Chapter 36:

CATELYN

"My lady?" Catelyn could hear Maester Luwin's voice behind the door. "Can I come in?"

Catelyn's eyes were reddened as she still lay on her bed, trembling with sadness from hearing Bran's death.

She still couldn't believe Bran was dead, it was as if some curse was placed upon her by the Gods. Placed upon her for lying about Jon's identity to her King. No, Catelyn thought, it was all King Robert's fault. He couldn't kill Jon so he decided to kill her son.

Damn that man to all the seven Hells, Catelyn thought bitterly, as her nose sniffed.

She heard the door open as Maester Luwin entered her room.

"I was wondering how you were holding up, my lady," Maester Luwin said. "If you must know, the whole castle is grieving Lord Brandon's death greatly."

"And the Northmen who instigated the slaughter?" Catelyn asked, her voice almost a whisper. "Has my son punished them?"

"I'm afraid not, my lady" Maester Luwin said. "I'm afraid that Lord Robb has taken his grief in the training yards and he has been there ever since."

"I would like to see him," Catelyn said.

"I almost forgot, my lady," said Luwin. "Lord Robb has allowed you to roam the castle."

Catelyn nodded.

"Can I get you anything, my lady?" Luwin asked.

"No, thank you, Maester," said Catelyn.

Luwin nodded before he closed the door.

It wasn't long after he left that Catelyn left the room. As she made her way to the training yard, she saw several guards nod their heads at her and say, "My lady," in respect.

When she finally got to the training yard, her son had already taken apart, at least, five training dummies.

Robb panted as he cut the sixth training dummy with his sword.

"Robb," Catelyn said softly.

Her son didn't hear her name as he continued to swing his sword furiously.

"Robb," she said louder this time.

Robb panted as he hit the dummy again.

"Robb!"

Robb finally stopped as he dropped to the ground, crying.

"Oh, my boy."

"I'm going to kill him. I'm going to kill King Robert for this," cried Robb.

"Shush, my boy," Catelyn said softly.

"He killed him, Mother," Robb said hoarsely. "He killed Bran."

"I know," said Catelyn. "We will free your father and your brother and sisters, and then we'll kill King Robert. That, I swear, my boy."

"I'm afraid you're a little too late for that."

Both Robb and Catelyn turned in surprise to Lord Howland, who nodded his head to them.

"The king is already dead."

"What?" Robb asked.

"How?" Catelyn asked.

"He died by the Red Viper's spear," said Howland.

"Gods," Robb said.

"The Red Viper killed King Robert, are you certain?" Catelyn said.

"I am, my lady, my lord," said Howland.

"Why would he kill Robert now?" Catelyn asked.

"He killed the King after he saved your brother before he could be killed," said Howland.

Catelyn and Robb stared at him in shock, as their heartbeats elevated with hope.

"Jon lives?" Robb asked.

"He does, my lord," Howland said. "In fact, he is on his way here right as we speak."

"Jon is coming here?" Robb asked again.

"What about Ned and the girls?"

"Your husband and your daughters live as well, my lady."

"Oh thank the Gods," Catelyn said.

"Does that mean Jon is King?" asked Robb.

"No, my Lord," said Howland. "Both he and Lord Renly have decided not to take the Iron Throne until after the White Walkers are defeated."

"What?!?" Robb shouted.

"Robb, please--" said Catelyn.

"Don't ask me to calm down, Mother," Robb said, spitting the word "mother" out with disgust. "Gods, I CANNOT BELIEVE THIS IS HAPPENING! I cannot believe that Jon chose the side with the brother of the man who murdered our brother!"

"Robb, I'm sure that Jon has his reasons for making peace," said Catelyn.

"Oh, I'm sure," Robb retorted with sarcasm. "Pretty sure it was father's idea."

"You shall not speak that way about your father," Catelyn said, scolding her son.

"Why? Because he's the Warden of the North?" Robb asked. "What is he going to do? Chop my head off like a deserter?"

"Robb!"

"I am so tired of you defending him, Mother. He isn't as just or honorable as the stories say. He lies and deceives just like any other man!"

Catelyn suddenly heard a SMACK. She didn't remember slapping Robb, but the only thing that proved she slapped him, was Robb's head turned to the side with his cheek turning red. When Robb finally turned to her, the words he spoke would impact her greatly.

"I wish you and Father were dead," Robb said before he walked away.

Catelyn stood helplessly in the training yard, running her son's words through her mind.

"The boy doesn't mean what he says, my lady," Howland said, reassuringly. "He is just angry of having been lied to this whole time."

"I can't really blame him for wishing that," Catelyn said, dejectedly. "I know that Ned and I hurt him."

"You can't blame yourself for doing so," said Howland. "You and Ned may not have chosen the perfect way to hide Jon's identity, but it was effective enough."

"Effective enough to have my son killed by Robert?" Catelyn said.

She never gave the crannogman a chance to speak, as she left for the sept. As she headed there, she ran into the wildling woman, Osha.

"Still praying to your gods?" she asked.

"Yes."

"Why?"

Catelyn looked at the woman confusedly. "What do you mean, why?"

"Why do you still continue to pray to them?"

Catelyn sighed. "I guess, it's been part of my House's traditions for many years."

"You Southerners and your traditions," Osha scoffed. "Have you not realized that you have been praying to the wrong gods?"

"They are my gods," Catelyn said. "They will answer my prayers."

"In what way did they answer your prayers when your son died?" the woman retorted.

Catelyn wanted to argue, but then she remembered the last time she had prayed to the Seven, was when she asked for her family to be safe.

For the second time today, Catelyn was speechless. Had she indeed praying to thr wrong gods? She couldn't have, the Seven were not cruel.

If that's so, why is your son angry with you now and why is Bran dead?, a voice said in Catelyn's mind.

The wildling woman could see Catelyn's conflict written all over her face, as she sighed and said, "You have much to think on, my lady. I'll leave you to it."

As the woman was about to leave, the words came out of Catelyn's mouth before her brain could process them.

"Could you teach me to pray to your gods?"

The woman turned to her and smiled. "I believe I can manage."