Water, all around them there has been water for days. Antea had never seen the open water and she found it quite fascinating. Theon Greyjoy had told her that the seas were beautiful, he remembered well the waters all around the Iron Islands.
Winterfell was far away from the sea; the only water Antea had ever seen were the hot pools in the Godswood.
Shadow didn't like the sea very much; she preferred the woods and Antea agreed with her. The waters were beautiful, but the woods felt like home. She would have liked to ride all the way to King's Landing, but by ship they would have reached the Capital faster and her mother wanted to arrive there before the King's party. Before the Lannisters.
Antea just hoped she could have seen her father, but she wasn't sure she would. She wanted to be sure that her family was fine; him and her sweet sisters.
Antea looked away from the sea and her gaze fell on her direwolf, she seemed almost sad. A night, almost around the Riverlands, she had found Shadow howling at the moon. Her song seemed a mourning one and Antea found herself crying, a desperate cry, like she had lost a brother or a sister. And she hoped with all her heart that it wasn't the case, but she couldn't know now.
"We'll be in King's Landing within the hour, my ladies" the voice of Captain Moreo Turnitis reached the girl. The Captain was a curious man from Tyrosh, his lips were always turned up in a smile, under his green beard.
When Antea turend she could see the shape of lands not far from them, in not long she would have seen King's Landing for the first time.
Cassie, you should have talked about the South more, Antea thought.
She had no idea of what was ahead of them, what she had to expect from the Southerners. She didn't know why, but the fact that her brother's best friend never spoke to them about her home wasn't a very comforting thought.
"Your oarmen had well by us, Captain" she could hear the polite voice of her mother "Each one of them shall receive a silver stag."
"Thank you, Lady Stark" the man answered. Antea didn't like to let strangers know where they were heading, but Ser Rodrick said that they need Moreo's ship, it was one of the fastest in all the Seven Kingdoms. Of course, they hadn't said what was the purpose of their travel, but Antea would have felt safer if no one had known who they were. But it was her mother's choice.
"But the pleasure it's all ours" the captain added "Having fine ladies like yourself and your daughter is all the reward we need."
"But you'll take the silver anyway" her mother insisted, studying the man. So, she didn't trust him, either.
Antea focused her attention on Shadow again. She was set by her side and she looked at every person who passed near the young lady. Antea almost laugh every time someone looked at her pup, their eyes were always wide and their mouth ajar and no one approached her when Shadow was around.
"Have you heard, girl" Antea said petting Shadow's black fur and the pup immediately looked up showing her golden eyes "We'll land soon" her tail moved happily and Antea smiled down at her.
"Someone is going to notice us, if the wolf is coming" Ser Rodrick said gazing at Shadow, making Antea looked at him.
"Do not worry" Antea answered scratching Shadow behind the ear "No one will notice a thing" she sounded almost proud. Sometimes Arya had asked Antea if she didn't feel lonely, all her brother's wolf were always with them and Shadow wasn't. But the truth was that Antea was never abandoned by her pup, ever. Shadow had the talent of going unnoticed if she wanted to be, but she always watched, always observed from afar.
"The wolf is coming, Ser Rodrick" her mother said approaching them. Since Bran's direwolf had saved him, her mother seemed to accept more the pups, way more than before.
"As you say, my lady" the man answered, then her mother stopped next to Antea, looking at the sea. The two of them hadn't talked much since the beginning of their journey, they were still tense around the other. Catelyn had not forgotten what Antea said weeks before, it was clear. Antea didn't apologize for her words, she didn't know if her mother really meant the terrible things she said to Jon, but since she had never said otherwise, Antea never took her words back. But a part of her didn't want to, it seemed like turn her back to Jon.
"The captain told me that the voyage is almost at an end" Catelyn said.
"So soon?" Ser Rodrick said almost happily. He hadn't felt well during the journey, his face was pale but that day it seemed he was feeling better.
"Apologise, my lady" he said to Antea's mother "I haven't been the most valiant of protectors" Antea was about to smile, if he wasn't feeling well, it didn't make him less valiant.
Men and honor, she thought rolling her eyes.
"We are here, Ser Rodrick" her mother replied "And safely, that's what matter" Antea agreed with her, they were all alive.
"What now?" Antea asked crossing her arms over her chest. One of her mother's hand was hidden behind her cloak, where she kept the Valyrian steel dagger. She often touched it, with her still wounded hand, Antea had noticed.
"We need to find the king's master-at-arms and pray he can be trust" Antea eyes diverted on the sea at her mother's words. Could they really trust anyone? Maybe it would have been better wait for her father, maybe he could have told them who to trust.
"Ser Aron Santagar is a vain man, but an honest one" Ser Rodrick said and then he looked at Catelyn with serious eyes "But once there, my lady, in the court, someone could recognize you on sight."
Her mother nodded "Littelfinger" she muttered with tight mouth.
Antea frowned "Who's Littlefinger?" she asked lost, studying her mother's expression. She didn't seem pleased at the mention of that name.
"Lord Baelish, my lady" Antea had never heard of that name.
"Is he important?" Antea asked looking her mother stir expression.
"He was my father's ward" Catelyn explained "We grew up together. I've always seen him as a little brother, but his feeling for me were… more than brotherly" Antea listened closely to her mother. If they had grew up together, why wasn't she happy to hear his name?
Catelyn looked Antea from the corner of her eyes "When it was announced that I was to wed Brandon Stark, Petyr challenged him for my hand" Antea eyes widened.
"You had to marry uncle Brandon?" She exclaimed; she had no idea.
But her mother ignored her "Brandon was twenty, Petyr was fifteen. I had to beg Brandon to spare his life, and he did, but he left Petyr with a scar. After that my father send him away, I hadn't seen him ever since" she lifted her face almost sad "He wrote to me after Brandon was killed, but I burn it unread. By that time, I knew Ned would marry me in his brother's place" Ser Rodrick nodded when Catelyn ended her story.
"You… were to wed… uncle Brandon" Antea repeated more to herself than her mother.
"Is it all you've heard, Antea?" Her mother said with a strict tone.
"I'm just surprised" Antea argued "You've never told us."
"It wasn't important" Catelyn said quickly.
Antea parents had never told them what had happened before hers and Robb's birth, not specifically anyway. It was just that Antea grew up with the idea of her parents always meant to be together, but it wasn't like that. She wasn't disappointed, just surprised.
It was so easy to wed off children? Alliances were that important? More than sons and daughters' happiness?
Of course, her mother was happy and in love now, but Antea could see pain in her eyes just by talking about Brandon again. Had she been happy to marry Ned? And had he been happy to marry Catelyn?
"I've heard Littlefinger sits on the small council" the small council was composed by the councilors of the King; her father would soon be sitting among them as Hand of the king.
"I knew he would rise high" Catelyn said "He was always clever, even when he was a boy. He wasn't wise though."
The three of them turned around and for the first time Antea saw King's Landing. It was situated on hills, it went from the sea to the top of the hill, where of course there was the Red Keep, the castle of the Capital. His red stones shined under the sun. The air was very different from the North's, it was heavy and hot and Antea had to lose the knot of her cloak around her neck.
The city was more visible. There were inns near the shore and merchant's stalls, taverns and what seemed brothels, but Antea diverted her eyes on those.
"My lady" Ser Rodrick spoke making Catelyn turn to him "I think it is best for you and lady Antea to not enter the castle."
"You will be in danger as much as we would" Catelyn argued, but the man laughed with his rough voice.
"I'll be fine, my lady. The time is passed and you can see it on my face, not even my mother would recognize me."
"And where should we go?" Antea asked, she hoped that her voice hasn't been too harsh.
But before Ser Rodrick could answer, the captain walked towards her "King's Landing, my lady, as you commanded. Will you need assistance to carry your things to the castle?"
Her mother smiled at the man "We are not heading to the castle" she said "Maybe you can suggest an inn."
The man indeed knew of a good place near the river. Before leaving Catelyn paid personally each man, like she had promised.
They left the ship and as soon as Antea's feet touched the ground Shadow was already gone. A little smile appeared on the young lady's face when she saw Ser Rodrick looking around, searching for the pup.
"Shall we go?" Catelyn said, before walking in the crowded streets of the Capital.
The inn where they were supposed to stay wasn't far, but she had the opportunity to see the people of King's Landing. They were all living their lives and children were running around, but something caught Antea's eyes; there weren't soldiers around keeping the ground safe and helping people. And the buildings were so many and so close to each other that it made the passage difficoult.
Once at the inn, they went in the room that Antea would have shared with her mother. It was a small room, with a bed, a table and a chair, outside the window it was possible to see the river shining under the sun.
Suddenly something moved against her leg, Antea smiled without looking down, amazed by how silent Shadow was.
"It is better if you stay away from the common room" Ser Rodrick said "Even if it's not the castle, we could never know who is watching."
Watching… Antea thought and without notice she looked around, like someone was there. She wasn't used to all of that secrecy, and she wondered how her mother could be so calm.
"I'll be back before nightfall with Ser Aron" Ser Rodrick added "Rest now, my ladies"
"Thank you" Antea said before the man could leave the room.
She then turned to see her mother sitting on the bed. Catelyn was silent and she looked around the room messaging her hands. Shadow set next to the lady sniffing her wounds, as if she was checking if they were healing.
Antea walked to the table and opened her bag; she moved her spare dress to find some piece of cloth. She then turned to her mother and sit next to her on the bed and she took one of her hands in hers.
"You need to change the bandages" she muttered, unwrapping the cloth around her hand revealing the deep cut on it. She couldn't understand her mother sometimes; she was so fearless, so kind and other times she seemed cold, thinking just about duties and rights.
"You don't have to" her mother whispered. Antea started to bandage her wound with the clean cloth.
"It will be easier for you" Antea replied "Do not worry, I've looked closely at Maester Luwin."
Silence fell between them, then Catelyn spoke again "I'm sorry we are like this, now" Antea was focusing on her other hand, biting her lip "But I need you to trust me."
"I trust you, Mother" Antea answered then she looked her mother in the eyes "I just don't understand you sometimes" Catelyn laughed bitterly, looking at the floor.
"You are young."
"I thought you said I was getting old" Antea said.
"Some things became rational in other times of your life" Catelyn said looking at the work Antea had just finished.
"I don't think I'll ever find it rational; your behavior with Jon" Antea replied getting up with the dirty cloths and walking to the table. She noticed her mother biting her lips despleased.
"I wasn't rational, in that moment" she said "On some things, anyway" Antea turned to her mother at those words. She wasn't regreating all she had said. She could not undertand. Why did she hate Jon so much?
"You've grown fond of Cyel" Antea said scrubbing her hands with a wet cloth.
"Of course" she heard her mother answer and the girl nodd her head.
"Yet she is a Sand." Antea stated.
"It is not the same" Antea turned when her mother spoke. Her eyes wide in confusion. That made no sense. If she hated Jon for being a Snow, she must have hated Cyel as well for being a Sand.
"Why? Because her father is Prince Oberyn Martell?" she argued and at that Catelyn got up.
"Because Oberyn Marell is not my husband!" her mother exclaimed. Antea observed the woman before her, taking a deep breath and rubbing her face Catelyn talked again "I need to rest now."
Antea stood quied looking her mother laying down in bed. It didn't take long for Catelyn to fall asleep. Antea was tired, but she preferred to stay awake if they were alone. Her mind constantly thinking back at the conversation she had shared with her lady mother. She still couldn't understand, why was she blaming Jon, but not her father. Antea had so many questions, she knew of lords and their bastards. She knew that it was no secret that many noble men would have mistresses and she of course didn't think of her father to be such a man, but everybody made mistakes and Jon was no to be blamed for that.
Shadow set next to Antea with her muzzle on her lap. Antea didn't know for how long she had been sitting there petting her pup's fur, but suddenly Shadow growled just before a knock came from the door. The knocking had woken up Catelyn too, who set up immediately muttering to Antea to not talk, but whoever it was knocked again.
"Open, in the name of the King" Catelyn closed her eyes before answer.
"A moment" while Catelyn moved to the door, Antea noticed the Valyrian steel dagger on the bedtable and calmly she shielded it with her body. Her mother opened the wooden door to reveal soldiers. They were wrapped in golden cloaks and their expression was strict.
Why were they there? Had someone betrayed them?
"We need to escort you to the castle, my lady" one of them said to Catelyn.
"By whose authority?" Antea asked, careful not to move too much, but her tone was strict. Someone wanted to see her mother, she wanted to know who and let him know that her mother would not be moving without her.
The man looked at Antea before putting out from under his cloak a parchment. There was something on it, but Antea couldn't see from where she was. Catelyn took the small stroll in her hands.
"Petyr" she muttered.
Her mother's childhood friend? Antea looked her mother's worried expression, had something happened? Maybe Ser Rodrick needed help and he asked Lord Baelish for it.
"Do you know who I am?" Catelyn asked and Antea could feel something behind her, moving the skirt of her dress. The young lady didn't look down, to not let the men notice Shadow.
"No, m'lady" he answered "M'lord Littlefinger said just to bring you to him, not mistreated" Antea looked closely at her mother, waiting for her next decision.
"Wait outside, I will be out in a moment" she said before closing the door and turning to Antea.
"You really want to go?" Antea asked in a whisper with her arms crossed.
"I have to" the girl nodded at her mother's words, she took the dagger in her hands and then she walked to Catelyn.
"Let's go, then" Antea said.
"Antea" her mother whispered with her serious tone "I don't trust this man."
"One more reason for me to come" Antea insisted "Mother I promised I would have helped you, I won't stay behind" then she moved to the door waiting for her mother, who took a breath before approaching her daughter.
When Catelyn opened the door, the man looked at Antea.
"M'lord Littlefinger asked just for you" Antea fixed her dress.
"I don't think he will mind" she said with a smile. The man seemed unsure but then Catelyn spoke.
"Shall we?" The soldiers moved and Antea carefully left the wooden door opened, for Shadow to follow.
This was going out of the plan, they wanted to be unseen while in the South and now they were riding surrounded by golden guards to the Red Keep. When they were near the gate the sun was setting and the lights inside the castle were already possible to see. They left the horses and the guards escorted them up on the steps of a tower. A door was on the top and when they opened it, Antea saw a short man and was very short for a grown man, her twin brother Robb was taller, his face was thin and, on his chin, there was a pointy black beard. His eyes were grey-green, shiny and clever eyes, he was slim, he didn't seem a treat but still her mother didn't trust him and Antea find herself quite agreeing with her.
"Cat" Antea frowned. His tone was very friendly for two people who hadn't seen each other for years. And besides, only her father could call her mother Cat.
Littlefinger dismissed the guards and then his eyes travelled to Antea. He seemed surprised to see her there, like he had just noticed her.
"Is that your daughter?" He asked getting up, but Catelyn didn't answer "She looks a lot like you, but not in the colors" it was just for a moment but his tone seemed almost disappointed. Antea studied every single movement of the short man; she didn't like his eyes.
"Your hands…" he gasped walking closer to Cat, who ignored him.
"You can't summon me like a serving wench" Antea couldn't help but widened her eyes, she had never heard her mother talk like that "Once you knew the meaning of courtesy."
"I've angered you, my lady, it wasn't my intent" Antea kept studying him, he wore dark clothes and on his neck a mockingbird shaped fastening. If that was the banner of his house, she didn't know which one it was.
"How do you know we were in the city?" Her mother asked almost angry.
"Lord Varys"
Who? Antea thought as he spoke.
"He knows all and he will be here shortly. I wanted to see you alone, but I didn't know that you would have brought your daughter."
"I thought you wouldn't mind" Antea spoke for the first time, stopping next to her mother "Since I've come to know you knew my mother."
"Not at all" he answered, then he looked at Catelyn. Antea didn't like the way he was observing her mother "I didn't know you've talked about me to your children, Cat."
"She didn't" Antea answered shortly. The two of them looked at each other in silence, on both their faces a fake smile.
"So, it was the King's Spider who found us" at her mother words Littlefinger turned to her.
"You don't want to call him that" he warned with a vicious smile "He is very sensitive, but yes, he was the one to know. He has spies everywhere, his little birds he called them" another vicious lord to know, Antea thought. She had been there for less than a day and she already missed her peaceful North.
"And he came to you" Catelyn said suspiciously.
"Why?" Antea asked with a frown.
"Why not?" he exclaimed without stop smiling "I'm a councilor of the king after all."
"Does he know…"
"Varys knows everything" he interrupted Catelyn "Except why you are here" As if we are going to tell you, Antea thought, understanding the implied question.
"A wife can't miss her own husband and daughters?" Her mother answered without hesitation. But the man laughed.
"Don't try to lie, Cat" he said "You are using your house's words."
"Family, duty, honor" her mother stated solemnly. Those were the Tully's words and now more than ever sounded like warriors' words to Antea.
Littelfinger repeated those words "But that required for you to stay in Winterfell, where the Hand left you" Antea hands clanged in fists. What did he say about her father?
"No, my lady" he added "You are here for something much more important. I beg of you, let me help you" Antea wouldn't even let him help her pick up something on the floor.
Suddenly a knock come from the door, making them turn. The man took a breath before invite to came in.
A plump man entered the room, his head bold and his body wrapped in purple, red and golden clothes.
"Lady Stark" he said with a bow "To see you is a cause of immense joy" then he took Catelyn's hand in his "Your poor hands" but Catelyn took it away from his grasp.
"My Maester Luwin had taken good care of them" the plump man turned to Antea.
"Lady Antea" he bowed to her to "It's a pleasure to meet you. I'm Varys" Antea didn't know how to replied so she just bowed her head.
"It was so sad to hear about little Bran" he said turning to Catelyn again "The gods are cruel sometimes."
"On that we agree" her mother said and Antea looked down for a brief moment, trying to put the sadness aside, she didn't want to show it to them. She wanted to hid it like her mother was doing.
"Lord Baelish tells me that I have to thank you for bring me and my daughter here."
Varys giggled "I'm guilty, my lady, I hope you both can forgive me. Now I wonder if you could show us that dagger" mother and daughter looked at each other from the corner of their eyes. He really knows everything, first Bran, now the dagger. Unless wasn't him the one who sent the killer, but would have he really talked about it if he was guilty?
"What dagger?" Littlefinger asked getting closer.
"My little birds listened to your master-at-arms, Ser Rodrick I believe, talking to Ser Aron of a certain dagger" Varys explained calmly, sensing their suspiciousness "Do you have the dagger with you?" Catelyn pull out the dagger.
"Here" she said "Maybe your little birds know who this belongs to" she almost growled, Antea knew that her mother couldn't wait to find whoever he was, Antea wanted that too.
Varys took it in his hands and he studied it, every part of it.
"Careful, it's sharp" Catelyn said observing closely lord Varys.
"Nothing is sharp as Valyrian steel" Antea turned to Littlefinger at his comment and she saw him taking the dagger in his hands "Such a sweet balance. If you wanted answers, you should have come to me."
"Is that so?" Antea said skeptically, looking at the man, who laughed.
"Of course."
"And if I did" Catelyn said "What would you have told me?"
Littlefinger handled the dagger skilfully and with an expert flick of his hand the dagger flew and stuck against the wood of the door. Antea turned to look at the man with wide eyes.
"I would have told you that there is just a man who has such a blade in all King's Landing" Lord Baelish spoke again and Antea's mind thought immediately to Jamie Lannister "Me."
Antea eyes widened. Him?
"Yours?" Her mother said uncertainly. It didn't make any sense. It was his? And he was tellinh them openly?
"Until the tourney for the Prince's name day" he said nodding his head "See I backed Ser Jamie Lannister, like half of the court, but when he lost against Ser Loras Tyrell, I lost my knife" he explained simply. Whoever won that dagger wanted Bran dead.
"To who have you lost it?" her mother asked impatient to hear the answer.
Littlefinger smirked triumphantly "The Imp."
"Tyrion Lannister" Antea growled in anger.
