Winterfell, on the eve of grey joy rebellion

Lady catelyn

"The child was dead, maester luwin reported , her fourth child, dead in childbirth, catelyn cursed the gods old and new for making her like this, the chill of the winterfell swept through the open windows making catelyn misery even more worse, she cried silent tears for the child that was lost, she cried on her misfortune and the fact that she could not give her lord husband a male heir.

"My lady" a rough yet soft voice ripped through the Silence , it was her lord husband " do not curse yourself for the things not under your control" he took her hands, "you have gifted me an heir already, sansa our beautiful daughter will carry the stark lineage forward".

Catelyn was far from being reassured, it was the duty of the noble lady to provide her husbands with strong male heirs and she had repeatedly failed in that pursuit, all of her children had died except her miracle daughter whom her lord husband named Sansa after a northern lady of winterfell, if her lord husband was lesser man he might have snubbed her for some other lady but eddard stark was not any lesser man, he even brought his bastard in his home and just like that catelyn thoughts turned towards her husband's bastard, the abomination named jon snow.

Jon snow was a noose that hung around catelyn neck,he was a constant reminder of catelyn failure, the dreams of the bastard claiming winterfell and killing her beautiful daughter kept her awake at night, she had asked, demanded and then begged her lord husband to send the boy away to no avail, her ned was adamant about keeping his bastard close to his heart, even little sansa adored her big brother will jon snow mother replace me? Do ned think of her often?

Days passed in blur for her, the running of winterfell didn't bother her , she ignored maester luwin reproachful gaze and his constant nagging to rest, she could rest while her children were dead, she even ignored her only child little sansa for her grief was still raw what sins i have commited for the gods to punish me so

"My lady" Poole the steward came running towards her while she was aimlessly gazing at the gathered snow. " Lord Stark calls for your urgently, it's news concerning his grace the king".

The king? Different thoughts ran in catelyn mind while she followed poole to the lord's solar " my lady, it's good to see you in good health, Ned stark said observing her" but then his eyes turned regretful, jon arryn sends news ,my lady , he sighed" the greyjoys have rebelled, i have been ordered to call my banners".

No, you can't go, what will happen to your legacy if you die? You just can't go but she could never voice her opinion,it was the liege lord duty to honour his king's command and ned stark was the most dutiful man she had ever seen Ned saw her concern for his eyes softened and he spoke sadly " i must march soon my lady, robert's army would have already matched by the this raven got to winterfell.

"Ahem, my lord ,my lady" luwin the maester started " i am sorry for saying this but you must secure lady sansa rule as the lady of winterfell before you march, my lord".

"You dare maester" Ned said angrily , " you have taught Jon yourself, he will never rebel against his sister, even if I die without a male heir , he never will".

Forgiveness my lord, but house stark enemies are many, with no stark male heir, other houses might look to start something while you focus on the greyjoy's rebellion .

"Maester luwin speaks sense my lord "rodrick said, "i would never trust a Bolton myself ".

Catelyn saw an opportunity,no matter how much losing ned would hurt her it was very much a possibility, men dies in war, not even rhaegar Targaryen with legendary Arthur dayne , barristan selmy and kingslayer was spared .

"My lord," she started , "your advisors speak sense, you must secure your heir before you march to war, the north do not look kindly to women rules, more so who is half southern ".

Ned eyes hardened," you will have me my own daughter betrothed at such a tender age , where do you think i can find a suitor in such less time?."

Maester luwin dared to speak " house karstark is house stark kin , my lord", i believe his second son harrion karstark will be a good match my lord, being a consort for lady of winterfell is better than being a second son I believe ".

House Karstark was a good choice, lady catelyn thought,they were a loyal bunch and kin to starks too, marrying Sansa to her will secure a noble house , detecting any bastard claim.

Very well, if my advisors believe this the course of action that i must take then i will talk to rodrick myself " ned said and rubbed his temple, meanwhile raises our forces, able men are known to search for glory, greyjoy rebellion will grant them that.

The conversation played in catelyn mind repeatedly while she watched the silent sisters lay her dear ned's body to the ground, there was no tear left in her anymore, the rebellion had claimed her husband and now there was no time to mourn him as the king was coming down in winterfell to pay his respect catelyn wanted to yell, scream, to cry holding her dead husband chest but she was of noble birth and had to follow noble commands and such she was standing with her daughter and her husband's bastard to welcome the king who was dismounting from the saddle.

The king was stronger and bigger than she last saw him in riverrun, he was clad in full plate armour and carried the great helmet of his on one hand, while his squires carried out his great Warhammer, two white shadows flanked him from sides , kingsguard both of them.

Catelyn and all the others kneeled at the sight which Robert easily dismissed , there is no need of that, the king said mournfully my friend, your liege lord gave his life defending me , it would be a dishonour to him if his people kneel for me .

He turned his sad face towards catelyn, my lady he said shameful i beg your forgiveness your husband gave his life for me.

Catelyn was hit by feeling to wail her lungs out but she controlled it, your grace, there is no more honour than dying defending his king, your apologies are unwanted.

Robert hung his head shamefully , i could not protect him, he was my friend , my own white shadows were nowhere when the bastard attacked me, so involved i was in fight with the reper that i didn't see him until too late, ned took the sword meant for me, for that house baratheon will always be grateful to house stark.

"We serve at your pleasure, your grace".

What do we have here? Little sansa the king smiled and touched sansa cheek, you will turn into a fine young lady

He moved towards the bastard and froze, catelyn saw the king's eyes well up " little ned" he muttered, what's your name boy?

Jon Snow, your grace the bastard.

The king ruffled his hair, snow no more , during the feast ned had broached the idea to legitimize his son. Well I'll be damned if I can't fulfill my friend's last wish.

Squire he yelled and a lannister youngling came running, send a raven to lord hand, sort out all paperwork, hereby i, robert baratheon, king of the seven kingdoms , he took out his sword and let it rest on jon snow shoulder legitimise jon snow to jon stark".

No, noo, catelyn thought with horror, even in her wildest dreams she didn't think the king was possible for this, the urge to scream was overwhelming her, her mind was spinning, she longer could make out what the king was talking about, sansa tried to shake her but it was jon snow grey eyes looking straight at her became her undoing

Catelyn Stark fainted.