Disclaimer: I do not own Game of Thrones or anything related. It belongs to George R.R. Martin, the creator of this wonderful universe and David Benioff and D. B. Weiss who created the show.
01x01: Winter is Coming.
Chapter Nine: News from Kings Landing.
Slowly approaching her husband as he cleaning his sword, they were in the Godswood and no matter how often Catelyn came to this place; she always felt like she was doing something wrong. To her the sept was a place of worship, Catelyn never felt like she was truly welcome here; she took a deep breath as she watched Eddard clean his sword with steady hands.
"All these years, and I still feel like an outsider when I come here," Catelyn mused stopping just a little away from Eddard, her eyes swept the Godswood glad that she would be able to speak to him alone. It was going to be hard enough to share this news with him, he'd been a little distracted since they had returned from the execution of the deserter from the Night's Watch.
"You have five northern children. You're not an outsider," Eddard reminded her with a smile, he stopped what he was doing to admire his wife; she was so very beautiful and he couldn't imagine his life without her. In the years since he had married Catelyn Tully, Eddard couldn't bring himself to regret how things had worked out for them; he would never forget the sacrifice that his father and brother had made.
"I wonder if the old Gods agree," Catelyn murmured looking to the heart tree, she found it so strange how different it was here compared to how she had grown up in Riverrun. Her children had been raised in the ways of her husband's family at times Catelyn did feel like an outsider; there weren't many southern ladies this far north.
"It's your Gods, by all the rules," Eddard reminded her teasingly, he was a little curious about why Catelyn had come here; it was strange to see her here when her place of worship was in a sept. Catelyn slowly reached into her sleeve and produced a parchment from her sleeve, she looked down at the parchment before she looked to her husband with a sigh.
"I am so sorry, my love," Catelyn whispered with a shake of her head, she knew how much this was going to upset him and she wished that she had better news to share with him. This wasn't what Catelyn had been expecting when she had heard that there was news from the Capital and she couldn't help but fear what would come next; she stared at Eddard fearing what was too come.
"Tell me," Eddard said watching her, his stomach turning at the look on his wife's face and he knew that it could only be bad news for them. It had been a while since they'd heard news that would give them any reason to worry, the last thing they wanted when things were finally peaceful was for more trouble to come this way.
"There was a raven from King's Landing. Jon Arryn is dead. A fever took him," Catelyn revealed carefully, she could only watch as Eddard looked down; she knew how shocking this must have been for him and she wished that there was something that she could say to make this right. None of them could have expected this even with Jon Arryn being as old as he was, it had been a sudden death and Catelyn couldn't help but worry for what would come now.
"I know he was like a father to you," Catelyn murmured watching him, she couldn't imagine what it was going on inside Eddard's head; he had already lost his father, older brother and sister, he had now lost the only father-figure he'd had in years. Eddard took a deep breath, he couldn't believe this had happened and he slowly looked to his wife knowing that this affected her as well; her sister had been married to Jon Arryn.
"Your sister, the boy..." Eddard asked knowing that Lysa Arryn had been in King's Landing with her husband while he served as Hand of the King. It must have come as such a shock to her when her husband had so suddenly passed away and even harder for Lysa with a seven-year-old son to deal with right now.
Catelyn sighed moving to be seated next to her husband, she worried for her sister and it had been many years since Catelyn had last seen her; she couldn't imagine what Lysa had to be going through right now.
"They both have their health, Gods be good," Catelyn murmured hoping that her dear sister would be okay, she dreaded to think of how difficult things were for Lysa now her husband had gone.
Eddard nodded his head relieved to hear that at least, he couldn't imagine how upset Catelyn would have been if something had happened to her sister and her dear sweet nephew. They had both been lucky to escape whatever had taken Jon and Eddard knew that Robin Arryn would one day take over his father's positon as Lord of the Eyrie.
"The raven brought more news. The king rides for Winterfell... with the queen, and all the rest of them," Catelyn revealed with a frown, she had dreaded this part and she couldn't believe that this was happening to them. Eddard stared to his wife, he also knew why King Robert would be coming and he wasn't surprised; he could only imagine what would come of his best friend coming this far north.
"If he's coming this far north... there's only one thing he's after," Eddard murmured with a shake of his head, Jon Arryn had been Robert's Hand since the man had taken over the Seven Kingdoms and now that he was gone there was only one person that he wished to replace him.
Brushing some hair from her face, Sanira followed after Catelyn and Maester Luwin as they walked through the Great Hall; she had hoped that by following her good-mother around that it would help her. The entire castle was preparing for the arrival of the King and Sanira was hopeful that by following Catelyn around that she would learn something that would help her in the future.
"We'll need plenty of candles for Lord Tyrion's chamber. I'm told he reads all night," Catelyn said speaking to Maester Luwin, she didn't mind Sanira following her around since she was sure that this would help her learn to deal with important events in the future. It was all hands on deck right now and everything had to be perfect for when the King arrived in about a month's time; the last thing they wanted was to be caught unaware.
"I'm told he drinks all night," Maester Luwin mused with a smile, everyone had heard about Lord Tyrion's behaviour and it was going to be interesting to see what became of it. The whispers of the Queen's youngest brother had reached this far north and they were far from pleasant; Tyrion Lannister was by far the least popular member of his family.
"How much could he possibly drink, a man of his... stature?" Catelyn asked looking to Maester Luwin, she didn't want to cause any offence but it was no secret that Tyrion was not the son that Tywin Lannister had wanted especially when it had caused him to lose his wife. Sanira chewed on her lip, she didn't really know much of her cousin since her mother had always ensured that if she did meet the Lannister side of her family that she was only allowed to talk with Cersei and her children.
"We've brought up eight barrels of ale from the cellar. Perhaps we'll find out," Maester Luwin mused with a smile, it was going to be a costly visit and he could only hope that King Robert and his family wouldn't be staying longer than they needed to.
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