Chapter 35
Supper was a somber affair indeed. Arya had never seen a feast so listless and dull. Her mother tapped her hand as Arya poked around at the food on her plate. She had been told that being five and ten now, she'd be expected to wed. The truth of the matter is that it had never dawned on Robb until their mother pointed it out that a betrothal should be arranged for Arya. She had been happy at Robb's forgetfulness. Now - that her mother had reminded him - it appeared hopeless. And the way her mother kept asking Princess Myrcella questions about Prince Trystane's older brother, Quentyn Martell - Arya knew that this was definitely a somber feast.
"He is a dutiful lad," Ser Barristan commented.
"How very," Robb paused before looking down at her. She widened her eyes in disbelief that he was going to attempt to assuage the situation. "He sounds like a decent young man."
Arya rolled her eyes and turned away from her brother. He may be King, but to her he would always be her brother.
"He is sensible," Myrcella added with a polite smile.
"Then why are you not betrothed to him?"
"Arya," her mother scolded.
Arya wanted to say that she had fought guards and soldiers, had defended her mother while they were being attacked by Bolton and Frey men. Arya had helped Nysa capture Harrenhal for her brother, had commanded Nymeria and Lady to attack those who had betrayed her brother - a King. Myrcella - Arya thought looking at her - contributed to her brother by traveling South to be wed. But no, not Arya. That wasn't her.
She huffed before putting on an equally polite smile and turned to look at the other princess - both carrying the title but handled it so differently. "Forgive me, Princess Myrcella," Arya replied.
"There is no offense taken, Princess Arya."
"I'll take offense," Prince Oberyn said jokingly as he lifted his cup of wine before giving the woman next to him a kiss on her cheek. "For that is my nephew you speak of. Though, I'll admit, he's not the type that would make a young Princess's heart beat faster," he chuckled looking at Princess Arya as she rolled her eyes again in annoyance. "However, he will rule Dorne when the time comes. And that should be enough to make the mind think faster, don't you agree, Lady Stark?"
As if to give her answer, Catelyn Stark turned towards her daughter and gave her a determined look.
"He won't make my heart beat faster, mother," Arya said quietly.
Unfortunately, a few people had heard her statement. One of them being her brother, who quickly covered his mouth to hide the laughter was threatening to bubble forth. Ser Barristan along with the tall woman who accompanied the Kingslayer smiled at her retort.
Nysa remained quiet throughout sup. Every now and then Robb would lean over to pick up her hand and press his lips inside her palm.
"And you, my Queen," Prince Oberyn turned to her. "What are your thoughts of your good-sister and your cousin? It would strengthen the bond between House Stark and House Martell."
Nysa smiled and turned to look at Arya, a pleading look showing on the young woman's face. As if she could read her thoughts, Nysa gave her a nod and turned towards Prince Oberyn.
"I have not had the pleasure of meeting my cousin - Prince Quentyn - so I am unable to give an answer as towards his character. However, I do know my good-sister. And Arya is truly a Princess of the North. Sensible and dutiful aren't qualities that she'll look for. Besides, I think that we should discuss a betrothal for her after we receive Princess Sansa," she replied. "Like Prince Quentyn, Princess Sansa is of a sensible and dutiful nature. Not to mention she," Nysa paused before glancing back at Arya to see an appreciative look on her face that Nysa had directed conversation away from her.
"Sansa enjoys life in the South," Arya added.
"That she does," Nysa finished. "She might adore Dorne."
Nysa turned her attention to her good-mother.
"If that is okay with you, Lady Catelyn."
"Of course," Lady Catelyn nodded. "Sansa would be the sensible choice." There was that word again, Arya thought as her mother smiled. "And I'm certain that she will be glad to leave the Capital."
"Yes, Princess Sansa is a better option for Prince Quentyn," Nysa turned to her Uncle. "Unfortunately, she has been through much. So, any talk of betrothals might not be acceptable to her right now. And besides, I fear that my marriage should be enough to strengthen the bond between House Stark and House Martell," she smiled. "Don't you think so, Prince Oberyn?"
He smiled and nodded. "I do. Of course," he agreed before taking a sip of his wine. "We have more than enough time to speak of betrothals."
"Speaking of which, I believe we should return Princess Myrcella to hers," Nysa prompted. "Wouldn't you agree, Kingslayer?"
The ultimate reason why there was tension at sup, Arya concluded as everyone looked towards the Kingslayer trying to stab a piece of pork with his hand. Nysa had insisted on him eating dinner with them. To her - this was humiliation at its finest. Death would have been too simple. So, instead she had swung her sword, cutting off his hand, piercing his feet and of course scarred his face. He wasn't the same knight she had remembered meeting in the North.
"I think you should keep me and Princess Myrcella here," he answered with a smirk as he continued his attempts at piercing the pork.
Nysa sighed and turned towards Alyx. "Lady Alyx, please help the Kingslayer..."
A sudden, loud bang stopped her. Nysa turned to see the tall woman had stuck a knife in the pork, assisting the Kingslayer with eating his meal. Alyx looked towards Nysa before the young Queen waved her hand, informing the young woman that she could return to her post.
"You staying here presents a problem, however," Robb interjected.
"How so, young Wolf?"
"Many of my men want you dead," he answered, gesturing towards a few people. "You've killed their fathers, brothers, sons."
"And you haven't killed the sons of those of House Lannister," the Kingslayer questioned.
"My Queen has kept many young men from House Lannister alive and well."
"From what I've heard, it's not her first time either," the Kingslayer teased looking at her.
Robb took a deep breath before leaning forward, drawing the attention back on him. "You've insulted my Queen. Is there a reason why I should let you live," Robb asked him.
"Because I allowed the young Queen to live," Ser Jamie replied.
Nysa titled her head. "I always believed that you found the words of a bastard girl a moving sentiment."
"I found the words of a Princess moving," he inclined his head. She opened her mouth, but Jamie continued. "Yes, I knew who you were. The moment the guards asked to kill you for shooting an arrow at me, I knew who you were."
Nysa narrowed her eyes at him as he chuckled - still the arrogant, confident piece of shit that he was despite half of his face being bandaged, missing a hand and walking with a limp. Robb would chastise her for it later but she felt a sudden urge of anger that she could not understand. And perhaps it was the fact that her emotions and thoughts were all over the place with regards being Rhaenys, being a Targaryen and learning that Jon was your kin.
Lady Catelyn and Ser Brynden had already explained to her the consequences of her actions. Tywin Lannister would not take kindly to her knowing that she had dismembered and scarred his son - a Kingsguard to the royal crown. If Tywin heard of what she had done, he would bring all of the seven hells with him upon the Twins. Not even House Martell's army could protect them.
Instead of apologizing for her actions, Nysa rubbed her stomach and stated very plainly that Tywin Lannister had betrayed her first. She was simply repaying the debt. Naturally, she did feel guilty for cutting off the Kingslayer's hand - especially if the words of Ser Barristan were true.
"Why do you think I apologized to you, my Queen," the Kingslayer leaned forward, interrupting her thoughts. "I saw your father's eyes in yours - the same eyes who asked me to keep his family safe. Though I may have been loath to guard King Aerys - the man that your father was," he shook his head. "I knew that he would be a good King. I knew that he would do the right thing, the honorable thing - not just by his family but also by the people of Westeros. I failed your father once, I wasn't going to do that again."
"So, you didn't say who I was even though you knew," Nysa whispered.
"Even though I knew," the Kingslayer nodded.
"Are you saying that you kept her identity safe while she was in King's Landing, while you could have told Robert Baratheon who she was," questioned Ser Perwyn.
"That's two Kings that you have betrayed," Ser Danwell spoke up.
"How many of you turned your back on your father," Jamie asked him then he shifted his eyes around the room. "How many Freys were killed by your Queen and yet you serve her loyally? Don't mock me for my betrayal, House Frey."
"It is because my Queen has shown them mercy," Robb replied. "The question still stands, Kingslayer. Should I decide to keep you alive? Or should I let you spark another rebellion."
"You're the one who sparked a rebellion against the crown," he pointed towards them with the fork in his hand.
"On the contrary," Robb raised Nysa's hand in his, pressing another kiss to her palm. "I believe I'm sitting next to the only person who should be sitting on the Iron Throne. House Lannister is the one who rebelled."
Ser Jamie shook his head. "I'm sure you know the story of the last Targaryens. You accuse me of such after all," his voice rose.
Nysa huffed. "Yes, we know the story very well. House Lannister murdered Prince Viserys and the baby Prince Aegon. Then they had Princess Elia raped and murdered as well. Not to mention that one of those Lannisters," she eyed him, "is known as a Kingslayer. You murdered my grandfather."
The Kingslayer smirked and leaned back in his chair - every one of his movements studied carefully by the guards that surrounded them. "You were never really close to him - your grandfather that is. Both he and your father believed that your brother, Aegon, was the 'Prince that was promised'. They doted on him."
"That's quite enough," Ser Barristan said in a softer tone.
"Of course," Ser Jamie nodded to him before relaxing slightly.
"It still doesn't answer my husband's question," Nysa tilted her head at him. "Should he allow you to live? Your argument seems to stem from the fact that you've kept me alive."
"On more than one occasion, too," Ser Jamie smiled as Nysa clearly looked unconvinced. He looked around the room at everyone. They too, didn't believe him. "Why don't we start from the beginning," he offered. "Did you ever wonder how you came to be under House Stark's protection?"
"Lord Stark found me," Nysa replied simply.
For a brief moment it was quiet until Ser Barristan cleared his throat. "Ser Jamie had been the one who suggested to your father that either you or Aegon should get out of the Capital, my Queen."
"Impossible," Prince Oberyn shouted as did a few others.
"I begged your father to go with him," the Kingslayer continued. "Suggested that someone else could guard the mad-King Aerys, but your father said that the King commanded me to stay back. Everyone else was leaving," he explained, "I looked out at my sworn brothers, experienced and battle-ready. I wanted to go out, too. I wanted to defend your father, defend the crown. Instead, he told me to stay back and protect his family, protect your mother and your brother and you."
Nysa's eyes blurred with tears before she turned away. Robb's hand squeezing hers comfortingly.
"During that discussion, I questioned why he had not sent your mother and the rest of you to Dorne. Under King Aerys' command, you all were to be left in the Capital, the same way I was - in the hopes to keep House Martell and House Lannister as loyal supporters to the crown," Ser Jamie leaned back in the chair. "I made the conscious decision that he should take you South - further away from any attack that could come towards the Capital, should he fail."
"She never made it to Dorne," Prince Oberyn responded.
"Prince Rhaegar had us separate from the young Princess's entourage a couple days out," Ser Barristan sighed heavily. "Robert Baratheon's army drew closer. He placed her in the care of..."
"Orning Sword."
Every head turned towards the Queen. The memory of her seeing Riverrun, being in the Riverlands had brought up that memory for a reason. She had been there before - not necessarily there, but the river had made sense. It was by a river that her father parted from her. He was riding off into battle and she was going off to the Tower of Joy. All the dreams that she had been having were making sense now. Arriving in King's Landing had triggered a few. Staying in the Riverlands had awakened others. Now that Ser Jamie and Ser Barristan were telling her stories of her father, the more things were falling into place.
"Amie," Nysa whispered.
Ser Jamie looked at her with a kinder smile this time. He gave her a brief nod. "That's what you called me."
"And Ser Borris," she turned towards Ser Barristan - as he smiled and nodded in acknowledgement at the old sentiment. "Aggy," she closed her eyes the memory reliving in her mind. "He always scolded me for saying the names wrong," she shook her head.
"You'll sit on the Iron Throne one day," a man's voice said.
She inhaled a deep breath, sucking in the air as the memory came into focus.
There he sat, Prince Rhaegar - her father - with her brother Aggy on his knee. They looked like each other - silver hair and violet eyes - her father and her brother. The infant turned around and touched her mother's long dark hair, holding up a fistful of her own hair and comparing it. Aggy looked like Papa. But she looked like their Mama.
"I wanted silver hair, like my father," Nysa said, her eyes still closed as she explained the memory. "Aggy got to sit on the throne with Papa. I thought if I had hair like them, then I," she paused and deeply exhaled. "Aggy didn't like it when our father would let me sit on his lap, let me play by the throne."
"Your father loved you, my Queen," Ser Barristan said gently. "Sons belonged to the people, to the crown," he said. "But daughters were always their father's hearts."
"My mother would carry me away from my father until Aggy was placated. This memory," she shook her head, "on this day, he wasn't calming down."
Aggy sat closer to Papa. And she saw her Papa's eyes lock with Mama's. They didn't like it when she and Aggy fought. Turning away from her brother, she noticed a hand touch her mother's shoulder before a man leaned down to kiss her on the cheek. When he looked up at Rhaenys, her little hands began to clap in excitement. The guard took her from her mother before throwing her up in the air, catching her and tickling her as the little Princess's laughter filled the throne room.
"Prince Ewyn was my favorite Kingsguard," she exhaled as her eyes opened. "He would call me Westeros' little sun dragon." A small laugh escaped from her lips. "He'd call Aggy spoiled."
"Our Uncle, Prince Lewyn Martell," Prince Oberyn nodded. "He was a good knight."
"He was a good man," Ser Jamie added as he studied the young Queen. "I suppose he favored you as well, despite Aegon being the eldest. You and your mother were reminders of home, reminders of why he took an oath to serve as a Kingsguard."
"Don't talk about my family as though you knew them, Kingslayer," Prince Oberyn snarled.
"I watched Prince Aegon and Princess Rhaenys walk their first steps, speak their first words. On more than one occasion I had to carry Princess Elia to her chambers because she fainted from a headache. And I kept a watchful eye on Princess Elia and Prince Rhaegar when they took walks through the gardens in the Capital, when they broke fast in their chambers with their children. Those were the memories of House Targaryen that I enjoy, the memories that every Kingsguard should have. Not the sounds of King Aerys raping and beating his wife, not the sounds of King Aerys burning and murdering innocents," Ser Jamie shouted before turning his head to the side, coughing in a fit of hysteria.
Prince Oberyn scoffed. "Where were you when men from House Lannister raped and murdered my sister, murdered her son? Where were you then?"
"We all know where he was, father," replied Nymeria.
"That's right," Prince Oberyn growled at him, "you were murdering the King - the very King you swore to protect."
The arguing brought on another painful memory to Nysa's mind.
The infant's feet padded towards the large door. The maids came out of the room, not noticing her. She sleepily looked around for someone to take a hold of her but no one came. Someone always came. She looked to the door again.
"Papa," her tiny voice called out.
A soldier had walked down the hallway and through the door. Perhaps that could have been her father returning from his adventure. She was not certain. Another maid came to exit the room and finally took notice of her, guiding her into the room with a concerned look on her face. The child was scared at first. She had heard shouting and screaming earlier. But her anxiety lifted upon knowing whose room she was coming to.
"Lya," she screamed in excitement.
She ran past the maid only to stop at the foot of the bed and notice that the young woman lying there was in pain.
"Lya?"
"Come," a voice said. So she climbed up on the bed, slowly and looked over to the guard sat there as well. It was not her Papa. "Princess," he addressed her with a tight voice.
The young woman called for the soldier.
She sounded hurt. "Lya..."
"Stay there," the guard growled at the child.
She retracted her hand quickly, narrowing her eyes at the soldier. No one talked to her like that. She looked at him - her face scrunching up in frustration. He wasn't Ewyn, Bull, Orning, Borris or Amie. What was he doing here?
Nysa gasped and stood up suddenly, drawing attention away from the arguing. Robb stood as well, along with Lady Catelyn and Ser Bryden. Prince Oberyn jumped up and was ready to go to her but was waved away by Smalljon.
"Forgive me," Nysa said in a quiet tone before wiping the tears that were in her eyes. "I fear this is too much for me. I must retire for night."
"I will go with you," Robb insisted.
"Stay," Nysa squeezed his hand. "I trust your judgement," she insisted.
There was still a lot to discuss. Prince Oberyn and the Dornishmen army presented one problem. How could Robb trust them? A part of him was glad for the reinforcements, but they had come at a price. He always knew that Nysa's mother came from a great House in the South - he just never expected that House to have royal blood. Then, there was Ser Barristan - former Kingsguard to King Aerys and King Robert. And now he was desiring to serve Nysa.
Robb had it set in his mind to pardon Ser Barristan as well as Lady Brienne - the woman who swore an oath to his mother. He'd allow Lady Brienne to guard his mother. From what he had heard, she was a fierce fighter - the same as or perhaps even better than the ladies of House Mormont. He had forgiven his mother while they were in Riverrun - had confided in her, had recognized that now was the time for them to stick together. The lone wolf dies, but the pack survives. That's what his father had always told him, told Sansa and Arya, told Bran and Rickon. The only way they were going to survive this war, survive Winter, was if they learned to work together. It would do him no good now to hold a grudge against his mother.
As far as Ser Jamie's punishment went, he felt that Nysa had overreacted and in a fit of anger had delivered her own sense of justice. They were supposed to work together - she was his Queen and he was her King. The decision should have been both of theirs.
"House Martell," he questioned.
Nysa glanced at her Uncle. "I trust him. However, you should ensure that his daughters know their place. They may be kin to me, but remind him that they hold no authority over you. If you accept their allegiance, then I'll agree with you."
"Ser Barristan," he stated.
"Joffrey removed him for defending your father," Nysa replied. "Do what you feel is best. As for the Kingslayer," Nysa looked at him. "I'm too emotional now to decide," she shook her head, turning to face Robb. And he could see it in her eyes - the conflict brewing inside. "He's killed many, I understand. But these memories aren't helping me decide his punishment."
"Would you be upset with me if I decide to execute him," Robb questioned.
Nysa shook her head before glancing once more at the Kingslayer. "A Lannister isn't the only one who pays his debt," she said loudly as she watched the Kingslayer's face fall slightly.
She touched Robb's hand before Lady Tyta and a few others had walked her out, towards their chamber. Robb turned away to look at Ser Jamie before nodding towards a few guards to detain him once more.
Lady Catelyn had followed Nysa out of the hall, sensing her distress and wanting to speak with her further. However, Nysa didn't want to speak with Lady Catelyn at the moment - especially not after the memory she just had. However, Catelyn dismissed the young Frey women and decided to assist Nysa with preparing for bed. She glanced at the swollen middle of her good-daughter, thinking that it would be anytime now.
She encouraged Nysa to sit down before she smoothed out her hair, untangling the braid. Once that was done, she leaned forward and pressed her lips towards Nysa's head. "I know that you may be upset with me, but Ned and I only wanted to keep you safe."
"I know," she whispered.
Catelyn touched Nysa's shoulders, massaging it lightly as Nysa closed her eyes. "Are you worried about how you'll be received by the Northerners," Catelyn asked. "They love you."
"They love Nysa Snow," Nysa's eyes opened. "The daughter of the man who kidnapped and raped Lyanna Stark," she questioned, before shaking her head. "Or the granddaughter of the man who burned Lord Rickard Stark and had Brandon Stark murdered," Nysa sniffed as she felt the tears come to her eyes. "No," she added softly, "they wouldn't love that Queen."
Catelyn took a deep breath and moved to sit down next to her good-daughter. "They love you," she repeated, turning Nysa to face her. "You've done things that would make your father and mother so proud of you, that have made Ned and I proud to raise you."
She didn't know why she decided to bring it up but something clenched in her heart. "What about Jon?"
Catelyn's hand froze slightly on Nysa's shoulder before she removed her hand slowly and looked down at her lap. There hadn't been much discussion about Jon. And as much as everyone had argued about her father and Lyanna Stark, no one had really talked about Jon. If Jon truly was the son of Prince Rhaegar, then Nysa was going to consider changing Robb's terms to legitimize Jon as a Targaryen.
"Do you remember the story I told you of Ned coming back to me in Riverrun," Catelyn asked after some time.
Nysa nodded. "It was a happy reunion, one that I had hoped to have with Robb."
Catelyn laughed lightly. "It may have started out that way with Ned and I, but it changed - very quickly."
"That must be your son, my Lord. He is probably wondering why it is that we have not attended to him as of yet."
She smiled and went to the crib only to pause when she spotted two babes in there.
Catelyn's hands moved the blankets on the side, blankets she had sewn for their son. Her heart began to beat wildly again only for her hand to drop. She recognized her son immediately. But the other, she thought as she turned towards her husband.
"Cat..."
"He looks like a Stark," she whispered.
"Let me explain."
"Why does he look like you," she questioned. "Why does he have your coloring? Why does he have your eyes?"
"It is not what you think."
Ned reached for her but she pulled back. Her eyes began to water and she shook her head. A lot of things happened while men went to war.
"I am hers..."
"I am his..."
Words they recited to one another before he left, before he left her. Did they mean nothing to him? Just because her father did not believe in fathering bastards did not mean that her husband would have. But she had believed him, thought that he had cared for her. He had missed her, he said. She looked at the cradle and decided, he obviously had not missed her that much.
She hurried back to the crib and took Robb out of there hastily, causing him to cry. With Rhaenys in her other arm she made for the door, carrying the two children desperately wishing to hide away.
"Catelyn, please..."
"Leave me be," she said.
Ned reached for her. "I am sorry. At least let me look at my son."
"You can look at that one in there," she nodded towards the crib, as the babe started to cry. "I never thought that you would ever..."
"I am so sorry. I..."
He finally reached her but she nudged him back with her elbow. "Don't touch me! Don't you dare touch me!" She fled the room as Ned closed his eyes and broke down in tears. It was going to be a long journey home.
She stopped in her memory, a sound somewhere between a sob and a laugh escaped her mouth. "I had been so angry with him," Catelyn explained. "I knew that it happened - Lords always took mistresses, many of them fathered bastards. I thought that it would be different, that he was different," she shook her head and looked out towards the opposite end of the wall. "Men lose themselves in war - that's what my father told me when I informed him that Ned had Jon. I may not have loved Ned then, but it still hurt," she gripped her dress near her heart. "I had thought that him returning to me, that night we spent together when he whispered that he missed me, that it meant something. And in one brief moment, seeing Jon there, took that away from me."
Catelyn wiped her eyes as Nysa blinked back her own tears and looked away.
"When we returned to Winterfell, I never let him touch Robb - wouldn't even allow them to be in the same room. Robb was mine. He could have Jon," she laughed and shook her head again. "I forgot myself. My one act of un-ladylike conduct, I'm afraid," she turned to Nysa with a gentle smile. "My duty was to my husband, regardless of how he offended me."
She sniffed again before lifting her head and putting on a brave face.
"Ned had a Sept built for me - I guess it was in the hopes that we would reconcile," Catelyn smiled and nodded. "He did many things to accommodate me, yet I remained stubborn." She released a giggle and turned to take Nysa's hand in hers. "One night, Robb was throwing a fit. And I was in the Sept. So the maids had called Ned. When I was finally made aware of it, I rushed back to the nursery."
His hands touched Robb's cheek as his crying died down. His thumb rubbed against his chin, his arms and his tiny foot that peaked out from the furs. The child began to laugh. Robb gave his father a smile when his laughter died down. Ned smiled then too because that was a ticklish spot for every Stark and it seems that his son was not an exception to that.
"You may look like a Tully but inside you are all Stark," Ned commented.
The child began to babble and move around more until Ned took him to the window. Ned chuckled then as his son's eyes seemed to widen at the sight.
"This my son, is Winterfell. This is your home. You will become Lord over it one day," he kissed his forehead as Robb's two hands smashed his father's face and babbled something else. "Aye, I know there is still time for us to worry about that. But know that you are always a Stark. And Starks, we protect our family, we guide those under our care, never disrespect the Gods and always handle matters in a just way," he smiled as Robb settled in his arms, moving his head to rest on his shoulder. "Do that and you will have nothing to fear, Robb Stark."
Catelyn had entered a while ago to see the scene. She had smiled at the sight of father and son. It was something she had longed to see in Riverrun before everything had fallen down in dismay. As if to remind her of what was the cause of her sadness, a sudden cry was heard. She knew that Jon had been put somewhere in the Keep - Ned's sister's old room. She bit back the unladylike speech that threatened to leave her lips when she had heard about that. What hurt more was that she was not told about it by her husband or the Maester here. No, she heard the serving girls gossiping about it.
They had already treated her indifferently upon her arrival. Lord Rickard Stark had married his children to Southern houses. Eddard had married her and Lyanna had been betrothed to Robert Baratheon from the Stormlands. There were a lot who felt that Rickard had snubbed his nose at the other noble houses here. And it was apparent that a few of the small folk had thought the same, especially when the Sept was built for her. It was disrespectful to the old Gods that she had brought her faith here, she heard the murmurs. Despite this she did her best to take care of her responsibilities as Lady of the House - minus the one to her Lord husband.
She released a deep sigh and took a step forward. Perhaps she could converse politely with him. She was - after all - a Lady.
"He is not my son," Ned told his wife as she walked further into the room.
For a moment she faltered in her steps. Was it because Robb did not look like that other thing crying down the hall that he wouldn't acknowledge him? Robb obviously favored the Tully line but was he insinuating something else? She knew her duty, she knew to keep her honor intact until the marriage bed. Brandon and her shared a couple stolen kisses but nothing as passionate as what she shared with Ned. And now he had the gall to insinuate that she had been dishonorable?
"Are you accusing me of..."
"Jon," Ned tore his eyes away from Robb. Catelyn narrowed her eyes at the mention of that baby. "Jon is not mine."
The hardness turned soft as she looked away. "I never thought that you would be the one to take a mistress. They had told me that Brandon would." Ned sighed and held Robb closer to him as the boy slept on his shoulder. "I had heard rumors that he already had. But they told me that Eddard Stark," she laughed, "he would be faithful to me. He is honorable."
"And I have been Cat."
"Don't," she shook her head. "That child over there," she pointed as tears began to run down her face, "that child!"
While Ned had been away, she carried his child. She bore his child. She raised him, refused a wet nurse to come and help her. This was their child, their firstborn son, the heir to Winterfell. He had been just like every other man. Her father told her she could stay in Riverrun for a bit longer but she didn't want to give the people any more reason to whisper. Either that or she didn't want to give Ned another opportunity to father more children.
"Cat," Ned whispered as he wrapped his arms around her. In the time that she had been crying, Ned had put Robb back to sleep by Nysa and walked over to comfort his wife. "Jon belongs to Lyanna," he whispered as she pulled back and looked up at him.
Ned reached his hand wipe and gently wiped his wife's tears away.
"I don't understand," she replied, because honestly it didn't make any sense at all.
"When I went there and found Lyanna, she had just birth a child," Ned told her softly. "That child is Jon."
"But she was," Catelyn shook her head. The worst thought came into her head - the rumors about Prince Rhaegar abducting and raping Lyanna came into her head. Was it true?
"Lyanna wasn't taken as we had thought," he sighed. "I thought she was hurt, we all thought she was."
"She went willingly," Catelyn questioned in shock, still in disbelief. "But she was betrothed!"
"I should have known, more so than any of them. She never wanted to wed Robert. She," he looked past Cat and a sudden memory of Robert kissing a kitchen maid as Ned tried to dance with Lyanna to distract her. She had seen him though. After the song had finished, she whispered that she had known. "She knew of the company he kept."
"So, she left him to bed another," Catelyn snorted. "And another that already had a wife and children? He may have been a Prince but she was a Lady."
The look on his wife's face made Ned chuckle. She would not be his wife unless she saw the inappropriateness of it all. "I do not know everything, only that she was not taken. And that she named him Rhaegon."
She then turned to look up at him. "Why didn't you say anything earlier? Why would you have my father think that you had betrayed me? Why would you bring us here to Winterfell having everyone believe that..."
"Because the father is Rhaegar, the same as Nysa. I couldn't leave a child there to be butchered," he looked to Nysa who shifted further to Robb. "Even more so for Jon since he is Lyanna's."
"So, you made me believe that you had fathered him?"
"How else could I keep him safe? You did not see Robert in his grief and anger. You did not see the things that he allowed the Lannisters to do. If they had known or heard that Lyanna's child by Rhaegar was alive," Ned snorted. "Jon would have faced the same fate as the rest of them. Lyanna wanted me to take him to Rhaegar," he shook his head. "How could I tell her that he was dead, dead at the hands of Robert? She was already dying. The maids had said there was nothing more they could do. The birthing was hard for her," Ned gripped the edge of the bed where his son and Nysa slept.
"Aye," Catelyn nodded, "I know how birthing a child could be."
Ned turned to see a small smile playing on her lips and he released a light chuckle. "I'm sorry I could not be there for you and ours," he glanced at Robb before turning back to her. "When my sister lay there, I thought to myself that she should not have been alone. You should not have been alone."
Catelyn walked forward and took his hand in hers. It was there in her eyes and in her soft touch, she was no longer angry with him.
"Forgive me for that as well. I am grateful for Robb, truly I am. It was only after seeing Lyanna there that I realized I had a son and wife that I had left alone as well. You brought him into this world. And I did not get a chance to say this in Riverrun but I love you all the more for it Catelyn Stark. I made a promise to you. I know this is not the marriage you wanted but I made an oath that I will cherish and honor you for as long as we both live. I will be there for you when you birth every child from here on."
Catelyn released a joyful sob before Ned pulled her into his arms. She felt his lips press against her forehead and melted into him.
"I love you Eddard Stark," she whispered before lifting her head up. Their lips met briefly before they heard a shuffle on the bed.
Both heads turned to see Nysa sitting up.
"Two Targaryen babes," Catelyn shook her head.
"I know it is a lot to ask but..."
"Children are innocent," she smiled at him. And his heart felt light that she had agreed to keep them safe.
"Wob," Nysa's tiny voice whispered.
"No, little princess," Catelyn pulled away from her husband and went to scoop up Nysa in her arms. "We must not wake Robb. He may look like a Tully but he has the temper of a Stark," she smiled at Ned. Ned smiled back feeling content that he had spoken to her. "I just need to know one thing Ned," she rocked Nysa. "Would you ever have told me about Jon?"
"The thought crossed my mind more than once," Ned nodded. "I did not want to dispute it back in Riverrun because I did not know who to trust there. I am not saying that your family is untrustworthy. It is only due to the fact that I did not want any whispers to get out that..."
"That the children were alive," she finished for him as Nysa settled in her arms. Catelyn began to stroke Nysa's hair, glad that it was brown and not silver. It would be easier to hide her, easier to pass her off as the daughter of Martyn Cassel.
"If I told you then, if I told your father or anyone in the household, who knows what ears would hear. And to be completely honest, I didn't enjoy sleeping in another part of the castle from you and our son," he told her as she turned to him with a kind, gentle smile - the smile that he had come to appreciate since he had wed her. It was a smile that told him, he was doing the right thing by her and that she was happy with him.
"I am sorry."
"You have nothing to be sorry for," he replied. "I understand that taking both Rhaenys and Rhaegon will be difficult. We've already changed their names. And I know that you'll have to endure certain rumors."
Catelyn snorted. "I wish I could tell them," her bottom lip trembled. "Tell all the serving maids who snicker and point, that my husband has been faithful to me. I pray I could..." Ned came to stand by her, wrapping his arms around her shoulders gently so that she could rest against him. "I will pray to the Mother for strength and courage. I will..."
"And I will be there with you, every step of the way," Ned added which made Catelyn burst out in tears of happiness.
Nysa turned slightly to touch Ned's face, patting his cheek as if to say that 'it would be okay'.
Ned sighed. "She would not leave Jon's side or mine. As I said earlier, she seemed to have formed a bond with Lyanna. I guess seeing me and Jon reminded her of Lyanna."
"Wob," Nysa mumbled but burrowed her head on Catelyn's shoulder.
"And now she will not leave our son's side," Catelyn teased as Ned smiled.
"You were the one who settled her in with Robb," he reminded her.
"That will no doubt cause problems for us later."
This time it was Nysa who chose to snort and shake her head. Catelyn looked over at her with a smile, glad that she could lighten the mood from such a somber tale. Catelyn conveying her feelings and the depth of them to Nysa made her see Lady Catelyn in a wonderful light. She had previously thought the world of Lady Catelyn, which had been tainted by the discovery that she released the Kingslayer, but now, Nysa thought. Now, seeing the things that Lady Catelyn went through and had to overcome, made her appreciate the woman and all that she had done.
"Rhaegon Targaryen," Catelyn repeated with a deep inhaling of her breath. "That's what Lyanna whispered to Ned. Jon is your brother, Nysa."
"He has to be told," Nysa replied softly.
"Aye," Catelyn agreed. "He still hasn't sent word about the legitimization as a Stark. Speak to Robb about it, about proclaiming Jon as Rhaegon. I'm sure that there are documents somewhere, or someone who can confirm that he is - other than me and Lord Reed."
Nysa's face perked up at this as she turned suddenly to Lady Catelyn.
"You've heard the story of the fight at the Tower of Joy - where Ned rode there with several Northmen. The only two to survive where Ned and Howland Reed," Catelyn reminded her. "He knows Jon's secret. He was there, helped Ned take care of you and Jon."
"He knows who I am, too?" Catelyn nodded. "Do you think Ser Barristan knows about Jon?"
"I think we should hear his story, your father's side of the story," Catelyn reminded her.
Nysa looked away, down towards her lap. "I had a memory while we were in the hall. I saw Lord Stark and his sister Lyanna," Nysa's eyebrows furrowed. "He was about the same height as Jon - skinnier though."
Catelyn laughed lightly. "I always thought that Ned had picked up some weight as we grew older. He still was handsome to me, always was," she smiled contently. "But he was skinnier and a bit shorter in his early years," she agreed with a small laugh before turning to take Nysa's hands in hers. "Is that what made you jump up from your seat earlier?"
She nodded. "I wondered what he was doing there. He wasn't any knight or guard that I remembered. He was new, but Lya looked happy to see him. She asked for forgiveness and made him promise," Nysa shook her head. "I still can't understand a lot of it because all I could think of was that he didn't belong there. Now, as the Kingslayer mentioned, I am so glad that it was Lord Stark who found me. I think anyone else and they may have murdered me. I was - still am - Prince Rhaegar's daughter."
Catelyn pulled Nysa into her arms, rubbing her back as the young Queen began to cry softly.