Thank you to everyone who has favourited or is following the story. And thank you for the reviews.
Moshi: Jeyne is past 13, Jon nearly 16. Catelyn asked Vayon Poole about a possibility. They don't have to marry tomorrow. If they did at all, it would happen two or three years from now. (And even if they regret it, they probably had a good year which is more than what most of the couples can say about themselves in Westeros' society where the root of marriage is generally not love or fancy.)
Kyle Ellis: Thank you. It's very reassuring to read that.
Guest: Originally I didn't want to bring Petyr to Winterfell. I was afraid of writing him. His character seems so complicated and hard to handle with all his plans and plots. But when I reached the Joffrey-Sansa engagement, I realized he must come because Petyr wouldn't have missed the opportunity to meet Catelyn and try to get her. And I found an encounter between them intriguing. I'm happy you liked it. Thank you for your review.
Embroidery
To His Grace Robert from House Baratheon, First of His Name, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms, Protector of the Realm
My King,
I appeal to you with a request…
A request for which most people – if not every one of them – will think she was out of her mind. Catelyn does not care. This will be her last significant act as the Lady of the North. Just a little more than two month from now, and Robb takes charge and every duty of Lord Stark.
… I believe my lord husband wanted the same.
It can even be true. 'He is a Stark.' Ned told her so many times that night, before he died. He could have meant that way. She does not know. She cannot know. But it does not matter anymore what Ned wanted to say or do because he did not do anything in the end. It matters what Catelyn wants and feels right.
… He reckoned Jon Snow as a Stark and so do I…
Yes. Yes, she does. So no one can see him less than that.
Your faithful servant,
Lady Catelyn Stark of Winterfell
The raven flew away days ago and now Catelyn has to wait. Only another wait in the long line of waiting of her life.
And keeping her hands busy helps to soothe her thoughts. It has always helped her.
She finds a piece of fabric. From the rest of it she made tunics for the boys and Arya and sewed trimming to one of Sansa's gowns. It is smoke-grey and smooth like the freshly fallen snow. She threads the needle and starts embroidering, humming silently.
She makes a white wolf with red eyes. When she is finished, she looks thoughtfully at her work. It is an inverse of the House Stark's coat of arms. A bastard's coat of arms. But it says a little about Jon.
So Catelyn hums and sews on, a black wolf with green eyes above the first one.
When the picture is complete, she puts the hoop down.
Jon's whole past is in it. And maybe his future as well.
Catelyn sighs deeply. She can only hope that her letter had reached the King before he met that boar.
Merry Christmas! :-)
