11th Month of 283 A.C. Riverrun
Lady Catelyn Stark
She missed Lysa, whilst she and her sister's relationship had been somewhat strained in recent years especially since Petyr had been sent away for reasons neither her father or sister would ever speak of, they had become closer with the birth of their sons. Her Robb with his shock of auburn hair and blue eyes was the jewel of her life, he was such an active little boy, was nearly a year old and already he was tottering around and speaking words that made little to no sense. She could not wait to see her husband meet their son, she worried somewhat if he would be happy that their son looked more Tully than Stark but he had seemed a good man when they had last met. As for Lysa's own son Jasper, he was a quiet baby, the same age as Robb, with a mop of brown hair and blue eyes he rarely spoke but he seemed more intrigued by the world around him observing it with piercing eyes. At least that is what he had seemed like when last Catelyn had seen her sister for Lysa and her son had left for King's Landing some time ago. Now they were likely in the Vale if what father said was true.
There was a lot of concern in Riverrun, after all letters had been coming from King's Landing, writ in the hand of Tywin Lannister, making veiled threats of what would happen if her father did not side with Robert Baratheon at the great council that had been called. Something akin to being trapped between the Westerlands and the Vale, it had made her father angry to be threatened by the man who had used tricks to get what he had wanted. That combined with her own husband's letter where he had expressed his concern for her and their son, and that he wished them well, that he would see them soon, made Catelyn truly worry about all of this. Especially as she had been asked to attend the meeting her father was holding with Lord Jonos Bracken and Lord Raymun Darry both of whom had come to argue their cases. Usually Edmure, her little brother who had turned fifteen some two weeks ago would attend, but it seemed he had fallen ill.
Her father spoke first. "My lords Darry and Bracken, I thank you for coming to Riverrun. There is a lot of things that are about to happen in the realm. With there being two claimants pressing, their claim to the throne. I would hear what you both have to say, on whom we should vote for in this council. Lord Bracken you may go first."
Jonos Bracken, is a big man with broad shoulders, speaks. "Thank you my lord. I believe that we as a kingdom should stand behind our oaths that were made during the rebellion. We fought to put Robert Baratheon on the throne, and as such we must stand beside the man. After all should we break that oath, we are no better than Aerys the mad king, and his own discrepancies in breaking oaths."
Catelyn sees her father's face tense somewhat, and Lord Darry speaks then. "I believe that making such a claim is tenuous and could be counted as extreme my lord. Aerys Targaryen was mad everyone knows this. And yet when my family fought, we fought for Prince Rhaegar, a man with some sense of honour and decency. Lord Rickard has stated that his daughter and the prince wed out of a sense of mutual attraction and not the rape that Robert Baratheon has claimed. Baratheon himself is a man who has given way to the power and corruption that comes with the crown."
Jonos speaks then. "And yet the man is a warrior, not a babe in swaddling clothes. Furthermore, the loyalty of House Tully and by circumstance your bannermen have been questioned. As you are related by marriage to the Starks, your daughter has birthed the heir to the heir to Winterfell. And whilst one daughter is married to the hand of the king, she is away from the action. Supporting Robert Baratheon is a wise move as it would ensure that the loyalties of this kingdom are not brought into question. After all we are always the kingdom that suffers during war."
Raymun Darry speaks then. "Was it not Eddard Stark that Robert Baratheon threatened? We have all heard of their argument after the sack of king's landing. Baratheon is a man who will now see all Starks as he sees the dragons. There will be no sparing for those who are engaged to them."
Bracken stumbles then. "That…. That… that was a threat made in the heat of the moment. I was there when it happened. It cannot be true that the two would come to blows, they are like brothers. Anyone with eyes could see that."
Catelyn has the urge to speak then. "It is one thing to be like brothers, and it is another to have that brother threaten someone who is in your family, by blood. The rumours have come this far about that threat, and is it not suspicious that the man did marry Cersei Lannister not a minute after we all received news of Lyanna Stark's death?"
Jonos Bracken founders then and says. "It was pure chance that happened. Had Lyanna Stark survived, then the two would have married and all would be well. Rickard Stark is acting out of pure chance and ambition. He is trying to get his blood on the throne, nothing more."
Raymun Darry counters this. "As is Tywin Lannister. He came late to the cause in the rebellion, the sack was an act of gross calculation. Baratheon is falling and I do not want to see the riverlands fall with him. I urge you Lord Hoster to side with the only dynasty that can rule Westeros, the Targaryens."
Catelyn looks at her father, and sees that he is deep in thought. She herself is wondering which way would be the best way to go. The Targaryens ruled Westeros for nearly three hundred years, there were wars and there was peace, there was reform and there was unity, but Aerys had broken that. Who were they to judge a new dynasty that had only just been formed, but it was telling that its main backer had gone and left the alliance due to insults both real and imagined. She was removed from her thoughts when her father spoke. "My lords, I thank you both for coming and presenting your arguments. They are compelling arguments, and after much deliberation I have come to the conclusion that it would be best for the riverlands and for House Tully if we side with Lord Rickard Stark and King Jonothor Targaryen. You may both leave now and prepare for the council. I have much to discuss with my daughter."
Both lords' bow and leave, leaving Catelyn alone in the solar with her father. Hoster Tully seems to have aged somewhat during the course of this meeting, something that worries her just as much as Edmure's illness. She speaks first. "Are you certain of this decision father?"
Her father looks at her then, his eyes tired. "Yes little Cat I am. Robert Baratheon has begun a descent into an abyss that I do not want a part of. My own eyes and ears in the city, have told me as much. Our words demanded that I make this decision. Whilst it pains me to see Lysa on the other side, this must be done for the good of the kingdom as well as for us."
"And what of the threats Tywin Lannister has been making? Do you not believe he will go through with them?" Catelyn asks.
Father sighs then. "I know not little Cat. I do not believe he will, not whilst the council is happening, such an act would drive more people away from Robert rather than into his arms. Tywin Lannister is many things but he is not a fool. He will wait and bide his time and then remember, if Baratheon wins then we might well need to begin preparing. But I do not think he will."
"Why is that father? Baratheon, is a man who has won the war, he is seen as a valiant warrior king. Whereas the claimant the Starks are pushing for is a babe." Catelyn counters.
Her father laughs then. "You always were quick little Cat. That is true, but at the same time, Robert Baratheon would need to kill the baby king, and that would therefore mean his reign is built on the bodies of innocents even more so than it is now. This is something that I do not think the man would want, nor is it something many lords could stomach."
"Is this something you intend to use at the council then father?" Catelyn asks intrigued.
Her father nods. "Yes, yes I do. Baratheon sits on the throne uneasily, he might have support, but how long will it last with the thing that his so called beloved had with Rhaegar Targaryen is in front of him I know not. If we can exploit that, then others will see him for the monster he truly is. And the throne will be your nephew's."
"I see. But what will happen to Lysa and her family when this council ends, if King Jonothor wins as you suspect he will?" Catelyn asks
Her father seems pained at this. "I… if her husband still has his wits around him when all this is done they will bend the knee and be pardoned and retire to the Vale. If not, then we shall have to act."
"Act?" Catelyn asks somewhat confused. "In what manner?"
Her father looks somewhat more grief stricken when he says. "Jon Arryn may need to be removed should he refuse to bend the knee. He is a good man, but I will not have your sister and her son be endangered because of a man's foolish pride."
Catelyn is stunned by this but accepts it with some difficulty and a great period of silence follows, before she stands and kisses her father's forehead. "I will leave you to your rest father, I will go and check on Edmure." Her father nods his thanks and she turns and leaves the solar, all kinds of thoughts brewing in her head there being a lot of worry, it is only when she enters her brother's room that she realises that she did not ask what would be happening with her and her son, though she supposes she shall be remaining here until such time as all is settled.
Edmure's condition was not much improved from the last time she had visited him. His skin was hot to touch, and sweat often came down from his forehead. He murmured incoherently, and once or twice sat up in shock from the blow that had been dealt him some time ago, and then rescinded into a dream filled state. She worried for her brother, he was the heir to Riverrun and she knew her father would be distraught to seem him die, she would be as well, but something was going inside his head that would not allow him to return to them, to the land of the living. She sat with him from a period of time, speaking to him of all that was occurring as she knew he would like, and then when she felt she could do no more she got up and left, but not before kissing his forehead as she had done their father's.
From her brother's room she made her way to where she and her son slept, when she opened the doors she was greeted by a scream of delight and soon had a blur of red holding her skirts. She looked down and laughed. "Hello, there sweetling, and how are you?" she looks at her handmaiden Netty and asks. "Has he been causing you too much trouble Netty?"
Her handmaiden shakes her head. "No my lady, he has been a delight as always."
"You may take some rest now Netty, I shall play with my son." Catelyn says, her handmaiden nods and leaves. Once she has gone, Catelyn picks her son up and begins tickling him, as he squeals in delight she asks. "So what have you been doing then sweetling?"
Her son laughs and kisses her cheek and then pointing to the window, he says. "Wolf mama."