This chapter is where many characters make their first appearance in this story. I hope you like their interactions with Catelyn.


CATELYN IV

Dragonstone stood tall, a huge black rock in the middle of the sea. Six hundred years ago, it was a volcanic island with only a few villages, and a place where pirates settled and from where they could ambush any ship that came to pass this way. All changed when the Valyrians chose to take possession of the island, and of many more in the Narrow Sea. The Valyrians built a huge castle, shaped it to be fearsome, built the towers so they looked like dragons and placed hundreds of gargoyles upon the walls. Some said they used magic, and as she approached in the boat that brought her to Stannis Baratheon, Catelyn had to acknowledge that whether the Valyrians were wonderful masons, or they did have magical powers.

Dragonstone had been the westernmost outpost of the Valyrian Freehold for two centuries. Catelyn ignored why the Valyrians chose to conquer these islands. Aegon succeeded to conquer the Seven Kingdoms with three dragons, and the Valyrians had many more. She may have understood the decision to take Dragonstone if it was meant to serve as a bridgehead for a future conquest of Westeros, but why did the Valyrians wait for three hundred years? For three centuries after they took possession of the island, the Doom of Valyria came, and the Valyrians and all their civilization were gone in one of the greatest disasters in human history. The cities that were part of the Freehold freed themselves, and all trace of the Valyrians disappeared forever. Except here, on Dragonstone.

Twelve years before the Doom of Valyria, one man, one very specific man, moved all his family and riches to Dragonstone. His name was Aenar Targaryen. His house was the only one to survive the Doom, and for a hundred years, the Targaryens were the Lords of Dragonstone, until his great-great-great-grandson, Aegon, conquered the Seven Kingdoms with his two sisters.

After the Conquest, Dragonstone remained a part of the Targaryen domain, along with the new Crownlands. While the king ruled the Seven Kingdoms from the Iron Throne in King's Landing, his heir would be the Lord of Dragonstone. The heir to the Iron Throne wouldn't always live at Dragonstone. The castle and the island weren't the most hospitable places in the world, and it wasn't rare that the heir would spend most of his time in King's Landing, preparing himself to become king, and sometimes plotting to become the king, or at Summerhall before it was destroyed. Still, the heir to the Iron Throne was granted the title of Lord of Dragonstone.

When the Mad King fell under the sword of the Kingslayer, Robert maintained the tradition and named his brother Stannis Baratheon, at the time his heir, Lord of Dragonstone. He never cared to name Joffrey Lord of Dragonstone after his birth. Perhaps he thought he needed someone capable to rule the island and fight pirates, or perhaps he didn't want to hurt his brother's feelings. Or perhaps Robert already suspected that Joffrey wasn't his son.

That wouldn't surprise Catelyn. The Lannisters might well have killed both Robert and Ned. It wasn't difficult to dissimulate a murder into a hunting accident. Ned was dead, Arya and Sansa were kept prisoners in the capital, and her son Robb was marching to war. She had told Ned not to ride south, but he didn't listen. He never listened when honor called him. Perhaps that was one of the reasons why she had come to love him, like she had loved Brandon before, but honor had been his doom, as much as magic, sorts and ambition had been the doom of the people who built the castle she was about to enter.

They reached the beach, and Ser Jacelyn Waterfall, a knight in service of House Manderly who was among the four oarsmen in the boat, helped her out of it. A small group of men were waiting for her. Catelyn was expecting them to hold the banner of House Baratheon, a black stag upon a yellow field, but instead she saw a red heart, fire running around its shape, upon the yellow field. She approached carefully, her escort remaining at her side. As she neared the group, she noticed the black head of a stag in the heart, with a crown around the neck. Catelyn found this banner quite odd. A stout man with thick arms, bandy legs, and prominent ears, a double chin and a broad nose, welcomed her.

"Lady Catelyn Stark, I am Ser Axell Florent, castellan of Dragonstone. His Grace sent me to welcome you."

"I thank you, Ser Axell. May the Seven bless you."

What he said next took her completely unaware. "We do not follow false gods here, my lady. I suggest you never mention them again while you're here, or anywhere else."

Catelyn maintained her composure at this insult towards the gods that her mother taught her to worship and that she taught to her own daughters and sons. "I came to see the king. Could you lead me to him?"

"The king is very busy. He will receive you when he says he wants. In the meantime, my men will show you to your chambers."

The castellan of Dragonstone turned his back on her. Catelyn hid her shock at his hostile behaviour and followed his men. They slowly climbed the stairs leading to the castle. Catelyn shot looks from the corner of the eye to the statues they met on their way. They looked even more terrifying when you were close than from afar, and as they kept approaching the castle, it turned more impressive and terrifying. Magic or not, the Targaryens outdid themselves.

That reminded her of the first time she saw Winterfell. She was eighteen, and never visited the North before. Despite being betrothed to two Starks, she never went to see them at Winterfell. Her betrothal and her wedding took place at Riverrun, and she spent the war in the castle where she grew up. When it was over, her husband came back to his home by the sea, leaving King's Landing for White Harbor, then riding to Winterfell the rest of the way. Catelyn took a slower path, through the Neck, and she departed later than Ned because of the son she was carrying. She left as soon as Robb was born with a small escort provided by her lord father.

When she arrived at Winterfell, she was afraid, but determined. She didn't have the chance to know Ned enough back then, but she would do her duty. She found Winterfell impressive, built to stand a siege rather than to raise a family, but though the castle was stark and austere, she didn't feel threatened by it. That was where she would have lived anyway had she married Brandon. It was something else that scared her when she arrived. It was what she found inside the castle that caused her to fear, and not the castle itself like it was the case for Dragonstone.

Ned had been very kind. He was there to welcome her and took their son into his arms. She even saw a tear of joy run on his cheek. At this moment, Catelyn had been sure that everything would be perfect. It was an hour later, when she was settled in her own rooms, that she learned about the boy that would haunt her during the rest of her life. Her husband had a son during the war, and he brought him back with him. Jon Snow was already settled with his wetnurse when she just arrived. Discovering that her husband called the boy after the man he considered like a second father didn't make her feel better.

"I'm sorry, my lady," Ned told her. "I know what I've done is wrong, and I'm ashamed of it, but it is done. The boy has my blood, and I must take care of him."

"I understand, and I don't deny him the right to live," she replied with a quivering voice. "But is it necessary that he lives here?"

"He is under my responsibility. I must make sure that nothing happens to him."

"I know, but if he lives here, people will know that he is your son. Wouldn't it be better to entrust him to a nice family and make sure he lives well with them, instead of giving reasons to your bannermen to speak behind your back?" she had tried.

"Everyone in Winterfell already knows that he is my son, and I won't hide the truth only so that other people can look at me like a better man than I am."

"But…"

"I'm sorry, my lady. I know you don't like it, but Jon is going to live with us, and he will stay at Winterfell until he becomes a man and follows his own path into the world. That's my decision."

That was the one thing she could never have from her husband. She could never have the boy sent away. Now he was a man, and he rode to war next to Robb. Her son was still a boy only a few months ago, and now he led an army to battle. She was afraid that he may die, afraid that he may not be ready. If Robb died in this war, who would the Lords of the North follow then? Her son Bran, a sweet boy of ten, crippled, far away at Winterfell? Or the bastard, who now had the chance to prove his worth on the battlefield and who looked more like Ned than any of her children? For a short moment, Catelyn wished the bastard would die in the war.

They arrived to her chambers. There was a comfortable bed, a Myrish glass, a chamber pot, a window, and everything she needed.

"We will assign you a maid, my lady," one of the men who accompanied her said. "If you have need of anything, just ask her."

"Thank you, good ser," she said.

She was left alone and decided to rest in her bed. She wasn't sure for how long she drowsed, but after what only looked like a few minutes, someone banged at her door. Ser Axell Florent entered after she gave him leave, and he announced that Queen Selyse demanded to speak with her. Catelyn was relieved. Talking with the queen first could be good for her upcoming discussions with Stannis.

Ser Axell stopped before a door and went in. A moment later, he came out.

"The queen is ready to receive you."

She walked in. Selyse Florent sat on a chair near the fireplace. Catelyn had never met her. The queen gauged her the instant she entered. She didn't smile, and she didn't welcome her. She displayed no sign that she enjoyed her presence.

"Lady Stark. Sit."

That was all Catelyn received. She did as she was instructed. After all, this woman was the queen, and although Catelyn expected a warmer welcome, she could forgive her, considering the current situation. It couldn't be easy to find yourself in the midst of a war at the moment when you expected it the less, a war where victory wasn't sure, and when you just discovered that your nephews and nieces were in fact born of an incest between the wife of your brother-in-law and her brother. Catelyn didn't want to imagine how she would feel if she discovered tomorrow that she was the queen of the Seven Kingdoms.

Selyse looked at her thoroughly once she was seated. Catelyn wasn't comfortable as she felt she was being examined under every side. "I didn't expect you, Lady Stark. I thought your son would come himself and swear fealty to our king."

"My son is leading our men through the Neck. He is preparing an attack on King's Landing."

"Does he intend to take the city before Stannis does?"

Catelyn was shocked by the blunt question. "My son is waging war against Joffrey."

"That doesn't answer the question. Does Robb Stark intend to take the city without the king?"

"He only wishes to help Stannis to take the Iron Throne."

"Then in this case, I hope he will not attack the city without his Grace. Stannis is the king. He is the one who must take the Iron Throne, not your son."

Catelyn couldn't believe it. The queen just insinuated that Robb was trying to seize the Iron Throne for himself. "My son is fighting for Stannis. He is loyal to him."

"Then why didn't he come here to pledge fealty?"

"My son is busy…"

"Busy? Is he busy with more important matters than acknowledging the rightful king? Does he consider that our king is not more important than anything else? He didn't even tell the king that he would swear fealty to him."

"Robb is fighting for Stannis."

"Is he? Or does he only pretend to stab him in the back at the first occasion?"

That was way worse than everything Catelyn expected. She refrained herself from insulting the queen. She showed her no respect since she arrived, offered no sympathy for her husband's death, and now she accused her son of treason? Her son was risking his life as they spoke for Stannis. Before Catelyn could think of something to reply, like saying the queen had no right to accuse her when she had no son going into battle, a melodious voice came from behind.

"It doesn't matter for now, your Grace." Catelyn turned to look at its owner. There was another fire in this room, one she didn't notice, and standing next to it was a tall woman with red hair and a very pale skin. Catelyn gave her about forty years. She had a heart-shaped face, a smooth skin, and wore a red gown that left visible a portion of her breasts.

She was staring at the fire when Catelyn took a look at her, but she turned her eyes towards her as soon as Catelyn's eyes settled on her. She calmly returned the stare and walked until she was next to the queen.

"The Starks will be useful. As long as they don't betray the king, there is no reason to doubt them." The woman kept staring at Catelyn.

"Of course, my lady." Catelyn found it odd for the queen to accept the advice of this woman so quickly. From her accent, Catelyn suspected she came from the other continent. "I only hope for you that your son will show a complete and utter loyalty to our king."

"He will," Catelyn assured her.

"Still, even if we could forgive Robb Stark for not showing up to pledge fealty, why should we forgive your father, Lord Tully?"

"My father is very sick. He's been taken to bed a long time ago. He doesn't leave it anymore."

"What about your brother, Ser Edmure? Does he have the same excuse?" Catelyn perceived the sound of a struggle from the other side of the door. "I suppose we can't trust him either. How can we trust people who follow false gods?"

Catelyn was about to shout False gods!? when the door opened.A man with a round head with grizzled beard and side whiskers walked in, his expression grave.

"What are you doing here?" the queen asked with hostility.

"The king sent me, your Grace," the man replied with a sharp voice. Catelyn witnessed how this closed the queen's mouth. The other woman showed no reaction. "Lady Stark, the king is granting you an audience. He wishes to speak with you at once."

Catelyn would have signed in relief, but she kept it for herself. As inappropriate the behaviour of the queen was, she was still the queen. "Your Grace." Catelyn took her leave with a courtesy and followed the servant.

As soon as they were far from the queen's apartments, the man spoke. "I hope the queen wasn't too harsh on you."

"She was very kind to welcome me," she replied neutrally.

The servant scoffed. "The queen seldom does something out of kindness. And she seldom behaves kindly. Did she talk of religion matters with you?"

"She brought up the topic."

"I suggest you avoid the matter as much as possible, m'lady. The queen is prone to judge those who don't share her faith."

"I follow the Seven," she replied.

"All the more reason. The queen follows the Lord of Light."

Catelyn frowned. "The Lord of Light?"

"A religion that is very popular in Essos. I met some of her kind in the past. The queen decided to embrace this faith not long ago. She had a Red Priestess from Asshai come to Dragonstone. That's the woman you saw with her."

The Red Priests. Catelyn heard about them. There was one in King's Landing, Moros or Boros of Myr. Ned told her he participated to the siege of Pyke, and that he could wield a flaming sword, though Ned himself told her it was only a trick, and that he had to change his sword regularly. This Moros was sent to convert Robert Baratheon to this foreign religion, or so some people said. Catelyn didn't expect that Stannis's wife would turn to a god from another land. It explained this declaration about false gods she made right before Catelyn was called to the king.

"I'm sure her Grace had her reasons to embrace a new faith."

The servant grumbled. "I'm sure of that, but I wish that half of Dragonstone hadn't joined her and now saw the king as the Lord's Chosen One. Even my son and my wife embraced this new faith."

"What about you?"

"I've never been a godly man, m'lady, but I recognize that the Red Woman has powers."

"The Red Woman?"

"The Red Priestess. That's how I call her, and how many people here call her. Many don't trust her. I advise you to avoid her as well. She is dangerous. People like Ser Axell Florent follow her orders as much as they follow the king's orders if not more. That's why the king didn't grant you an audience as soon as you arrived. Ser Axell didn't tell him that you were here."

"The king was unaware of my coming?"

"He knew you were coming, but not when. He just learned that you were here from someone else, and he sent me to fetch you as soon as he heard about it."

Catelyn was surprised. The castellan of Dragonstone didn't inform the king of her arrival. This meant that Stannis was probably better disposed towards her than she thought. On the other side, she didn't like the fact that Stannis's household shared their loyalty to him with someone else.

They penetrated a room with a carved table. Catelyn recognized it immediately for the Chamber of the Painted Table. It was in this place that Aegon organized the conquest of the Seven Kingdoms three hundred years ago. The map he had carved showed every stronghold, every city of Westeros, at the exception of King's Landing, which wasn't built when the table was made.

Stannis Baratheon stood where the capital of the Seven Kingdoms should have been, observing the large map. Catelyn had the distinct impression that he was looking at every little detail of the kingdoms. He didn't grant a look at them when they entered, but that didn't stop him from realizing someone was present.

"Thank you, Ser Davos. You can leave us."

Catelyn stared with open eyes at the knight as he bowed and left the room. She thought he was a servant, but no, he was a knight. Everything about him, his clothes, the way he spoke and held himself, told her he was lowborn, merely a messenger, a servant the king sent to bring her here. She would have to apologize to him.

"Lady Stark." Stannis Baratheon now looked up from the map.

"Your Grace." She made a courtesy.

"I should have granted you an audience sooner. I suppose Ser Davos already explained to you what happened."

"Yes, I'm aware."

"I already admonished Ser Axell about it. If he wasn't my wife's uncle, I would have sent him back to Brightwater a long time ago. But my wife insists that he stays, and I would rather have him as castellan than a general or an advisor."

"I'm sure he did what he thought was right. He told me you were busy."

"Yes, I was busy, and I'm always busy. If he had some common sense, he would know that receiving you was more important than anything else I was doing."

He wasn't different from the last time they met. Stannis Baratheon had always gone straight to the point, was more prone to action than discussion, and he spoke bluntly to everyone, even his brother the king. Catelyn remembered Ned telling her that when Lord Renly was given Storm's End, Stannis said that Renly was good at dressing himself in fine clothes, and at being comely, but nothing more.

"Lady Stark, please accept my condolences for your husband's death." He said it bluntly, but less harsh than when he spoke about his uncle-in-law.

"Thank you, your Grace."

"He was an honorable man, and brave. We fought together at Pyke. We defeated Balon Greyjoy and brought an end to his rebellion. We could have put an end to the Iron Islands' constant threat had Robert not spared Balon when he was in chains and at his mercy. I regret his death."

"Me too, your Grace."

"But your husband was a fool." He said it in an almost cool voice. "He shouldn't have accepted to be Hand of the King. It should have been me. And he shouldn't have tried to arrest Joffrey. He had no chance to succeed." The king seized a long piece of parchment on the table and gave it to her. "That's the letter he sent to me. Robert was likely still alive when it was written."

To Stannis Baratheon, Lord of Dragonstone,

I made a disturbing discovery recently. I found out that the queen's children, the princes Joffrey and Tommen, and the princess Myrcella, are all born from an incest between the queen and her brother, Ser Jaime Lannister, the Kingslayer. You deserve to know that you are now the lawful heir to the Iron Throne, my lord.

You must know that I will try to stop a war from happening. I have reasons to believe that the Lannisters themselves are not aware of this. I wrote to Lady Margaery Lannister so she could intercede about it with her husband. I'm going to offer Cersei Lannister to leave the capital with as many men as she can and with her children and her brother, and I will try to convince the king to let them escape and live in exile in the Free Cities. I think that if we can ensure that nothing will happen to them, Casterly Rock will accept their exile. Ser Jaime could also join the Night's Watch and the queen become a septa or a Silent Sister, and the same could be done for her children.

I think it is possible to prevent a war, but in case things don't go as planned, you should know about all this. I ask you to help me and to come back to King's Landing to make sure that war is avoided at all costs. I need your help.

Eddard Stark, Lord of Winterfell and Warden of the North

"Ned Stark should have left the capital immediately and raised his banners, instead of attempting for a peaceful solution. There are no peaceful solutions with the Lannisters. They are used to getting what they want. My brother knelt before them more than they did. And now a monster born from incest is sitting on the Iron Throne, occupying the place that is mine by right."

Catelyn read the message more than once. These were the last words her husband ever wrote.

"I wish your husband was more clever, my lady. He died for me."

"He knew the Iron Throne belongs to you," she replied, her throat tight because of the emotion.

"I hope your son thinks the same."

"He does." Catelyn tried to recompose herself, still holding her husband's last words in her hands. "He's ready to support your claim to the Iron Throne."

"I'm glad to hear it, though not very surprised. I expected Eddard Stark to raise his children so they would have the same honor he had."

"I'm sorry he couldn't come himself, but…"

"Your son is leading an army. He would a poor commander if he considered licking his king's boots more important than fighting for him. Your father, Lord Tully, also declared for me, I suppose." She nodded. "However, I heard no word from your sister, Lady Arryn, and no army was raised in the Vale."

Catelyn looked at the painted table. Just like Stannis said, there were no armies to be seen in the Vale, and no army with the eagle sigil over the continent. "We had no news from her either," she told the king.

"And I had no news from Dorne either. Not that it surprises me. The Martells hate us for what happened to their princess, even though it was Tywin Lannister's fault. Everyone knows it, but no one dares to talk about it. I could say I expected a better support from House Arryn, but that would be a lie."

"What do you mean?"

"Jon Arryn was always an honorable man. He would have supported me if the Lannisters didn't kill him, but I'm not surprised that his wife turns her back on me."

"Lysa would never do that."

"Really? When was the last time you saw your sister, Lady Stark?"

"Five years ago."

"Since the last time you saw her, your sister has gone mad."

Catelyn couldn't reply to this. It was the second time that someone told her that Lysa was mad, and now it wasn't a bastard who told her that, but the king.

"Her husband wanted to foster his son and heir to me, but she would hear nothing of it. Robin Arryn was a sickly child, and I would have done my best to make him a man. But no, your sister cried, screamed, and said that no one would get her child away from her. She didn't allow anyone to approach him. I pity Jon Arryn for being married to this woman. He didn't deserve it, but he did his duty, like we all do. Too bad Lady Arryn doesn't feel the need to fulfill her obligations like her husband did. And if her son is left into her care, I doubt the Vale will have a Lord of the Eyrie worthy of the name before long."

Catelyn was shocked by what she heard. She didn't expect this at all from her sister. Was it possible that the bastard was right about Lysa after all?

"Your Grace, I cannot explain my sister's actions, but I want you to realize that she was widowed very recently, and she's now alone to raise the future Lord of the Vale."

"If you ask me, Lady Stark, she wasn't very sad at her husband's death. She didn't even go to see him while he was sick. She was almost dragged to the funerals. Robert had more love for Jon Arryn than his wife ever had." Stannis Baratheon turned to look at the painted table. "Your son is heading south along the Kingsroad, while Lord Tully's armies remain at Riverrun. In the meantime, the Lannisters have an army stationed at the Golden Tooth while another one is progressing north along the Kingsroad. They're probably entering the Riverlands as we speak. What are you planning to do?"

Catelyn realized he was asking her what were her son and her father's plans for the war. "When I left, my son was planning to lead his armies south to King's Landing. He plans to unite his forces with my father's men, defeat the Lannisters on the Kingsroad, then march on the capital and take the city before the Tyrells can arrive with reinforcements."

Stannis looked thoughtful for a moment. "A bold plan."

"We were hoping that you could join us and attack by the sea while we attacked by land."

"A bold plan, like I said, but this is not the one we will follow. I will write to Robb Stark and Hoster Tully and tell them to keep the Lannisters busy in the Riverlands."

"Your Grace?"

"They are not to attack King's Landing. All they must do is to keep the Lannister forces far from it. I will take the city myself, once I have dealt with my brother."

"Your brother?"

"It seems you're not aware of the latest news, my lady. Renly raised his banners against me. He proclaimed himself king."

That was a blow to Catelyn. "That can't be."

"It can, because he did it. I will sail to Storm's End and take back my bannermen. Once it is done, I will take King's Landing."

"Your Grace, the Tyrells will have time to send reinforcements to the capital before you can attack it."

"They won't. Ser Loras Tyrell chose Renly as his king."

Another surprised. "Ser Loras?"

"The heir to Highgarden. Because of that, Mace Tyrell made no move so far. He doesn't want to fight one of his children, and he doesn't want to fight for his rightful king. Some lords of the Reach will side with Renly, but not all of them. The Lannisters are alone to defend Joffrey."

"That means we can take the city."

"First, I will take back Storm's End. My brother is trying to take what is mine, and I will not suffer."

The king's eyes were hard, unflinching. "Your Grace, may I ask what you're planning to do?"

"Justice, my lady. If Renly proclaims himself king, then he is my enemy, and he is guilty of treason. I think you know very well what is the punishment for treason. Your husband experienced it firsthand."

Fear caught her. He was going to kill Renly, his own brother. "Your Grace…"

"That is my decision, my lady. I will send instructions to Lord Stark and Lord Tully as to what they have to do, and I will come to their help once the Stormlands and the Iron Throne are mine. I'm leaving with my fleet for Storm's End tomorrow. You are free to stay here or to leave. If you stay, I will make sure you are treated as an honored guest."

No, she couldn't allow this. She couldn't allow Stannis and Renly to fight each other. They needed them to free Sansa and Arya. "Could I come with you?" she asked.

"This will be a battlefield, my lady. This is no place for you."

"My son sent me to be his ambassador before you."

"I know, but you've done what was expected from you, Lady Stark. I can give Robb Stark my instructions by raven."

"I could help you with Renly."

"Really?" He didn't seem convinced.

"Are you going to kill your brother?" she bluntly asked. He took some time before he answered.

"I hope it won't come to that, but if he leaves me no choice, I will."

"Let me come. Let me show him that the North and the Riverlands stand by your side. That could convince him to abandon his foolish project of being king."

He looked straight at her for a moment, then nodded. "All right. You may come. I'll have arrangements made so you can travel with us."

"Thank you, your Grace."

She took her leave. Things had gone better than with the queen, though not as well as she hoped. They would have to wait before they could free Sansa and Arya. And if they were to keep the Lannisters occupied, then it meant they would have to let them inside the Riverlands, where they would plunder and destroy her father's lands.

Ser Davos was waiting for her outside. "M'lady, may I escort you back to your chambers?" he asked.

"Yes, thank you, ser."

"I hope things went well with his Grace," he stated as they walked.

"He was very courteous, given the circumstances."

The knight nodded. "I'm sorry for your lord husband, m'lady. I should have told you that when we first met."

"Thank you, good ser. I must apologize as well. I thought you were a servant when I saw you."

Ser Davos chuckled. "That doesn't surprise me. Many people do. I don't have the manners of a knight. I was born in Flea Bottom. I lived below the Street of Flour. My house was flooded every month. Most people here keep seeing me like an up-jumped smuggler."

"Smuggler?"

"Aye, my lady. I'm not proud of it, but I was a smuggler for twenty years."

"Are you the man who saved Stannis during the siege of Storm's End?" she asked, her curiosity awakened.

"Aye, m'lady. My small shipment of onions and dried fish saved Stannis and his army while the Tyrells besieged them, and he rewarded me with a knighthood, and a small keep along with a forest where to hunt for my family."

"It was very kind of him."

"He owed me his life. The Lannisters are no the only ones to pay their debts. Stannis does as well. And he makes sure the others pay their debts as well. For him, when someone says he will do something, he expects that he does it, whether it be him or the tanner of Flea Bottom."

A Lannister always pays his debts. The words sent a chill down her spine. "Ser Davos, you probably know the king is sailing for Storm's End tomorrow."

"I know it, my lady. A sad thing. It's difficult to see your own brother turn on you."

"Do you think… that the king will kill Lord Renly?"

Ser Davos puffed some air. He seemed tired. "I hope he will not."

"I'm afraid he might."

"You're not the only one, my lady. I fear it too."

"He cannot kill his own brother."

"Never say that in his presence, m'lady. Stannis is the king. He can do whatever he wants, and that's not an opinion, it's a fact."

"But Renly is his brother."

"He is, but he also proclaimed himself king, m'lady, when the Iron Throne rightfully belongs to his brother. That makes him a traitor. Stannis will be in his right to execute Lord Renly. Don't take me wrong, my lady, he won't take any joy from it. Renly and Stannis don't like each other very much, but they're still brothers, and family means a lot for the king. But he will do what is necessary to take his rightful place on the Iron Throne."

"And if Lord Renly decided to bend the knee when he meets his brother?" she asked.

"I would like if it happened, my lady. I hope he will."

"Stannis will spare him then. Shouldn't he?"

The knight sighed. "I hope he will, my lady, but Stannis is the king. That is his decision to take, and although we might not agree with him, it's not to us to decide in his stead."

Ser Davos seemed sad as he talked. Catelyn saw that there was no point in continuing this conversation. This man was loyal to Stannis, and so was Ned. "You said you have a family, Ser Davos?"

"Aye. My son, Matthos, is here, with me. My wife Marya remained at our home in the Stormlands."

"I hope she's not in danger."

"I doubt it. That's not Lord Renly's style to harm women, and anyway, who will give any attention to the Onion Knight? If Renly wanted to reach Stannis, he would attack the Florents, or another powerful family who sided with him. My house almost has nothing. We don't even have men to raise on my lands. She is no threat for anybody."

"She must worry about you and your son all the same."

"Aye, she does." He looked at her. "You're worried about your children as well?"

"Yes. My son is leading an army to war, and yet I have the impression that yesterday he was still that little baby I held in my arms."

The knight slowly nodded. "I'm sure everything will be all right, my lady. Stannis will take back the Iron Throne, and he will make sure that justice is given for your husband's death, and that your daughters are free. You'll see them again."

"Onion Knight."

The voice of a child came from behind, and Catelyn turned to see a little girl running in their direction. She was younger than Arya, no more than eight. The left side of her face was disfigured, with grey plates covering the cheek, the temple and a part of the forehead. She was holding something that looked like a small boat in her hands.

"Oh, princess. How are you today?" Ser Davos asked after he bowed.

"You can call me Shireen, you know. You called me that way before. And you never bowed before me."

The man between two ages chuckled. "True, but now you are a princess, and your father the king wants everyone to show you the respect you deserve."

"You can call me Shireen. We are friends. I won't tell Father."

"All right. If you say so, princess. Oh, sorry." She made a face as if she was angry at him, but it was obvious that it wasn't the case. "Shireen, this is Lady Catelyn Stark. Lady Stark, this is the Princess Shireen of House Baratheon."

The girl smiled at her, and Catelyn returned it. "You are Lord Eddard Stark's wife? I read about how he won the Battle of the Bells during the war, and how he led the siege of Pyke." Her expression became less joyful when Catelyn's face turned darker. "I'm sorry, my lady."

Catelyn forced herself to smile. "It's alright, princess."

The princess turned her eyes to Ser Davos. "I heard you're going to Storm's End."

"I see news travel fast, princess. Sorry, Shireen," the knight added at the end before her scowl.

"Can I come?"

"I'm afraid a battlefield is no place for a princess. But I will bring you a present when I come back."

"You promise?"

"I do. Your father wouldn't like it that I don't respect a promise made to his daughter."

"We'll see each other soon, then. Thank you for the ship, again. My lady."

She left, all smile. She reminded Catelyn of Arya at the same age.

"A very sweet child," Davos said with a smile as they moved again.

"Yes, she is. On her cheek, was it…?"

"Greyscale, aye, my lady. She was infected when she was still a baby. Lord Stannis, back then, just had her. He had his first son before, dead after a few days. A Dornish trader came, and offered a wooden doll, with a dress in the colors of House Baratheon. But it was infected. Shireen pressed it on her cheek, and the disease started. Everyone said she would die. They all told Lord Stannis to send her to the ruins of Valyria before the sickness spread to the castle. Even I would have advised him to do so, if he had asked me. But the king refused. He told all his men, all his bannermen, all his advisors, even the queen to go to hell. He called in every maester on this side of the world. Every healer. Every apothecary. They stopped the disease and saved her life. He said she didn't belong across the world with the bloody Stone Men. He said she was the Lady Shireen of House Baratheon, and that she was his daughter."

They had arrived. Ser Davos bowed and was about to leave when Catelyn stopped him. "Ser Davos. Stannis must not kill his brother, or he will never forgive himself."

"I know, my lady."

"If he listens to you, if he gives any value to your words, then try to talk him out of it."

The knight pursed his lips. "I am but a man, my lady. I doubt a king will listen to the Onion Knight. Especially this king. When Stannis takes a decision, he doesn't change his mind. If you believe in gods more than I do, then the only advice I can give you is to pray."

Catelyn was alone. She thought about everything Ser Davos Seaworth just told her about the new king. His wife herself told him to send their daughter away. She was ready to let her daughter, her only child, die. Catelyn didn't know what she would have done in their stead. If one of her babies had been infected with greyscale, if it threatened the lives of her other children, would she be ready to endanger all of them in the hope to save one? As she entered her room, she wondered if the king, despite his hardness, loved his daughter more than she loved her own children.

When she closed the door behind her, she discovered with great surprise that the Red Woman, like Ser Davos called her, was standing before the fireplace, her back turned on her.

"What are you doing here?" Catelyn asked, not without anger to see a stranger intrude her space.

"Looking into the flames. They tell me much," she replied, as if Catelyn asked her a question about the weather.

"I ask you to leave this room immediately."

"I will leave, Lady Stark, but before there are certain things I must tell you."

"We have nothing to talk about."

"We do." The Red Priestess looked at her for the first time. "I'm sorry for your husband. He gave his life for the king. It was very brave. The people who killed him will die, don't worry."

"That won't bring him back."

"No, indeed. But you might find some solace in knowing that doing so, your husband may have participated to events that will save millions of lives."

"What are you talking about?"

"There's a war coming."

"We already are at war."

"This war means nothing. There is another war that will happen, and Stannis must rule the Seven Kingdoms when it comes to us, if Westeros is to survive. Your son would be better to know where his true loyalties lie."

Catelyn stared at the woman. "My son is loyal to Stannis."

"For now. Be careful, Lady Stark. I don't know what your family's role in the great war yet to come will be, but I can feel it will be important, for this war will lie in the north. Far in the north."

The Red Woman walked past her to the door. Before she opened it, she said, "You have great challenges ahead you. You will lose two children in this war. I'm sorry."


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