Notes

Today is December 30, so happy new year in advance. 😊

MARGAERY II

The castle would be hers if it weren't for Lady Catelyn. Despite her brother-in-law's fateful accident, she would have felt better if the castle had remained only for her and her husband. Her mother-in-law didn't hate her, after all, she had made a great effort to make her feel comfortable, even so, as long as she was present, the staff of Winterfell would only obey Lady Catelyn.

However, she was not in a bad position. Loving Robb had been easy for her, not only because of sharing a bed but because of his kindness. Robb wasn't the knight of songs but a potential warrior, a husband of whom she could be proud, very different from King Robert or Prince Joffrey.

"My lady", said Robb, "would you like to accompany me to the hot springs?"

"It would be an honor, Robb", Margaery replied sweetly.

Their first weeks of marriage were idyllic. Robb Stark had turned out to be a good lover, much better than she would have expected from Prince Joffrey. In addition, the royal family's stay in Winterfell made her realize how inconvenient it would be to marry Joffrey, who turned out to be a scoundrel.

"But Sansa didn't realize it", Margaery reflected for her.

The hot springs of Winterfell consisted of a spacious cavern beneath the castle. It was naturally in the hottest place in the castle, but that didn't matter to her. Margaery had been in the baths of a few castles, but none of them compared to the work of the gods, the caverns were beautiful and made any human intervention unnecessary.

"Do all the castles have hot springs?" asked Margaery as she entered the water.

"Yes", replied her husband. The first men built their castles and villages on them. That's why there aren't so many castles in the North,

Margaery came over to kiss him, but at that moment Stark guards disrupted the compound.

"What's going on?" shouted Robb indignantly.

"Lord Stark, someone tried to assassinate your brother", replied one of the guards.

"Leave us alone so we can get dressed", Robb announced.

The guards left the caverns and climbed the castle. Both she and Robb dressed quickly and ran to Bran's rooms. When they arrived, Garlan was giving directions to the guards while Lady Catelyn hugged little Brandon. The floor was covered with blood and they soon noticed the presence of the murderer's corpse.

"Mother", Robb said.

"Ser Garlan saved my Bran", sobbed Lady Catelyn.

"Is that true, Ser Garlan?" asked Robb.

Her brother Garlan nodded.

"That's right, Lord Robb, however, it was Summer who saved your brother."

"Well done, Summer," Robb snapped.

At first she was terrified of living with the direwolves. Fortunately, Grey Wind was affectionate with her, even preferring her over Robb. The servants of the castle claimed that it was a sign that the Old Gods supported their marriage. Margaery pretended she didn't listen to those comments, yet she liked them to spread.

She knew from good sources that some vassals did not hold her in high esteem. If it became known that a direwolf approved of her, the prejudices against her would vanish. Something inside her told her that the North was the best place to grow strong and that she would soon give birth to a new generation of Starks, the strongest in history.

"There is another matter, Lord Robb. The murderer's dagger is made of Valyrian steel.

"How is it possible that a man of such low stature has a weapon like that?" asked Margaery.

"Surely a nobleman of few lights gave him to murder Bran" replied Garlan.

"I'm going to travel to King's Landing", said Lady Catelyn.

"Mother", Robb protested.

"I will see your father in secret", she replied. I must discuss this matter with him. You will oversee the castle, my son. As for you", she added, addressing Margaery, "you will be the lady of the castle in my absence, I know you will do well, daughter."

"Lady Stark", Garlan interrupted. "Let me accompany you".

"No", she said. "The son of a Lord Paramount would attract too much attention. Ser Rodrik Cassel will accompany me, I want to be discreet."

Not much more was discussed. Lady Catelyn was determined to meet Lord Eddard at King's Landing. Margaery for her part was worried about her brother-in-law, a poor boy who when he woke up would realize that he could not become a knight. In addition, she remembered Renly's tragic death, a death that reminded her that despite his noble birthplace he was as deadly as anyone.

"I will take care of Bran in your absence, Lady Stark", Margaery promised when they were left alone in the room.

"I thank you, my dear", Lady Catelyn replied. "My Bran likes you, and he idolizes Ser Garlan. It's a pity that he can't take him as a squire."

"Yes, it's a pity", said Margaery, agreeing with her mother-in-law.

"He may not be Garlan's squire, but he can become Willas' pupil", thought Margaery, who began preparing the words she would say to her grandmother.

The next day Lady Stark left the castle as if it were a shadow. No one was supposed to know about her voyage except the staff of Winterfell and Lord Wyman Manderly who would receive her at White Harbor. If someone found out that the son of the Warden of the North was the victim of an attempted murder, his reputation would fall, and he would be more vulnerable.

"Lady Margaery", Maester Luwin called her. "A letter to you, from the Wall."

"Has anything happened to Loras?" asked Margaery.

"I did not take the liberty of reading it, my lady", replied the maester and handed her the letter.

The letter was brief, as soon as she finished reading it she ran to find Garlan. She couldn't believe it, after so many years he had news of her cousin, Maester Medwick. As she ran, he wondered if he should have allowed Maester Luwin to read the letter, yet she barely knew him, and she didn't have so much confidence with him.

"Garlan, Garlan," Margaery shouted as she knocked on her bedroom doors.

"Sister, what's going on?" Her brother said after opening the door. His wife was in bed watching with concern.

"It's Medwick, he's alive.

"How do you say? Is it serious?"

Margaery handed him the letter and her brother was excited.

"I have to travel to Hardhome. If he doesn't listen to Uncle Garth he will listen to me, our grandfather Leyton can convince the Citadel to force him back south.

Margaery felt weak and fell flat on her face in Garlan's arms. Her brother settled her in his bed while Leonette touched her forehead for a fever. As her brother ran to find the maester, her sister-in-law's face drew a small smile.

"I think you'll be a mother, Margaery", she said. "Your husband will be happy."