Chapter 7:- Catelyn Stark: The Mother Wolf

Catelyn tends to Bran after he falls from the tower, and prays for his recovery. Cersei visits Catelyn, sitting by her son's side, and tells her that her first child, a beautiful, black-haired boy, was stillborn. She and Robert were grief-stricken and her prayers and tears were for naught. She offers to pray for Bran's survival, hoping that this time the gods will listen. Catelyn was angry when Jon Snow came to say his goodbyes to Bran as he leaves for Castle Black with Benjen and wishes for Bran to recover from his coma. Catelyn orders Jon to leave as she didn't want the only stigma on her husband's name to be there when she was grieving for her second son. When Eddard also came to say his goodbyes to both Bran and Catelyn, Catelyn was angered at his departure while their son remained comatose.

Catelyn's refusal to leave Bran's side starts to cause problems for the smooth running of the castle. Because of that, Robb started to work with Maester Luwin to fill vacancies left by the departure of Eddard's retinue. A day after the departure of King and his entourage, Robb was drawn away from Bran's room by a fire. This proves to be a distraction to allow an assassin to reach Bran. Upon reaching Bran's room, the assassin finds Catelyn at Bran's bedside. The pair tussle which results in Catelyn receiving hand wounds; Bran is saved by his direwolf, Summer, who tears the assassin's throat out. After his death the ornate dagger, made of Valyrian steel and with a dragonbone hilt, carried by the assassin was taken by Catelyn. She started to suspect that, her son didn't just fall from the tower, but someone had tried to claim his life.

Because of that, the next day, Catelyn goes to the tower where Bran fell and finds a blonde strand of hair inside. She summons Robb, Theon Greyjoy, Luwin and Ser Rodrik Cassel, the master-at-arms, and tells that that she suspects that the Lannisters tried to kill Bran because he saw something in the tower. Robb and Theon are for making war, but Luwin schools them to caution. Catelyn decides that Ned must know the truth and resolves to meet him in King's Landing. Ser Rodrik escorts her, while Robb commands the castle in her absence.

Catelyn and Ser Rodrik arrive at King's Landing and attempt to sneak into the city, but are spotted by an agent of Littlefinger. They were taken to meet Littlefinger at a brothel he owns, where Lord Varys, the king's spymaster, is also waiting: one of his 'little birds' told him they were coming. Catelyn was angered by the way she's been treated, but asks Littlefinger for aid in finding the people who tried to have Bran killed. Littlefinger says that the elaborate dagger wielded by the assassin used to be his, but that he lost it in a gamble with Tyrion Lannister.

Littlefinger fetches Eddard to meet his wife. Lord Eddard is furious when he realises he has been brought to a brothel. Thinking it is a bad joke, he assaults Baelish, and is stunned when Catelyn makes her presence known and tells him to stop. After hearing her news, he vows to find the truth and expose the Lannisters to Robert. Littlefinger agrees to be his ally in this, citing the affection he once bore Catelyn as a youngster. Despite a plea to her husband to see her two daughters, Ned emphasises the danger of her duration, affectionately sending her back to Winterfell.

Returning to Winterfell, Catelyn and Ser Rodrik stop at the Crossroads Inn, planning to stay overnight. They are surprised by the arrival of Tyrion Lannister. Catelyn fails to stay incognito, then she calls on several knights present who are sworn to her father's bannermen to help her take Tyrion into custody.

Catelyn publicly announces that they are travelling north to Winterfell, but instead takes Tyrion east into the Vale of Arryn. In the hills, they are attacked by warriors of the hill tribes, and Catelyn agrees to let Tyrion go unbound to defend himself. Tyrion saves Catelyn's life, but wins no more of her trust. Tyrion warns Catelyn that her sister Lysa has become mentally unbalanced following her husband's death. His warning rings true when on reaching the Eyrie, to which they are escorted to by Ser Vardis Egen, Captain of the Guards of the Eyrie, Catelyn is unsettled to see how much her sister Lysa has changed. Lysa and her hysterical son, Lord Robin Arryn, order Tyrion thrown into a sky cell, a prison with a wall that opens onto a sheer drop.

Tyrion defends his innocence and demands a trial by combat. The sellsword Bronn, who accompanied the party from the Crossroads Inn, agrees to stand for Tyrion. Bronn defeats Ser Vardis Egen, who takes Lady Lysa's part. Tyrion's victory signifies his innocence in the eyes of the gods and he is released.

Even after Tyrion left the Vale, Catelyn lingered at the Eyrie trying to convince Lysa to commit the Vale's knights to oppose the Lannisters. But Lysa was unwilling to take any action which might endanger her son. Catelyn finally decides to leave after Lysa finds out about Eddard's arrest in King's Landing, following King Robert's death, and that her sister Lysa was purposely delaying informing her about it. Catelyn and Ser Rodrik ride north and meet Robb's army as he marches south. They join his war council, though Catelyn is careful to not embarrass her son or make him appear indecisive. Catelyn points out that to confront the two Lannister armies that have invaded the Riverlands, her father's lands, Robb's army must cross the Green Fork of the Trident at the Twins, which means negotiating with the famously unreliable and prickly Lord Walder Frey.

During their discussion, two soldiers caught a scout from the Lannisters, but Robb sent him off before saying "Tell Lord Tywin Winter is coming to know him. 20,000 Northerners marching South to find out if he really does shit gold."

Greatjon Umber didn't like it one bit and he almost challenged Robb again like he did in Winterfell. Greatjon didn't want to argue with him anymore, and as he turned around to leave, he heard an unknown voice that said "Don't leave yet." Hearing that he stooped in his tracks and turned towards the speaker and had a smile when he recognized who it was.

Everyone turned towards the voice and saw a man as big as Greatjon coming out of the shadows from the corners of the tent. Almost everyone reached out for their swords, almost everyone unsheathed their swords except Ser Rodrick, Greatjon, Catelyn and Robb. As Theon was going to inquire who the man was he heard Catelyin Stark asking "If you're here then.... "

"Yes, our Liege is in King's Landing."

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🚫🚫🚫🚫 Chapter 7 End 🚫🚫🚫🚫