14 Unexpected Surprise

The melee bout began, with over Forty Knights and few squires. Robert and Torrhen are neither a knight or a squire. The speaker heralded contestants, mainly mentioning "Ser Arthur Dayne, the sword of the morning" or "Ser Barristan the Bold."

After mentioning his name, Ser Arthur raised his ancestral sword, Dawn. This roused cheers from the people.

Torrhen smiled at this event. This will definitely be a challenge for him. His round great shield on his back, along with his great sword, he walked at the round area. All other participants followed the suit, ready for a big fight.

Torrhen looked at Robert, "Let's defeat the others first before we fight. I do not want any backstab attack whilst fighting you."

"Let those cowards! I will smash their heads like grapes!" Robert growled.

Torrhen sighed, "Remind me why I'm friends with you again?" He then smirked as he heard the signal to begin.

He roared and brandished his sword and shield on his hands, using his favorite attack, shield bashing. He took a knight by surprise, as Torrhen went for a slice, cleanly chopping the longsword of his opponent. Torrhen went for another slice, striking his center chestplate, making a shallow wound. He grabbed the wounded knight and threw him like he weights nothing.

He looked at Robert, bashing helm to helm with his war hammer. Torrhen looked back, regaining his focus. He went to find another opponent.

As they were many, Torrhen finally found one. He dodges the upcoming attack and shielded the other. He went for a stab, hearing an agonizing scream. His greatsword through the opponent's leg. Well, he's a cripple now.

Torrhen thought about healing him later after forcing him to drinking milk of the poppy.

Sooner, only six remained. Ser Arthur Dayne, Ser Gerold Hightower, Ser Barristan Selmy, Ser Garlan Tyrell, Robert Baratheon and him, Torhhen Karstark.

They all went to pick opponents; Robert looked at Ser Gerold Hightower and fighting him head on. Ser Arthur was facing Ser Garlan. And, finally, Torrhen against Ser Barristan Selmy.

Ser Barristan pointed his sword with two hands upwards, his form expressing complete defense with an opponent with the shield. Torrhen smirked at this and dropped his shield.

Ser Barristan was surprised, changing his form once again, against a great sword this time. Torrhen did not saw any flaw, but that doesn't mean he cannot create one. Ser Barristan is clearly experience, fighting the Nine Penny War and fighting an entire castle full of guards to save King Aerys from prisonment.

They both clearly wanted the other to move first, to determine the strength and weakness. Torrhen saw advantage of this, feigning weakness to draw a flaw.

He moved first, dashing with a swipe. Ser Barristan dodged and countered with his own slash. Torrhen block with his sword, loosening his wrist, triggering the water dance form of braavos. His large blade flowed like a torrent of waves slashing on a small cliff. He handled the sword with one hand, using the other to capture the sword arm or to switch sword hand.

Ser Barristan's experience came in a booming force, going on rapid offense. Torrhen smirked at this as he has accomplished the flaw. He switches form from water dance to Northern form, barbarian style. He did not waste the good weight of the large sword, bashing hard on the renowned knight's sword. As a result, the sword bent and Ser Barristan sighed, "I yield."

He panted and gestured for a handshake, which Torrhen returned. The latter saw the others finished fighting as well. Arthur and Robert won their battles, but Robert was slightly injured by the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard.

As expected, Torrhen went for Ser Arthur, who has the same smirk of Torrhen, "I see that you're always spending time with my sister. Are you enthralled?"

Torrhen readied his sword, "Lady Ashara is a beautiful woman, anyone would be enthralled with her."

Arthur raised an eyebrow as he also readied his double swords, "A woman? Ashara is a maiden."

Torrhen was silent, not giving any emotion on what Arthur said, he just lunged forward to make the first move.

When Arthur saw that Torrhen was silent, his mind went into a wrong way of direction, filling with thoughts with doubt. He broke out of his frozen mind when he saw Torrhen lunged at him, quickly blocking his large sword with his two swords.

Arthur growled and let go of the pressure, sidesteps the recoil. His Dawn on the main hand, while the other handled backhandedly, he began an attack that swirl of a tornado, flashes of scurrying slashes.

Torrhen kept his expressionless face as he defended the flashy attacks. He keeps on defending as he saw a chance, he made a bashing stance, his edge of the sword reflected a blinding light, he banged the other sword of Ser Arthur. This resulted of disarming him of one sword, Dawn remaining on his person.

Torrhen once again used the Northern style, a rage attacks flurried into the fighting area while Torrhen's mind is at ease, as Arthur kept on deflecting a little on the cause. This continued until Arthur's hands numbed, finally dropping the Dawn, "I yield."

This once again roused a loud cheer from the crowds.

Torrhen gave a small smirked, "No offense, but Ser Barristan was more experience than you." He gave out his hands. Arthur took the hand, bitter.

He then asked, whispering, "Why have you gone silent when I mentioned Ashara is a maiden?"

Torrhen contemplated but said in the end, "You will not get Ashara's secret with me, but with her."

Arthur reluctantly nodded, picking his two swords and left the area. Torrhen then looked at the well-rested Robert, who said, "I'll have you get this one. I have bashed enough."

Torrhen nodded gratefully, "Thank you, Robert."

Robert laughed, "Aye, you probably need the money more than me." Torrhen laughed at that.

Robery turned to the speaker, and said, "I yield. This melee goes to my friend, Torrhen."

The crowd became boisterous, as Torrhen help the staggering Robert out of the ring. They both bowed at the King and the Royal family... or what's left of it. Princess Elia once again in the audience, along with Ashara.

Suddenly, King Aerys stood up and spoke, "You have done well, teaching my son's guard a lesson." He laughed, though it crept into your spine, he continued, "Torrhen Karstark. Kneel." He took Ser Gerold's sword.

Torrhen's chest contracted by those words, but he has no choice and knelt. The King creepily smiled, "In the name of the Warrior, I charge you to be brave..."

Torrhen was having a storm on his mind, should he accept this? He might not be religious, but he at least respect the Old gods.

"In the name of the Father, I charge you to be just..."

Torrhen sighed, accepting his fate. It is better to be like this than mess with the Royal family.

"In the name of the Mother, I charge you to protect the innocents..." As the King said the last words, he laughed menacingly, though he does not know for what reason, "Arise, Ser Torrhen Karstark of... where are you again?"

Torrhen winced at that, "Karhold, your Grace."

"Meh, Ser Torrhen Karstark of Karhold." The crowds clapped around, boisterous as before. Torrhen sighed, as he claimed the reward and accepted the crown of roses, to name his Queen of Love and Beauty.

Now, who's worthy of the crown of red and orange roses. He looked at the Princess. He sighed, another scandal should he done that. He looked beside the Princess, Ashara. Well, Ned might take it the wrong way, along with Brandon and Arthur. He doesn't care about the consequences but he cared about being bugger all his life.

Next choice would be the Queen, but she's in King's Landing. He sighed once again. He strode at the smallfolk platform, discovering a pretty little redhead and placed the crown of roses in her head, with a little kiss on the forehead. The redhead girl squealed and gave a barrage of gratefulness, Torrhen smiled to that and left with the gold reward money.

A,N: Again, I'm very sorry for those who are disappointed. Many are asking if this is one those stories that follows the canon. Yes, it will be for volume 2 and 3, then Torrhen will completely change the timeline. It is a must if I can control the story.

Anyways, thank you for reading this chapter!