Now we jump into Winterfell as Lord and Lady stark are expecting visitors. In this chapter, we set stage for the possible interactions between the important characters which will decide the future course of the story. So enjoy this chapter.
"What does it say? "A curious Eddard asked his lady wife, as Catylen was reading the letter with a stern look on her face. A coded letter from Lysa that, too just a week after Jon Arryn's death and few days before the royal party arrives on our gates. But as he was in the middle of this thought, Cat took threw the parchment into the hearth, and watched it burn with an uneasy expression on her face. "What did it say, cat, Tell me", Eddard demanded as he moved Catylen's face towards himself. She gave him a look which said all, Murder, conspiracy and intrigues.
"Lysa has accused the Lannisters of Lord Arryn's death. She, out of their fear, had herself fled in the middle of night along with her son and most of the retainers. She also has warned us of the same"
Jon killed, but why? "Did it say something about the reason behind the act?, why was Jon killed or what was he doing? " Or had done. Eddard was quite worried. Things were becoming worse even before Robert placed his footsteps on the soil of winterfell.
"No, nothing of the sort." Catylen threw a sly look towards Eddard."However, it mentions the Boy " .Eddard raised an eyebrow "what? What about him".
"He stayed in the Kingslanding even after Lysa left." She said with a rough tone in her voice. "She suspects that he wanted to claim the traditional Arryn titles for himself and win favor with the king" Catylen spoke all those words without a hint of emotion in her voice. I see.
Lysa's hatred for their slain friend Denys's son was well known. She had been the most bitter of opponents of Jon's decision to name Martyn as his heir, before her son was born. Although she fancied Denys for a long time, besides littlefinger , likeable as he was. Martyn could have been her own son. The thought made him sigh in wonder. World is a strange place.
"He is coming here with them, isn't he?" His memories were suddenly interrupted by Catylen's icy cold words. Family, duty, honor…..You are doing it right cat. Whatever suspicions her sister harbored, she tended to nourish them .She too had heard a lot about the lad from many mouths but the only one which she paid heed to was Lysa's prickly one. The one she should have ignored. Catylen's love for her family was extreme and so was her mistrust towards those whom her family members mistrusted. The boy had always been kind to her. He isn't even a BASTARD.The words stuck in his mouth. Snow, Jon snow was he one. How many more ,Cat?
"Isn't he?"….."Yes, he is along with those Lysa failed to take along."The love valemen had for Jon Arryn. Love and Loyalty."He has just lost his father, Cat. He needs someone to speaks with him." She didn't respond for some time.
"If what Lysa says is true then he might be coming to winterfell to seek your support in order to strengthen his claim .The king has surely refused him."Catylen's look was hard to bear.
"He is Denys Arryn's son Catylen. He will sooner die defending someone's rights before usurping it. He is just a boy, Cat" A boy Jon always wanted to father.
"Then why has Lysa sent this coded letter, Ned. If the boy and Lannisters are unrelated in this matter then there would have been no reason to send his information in a coded form. She could have sent a normal raven .It might be possible that he is backed by the-" Gods, save me.
"Next you will accuse him of murdering Jon Arryn" She had the grace to blush, at least.
Maester Luwin, who had been the one to bring Lysa's coded letter, finally spoke up."Lady Lysa is a troubled woman, my lady. Of course, the recent experiences haven't helped her." Yes, many still births, half a dozen miscarriages and the only boy a sickly little one, grief surely does a great deal of things to people and much more to people like Lysa.
"Do you call my sister mad, maester Luwin" the sharp retort from Catylen took Ned aback but Luwin was unmoved.
"I call your sister troubled women, my lady. The gods have tested her at every instance. These things are bound to come from her mouth, however unreasonable they may sound" Eddard could see doubt on Catylen's face. She knows it but refuses to accept…..Tully stubbornness. Lysa had surely seen worse of the things. She was married off to Jon Arryn ,quite young and beautiful as she was, who was older than her own father, Hoster Tully. The lord of Eyrie was of a noble birth and even nobler character but his youth had long left him. If that wasn't enough, she failed to produce any heir for 9 long years .Those nine years she had to contend with a boy she hated from her heart. And all this occurred to girl who had the most vulnerable of personalities, Poor Lysa. However, that didn't in any case justify her behavior towards Martyn.
If only it had been Denys, darling of the vale .Ned lost that brother to the mad king's Hand Lord Jon Connigton at the stoney sept.The man who took the Arryn boy's father was of the same name as the one who gave him another one. One Jon slew his father and another Jon came to him as a new one. The world is indeed a strange place.
It was after sunset that Ned went to the Godswood. He always sat there with his family Valyrian Greatsword "Ice" polishing it with an oiled cloth and praying silently to the old gods of the north. He had many doubts and fears today. His second father Jon Arryn was dead, his old friend and brother Robert was coming north for the purpose he knew well, and with him was coming the Arryn boy, Martyn. He should have gone to Eyrie if the capital had become so dangerous for him to stay, not of the love of Lysa but for his own sake. Instead he risks his life and makes this long journey to north with a very modest retinue of guards, why? What was so important to him that he is doing all this. It has something to do with me, of course. It wasn't as if Martyn was coming just to visit his stark friends in the north for fun. That is not him, he is way too cautious to do such a folly. It must be something of importance. But what? Ned himself adored the boy like his own. He found the boy to be smart, sensible and mature .Despite what he had suffered; he has a good temperament for a young lad. Ned smiled at the memory of Martyn visiting the North a year ago with Lord Royce of Runestone and his son, Ser Waymar, accompanying them to the wall. He had shown keen interest in the current state of the nights watch after his return from the wall, on how it needed more manpower and resources. Wise beyond his years. However, he had not been equally robust on the field where, after managing to defeat the Talhart and Cerywen lads, he was battered by Robb. Once he fell so badly that even the stone faced Bronze Royce was forced to laugh. And after that, as some sort of sweet vengeance, the old Lord of Runestone had battered me and Ser Rodrick down. Such memories often made life feel a bit better in these times of troubles. Gods, give me my answers.
The stars were out and it soon was quite cold outside. After returning from Godswood, Ned proceeded straight to his room, only to hear some sounds coming from the sept. He went near the building and he saw a frail figure leaning over the table which was placed in front of the figure of Mother. A few candles were flickering as he approached the shadowy figure. The incense sticks had filled the room with smoke to the extent that it pained the eyes to keep them open for long. He stood over the figure and It lifted its head."Catylen, what are you doing here at this hour?" Ned enquired in a shocked state with a hand over his mouth. She gave a faint smile "Asking questions and yearning for answers".
So my dear readers, it seems to me that Lord and lady stark are soon going to realize the situation of the south and all the bitter truths it will bring along. Also, Martyn needs some fresh honest air to breathe freely in and what better than winterfell. Largely free from spies and foul smells of the south, many good conversations and actions are next on the list. Wishing you all good days ahead.