A/N: Apologies for the short chapter again, I just couldn't find anything else to put in this chapter. First time I write using a canon character. I tried my hardest to capture Catelyn's personality and thoughts, I hope I did a good job. Follow, Favourite, and Review! EDIT: Apparently there is already a character in canon named Cerenna Lannister. The one I am speaking in this chapter of is the name I gave to one of the 2 unnamed daughters of Jason Lannister.
Blue eyes scanned the stone terraces of Winterfell as the cold northern wind brushed the auburn hair out of Catelyn Stark's face. Outriders had reported that it was more than likely the king would arrive at the castle within the day. Catelyn had, therefore, decided to ensure that everyone would be ready by the time the King arrived. The stables had been emptied, room was made for the queen's wheelhouse, the guest rooms had been prepared, and a grand feast was prepared for that night, and every night during the Royal Family's planned two week stay at Winterfell. Everything had to be just right, and any mistakes quickly corrected.
Of course, any corrections mattered not now, as the royal party was pouring through the gates, with the golden banners of House Baratheon whipping through the wind high above them, crowned stags prancing in the wind. Many of the riders near the front were well known, Ser Jaime Lannister, the Queen's twin brother, Sandor Clegane, the Sworn Sword of the Crown Prince, riding next to the curly-but short trimmed golden haired boy who had to be the Crown Prince, looking with a kindly smile towards them. This one seems to understand etiquette, unlike his brother.
After they spread out, the main section of the column came riding in. At the head of the column rode a giant of a man on the back of a black warhorse. The man had arms ripped with muscles, but his stomach extended far beyond what one would expect. He had coal black hair, and his eyes seemed the same colour as the azure sky. After riding over to the side, he practically leapt off his horse, walked up to Ned a crushed him into a bear-hug with a cry of "Ned!"
Ned seemed to return the hug to King Robert, and Catelyn averted her gaze to look at the column. The large wheelhouse had opened, and the Queen Cersei Lannister stepped out with her younger children, the Princess Myrcella and the Prince Tommen. The Princess looked very uncomfortable, always tugging at her dress incessantly. The Prince was staring wide eyed, looking around with those little emeralds of his. The Queen looked very disinterested, like she didn't want to be there. She married the king, so her name really should be Queen Cersei Baratheon, not Lannister, but she never seems to have changed her name, she is still always referred to as Queen Cersei Lannister. A wife is supposed to accept her husband's name as her own. I accepted become Catelyn Stark. Catelyn thought as her eyes ran across the party.
Next to the Queen there stood a young man, with little muscle to speak of on his body, yet he didn't appear unhealthy either. His black hair extended to his neck, and his bangs were tucked behind his left ear. His emerald eyes had a distinctly bored expression on his face… almost as if he was expecting something that wasn't there, and was trying to... not look disappointed. Seven hells. Not again, not another one.
Before long, the young man noticed her looking in his direction. He put his right hand to his left breast, gave a kindly bow with a bit of a mocking smile on his face, before extending his right arm in a wide arc and returning it to his side as if remembering something.
"Well, while ei ras [his grace] rekindles his love affair over there, I have a task to do."the young man said, walking over to the line of people as the Queen glared at him from behind. He walked over toward Catelyn and the children and looked over the line. Following him were the younger children. The King walked up to Catelyn, and they embraced like long lost siblings, while Ned knelt down to kiss the Queen's ring. The Queen walked up to her next, and Catelyn provided a respectful curtsey.
"Take me down to your crypts, Eddard, I wish to pay my respects." Robert said.
"We've been on the road for two months, surely the dead can wait." Cersei protested. Robert barely spared her a glance before motioning for Ned to follow, and he did. The Queen may have protested more, but Jaime touched her arm, and after she turned her head at him, he shook his head lightly, and she stopped any protesting. The young man seemed to finish looking over the line in which they were standing about then, and turned to look at her.
"Where's Little Ned?" he asked.
"Who?" Catelyn asked.
"Little Ned." he stated once again. How rude, he didn't introduce himself! Suddenly, a cry of "Oh!" came up from behind her. Turning around, she saw that Arya had stepped forward. She looked a bit nervous stepping, but soon seemed to compose herself an look directly at him.
"He's probably in the Glass Gardens." Arya said.
"Well, can you lead me to him?" the young man asked her with abit of an attitude.
"Wait until after the introductions." Catelyn said sternly. The young man turned to look at her, and gave her a wide smile that seemed to imply bad intentions.
"Lady… Stark, was it? I can't do as I wish until I find the kid, so I would appreciate it if you moved out of my way. I really couldn't care less about the pleasantries. So, shall you show me to the young prince, Little Stark?" he said.
"My name is Arya," she replied. "and mayhaps I'll show you to him after you introduce yourself."
"Addam." he said. His black doublet with golden stitches seemed to explain the rest to her, and she waved him along.
"Arya!" Catelyn called. "Get back here! You cannot leave during the middle of the introduction!"
Arya spun around. "Arya Stark, pleasure to meet your acquaintance." she said with a respectable curtsey before continuing onwards, Addam following behind.
The Queen then walked forward to introduce the children to each other. The Princess seemed to be passing glances at Robb as she walked, and Tommen eyes still seemed resplendent staring at the sight of Winterfell and the snow around them. Catelyn turned to look at the ones in the line, and Theon Greyjoy looked as pale as the snow he was standing in.
"Greyjoy, something troubling you?" Catelyn asked.
"That young man, Addam? That was my cousin." Theon said.
"Your… cousin?" Catelyn asked, incredulous,
He nodded. "He's Addam Greyjoy. His father is my uncle Victarion. Addam's mother was his second wife, a match my grandfather Quellon made to try and make connections on the mainland. Her name was Cerenna… Lannister" Theon explained.
"Cerenna… Lady Joanna's little sister?" Catelyn asked.
"Yes… I believe so." he said.
"I thought the Ironborn hated anything having to do with the mainland?" Catelyn asked.
Theon scoffed. "Nah, that's just some edau my father spins. While under him that may have increased, we have enough traders under our banners that we have to have some ties or we'd all starve to death." After Theon finished explaining this to her, Cersei and her children walked up to the line. The Crown Prince descended from his horse and walked up to them as well, Each one introducing themselves, the Princes introducing themselves first.
"Prince Joffrey, of Houses Baratheon and Lannister"
"Prince Tommen, of Houses Baratheon and Lannister."
"Princess Myrcella, of House Baratheon." The Princess got a side-eyed look from her mother and siblings, but no further mention was made of it. The Stark children then moved up, along with Theon, the Snow boy stayed behind.
"Robb, of House Stark"
"Sansa, of House Stark"
"Brandon, of House Stark."
"Rickon, of House Stark."
"Theon, of House Greyjoy."
The Princess' eyes widened. "Are you related to Addam?"
"Yes. My father is his father's elder brother." Theon answered.
"Ned told us Addam had a cousin up here, we wanted to meet his acquaintance." Tommen said in his best 'prince' voice. Ned… his siblings think so highly of him by the sound of their voices.
"Why isn't Ned out here?" Myrcella asked, a slightly indignant edge to her voice.
"Prince Edric can be too willful for his own good, tends to stay to himself." Catelyn said with as little edge as she could muster.
"He vowed he would see us again when he could!" Tommen all but screamed. However, he was tapped on the shoulder by his sister.
"Tom, let's gae."[go] Myrcella whispered to her brother, and they turned and walked away from the courtyard. Slowly, everyone began to leave the courtyard. Once Ser Rodrik had left to escort the Queen to the guest houses, Catelyn finally left the courtyard herself.