3) Catelyn shouldn't have arrested Tyrion.

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Tyiron was tired. Exhausted. His short legs were aching from riding for hours and barely supported his light weight. And what did he get after all that riding? A shit hole of an Inn filled with smelly, toothless, greasy haired men.

What? Is that who I think it is? Nah, it can't be. What's she doing here?

Well, she wasn't home, that much I gathered.. Her son tried to cover for her, but Starks are shit at lying.

She must have been at the capital. She's keeping her head down and her hood above her head. She doesn't want me to see her. She's hiding something. They all are. Young Robb's attitude was eerily cold and with a hint of aggressiveness. What are they up to?

.

"Lady Stark. I was very sorry to miss you at Winterfell"

"My Lord" she replied. She's clearly disappointed I spotted her.

"So, I missed you at Winterfell" he repeated trying to get a reaction.

"A shame" she replied.

" I'm sure. Still, I saw your children." Catelyn's jaw tightened, her nostrils flared and her eyes narrowed. Sore point? "Your little one is awake. I will toast to his health."

"I'm sure you will" she said through her teeth and then added belatedly "and I appreciate it."

"Your young son, Lord Robb, was very courteous when I visited." Yeah, right, he was about to throw me to that wolf of his. "You've taught him well."

"Thank you, my Lord" She's being as sincere as I am .. ha!

"So, were you taking a short vacation now that your husband is gone?" Where the hell does she come from and what the hell was she doing?

"I just had to visit a relative." She's lying.

"Or did you miss your husband? A quick visit to remind him of what he would miss at the capital?" he laughed at his own joke.

"Of course not! How dare you?". She may be trying to hide it, but I got the reaction I expected. And the old man with her is an open book. The minute I said the word Capital, his eyes grew the size of two melons.

"Sorry, my mistake. I didn't mean to presume. I'll best be off." Yes, the sooner I get home, the better...

Tyrion Lannister had many things to do. Many people to talk to and Catelyn Stark wasn't one of them. He'd get no further information from her. He nodded politely to Lady Stark and retired to his table.

The following morning he rushed to get his horses. He was not surprised to find Lady Stark and her companion gone. In a rush to go back home? Or to warn her husband again? Or her sister? Who knows? But I certainly know what I need to do.

He tried to make speed getting home. He stopped at the first town he found to make sure he sent ravens to warn his family. They needed to know what he'd found out.

When he arrived at the capital a few weeks later, he sensed a sort of surreal calm that gave him goose bumps: people going about their business in an orderly fashion and guards posted every couple of streets. Very normal. Too normal. White and gold cloaks guarding the peace. No Stark guards. mhh …. Could I have had something to do with it?

He was never one to advocate for violence. But if he had to choose between his family or a bunch of strangers – strangers who happen to threaten my family! He felt nothing towards Lord Stark. He had been a somewhat gracious host and he had tried (not very successfully) to hide his disdain for all things south. But if his family was in danger, he felt no regrets.

"You're back" his sister greeted him.

"I'm back. And everything seems so … calm?"

"It is. No fighting, no riots, no plotting of any kind."

"No Stark guards walking around"

"Nope. Not any more" she smiled knowingly.

"I see you received my warning" he replied raising his eyebrows. .

"Yes. And good thing you warned us. We discovered she had indeed been here. Lord Baelish admitted to hosting her at his establishment. He said he couldn't really tell why she had been here, but he says she asked to see her husband."

"And not for a quick roll in the sheets I gather."

"Nope. Baelish said she suspected us of having had a hand in her son's accident. Also, apparently an assassin came for the boy a few days after we left."

"He was alive when I visited them."

"Yes, apparently Lady Stark fought him, or the older son killed him. Or maybe the Ironborn boy they keep. Or the wolf. Who knows?" she shrugged her shoulders dismissively. "The thing is that the man had a knife and they suspected it to be yours."

"Mine?" he was genuinely surprised. "No wonder young Robb was so cold. That explains it" he said remembering the frosty treatment he had received at Winterfell. "So, she was here to warn them about me trying to kill her son?"

"Not just that. After I received your letter, I tried to find out what it was they were up to. Ned Stark was after us, all of us. He believed we had killed Jon Arryn as well."

"Ha! So according to the Starks, we've been busy!" he snorted.

"The nerve they have!" Cersei raged shaking her head. "Accusing us of killing the Hand and sending an assassin after a helpless boy! Putting up a façade of being honorable and shit and then going behind everyone's back, lying and plotting."

"What happened to Lord Stark, the girls and the rest of the Stark household?"

"As soon as we received your warning, I went to Robert. He questioned Stark and the oaf didn't even deny it. Robert was outraged. I had never seen him like that. He said he couldn't believe his friend would go behind his back like that. I wanted Robert to send him to the cells but he refused – what with them being brothers and shit. The following day Stark attacked Jaime on the street – or that's the official version at any rate" she continued with a complicit smile. "And that was the end of Lord Stark. The soldiers have been imprisoned and the Septa has been kept under guard. We are keeping the girls hostage. Robert has sent young Lord Stark an ultimatum: come down, swear fealty and withdraw the accusations, or face the consequences of acting behind the crown's back."

"And?"

"We're still waiting …"

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MY OPINION: Catelyn did the only thing she could do: stop Tyrion from making it to his family.

Based on the evidence she had, she knew the Lannisters were behind Jon Arryn's murder (maybe Tyiron, maybe another Lannister), that a Lannister was behind Bran's fall, and that Tyrion had sent an assassin after Bran. And the evidence was quite solid and trustworthy. She herself had found the strand of hair and then she had the statements provided by both her sister and a dear friend (and she had no reason to suspect either of them was lying). She had to stop this child murderer.

But most importantly, she had to stop Tyrion from getting back to the capital and report he had seen her. She tried to hide and keep out of sight, but once he saw her, there was not turning back. Tyrion obviously started suspecting the Starks were plotting something. I mean, how else can the Starks explain Catelyn visiting King's Landing in secret so soon after Ned had left – her aching loins? She had to stop him from getting word to his family that she had been with Ned. If Tyrion had returned home, he would have warned his family the Starks were plotting and then Ned's life would be forfeit. And possibly Sansa's and Arya's as well.

She had no other choice, and she did it in the most honorable way possible: she gave him a trial and protected him against both the mountain clans and Lysa.

It was NOT a rash emotional decision, as many people say. She had to think fast. It was a good action that had bad consequences. Tywin, who was already poised to attack, used her actions as an excuse. But there is no way I can blame her for starting the war, as so many fans do. How some people can lay the blame on the woman who was used and lied to and who tried to stop the violence and the conflict and not on the men who instigated it is beyond me …

So, what do you think she could have done? I mean, she knew Tyrion was a killer and that he would tell everyone that the Starks were plotting against the royal family. What other options would you say she had? I would love to hear your thoughts (it might make for an interesting what-if scenario).

Again, I will ask No senseless Bashing. Please don't say "ah, she's a moron who started the war". If you do so, please provide solid arguments as to what else she could have done instead. We all know that she tried to hide and for Tyrion not to see her, even though she had reason to want to kill him. So once he saw her, what other option do you think she had?

Thanks