"Cat, you need to eat...I don't want to have to get the healer today."
Catelyn could barely hear her sisters voice; she had torn herself from the world. It had been almost a month's time since the raven came with the news of Brandon's death, and she had refused to eat, refused to do anything. Her sister, father, brother and even Petyr had tried to get her to eat something. But every attempt was unsuccessful except for those of the healers. For the child's sake, they had forced her to eat and drink, and sometimes they even had to hold her down. After a while, Catelyn stopped fighting and did what she was told, even though her heart was broken; she had to hold on to the one thing she had left of Brandon.
"Cat, please."
Her father hadn't waited a day after they lay Brandon's bones in the crypt of Winterfell to announce that she was to marry Eddard Stark. She fought, yelled and screamed. How did he expect her to just marry the next available man after her beloved was killed? But she had no choice, he reminded her day after day about her duties, and as much as she wanted to take her child and follow Brandon into the ground, she could not.
Upon the announcement, the wedding preparations were started. The dress that she already had was being altered to fit her ever growing belly. The dining hall was being transformed from the everyday style to a lavish hall fit for a king and queen. Flowers were being brought in from King's Landing, and guests of the wedding were already arriving. It just so happened that Catelyn wasn't the only one to be married on that day. Lysa was to be married to Jon Arryn; her sister was, of course, furious that she was to marry him. Her main complaint was that he was much older. But during the war time, it was important to make alliances, and this was one their father couldn't pass.
"I'll eat in a minute." Catelyn finally moved her eyes to her sister's face. She gave her a soft smile and placed her hand on Lysa's.
"Are you nervous about tomorrow?" Lysa set the food down and moved beside her sister on the bed, keeping their hands together.
"Yes. I'm terrified." Catelyn knew nothing of Eddard Stark, only that he was as cold as the weather in Winterfell. He was nothing like Brandon; he seemed calmer and more kept together.
"Me too." Lysa lay her head on her sister's shoulder as she softly put her hand on top of Catelyn's stomach. She smiled a bit as she could feel the small child in her sister's belly move at the touch.
"But, we have a duty. We are Tullys..." Catelyn looked down at her sister. "We always do our duty."
Lysa nodded and sighed. She started to get up from her spot. "Well, we better get some sleep then. Tomorrow is going to be a long day."
Catelyn watched her get up and start to move the chair back in its position. "Lysa..."
"Yes?"
"Sleep here tonight?" Lysa saw the pleading look in her older sister's eyes at the simple request.
She could only nod as she headed back towards the bed and sat down. "If you want me to."
"I do, I don't want to be alone."
Lysa smiled a bit. "Me neither." Catelyn moved to the middle of the bed to give her sister enough room to join her. Upon laying down, Lysa put her hand back on her sisters belly and Catelyn covered her sister's hand with her own. Before long, the two Tully girls had fallen asleep, dreading what was to come the next morning.