Betrothal

Catelyn is staring at the pile of open letters on her desk.

Lord Rickard Karstark suggests that he visits Winterfell again – with his daughter this time.

Lord Manderly calls Robb to visit White Harbor in the near future and meet his sons and daughters.

And the Umbers.

The Cerwyns.

The Glovers.

The Tallharts.

Maege Mormont's letter, perhaps, is perfectly innocent. But Catelyn is suspicious already.

But she knew this day would come, did not she? She expected it. She was prepared for it. Or, at least, she thought she was. Yet…

Robb's future marriage is too important. The North lost a whole generation of Starks. Brandon and Lyanna died (and before that they were promised to southerners). Benjen joined the Night's Watch. And Ned wed her.

Catelyn leaps up from her chair and paces in the chamber pensively.

She has to choose an old esteemed northern house, of course.

For her family's sake, one with not enough power or ambition to try to take charge.

For the others' sake, one that could not be a threat to anyone, one that no one would be offended by.

She has to keep up the balance in the North.

Catelyn decides. It is a strange choice maybe, but understandable from a Stark, acceptable to everyone. She hopes so.

She sits down to the table again to write a letter to Lord Howland Reed.