Riverrun, Late 281 AC

Catelyn

"Lysa!" she screamed excited and run towards the Gates of Riverrun, looking for her younger sister.

She could hear horses coming and the voices of people was becoming louder.

Where is she, Catelyn wondered and knowing that her father's bannermen would soon arrive she began to panic.

Hoping that she had enough time, she abruptly turned around and headed towards her chambers, hoping that she would find her sister there, since her own establishments where next to Lysa's.

Disappointed and running out of time, she headed back to the Gates. On her way there, she came upon Petyr, her father's ward, walking down the corridor.

"Petyr, come!" she shouted to him and before he had time to protest she grabbed his arrm and started running with him down the corridors.

Her anxiety of the upcoming visitors soon turned into a giggle and Petyr laughed with her as well. He had the strangest laugh and his grey-green eyes sparkled every time he looked into her own. By the time they reached the Gates, they were both out of breath and with big smiles upon their faces.

"Cat, your hair…" Petyr said gently, pointing at her mane of black-auburn curls.

Worried that it may have been misplaced during her run, she awkwardly tried to reach for it and fix it, but Petyr had climbed into his tiptoes – he was shorter than her – and put the stray strands back into place.

"Thank you" she said and he nodded, pleased with himself.

Catelyn could not have been more worried. Both the Brackens and the Blackwoods were arriving at the same time, and they were known for harbouring a grudge for each other. To start a feud right here, in Riverrun, would be like starting a war and Catelyn had no wish to participate in any such event.

Even though she had initially gone looking for Lysa, since she was Lord Hoster Tully's youngest daughter, she was much happier with Petyr about. He had a way of turning peoples' minds around and with him she felt safer.

Yet, a potential fight between Blackwoods and Brackens was the least of her worries. Her father had told her, only the previous night, of a very important message he was expecting concerning her future. Maester Vyman had advised her father on who was best to betroth his daughters to and the letters had been sent to both Lannisters and Starks. Her father had yet to confirm which house was for which daughter and indeed, which son.

When the knock on the Gates sounded and one of the Guards announced that Blackwoods, Brackens and a messenger had arrived, Catelyn rose into her tiptoes.

"Open the Gates!" she commanded with a voice that befitted the Lady of House Tully and soon to be of House Lannister or Stark.

The guards followed her command and soon the doors had opened up, to reveal a hundred or so horses. Half were waving a banner of a red horse on its back, engulfed in a triangular shape of yellow and then engulfed in a colour of dark brown.

House Bracken, Catelyn thought and smiled gently.

The other house's banner was one which had often caused her nightmares. It was a white weirwood tree and was surrounded by a dark red colour and ten dark ravens. House Blackwood.

Even so, Catelyn stepped forward with Petyr at her heels and smiled to both the houses. Recognising Lord Bracken, she decided to greet him first. Then, realising it might come off as an insult she opted for another option.

"Lord Bracken, Lord Blackwood. It is an honour to meet you. I am Catelyn, elder daughter of house Tully, and I offer the meat and mead of my house for however long you need to stay" she said politely, reciting the words her Septa had taught her.

The Blackwood's faces suddenly became sour and she hoped that they had not been insulted since she mentioned their names second.

"Aye. And where is your Lord Father? Sending off his daughter and this little weasel at her side to greet us at the Gates…" a man, who Catelyn guessed was Lord Blackwood, spoke.

Her heart clutched in her chest, afraid she had once again insulted them. This was dangerous ground. She had to tread carefully. Cat went to speak, but Petyr walked in front of her and gave the Lord a sly smile.

"This weasel is called Petyr Baelish. I am Lord Hoster's ward, Lord Brynden. I do so apologise if my presence has caused you such discomfort. It is true that I possess not the most comely of faces. However, Lord Hoster's daughter beauty is renowned in all of King's Landing. Knights sing songs of her beauty and honour… The Lord of Riverrun thought it would be best if a beautiful sight welcomed you upon your arrival rather than his own sour face" Petyr said.

For a second Cat held her breath. How could have Petyr, or Littlefinger as Lysa called him, have acted so boldly? How could she have confused the son for the father? Shame clouded her features but Brynden Blackwood cracked a smile which was soon followed by Jonos Bracken's thunderous laugh.

"Yes, Lady Cat. I see you have become quite beautiful in these last years…" Lord Bracken started, eyeing her in a way that made her feel uncomfortable, but a glare from Lady Bracken made him clear his throat and look away.

"Lord Jonos Bracken, Lady Bracken, Barbara, Jayne, Catelyn, Bess, Alyssane. Lord Tytos Blackwood, Lord Bryndon, Lucas, Hoster, Edmun, Alyn, Bethany and Robert. It is an honour to greet you all here, at Riverrun. Come, my Lords and Ladies. If it pleases you, Petyr and I will escort you to your chambers. Your servants, squires and knights are most welcome. A splendid feast is to be held tonight in preparation for the tourney on the morrow" Catelyn said, pleased that she had remembered all the family names.

There were some Blackwoods and Brackens that she did not recognise, but instead of calling them by their wrong name she opted not to call them at all. While they were walking towards the chambers where her father's bannermen were to be placed she kneeled to Petyr's side.

"Who is the Bracken boy walking next to Lord Jonos? I know him not" she whispered in his ear.

He smiled quizzically at her. "It is understandable. He is Lord Jono's bastard. Lady Bracken is not happy with him, yet the Lord of Bracken goes against his wife's wishes and brings him to feasts and important meetings and all. Why that is…"

A messenger came to Catelyn's side. He was about Petyr's size and age.

"My Lady" he said, almost bowing. "I have a message from Winterfel and Casterly Rock for Lost Hoster"

Cat's heart started beating fast inside her chest, once again. Petyr watched her expression change and held her hand tightly, helping her keep her balance. Suddenly she heard her father's booming voice, followed by the Blackfish's quieter one – he was her father's younger brother and her beloved uncle - and her hand slipped away from Petyr's grasp and she straightened up, smiling to them both gently.

Her Lord Father greeted his guests, sharing japes and jokes with Lord Jonos while offering Lord Tytos the finest of his wines. Tomorrow, a small tourney was to be held for her father's bannermen as a remembrance day of his Lady Wife, Minisa Tully, who had perished upon giving birth to her younger brother, Edmure.

If truth be told, the tourney had been Lysa's and Petyr's idea since they had always loved everything concerning knights. Young Edmure, eager as he was to follow along, had also begged for a tourney and realising the importance of what the children were saying, Lord Hoster had given in. Maester's Vyman voice must have surely aided their plan as he had a tender spot for small Edmure.

The prizes for the tourney had yet to be announced, but she had heard the servant girls gossiping that the prize would be Lord Hoster's daughters, something she had found most appalling. It was one thing for her father to promise her hand to one of the noble houses and another for her hand to be won over a tourney. No doubt, her sister Lysa, would have thought this notion most gallant, but to Cat, it was the most uncertain of notions. It meant that whoever participated in the tourney would have a chance in this, be it the lowest of the low or the most noble of born. Not only this, but winning in a tourney told Cat nothing about the man's character, only that he was good at fighting with swords.

Deep into her thoughts, she did not realise how soon she had led both Brackens and Blackwoods to their chambers and was left to follow at her father's and uncle's footsteps. Petyr was following them close behind and before long her sister, Lysa, and young Edmure appeared, looking red faced and excited, as if they were hiding a secret. Young Edmure whispered something in Petyr's ear and the boy looked strangely happy with whatever information her young brother had shared with him.

Nevertheless when they reached the Hall, Lord Hoster paused and eyed Petyr, Edmure and Lysa.

"I shall need to have a word with Cat" he said in his most lord like of voices.

Lysa and Edmure were quick to leave the hall, no doubt after something. However, Petyr lingered for a few seconds even when servants and guards had exited the Great Hall.

"You too, Petyr" Lord Tully added eyeing the boy. When the Blackfish made an attempt to leave as well, Lord Hoster motioned for him to stay.

Her father sighed and sited himself at the big wooden chair in the middle of the room. Without guards, children, maids and servants, the Hall of Riverrun suddenly looked empty. "Come here, Cat. Next to me. Brynden, you too"

Cat did as she was bid and sat next to her father, followed by her uncle.

"A message arrived. It appears we have an answer from Winterfell" her father said.

Catelyn swallowed. An answer, yes. But an answer for whom? Brynden's Tully deep blue eyes sparkled with interest.

"You are to be wed to Brandon Stark. Master Vyman has told me of how brave, clever and bright the young man is. It is said he is also comely, very tall and handsome. Last, but not least, he is heir to Winterfell which would make you Lady of Winterfell" her father said.

Lady of Winterfell. Lady of Stark, Catelyn thought tasting the words in her mind.

Winterfell was up north, near the Wall. It was said that snow covered the grounds even in the middle of the summer and you needed a thousand blankets to warm yourself in the winter. The Starks were said to have the blood of wolves running through their veins. There was also ice in their blood, making them cold and hard with piercing and terrifying glares.

Cat swallowed. If truth be told she would have much rather been betrothed to Jamie Lannister. He was handsome, tall and muscular, comely with his mane of blonde hair and green eyes. He was near Riverrun as well. She would have been closer to her family.

"What of the Lannisters?" she wondered idly.

Her father pressed his lips together tightly. "Lord Tywin has refused the offer. He even suggested marrying Lysa to little Tyrion, the grotesque half man of a son. What an insult! The tourney is the next few days is as good excuse as any to find a good husband for your sister amongst my bannermen. It will strengthen our bonds… "

"Or severe them all together if it is Bracken or Blackwood" Brynden Tully added.

Catelyn felt sorry for her sister. It would have been a great honour to be wife to Jamie Lannister.

"Lord Bracken only has a bastard son. If anything Lysa should be wed to the eldest son of Blackwood. Surely the Lord of Bracken cannot be insulted with such a notion" Cat said but did so because she was afraid more of the Blackwood's wrath compared to the Bracken's.

"Clever Cat" her father said with a smile playing at the edges of his lips. "You will make a splendid Lady of Stark. Brandon will be lucky to have you"

He drunk a sip of red wine and then continued. "Sweet Arbor. Splendid beverage! Brandon is to arrive tomorrow with his Lord Father. The rest of the Stark family is heading to the tourney of Harrenhall. Even though your mother's family insisted, I am afraid that heading there, will not be a possibility. Our tourney will have finished before Harrenhall but still…"

He smiled some more after that, laughing with the Blackfish and then bid her good bye. All the while Cat nodded and smiled back. That was her duty, what else could she have done? Yet, she did not fail to notice that not once had her father asked her if she accepted the marriage proposal. It was almost as if he demanded it of her.

"I thank you Lord Father for arranging such a splendid match for me. May I return to my chambers?" Cat asked him.

Family. Duty. Honour.

Those were the words of her House and she was going to follow them.

A/N: I have now changed some of the starting chapters since certain events happened at slightly different dates. Next chapter should be posted within this weekend. Fell free to leave a review and tell me what you think of the story so far and if there is anything amiss.