The Starks reached Riverrun just after dawn. Alyssa watched from the ramparts as the northern host wound its way over the horizon, a long steel snake made of pikemen, knights and archers. As they drew nearer, she began to be able to make out the banners flying over the host. The Umber's chained giant. The flayed man of Bolton and the white sunburst of Karstark and countless more. First amongst them all was the grey direwolf of House Stark, running over a field of snow. Squinting at the now quite close head of the column, she could make out an unmistakable flash of red from one of the riders.

Catelyn.

Moving down from the ramparts, Alyssa commanded the men to open the Water Gate and then headed down to the Great Hall, ready to do her duty and greet the Starks... and then after that, in private she would have her sister's reasons for starting this foolishness. She hoped for Catelyn's sake, they were sound ones.

As Catelyn Stark approached Riverrun, she felt a tear come to her eye as she remembered her girlhood days as Catelyn Tully in that castle. Riverrun's red walls rose familiar from the Trident, firm as ever, although all around Riverrun, fires burned and banners flew over army camps being erected even as she watched. Catelyn saw sigils of great houses and high lords of the Trident; her father's bannermen. The trout of Tully and the silver eagle of Mallister were prominent, along with the blazons of Piper, Vance, Bracken, Vypren, Roote and many other Riverlords.

One sigil Catelyn didn't recognise, however, was a shield divided vertically, with the left side blue and the right side red, with a dolphin emblazoned upon it facing the red. While she did not recognise it, it was prominent among the men, many armsmen wearing that livery; though not as many as other powerful Riverlands Houses such as Mallister or, she was shocked to note, Frey.

So it seems Walder Frey told the truth. That dolphin then, must be the arms of my "sister".

The familiar sound of the Water Gate opening echoed over the river, and Catelyn looked up to see a boat being launched from the Water Stair. Raising her hand, she signalled for a halt. Galbart Glover, leading the van, was the closest noble and he looked at her with concern.

"My lady?"

Catelyn motioned to the boat. "It seems my brother has sent a welcoming party. Robb and I will enter Riverrun to speak with him and find out the situation, while we are away, Master Galbart, you have command." Galbart Glover nodded, and briskly turned, already ordering the column to spread out and set up tents.

As the boat travelled across the Tumblestone, Catelyn felt a rush of emotion strike her, and her eyes filled with tears, something Robb obviously noticed. "Mother?"

"Nothing, Robb." A wistful smile crossed Catelyn's face. 'The last time I crossed this river, I was heading to the North, holding a babe in swaddling clothes. Now, the babe wears plate and mail and has his own seat. It just brought home to me exactly how long it has been since I have seen Riverrun."

Robb blushed red at that, then he turned serious, looking at the approaching castle. "Not a very large castle is it? I would have expected the seat of the Paramounts of the Trident to be bigger."

Even though she had not lived in Riverrun for over a decade, the Tully in Catelyn Stark arose at this, and she felt obliged to defend her childhood home. "Riverrun may not be as large as Winterfell, but it is just as strong in its own way. The walls are thick and solid, and the river comes right to the walls. In time of danger, the Tullys open the sluice gate up river, surrounding the castle in a moat a hundred feet wide. The towers command the view for leagues around and the catapults on the walls spell death to anyone trying to land by boat without their leave." Looking up involuntarily at the large catapults on Riverrun's ramparts, and realizing he was travelling in a small wooden boat over a very deep river while wearing mail, Robb shuddered.

As the boat pulled up at the Water Stair, three guards with hooked poles grasped hold of the boat and drew it towards the stairs. Catelyn got out of the boat, ignoring the water lapping at her boots with long practice, and turned to meet the man who led them. "Ser Robin. It is good to see you well after so many years."

Ser Robin Ryger, Riverrun's captain of the guards, was stouter than Catelyn remembered him, and his beard had turned grey, but he was the same in all other respects, still serving House Tully loyally with his full ability. "My lady. It is good to see you back in Riverrun. I am commanded to take you to the Great Hall."

Catelyn nodded. "Of course, it will be good to see Edmure again. How fares my lord father?"

Ser Robin winced at her assumption that Edmure was in command, but knew it was not his place to correct her, and so he escorted her towards the Great Hall. As she entered the courtyard, Catelyn noticed smiths desperately hammering away at weapons on makeshift forges while women of all ages helped bandage wounds on men screaming in pain.

Riverrun has seen a major battle recently.

Ser Robin reached the door to the Great Hall, opened it for her, bowed briefly and left. Catelyn walked in, the door closing behind her. Robb, being a typical lad of fifteen, was hungry from the journey and had stopped at the kitchens as they walked past, promising to join her at the Great Hall soon. Riverrun's hall was normally filled with people feasting, but today it was oddly silent. As she neared the centre of the room, the side door opened and a figure strode in.

At first, she thought it was Edmure, and opened her mouth to call out to him, but the sound died in her throat as the figure neared. While this person shared the same hair colour as herself and her brother, the hair was too long for it to be Edmure, and indeed, as they drew closer, Catelyn could tell that the body shape was that of a female. The woman walked into the light, and Catelyn could see that she was wearing blue oiled ringmail over worn leather armour while a sword hung at her side as if she was born with it, the sigil on her chest the same mysterious one that Catelyn had noticed in the camps in front of Riverrun.

The mysterious woman grabbed Catelyn, and in her second of surprise, embraced her, though Catelyn saw a look of disdain flash on her face briefly. "Sister. Welcome to Riverrun."

Catelyn's mind began to work again, and realizing who the woman was, she pushed her firmly away. "I take it you're this Alyssa I've heard so much about."

"That I am" she said, with a smile. "And you must be my sister Catelyn. It is good to finally meet you after so many years."

Folding her arms, Catelyn's face was as hard as stone. "You are my father's shame, the Rivers girl."

The woman's smile faded, but she held out her hand nonetheless. "Alyssa Tully, Lady of Riverhold, and as I said, it is good to meet you at last sister. We have much to discuss."

Steadily, Catelyn refused to take the hand. "You have no right to use the Tully name or command Father's bannermen, bastard. You're a Rivers, and even if you are legitimised, you are a bastard, and the shame of my family, and that's all you will ever be."

Alyssa's face was now set as hard as Catelyn's. "Born a Rivers, yes. But by the word of both His Grace King Robert and our own lord father; you now speak to Alyssa of the House Tully, Lady of Riverhold, Warden of the Western Hills and acting Lady of Riverrun and Lady Paramount of the Trident."

What?

Hoster Tully's eldest daughter was barely able to believe her ears. She'd known about Riverhold of course, King Robert had off-handedly mentioned it once while at Winterfell while drunk and reminiscing about Pyke. Ned's quiet chuckles had led to Catelyn inquiring about what it was that amused him so, which eventually resulted in Robert explaining the whole story.

While irritated that her father had not only dishonored her lady mother like that, but had made the bastard a Tully, she was mollified by the fact that Alyssa was in the Riverlands, and unlike Jon Snow, not any threat to the claim of her children, because Edmure and his heirs came before any of the Starks in terms of inheriting Riverrun. She was content, therefore, to be happy for her half-sister doing so well for herself, as Catelyn would never have to see her, and wish her well.

That was very different, however, from being forced to actually see the living reminder that Hoster Tully, Lord of Riverrun and Lord Paramount of the Trident, had faults and weaknesses just like any other man, strutting around her father's castle wearing Tully colours, though at least her sigil was different, and claiming authority she had no right to.

"Our father is Lord Paramount of the Trident" she snapped "and our brother acts in his stead if he is unable, do you mean to usurp their power so blatantly in our father's own castle?" Before Alyssa could reply, Catelyn pressed on with her attack. "And what is this nonsense about you being the Warden of the Western Hills? There is no such title." Leather creaked as Catelyn's sister clenched her fists in her gloves, and she saw the younger woman visibly inhale, as if trying to calm herself.

"Our lord father is unable to command, the siege was hard on him and he was quite ill already. As for Edmure" her eyes dropped, and the sight of her shoulders visibly slumping sent Catelyn's heart into her throat. "Our brother was wounded days ago, during the fighting in the woods near Riverrun."

Catelyn gasped, but Alyssa raised her hand, as if to stave off her sister's worry.

"His leg was broken, but Maester Vyman says it will heal cleanly; he will recover provided that he rests. He will however, be unable to hold court for days or to fight for weeks yet, if not moons."

Now Alyssa smiled, and Catelyn felt a stab of anger burn through her, as her sister seemed happy that their brother was hurt. Alyssa's next words, however, explained her happiness.

"He wasn't the only one, nor was he wounded in vain. The Mountain fell on us as we pursued Lord Tywin's host across the river, and we were hard-pressed despite outnumbering them greatly. Edmure sallied from Riverrun, taking them in the rear and allowing us to rout the Lannisters. He was unhorsed, and broke his leg, while Lord Jason Mallister slew the Mountain, but was gravely wounded himself in doing so."

Alyssa paused to draw in a breath. "Thanks largely to Edmure's actions, Riverrun is free and the Lannisters fleeing the Riverlands." Alyssa couldn't help but smile at the look on her sister's face; equal parts pride and worry, the same look that according to Ser Marq Piper, had adorned her own face when she heard of Edmure's injuries.

Catelyn shook her head in wonder as pieces began to fall into place. Tywin had retreated after the eastern camp was destroyed, she knew, and left two thousand to hold the riverbank against pursuit. Her sister must have eagerly chased Tywin across the river without properly scouting it first, and been ambushed by the Mountain. By the sounds of things, Edmure's actions were the only reason Alyssa was still alive. Her fist clenched unconsciously at the thought of her brother being injured because of her younger sister's foolishness. Before she could mention this, Alyssa continued speaking.

"Edmure held court for a few minutes yesterday, but the effort drained his strength and even now Maester Vyman tends to him. His last action before being taken to the maester's chambers was to name me acting Paramount of the Trident in his stead" Alyssa blushed slightly, still getting used to the trust that her brother had placed in her, "so until our lord father or our brother are well enough; the Riverlands and this war are in my hands."

Catelyn frowned; as Hoster's elder daughter, by right she should command in his stead. She did accept Alyssa acting on her behalf while she was absent; after all she could hardly rule the Riverlands from Winterfell or Moat Cailin, but she was here now, and rightfully her younger sister should turn over command of the Tully forces to her.

Waiting for a few heartbeats, Catelyn gave her younger sister time to say that she was now relinquishing control of the Riverlands to her, but she frowned as she realised Alyssa would do no such thing, instead deciding to explain the last of her titles. As she heard exactly what Alyssa being the Warden of the Western Hills entailed, Catelyn felt herself consumed with a sense of utter disdain for this woman standing there smirking and boasting about her power.

"So this whole mess is your fault."

Catelyn's voice could have frozen ice, and Alyssa's eyes flashed as her fist clenched. "Excuse me?"

Had Catelyn been paying attention, she would have noticed that Alyssa's eyes were all but aflame in the younger woman's rage, but the stress of the past few moons had at last caught up with Catelyn, having needed to maintain her composure and keep calm for Robb's sake, and she had finally found an excuse to release that rage.

"You said being Warden of the Western Hills makes you responsible for fending off attacks from the west, that means you failed in your duty if the Lannisters are raiding" she snapped. "How can you claim to rule the Riverlands for Edmure if you can't even defend one border? He was wounded because you couldn't do your duty! This is your fault!"

"Enough!" Alyssa's shout broke through Catelyn's fury, and as the older woman turned on her sister angrily, her face went white as she saw Alyssa's hand resting on the pommel of the gold-hilted sword at her waist.

"You dare blame me for this" Alyssa roared, her hair seeming like flames at that moment, her blue eyes blazing with rage. "I did my duty, I crushed the Kingslayers host and captured him as I promised Edmure, and if he hadn't run straight into Tywin's trap" snarling, she swiped her hand through the air as Catelyn nervously took a step back "and gotten his host smashed, we would have had the father and the son both, and gotten your precious husband back by now."

Though no coward, Catelyn Stark was taken aback by the force of her sister's fury, giving her the impression that she had crossed an invisible line that should not have been. Even as she was opening her mouth to try and mollify Alyssa, or even apologise, her younger sister struck back suddenly and viciously.

"Besides, if anyone's to blame for this damn war, its you."

Catelyn's head snapped around and she stared Alyssa dead in the eyes. "Me?" she asked indignantly. "How could this be my fault?"

"You seized the damn Imp" Alyssa shouted, hands pulling at her hair in frustration, now pacing up and down as she tried to control herself. "In our lands, with Father's bannermen, in his name, what the hell did you think Tywin was going to do? Send a raven and politely ask for his son back?" Alyssa shook her head in disbelief. "This is Tywin bloody Lannister we're talking about here, he destroyed two of his own bannermen because they wouldn't repay gold his father lent them, we'll be lucky if he doesn't tear Riverrun down and divert the Red Fork over the rubble."

Alyssa's head was in her hands now, and she slumped to the floor, as if that burst of emotion had drained all her strength. She didn't seem angry now, only resigned and weary, and as she raised her head, Catelyn saw just how exhausted her sister was, how the events of the past few moons had taken their toll, both mentally, and physically; if the scars running across her face were any judge.

"By the Seven Catelyn" she groaned, tugging at her hair again, "what the hell possessed you to do something that stupid? And then to take him to the Eyrie; Hoster's daughter taking Tywin's son captive and taking him to the Eyrie, held by Hoster's other daughter; no wonder Tywin invaded the Riverlands, because from his point of view, it would be easy to see this as House Tully plotting against House Lannister. Why?"

Catelyn's hand had flown to her mouth, the Lady of Winterfell gasping in horror at the magnitude of the error wrought by her hasty action, but Alyssa's question struck a nerve. Summoning steel back into her spine, Catelyn straightened up and stared her sister dead in the face. "The Imp tried to kill my son" she said bluntly.

"What?" Alyssa gasped and jerked back slightly. "We...are talking about the same man, correct? Tyrion Lannister, heir to Casterly Rock, why the hell would he want or need to kill any of your children?"

In lieu of answering, Catelyn held up her hands, and Alyssa drew a quick breath when she saw the deep scars across her sister's fingers, clearly not that old. "My son Bran was climbing one of the towers of Winterfell when he fell." Wincing, Catelyn clenched her fist at the thought. "Bran has been climbing the walls of Winterfell since he could walk; he wouldn't fall. He must have been pushed, and if that weren't proof enough, a killer was sent to slit his throat when he was recovering from his fall."

Alyssa arched an eyebrow, unimpressed. "And this led you to believe that the Imp did it how?"

Catelyn's mouth hardened, as she held up her hand again. "The weapon was uncommonly fine for such a common killer; Valyrian steel, with a dragonbone hilt. Only someone very wealthy and powerful would have such a blade. I travelled to the capital, where a trusted friend informed me that the Imp won that dagger during the tourney for Prince Joffrey's last nameday."

Having both wielded and taken wounds from that very metal recently, Alyssa peered at Catelyn's hands more closely and sure enough; the scars ran deep, but thin, implying that the weapon was both very sharp, and very well maintained. If the blade wasn't Valyrian steel than it was certainly forged by a master smith the level found in a Great House's seat. As much as she hated to admit it, Catelyn's story was gaining credence. Something still troubled her, however.

"A friend in the capital?" Alyssa asked skeptically. "Who do you know that knows that much about the activities of the royals and the Lannisters. Unless they personally saw the Imp accept the dagger, there's no way they could know that for sure. The only way for that to happen would be for them to be in the royal box, or at least right next to it, where only Kingsguard and members of the Small Council are allowed to be."

Catelyn's eyes flicked back and forth hesitantly, before she sighed, realizing it was the only way that her sister would believe her. "It was a member of the Small Council. The Master of Coin, Lord Petyr Baelish. He has been a friend of mine since I was a girl."

"Baelish…" Alyssa searched her memory, sure that name sounded familiar, before she snapped her fingers in realization. "That boy who fostered at Riverrun with you; the one Edmure called Littlefinger?" Catelyn's nod was all the confirmation Alyssa needed and she shook her head in wonder. "The boy was so obsessed with you he challenged Brandon Stark for your hand, of course you went to him. He'd die before he betrayed you." She blew out a long breath. "All right, let's say I believe you and the Imp really did try to kill your Bran. Why the hell did you take him to the Eyrie of all places?"

Catelyn bowed her head at that; Alyssa had pointed out to her quite thoroughly how her actions must have looked to Lord Tywin, and she had no explanation. Simply put, she had panicked when she had seen her son's potential murderer, and acted without thinking.

"It was the safest place I could think of at short notice. Riverrun was the first place Tywin would look, with Winterfell being the second, simply because it is so far away I'd never make it there with his son in tow. King's Landing belonged to the Lannisters, even if I did take him to King Robert I'd never get a fair trial, so the Eyrie seemed the best remaining option."

With a sigh, Alyssa accepted her sister's reasoning on that point, but one thing remained to be said. "Do you know what damage your actions have wrought on the Riverlands, Catelyn?" Her elder sister shook her head wordlessly, and Alyssa slammed her fist into her palm in frustration. "Villages have been burned, women raped and children killed. Thousands, tens of thousands have given their lives to protect our home."

She fixed Catelyn with a gaze so intense, the Lady of Winterfell thought for a moment she was being pierced clean through. "Every one of them died because the Imp tried to kill your boy." Alyssa's hand rested on the hilt of her sword briefly. "I understand why you did it. I don't have any children of my own, but whether you admit it or not, you and I share blood. Your son is my nephew, he is my kin and you and I both know the Tully words."

Despite herself, Catelyn briefly smiled before her sister's next words wiped it from her face. "But that doesn't excuse what you did. You aren't the only one who wants to hurt the Imp; I'd dearly slice his twisted head from his shoulders for trying to kill my nephew" unconsciously, she drew her blade an inch from the scabbard before looking down at her hand and sheathing the weapon "but this isn't about me."

"And it isn't about you. Or House Stark, or House Tully." Alyssa's mouth twisted now, as if she saw something unpleasant in her sister. "This is about the Riverlands, and the thousands killed because you pulled the Lion's tail, and fled into the mountains to hide from his wrath under the wings of the Falcon, without having the decency to so much as warn Father so that we could protect ourselves." She growled in frustration. "I mean really, Catelyn, was a single raven too much to ask?"

"What are you talking about?" Catelyn's face was white as milk now, as a horrible thought occurred to her. "I did send Father a warning, I swear to you on my children's lives, I sent ravens to Winterfell and Riverrun from the Eyrie."

"We never received any". Alyssa's face was now the same shade as her sister's, as both women faced the horrifying realisation that one bird's death had caused so much trouble. "A hawk must have taken it."

There was silence in the hall now, Alyssa and Catelyn both contemplating the revelations they had received during this conversation, before a young man with curly hair the same colour as the two women walked into the hall, sword swinging at his side. At the sight, Catelyn smiled weakly at him, before glancing at Alyssa.

"My lady, this is my son, and your first nephew; Robb Stark, acting Lord of Winterfell in my Ned's absence." She turned to Robb, indicating Alyssa with a wave of her hand. "Robb, this is Lady Alyssa Tully of Riverhold, Warden of the Western Hills, Acting Lady of Riverrun and Lady Paramount of the Trident, and my half-sister, your lady aunt."

Robb bowed his head in respect to his elder. "My lady." He then turned back to Catelyn. "Mother, what's happening? I came to see was was taking so long, the men will be growing impatient."

Catelyn cursed under her breath, the intense discussion having completely driven from her mind the reason she was in her father's castle; that being to convince her father to open the gates and extend the hospitality of Riverrun to the Northern forces. Flushing slightly, she glanced at Alyssa, but before she could speak, her sister guessed from Robb's words what Catelyn was about to ask.

"If you came to aid us, the least we can do is give you a good meal in return. The hospitality of Riverrun is yours, as with any of your bannermen, Lord Stark" Alyssa smiled "though your men of course will have to camp outside." She glanced at her sister, and nephew. "It was good to meet you Robb, Catelyn; if you'll both excuse me, I should see to the rest of our guests." Alyssa called for a servant, and ordered them to have bread and salt ready in the hall, before leaving to order the gate opened and to welcome the Northern lords to Riverrun.