3. A vision and a mission.

"How can Lady Stark get me the throne?" Stannis asked the Red Priestess. "She has no claim to the throne whatsoever. Her son, the one who called himself King, is dead. She has no army. Winterfell has been burned to the ground. Her old house, Riverrun, has been taken by the Freys and her brother a prisoner at the Twins. What can she give me? I have sacrificed my most trusted advisor to this folly of yours."

"You doubt too much my Lord" replied Melisandre calmly. "This vision I had was very true. The Lord of Light's visions never lie. She is not as powerless as you think. She still holds titles. She is still Lady of Winterfell. Were she to go back to the North, she would regain her castle and her army. Not everybody perished at the Twins. There are still plenty of men who would pledge to her; men of the North and the Riverlands, men who do not support Joffrey's claim to the throne. Were you to marry her, all that would be yours. After the battle of Blackwater, we have but a few hundred soldiers and even fewer ships. We need her numbers."

"But I'm already married"

"I'm sure Lady Selyse would understand. An annulment of your marriage could be arranged. Let's go talk to Lady Stark, soon to be Lady Baratheon."

.

Catelyn Stark was dreaming. She was very confused. One moment she was holding a knife to Lord Frey's wife pleading for her son's life and next she felt the cold of a blade to her own throat. Then nothing. Darkness. Silence. And all of a sudden there was blinding, bright light. A cacophony of sounds she couldn't quite place invaded her ears. They sounded human but the words were foreign to her. R'hllor. R'hllor. Then she heard his voice. It was Ned, she had no doubt about that. Stay, stay with me. She was being pulled towards the darkness. Then a force pulled her to the light. Don't go, Ned's voice said again. But that couldn't be. Ned was dead. And so am I, she suddenly realized.

My lady, do not go. That was not Ned. Who was that? My Lady, do not go into the light. Fire. She saw fire, and she heard the waves. Was she in the sea? You do not know me, my Lady, but you need to trust me. Do not go into the Light. Stay away from the fire. That's where I come from. You do not want to go there. Do not follow the red woman. She's not to be trusted. Where was Ned? Why couldn't she find him? Why wasn't he talking to her again? Who was this man?

R'hllor. R'hllor. Wisdom. Light. Vision. Life. What was this? A chant? Who was chanting? Cold. She felt very cold. Her cloak was not warm enough. She could feel the wind on her skin. She had no clothes, she suddenly realized. Strong hands lifted her off the ground. She was being moved. R'hllor. R'hllor. Wisdom. Light. Vision. Life. Her eyes opened. A lady in red was talking next to her. She was not talking to her, but to a man. She didn't know the Lady, but she knew the man. She couldn't place his face, but she knew she had met him before. She tried to speak, but no sound came out. Her throat had been sliced she remembered. No. No wound and no scar. She finally found her voice and she screamed.

"Lady Stark, take it easy" the Lady in red said to her. "You have just finished a very long journey?"

"Wh-? What..? Who are you? Where am I?" she asked still not comprehending what was going on.

"My name is Lady Melisandre. I'm helping King Stannis Baratheon become King of the Seven Kingdoms. You will help us. The Lord of Light has so decided."

"Stannis? Where am I?"

"We've already told you. We are at Dragonstone"

"What ..? How? How did I get here? I was at the Twins. I died."

"Yes, you did, but we brought you back. The Lord of Light brought you back."

"Why? Where's my son? Did you bring him back as well?"

"No, the Lord of Light has no use for him. I'm sorry for your loss."

"Bring him back!" Catelyn begged Lady Melisandre.

"I can't. The Lord of Light only needs you. You are to marry King Stannis so together we can reclaim your House and your army. You will help us win the Iron Throne."

"Have you lost your senses? Is this some cruel jape?"

"No, my Lady. It is not" Stannis spoke for the first time. "Together we can take the throne from the usurper Joffrey Lannister."

"You killed your brother Renly. I saw it. I was there. I felt you. I sensed you. What magic did you use? Was it this woman? The same woman you used to bring me back?"

"Renly was a usurper. And so was your son, though I did not take part in your son's death."

"But you would have if you could" she said accusingly. "I need to leave."

"And where would you go?" asked Stannis. "Your family is gone. Your husband is dead and so are your sons. Winterfell has been burned to the ground and Riverrun is under Frey control. You have no House to go to. Your best option is to stay with us."

"You can't have Winterfell" she said defiantly. "It belongs to my children. All my sons are dead, but not my daughters. Winterfell belongs to them, as well as whatever army may remain. That is not yours to take."

"Then, I suppose I will have to marry one of your daughters", said Stannis.

"Where are your daughters, Lady Stark?" asked Melisandre.

"I wish I knew" she said faintly. "Use your magic. Find them, please. They're all I have" she begged the Red Priestess.

"Sansa is in King's Landing. She has married the Imp. Arya has not been seen since your husband's execution" said Stannis.

"Help me get my daughters back and I'll help you get the throne."

"Agreed" replied Stannis. "We leave for King's Landing tomorrow. Rest well, Lady Stark."

"Wait, one more thing, do you know if the Freys killed my brother? Do you know what has become of my father's House?"

"As far as I know, your brother is being held at the Twins and the Freys have taken Riverrun. Your uncle is nowhere to be found"

"If you help me free my brother and get control of the Riverlands, you will have a much larger army."

"We shall take things one step at a time, Lady Stark. Let's start by getting your daughter out of King's Landing."

As they turned to leave, Catelyn called Melisandre. Stannis decided to leave the women alone.

"Lady Melisandre, a word, please?"

"Can I help you with anything?"

"I believe you can. I saw what you did with Stannis when Renly was killed. I will not judge. I would like you to do the same for me. There are some people that need to pay for what they have done to my family."

"Revenge, Lady Stark?" asked Melisandre and Catelyn nodded. "I will help you. You think of the names and I'll help you" she promised and turned around.

Cat, don't do this. You're better than this. Ned's voice again. "I must be going crazy", she thought. Another voice sounded in her head. Lady Melisandre is not to be trusted, my Lady. Do not take her word. Heed my advice, please. "Who are you?", she asked. "Oh, Gods, what am I doing? I'm talking to myself" she laughed.

TBC