4. First Step.

The following morning Stannis, Melisandre, Catelyn and a small group of men took a sailboat to King's Landing. They sailed under a Lannister flag disguised as a fishing vessel. This was not to be an all out attack. The idea was for Lady Melisandre to sneak into the city and find out where Sansa was. She had been gone for almost six hours when she returned.

"The city is under the control of the Gold Cloaks. I had much difficulty getting in and out. King Joffrey's wedding to Margaery Tyrell took place yesterday."

"I had not been informed. Nor was I invited. He is still my nephew" said Stanis, hurt palpable in his tone.

"It's a good thing you were not here, my Lord. King Joffrey is dead, poisoned at his own wedding."

"Was it murder? Who did it?"

"Tyrion Lannister has been arrested. Not everybody believes it was him, though. Some people blame Lord Tywin himself, or the Tyrells, the Martells, even your daughter Sansa has been considered a suspect" the last part directed at Lady Stark.

"Where is she? Is she alright? Did you see her?" she asked.

"She's no longer in King's Landing. It is said she escaped with the help of a Ser Dontos."

"Who is Ser Dontos?"

"It does not matter. He is dead"

"Where's my daughter?"

"I'm sorry. I don't know."

"We should leave, then" interrupted Stannis. "There's nothing left for us to do here. If the city guard is on high alert, we run the risk of being found. It is not the right time to attack, either."

"No!" cried Catelyn. "We can't leave, yet. Lady Melisandre, you promised. I have a name."

"Very well" she said. "Stannis, leave us, please. Go back to the boat. We'll be back shortly"

After Stannis had left, Lady Melisandre turned to Lady Stark.

"Are you sure?" she asked.

"More than anything".

"Close your eyes, Lady Stark. Do not speak. Think of the name. Think of the face."

Catelyn closed her eyes. Cersei Lannister. Cersei Lannister. Cersei Lannister. She kept repeating her name like a mantra. Cersei Lannister. She was no longer standing on the pier. She was a shadow. She was floating. Cat, don't do this. Ned's voice pleaded with her again. "I have to do it" she thought to herself. A shadow. Floating. Suddenly she found herself in Cersei's room. She studied the woman. Cersei was crying. Broken with grief she no longer seemed so imposing. Catelyn saw herself reflected in this woman; broken in front of Bran's bed, broken when word reached her of the murder of her two youngest sons, broken at the Twins when Roose Bolton delivered the final thrust into her oldest son. Cersei was a griving mother, just like her. Maybe that was punishment enough. "No, I have to do this" she told herself.

"Who's there?" asked Cersei.

"No one, just a shadow" the shadow replied.

"Who are you? What are you?" Cersei panicked.

"How does it feel?" the shadow taunted her. "To lose your children. It hurts, doesn't it?"

"Go away!" shouted Cersei.

"It's sad, isn't it? It's like a dagger in your heart, isn't it? Is it a real dagger? Maybe not. But it could be" the shadow said as it slowly floated towards Cersei. "I can make it real."

The shadow materialized and took real shape.

"Lady Stark?" asked a terrified Cersei. "But you're dead"

"If I were I wouldn't be here, would I?"

Catelyn extender her arm towards Cersei and the arm started growing longer; longer and sharper.

"Losing your children hurts, doesn't it? The pain is real" she said and she pushed her extended arm into Cersei's chest. "May the Stranger take you to the deepest of the seven hells and make you pay for your crimes"

As Cersei fell back, unmoving, Lady Stark dematerialized again. She was a shadow again. Floating. The shadow passed through walls and flew over King's Landing. The shadow arrived at the pier where Lady Melisandre was standing next to another person. The shadow knew that person. The shadow crept into that person.

Catelyn jerked awake and her eyes opened wide. "It is done" she said. "Thank you. We can go now." And they got on a raft to board the sailboat and go back to Dragonstone.

Cat, my love, what have you done? "Ned? I don't know what I'm doing. Am I crazy? Are you really here?" she cried. Yes, I am. I will be for always. "I can't see you." No, but I can see you. "Help me, then. Guide me. Please" she begged. We will. "We? Who is we?" All of us. The ones who can no longer speak.. "The Dead" Catelyn suddenly understood and she could swear she felt Ned's arms around her. "When I first woke up, there was another voice. A man." Yes, Ser Davos. Lady Melisandre sacrificed him in order to bring you back. "Tell him I'm sorry, I never wanted any of this." He knows, Cat. He knows. "I'm afraid, Ned. I don't know what I'm doing" she sighed shaking her head. Then she added "Is Ser Dontos with you?" I'm here, my lady. I know what you want to ask me. Your daughter is alive and she is safe. She is with Lord Baelish. They're going to the Eyrie.

TBC

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So now the adventure begins ... Stannis and Melisandre going for the throne and Catelyn fighting for her family and trying avenge her losses ... and yes, after her brush with Death Catelyn speaks with the Dead ...
Please tell me what you think. Thanks for reading