"Tell me who she is."
She did not birth this child. No she did not. But still their first meeting was not without pain. Not a pain of the body, but a different kind of pain. One that could only stem from ignominy and humiliation. As Catelyn looked upon this babe's face, she felt as though lord Stark had slapped her in front of all to see.
Her husband was suppose to be an honorable man but even the most detestable of men knew not to strip their wives of their dignity like that.
"Tell me who she is."
Every night, she imagined what his mother must have looked like and every day she searched for her in his features. In the end she decided that either his mother was faceless or that she looked exactly like Eddard.
Her husband must have loved the mother, for he would never tell her the mother's name. What on earth can I do to harm her? He was ashamed, she could see that.
'But not enough to tell you' a small voice in her head seethed. Not furiously like a raging storm, but more like simmering venom. Slowly making its way inside her.
"Tell me who she is."
The Dornishwoman's face haunted her. Her eyes were shining amethysts and her hair was a river of melted silver. She heard that her hair was as dark as an abyss. But in Catelyn's head, she always looked an ethereal dragon.
"Tell me who she is."
Cat wanted to do it. She really did. The stranger had taught her a lesson and she wanted to thank him for letting her girl live. She dressed in her finest clothes and wanted to bring her children with her to the Sept. She thought to pray for the boy and to teach Robb and Sansa to do the same. But on her way to them she heard a sound.
She followed it to her babe's room. There, she found the boy by her Arya's side, holding her and making her smile. Her blood burned through her veins when she saw him laugh.
'Bastard!' The voice hissed.
That…that bastard held her babe and laughed as he mussed what little hair she had on her head. It struck her how alike they looked. With their grey eyes and dark hair just like Ned's. Because they were his children.
'But he is not your son' the voice mocked like it had won a battle.
I only pray to my children! She walked back to change her clothes. Let his mother's gods watch over him!
" Tell me who she is."
The god of fire gave her a riddle.
Which one is a stranger shroud to wear: One that is made of decay and little voices or one that is made of wolf skins and loneliness?
"Tell me who she is."
She asked Ned for the thousandth time as they looked down upon their children. She trembled and drew in a breath when she saw him nod instead of refusing. He leaned in much too slowly and whispered her name in Cat's ear. Her eyes widened as she finally heard the name of the woman who tormented her all of these years. And like a dungeon key the name liberated her. And her jailor, the festering little voice crumbled into nothingness.
Forgive me…Jon Snow.
AN: The gods that took care of Jon may vary depending on who do you think his mother is. I tried to leave it an open subject because that's exactly who she is to both Jon and Catelyn: A ghost that tormented the two of them. Thanks for sticking around and have a nice day!