Chapter 7

Dean

"March forward!" Dean shouted at the small band of troops Robb had trusted him to train as his own. With no seat of power he was training farmers and fishermen how to be trained killers, it took a certain enthusiasm Robb had assured him he had. "Halt!" He gave a further command and the men came to a dead halt before the gates. "Training over!" In a calm fashion the men left to go about their regular business. Dean was astonished how well it had come together for him, the men listened and did as he commanded. Robb would be astonished by how fast he had turned a group of untrained men in to trained army personal who were at the top of their game. Indeed, some of the men were a little older than Dean would have wanted but he couldn't complain given he had no status.

Dean made his way to the main tower at Riverrun where he knew Catelyn would be. She hadn't made any notion of coming with them when they marched further down South which worried Dean. Catelyn has been with them all the way down, her brother's recklessness in battle had infuriated Catelyn earlier in the week which would explain her no show at any formal meetings Robb held. Dean cared about Catelyn enough to notice she wasn't turning up for important meals or even returning notes he had given her servants to deliver.

Slowly, Dean made his way up its long winding staircase to its top peak where Catelyn had made her residence. By the time Dean made it to the top of the tower his lower body screamed for him to stop. Pausing at her door he nodded silently at a guard on his right. Just as Dean reached for its handle he was pushed away from its grasp. Looking to his right Dean saw the guard posed ready to take further action with the butt of his spear he had already used on Dean. Frowning, Dean stepped towards the guard with a look of death on his face.

"Let me in Dennis." He growled at the guard on the right, he continued to stand with the butt of the spear in the air.

Shaking his head he spoke past the metal helms mouth piece. "Edmund has banned Lady Catelyn's contact with you. It is why every maid in her service had been searched and several of your love notes have been found." A smile played behind his mouth piece, it infuriated Dean a moron could laugh at him after all he had done for Robb and Edmund himself.

Joining in with Dennis's mock laughter, Dean grabbed the butt of the spear and forced it forward so fast that Dennis had no time to react. The spears head landed in the wall close to Dennis's eye. "Will you look at that, I missed. That is unusual for me isn't it Dennis." Dennis spluttered to respond, even tried to move the spear but Dean had a much stronger grip than Dennis. "We won't tell Edmund that I have been here today."Dean paused to look to his left. "Both of you never saw me here."

Both guards nodded with fright as they allowed Dean into Catelyn's room. He would have to speak later with Edmund, someone had pushed him to make such a hasty decision against his kings will. Robb would not have allowed Edmund to separate them as both of them were Robb's trusted advisors on his war council. Dean shook the ideas from his head as he stepped into the large room. To his right were tall windows facing over water which surrounded Riverrun as a mother would cottle her child, to protect. Catelyn had the highest room in the tower, making the water not the only thing you could see from the windows. Scorched land stretched as far as the eye could see, what once was beauty was now tainted by wars bloody clutches. Dean adverted his gaze from the windows and forced his eyes to find Catelyn.

She was seated on a large cushioned chair in front of an open fire. Although the windows were closed and the fire was burning hot enough for him to feel the heat where he was standing, she was wrapped in thick clothing. Catelyn had her back towards Dean but she spoke to him as though he stood beside her.

"You should not be here Dean." Her words were hushed and held an edge of hatred. As far as Dean could remember he hadn't done anything to wrong the Lady of House Stark. Continuing, she explained to Dean why her words were edged. "Dean, I supported you from the first moment we met. I trusted you to protect my son." She was speaking now as though he had betrayed her. Thoughts rushed around his head, had Sam done something? Had Sam said he was working for Cersei? He needed to find out and fast but before he could speak Catelyn raised her voice to talk over him. "Do not speak while I talking. You have no rank here."

Ignoring all social order Dean walked over to Catelyn as he spoke. "My lady of house Stark, I have not done anything to harm you or your son. Even though your son is not here I have sent people to protect him. People I have trained and who I saw had potential to protect and guide our King." Dean put emphasis on 'our' so Catelyn would know he was still loyal to Robb. "He is my king and I would never betray him. I was the one who gave him advice to win battles. I swung my sword as enemies charged us."

Raising her hand and herself from the chair she stopped Dean in his tracks. "How can you have not contacted me in all this time? You left me in this tower as Edmund had commanded. I thought you were following me and not my brother Edmund?"

"Catelyn," Dean took her hand in his. Her palms were cold and clammy, she must be ill. Shocking them both he used his hand to pull her closer. "I have sent you notes every day that has passed. I gave them to every single lady in your service. You can ask them Catelyn. I have tried to make contact and today was the first day I sought you out in person. Edmund is dragging the river lands down. There are arguments between the river lords. He cannot control them and those that listen to me still see me as an outsider. I needed more than ever Catelyn." Staring down into her glazed blue eyes her looked for some response.

What he received was not what he wanted. She pushed hard on his chest which sent Dean fighting for balance. When he was stable he looked over to where she stood at the window. Catelyn stared down at the courtyard as she spoke. "For the first week after Robb had left I watch him march West from this very window." She pointed in the direction she was looking at. "I could see camp fires for miles as Robb marched with most of his army." Catelyn's face saddened. "One night I could see no more camp fires. They had gone over the horizon and out of sight. Now all I get is the odd word from a guard and my lady's were refused my side. I only have the same two hand maidens every day, Edmund had chosen them as well."

"Catelyn, you should know I have had nothing to do with this. I spent the last couple of weeks gathering support for your claim." Dean was now beside her, placing his hands on her shoulders. "I have enough support for you now Catelyn. Take your fathers seat as it seems your brother cannot hold it." He whispered the words in her ear. He felt her shoulder shudder in anticipation. "Come with me now and I'll give you what is yours by birth right."

Turning to face Dean she stared into his eyes. She leaned forward and kissed him on the cheek. "If I do this Dean most of the river lords will not like a woman leading them."

Shaking his head Dean gazed deeply into her eyes. "I made sure that three quarters of the river lords would back you."

"And the other quarter?" She asked impatiently.

"Small lords with hardly any and left, those are the lords that are on Edmund's council. Once they see most of the other lords leaving him they will join us soon after." Dean realised he had mentioned 'us', after all he ahd spent weeks in the chambers of small lords, great lords and lords who saw him as dirt. It was a joint effort.

Catelyn stared out of the window again. "Robb is marching South East soon. I should get his lands back in to order." She paused and smiled at Dean. "Starting with the River lands." She gave him a quick peck on the cheek before moving passed him and calling for her hand maidens. They charged in frightened half to death. "Get me my best gown. I have to go see some very important people."