Well, back at a rapid pace I suppose. Not sure how much longer I'll be able to keep this up. But like I said before, why stop a good thing? This update is broken up into a smaller Ned posting and a longer Catelyn section.

The Eddard chapter can simply be considered an add on to 'GOT Sansa III', only it's in Ned's POV and occurs after the girls are taken away.

In regards to where the Catelyn chapter falls, I would say it falls before Cat, Rodrik and Blackfish depart as well as before Ned Stark's imprisonment. So it would fall right after 'Catelyn VII' and before the information of Ned's capture becomes common knowledge.

Disclaimer: I do not own nor do I claim any ideas, places, or characters from the 'A Song of Ice and Fire' series. Cheers

"He is not! He doesn't even look like that drunken old king!"

It all came flashing forward, and everything had become clear all at once. The death of Jon Arryn, his mentor's investigation into Robert's bastards, Stannis Baratheon's involvement. All was revealed to Eddard. "Gods," he said, astonished. "Out of the mouth of babes…" He quickly summoned Septa Mordane. "I am going to arrange for a fast galley to transport you to Gulltown. I will send a letter to your cousin to make sure that he arranges for an escort to Winterfell." Olyvar was the only one that he could now trust with making sure the girls made it there without issue. There were too many dangers and enemies in the capital. The secret. Ned thought to himself. Jon, is this the answer? "Syrio may join you should he continue to serve me, but these plans must stay secret."

"Does this mean that we'll be seeing Olyvar again?!" Arya asked, beaming. But Septa Mordane whisked them away before he could answer. Eddard began to walk out of the room as fast as his bad leg could allow him to, but before he could make it to his own chambers a knock came from the door.

Terrified, Ned steadied himself. "Enter." He said. From the outside of the door came a single man Ned had not recognized from any time before.

"Lord Stark, I have a letter that has been addressed to you." The man procured a sealed envelope, marked with the seal of Dragonstone.

Stannis?! "When did you receive this?"

"The bird came from the Northeast just an hour ago. I apologize for having been so late in its delivery." His excuses did not matter to Ned. Only the letter was of interest, and as the man stretched out his hand, Ned took the scroll perhaps a bit too eagerly.

Opening it, Ned began to read. But he was surprised to read that this letter was not from Stannis Baratheon, but his nephew Olyvar, who informed that he had stopped at Dragonstone to visit with his old mentor. The majority of it was nothing more than writing about his adventure at sea and wondering how Ayra and Sansa were. How you would lament at their state now, Olyvar.

But just when Ned figured the letter was of no consequence, he found it. The line that helped reinforce his own suspicious and fears. His nephew had written how he was missing his father, and asked Ned if he still had the old book that his father always seemed to have around him before his death.

Ned knew what his nephew was referencing; the book he spoke of was the same book that Ned had now. The old book that Maester Malleon had written, documenting the lineages of the noble houses of Westeros. The book, in combination with Sansa's simplicity and Olyvar's veiled message, reassured Eddard that he had found the truth. They're not Robert's children. "Thank you. You are dismissed." The messenger bowed and exited. Ned made his way to his quarters, but not before burning the letter. He now had all the proof he needed.

Stannis Baratheon had spent a great deal of time with Jon Arryn before he fled to Dragonstone. But Ned had always attributed this to the fact that Olyvar was Stannis' ward. But now he understood, the two of them had been investigating together, likely using OIyvar as a pretext for their meetings. A horrifying question came to Ned's mind. Stannis, have you told the boy the truth?

"Are you ready, Uncle?" Catelyn looked back to her uncle Brynden as they, along with Ser Rodrik, waited in the Crescent Chamber for young Mya Stone to guide them back down to the Gates of the Moon before they set off for the North to regroup with her son. They were in need of men to help Edmure defend the Riverlands from Tywin Lannister's army, but her sister Lysa had not permitted the raising of the Vale's forces to do so.

"I've been ready since we made it into this chamber, my dear. If that girl would ever make her way up here, we could be off for the North." He was irritated, still angered with his other niece about not answering the call of aid from the Riverlands. "What is taking that girl so long?"

Tensions were high in the Eyrie since Tyrion Lannister's trial by combat. The Imp and his champion, the sellsword Bronn, had bested Ser Vardis and embarrassed Lysa. Her sister's actions as regent had put Catelyn in an uneasy situation, and she hoped that Olyvar would return soon. Last she heard from Ned, her nephew had returned to King's Landing, much to Lysa's terror. Catelyn had tried to calm her by saying that Ned would keep Olyvar safe, but that did not help to dispel the paranoia in Lysa's head.

"It's best to be patient, Lord Tully." The nervous Maester Colemon now approached them, being sure to keep his voice quiet so only they could hear. "Besides, the more time you spend here, the more time we can stall until Lord Arryn returns."

"Sheer madness." Ser Rodrik chimed in, looking and sounding none too pleased with the situation. "The way your sister treats that boy of hers. Forgive me my lady, but it is most unsightly."

"Olyvar is stronger than that brother of his." The Blackfish scoffed, crossing his arms over his chest. "Lysa will not be able to manipulate the boy like she does Robert." Catelyn's mind flashed to when her sister had taken young Robert, now six, to her breast to feed. She had been shocked, as even her Rickon had been properly weaned before he reached his third year.

"Indeed. Lord Arryn's return will be a welcome sight for all here in the Vale." The nervous maester began speaking once more. "He must establish his rule over the Vale before his mother does something else so foolish. Now the Lannisters are burning her homeland, and she fails to raise her hand to stop it. War has come."

All because I assumed Tyrion's guilt. Guilt swept over Catelyn as she thought back to her folly. But there was no time to dwell. They needed to return to the North, to raise their banners in defense of the Riverlands. "She is taking her sweet time about getting up here." The girl, Mya, had been sweet and supporting enough, but she still had not arrived, despite the raven having been sent down some time ago. Catelyn was getting desperate. Could she have fallen from the path? No, she thought, not Mya.

Suddenly, as if the walls of the hall had heard the complaints of her absence, the doors from the outside opened, revealing Mya Stone to be leading a group of individuals into the Crescent Chamber. "Mi'lady, I apologize for my truancy, but I do believe I have a good excuse."

Catelyn, however, was looking past her, and saw the reason before Mya could have explained. "Olyvar." She gasped. The boy had seemingly grown another inch in height and four inches in hair. She rushed forward to embrace him, holding him tightly. "Thank the gods you have returned here when you did."

"Aunt Catelyn?" The boy was obviously surprised that she was here in his home. "Why are you here, in the Eyrie?"

"I had visited King's Landing to warn your uncle that there had been an attempt on Bran's life. He's fine." She continued, not allowing the shocked Olyvar to speak a word. "The assassin was thwarted, and I visited a friend of mine who knew the origins of the dagger. Perhaps you're familiar with Petyr Baelish?"

"Littlefinger?" Olyvar commented, apparently still in shock over the sight of Catelyn and the statement she had presented to him. "Of course I know him, he's the Master of Coin."

"He informed me that he had lost the dagger that the assassin had tried to kill Bran with in a bet to Tyrion Lannister." Catelyn attempted to slow her words, noticing she was speaking frantically. "At an inn in the Riverlands, I came upon him in a chance encounter. I took him prisoner, and brought him here for a trial." She could tell that the boy had a lot to digest, and she felt guilty that he had only just stepped into the entrance to his keep before presenting it to him. But the situation was dire, and this was her final chance.

"What happened?" Olyvar inquired, attempting to regain his own composure. "The trial with Lord Tyrion, what happened?"

"Your mother, she….Lysa acted brash. She would not allow Lord Tyrion a fair trial, nor wait for you to return to hear one. It was settled in a trial by combat, with Tyrion being favored. His champion, a sellsword who had accompanied me here, defeated Ser Vardis Egan. They walked free only three days ago."

Olyvar looked to his side cursed. "Damnit, I shouldn't have stopped." He looked back into Catelyn's eyes. "Where is my mother now?"

"She sits on your seat in the High Hall, entertaining suitors." She noticed that Olyvar did not take well to this news. "But there are more dire things to discuss. Tywin Lannister is attacking the Riverlands in response to Tyrion being taken as a prisoner. Your uncle Edmure has requested aid, but your mother has denied us."

"Lady Lysa had no right in denying aid from the Vale." Catelyn turned to now see a man she recognized as Yohn Royce, accompanied by two others who looked to be his sons. "She should have raised the banners by now to defend her kin in the Riverlands."

"What we have been attempting to get her to do, Lord Royce. But my niece is stubborn, and sees no reason to defend her kin from the lions." The Blackfish spat, anger in his words. "But now our young Olyvar is here, and can overrule her."

"Olyvar, I beg you." Catelyn began to plead, looking back to her nephew before he could speak. "Save Edmure from my mistake. I beg you."

The boy stared at her with a blank face for a few moments. Then, something miraculous happened. Something that Catelyn had not been expecting of the boy. "Maester Colemon, prepare the ravens and assemble all the available scribes we have. Fly a message to all of the lords of the Vale, and have the messages say that I will have them pledge their allegiance on the battlefield." He looked to Yohn Royce next. "I hope that you shall stand by me as one of my generals, Lord Royce. I will need assistance."

"Of course, my lord Arryn." Bronze Yohn puffed out his chest. "I shall serve you as I served your father in the Rebellion."

Olyvar nodded before addressing the Blackfish. "Uncle, I trust you shall aid me as well?"

"Although I resigned my post as Knight of the Bloody Gate, I suppose I shall help in helping to lead the forces of the falcon." Brynden Tully grinned. "When I return from marching your aunt to the North and obtaining additional forces, I will return to your command, nephew."

"Good." Gods, when did he become so much like his father? Like his grandfather? She could remember as a girl when her father had talked with such authority as this, and back at Riverrun when she had married Ned, she could overhear Jon Arryn giving commands to his soldiers. Was this really the same timid Olyvar she had once known?

"Mya, stay here. I only intend for there to be one more trip down the mountain, but first I must go see to my mother." The boy's eyes were sharper than the edge of the knife Catelyn had shown Petyr. "Maester, you must come with me as well. Before you send the ravens, I wish to know how far you've come in completing the task I assigned for you before we parted."

"Of course, I shall lead you to her, mi'lord." Colemon and Olyvar walked off towards Lysa's apartment. Catelyn was left speechless at the show of command he had orchestrated. Is this Stannis' doing? She had once been outraged that Ned had not been picked to be Olyvar's guardian, but now she was not so sure that Jon Arryn had made the wrong choice in an educator.

"The boy has grown." Brynden remarked with a smirk, looking on as the boy walked out of the hall. "Jon Arryn reborn, I can already see it in him."

"Lord Tully, perhaps we should begin discussing our strategy. You know the Riverlands better than I."

"Indeed. Come, somewhere in this keep are maps of all the regions of Westeros. Surely we will be able to find you one of the Trident and Riverlands in there." As the Blackfish and the Royces stalked off, Catelyn was left alone in the Crescent Hall. Olyvar's response had been swift, and would only serve to further his newfound authority. Lysa would not have an easy time manipulating her stronger, older son.

"Lady Stark, does this mean the Vale is at war?" Mya asked nervously.

"I do believe so, dear." Catelyn looked from the girl back to where nephew had stalked off. I began this. Eddard, my love, be safe. Please protect our girls.

A/N: Well well, seems Olyvar has been drawn into war earlier than expected. So close to a reunion with Tyrion, yet so far away.

A question posed by a guest asked how Jaime, a member of the Kingsguard, can be granted a title since members are forbidden to hold titles?

Technically, warden is not a title that is inheritable and has no purpose outside of an invasion occurring from one of the four directions. It's purpose is to give absolute authority of the army to that particular warden (i.e Starks of the North, Lannisters of the West, Tyrells of the South, Arryns of the East.) should an invasion occur. Outside of that, its an honor and prestige issue.

As for those who might be wondering why Olyvar did not lose his established temper in the previous chapter, I'd like to call that the 'Stannis Effect.' Olyvar was likely punished for acting out, so he decides to keep his emotions under control whilst in the presence of his mentor.

Keep reviewing guys, hope you keep enjoying the updates.