert archer, but his swordsmanship while good isn't fantastic, hence his desire to learn from the best and improve.

- The story will follow Torrhen for as long as it can.