13. Conversation by the river.

It was a short trek from The Twins to Riverrun. Men were rejoicing in the fact that they were free. Not only were they free now, but they were also going to retake their lands from the Lannisters. If they took the Riverlands, their homes would no longer bleed under the swords and spears of the Lannisters.

Edmure had been dreaming of this moment for weeks. Ever since they woke him up after his wedding night and showed him the body of his nephew and what he believed was the body of his sister, there was only one thought on his mind: Revenge. Yet, he couldn't take his revenge. It was, in fact, his own sister and her new husband that liberated him and the rest of the men and took revenge for what had taken place weeks before.

So it was his second dream that occupied his mind now. He imagined taking Riverrun by storm and annihilating all the Freys holding his former House. But this dream was also taken away from him. Upon hearing of what had happened at the Twins and seeing the formidable army outside the gates, the Freys in Riverrun decided to hand in the castle in exchange for pardon. He had a thirst for blood, but he contented himself knowing things were falling back into place. He was home, with his new wife and a baby on the way. His sister was safe along with two of her children.

But he couldn't get used to the idea of having Stannis, or should he say King Stannis, dictate orders from what should be his solar. He was sending letters to all the corners of the Seven Kingdoms, proclaiming himself rightful King and calling enemies all those who opposed him. Stannis had sent a letter to Lysa asking her to pledge her men to his fight, but his sister had refused. The men of the Vale stay in the Vale, she had replied. The only one who had come, of his own volition, was Lord Brynden Tully who had been staying with his niece since he escaped the Red Wedding. Stannis was fuming and even talked of storming the Vale once he sat on the Iron Throne.

.

"Do you remember when the three of us used to sneak out of the House and go swimming in the middle of the night?" Edmure asked his sister as they sat together in the gardens overlooking the river. "You used to be a great swimmer. We would hold competitions and you would always win. I never stood a chance against you, and neither did Lysa. Not even Petyr. I wonder where he is. He really did love you, sister. He was a decent man."

"Edmure! Stop it" exclaimed Catelyn

"No, seriously, when Ned died, why did you marry Stannis? Why not Petyr? I'm sure he is still not over you"

"Edmure!" she snapped. "I was not looking for love when I married Stannis. He did me a favour and I returned it. Why did father betroth me to Brandon? And then when he died why was I betrothed to Ned? For an army. This marriage is no different. I needed a favour and he needed the men. I provided him with an army from the North and the Riverlands."

"And those white creatures? Did you provide him with those beings as well?"

"No, I had nothing to do with that."

"What was the favour?"

"Edmure stop it please."

"What was the favour?" he insisted.

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "That body they showed you back at the Twins. It was me. I did die. They killed me. But Melisandre, the Lady who is always with him brought me back. She had this vision that I was going to lead Stannis to the Throne. Seeing Stannis crowned is her sole motivation in this life apparently."

"Wow, Cat. They had cut your throat. They told me they had thrown your body to the river mocking our funerary rituals" he said putting his finger on his sister's neck and letting it linger there for a few seconds. "So, she brought you back. Unbelievable. He spends more time with her than with you."

"We don't spend much time together. We don't have that kind of marriage"

"I noticed. You don't even sleep in the same chambers"

"No, we don't. So I told him he could have my titles and the men that came with them if he helped me get my family back, which he did. I have found Sansa and Rickon. I have rescued you and we have retaken our House."

"That Red Lady, she's got powers. She is the one controlling those whitewalkers, isn't she?"

"Yes"

"So now she's taking them and all the men to Kings Landing to fight for the Iron Throne."

"I guess"

"Are you going?"

"I have to. I gave him my word. Uncle Brynden is coming with me"

"Let Sansa and Rickon stay here. They are my family. I will take care of them until you get back."

"As much as I loathe to part with them again, I believe you're right. Thank you Edmure."

"So, are you going to be Queen?"

"I don't think so" she snorted. "I really don't want to. I don't want to stay in King's Landing. I just want to go back to Winterfell with my children and try to start our lives again."

"What are you going to do about the Red Lady?"

"I don't know. To be honest, she scares me. I have seen what she's capable of and I don't like it one bit"

TBC