The Birth of Dragons

Lady Catelyn Stark

Her son, her beautiful boy lay crippled in bed, fallen from the broken tower of Winterfell. They said he had fallen, and Catelyn had not believed them, Bran never fell, indeed, the discovery of a blond hair in the tower, had only confirmed what she had thought. That he had been pushed. That someone had sent a hired knife to do away with her son, only served to further confirm this. She did not know why someone would want to harm her son, but she had to find answers, and so she had travelled south, with Ser Rodrik, bringing the knife with her. After an interesting discussing with Petyr and the Spider, she was now speaking with her husband and brother in law.

"Petyr seems to think that the dagger belongs to Tyrion Lannister." Catelyn begins. "He says that he lost the dagger to the imp during a wager during Prince Joffrey's nameday tourney. Where the imp bet against his brother."

Benjen speaks then. "The imp never bets against his brother." He pauses and then continues. "And I remember that tourney, the imp wasn't even there."

That confuses her. "How do you know that Ben? You weren't at the tourney?" she knows because he was venturing through the Riverlands.

"I know because he was with me. We were at Riverrun, sampling some of the more delight able pleasures of the realm." Her good brother responds with a wry grin.

This makes her very uncertain, she knows Benjen, and knows he would never lie about something as important as this, but then, if he is telling the truth, what was Petyr saying to her? "Why then would Petyr claim that he had given the dagger to the imp, if indeed the man was not even there?"

Benjen shrugs. "Baelish likes his little games, perhaps this is one of them?"

"He is playing a very dangerous game then." Ned all but growls. Her husband looks at her and asks. "Do you think he was playing you false deliberately?"

Catelyn hesitates, her automatic reaction is to defend Petyr, but from what Benjen has told them, it seems that Petyr was indeed playing them false. "I do not know my love. For Lord Varys told me the same tale, upon further questioning. I do not know why Petyr would try and play me false though."

At this Benjen laughs. "Oh, he wasn't trying to play you false Cat, he was merely telling you something he knew you would have to tell Ned."

At this Catelyn finds herself asking. "What do you mean?"

Benjen looks at her, and then at Ned and simply says. "Baelish has a history of talking about his relationship with you and your sister, Cat. He has made many bold claims, and it is obvious to anyone with eyes that he still desires you. As such, this information he gave you, was no doubt done in a manner to convince you to tell Ned, in the hopes that Ned would act on it." At this Benjen pauses and then says. "Forgive me brother, but when it comes to the Lannisters you do not act rationally. That was what Baelish was counting on."

Catelyn sighs. Wondering if they will ever truly get out from under the shadow of Brandon and the duel he fought with Petyr. "So he was trying to start trouble then?" she asks.

"Most likely." Benjen agrees.

Ned looks troubled by that. "Or he could have tried to convince us that was his intention."

At this Benjen looks troubled. "You suggest then that he and the eunuch are working together for something?"

"I think that would make some sense, as to why they were both there when Cat appeared in Baelish's brothel." Ned responds, his hands clenching together at the thought of it, Cat sighs at that, she is grateful Benjen came and took her to his manor within the city, away from Baelish and his designs.

"So then, what do we do from here?" Catelyn finds herself asking. "We do not have enough evidence to level any sort of accusation against the Lannisters, even though they seem the most likely perpetrators of the crime against Bran." She had told Ned about the hair when she had seen him the first time, and he had agreed with her that something was most definitely there, but what it was, neither of them knew.

Ned looks at her a moment and then says. "You must return to Winterfell, send word to the men of the north to prepare. I want archers stationed in Moat Cailin, and if you see Howland, tell him to prepare his men. I want Winterfell's defences strengthened and I want Theon watched. He is friends with Robb, but I do not know how deep that friendship extends."

"You expect there to be war?" Catelyn asks.

Ned nods. "I most definitely think something will happen, with the way the Lannisters are flaunting their power. I cannot stand to let them dig their claws in anymore." There is a stubborn determination in her husband's voice, that makes Cat think there will definitely be war.

She moves to him and takes his hands in hers and whispers. "Be safe my love." He nods and she looks at Benjen and says. "Keep him safe, and my girls as well Ben."

Her good brother nods. "I will my lady. I promise."

With that Benjen turns and leaves, leaving her and Ned to themselves, and she looks at him and asks. "What do you think this means then? If we cannot trust Petyr, who are we to trust within King's Landing?"

"Benjen of course." Ned responds. His hands holding hers tightly. "No one else. King's Landing is a nest of vipers, but hopefully we shall emerge from this without a scratch."

"If you need to come home, then come home my love. Do not stay here for overly long, just because of Robert." She replies, kissing their joined hands and then kissing his lips, feeling as if this might be the last time she does so.