Catelyn's hands shook as she read the letter. Her daughter wrote of treason and plots and Ned, her Ned's death. Robb stood behind her and when she turned to look at him she could see the terror written on his face.
"Why, how, I don't – Father wouldn't do this, he loved Robert. Why is Sansa writing this?" Robb implored. His belief in his father's goodness and honour burned as bright as always.
"This is your sister's hand my son, but these are not her words. She is a hostage now; do not doubt that for a second. Her life and Arya's life depend on us. You must call the banners" Catelyn answered. Her mind, which before had been silent, a graveyard of memories was filling with ideas and plans.
"I will write to my father and sister now as well, Maester Luwin will assist you. We will rescue you sisters and take vengeance on your fathers killers".
As she rode through the gates of her childhood home, she cast her mind back to when she first laid eyes on the man who would become her husband.
She had been inconsolable since she got the news that her beloved Brandon was dead. Her father had tried to provide her solace by telling her that she would still be Lady of Winterfell but none of that mattered if she couldn't have the man she loved. He, who spoke so elegantly and was so flattering and kind, Brandon who had some new and lovely way to praise her every time they spoke – killed by a madman for love of his sister. Now she would marry his dour brother, raised alongside Robert Baratheon, who already had fathered one bastard.
She could see a party riding hard in the distance from her position on the battlements. Though there was no clear sigil, at least that she could see, the speed of the party coupled with the direction it was coming from meant only one thing. Her and her sister's futures were upon them. Jon Arryn and Eddard Stark would be there before the hour was out.
Her father had called her and her sister to welcome the Lords to Riverrun and as she waited for the doors to open she spied tears on her sisters face. Catelyn reached out her hand and gripped her sisters hard. Family, Duty, Honour – the words she whispered to herself, the only thing stopping her from fleeing this room and this life. The doors opened and in walked her father. She recognized Lord Arryn and the man who walked beside him. He was tall, with a long face and sad eyes. Lord Eddard Stark of Winterfell, she watched him as his eyes moved from around the room before stopping on her. He was not as handsome as Brandon but, she would do as her Septa had instructed and find something beautiful in him. She settled on his eyes, grey the same colour as Brandon.
A cry of 'Sister' brought Catelyn back to reality, her brother Edmure walking up to help her dismount. He helped her down off her horse while offering condolences for her loss. Edmure directed a stable hand, Mychal her brother called him, to take her and her companion's, Rodrick Cassel and Tomas Snow's horses to be stabled.
"Our Father is waiting inside, my Lady, he would have been here to greet you but his health is not what it once was" Edmure informed her. This new knowledge was worrying especially in the face of what she predicted would be upheaval not seen since the Rebellion.
"My darling daughter" Lord Hoster's voice echoed in the great hall of Riverrun. "Come, let me look at you". Catelyn walked, and then ran to embrace her father. The tears she had not allowed herself to shed in front her son now fell.
"I need your help" Catelyn whispered. War, the unspoken words, a plea, I need you to go to war.
"I have written to my Lords and Bannermen, sweetling, we will not allow this crime to go on" her father's words, a reassurance, were a balm to her. She would not have to face this alone.
"Robb has called the Northman, they are congregating in Winterfell and then he will march south. I have instructed him to meet me here. The forces of the Riverland's, the North and the Vale of Arryn combined will again ride and war together to avenge a Stark Lord. Robert's Rebellion comes again. I guess it is true what they say about history repeating itself. Robb's Rebellion. Robert's Rebellion. A wave of nausea came over her then at the thought of her boy, born in this very castle going to war. I must be strong; I am a Stark and a Tully. For Eddard, for Sansa, for Arya, for Robb, and for Brandon who had been so broken by the Lannister evil. The imp. Catelyn would have her revenge, this she vowed to herself.
Her father and brother shared a look, one shared by people who do not wish to break bad news.
"About the Vale, your sister…" Hoster trailed off then. Silently she turned to her brother.
"What about the Vale. I saw Lysa only three moons ago; she helped me put the Imp on trial. Has something happened to her?" Her stomach curdled as worry began to grow. The continued silence of her family only making her anxieties worse. "Well?" Catelyn asked.
"Nothing has happened to Lysa –" Edmure started.
"That we know of" interrupted Hoster.
"That we know of" her brother agreed, "that is the problem; we have sent ravens to the Eyrie. To endeavour to arrange armies, but we have not heard back. Not from Lysa. Your uncle Brynden is considering travelling to the Vale to see what has happened. It is probably an issue with the ravens and nothing more" Edmure finished.
"None the less, you are right and the Vale's intentions in this war" for it will be a war, Catelyn thought to herself. "Must be discovered." Catelyn responded, "I will join Uncle Brynden in his travels." Here she paused for a moment before continuing "I had hoped to travel to the stormlands to make an alliance with either Renly or Stannis, but ensuring we have the Vale will take precedent. We cannot make new alliances if our old ones aren't steady."
"It will take a few days to gather everything you need for the journey; you must be exhausted after travelling all this way. Edmure will assist you in taking your things to your rooms. I will send for Brynden to join us for supper" Hoster stated.
Brynden saddled his horse, before turning to his niece. "Are you sure you want to travel with so small a party, dear one? I am sure that my brother would be more than happy enough to provide you with more knights" he queried.
"Five is enough Uncle. In this case speed is of utmost import and anymore people would slow us down. Besides I have you, Rodrick Cassel, Tomas Snow and Ser Robin Ryker, I am plenty safe enough." Catelyn surmised. She allowed her uncle to assist her in mounting her horse. As she looked around the courtyard while she waited for the rest of her party to equip their horses Catelyn hoped that Lysa would prove more willing to help than her father thought.
"Well, m'lady, we have arrived" Tomas Snow grunted. He was, as they all were, exhausted from their flight through the Riverland's up to the Bloody Gate.
"Who would pass the Bloody Gate" roared from above their heads. Catelyn began to respond but was interrupted.
"Your predecessor, Ser Brynden Tully and his niece, sister to the Lady of the Eyrie, Lady Catelyn Stark and their party" her uncle boomed. "Lets us through Ser Donnel".
The gates creaked as they opened and the group continued through. Ser Donnel saluting Brynden as they travelled.
The party was silent as the continued, the only noise being the clomping of the horse's hooves. They slowed as they reached the Gates of the Moon. Lord Nestor came out to meet them.
"My Lady, Ser's, Welcome to the Gates of the Moon. You are all welcome to my hospitality for as long as you wish" Lord Nestor wheezed.
"That is very kind of you, my Lord, but we will only be troubling you for one night before we press on to my sister" Catelyn murmured. The exhaustion was starting to set in and she was finding it difficult to stay astride. Catelyn stumbled as she was helped off her horse by Tomas. Lord Nestor directed some of his servants out to put away their horses and take them too their rooms. "My Lord," Catelyn yawned, "We have had a long journey, would it be too much to ask for a tray to be sent to my rooms, I wish to retire for the night".
"Of course, my Lady I will see to it at once. Mya Stone will be ready in the morning with her mules to take you up to the Eyrie" boomed Lord Nestor.
"Sister" Lady Lysa smiled from the Arryn's weirwood throne. "How… lovely to see you again so soon. What has brought you to the Vale of Arryn?"
"You know very well what has brought me here." Catelyn snapped. "You did not respond to my son or our father's ravens. I have come to entreat you for your aid to avenge my husband and rescue my daughters. Your nieces." Catelyn stressed. Lysa's composure seemed to waiver, and then she straightened her spine.
"I have not responded to you or father's ravens because I have nothing to say." Lysa sniffed. "I have made the decision that it is in the best interests of my son for the Vale to remain neutral."
"Did you not receive the raven from Stannis Baratheon" Brynden spat. "Do you not know of the affront to the gods, it is in the best interests of your son not to avenge his father on the lying faithless –"
"Uncle please" Catelyn broke in "That is why I have travelled here, Lysa to beg of you. I need your help. I am your sister, Lysa please" She begged.
"You need my help? and what of when I needed your help. Where were you when father tricked me into drinking tansy? When he killed my babe from inside me" Lysa surged to her feet "You beg me for help, yet you were silent when I was sold as damaged goods to a man old enough to have fathered my father. A man of sixty and five when I was a girl of ten and four. A man with two wives behind him and no children. Whose impotency had left two women before me childless. A man desperate enough for an heir he would marry someone ruined while you got to gallivant off to the North with someone who loved you and treasured you and was kind and would not, was not." Lysa choked as her tears threatened to spill. "I am the Lady of the Vale and you are welcome to my hospitality, not my armies" she declared. There was silence as the Lady of the Vale and the Lady of Winterfell stood mirroring each other.
Crash. The sound shocked Catelyn out of her stupor and her and Lysa turned to stare at her Uncle who was turning alternately red and white.
"Wha– , What– , I don't – , What did you – " Brynden sputtered. Catelyn and Lysa looked at each other then.
"Uncle, are you –" Catelyn was interrupted.
"What do you mean tricked into drinking tansy" her Uncle barked. "What are you talking about damaged goods"?
"I was in mourning at the time so I don't know all the details, but surely father told you. Lysa fell pregnant around the same time Brandon died. Remember, she was confined in her rooms? Father brought her some tea and told her it would help the babe"
"Needless to say moon tea did not help anything" Lysa muttered. "Not that I knew what it was till my baby bled out of me".
"What are you both talking about" Brynden exploded.
"What do you mean what are we talking about" hissed Lysa.
"No, wait Lysa. This was just after Brandon had died. Uncle Brynden had ridden out the day after we got the news of what happened in Kings Landing. He was on his way to Harrenhal to marshal our forces." recalled Catelyn.
"Again, what on earth are you two on about" questioned Brynden. Although by the queasy look on his face he seemed to be coming to the horrifying realisation on his own.
"You really didn't know?" Lysa asked softly.
"Did you honestly never wonder why Hoster married Lysa to a man that old, Uncle" Catelyn questioned.
"I, we needed to cement our alliance" he quavered.
"We did, Hoster also needed to be rid of a potential shame on the families honour" Lysa pointed out.
"None of this is getting us anywhere, Lysa I am sorry I did not protect you as I should have, but what happened is unalterable. We cannot do anything about it. We can still help Sansa. Please, sister, for the love you once had for me." Catelyn coaxed. "Please". Lysa took a deep breath, and then all was silent. The minute stretched on before she spoke.
"Marriage was my prison for so long. Never again." Lysa stressed.
"So you will help?" Catelyn began to hope.
"I will help." Lysa responded.
"Lysa, I swear I had no idea. Why didn't you tell me? I could have protected you" Brynden proclaimed. "I'm sorry. I am so sorry"
"Protected me, how? Catelyn is right. What's done is done." Lysa reasoned. "We must begin anew. If the Vale is to fight I need to muster her troops. I will send the ravens; let us reconvene for the midday meal here"
Catelyn and Brynden entered the room to find Lysa seated at a table with two other place setting. A maid was placing a tray of sandwiches and pear cakes on the table.
"Come, sit we have much to discuss. I have instructed my Lords to send their men to Riverrun where I shall meet them." Lysa began "We need to talk about strategies, allies and so forth".
"I was planning on riding to Storms End to treat with Renly" Catelyn divulged.
"So you haven't heard? What am I saying of course you haven't heard you would have been riding to the Eyrie?" Lysa muttered.
"Haven't heard what Lysa?" Brynden asked quietly. He was quiet now with Lysa, soft.
"Renly died. Rumour has it one of his 'Rainbow Guard' killed him, the woman. She claims it was a demon with the face of Stannis. Given his relationship with that Red Priestess I wouldn't be surprised. Renly's stormlander army has defected. No word yet on what the Tyrell's are doing." Lysa explained. "This of course leaves Stannis as the defacto King in this little rebellion"
"Robb's rebellion" Catelyn murmured.
"Pardon?" queried Lysa.
"Oh, just something I was thinking about earlier. History repeating itself, a mad king killing a Stark lord and a man named Robb rebelling for the love of a Stark Lady". Catelyn replied.
"That is an interesting thought, but all this is for naught if we do not have a plan to deal with Tywin Lannister." Lysa interjected "This war will be won or lost the same way all wars since the death of the dragons have been won or lost – through alliances. Alliances which are created, like always through marriages. The Tyrells command an army of thousands and are currently allied to no one in this war. We must ally with them if only to prevent them allying with Tywin and the Illborn".
"Illborn?" Catelyn asked.
"The name they have given to Cersei's bastards" Lysa clarified.
"Whatever you call them is irrelevant. Lysa is right, we must find a way to ally ourselves with the Tyrells before Tywin does" Brynden cautioned.
"Okay so let's plan. Who do we have that can enter into a marriage pact and we need to include everyone. Long betrothals are not the best option but they can work" Lysa wondered. Catelyn moved a sheet of parchment into the centre of the table and started to make a list.
Marriage Candidates
Male
· Robb
· Brandon
· Rickon
· Edmure
· Robin
Female
· Sansa (Hostage)
· Arya (Hostage)
· Catelyn
"So we have decided to ally ourselves with the Tyrells, yes?" Brynden confirmed.
"Yes, in order to do that we need to bind them to us and us to them. They have a daughter, Margaery who is of an age with Robb. That would be a good match" Catelyn speculated.
"The heir to Highgarden is also unmarried" Lysa mused.
"Both my daughters are hostage's, the Lannister's are hardly going to hand them over to us, especially not so that we can make an alliance" Catelyn reminded her sister.
"That is true, but it is not them I was thinking about. Eddard's death makes you a widow and as a daughter of house Tully and mother to the Lord of Winterfell you are quite eligible." Lysa continued.
"I am also five and thirty" Catelyn snapped. "How can you think that I would marry again? I loved Ned."
"I can think you would marry again because it is what is necessary to ensure we win this war. You need only birth one child. It is hard I know, but you will have more autonomy than I did and I survived. Anyway this could all be a moot point if the Tyrells say no."
For Sansa, for Arya, for Bran, for Rickon, for Robb, for Ned echoed in Catelyn's head.
"We also need a strategy for saving my daughters" Catelyn insisted.
"For that, our best strategy is to take Kings Landing, or take a valuable hostage when we wage war on Tywin Lannister – valuable enough to trade. In the meantime I will – and you should as well – write to Petyr, and see if he can think of something. He owes me his position at court and I do not think he would forget that"
"Write the letter's" she decreed. Ask them to send the replies to Riverrun. "Uncle, Lysa we must journey there now. Regardless of what the Tyrells decide to do that is where our forces are and that is where we must be to take down Lord Tywin. And Lysa, you must decide whether or not you will take Lord Robin or leave him here"
To My Lord Mace, Head of the House Tyrell, Lord of Highgarden, Defender of the Marches, High Marshal of the Reach, and Warden of the South I, Lady Catelyn of House's Tully and Stark send firstly my condolences on the loss of your goodson King Renly of the House Baratheon. I am writing this missive to suggest an alliance between the Reach and the combined might of the Riverland's, the North, and the Vale of Arryn against the Lannister's, Queen Cersei and the Illborn Joffrey Waters. To cement this alliance I would suggest a marriage between your daughter Lady Margaery and my son Lord Robb, Head of the House Stark, Lord of Winterfell, Warden of the North. I would also suggest a marriage betwixt myself and your son and heir Lord Willas. Best wishes.
Lady Catelyn
P.S. Send all replies to Riverrun.