Okay, a lot of things happen in here. I can't really tell you more before you've read this long chapter. Only to say that it is a turning point for the story.


CATELYN V

They waited on a plateau. From where they stood, Storm's End was easy to spot to the naked eye. Ser Jacelyn Waterfell stood by her side as her escort while they waited for the others to arrive. Stannis Baratheon was there too, with the Red Woman, Melisandre of Asshai, Ser Davos Seaworth and four more of his men, waiting for Renly to arrive. It was the designated hour, and there were still no signs of him.

Catelyn saw how large the camp of Renly Baratheon was. The king had brought five thousand men with him, levies from Dragonstone and the islands that fell under its jurisdiction. Renly definitely had more men than his elder brother, at least thrice the number. From afar, Catelyn could distinguish the colors of the banners. They were all lords from the Stormlands, and they were on Renly's side. Men would pick whatever lord they wanted, and it seemed they chose Renly. The youngest brother of the Baratheon family declared himself king, and his bannermen followed him.

Robert gave Storm's End to Lord Renly at the end of the last war. Catelyn started to agree with Stannis. Robert should have bestowed his family's ancestral castle to his second brother. Still, how could they blame Robert? How could he foresee that his brothers would fight each other later? How could he suspect that his wife would share her bed with her own brother? In her house, they learned very early that family came first, above everything else. The same didn't seem to go inside House Baratheon. Ours is the Fury. And the brothers were about to unleash fury upon each other instead of their enemies. Unless they convinced Renly to stop his folly and bend the knee before his brother.

The king refused to guarantee that he would spare his brother if he bent the knee, and Catelyn knew better than to press the issue. Stannis Baratheon was a man of action. He did much and talked little. It was useless to argue with him when he wouldn't change his mind. The best Catelyn could do was to help to convince Renly Baratheon to surrender, and hope that Stannis would have enough sense to not execute his brother.

"Riders coming, my lady," Ser Jacelyn said.

He was right. Three people were riding in their direction. Catelyn found it a small party for someone who claimed to be king. Perhaps Renly Baratheon had come to his sense and decided to bend the knee. For a moment, she hoped that everything would go for the better, but then she noticed the standards that two of the riders were bearing. One was red and gold, the other was green and gold. She quickly recognized the sigils. A golden lion and a golden rose. And then she recognized the person who didn't carry any standard.

Margaery Lannister reined up before them, the banner of her birth family on her left, and the banner of her family though marriage on her right. The man who held the banner of House Lannister was dressed like a kingsguard, his white cloak spinning around because of the wind.

"Lady Lannister. I had not thought to find you in the Stormlands," the king said.

"I wish I didn't have to be here, Lord Stannis," the Lady of Casterly Rock replied.

Catelyn and the Lady of the Westerlands had become very close during the time she spent at Winterfell before and after the king's visit. She had been very helpful while Catelyn remained at Bran's bedside, and also forced her to realize how selfish and stupid she was to remain next to Bran while her other children were lost and alone. She had come to consider her as a friend and never thought she had something to do with the Lannisters' crimes. Since Ned's death, she was no longer sure of the woman's innocence.

"My lady, you're talking to the king," Ser Davos said.

Lady Margaery rolled her eyes. "I already had this discussion with your brother, Lord Stannis, so allow me to make things clear from the start. Joffrey Baratheon is my nephew, the son of Robert Baratheon, and as such he is the only king I know in this country. And don't tell me that he is the son of Cersei and Jaime Lannister. This is a lie, and you won't convince me otherwise."

"Things are very clear, indeed. Thanks for being honest, my lady, but Joffrey shares no blood with me. To be true, I'm more interested in knowing what you're doing here. Did you join Renly, or did he join you and your husband?" Stannis asked.

"If you and Renly had any sense, you would bend the knee before Joffrey and accept him as your king. That's why I'm here. I'm hoping to convince you to end your stupid rebellion."

"You can hope, my lady, for what it's worth. The Iron Throne is mine by right. All those that deny that are my foes, and traitors."

"It seems most of the Seven Kingdoms are traitors then," Lady Margaery said. "You have no allies, Lord Stannis."

"He does." Catelyn stepped into the conversation. "House Stark and House Tully are fighting for Stannis."

Margaery Lannister turned her attention to her. "Catelyn. I'm sorry for your husband."

Catelyn wanted to strangle this woman right away, especially with the nerve she had not only to say that, but also to truly look sorry for it. Stannis spoke before she could say or do anything. "Where is my brother?"

Lady Margaery shrugged. "He decided he would depart later. He says a king does what he wants, and that a king should never wait."

Catelyn could see Stannis Baratheon clenching his teeth. This was all a petty game of kings. The Lady of Casterly Rock looked over her shoulder. "Here he comes," she said.

Indeed, he came. Renly Baratheon rode, a crown on his head, with six men. One had the arms of House Tyrell on his armor. Catelyn noticed a great resemblance between him and Lady Lannister. Could it be someone of her family? And riding with Renly?

The younger brother was all the opposite of Stannis. He looked like Robert Baratheon in his youth. No wonder the stormlords chose to support his claim. It was like going back into war with Robert at their head. Renly smiled widely, when Stannis was still clenching his jaw.

"Stannis!" Renly welcomed his brother with probably too much joy, as if they met for dinner. "Can that truly be you?"

"Who else might it be?" his brother asked.

"When I saw your standard, I couldn't be sure."

Renly's banners displayed the traditional sigil of House Baratheon, a black crowned stag on a golden field, to the opposite of Stannis, whose sigil showed a heart surrounded by fire, with a crowned stag at its core. The gold field was identical to Renly's banner. Catelyn for herself thought a questionable choice by the king to choose the symbol of a foreign religion for his standard.

"Whose banner is that?" Renly asked.

"My own," the king replied.

Renly laughed. Catelyn didn't see any reason to laugh about the whole situation. This discussion could decide the life or death of one if not two brothers, along with the fate of the Realm. "I suppose if we used the same one, the battle would be terribly confusing. Why is your stag on fire?"

The woman who held the banner gave him an answer. "The king has taken for his sigil the fiery heart of the Lord of Light."

"Ah, you must be this fire priestess we hear so much about. Mm, brother, now I understand why you found religion in your old age."

"Watch yourself, Renly," the king warned.

"No, no, I'm relieved. I never really believed you're a fanatic. Charmless, rigid, boring, yes, but not a godly man. Though I suppose this can explain Joffrey's accusations that you shared your bed with her and burned the statues of the Seven in Dragonstone."

"That's twice I've warned you."

"Lady Stark, I suppose you have stopped on Dragonstone on your way here. You must have visited the sept there. Were the statues of the Seven intact?" Lady Margaery asked her.

Catelyn knew what consequences telling the truth could bring, so she avoided it. "I didn't stay on Dragonstone for long. We left the day after I arrived."

"But you visited their sept for sure. I know you, Catelyn. You're too godly to do otherwise."

Catelyn was furious that this woman was right, but Stannis cut short to the discussion.

"That's irrelevant. You rebelled against me, Renly. I am the rightful king. Whoever denies it is my enemy. I have no quarrel with you, as long as you are dutiful. I am your elder, you owe me loyalty and obedience. Give me what is mine by right."

Lord Renly's face turned more serious. The discussion had taken another turn.

"You should kneel before your brother," the Red Woman said. "He's the Lord Chosen, born amidst salt and smoke."

"Born amidst salt and smoke? Is he a ham?" Renly quipped.

That priestess hadn't made things better, far from it. Catelyn decided it was time to say something.

"Listen to yourselves. If you were sons of mine, I would knock your heads together and lock you into a bedchamber until you remembered that you were brothers."

"Are you that surprised, Catelyn?" Lady Margaery asked her, for everyone to hear. "They have no love for each other, and they had no love for Robert. I suppose I should wonder why they didn't declare war among each other when Robert was still alive. What's the difference between fighting Robert or Joffrey, except the fact Joffrey is only boy and maybe easier to fight. Maybe that's why you all waited for Robert to die."

"This has nothing to do with my personal feelings for Robert, Lady Lannister," Stannis replied. "The children of Cersei Lannister are all born from incest. Their real father is Ser Jaime Lannister, the Kingslayer."

"Do you have any proof of it?" She looked at him defiantly, daring him to prove what he said.

Stannis Baratheon didn't reply immediately. "Very well, if you want it."

Ser Davos Seaworth took a scroll of paper that Catelyn recognized immediately to be the last letter her husband wrote. He brought it to Lord Renly who read it. At the end, he laughed and handed it to the knight next to him.

"Read it, Loras." So that was him, Ser Loras Tyrell, the Knight of Flowers, the brother of Lady Lannister. Renly turned towards Lady Margaery. "Isn't that a sweet story, my lady? I must say that when I read my brother's letter claiming who Joffrey was, it took my breath away." He then turned to Stannis. "I had never suspected you were so clever, Stannis. Were it only true, you would indeed be Robert's heir."

"Were it true? Do you name me a liar?"

"Loras, let me read this," Lady Lannister ordered her brother.

He gave the letter to his sister. Once she was done reading it, she looked at Catelyn. "We have to give it to your husband, Catelyn, he is honest. I received a similar letter while I was on my way to King's Landing."

"So you confess that Eddard Stark is telling the truth," Stannis stated.

"I said he was honest, not that he told the truth. I'm saying he told what he believed to be the truth. And there's one person here who had all the reasons for Eddard Stark to believe that Joffrey was a bastard and to make an attempt to overthrow him."

She stared at Stannis. "This is ridiculous," he simply said.

"Really? Let's look at the facts, Lord Stannis. You never loved Robert, nor his children or his wife. You complained when he made you Lord of Dragonstone. You believed he should have given you Storm's End."

"Don't worry, my lady. Stannis always finds something to complain about. If he had been given Storm's End, he would have thought he deserved Dragonstone. And if Robert had given him both, he would have thought Robert ought to give him his crown."

Lady Margaery resumed as if Renly never interrupted her. "When Robert Baratheon named Lord Eddard Stark Hand of the King, you left King's Landing, because you thought you should have been Hand of the King. Eddard Stark wrote to you while he was Hand, asking you to return to the capital, and you never came back. Then when Lord Stark was arrested, you put forward your so-called claim on the Iron Throne, telling everyone that Robert had no legitimate sons. Finally, you had a chance to take what you believed to deserve. And since Eddard Stark was executed, the North and the Riverlands rallied to you, while half of Westeros rebelled against Joffrey. It seems to me you're the one who truly benefitted from the rumor of the queen's incest. You even started it and spread it. And there's a very simple way to know who is guilty of a crime. We ask ourselves who this crime benefitted the most. I just wonder if your plan included the death of Eddard Stark so that the North would support you or if you truly hoped he would take the Iron Throne for you."

"You accuse me of setting all this? You call me not only a liar, but a schemer? The man who had Eddard Stark killed?"

"No one had more interests than you to make Eddard Stark believe that the children of his best friend were born of incest. And what better way to have the allegiance of a young boy who just became lord than to have his father killed and to make him believe that the man who executed him is not the true king."

"I swear that I had nothing to see with Lord Stark's death," Stannis coldly stated. He wasn't defending himself, only stating the truth.

"What do you swear upon? The Seven? You burned the statues of your ancestors' gods. We know you did. We also know about this affair you have with this woman who is standing right there. How can we trust your word? Will you deny that you slept with her?"

"I have no reason to justify or defend myself to you, Lady Lannister." Catelyn noticed that Stannis didn't deny the accusations. She knew that the burning of the idols was true, but his relationship with the Red Woman was only based on rumors. What if there was more to it than she thought? "Not long ago, your family plotted with my brother to get you into Robert's bed."

"That shows how little you know about House Tyrell. My parents would never plot to make me a whore. You, on the other side, are plotting and have been plotting to overthrow your nephew for a very long time, and you have nothing to prove your accusations against him."

"Can you prove any word of this fable?" Renly asked to his brother.

"You have my word, and the word of Eddard Stark. I say this is enough," Stannis stated.

"Ah. So we have your word, and the word of a dead man."

"My lord husband would never lie about this, Lord Renly," Catelyn said.

"Unless he was fooled by someone," Lady Lannister added.

"My lord husband would never make such an accusation without undisputable proof."

"King's Landing is a city of liars and schemers, Lady Stark. Any proof you find there is feeble at best. Your husband didn't know the capital and how things worked there. I'm afraid he was played by certain people with specific interests."

"Enough!" Stannis's voice cut through the air and no one dared to speak but him. "I haven't come to discuss who is the right king, nor how Eddard Stark was murdered or found the truth about the bastard. I have come to take what is mine." He stared at his young brother. "For the sake of the mother who bore us, I will give you this one night to reconsider. Strike your banners, come to me before dawn, and I will grant you your old seat in the council along with Storm's End. I'll even name you my heir until a son is born to me. Otherwise I shall destroy you."

"The whole Realm denies your claim, brother," Renly replied. "From Dorne to the Wall, they deny it. Old men deny it with their death rattle and unborn children deny it in their mother's wombs. No one wants you for their king. You never wanted any friends, brother. But a man without friends is a man without power."

"Kings have no friends, only subjects and enemies. I may not have friends, Renly, but I have Dragonstone, the North and the Riverlands for me. What do you have?"

Renly smiled. "I have the Stormlands, the Reach and Dorne. And they follow me because they actually want to follow me, not because they have to or because I forced them to."

"Renly, you don't have the support of Highgarden, and you will never have it. You are just too stupid to see it. Dorne doesn't support you either, you only assume they will support you," Lady Margaery said. "As for you, Lord Stannis, the Stark and Tully hosts are far away, stuck in the Riverlands by the Lannister armies and unable to move. Half of the Riverlands are already occupied, and soon they will all be occupied and forced to bend the knee to Joffrey. House Tyrell and House Lannister made their choice a long time ago. We do not turn against our lawful rulers, and we don't accuse our enemies of incest. We also don't murder members of our own family. My father might have fought for the Mad King, but at least the Mad King never killed someone of his own blood. None of you can say the same. You're all ready to kill brothers, nephews and nieces to get the Iron Throne. The Westerlands and the Reach will never give their support to such men. So I suggest you bend the knee and recognize your nephew Joffrey as your king. He's ready to forgive your rebellion. It would be in your interest to seize this chance, before it's too late."

Catelyn noticed the annoyed expression that Ser Loras Tyrell wore. She had heard of the rumors concerning his special relationship with Renly Baratheon. She suspected the Tyrells didn't all agree with Lady Margaery's words.

"Everyone, look across those fields." Lord Renly pointed at the standards of all the people who followed him. "Can you see all those banners? The men carrying them will make me king. This is my claim. The crown will suit me better than it ever did to Robert, and better than it would ever do for you, Stannis. I have it in me to be a great king, strong yet generous, clever, just, diligent, loyal to my friends and terrible to my enemies, yet capable of forgiveness. You don't have it in you, Stannis, and neither does Joffrey. I don't care if he's a bastard or not, and I don't care if you are my elder brother or a man I just met. You are not a king, Stannis. Joffrey is not a king. I am."

"We shall see," Stannis simply said.

Catelyn had enough of this. "This is folly! We have a common enemy, and all you find to do is to fight against each other. Have you forgotten you are of the same family?"

"I agree," Lady Margaery said. "They look like two squabbling children throwing food at each during dinner. Though they shouldn't just stop fighting each other, they should just not fight at all. Joffrey is a Baratheon as much as they are."

"This parley is over," Stannis declared. "Come the dawn, Renly, it will be too late for you. I hope you change your mind. As for Joffrey, Lady Lannister, his turn will come."

"Lady Stark." Margaery Lannister called after her. "I would like you to come. We need to talk. And maybe you can succeed to talk Lord Renly out of the idea of killing his brother, if not his nephew. I've been trying for days."

Catelyn wasn't certain. Lady Lannister seemed sincere, like always, but her sincerity had proved to be questionable. Ned had died despite her promise to save him. However, she wasn't wrong either, and although Catelyn might not trust her, she believed she could trust Renly to not kill her. She looked at the king, seeking his permission. He waved a hand.

"Try to convince him before dawn. Come back if he doesn't change his mind. If things go wrong and you can't, I'll make sure my men don't do you any harm."

"Yes, let's Lady Stark tell you how powerful my army is when compared to yours," Lord Renly said with another smile.

Stannis rode away. As he and his men moved away, the Red Woman lingered behind just a little more time. "Look to your sins, Lord Renly. The night is dark and full of terrors. As for you, Lady Margaery, a rose and a lion will both break your heart."

"Would you believe I loved him once?" Renly Baratheon said before he rode off as well.

Catelyn was left with Ser Jacelyn and Lady Margaery and her two guards. The sigils of House Lannister and House Tyrell kept flapping through the wind. They said nothing for a moment, then Lady Lannister made a sign to follow her.

They travelled through Lord Renly's camp without problem. His men were ready for battle. Catelyn noticed how they were better armed than Stannis's men. The lords of the islands in the Narrow Sea were not as rich and their smith's work wasn't as good as those established on the mainland. Stannis had a better fleet, but it would count for nothing in a battle on the ground.

She said nothing to Lady Margaery as they went through the men preparing for the battle that would take place at dawn. Both of them didn't say anything. The young woman had been a great help at Winterfell after Bran fell.

She led Catelyn to a tent near the center of the encampment. The tent was lavishly furnished, with more comfort than necessary. As soon as they entered, Margaery poured them some wine and invited her to sit. Catelyn chose to remain standing.

"Before you say anything, Catelyn, I was sincere back then. I'm truly sorry for what happened to Lord Stark. He didn't deserve to die."

Catelyn looked at this woman she considered as a friend not long ago. "Did you lie to Jon Snow so he would slow us down, or did he know what you were planning and played along?"

"We didn't try to slow you down. We were trying to save your husband."

"You killed him."

Lady Margaery looked down before she stared back at Catelyn. "Lord Eddard Stark was executed two days before Tyrion and I arrived in King's Landing. When we approached the battlements of the Red Keep, we were welcomed by the sight of his head on a spike." She sighed as she looked away. "We failed you, I know. We promised we could save him, but we couldn't. I'm truly sorry. Joffrey is still a boy, and Lord Stark tried to overthrow him. Everyone advised him to spare Ned Stark, but he didn't listen."

"How can I be sure you're telling the truth?"

"I am a Lannister. You think I would blame someone of my own family if I lied? If I did, I would tell you Joffrey wasn't advised appropriately, that it was the Spider or Littlefinger or Pycelle or someone else who put the idea of killing your husband in his head. I would place the blame on someone else."

"Joffrey killed Ned?" Catelyn slowly asked.

Margaery looked back at her with a pained expression. "Yes. He ordered his execution on the steps of the Great Sept of Baelor. We're doing everything we can. We have held Joffrey away from power, we are doing anything to stop him from taking decisions. He wasn't ready to rule. Cersei didn't educate him well. She planted ideas in his head, wrong ideas, and now here we are, at war, and I don't know how we can stop this madness."

She really looked discouraged and powerless. "Your brother supports Lord Renly, doesn't he?"

"Yes, on the top of that. He even said that I could marry Renly and become queen once Tyrion was dead. Do you imagine that? My own brother said this to me. He said he would kill the man I love."

Maybe that wouldn't be for the worst, but Catelyn kept her ideas for herself. "I won't tell this to anybody."

"Thanks." She truly wouldn't. However, she still didn't trust this woman. At the same time, a part of her thought she might be worthy of trust after all.

"Lady Margaery, I believe your husband is not who you think he is. He's the one who tried to murder Bran."

Margaery Lannister looked back at her, utterly surprised. If she was playing an act, she was very good at it. "That's impossible."

"He did." She took something she brought with her and placed it on the table before her. "This dagger belongs to him. The footpad who tried to murder my son used it. That's the weapon who did this."

She showed her scars from the struggle that happened not so long ago to emphasize her meaning. Lady Margaery took the dagger into her hands and removed the cloth it was wrapped in. Catelyn noticed an expression of surprise on her face. She unsheathed the dagger, then sheathed it again.

"Catelyn, this dagger does not belong to my husband," Lady Margaery said.

"It does. I know it." Perhaps she didn't recognize it. After all, the Lord of Casterly Rock certainly had dozens of daggers, though she would expect a dagger like this one to come out of the lot. "It belonged to Joffrey. He received it for his name day, and during the tourney he bet on Jaime Lannister and lost it to Lord Tyrion after your brother defeated him."

Lady Margaery frowned. She looked back at the dagger, then sighed and gave it back to Catelyn. "I don't know where you got this information, but it is impossible."

"How can you say that? Do you really believe you know your husband well? He is the son of Tywin Lannister."

"I know!" She replied abruptly. "I know who his father was, but that doesn't mean he is like his father. In fact, he is all the opposite." She took a deep breath. "What you say is impossible because Tyrion never bets against his brother. Anyway, I was with him during the whole tourney, and I can tell you that he didn't place a single bet, safe for one that was with me and didn't involve any money or object. I don't know who told you that, but he lied. Besides, what sort of imbecile arms an assassin with his own blade? Tyrion is many things, but not stupid."

Catelyn took the dagger back and looked at it. The green pearl was still shining, and so was the handle of silver. If Lady Margaery was telling the truth, then who tried to kill Bran? And why would Petyr lie to her? She couldn't see any reason. Though he said he would protect Ned, and he was still sitting on the small council, working for the man who murdered him.

Why was everyone turning on her? Lady Margaery let Ned die, and so did Petyr. Lysa abandoned them when they needed her the most. Who would betray them next?

"Did you get this information during your trip to King's Landing?"

Catelyn froze at the question of Lady Margaery. She refused to make eye contact with the Lady of the Westerlands.

"I haven't gone to King's Landing for years," she blurted.

"Catelyn, I know why you left Winterfell, back when I stayed there. I heard your conversation in the godswood. I was walking and I heard you. I have known for a long time that you suspected us, and I know for the letter your sister sent you. House Lannister has a large network of spies and informants, not to mention the information we are provided by Varys and Littlefinger, so don't hope to keep too many secrets from us."

By the Seven, how didn't she consider that? She had chosen for this meeting to happen in the godswood because she assumed no Lannister would hear them. None ever wandered into the godswood. Except Lady Margaery who took walks every day.

"So?" she insisted.

"I cannot tell you."

"So be it, but I can assure you that I have nothing to see with the attempt of assassination on your son, and neither does Tyrion. Don't you think it would be stupid for us to linger in the North while we would try to assassinate Bran? And Tyrion wouldn't give him a special saddle so he could ride again if he wanted him dead."

"What about the others? Cersei? The Kingslayer?"

"If Jaime Lannister wanted to kill someone, he would do it himself. He would never send someone to do the job in his place. As for Cersei, I don't like her, but I don't believe she would make an attempt of murder in such an obvious way. Poison would be more her style. I'm sorry, Catelyn, but someone played you, just like your husband was played."

"By who?"

"I don't know. We've tried to discover who made this attempt of murder against Bran. Ser Kevan inquired while he was in King's Landing, and we did the same, but so far we have found nothing."

"Do you truly think that Stannis could have manipulated Ned?"

"I believe Stannis is no longer the man your husband might have known, judging from the information Lord Varys gave us. You've spent some time at his side. I suppose you could see it by yourself."

Indeed, Catelyn never imagined Stannis Baratheon embracing a new faith, or burning representations of the Seven, or being unfaithful to his wife for a foreign priestess. She started to believe the rumors concerning him and the Red Woman were more than rumors. Could he really be behind Ned's death? It seemed so unlikely. They had fought together in two wars, and Ned always respected him. Stannis respected Ned too. No, the Lannisters had to be behind this. Perhaps Lady Margaery didn't play any role in that, but it was definitely House Lannister who was guilty. Lysa's letter, the assassination attempt on Bran, Ned's murder, the accusations of incest between the queen and the Kingslayer. All that couldn't be a coincidence.

"How are my daughters? Sansa? Arya? How are they?"

These were the questions that plagued her every night. She needed to know what happened to them. Lady Lannister sat in a chair and crossed her fingers.

"Sansa is alive, and well. She misses her family, and she's terrified."

Catelyn believed her. She had no trouble to believe that Sansa was terrified. Even if the Imp had told her that, she would have believed him.

"And Arya?" she asked.

Catelyn had a bad feeling about this at the moment Lady Margaery inhaled deeply. Then she answered. "We don't know where she is."

Her heartbeat accelerated immediately. "What do you mean? You don't know?"

"She disappeared, right when your husband was arrested. We've been looking for her everywhere, and she's nowhere to be found."

"I defend you from lying to me," she warned.

"I'm telling you the truth. Your daughter Arya disappeared, and we have no idea where she is. If I wanted to lie to you, I would tell you we still have her, so we can have more leverage. I gain nothing from telling you we cannot find her."

"No, nothing, unless she is dead."

Margaery Lannister shook her head. "Why would we kill her? If you had Tommen or Myrcella as a hostage, would you kill them? She is much more useful to us alive than dead. And even if she was dead, I would either hide it by making you believe we still have her or tell you she was executed to make you afraid that the same fate could be awaiting Sansa."

No, that couldn't be. "I warn you, if something ever happens to Sansa…"

"You will go to war against us? You will kill us? We already are at war, and I'm quite sure your son already wants to kill us all. But it's not me you should threaten. It's Joffrey. He's the one who executed your husband against the opinion of the whole small council. He's the one who forced Sansa to look at her father's head on a spike, and he's the one who orders his kingsguards to hit her every time she says or does something he doesn't like."

Lady Lannister stared right at her when she was done speaking. Catelyn was agape. All she could do was imagine what Sansa was going through right now.

Lady Lannister sighed. "I'm doing everything I can to protect her, and Tyrion does too. We try to keep her away from Joffrey, but Joffrey is king. When he gives an order, we must obey him. And since we're keeping him away from the politics of the Realm, he's looking for other distractions, and I'm afraid mistreating your daughter is among them."

"But… but Sansa is only a child," Catelyn whispered.

"A child who is betrothed to Joffrey, who will be his queen." The prospect of this terrified Catelyn. "Unless we find a way to cancel the betrothal."

"There's a way? You could do that?" Catelyn asked, full of hope for once.

"Yes, that would be possible. I can also send Arya back to you as soon as we find her."

If they found her. If Arya disappeared, if Margaery Lannister truly said the truth, then she could be dead. Catelyn tried to not think about it. Arya had to still be alive somewhere. She already lost Ned. She couldn't lose anyone else.

"But I need your help."

Lady Margaery looked at her, telling very explicitly that she was more than serious.

"What do you need?" Catelyn asked her. If there was a chance to get back her daughters, then she had to take it. The Lady of Casterly Rock replied with a single word.

"Peace."

"Peace?"

"Yes, peace. As long as this war goes on, Sansa will remain betrothed to Joffrey, and she will remain in King's Landing. And we will not be able to organize an extensive research of Arya. Not to mention what could happen to them both depending of the direction this war might take. You want your daughters back? Then make peace."

Catelyn shook her head. "My son will never agree to that?"

"We already made our proposal known to him. Before I left King's Landing, we were about to send someone to offer him our terms of peace. They included Arya's freedom and the annulment of Sansa's betrothal to Joffrey. By now, he must have received them."

"He will never agree to this."

"I don't expect him to, but right now it's not him I'm asking, it's you. We are offering you peace, Catelyn. What say you?"

Catelyn shook her head. "Even if I could trust you and your husband, what about Joffrey?"

"We will make sure he accepts them. He signed the offer of peace we sent to your son. We will make sure he respects them."

"Even if it was true, how can I believe you? You said you would save Ned, and you didn't."

"We weren't there. Now we are. Things will be different."

"Joffrey killed my husband. He murdered him. And you're asking me to make peace with him? You're asking my son, who is still barely a boy, to make peace with his father's murderer?"

"I'm asking if you would rather have your daughters alive and safe rather than revenge for your husband's death! Ned Stark is gone. Killing will not bring him back. But Sansa and Arya are not lost, not yet. But the longer this war will last, the more they will be in danger. And your son Robb is leading an army. At every battle, every march, he will be in danger. And your sons Bran and Rickon are alone at Winterfell. They may be safe, but they are alone, far from their family and from those they love. Do you want to risk the lives of your children in the hope to avenge your husband?"

Catelyn knew that Lady Lannister knew her answer before she asked the question, but she didn't deign to give it. It would be useless. "Robb will never agree to this." She tried to sound firm, but her voice betrayed her despair about the whole situation.

"Then convince him."

"How?"

"You are his mother. Remind him of his duty towards his family."

"He also has a duty towards the North and his bannermen. And towards justice. If he makes peace for Sansa and Arya, his men could turn on him."

A long silence followed, then Lady Lannister spoke. "What's the point to be a powerful lord if you cannot even defend your family? What's the point to ruling a great kingdom if you have to sacrifice the people you love?" She was looking away as she said, as if she was addressing someone else, someone Catelyn couldn't see. She stared back at her. "Convince him, or else I might not be able to protect Sansa, or to find Arya."

She stood up and proceeded to leave, but before she said one last thing to Catelyn. "So that you know, the terms we offered Robb Stark include a marriage between Sansa and my brother, Ser Loras Tyrell. That would ensure the peace between our families, and this way Sansa would be free from her engagement with Joffrey. She would be Lady of Highgarden one day."

"But your brother… he's with Renly. He supports him."

"For now." She almost sighed as she said the two words. "I suggest you talk to him before dawn. Maybe you'll persuade him to stop fighting Stannis."

"If I do, you know Stannis and Renly will turn together against Joffrey."

"Maybe not. Reminding him that it's wrong to kill a brother might remind him that it's also wrong to kill a nephew."

"But Joffrey is not Renly's nephew."

"He is," Lady Margaery retorted. "You may think otherwise and many people as well, but I know the truth. Do you remember what your husband wrote to me and Stannis?"

"Yes, and he said Joffrey was born of incest by Cersei and her brother."

"He wrote this, but not only this. He also said that he wanted Cersei and her children to be spared. These are his last wishes we know of. He didn't want Tommen and Myrcella to die. Even if Joffrey killed him, his brother and sister are innocent. If Stannis or Renly takes King's Landing, they will be killed. They see them as a threat to their claim. Is that what you want? Is that what your husband would want? To see two innocent children die? Because that's what will happen if Stannis or Renly seizes the Iron Throne."

"And if Joffrey remains on the Iron Throne, my daughters could die."

"They won't, not if you make peace with us."

"You said you were trying to protect Sansa. Is there nothing more you can do? Can't you send her away? Somewhere far from the capital, far from Joffrey, if he's so dangerous?"

Lady Margaery sighed again. "I don't know. We cannot send her away without Joffrey's approval, and they're engaged. I could try to persuade him to send her to Casterly Rock or even Highgarden for her safety, in case the capital would fall, but it won't be easy. I cannot guarantee her safety as long as this war lingers and that she remains betrothed to the king."

"Can you at least promise me to do everything you can to protect her?"

"I'm already doing it."

"Swear, and I promise I will do everything to convince my son to stop this war."

That caught Lady Lannister's attention. Catelyn was ready to do anything to save Sansa and Arya, but she wouldn't try to talk Robb out of this war without some small guarantee, as weak as it was, that Sansa might be safe in the meantime.

"I swear. If Joffrey tries something on Sansa again, I will do everything I can to stop him."

She seemed serious, and for Catelyn that was enough. She knew she couldn't entirely trust this woman, but she didn't see who else to turn in order to protect her daughter.

"Now, if you'll excuse me. I have other matters to attend. You can stay here in the meantime, or if you want I can ask Renly to provide you with other arrangements. He's always pleased to be courteous."

"No, thank you. I will not stay here for long."

Margaery Lannister nodded and left for real this time. Catelyn left as well a few moments later and went to look for Lord Renly with Ser Jacelyn. He wasn't in his personal pavilion. One of his kinsguards told her he was inspecting the horses.

On their way, Catelyn pondered on her latest discussion with Margaery Lannister. Conflicting thoughts cohabited in her mind when it came to the Lady of Casterly Rock. Catelyn couldn't forget how helpful she was at Winterfell, and somehow a part of her still couldn't believe she had something to do with this footpad, or with Ned's death. At the same time, she could see the calculating nature of Margaery Lannister when she asked to convince Robb that peace was necessary. She knew that Catelyn would do everything for her children. She used the right cards.

When they arrived at the stables where the king was supposed to be, they discovered he wasn't there. It may have been her imagination, but she thought the horses were better fed and taken care of than usual. They were probably preparing them for battle. She spotted the shape of someone she saw before as he discussed with a stable boy.

"Ser Loras."

Lady Lannister's brother turned to look at her. "Lady Stark."

It was disconcerting to see how the brother and the sister looked so much alike. They had many common traits. Catelyn remembered her first years in the North, when she had to get used to her new home, how she felt out of place among these men and women who didn't think like her, didn't share the same faith, and even spoke differently. She needed some time to get used to all this. In the end, it worked out well enough. She and Ned had both been very patient. Ned gave her time to get accustomed to the North and helped her to become more familiar with it, and Catelyn was patient enough to get used to a new way of life. She supposed it must have been the same for Lady Margaery. She reflected that her auburn hair was as odd-looking in the North as Margaery Tyrell's brown-wavy had been among the golden hair of the Lannisters. And yet Margaery defended House Lannister with the same determination Catelyn had whenever it came to House Stark. Despite all this, Catelyn still felt a stranger in the North. Did Margaery Lannister feel the same about the Westerlands?

"I'm looking for Lord Renly…"

"King Renly," Ser Loras corrected.

"I'm looking for Renly Baratheon." Catelyn avoided to call Lord Renly king, while not calling him lord at the same time.

"I don't know where he is."

He proceeded to walk away, but Catelyn followed him. "I need to talk with him."

"I don't believe the king has anything to discuss with you, Lady Stark. You support Stannis, the enemy of my king. Those who support him are my enemies."

"I just want to talk with him," she insisted.

"There's nothing to talk about."

"Shouldn't the king be a better judge than you for that?"

Ser Loras turned to stare at her. "Listen, Lady Stark, we have a battle tomorrow. His Grace has more important issues to deal with than you."

Catelyn remained calm despite the difficulty of the situation. "Ser, I'm only trying to prevent a battle that could be avoided."

"How? You want Renly to bend the knee before his brother? To swear loyalty to Stannis?"

"He just offered him back Storm's End and his seat on the small council. I think it is a very generous offer."

"You think? Stannis just wants to get rid of him, confine Renly to a dark spot from where no one will notice him, when Stannis should be the one to stay in the shadows. Renly Baratheon deserves to be king."

"I am sure that Lord Renly would make a decent king…"

"Then why isn't your son supporting him? Why aren't you supporting him?"

"Because Stannis is his elder brother."

"That's all? That's the only reason? Stannis was born first, so he gets everything. I don't think this is fair."

"This is the law."

"Law? Well, the law should be changed. Because Renly should be king. I've known him since I was a boy. He's a good man, and he could be a good king if only people gave him a chance, but no one does, only because he's the thirdborn son. Renly was never given his chance. He can give so much, and yet people don't let him the opportunity."

"He is already Lord of Storm's End…"

"And he's a good lord of Storm's End, but he could also be a good king."

"Stannis Baratheon will make a good king as well."

"I don't know Stannis. I barely ever talked to him. You want me to swear my sword to someone I don't know at all? You want me to put the future of my house and my family into the hands of a man who avoids people like they are rats? I don't think so. Renly Baratheon has always been good to House Tyrell, and I know he will always be good to us. Stannis, on the other side, he hates us, ever since we besieged him at Storm's End during the last war. He won't stop to punish and to ignore the Tyrells if he sits on the Iron Throne. We have nothing to gain from him, or from Joffrey. With Renly, we could have everything, finally our chance."

"Is your sister of the same view than you?" she asked. She saw blood rushing to the face of the knight. "She doesn't wish for Lord Renly to fight his brother either. They are family. Families shouldn't tear themselves apart, or fight among themselves."

He looked away, an expression of anger and disdain plain on his face. "Margaery is not well placed to talk about family. I tried to help her, and she only pushed me away, accused me of betraying her."

"Why would she believe it?"

Ser Loras scoffed. "She seems to think that the Lannisters are her family now. It's like… like she forgot that she was a Tyrell. She's… different. Ever since she left Highgarden, she hasn't been the same. She would never have defended the Lannisters three years ago." Of course, she wouldn't have, but that was before she was married to Lord Tyrion. Things were different now. "It's like… she no longer cared about our family. Like she cared more about her husband and nephews with no blood ties than her actual family. She even says she loves the Imp. How can she love him?"

That was a question that Catelyn had been asking herself too. She fell in love with Ned, but that was different. She could conceive that Lady Margaery would do her duty as the Imp's wife, be faithful, bear his children, but love him? She failed to understand the Lady of Casterly Rock on this point, especially in light of Lord Tyrion's doings.

"Anyway, we're going to battle tomorrow. We will defeat Stannis, and I'm telling you, Lady Stark, before the end of the year, Renly Baratheon will be the new king of Westeros. Once Stannis is defeated, I hope your son throw his support to us, or else he shall be destroyed, and I will lead the armies that will destroy them. I will do everything for my king."

The Knight of Flowers walked away. It was this man that Lady Margaery wanted to marry Sansa to. Catelyn had no trouble imagining how Sansa would be thrilled at the prospect of marrying Ser Loras. He was like the perfect knight she dreamed of. However, if the rumors concerning him and Renly were true… Catelyn chased these ideas from her mind. Considering the actual predicament, Ser Loras Tyrell was still a better match for her daughter than Joffrey. If that was the price to get her away from the monster who killed Ned, then it seemed reasonable. There was no reason Sansa couldn't have children with Ser Loras. He would have to produce an heir, no matter how he felt. Catelyn had been married to a man she barely knew at a very young age, and things had worked out pretty well, despite the fact he had a son with another woman, a son much more like him than all the sons she gave him, and despite the fact he didn't love her first. Sansa would be able to deal with it as well. They just needed to get her engagement with Joffrey annulled.

They looked for Renly for a very long time. When they finally found him, he received her with all smile and manners, but he turned her down with the same smile and manners, announcing her he had a pavilion prepared especially for her. Except for the salutations, she didn't have the opportunity to place a word before she was sent away. However, the knight who escorted her said the king would meet her later.

Normally, Catelyn should have gone back to Stannis's encampment for it was beginning to be late, but if she had a chance to talk Renly Baratheon out of his idea to become king, then she must seize it.

However, she didn't expect to wait for so long. She waited, waited, and waited. It was very late in the night when Renly Baratheon finally called her to his pavilion. Catelyn suspected dawn would be there soon. That was her last chance. Stannis Baratheon might begin to wonder where she was, and he wouldn't be happy if he found out she couldn't persuade his brother.

"Lady Stark, please come in." Renly was drinking wine when she entered. A tall woman dressed in full armor was preparing his own. She was wearing the armor of Renly's kingsguards. "I apologize for delaying this interview, but I had many other matters to attend. A king is very busy. Now I have time for you. Please, speak."

He made her wait on purpose, to the eve of battle, to prove again he was a king.

"Our two houses have always been close, Lord Renly. Which is why I am begging you to reconsider this battle. Negotiate a peace with your brother."

"Negotiate with Stannis? You heard him out there, Lady Stark. I'd have better luck debating the wind." He chuckled.

"He is your brother," she insisted.

"A brother who never loved me. What is family without love? To me, Stannis is more a stranger than most of the men inside my army. Why should I show mercy to a man who is a stranger to me?"

"Because your blood runs through his veins too."

Renly Baratheon laid down his cup. "Lady Stark, when Jon Arryn died, Robert chose your husband for his Hand, instead of me or Stannis. I don't blame him. I liked Eddard Stark. I was very sad to hear of his death. By the way, you have all my sympathy. I should have offered it to you before." She acknowledged it with a small bow of her head. "But the fact is, your husband was more of a brother to Robert than I ever was, and more than Stannis ever was to me. I regret it must come to that, but I cannot allow Stannis or Joffrey to sit on the Iron Throne. None of them is fit. Stannis is following a foreign god and Joffrey murders his own bannermen."

He leaned forward and crossed his fingers while staring intently at her. "I see no reason for hostility between us. I don't want to take the North away from your family. It is yours. And I want to avenge Lord Stark's death me too. We have the same enemy, Joffrey. Together, we can defeat him. When I am done with my brother's armies in the morning, I want your son to join me. We will fight our enemies together. The friendship of Robert and Ned Stark held the Seven Kingdoms together. I want the same with Robb. I don't want you or him or anybody to fight for me. Stannis wants everyone to fight for him. I want you to fight with me. I'm asking to choose me as your king, not because I am the first in line of succession, but because I can be a good king, because I can give you what you want."

"And what is it that we want?"

"Revenge for your husband. Freedom for your daughters. I promise you. The moment we free King's Landing, my first priority will be to kill Joffrey and to make sure nothing has come to your daughters. I swear it."

"And this will involve killing your brother tomorrow?"

He shrugged. "I don't see another way. I might offer him to spend the rest of his days at the Wall if he survives the battle, but I doubt Stannis would accept. So, what say you?"

Catelyn hesitated. "My son has already pledged allegiance to Stannis. We told your brother that we would fight for him. That was Ned's desire that Stannis became king."

"Perhaps, but I'm afraid Ned Stark was wrong. He was loyal, everyone knows that, but he could never see the reality."

"What reality?"

"That Robert was a horrible king, and that Stannis will be far worse."

"The Realm prospered under Robert."

"The Realm prospered under this long summer, which Robert had no part in making it happen. He was just lucky to rule during a long period without summer. It could have happened to any king. And we all know it was Jon Arryn who ruled, not Robert. The old man and your husband spent their tenure as Hand cleaning the shit Robert left behind. With Stannis, it will be worse. He will force you to fight forever. Stannis is a soldier. He will spend his reign into war, commanding all the lords to follow him into one war after the other every time someone will do something he disapproves. Is that the kind of king you want?"

"I believe you are wrong about your brother."

"You don't know him as well as I do."

"I thought he was a stranger for you."

Renly Baratheon chuckled. "Sometimes, we can know some strangers pretty well."

Everything was a joke with this man. She didn't see how she could convince him. Dawn was closing on them. She should leave.

Before she could, they heard a commotion outside. Margaery Lannister walked in, holding small pieces of paper in her hands, followed by one of Renly's kingsguards on her heels.

"Your Grace…" He didn't have time to explain as Lady Margaery interrupted him. The tall woman who remained silent during the whole conversation Catelyn had with Renly stepped forward, ready to draw her sword, as Margaery Lannister walked toward Lord Renly like a fury.

"We need to talk. Now."

Her tone suggested there was no place for discussion. Renly Baratheon was his usual gracious self and told his kingsguard to leave them alone. Catelyn was about to leave but Margaery stopped her. "Stay, you'll want to hear this. I just received some news. From the North."

Catelyn frowned. "The North?"

"Winterfell has fallen."

She felt her heart stop. "Fallen?" She wasn't lying. The look on the face of Margaery Lannister clearly showed that she was telling the truth. "How… how could you…?"

"It wasn't our doing. It was the Greyjoys."

The Greyjoys. Theon. Robb decided to send him to his father to get his help not long before she left to see Stannis. Catelyn knew they couldn't trust a Greyjoy, but Robb didn't listen to her.

"Winterfell isn't the only castle that fell. Torrhen's Square fell as well, and Moat Cailin is occupied. It seems Balon Greyjoy decided to go into rebellion again, and he decided to invade the North since it was emptied of men."

Winterfell had fallen. But then… "Bran! Rickon!"

"We don't know. There's no word about them. Most likely, they are prisoners. I'm sorry, Catelyn."

No, that couldn't be. They left Bran and Rickon behind, safe at Winterfell, or so they thought. Now… That couldn't be.

"Lady Stark, I'm so sorry," Lord Renly said, beginning apologies, but Lady Lannister cut him.

"There's more. There was a battle at the Golden Tooth." This awakened her attention again. "The Tully army was defeated. The troops are disbanding. The army of Stafford Lannister is marching on Riverrun as we speak. The castle is defenseless."

Again, Catelyn couldn't believe it. Winterfell and Riverrun, at the same time. She was stunned, unable to react for a good moment.

"Lady Stark," resumed Renly, "I promise that once Stannis is defeated, I will help you against the Lannisters, and the Greyjoys too."

"And how will you help them, Renly? You have no ships to move your men. Your only way to Riverrun is by land, and for that you'll have to go through King's Landing, Harrenhal and all the territories we control and the armies that occupy them," Margaery Lannister retorted.

"I will have no problem dealing with the Lannisters with the help of your family, my lady. Once Lord Tyrell's troops…"

"My father will never help you, Lord Renly. If Loras told you that he would, then he obviously doesn't know what he's talking about."

"Ser Loras Tyrell is heir to Highgarden. The Reach will fight by my side."

"The Reach will never fight for you because you're fighting against me. I am a Lannister by marriage, remember. You seem to forget that all the time."

"Lady Margaery, I understand that you are concerned, but your brother and I will never hurt you. We have nothing against you. Our enemy is Joffrey."

"And Joffrey is my nephew." She sighed. "I'm going to make it clear for you. You will only kill Joffrey over my dead body."

"You would be ready to die for Joffrey?"

"He is part of my family, and in House Lannister and House Tyrell, we are ready to die for our family. Unlike you, who are ready to murder your family to get what you want."

"I have no choice, my lady."

"Of course, you have."

"Not if the Seven Kingdoms are to have a god king."

"A good king? How can a king be called good when he murders people of his own blood like you and Stannis are planning to do? Even the Mad King never did this."

"I will spare Joffrey and Stannis if I can."

"You won't. They will always be a threat to your rule. You will kill them, and Tommen and Myrcella too. I know it, and you know it. You're just lying to yourself."

"What do you suggest I do then, my lady? I'm open to suggestions."

"Bend the knee."

"We already talked about it, my dear Lady Margaery. It is out of the question."

"Joffrey is offering you to keep Storm's End and to forgive you." She turned to Catelyn. "And he's offering the same and more to your son, Catelyn."

Catelyn had heard the discussion between Renly Baratheon and Margaery Lannister more than she actually listened to it. Learning at the same time the loss of her two homes and the uncertain fate of Bran and Rickon left her shocked.

"You're ready to risk everything in the faint hope to sit on the Iron Throne, or to avenge someone who tried to overthrow his legitimate king. You're endangering your family and everyone you love for stupid reasons," the Lady of Casterly Rock declared.

"My husband was murdered," Catelyn opposed.

"And look at what your quest of revenge led you so far. We don't know what happened to three of your children, another one is risking his life every day on the fields of battle, and the other one is prisoner of a king who beats her. Is revenge worth it? Are you truly ready to sacrifice your family to avenge your lord husband?"

Lady Lannister turned to Renly. "And you, because you believe to be so much better than everyone, you give yourself the right to kill those who don't want you as their king, when you have no right upon the Iron Throne. You're even ready to kill your own brother, and your nephew, and to make the whole Realm bleed to sit on the throne."

She stood right in front of Renly Baratheon, only a desk separating them, and she kept speaking. "Let me be clear with you, Lord Renly, when you will try something against the Lannisters, you'll have to kill me first. And be sure of one thing, when you kill me, my whole family will have no rest until you're in a grave, and Loras will be the first to plunge his sword through your heart."

This time, Renly Baratheon wasn't smiling anymore. He slowly stood up. The tall woman remained close, her hand still on the handle of her sword, though it remained sheathed. "Do you truly believe that Loras will choose you over me? That your family will choose you over him?" he asked her.

"My lord father listens to me and to my grandmother, Olenna Tyrell, when he takes a decision. Not to Loras."

"We'll see." He turned toward the tall woman. "Lady Brienne, let's prepare. Morning is approaching."

The woman called Brienne began to fasten his armor. Renly Baratheon turned his back on them. Catelyn now knew there was nothing to be done. The battle would take place. Stannis would fight Renly, and only one of them would come out alive.

"My lord," she pleaded one last time. "It is not too late. Your brother promised to pardon you if you surrendered before dawn."

"I'm done with this, Lady Stark. In a few hours, Stannis will be gone. As for you, Lady Margaery, I advise you to leave, for once Stannis is defeated, Loras and I will turn our arms against your husband and his nephew. Your nephew. I wish it hadn't come to that, but you leave me no choice."

"Loras will not fight for you if it involves fighting me," Lady Margaery retorted.

"I think you underestimate his loyalty to me."

"And I think you underestimate the love a brother and a sister can have for each other." A great burst of cold wind went through the tent. "Of course, it is something you will never understand since you and your brothers never had any love for each other."

"NO!"

Catelyn saw it before Lady Brienne yelled. One moment, Renly Baratheon was observing himself in the great glass before him. Then a dark shape appeared and stood right behind him. Catelyn saw its face in the glass. It was the face of the king Robb sent her to negotiate with. Blood flowed out of Renly's mouth as he was stabbed by something dark that looked like a dagger. The shadow turned toward Catelyn and opened its mouth, then it vanished as Renly's body fell on the ground.

Catelyn exchanged a terrified look with Margaery. She was as surprised and taken aback as she was. From the opening of the tent, two kingsguards came, swords out, as Brienne leaned over the body of her king. They looked at the scene before them and came to conclusions very quickly.

"You'll die for this!" one of them shouted.

"No, wait. It wasn't her!"

Catelyn's words had no effect. The two kingsguards attacked their innocent comrade. The tall woman drew her sword immediately. Her two opponents ended on the floor, one after Brienne's sword slashed through his head, the second with her sword buried in his neck.

"What was that?"

The question came from Lady Margaery. She was looking at the scene in front of her, with two kingsguards lying dead on the floor, and Renly Baratheon's body not far away, Lady Brienne crying over it. Catelyn was as clueless as the Lady of Casterly Rock. A struggle could be heard outside. The flap of the tent opened and Ser Loras Tyrell ran inside, his sword covered with blood. He looked to Margaery, then to Catelyn, and finally to the lifeless body of Renly Baratheon. Brienne was still crying over him.

"What… What happened?"

He kept staring at Brienne. She still held her sword soiled by blood in her right hand, while she held Renly with her left arm.

"Brienne, how could you do this?" The woman looked back at the knight, tears running on her face. "He trusted you!"

"No, Loras!"

Her brother didn't listen to Lady Margaery's plea. He leaped forward, bringing down his sword on the woman. Brienne positioned her sword just in time to parry the attack. She managed to get on her feet and blocked a second blow, then a third, a fourth, until she stroke back.

"Loras, Brienne, stop!" Margaery shouted again, to no avail.

She tried to intervene, almost throwing herself between them. Brienne reacted instantly and placed herself between Margaery and Ser Loras, but by doing so became vulnerable. Loras Tyrell's next blows forced her to step back, with Margaery right behind her. The two women stumbled and ended laying down on the floor, and Catelyn watched in horror as Ser Loras Tyrell raised his sword to deliver the final blow, unable to tell whether he was targeting Brienne or Margaery.

Then someone pushed Catelyn aside, and the next moment a man with a white cloak was plunging his sword through Ser Loras's head. Time seemed to stop as Brienne, Catelyn and Margaery all looked in utter shock at Loras Tyrell, the point of a sword emerging through his face. The white knight removed the sword and Ser Loras' body collapsed on the floor.

"Are you alright, my lady?" the knight extended his left hand to the Lady of Casterly Rock, but she only had eyes for her dead brother.

"Loras." The first time she said his name, it came out as a whisper. "Loras!" She crawled to his lifeless form and turned his body so she could see his face. It was bloody mess. "No. No! NO! No, no, no! Loras, no!"

She took his face between her hands as tears started to leave her eyes. Her hands traveled to his heart, his neck, trying to find a pulse, but Catelyn knew she would find none.

"Loras, no. Don't die! Loras!"

"We have to go." Catelyn said it just as the white knight raised his sword, pointing it at Lady Margaery's back. Then he lowered it.


So, like I said, a turning point. At first, I was planning to have this chapter told from Margaery's point of view, but then I decided it would be Catelyn since we won't have her again as a POV before a while. Also, we had already seen dealing with Baratheons from Margaery's perspective, so I thought it would be better to have another perspective this time.

Please review

Next chapter : Sansa