A/N: GRRM still owns everything, I'm just chasing a plot bunny. I just wanted to let everyone know that I will be going out of town Saturday morning and will be out of town until Friday. So I really doubt that I will be updating this story while I'm on vacation. I've got the next few chapters written but I don't think I'll have a time to clean them up and get them up. Sorry! And thanks to everyone who has taken the time to read and favorite and subscribe. And an especially big thanks to those who reviewed. Especially if you've reviewed more than once! Ya'll rock!
Catelyn II
Most of the men in Winterfell had left for a hunt at dawn. The king desired to hunt boar before they returned South the next day and there had been too many guests present for the wedding until today. Catelyn would have enjoyed spending more quality time with Ned before he went south to serve King Robert, especially since many of their guests had gone home and things had relaxed somewhat at Winterfell, but one did not disobey the king, not even over small things such as hunting. She hoped Ned would learn quickly that Robert was no longer just his oldest friend, but now his ruler as well.
So instead of spending time with Ned, Catelyn had spent the morning assisting with the packing. There was much to do with one husband and three children travelling on the morrow. And the girls had been very little help with their own packing. Arya was more interested in playing with Nymeria and Sansa had been too busy talking to Jeyne Poole about Prince Joffrey to assist Catelyn. She had wanted to spend time with Bran while packing but he had run off to say his goodbyes. Catelyn hoped that he was not climbing the walls, but he most likely was doing just that. She hoped that Ned would be able to keep him off the walls in King's Landing. Now that most of the packing was done, she was sitting down for tea to eat some lemon cakes her with daughters and good daughter. She was grateful for the quality time though she was not as pleased that they had brought their direwolves with them. Even Daenerys had brought Robb's wolf Grey Wind with her as Robb had not been permitted to take him on the hunt and had apparently wished him to guard Dany. Catelyn was torn between amusement and exasperation by her children's devotion to their new pets.
She was also pleased that Cersei Lannister had turned down the invitation for her and the Princess Myrcella to join them. She had only asked out of courtesy's sake as the note that Lysa had sent her was still much on her mind. It would be so hard to watch so much of her family ride south into danger at King's Landing while she was forced to stay in Winterfell, away from them and powerless to help. But Ned was right, Robb and Daenerys were far too young to run the castle on their own, she would need to be there to guide them. That did not make prospect of parting any less painful though.
Catelyn forced those unpleasant thoughts from her mind. She would enjoy this time with the girls as she did not know how long it would be before she would see them again. After all, Sansa was now promised to marry Prince Joffrey so she would most likely remain in King's Landing to be near him. She knew Sansa was inordinately pleased at the thought of being queen one day. To her young eyes, it was like something out of one of her songs. Catelyn herself had been thrilled at the match until she had received Lysa's note. She just hoped that Joffrey grew up to be less like his Lannister family. She knew Ned had grave worries about his suitability for Sansa and while she shared those concerns, the boy had been exceedingly courteous to her eldest daughter and Sansa was so besotted.
Regardless, Catelyn knew that Sansa would love King's Landing. She was growing into quite the beauty and she longed to go to court and to get away from the frozen north of Winterfell. Sansa dreamed of going to balls and seeing tourneys and doing all the things proper young ladies were meant to do. Catelyn understood Sansa's desire to go south well as she had once been young and unable to imagine living in the cold, barren north, though now it was her home.
Arya on the other hand needed to go to King's Landing to become more of a lady. In Winterfell she had most of their household charmed into letting her run wild. The girl seemed to be at least half wolf pup and while Catelyn loved Arya's spirit, she would one day need to be wed as well and she needed to become more of a lady before they could find a match for her. Perhaps she too would blossom in the south.
She just wished she could keep Bran here with her. He did not need to go to learn the refinement of the south, he would need to help Robb govern the north one day. Catelyn felt like she was being ripped in half to have so many of her children taken from her at once along with her husband.
At least her eldest son was settled and well married. Catelyn looked across the room to where Daenerys sat quietly in her own world. She and Robb had not been seen much of since their wedding and they had endured quite a lot of teasing from the various royal guests about it. Catelyn was happy that the two had been married during a time of peace where they could enjoy being newlyweds. It was a far cry from when she and Ned had been married during the war and kept separate during the fighting. She hoped the realm would stay peaceful as they grew together.
Catelyn realized that her thoughts were once again turning to Lysa's note and all its implications. She was turning too fearful. She had prayed to the gods to watch out for her children and husband as they journeyed south, that was all she could do. So she pushed those dark thoughts aside yet again and forced herself back to the present where Arya and Sansa were bickering about Arya's way of dressing. Catelyn realized how much she would miss hearing them squabble and tease each other, though she knew she needed to correct them.
"Girls, settle down. You cannot squabble like this at the capital," Catelyn said. "You both must be on your best behavior for Septa Mordane."
"Yes, mother," they said at the same time.
Catelyn very nearly laughed, she knew there was no hope of stopping their fights. They were too different, but she hoped that with time they would grow closer, as she and Lysa had once been close.
"Are you sad not to be coming to King's Landing with us Daenerys?" Sansa asked obviously hoping to turn the conversation around to the trip. "I would be devasted to be left up here in the North. There is so little to do up to here and ever so much to do in the capital. I cannot wait until we arrive."
Dany seemed to wake herself up from whatever sort of daydream she was having, most likely about Robb to answer Sansa's question. "No, Sansa, I am quite happy to remain in Winterfell. I am certain you shall have a wonderful time though."
Catelyn was impressed with Dany, she was so sweet to Sansa even so Sansa often lacked a certain amount of tact, and if Catelyn was being honest with herself, a certain amount of common sense.
"Stupid," Arya said, "Dany doesn't want to come to King's Landing. She and King Robert hate each other. And everyone knows that King Robert does not want a Targaryen to come to court. Haven't you ever listened to any of Maester Luwin's lessons?"
Arya was perhaps too smart, though she too could use a lesson in tact. Catelyn was about to correct them, even though Dany seemed more amused than bothered by the discussion, but she was interrupted by the howling of one of the direwolves.
"That's Bran's wolf," Arya said. Catelyn had been about to ask her how she could possibly know that but she realized that Sansa was nodding and the other wolves had jumped up and started howling too.
Catelyn felt a chill run down her spine, something was wrong. The girls looked frightened too. She stood up, uncertain of what to do with herself, but knowing that something was horribly wrong.
She was trying to formulate a prayer some sort of prayer to the Seven when Master Luwin ran in the room and told her that Bran had fallen.
A/N: I hope this wasn't too boring. We're getting very close to what I consider to be the more exciting part. I will post again as soon as I get the next chapter edited. Please read and review. Thanks!