A Crimson Path

by VioletBMD

SPOILERS for Book 3, an AU in which Catelyn isn't murdered at the Red Wedding and Tywin survives too. In order to ensure the North's surrender, a marriage is forced upon them. Now, two enemies will have to live with each other and be a couple as well. Will they be able to get along?

1. Chapter 1

Author's Notes: I intend this story to be a multi-chaptered fic, sorry if the first chapter is not too long, but I needed to start with something as a sort of introduction. Also, this is my first fanfic ever, and english is not my native language, so if you detect any errors in the way of writing or whatsoever, please tell me. Evidently, I don't own anything, the characters belong to GRRM. That said, I hope you enjoy it!

Chapter 1

When Catelyn Stark woke up, the first thing she saw were her hands. They were bloodstained. At first she didn't understand why, but then all the memories of that horrendous night came to her mind. A fierce rage flooded from her when she understood what happened, when she realized what those traitors did to her son.

Now she was alone, completely isolated of all the people whom she once loved, and they were all dead, even Robb. She couldn't remember what had happened after her eldest son's head had been cut off and she had slain the Frey boy in return. But honestly, she didn't care. She could only think about her loss, and about all the other losses she had already had, leaving her completely on her own.

Tears began to flow freely through her face, and she suddenly had an overwhelming desire of crumpling on the bed, grieving there eternally for those who had left her. However, something inside her instantly rebelled at the thought. If I can't be strong for someone else anymore, then I'll be strong for myself. I am a Tully of Riverrun and a Stark of Winterfell, I can act much better than this.

Trying to keep her emotions at bay, she looked carefully at her new surroundings. The room where she was in was neat, nice and comfortable, luxuriously decorated. Looking throughout a lone window in the wall, she realized that she was inside a castle, though she couldn't see far beyond that due to a tower in front of her. She was pretty certain that she hadn't been in here before, though the red colour of the walls gave her an idea of where she was.

She tried to open the door, but to no avail, as it was closed. She was very clearly being held captive, and if her guess was correct and she was in the Red Keep, then she could only come to a clear conclusion.

I am a prisoner of the Lannisters.