Lady Catelyn Stark

A pall of mourning hung over King's Landing, as the people mourned the deaths of Lord Stannis Baratheon and his children. Lady Rhea had been beyond consolation, the loss of her children it seemed had truly crushed her. Catelyn had seen her staring into space on more than one occasion and she appeared listless and without hope on numerous occasions. Catelyn did not know what would happen to her, but she felt terribly sorry for her, and was grateful that her own family was safe. Indeed, there was one new member to the family, for Princess Myrcella and Robb had been married in the Great Sept, and then in the Godswood that was not truly a Godswood, before the entire court. The two of them seemed very happy which Catelyn was glad of.

"Lord Baelish is without, my lady." Lady Jonelle Cerwyn who was her lady in waiting said.

Catelyn nodded. "Show him in." Petyr had asked to meet with her today, for what she did not know, but she had little else to do, Ned was meeting with the King to discuss the situation at the wall, Robb and Myrcella were newlyweds and doing their own thing, whilst Sansa was with Prince Tommen, and being shown around. Arya was wandering around the Red Keep with Bran, and Rickon was asleep. It couldn't hurt to meet with Petyr, and to ask him about that letter he had sent her. She'd shown it to Ned when he'd returned from the Wall, and he'd been most irate.

Petyr walked in, dressed in brown, his hair straight and short, his goatee-when did he become old enough to grow one- was curled. She kissed his cheek and then sat down. "My lady, thank you for agreeing to meet with me, you look lovely."

Catelyn nodded. "Thank you, Petyr." She paused, she felt slightly tense, she had met Lysa briefly whilst they had been here, and her sister had seemed ill at ease as if she wanted to say something but wasn't. Lysa's son Robert had been charming, and nothing like what Robb had described him as being, whether he had put on an act or not she did not know. "So, what did you wish to see me about?" She asked getting right to the point.

Petyr smiled. "How have you been finding King's Landing, Cat? I have been meaning to speak with you, but things have been quite chaotic, since King Robert's death and the coronation and of course now Euron Greyjoy being present in Dragonstone. So, tell me how have you found our capital?"

There was something about the way Petyr spoke, she couldn't quite put her finger on it, but there was a movement and a hitch and she didn't like it, it made her feel quite uncomfortable. "It is as I remember it from the one time we visited as children. The city is still big and sprawling, but different in that it has not been allowed to fall in to disrepair as it had during the reign of King Aerys. The court is of course different. All in all it has been a good visit."

"And how have you found Lysa? She is much changed is she not, from the girl she was when you last saw her?" Petyr asked. There was something in his eyes, Catelyn did not like it. She'd seen that look once before, from someone when she'd been a girl. Uncle Brynden had thoroughly dealt with that young man then.

"She is changed, but of course I had expected that. It has been fifteen years since we were last with one another. I did not think she would be the same, I know that I am not the same. Why?" Catelyn asked.

Petyr chuckled softly, and Catelyn got the smell of mint in the air then. "Ah, Cat, you're so trusting, it is quite sad truly. Lysa has changed, of course she has you are right, but she has also become something that is not right. She plots and schemes and she and the Queen Dowager are both close friends with one another. Do you know what the Queen is Cat? Do you know?"

Catelyn did not understand what Petyr was asking her and so she replied. "She is a good woman, a strong woman, a good Queen, and mother." And Queen Dowager Cersei had been friendly to her as well, willing to talk about all sorts of things.

For some reason this was humorous to Petyr for he laughed again. "You see, the Queen puts on an act. She pretends to be kind and caring, but really she is nothing short of evil. She is preparing for something Cat, something sincere and dark. She guided her husband, King Robert toward doing things that have damaged the realm." Cat was worried now, Petyr did not seem like his normal self. "You received my letter?"

Catelyn held up the letter in her hand. "I did. Petyr, I do not know why you think the things you do, but there is no truth in them. I only loved you as I did Edmure, as a brother, nothing more. There was nothing more between us."

Petyr did not seem happy at that, he stood up. "You are wrong, I know it was you who came to me after that brute of a man hurt me. I know it was you who gave me such pleasure. You cried my name when I made you cum."

Catelyn looked at Petyr and wondered whether he'd gone mad. "I did no such thing, Petyr. You were delirious from the pain and the milk of the poppy."

"I know what happened." Petyr insisted.

"Petyr, I think you should leave. Clearly you are upset, I think you should leave." Catelyn said.

Petyr did not move, and for a moment Catelyn was terrified of what he might do, then his shoulders slumped and he turned and walked to the door. Before he left though, Petyr looked at her and said. "You do not know what you have gotten yourself in for. These Baratheons, they are not what they seem." With that he left slamming the door behind him.

Catelyn stood there and stared at where Petyr had been, wondering what in the seven hells had just happened and whether she should tell Ned or not.

Lord Eddard Stark

Ned's son had gotten married three days' ago, his son and gooddaughter were celebrating their wedding by spending time at the dower land that the King had given Princess Myrcella in Brindlewood, an area rich in minerals. Ned had wondered at such generosity but had decided not to question it. He'd noticed that the King, unlike his father was more serious, perhaps that came from becoming King at fifteen and not twenty-one as Robert had been. He laughed less, and he did not smile as often, his brow was constantly furrowed, but there was not a bad bone in his body, he was serious but also hard working, Ned could appreciate that. Just as he could appreciate the struggles that the King was undoubtedly facing, being King with Dragonstone having fallen.

Ned watched as the King took his seat, his crown of gold atop his head, his sword strapped to his side. Ser Barristan Selmy looking resplendent in white and silver stood on one side of the King, whilst Ser Balon Swann stood on the other side. The King looked at him then and said. "Lord Stark, I understand that there are some concerns regarding the Wall that you wish to raise with me? Please do so, I have received word from Lord Commander Benjen Stark that these issues you bring to discuss are concerns he shares."

Ned nodded, he and Benjen had spoken before he'd left the wall, trying to think of how to convince the King that the issues they were facing were serious without disbelief. After a lot of pondering they'd reached a solution. The truth, or a version of it. "Sire, I ventured to the Wall after executing a deserter of the Night's Watch, he spoke of many things, most of which I did not believe, but there was one thing which I did find odd, he mentioned time and time again that there were forces gathering beyond the wall. I found this odd as the reports I had had of the wildlings was that they were distrustful of one another and had been so since the days of Raymun Redbeard's death. Therefore, I knew something must have happened. I stopped at Last Hearth before arriving at the Wall and passed judgement over four wildlings who had fled over the wall. They too spoke of a wildling host, a great host massing under Mance Rayder a former brother of the Night's Watch and its plans to come south. They mentioned that they were coming south, not to invade as had been done in the past, but to conquer."

Ned knew that it was that last word that would interest the King, like any young man the King would be interested in fighting and defending his possessions, and as a King, and specifically as the son of Robert Baratheon and Cersei Lannister, he would want to know who these foreign foes were. He was proven right, when the King said. "They have come to conquer, with a sizeable host. That must mean one thing. There is something that is forcing them out of their homes." Ned nodded, he knew he needed to let the King think this through and not force his hand. "If they are being forced out of their homes then they are scared, and when people are scared they will do terrible things to feel secure." The King looked right at him then. "Lord Eddard, you are Warden of the North, you are also Westerosi. My father trusted you and always spoke of your bravery and loyalty, I know I can count on you to stop the threat of the wildlings. I do not want them entering the northern lands of my kingdom." Ned bowed his head. He had known the King would say this. "I also want you to find out what it is that is threatening these people. If needed I give you the right to countermand the independence of the Night's Watch. I will give you the men needed to staff the walls, and I fully expect you to find the reasons beyond the wall. Is that clear?"

"Yes Your Majesty. Though I must caution you, the Night's Watch will not appreciate their independence being revoked." Ned said, though he suspected Benjen would not care.

The King snorted. "They are facing a threat that could potentially wipe out all of us, they can handle their independence being revoked. In fact, Pycelle." The old maester came tottering out of somewhere and handed the King a quill and parchment. The King wrote down his orders and then handed it to Ned, who folded it and kept it in his pocket. "That right there will ensure that they cannot complain. It explains the laws that founded the Watch and why their orders are now being changed." Ned nodded, he knew all about the Ordinance that King Brandon had passed.

Ned then asked. "Sire, if I might ask, how do you plan on handling Euron Greyjoy? With the Royal Fleet depleted, you cannot take Dragonstone through assault, and Greyjoy will not move from that island."

The King sighed. "That is something I have considered, and I have decided to wait and see what Greyjoy does. I will rebuild the fleet, and in the meantime use the Redwyne ships to keep our coasts secure. Within a few months Greyjoy will need to leave due to starvation."

Ned nodded, and though he did not wish to return south for a long time, he said. "If you feel the need to activate the Warden titles, know that the north will always be ready and willing to fight for you, Sire."

The King nodded. "I know, and I thank you for that. Now enjoy your last few days here, and return to Winterfell and sort out the Wildlings."

Ned got up, as did the King, he bowed before the man and then turned and walked out, feeling more confident than he had done in sometime. Perhaps things would be fine.