275 AC
Chapter XII
Family. Duty. Honor.
Catelyn
Out of all the places in Riverrun, Catelyn loved the godswood the most. The trees and the nature within the Godswood almost always made Catelyn calm. She didn't care if she went alone or with friends. She would always try to find a way to go to the place. She had found herself frequenting the Godswood more and more as the days went on. Especially after her mother's sudden death two years ago. Her family had greatly missed her presence in Riverrun, but not just her family. She was gone too soon.
Catelyn was not alone in the Godswood now. She was joined by her sister, Lysa, as well as two of her father's wards. Jonos Arryn, son and heir of Jon Arryn, Lord Paramount of the Vale, was her uncle Brynden's squire. He fostered in Riverrun for close to seven years. He was three years older than Catelyn, and was essentially a head taller than her. He had the signature Arryn look with his aquiline nose and dark blond hair. However, Catelyn had always been intrigued by his purple eyes. Although Catelyn had never seen any of Jonos' siblings, he told her all of them had the same indigo eyes.
His ever constant companion, Petyr Baelish, also accompanied them. Ever since Jonos' introduced Petyr a few years ago, he began to spend more time with both Catelyn and Lysa. Lysa tended to shy away from him, especially at the beginning. She seemed more interested in Jonos with her not so subtle affections she had for him. Catelyn told Lysa that one of these days, Jonos would eventually figure it out, but the young man seemed oblivious to almost all of the hints she laid for him. The three used to play in the Godswood when they were much younger. They would chase each other about, pretend to be princes and princesses, and do other things children would do. Now they were older, and rarely played like that anymore. However, while they walked past the familiar trees, shrubs, and other foliage, Catelyn could still see their younger selves playing those games
"And the funny part was the other Jonos and Tytos unhorsed each other. Since Ser Brynden couldn't track who went down first, none of them won," Jonos told them. Lysa wrapped her arms on his right arm, while they walked the Godswood. Catelyn wasn't surprised when Jonos allowed her to do this. She was, however, surprised that he somehow missed another clue about Lysa's growing feelings for him. Petyr walked next to Catelyn, though there was a fair bit of distance between them, unlike Lysa and Jonos.
"I was too busy with the other pages training swords today. I wish I could have seen that. It beats losing to Edmure constantly," Petyr told them. Jonos nodded.
"It's too bad tournaments hardly do the mounted Joust as an event for squires," Jonos began, "The only time that ever happens is if the Joust was open to all even those without title. That's only happened in certain grand tournaments."
"But you'll be a knight soon, won't you Jonos?" Lysa asked him, still clinging to his arm as they walked. A critter popped out of the bushes causing her to cling tighter, while Jonos laughed at how easily startled Lysa was. Lysa gave him a frown.
"If it is the Seven's will. Not everyone is knighted at the same time, but most nobles are knighted before they reach twenty. Ser Brynden got his knighthood when he was eighteen, from what he told me," Jonos explained.
"You've been doing fairly well at the competitions from when I last asked uncle," Catelyn said, "I'm sure it's only a matter of time before you are knighted, Jonos,"
"Define 'doing well'. I haven't won any of the tournament competitions, though I have received several bronze and silver prizes," Jonos stated, with clear disappointment in his voice.
"At least you make it to that level of the tournament, Jonos. Most of our squires never make it out of the first round," Petyr explained, "Though I'm sure you'll be knighted in time for your next meeting with Lyanna."
"Wait, who is Lyanna?" Lysa questioned looking straight at Petyr. There was already a slightly hostile tone under Lysa's voice as she said the name.
"It's Jonos' special friend from the North. They met at the Anniversary tournament, though her brother is less than pleased with how close the two got,"
"What? Jonos please tell me he's lying!" Lysa turned to him. Catelyn knew that Petyr was trying his hardest to pull Lysa's strings. Petyr seemed to enjoy doing that. Catelyn found it odd that he didn't do that to her. In fact he hardly teased her at all.
"Petyr, the last time I've seen, or even heard from her was two years ago. I doubt she even remembers me, much less have time for extended relations," Jonos told him. Catelyn saw a mischievous grin appear on the smaller Valeman's face.
"I'm sure she does, though I'm sure her brother will do everything in his power to keep you from her, lest we have a repeat of what happened at the tournament," Jonos just rolled his eyes at him and they continued on the path. Lysa's face was visibly relieved from this, though it probably wouldn't be best to bring up the name, Lyanna, anytime soon.
The group stopped at one of the tallest trees in the Godswood. The tall redwood tree was the center of the Godswood and most of the dirt paths led to the tree. Catelyn swore that it seemed like they visited it almost every week. The bark, the tree's features and other identifying marks had remained the same ever since they saw it first. It towered most if not all of the trees in the Godswood. Her mother had said the tree had been there ever since she had visited Riverrun before betrothed to her father.
"I've been at Riverrun for seven years now. It feels like only yesterday that I came here," Jonos told them, "Now I'm just a year away from coming of age. So many things have changed since then, but this tree looks like it hasn't aged one year. Shows you how little we are in the grand picture of the world."
"That's very poetic, Jonos," Lysa told him.
"By the looks of it some things will never change. For example, despite the numerous ladies Jonos has encountered in his lifetime, not one of them has ever kissed him. With exception to his mother and maybe his sister," Petyr stated childishly.
"Wha-" Jonos composed himself caught off guard by the comment, "You haven't either Petyr, and it isn't for lack of trying." Petyr looked at him innocently.
"Well, I am just a boy of ten. I haven't had the pleasure of experiencing that yet. You however will be seven and ten in less than a year. Guess some just don't have the aptitude," Jonos went beet red.
"Why are we even talking about this? It seems highly inappropriate especially around Cat and Lysa,"
"If it makes you feel any better, I haven't done that yet, Jonos," Lysa stated. Cat wasn't surprised by this. Lysa had been set on having her first kiss with the person that she was clinging onto now. She admired how much she cared about Jonos. However, Catelyn knew they eventually had their duty to marry for their family. Catelyn did not want to see Lysa hurt if her feelings for Jonos don't end up anywhere, because he marries another or she is forced to marry another.
"I haven't either," Catelyn added. Petyr immediately had a sly look on his face.
"Well since none of us have ever experienced it before, and we should always take the opportunity to experience new things," Petyr suggested to everyone, "How about we all practice now?"
"Petyr, have you gone mad? That isn't appropriate," Jonos replied.
"Who are you Jonos, Baelor the blessed? Besides, at least we all know each other and are good friends. Ser Brynden and Lord Hoster aren't here right now"
"I wouldn't mind, Jonos," Lysa told him, fluttering her eyelashes at him. Jonos was still slightly unnerved at the situation. Petyr was unusually bold, especially for someone so young and so small. Lysa and Petyr were about the same height, yet Petyr acted like he was taller than Jonos.
"Why not try Jonos? There doesn't seem to be any harm in trying," Catelyn chimed in. Jonos still looked visibly uncomfortable with the scenario, but Catelyn noticed he had been forced to accept the situation as he was the only one speaking against him. Catelyn certainly thought Jonos had the values of chivalry to become a knight.
"Fine-but, I don't actually know how to start," Jonos told them all.
"Neither do I, Jonos. Anyway, I think since there's two of us, you can go with Lysa since she's already right next to you, and I can go with Cat," Petyr suggested to them.
"Good idea, Littlefinger," Lysa perked up, clearly excited at the prospect. Jonos simply nodded in reply to Petyr's suggestion.
"That sounds fair," Catelyn stated. It was just practicing kissing anyway. It didn't mean anything to her. She had never actually tried it before and what girl wasn't curious about these kinds of things at her age.
"Great, it's not like we need to do it simultaneously, but we certainly have to find a way to do it. Take your time Jonos and Lysa," Petyr told them as he turned his attention to Catelyn. When they faced each other, Petyr had a look in his eyes that he had been waiting for a while. Like he had planned this to happen at some point, though Catelyn shrugged off this feeling that she had. The boy that a lot called Littlefinger, though mischievous, bold and brash, didn't seem like a schemer. Though she felt that he certainly had the mannerisms and attitude that could become adept at becoming one in the future.
Petyr drew closer and stood as tall as he could before he leaned in. Petyr was shorter than she was, being closer to Lysa's height than anything. Though she had to admire the attempt that he made at trying to make himself taller than her. When her lips touched his, Catelyn could feel emotions that she hadn't felt before. One was a feeling of embarrassment, like she shouldn't be doing this. The other was of pleasures as she felt the softness of another's lips on hers. It progressed further as they melted into a deeper kiss, with more feeling involved. Mostly, it felt wet and sloppy, but they had no experience with this before. In the back of her mind, she wondered what would happen when she shared this with someone she loved with all her heart. Whether or not it would invoke emotions similar to what she was experiencing now.
Suddenly, she could feel another thing, more specifically Petyr's tongue entering her mouth. Reflexively, she broke off and almost shoved Petyr off of her. She looked around to see that Jonos and Lysa were still doing their thing and they did not notice what was going on between Petyr and her. Surprisingly, they were even locked in an embrace, though it seemed like more Lysa's doing, because her arms were wrapped rigidly around him. However, Jonos didn't seem to be complaining or against it either.
"Cat, are you alright?" Petyr asked her thoughtfully.
"Yes, I'm just not ready for that yet. I'm sorry Petyr," Petyr responded differently when you called him by his name, though admittedly sometimes she would use Littlefinger interchangeably with his actually. The only person in Riverrun, who would call him Petyr was Jonos. Catelyn had to attribute to the name given to him by her little brother, Edmure.
"It is okay, but did you at least enjoy it before-?"
"It was an experience to say the least," Catelyn replied. There was an awkward silence between the two of them.
It was interrupted, however, by the sound of Jonos' voice thankfully, "I got carried away. I'm sorry Lysa. I can't, this is far beneath a lady of your standard." Jonos had broken off with a look of disappointment in himself on his face. Jonos bowed to Lysa and then spirited away.
"Jonos? What do you mean? Hey, come back!" Lysa followed him as they both walked away from Petyr and Catelyn leaving them alone. Catelyn looked at Petyr and he was unusually quiet and not smiling or grinning like usual. Did he take her rejection of his intended action hard? Catelyn was certainly someone who wanted to keep the peace amongst her friends. If she considered someone a friend, she would do exactly the opposite of wanting to hurt them. The wind blew a hard gust towards them as they stood alone together in the portion of the Godswood.
"Petyr, it's nothing personal against you. I just-" She paused trying to study the expression on his face, "I don't think I'm ready for that yet. With you or with anyone."
"I understand, Cat. You are very dear to me," He told her. At least he made the effort to understand her point of view. There were many other things that needed to be taken into account rather than a childish game of practicing kissing in the middle of the Godswood.
"Speaking of which, how is your family? I imagine you miss them," Catelyn asked, trying to change the topic of the conversation.
"I'm not missing much. I am an only child and our holdings consist of a little tower at Midlor Point. Though admittedly I do miss my mother sometimes, but what boy my age doesn't?" The mention of his mother for some reason made Catelyn's heart drop. Thoughts of her own mother rushed into her mind. Knowing that she would never be able to speak to, be held by, or do anything with her own mother pained Catelyn, "My condolences, I didn't mean to remind you of your loss with it still being relatively fresh." Her face must have given it away to Petyr or he wouldn't have responded like that.
"It's quite alright. I know it wasn't your intention. You do not need to apologize," Catelyn reassured Petyr. Catelyn felt her eyes wander off to Jonos and Lysa. Lysa had taken it slightly better than Catelyn to be honest. Lysa still cried like she did when she received word that her mother had succumbed to her illnesses and joined the Father in eternal rest. She could see Lysa and Jonos sitting under a tree. Jonos said something to her while Lysa leaned up against him, "I just know that I have to take care of my family Petyr. Lysa and Edmure need someone like Mother in their life, like she was there for Lysa and I."
"That is true, Cat. You are very altruistic in nature, so I do not doubt you can do what your mother did for you with them," Catelyn nodded at Petyr.
"I'm just a little worried about Lysa more than Edmure. Edmure is a boy, who will no doubt have a much simpler time under the guidance of his uncle and his father. Lysa has always been...well Lysa," Petyr gave her a thoughtful look as he listened to her concerns.
"Well if it makes you feel any better, I don't think Jonos will try to manipulate her,"
"I'm actually worried about the opposite. Lysa, like any young lady, wants a happy ending with her first real 'love'. An ending where she is married to him and they have a family together. What if she can't have that? How will she respond?" Catelyn told Petyr with a look of concern on her face.
"I do think Lysa's quite attached to Jonos, but I don't think any harm will come of it. It doesn't help that Jonos doesn't seem to perceive Lysa's feelings for him, though most around her know about it except Jonos,"
"That's Jonos for you,"
"Indeed," Silence followed them again. The wind had settled down now and the sun began to settle in the afternoon setting, "What do you think of Jonos?"
"As in how I feel about him?" Catelyn asked in response to his question, taken aback by it slightly. Petyr nodded. It made her realize something. With the reputation Jonos earned for being oblivious to a young girl's feelings, this was ironically the first time she realized something about Petyr. It was definitely plain as day now with his actions today and how he acted around her in the years he was in Riverrun. Petyr had feelings for her. Like Lysa with Jonos. It may take some time to be certain, she clearly knew about it now so she tread carefully about what she said to him about Jonos. She didn't want to be the cause of strife between the two.
"Jonos is kind, trustworthy and certainly upholds chivalry to the highest standard. However, I'm assuming you are talking about whether or not I harbor any feelings for him?" Catelyn asked. Petyr looked down and Catelyn knew she was correct in her assumption, "I don't know Petyr. He is no doubt pleasing to look at, that much I agree with Lysa. However, I don't see the point in getting involved with anyone romantically until I know it won't interfere with my duty to my family." Some part of her answer also hinged on the fact that she did not want to hurt her sister by harboring feelings for a person she has her eyes set on. The last thing she wanted was to be the instrument that causes distress to her own sister.
Petyr looked indifferent, though he would have to be satisfied with the answer that she gave him.
Catelyn remembered that it would soon be time for her lessons. Lysa would also have to join her as she always had, so she excused herself from Petyr and went to fetch Lysa. However, her conversation with Petyr sparked a question that they would have to ask her father about after those lessons.
Catelyn and Lysa joined the other noble ladies in Riverrun in their music and arts lessons for the day. Most of the time, it was the most stimulating activity for ladies in their education. Catelyn finished singing a ballad that had been taught by septas to her in a quick fashion. They held the lessons in a special room in Riverrun. It was well decorated with paintings and sculptures House Tully had collected over the years. All the young ladies in Riverrun attended these lessons, most notably Bethany Blackwood and Jayne Ryger. There were also others, but Catelyn wasn't very well acquainted with them, but she knew their names. They were each given tasks based on the arts and music. Today, Catelyn had to sing a ballad.
"Very good, Lady Catelyn, your tone and cadence of voice was pristine. You also hit the notes perfectly," the septa stated. Catelyn bowed her head in thanks. She immediately turned towards Lysa, who was tasked with writing a sonnet, "How is the work on your sonnet, Lady Lysa."
"I have just finished, septa," Lysa stated shyly, handing over what she had. When she read it, it looked like she nearly fell out of her seat in surprise.
"My word, Lysa. What is this?"
"Septa, you told me to write a sonnet concerned with the subject of love. I-" She stated with a flush red on her face, "tried my best."
"Young lady, this is not appropriate to write for a lady or anyone for that matter," Apparently, Lysa had written a love sonnet concerned with more pleasurable acts. Catelyn had no idea where her sister had learned some of the items the septa described.
"I believe your sister's obsession with the Arryn squire is starting to bleed through her daily life," Jayne Ryger taunted her, "Perhaps we should bring him in to stimulate her further, after all that seems like what she wants. A shame she will never get him,"
"SHUT UP, JAYNE," Her shriek scared Bethany Blackwood and Selyse Lychester, a newer addition to Riverrun, who sat right next to her. Bethany had actually dropped the harp she had been playing.
Lysa already had fresh tears flowing down her cheeks. Before she could say another word, she sprinted out of the room that they held the lessons in.
"Come back here this instant, young lady!" the septa commanded. However, she was already out the door when she said that. The septa seemed to have little interest or ability to run after her.
"I guess we finally broke, Lysa. Didn't know she had that side to her," Jayne started looking pleased with herself. Some of the girls giggled as they made light of Lysa's abrupt exit.
"Jayne, how could you? What did Lysa ever do to you?" Catelyn asked albeit with a little hostility in her voice. The other girl gave her a frown as she put down whatever she had been working on. There was a bit of silence from the other girls, who had joined in her adding to the already huge embarrassment that her sister experienced.
"Cat, I'm simply speaking the truth. Your sister is becoming far too attached to the squire, frankly it's starting to get uncomfortable for me," Jayne explained. Catelyn looked towards the door.
"She might have a point, Jayne. Maybe you were a little too harsh with Lysa," Bethany Blackwood chimed in. She was one of the only girls, who didn't giggle or laugh with Jayne at Lysa's expense.
"That isn't the point, Bethany. What was his name again?" Jayne began to ponder to herself, "That's right, Jonos is indeed quite comely, but it doesn't explain why Lysa is so obsessed with him. You of all people should see that." Bethany nodded meekly. Out of the girls in Riverrun, Bethany did seem to hold the most affections for Jonos. In fact, Catelyn wondered whether she had as much affections as her sister did for him. Not like she had much of a chance in terms of a match with him. Lysa, being a member of House Tully, had a significantly higher position in the political landscape than House Blackwood.
"I'm disappointed in you all. Lysa's the youngest out of us all and yet you scrutinize her as if she was already a grown woman," Catelyn chided. The septa seemed to watch the scene unfold in front of her as she had now lost the control of her charges, "Excuse me for a moment." Catelyn bowed to the septa and immediately left the room the lessons were held in.
Lysa had the habit of running and hiding when she was in trouble. Whether it be from their late mother or even her father, Lysa would always find a place to hide. Only three people could ever find her if she decided to hide from them: Uncle Brynden, Jonos, and herself, though Catelyn thought in the back of her mind that she wanted Jonos, even though he was an adept tracker. Catelyn searched through all corridors in their castle, examining every nook and cranny for a place that Lysa could have used to hide. She tried opening barrels that her small frame would be able to fit in. One time she hid underneath the wheel of the watermill just outside the castle. Luckily, Jonos found her before the wheel began turning again, or she might have been crushed underneath it.
Eventually, she found Lysa hiding in an empty part of the castle, or more specifically she hid in the dresser where guests would often stay when they visited Riverrun. The room had a freshly made bed and a desk as well, but no one had used it in a while. House Tully had barely welcomed many guests since the death of her mother was still fresh on most of their minds. Catelyn knew Lysa was in the large wooden wardrobe, because she could hear her crying inside it. Catelyn knocked on the door of the wardrobe.
"Go away," Lysa sniffled from inside the wardrobe.
"Lysa, it's me, Cat. Please come out, I just want to talk," After a short while, the door creaked open and Lysa made her way out of the dresser. Her eyes looked still raw with her rubbing tears away from her face.
"Are you here to scold me, now? Tell me I shouldn't have run out like that," Lysa said with some tears still streaming from her eyes, "I know I shouldn't but-but…"
"It's okay, Lysa," Catelyn embraced her sister and she began to cry harder into her shoulder, "Jayne shouldn't have done that. I understand what you are going through, you don't need to cry." She continued to do so, however. Lysa always had a habit of expressing her sorrow this way. Although Cat was only a year older than her, she knew her sister expressed herself in this way. She made it a point to only show this side of herself to those familiar with her, she was incredibly shy and extremely hesitant to show anything to anyone outside her family.
"What if what they said was true. I can't...I can't imagine, if-" She stammered with sniffling interrupting each word she said.
"You don't need to worry about that, Lysa. You are a fair young woman. I find it impossible that he doesn't at least see that," Catelyn reassured her. Truthfully, Catelyn felt the real obstacle with Jonos might be Lysa telling him her intentions straight out. Lysa was incredibly vibrant and energetic when she got to know someone. She wanted her sister to be happy, and if Jonos allowed her to be happy she would be supportive of her. She stopped crying and was able to talk to Catelyn face to face, though she was sniffling and wiping her eyes periodically.
"I don't know. What makes you think Jonos would even look at me with all the girls he's met. That Stark girl he met up north that Petyr talked about, and even," she paused for a second to study Catelyn's reaction, "well, you. They were right, I don't stand a chance." Her face looked pained as she said that. It was the last thing that Catelyn wanted to see her sister in this way.
"Let me tell you something, Lysa. You can't live every moment of your life waiting on good things to come to you," Catelyn explained to her. Lysa listened to her attentively, "If there's no doubt in your mind about what you want, you have to find ways to try to get it. Eventually, you'll be able to get it. It isn't like you are a dull young lady." Lysa nodded at her words. She seemed rejuvenated by it and had a change of look in her eyes. It was not of resignation anymore, but determination.
"Thank you, Cat. I don't know what I'd do without you," Lysa told her sister. Catelyn nodded and gave her a reassuring smile.
"Don't listen to what others think, they know the only way to prevent you from getting what you want is to try to put you down. Remember what we used to say?" Lysa gave a small smile. She repeated something in the secret language that they developed over time in Riverrun. No one else knew what it meant but her. Not Jonos. Not Petyr. Not even her parents or uncle. It was the symbol of their bond as sisters. "And always look cheerful, Lysa. You don't look as pretty when you are sad."
Catelyn and Lysa were not able to return to their lessons that day. By the time Lysa and Catelyn had returned they were already finishing up. Catelyn apologized to the septa profusely for not finishing out the lesson. Luckily, the septa was generally patient and forgiving so she told them she would not inform their parents of the incident that occured, including the poetry that Lysa wrote about. Lysa decided that she would be in her quarters for the rest of the night. She usually got that way when she got upset about something.
This gave her more time to talk to her father personally of the thought she had when spoke to Petyr earlier in the Godswood. Her father's study in the keeps solar was not empty when she got there. When she entered, she saw Jonos standing just outside the solar study area. Her fathers solar area was positioned on a balcony area overlooking a table and chairs in the living area of the Lords Keep in Riverrun. The study was simple and had a desk large enough for a couple of ledgers and books. It wasn't big enough to make her father look like a dwarf with its massive size. Behind it was a single bookshelf with more ledgers detailing the lands that were under the direct control of House Tully. Catelyn could see all the people in the study from where she was.
"YOU REJECTED THE DAMNED BETROTHAL? How many is that, FIVE now? FIVE," Her father roared. She could see her uncle, Ser Brynden, was with her father in the solar study. However, they did not use any of the comfortable looking seats. They both stood up and eyed each other like they were fixing to fight.
"I cannot in good conscience accept it when I do not wish to take her as my wife," Her uncle stated coolly. She had never seen her uncle raise his voice much. Even when he yelled instructions at Jonos during their private training sessions, Ser Brynden's voice did not carry in the yard.
"She is Lord Redwynes' sister. That in itself is an honor, but you deny it? You don't have to love the person you marry. What are you, a sword swallower?!"
"No, I just have morals and at least a hint of decency," Her uncle retorted, "Did you love Minisa when you married her?" From where Catelyn was, she could not fully see her fathers face at the mention of her late mother. Catelyn guessed it would not be good.
"What the-?!" The conversation devolved into her father yelling obscenities at his own brother while his brother took most of it with cool retorts in return.
"It's been getting worse. They react with this hostility almost every time they interact now," Jonos told her from beside her. Catelyn remembered they weren't this bad. They never shared open love for one another like she would to her siblings, Lysa and Edmure, but they were never at each other's throats. It got worse when her mother died, she supposed, that's when the more explosive arguments started happening.
"How long have they been arguing?"
"Not long, about an hour. They were discussing matters of the realm, which they can't seem to agree on either. Your father lost all his temper when Ser Brynden informed him he would not take Lord Redwyne's sister as his wife," Catelyn nodded in acknowledgement of the situation. They stood beside each other awkwardly watching the argument unfold in front of them. Catelyn would periodically look towards Jonos, but Jonos seemed to be too bored to notice her glances at him. Catelyn had to admit, Jonos was unusually handsome for a boy of sixteen. He had a regal look about him, like he could easily pass for a royal if he had silver hair instead of his blond hair. Catelyn didn't know if it was his purple eyes too. Catelyn couldn't blame Lysa for sharing such deep affections for the Arryn heir.
"I tire of this conversation, brother. I have better things to do,"
"Fine then, leave. You haven't been useful to this house for a short while now anyway," Her father spat at her uncle as he began to descend the staircase. Her uncle gave a look to Catelyn, almost as if he was silently apologizing that she had to be there for a part of their shouting match.
"Come, Jonos. There's something I need you to do," Her uncle signaled for the squire next to her. Jonos gave Catelyn a nod to excuse himself and followed her uncle out. Catelyn took her time as she ascended the stairs. Her father immediately noticed her.
"Cat?" Her father cleared his throat and composed himself, "What are you doing here?"
"I came to ask you a question, if that's alright with you father?" Catelyn asked, approaching his desk.
"Of course, anything for you my daughter," Her fathers demeanor had changed completely. The tone of his voice was less harsh, and it was as if he hadn't just finished getting into another fight with her uncle.
"I have been thinking, father. Ever since my moon blood first came, I have had the same question in my heart," Catelyn began with her father attentively listening to her, "The time of my betrothal seems imminent. I'm just… uncertain about it all,"
Her father let out a sigh and leaned on his chin, "At least my daughter knows she has an obligation to her house. To tell you the truth with what happened to your mother, I had totally overlooked that you would be coming of age in few short years," Her father with his chin still in his hands opened up a small ledger, "You've already received offers inquiring about your availability, but I felt it best to wait till I got a better picture of the situation."
"May I know about, who's inquired," Catelyn asked curiously.
"Well only Lord Walder Frey has officially proposed a betrothal, though I politely declined it," Her father explained, "Other than that, I've had potential suitors from houses from all over the Riverlands ask about you,"
"Anyone outside of the Riverlands?"
Her father gave her a smile, "As a matter of fact, there has been. The Princess of Dorne has been touring her eldest daughter Elia and her youngest Oberyn throughout the Seven Kingdoms. Besides that, Lord Rickard Stark is also trying to find an appropriate match for his eldest Brandon. Then there's the obvious one, Lord Jon Arryn has also asked about you. Though he did not just ask for you, but for Lysa as well. Only major house that is a Lord Paramount that has asked about your younger sister." It was probably no accident, Jonos fostered in Riverrun to begin with. The new Master of Laws proven by his work in the small council was no stranger to politics and diplomacy. The only thing that worried Catelyn slightly would be if her father betrothed Jonos to her without even telling Lysa. It would not be something she wanted to wish on her sister given the circumstances. Knowing her father, Lysa would probably have to tell her father straight out if he was going to act like that. However, Lysa had always been one to shy away from doing that.
"That's certainly a list," Catelyn stated, "I'm just worried how I would fare once I've been betrothed."
"Cat, you are a lovely young woman. You would be the envy of many Lords, and I have no doubt you would be as good of wife and mother as your own," Her father reassured her.
"But what if I don't know my husband before our marriage? How do I know I will fulfill my duties to him and our own house?"
"You will learn that in time, my daughter. Just know that when I find you someone honorable and with a good heart. Someone worthy enough for you and beneficial for our house," Her father stated. Her father got up from his seat and went up to her. He held her close and tightly, and she returned the gesture all the same, "You, Lysa and Edmure are all that I have left of your mother. I assure you I will always find something for you with my best interest in my heart." She held her father tightly and took in those words. One gnawing thought in her mind felt that she already had someone in mind that fit her father's description. He was fair. He was growing up to be an honorable man with a good and contrite heart. She had known him as one of her dearest friends. Her match with him would be beneficial to their house. However, if he would be betrothed to her, her own sister's heart would be crushed. And the last thing Catelyn wanted to do was to hurt someone so near and dear to her. Family was important to her. After all, without family, there wouldn't be much if anything in the world to hold dear.
A/N: Greetings! I hope you all had a good week last week. This is the first chapter in the two year timeskip between 273 AC and 275 AC, and it is also the first chapter from Catelyn's POV. The chapter tries to highlight how she is protective of family and friends, and how she tends to prioritize the happiness of others over herself. However, it also shows how Catelyn can contradict herself sometimes and come off as selfish towards others through her actions. Also, Jonos is here oblivious as ever. I tried to make his personality oblivious as possible and slightly shy around girls that even he knows well. Its a welcome change to a lot of the outgoing OCs and it gives him a problem as he is genuinely extroverted but is not good at reading cues and behaviors of others (i.e. Lysa's feelings towards him). Anyway I hope you enjoy the chapter and a look into a new POV. In the next chapter, we will be taking Jonos to King's Landing where he meets his father after two years, because Brynden has to go to King's Landing to report to Aerys about his house in his brother's stead. See you guys when I update.
(P.S. The next update is most likely next Monday, as with Fury I won't be able to update this twice a week with life, other projects and other obligations)
