So.

This is a fic that I've been prepping for a hot minute, about the second son of Hoster Tully and Minisa Whent. In canon, he was stillborn and died alongside his mother. Here… he lives.

This is going to be one of my less frequent fics, with The Wind Our Steed and Crab Dance taking priority. It's also the first crack I'm taking at the Robert's Rebellion / Wot5k era, so let me know how I'm doing.

Riverrun - 271 AC

Catelyn Tully tried not to cry as her mother went into labor. She was the oldest, and had been told what would occur in the coming hours. The family was to prepare for the worst.

At seven namedays old, Cat knew what death was. Mother had clarified it for her a few weeks ago because the maester wasn't sure if she'd survive her pregnancy. Lysa was but five name days, and Cat knew that Lysa didn't wasn't old enough to fully understand. She tried, and she knew something bad was happening, but she ignored Cat and fled whenever she tried to talk about their mother. Edmure was only two and had only begun to speak. He didn't know what was about to happen to his mama.

Cat was the oldest of the Tully children, and she knew that she had to be strong for her siblings. Mother had made her promise before Maester Vyman took her that Cat would take care of them, of Lysa and Edmure, and this new baby. If this baby lived.

Vyman had also told Mother that because her body was so weak, it was possible that the baby might be weak too, and die after the birth. Mother had cried from that, which prompted Cat and Lysa. Father hadn't said anything, but he had held Mother's hand tight when they received the news.

Now that Mother was giving birth, their time together could be at an end. Catelyn watched as different servants rushed around, tending to the Lady of Riverrun's every need. The old maester was constantly at her side, doing maester things to help her survive. Lysa and Cat watched from the side, sitting into two chairs brought in by servants to attend the birth. Cat had seen her father pacing outside, not allowed into the birthing chambers during the process.

Lysa grabbed her hand and squeezed it tightly. Cat forced herself to smile at her sister. "It'll be alright, Lysa. Mother is strong. You know that."

"I know," she replied, biting her lip. "But what if she isn't strong enough?"

Catelyn took her younger sister and brought her into a hug, feeling the shuddering breaths rake through Lysa's body. Cat was proud of her sister for keeping calm, as many lesser ladies would have broken down into tears. But they were Tullys. They were strong, and they were there for each other.

Cat shushed her sister. "Just wait, Lysa. Family, Duty, Honor. We're going to be fine."

Another pained moan ripped through the room, but it quickly quieted as their mother emptied of air. She gasped, drawing in heavy breaths. Cat clung tight to her sister, who in turn buried her face into Cat's shoulder.

Mother would be fine. She had to be.

…

When Cat first heard the baby's cries, relief flooded her body. Lysa was with her, the two of them eating a tense breakfast in the chamber beside their mother's. Father was with them, continuing the furious pacing he'd done since the start. Little Edmure was at the table too, and was playing with his toy knight. He looked up at the noise, confused.

Cat smiled at her sister, who returned the expression. Mother was alive - the baby too. They'd made it through, and Catelyn wouldn't have to be the lady of the castle. Her mother would come back and take care of them, and they would have a new sibling as well.

The sisters rose together, already outpaced by their father, who had raced out of the room. As a proper lady, Catelyn knew that she should walk slowly, but she wanted to see her mother so much she ran anyway. With Lysa's hand in her own, they burst into the birthing chamber to see Master Vyman and their father speaking together in hushed tones, while a plump wet nurse swaddled a crying baby in the corner. Catelyn took this all in and ignored it. Her eyes were only for her mother.

Minisa Tully was breathing heavily and had laid back in her bed. She was red-faced, had a rag on her forehead, and was covered in sweat. Much of the bedsheet beneath her was a violent crimson, concentrated thickly around her legs. When she saw the girls she gave them a pained smile, but was otherwise still. The air smelled salty.

Cat ran up to her mother, moving to melt into her side. She had been so afraid, and now that her mother was safe she wanted to feel her, to hug her. Lysa ran with her, but they both were driven to a halt when they heard their father's voice.

"Stop!" He roared, the loudest that Cat had ever heard. His voice shook.

Cat whirled to look at her father, Lysa mirroring her a half second later. Hoster Tully's eyes were wide, and he quickly strode towards them and dragged the girls into a tight hug. Cat could feel the thuds her father's heart pounding in his chest.

She was confused. "Father, why-"

"I'm afraid I'm a bit fragile at the moment, dearest."

Cat's head turned again, fixating on the quiet wheeze that was her mother's voice. Mother's eyes were shiny, and she was smiling down at Cat even as her chest rose and fell with silent tremors. Her father choked and drew his daughters even closer, his breath hot on her hair. The wet nurse lowered her head, and Vyman was stony.

"My ladies," the maester began, after torturous seconds. "Despite Lady Tully surviving the birth and bringing the child into the world, the blood loss has-"

Cat was running.

She tore herself out of her father's grip and raced into the hall, Lysa's voice crying out behind her. Tears ran down her face and her throat felt tight, and she was acutely aware that the whole of Riverrun would see her. She didn't care.

Cat ran to the sept, where she had so often prayed with her mother. She flung herself down in front of the Seven, begging and pleading. It wasn't fair. She lived. She lived!

They found her hours later and informed her of Mother's passing.

…

The halls of Riverrun were quiet for many moons. Catelyn and Lysa stayed in their rooms most of the time, and barely ever saw their father, much less their two new younger brothers. Their mother had named the baby 'Horath', after the Horath Tully who'd held the Red Fork against the Lydden Incursion. The babe had spent most of its time with the wet nurses and Maester Vyman, who ensured his health.

Horath had survived the birth, but he was still weakened from it. The boy was smaller than the average baby, and quieter too. He sat silently in the wet nurse's arms, Maester Lyman was constantly attending him.

Catelyn was able to eventually force herself from her room and into the baby's. Mother had made her promise to take care of her siblings, and that meant that she would need to care for this new one as well. Edmure and Lysa were mostly fine (well, as fine as they could be considering the circumstances), but she didn't know enough about Horath to say the same.

Upon entering the nursery, she was greeted by the sight of Horath murmuring peacefully while the wet nurse held him. Maester Lyman wasn't there, likely off in one of Riverrun's many wings. Her father had been visiting every day, but not too frequently and never for too long.

The wet nurse inclined her head to Catelyn as she entered, remaining in her chair to not disturb Horath. Catelyn approached her and made eye contact with the woman. "May I hold him?"

"Aye, m'lady," she replied, "Just be careful. Your brother is very small, y'see."

Catelyn smiled and nodded. After listening quietly to the maid's instructions, she gently lifted Horath into her arms, pulling him close. The first thought in her head was of how small he was, and how she could barely notice his weight in her arms. Catelyn didn't know if that was what all babies were like, but it worried her.

Horath looked up at her and smiled, gurgling softly. He had a slight tuft of auburn hair on his head, and she ran her fingers through it as she held him. Catelyn smiled back at him and tickled his stomach.

Maybe things would be all right after all.

…

Over the next few moons, Catelyn continued to visit and play with her younger brother. Horath was a friendly child, welcoming her with gurgles and laughter whenever she arrived. Catelyn couldn't help but grin down at him as she picked him up into her arms. She was getting better at holding him, and she liked to walk around Riverrun with him in her arms. "Lady Tully!" the servants called her as she passed.

It wasn't her they were supposed to call that.

Edmure was one of the first people she brought him to, taking care to introduce her brothers to each other. Edmure was only two himself, and Catelyn liked to think that she was taking care of her family, just as Mother wanted. When she looked at them together, the dark Tully curls spilling off of their heads, she felt just a bit better about everything that's happened.

Lysa still didn't want anything to do with Horath. She thought that Horath killed Mother as he was born, and hated him for it. She was so much more quiet, now.

Catelyn knew better.

She had spoken to the maester after Lysa had told her that, and the maester had told her that Mother had lost two children before Catelyn was born, and had been weak ever since the birth of Edmure, and it was a blessing of the Seven that she had even been able to carry a child after him. If she had been hurt ever since Edmure, then it wouldn't have been possible for Horath to have hurt her.

Now even Father was coming around to Horath. He had been sad after Mother had died, but he had started to be nicer again. He was smiling more, and he had been in the nursery when she had come to get Horath that day. He had mussed her hair, and bid her take Horath for another walk around the castle.

Catelyn smiled, looking down at the sleeping baby in her arms. He had no understanding of what had happened when he was born, nor would he - if she had any say about it, at least. Catelyn didn't want her little brother to be sad about what had happened to the family after Mother had died. He would never have to be sad.

Not like her.

Riverrun - 277 AC

Horath raced through the halls of Riverrun, dodging past servants and knights as he searched for his older sister. Many of them smiled as the boisterous youth dashed by, quickly for a boy of six namedays. There had been some concern at first, but Horath was agile and quick on his feet, far from the clumsiness seen in many boys his age. Some had even tried to catch and stop him, only to be dodged and ignored. When brought up to his father, the Lord of Riverrun only laughed, and said that his son was "as much a fish as a man".

Personally, Horath wasn't sure what they were all worried about. It was only running, and he made sure that he didn't get in anyone's way. It was like they expected him to fall and hurt himself, or perhaps run into walls.

Cat was probably in the sept or with the septa, or both. He didn't know why his sister spent so much time praying and reading, but she was really smart, so there was probably a reason. Odds were that Cat would tell him off for running like that. She'd turn and look at him, get stern in the eyes, and just say his name. That'd do it, and Horath would always stop whatever he was doing.

He rounded a corner to see his sister and her friend. Not Cat. His other sister. Lysa.

Lysa was mean. She would always look at Horath and frown and would say cruel things. Once, she had called him a murderer. She had gone on about how he had killed their mother, a mother he would never get to meet. At that, Horath had fled, and Cat had taken him and he'd sobbed. He didn't know why Lysa was mean, but she was, and it made him sad. No matter how much Cat yelled at her or told her to stop, she didn't.

"Why, Horath!"

No. Not him.

Petyr wasn't mean, like Lysa, but he was weird. Horath didn't know what it was, exactly, but there was something about Petyr that seemed off. It wasn't anything big, or something that could be explained or even pointed out, but it was there. It was the look in his eyes when he examined you. It reminded Horath of a cat. There was no emotion in his eyes, apart from a slight amount of amusement. He was smart like Cat, but a kind of smart that Horath didn't understand. He didn't want anything to do with him. But he also couldn't just ignore him.

Horath slowed down, approaching his sister and Petyr. Lysa had an annoyed expression on her face, her nose scrunching up like a mouse and her mouth curving into a frown. Petyr, on the other hand, had that same amused look that he had all the time, no matter the circumstance.

Horath halfheartedly waved his hand. "Hello, Petyr. Sister."

Lysa said nothing.

Petyr smiled down at him. "How are you today, Horath? Where are you off to in such a rush?"

"I'm trying to find Cat," he replied, reluctantly, and watched as Petyr's eyes lit up, "She promised to take me riding today."

Lysa scoffed. "At your age? You'd fall right off."

He wilted at her tone, hurt turning to fear turning to anger. Horath drew himself up to field a retort but Petyr beat him to it. "Now, now, Lysa. I'm sure that Horath will be fine. He's a Tully after all. A high lord." At that, he smiled at him, showing nearly all of his teeth. Horath didn't like it, but he didn't know why.

"Thank you, I suppose," he replied. Petyr's eye twitched.

Lysa tugged on her friend's sleeve, frown still gloomily hanging to her face. "Petyr, let's go. You said we'd go to the godswood."

Horath didn't think Petyr heard her, because he kept talking. "I do believe sweet Catelyn is in your father's solar. Perhaps we could walk together?"

"No," Horath wanted to say. He didn't want to walk with Lysa, and he definitely didn't want to walk with Petyr. They were older, and bigger, and knew more words.

But Petyr was right. He was a Tully, and he had his honor.

He walked with them.

So yeah, I wanted the first chapter to sort of be an introduction to the character of Horath and his situation. Next chapter we see the Tournament at Harrenhal, and the sidelines of Robert's Rebellion. It seems like most of the stories that feature the rebellion ignore the sidelines (I mean, obviously, but still), so I'll be focusing on the impacts that it's having on Horath, as well as some others.

I won't reveal who the main POVs are going to be yet, but they'll be a mix of OCs and canon characters. Next time, we get Horath and a northern friend.

As always, review, favorite, and follow as you see fit.