Disclaimer: I do not own Game of Thrones or anything related. It belongs to George R.R. Martin, the creator of this wonderful universe and David Benioff and D. B. Weiss who created the show.
01x02: The Kingsroad.
Chapter Sixteen: Catelyn's Decision.
Gasping awake Sanira clutched at the bedsheets and furs that surrounded her, she tried to shake the images that played over and over in her mind; she almost jumped out of her skin as Robb's hand touched her. Robb looked at Sanira concerned, it had been a little while since she had woken up like this and he hated that still she was plagued with such horrible night-terrors.
"What is it?" Robb asked gently trying to sooth her, he hated seeing her so distressed and the night-terrors that she had seemed to haunt her for days now after she had them. Robb couldn't help but replay the last one that she had told him about in his mind, the warning of the stag laying cold and dead and the direwolf with an antler plunged into its chest.
Having seen the same warning practically laid out before them while on a trip with his father and brothers to execute the Night-Watch deserter; Robb was certain that there was more to Sanira's night-terrors than they were being told.
"Sanira… what did you see?" Robb pleaded trying to sooth her, he wished that the sleeping droughts that Maester Luwin prepared for her helped in some way; they didn't even seem to sooth her much when she had these dreams. Grey Wind looked up from the place where he slept on the floor, his eyes watching concerned as his master tried to sooth his mistress after her horrible dream.
Taking a deep breath, Sanira closed her eyes trying to stop the images that lingered in her mind and she hoped that there was a reason that the night-terrors seemed to be getting worse. Moving to get his wife a drink, Robb was pleased to see that Sanira hadn't been as upset as last time; he just hoped that things were going to calm down soon.
Carefully sipping on the drink that she had been handed, Sanira looked at Robb knowing that he wasn't going to let this go; she was going to had to tell him what she had seen.
"I saw a silver trout… it was traveling on the King's Road," Sanira whispered still trying to make sense of what had happened in her dream, she knew how stupid it all sounded and she hoped that she didn't sound crazy. Her mother had often forbidden her from speaking about her night-terrors because she sounded so and Sanira was surprised that Robb was so willing to hear about them.
It almost didn't seem real with how lucky she had gotten when she had married Robb, Sanira couldn't imagine what her life would have been like if she'd been married to someone like Joffrey.
"Go on," Robb encouraged watching her, he knew that the silver trout was the symbol of his mother's house and it un-nerved him what this could mean. Everything that Sanira saw seemed to have a direction and Robb would never dismiss anything that she said; he hated that people had tried to silence her about what she was seeing.
He often wondered if these night-terrors were something more, like warnings of a future to come; Robb dreaded to think what he would do if the things she saw did come to pass.
"The silver trout stopped at an inn and captured a lion," Sanira mumbled taking another sip of her drink, she didn't like the meaning behind it and she hoped that it didn't happen. The lion was clearly a Lannister lion and the silver trout a Tully, the last thing the realm needed right now was a war starting; her dreams all seemed to hint that something big was going to happen.
Robb ran his fingers through his hair, he didn't like this and he knew that if the dreams were going to happen then there would likely be quite a bit of trouble; he hated to think what would come next with his father in the capital.
"What I am about to tell you must remain between us. I don't think Bran fell from that tower. I think he was thrown," Catelyn announced looking around the group that she had gathered in the Godswood, she trusted no one but the people that she has gathered here that afternoon.
The only person missing from the small gathering was Sanira and Catelyn had deliberately left her out for a reason, she adored her good-daughter and didn't wish to put her in a difficult spot. If Catelyn was right in her thinking, then it was going to cause trouble and she didn't know if they could count on Sanira's family for support considering who her mother was.
"The boy was always sure-footed before," Maester Luwin explained to Rodrick Cassel, no one could work out how Bran had come to fall when he was so confident in his climbing. Robb looked at his mother wondering what was going on, he was almost surprised to see her out and away from Bran; he wondered if it had something to do with the attack that had happened.
It did seem strange that Catelyn was all for leaving Bran alone in his room after what had happened and Robb hoped that it was a good sign.
"Someone tried to kill him twice. Why? Why murder an innocent child? Unless he saw something he wasn't meant to see," Catelyn asked wishing for answers, she hated that things were like this and she wished that her husband was still here. Eddard would know how to deal with this and she was concerned that something would happen to him and their daughters if she didn't act quickly and do the right thing.
Robb's stomach turned at his mother's words, he didn't like the idea that someone had tried to take away his younger brother's life; what sort of thing would lead for someone to do such a thing.
"Saw what, my lady?" Theon asked not understanding why someone would try to kill a young boy, he looked around knowing that the idea was as appalling to everyone else as it was too him. It didn't seem right that anyone would want to kill Bran and they hoped that they would be able to find an explanation on why this had happened; why someone would send an assassin to kill a child.
"I don't know. But I would stake my life the Lannisters are involved. We already have reason to suspect their loyalty to the crown," Catelyn insisted recalling what she had found in the tower, a single blonde hair that made her worry for her husband and daughters. Already the letter that she had received in the middle of the night weeks ago from Lysa Arryn still made her wonder about the Lannisters; her sister had confided in her that the Lannisters had poisoned her husband, the late Jon Arryn.
"Did you notice the dagger the killer used? It's too fine a weapon for such a man. The blade is Valyrian steel, the handle dragonbone. Someone gave it to him," Rodrick said looking to Maester Luwin recalling the dagger that had been used to try and kill Bran. It was a fine weapon indeed and Rodrick knew that only someone with the resources and riches could afford something so fine, there was then little doubt that someone like the Lannisters could do such a thing.
"They come into our home and try to murder my brother? If it's war they want..." Robb spat furious at the idea that a Lannister could be behind all of this, his mind drifting for a moment to the dreams that Sanira had. Could they be a warning that the Lannisters were up to something that would change the fate of the Seven Kingdoms and that alone made Robb worry even more about what was too come.
"If it comes to that, you know I'll stand behind you," Theon said with a smile, the idea of going to war was thrilling to him. To make a name for himself and one-day return to the Iron Islands to great praise from his Lord father, Theon could almost imagine how proud Balon Greyjoy would be and what it would be like to be Lord of his own house.
He had longed watched as Robb was prepared for his role as Lord of Winterfell and watched him enjoy a successful marriage to a Lady from a good house; it seemed only fitting that one day he would enjoy the same privilege.
"What, is there going to be a battle in the Godswood? Too easily words of war become acts of war. We don't know the truth yet. Lord Stark must be told of this," Maester Luwin snapped annoyed at how fast the two young men were to suggest war when this could be solved in other ways. Theon shot an annoyed look at Maester Luwin, he hated how they all seemed to talk down to him like he was a servant; he was going to be a Lord one day and he would show them all.
"I don't trust a raven to carry these words," Catelyn interrupted before an argument could break out, she wanted to stay on task and she knew that there was one thing that could be done. Catelyn had to tell Eddard what she had learned and she was sure that he would be able to take this news to the King and get the justice that her family deserved.
The group of men were silent for a moment, they all stared at Lady Stark realising what she planned to do; it was much too dangerous for her to go alone.
"I'll ride to King's Landing," Robb offered wanting to do something to help, his mother was needed here in Winterfell and he knew that they couldn't expect her to travel all that way. Bran and Rickon needed their mother and Catelyn had to focus on them instead of running across the kingdoms to speak with her husband in the capital.
"No. There must always be a Stark in Winterfell. I will go myself," Catelyn insisted knowing that Robb was doing just fine in his new roles, she was proud of him for stepping up when she hadn't been in the right mind. Him and Sanira were doing well and it was perfect practice for the day when they took over running of Winterfell; she didn't wish to put her eldest son in danger.
"Mother, you can't," Robb insisted knowing that his father would never forgive him if something happened to his mother; he wanted to do all that he could to help. Shaking her head, Catelyn offered him a warm smile knowing that she had raised him well and she hoped that everything would work out for him while she was gone.
"I'll send Hal with a squad of guardsmen to escort you," Rodrick insisted wishing to make sure that Lady Stark was well protected, the King's Road was a dangerous place and it would be unwise for her to make the trip unprotected. It would be best if someone was to go with her and keep her safe, Eddard wouldn't be pleased to hear that something had happened to his wife while he was gone.
"Too large a party attracts unwanted attention. I don't want the Lannisters to know I'm coming," Catelyn replied with a shake of her head, she had to do this and she was sure that Eddard would understand why she had chosen to come quietly. The last thing that they needed was to have the Lannisters warned that she had figured out that they had attempted to kill her son and had played a part in the murder of her good-brother, Jon Arryn.
"What about Bran?" Robb asked after Rodrick had offered to accompany his mother to the capital, he was a little surprised that she was so willing to travel so far away from him. It was only days ago that Catelyn had been refusing to leave Bran's side and arguing with everyone that tried to convince her that she should.
"I have prayed to the Seven for more than a month. Bran's life is in their hands now," Catelyn said knowing that it would upset her to leave Bran but she had to protect her family now more than ever.
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