I own nothing
Raenera sat in Greatjon tent. Starlight was curled up at Raenera's feet. She smiled as her Uncle told her tales of her mother, Lilliyan Umber. Smalljon sat near her but at far enough distance because of the wolf at her feet. She shifted in her seat Starlight moved slightly closer to Raenera's cousin.
"She not going hurt you cousin" Raenera said scratching behind Starlight ears.
"Greywind bite off two of my fingers child" Greatjon said.
Raenera looked at her uncle for a long moment. She was slight shocked at that fact. Suddenly from her experience with Starlight something dawn on her.
"What did you do?" Raenera started to ask. Greatjon looked at her in shock. He quickly realized how smart the capital had made her. She may look like a meek little doll but there was intelligence behind her eyes. "From what I know from Starlight, who has been raise by me from time she was a pup much like Greywind has been; they don't attack without cause. On less they are hunting which I am assuming that was not the case."
"I may have threatened Robb" Greatjon admitted.
"I rest my case, beside Starlight saved my life and lives of Sansa and Arya more than one time on journey. She will not hurt anyone that isn't a threat to me. And you both are my family not a threat at all. In fact Smalljon I bet she would let you pet her."
Starlight moved closer to Smalljon rest her head on his lap begging to be petted. She was still a pup in many ways despite her size. Smalljon looked at Raenera she motion behind Starlight's ears. He reached down and starched behind Starlight's ears. Starlight let out a happy little yip before nuzzling his legs.
"What you did for the Stark girls was quite brave thing to do" Greatjon said.
"Bravery had nothing to do with it. It was right thing to do. Lord Eddard Stark may not have trusted or even like me at first and I didn't know what to make of him. I truly like him. He reminded me of the man that raised me, Lord Arryn was the man I call father. He asked me to do it. I have witness my own father die and I knew I did not want Sansa or Arya to suffer that same fate. I did what I had to." Raenera said matter-of-factly.
"It was still brave cousin" Smalljon said.
"It is sickening what that little shit did to Eddard. I was first to name Robb King in the North after Eddard death."
That night, Raenera walked to Lady Stark's tent with Smalljon, who taken to her like duck to water. He wanted nothing more than to protect her. He saw the way the soldiers looked at her and when she went to walk around camp by herself he nearly had breakdown thus him walking with her. It also put her uncle at ease knowing she was protected. Starlight kept pace with them. They reached the tent he slowly opened the tent flap.
"Lady Stark…Lady Raenera to see you." Smalljon said
"Send her in" Catelyn said.
"Thank you cousin…" Raenera said as she passed him.
Smalljon shut the tent flap leaving them alone. There was coldness to the area not because of temperature itself but the tension in the room. Catelyn looked at Raenera and Raenera at her, she could tell that Raenera had guarded herself her whole life. She knew that secret that she carried could end them. If word got to the Lannisters found out the Starks had a Targaryen in their camp part northern or not she was still a threat and great one. Catelyn had not known her long enough to tell if she was mad like her father or not.
"Lady Stark."
"Lady Targaryen."
Raenera bowed her head in a sign of true respect. Starlight came into the room and laid down by the fire that keep the room warm. It was between the two opposing sides. Catelyn motioned for Raenera to sit; she did so with such grace it made Catelyn wonder how no one could guess she was of royal blood not just noble. She put Sansa to shame with the amount of grace Raenera held.
"If it pleases you, Lady Stark, you can call me Lady Umber as Greatjon is insisting upon it. He said it is not safe to draw attention to the fact I'm a Targaryen. Raena if fine with me as well; I have not been called Raenera in years so I used to being call Raena or Rae. You have permission to do so if it pleases you."
Catelyn just stared at her for a moment taking her in. In a different world she could see herself liking the young maiden. She could see what about her that captured Robb's fancy beside her beauty there was grace properness to her but her eyes the was calculating intelligence that rested behind her eyes.
"You said you have something for me."
"Two things, one I wish to tell you how truly sorry I'm upon on hearing of your husband death. He was good honest and honorable man the likes of him had been seen since the ages of heroes. I know Lady Arryn your sister shared her dislike for me. I hope in time I can earn your trust much like Lord Stark trusted me with lives of your daughters in time. He didn't trust me at first or even like me. He saw me as another player in the game. But I was more than that; I had to play the game with my life hanged in the balance. In truth I have no clue how not to play it. I hate it as much as he did. But you will not have to contend with me for long. I want to cross the narrow sea but for now until we reach the coast I wish to learn of family I found here."
"What do you want with my son, Lady Umber?"
"Nothing; you son is generous fair and noble man. When King Robert proposed the match I was thrilled with prospect not knowing the man he was but with knowledge I would be free of the game and the red keep. That all really mattered to me. But now knowing him; he will make a wonderful husband for whomever he weds."
"He is to marry one of Lord Frey's daughters after the war."
"She's a lucky girl." Raenera answered truthfully.
Raenera meant her first words. She's a lucky girl. But more her mind dived into that he was to wed one of Lord Frey's daughters after the war. Something about that did not sit right with her. Surely one was named; why not marry her before the war. And have her stay with her family until after the war. But who was she to question Robb's alliances. Catelyn brought her out of her mind as the next question came.
"There is nothing going on between you two?"
"No nor there will ever will be. I'm a bastard and I will always will be. No matter whose bastard I am. A bastard daughter of a king is not a fit queen" Raenera answered.
Her eyes linger on Catelyn. Catelyn took in the girl before her for the first time she could see herself liking the girl. The silence went on for a long while. In that moment they reached a truth of short. Catelyn saw that Raenera wore her parentage like a badge of honor. She was not afraid of being a bastard of the implications of that word. It was what she was. Raenera reached inside the pocket of one of the sleeves of her gown where the scroll Ned had given her rested.
"Your husband asked me to give you this after he asked me to deliver your child back to their family."
She handed the scroll to Catelyn that Ned handed to her about a month ago. Catelyn took it looking at unbroken seal of her husband. Her eyes traveled to Raenera.
"The seal it's not broken." Catelyn said slightly shocked.
"It was not for my eyes, Lady Stark." Raenera answered.
Raenera was by the exit of the tent. Starlight looked at Catelyn tilting her head trying understand her if she was threat to Raenera or not.
"Good night Lady Stark."
Catelyn nodded her head to her waiting until Raenera and her direwolf were out of the tent. She could hear her greet Smalljon and words of soldiers as the tent flap closed. Breaking seal and unrolling the paper. Her eyes scan the words written to her and rereading them as her eyes widen as the words meaning sank in. This would change everything. She rose quickly heading to the exit of her tent opening it. She saw a soldier of one Robb's bannermen. He paused and looked at her bowing his head to her.
"Lady Stark"
"Find my son, and bring him here."
Catelyn turned walked back into her tent. She sank into her chair taking the letter in question in her hands rereading it trying to figure out what was Ned thinking.