The Birth of Dragons

Lady Catelyn Stark

"Lady Catelyn!" Catelyn hears the dwarf calling her name and she cringes internally. She had hoped to get away from the inn before someone could come and find her. She knows that she could simply ignore the imp and keep walking, but then that might well attract far too much attention.

Instead she turns around and says. "Lord Tyrion, I had not thought to see you here." That much was the truth of course, she had thought she'd not be seeing anyone of note at the Inn of the Kneeling Man.

By this point, there is quite the crowd gathering, speaking behind closed hands, and tankards about what they are witnessing. The Imp fixes his mismatched eyes on her, and replies. "Indeed, I had not thought to stop here. But you see, it is quite the way from Castle Black to King's Landing, and I had thought to stop for some refreshment before returning to my journey." A pause follows that, then the dwarf asks. "And what of you my lady? I had thought to see you in Winterfell, and yet it was your son who greeted me."

A thrum of nervousness shoots through her. "I was visiting my father in Riverrun." She lies, hoping that Lannister does not catch her in her lie.

Lannister merely smiles. "Ah, a good thing then. I have heard Lord Hoster has been ailing for some time. No doubt a visit from his daughter was what he needed."

There is something in the imp's words that she does not like, but she chooses to ignore the feeling for just now and instead asks. "How was your visit to the wall?"

Lannister looks at her with his mismatched eyes, and Catelyn gets the feeling that the imp is trying to analyse her every word and movement with his eyes. It is a very disconcerting feeling. "It was most enlightening. It is good to see that Lord Stark has not forgotten his obligation to a place just on his borders."

The words are meant to sting and sting they do. "My lord husband was always and has always been a friend to the Watch." She replies crisply.

The imp smiles a strange smile in response and merely says. "I am sure he does my lady. Though the state of the watch might well belie that."

Catelyn feels her skin flush at the insult, and she sees Ser Rodrik place a hand on his sword pommel. Deciding to change the topic, she instead asks him. "And how did you find Winterfell? I trust my children were most courteous to you?"

"Oh most definitely. They are good children. Your second son has woken up my lady. He was most sullen that you were not there." The imp responds.

Catelyn feels a pang in her heart at his words, Bran was always her special boy, and not being there when he woke up, tears a fracture in her heart. "I see." Is all she can say in response, fighting desperation.

The imp is still staring at her, and Catelyn wants to scream at him, she can feel her heart racing in her chest, memories of what Benjen had told her running through her head, fighting with what Petyr had told her as well. Eventually, the dwarf speaks. "I must admit it was very charitable of you to allow your husband's bastard to remain in Winterfell after he left. I do not know of many people who would do that."

The mention of Jon startles her, she thinks quickly as to whether there was anything that had given them away there, and is relieved when nothing springs to mind. "Jon is just a boy, there is nothing wrong with him staying at his home." She replies.

The imp smiles another mismatched smile at her. "A very interesting stance to take, my lady. I hope you do not find me rude, but I would wonder, how is it that you have such sympathy for the boy, and still love your husband, when the man has never told you who the boy's mother is."

Catelyn stiffens. She has feared this moment appearing for so long, and she had prepared for it, but now that it is upon her, she finds that she cannot truly find anything to reply with. Instead she merely says. "What problems I have with my husband are between myself and him, Lord Tyrion. Jon is just a boy, whatever the circumstances of his birth, he is still one of my children. Now if you would excuse me, I must be on my way." With that she turns and nods to Ser Rodrik, before walking out of the room.

A few moments later, Ser Rodrik asks her. "Do you think he suspects anything my lady?"

Catelyn sighs. "I do not know Ser. I would hope not, for if he does, we are in grave danger."

She had originally intended to return to her room, and rest for the night, before setting out for Winterfell in the morning, but now that she knows Lannister is here, she is considering leaving now. "Ser Rodrik, how long would it take to saddle our horses and ride out tonight?" she asks.

The knight seems surprised. "I think it would take no more than, half an hour, my lady. Though do you not think it would look suspicious, if we were to leave the inn tonight, after meeting Lannister?"

Catelyn thinks through this, she knows that what Ser Rodrik says is most likely true, but the desire to leave for Winterfell now is strong, stronger than it has ever been, her son is awake, and she worries that the imp might have more than a passing interest in Jon. However, leaving right now, would not be wise. Sighing she says. "You are right of course, Ser. I do think that perhaps leaving at first light tomorrow would be wise."

Ser Rodrik nods. "Of course my lady." A pause follows then he says. "I shall see you in the morn then." And with that he walks off to his own room, leaving Catelyn to stand in the hallway for a moment, before she too ventures to her room.