A Game of Thrones: In the Land of Monsters!
Interlude 1: Catelyn's Fall
SHE WAS BEING exiled from the North; Catelyn Stark...well now...Catelyn Tully, former Lady of Winterfell, marriage was annulled after she gave birth to her second son Brandon Stark. Robb, Sansa, Arya and newborn Brandon will remain Starks, and be raised in the North.
But Catelyn Tully was forbidden from making contact with her children; the Sept that her former husband had built during their first year of marriage was being destroyed. Septa Mordane, Septon Clayton every servant and soldier of House Tully who made a home were being forced to leave the North with their families.
Cat couldn't believe Eddard Stark wouldhumiliateher this way and all because she was trying to restore the honor of House Stark by getting rid of her former husband's bastard. Selling the useless tart to Yunkai and keeping her far away from Westeros was the perfect choice, and the gold would be useful to her daughters.
But Lord Stark refused to keep the sixty million gold dragons; in fact the now Lady Tully was being forced to take the two trunks of gold with her. It was blood money...traitor's money and it belonged to the former Lady Stark to do with as she pleased.
Word spread fast by raven wings and merchants; Catelyn and her party weren't allowed to stay at Moat Cailin not even for a bite of food, a bath and a rest. The lady was welcomed to the Twins; she had no choice but to accept the hospitality of Lord Walder Frey.
She was given a room for a night; Cat bathed and changed, food was brought and she rested. Lord Frey never held an audience nor invited the woman to dine in his hall but Catelyn didn't care as she slept soundly and by morning after breakfast; she was allowed to cross the bridge without paying a toll which didn't bother her one bit.
The Inn at the crossroads refused to let Lady Tully to rest; they gave her food and drink but would not let her inside. Cat found her-self sleeping in the wagon and she was most wroth the next morning.
Yet the sight of Riverrun made her relaxed and hopeful that her Father, and brother would help her. But there was no one to greet her even the gate was closed and the bridge was raised; the servants, guards and their families had gone ahead, and were allowed in.
Catelyn didn't know what was happening until a servant came out and led her to a pavilion away from her childhood home; she found a bath waiting for her. She wanted to see her Father and brother but the bath was too tempting; so Cat bathed and washed away the travel grime.
Clean clothes were brought but they were plain unadorned dresses that smallfolk women would wear; but Catelyn had to put one of them on as her dirty clothes had been gathered. Food was brought and she ate her fill despite the food was fit for smallfolk; Cat didn't complain and than her Father came.
Hoster Tully; Lord of Riverrun and Lord Paramount of the Trident, did everything he could to raise House Tully higher in status. House Stark was a good match but the Northnever followed the Faith of the Seven except House Manderly of White Harbor but that was the only House.
Lord Tully hoped his eldest daughter would slowly convert House Stark to the Seven-Pointed Star over time and his grandchildren would continue the conversion through their children. But then his eldest daughter did something so foolish that she lost her chance before it even begun.
"Father;" began Catelyn but her Father raised his hand and silenced her.
"You will address me as Lord Tully;" said Hoster in calm anger, "you have brought shame to House Tully with what you did. Selling Lord Stark's bastard daughter to Yunkai breaks the laws of Westeros and because you are the Mother of Lord Stark's children; you are spared the sword but there is punishment to face!"
"I was restoring my honor and freeing House Stark of a useless worthless burden, that girl can continue her Whore Mother's work in Yunkai;" declared Cat in defense. "The sixty million gold dragons was a small price to take and could've been useful to my daughters!"
"King Robert Baratheon has heard of what you have done and is furious on his sworn brother's behalf;" snapped Lord Tully in fury. "You have been stripped of the Tully name and your status of being a daughter, and Lady of a Great House; you are now an outcast and pariah, you have been given the name of Catelyn Rivers!"
"The King can't do that, name me a bastard;" exclaimed Cat in sudden horror. "Why should I be punish for something when I was only trying to save my family from a threat?"
"You stillbroke the law, Cat,no one can help you nor save you or even rescue you;" replied Hoster coldly. "All you had to do was teach your children to be good Lords and Ladies who are devoted to the Seven, you could've tolerated the bastard until she was old enough to be married or given to the Faith.
But you done none of that; instead you sold the girl into slavery and accepted the gold in payment. Eddard Stark had every right to caste you out, annulled the marriage and not only keep but will raise my grandchildren to be tree-worshipers; I wash my hands of you, Catelyn Rivers, you are no longer welcome in Riverrun!"
"You're casting me out, Father, you will deny me my only home;" said Catelyn as Lord Tully's words sunk in. "Please, Father..."
"You are no longer mydaughter, you have lost the right to call me Father after you brought shame to House Tully;" declared Lord Tully silencing her further. "I will provide you with enough supplies to last a Moon but you willnever again live within Riverrun.
The King's decree has also declared that no castle or holdfast will give you shelter, you must now work for your food and clothing. No one will accept one coin of that cursed gold you must now carry with you and the Faith of the Seven has excommunicated you; you will no longer set foot in a Sept and are forbidden from prayers, Septa Mordane has been summoned to face the Most Devout and to be punished for her part in helping you!"
Cat felt like she has been stabbed and her world torn apart; everything she had done was justified. But now the world seemed to be against her and no longer welcome her.
She was now made abastard...
Made an outcast and pariah...
And it was all Lyarra Snow's fault; she may finally be gone but she somehow cursed Catelyn's life!