A/N: Thank you all for your support! I have bad news and I have grand news!
Bad news, I am going on holiday for a month, and probably can't update in that time.
Grand news: my good friend and fellow author, Maddie Rose, has very kindly made me a trailer for this fic! You can find the link on my profile :) Let me know what you think of her good work! And enjoy this wee little interlude. Hope it keeps you going until the next chapter!

Interlude: Letters in the Night

"What do you think of her?" Cat inquired.

She and Ned lay in bed together, both of them warmed by the wine consumed and each other's presence. Tonight had been a long and successful feast. If a tad bit eventful too, Ned found himself wondering what had happened to Robert's eldest girl. She young Princess had looked angry when she left the hall, but embarrassed too, though she seemed to try and hide it. He assumed that this was the 'her' Cat referred to.

"I did not get the chance to speak with her tonight," he confessed, "I should have made time, perhaps."

"Robb didn't either, she kept herself quite held back," Cat said.

Ned sensed displeasure behind his wife's comment. "Cat, what is it?"

"Well, don't you find that odd? She's travelled for a month to be married, and she spends the feast ignoring her betrothed?"

"This feast was in honour of Robert, tomorrow night's is in honour of the upcoming wedding," Ned reminded her, "Perhaps she is just nervous. Weren't you when you first met my brother?"

"Well… yes," Cat admitted grudgingly.

"I'm sure she'll settle in," he assured, "And Robb is a charming lad, Gods help him, it will be fine."

"She left so abruptly too, it's like she couldn't stand to be in there," Cat said.

"Robert did overstep the line a little, I can't say I blame the girl, much. You know women's temperaments better than I, Cat, surely it was just a mood brought on by his drunken comments."

"He has grown more free with his wine and words," Cat admitted, "And his girth."

"How did he get so fat?" Ned wondered aloud to his wife.

"He only stops eating when it's time for a drink," Cat replied, chuckling at her own joke.

A knock sounded at their door, which was very odd for that time of night. Everyone would be asleep now, for it had been a long feast, with much drinking.

"It's Maester Luwin, my Lord."

Ned was even more puzzled now, what would his Maester want to late at night?

"Send him in," he instructed.

The door opened to reveal the old man in his grey robes, the heavy Maester's chain hung around his neck as always. The man looked troubled by something.

"Pardon my Lord, my Lady," he greeted. "A rider in the night, from your sister."

Cat rose out of bed, and went over to take the note Maester Luwin held outstretched. Ned sat up further and frowned, Lysa had always been odd, to insist on this note being delivered despite the hour? And her rider arriving so late? What was happening?

"This was sent from the Eyrie," Cat noted in a worried tone as she examined the blue wax seal, before opening up the note, "What's she doing at the Eyrie…she hasn't been back there since her wedding-"

Maester Luwin closed the door as she read quickly whatever the rest of the note held quickly. The more she read, the more her eyes widened in shock. She glanced up at the Maester quickly, before striding to the fireplace to throw the note inside. Poking at the flames to make sure that they consumed every word written on that small sheet of paper.

"What news?" Ned rose from his bed in alarm at his wife's actions.

"She's fled the capital," Cat replied steadily, "She says Jon Arryn was murdered, by the Lannisters, she says the King is in danger."

Ned frowned, "She's fresh widowed, Cat, she doesn't know what she's saying."

"Lysa's head would be on a spike right now if the wrong people had found that latter," Cat said empathetically. "Do you think she would risk her life, her son's life, if she wasn't certain her husband was murdered?"

Ned turned away, considering this information. If what Cat's sister wrote was true, then Robert would indeed be in great danger. Lannisters surrounded him down in King's Landing, he was so tightly bound to that family that he'd never escape from it.

"If this is true, then the Lannisters conspire against the Throne," Maester Luwin spoke the obvious out loud, "Who but you can protect the King?"

"They murdered the last Hand, and now you want Ned to take the job?" Cat asked; aghast.

"The King rode for a month to ask Lord Stark's help," Maester Luwin pointed out. "He's the only one he trusts. You swore the King an oath, My Lord."

"He spent half his life fighting Robert's wars," Cat argued, "He owes him nothing! Your father and brother rode South once, on a King's demand."

"A different time, a different King," Maester Luwin said.

Ned stood still and silent for a few moments, thinking the whole thing out in his head.

If he took the job, he would be putting himself and therefore his family at risk. But if he didn't, then the Lannisters would almost certainly have Robert killed, and his son put on the Throne. How much could he do to stop them? Lannisters lied and cheated with almost every breath they took, would he be able to stop their plots in the very heart of their kingdom?

What he needed was more connection, more of a hold on Robert. The Lannisters had him by marriage and by pocket, but Ned already had his two eldest children. Robb would marry Robert's eldest girl, and the Princess would become a Lady of the House Stark. If he agreed to go South, then Sansa would marry the Crown Prince, and one day rule beside him as Queen. Perhaps these matches would give him equal footing with the Lannisters…

"Maester Luwin, leave us, if you would. I will speak with you more about this on the morrow."

"As you will, My Lord," the old man bowed and left the room, closing the door firmly behind himself.

"Ned, you cannot seriously be considering this!" Cat exclaimed, coming to stand in front of him.

"This changes things, Cat," he said softly.
"Yes," she agreed, "It makes them worse! Do you think that the Lannisters would let you stop whatever plots they have? No! They would get rid of you, just like they did Jon Arryn!"

"He needs me," he said simply, "Now more than ever."

"No, Ned, listen-"

"I will take Sansa with me, seeing as she will be wed to Prince Joffrey," Ned talked over his wife, "Arya too, she could use the civilising I dare say, and Bran."

"Bran?" Cat was aghast again, "No, not Bran."

"He wants to be a knight, King's Landing will be the best place for him to do that, "Ned pointed out, "And perhaps I can arrange a match between him and Princess Myrcella."

"Another one?" Cat questioned, "Ned, what are you thinking?"

"I am thinking that we need more connections, Cat," he said, "If we have three marriages tying us to the Crown, then perhaps we will control more than the Lannisters. That way, we can stop them."

"I don't like it," Cat said adamantly, "I've never liked Robb being betrothed to the Princess, and after tonight at the feast, why you can see she's just like her mother! And Sansa being engaged to the Prince? Now you want to put Bran in that family?"

"Myrcella is a sweet girl, I'm sure that Cassana will be too."

"They are Lannisters!" she exclaimed.

"They are Baratheon, and Robert's children!" he defended, "And in a few days time, Cassana will become our daughter to."

"No," Cat shook her head, "Never. Especially not after this! Ned, how can we trust their intentions?"

"Their intentions? Cat, you can't speak as if she is a part of their intentions. The dangerous Lannisters are the Queen, her brother Jaimie, and most especially their father, even though Tywin is not in King's Landing."

"Perhaps, but she could be a part of it!" Cat argued.

"You know as well as I do that the Lannisters were against the Princess being betrothed to Robb." He pointed out, "It was Robert's idea, and mine, and I still think it a good one."

"I don't trust her, she seems so… aloof," Cat said.

"She's a Princess, she can't help how she was raised. Besides, you were a little the same when you first arrived," he reminded gently, "Give her time, Robb seems to like her already."

"I noticed," Cat muttered.

"If he's happy, then let it go, Cat," he said, pulling her into his arms. "You're simply being an overprotective mother."

"And wife," she hugged him back fiercely, "I let you distract me from the topic, I still don't want you going South!"

"Shh, love," he kissed the top of her head, "We'll talk more of it tomorrow."