Chapter Text
Chapter One: Catelyn
Catelyn and her two siblings arrived at Winterfell after the long journey here. She was eight and ten, her sister Lysa was six and ten while her brother Edmure was only nine. Robert Baratheon was now on the iron throne with all of the Targaryen's dead as far as she was aware of. She knew Ned would be coming home soon and what better way to welcome him than with their son and his in laws. Not to mention she wanted to meet her only surviving in law, Benjen. The boy was just three and ten but had suffered great losses. His brother, his father and the word had now spread that Lady Lyanna was dead. She wanted to meet with him and comfort him. Her uncle Brynden had rode to Kings Landing to ensure that her Lord husband would make it back to Winterfell safely.
She was looking down fondly at her son Robb when Edmure interrupted her thoughts. "Cat are we going to sit here or are we going to move? I'm bored" the little Lord complained. Catelyn chuckled at him before she nudged him a little, signalling for him to get out he jumped out of the carriage with Lysa getting out the other side of it with the familiar sour look on her face she always wore.
"Welcome, my ladies, my lord" a boy said who approached her with a smile on his face. He looked much like Ned but only with darker hair. She had no doubt in her mind who the boy was.
"Benjen?" She asked him and he nodded enthusiastically. "It is lovely to finally meet you. Your brothers both told me so much about you even from when I was young. Brandon had told me all about you as a small child and how he adored you. I am very sorry for your losses. I can't imagine the pain you have been through but your brother is on his way. I'm sure he will be happy to see you" Catelyn assured him. She saw his smile falter a little at the mention of Brandon but he kept it there. Despite the smile she could see all the unresolved grief in his eyes.
"Thankyou, my lady" he told her, his voice a little quieter than before but genuinely grateful. "I can show you to your chambers, you, your brother and your sister" he told her with a small nod. "And...When I show you to your chambers is it...I mean it's up to you but is it okay if I see my nephew properly?" He asked her as politely as possible. His tone wasn't demanding.
"Of course, he is your blood as much as mine" Catelyn assured him, smiling warmly at the boy. Robb was Benjen's only surviving blood relation besides Ned. She could not take that away from him. He looked so innocent and she could already feel her protective older sibling instincts kicking in with the boy. Benjen sighed with relief before he turned around.
"Follow me" he told them before he began to lead the way into Winterfell. Catelyn had been here before when she had concieved Robb. She wasn't there long enough to see everyone. She had seen glimpses of Benjen but he often locked himself in his chambers since it was so soon after his father and brother died as well as his sister being kidnapped.
Benjen lead the way to a door and then turned to face them as he opened it. "Lady Lysa here is your chamber. You will have a handmaiden who will be with you shortly and if not just find me or anyone else and I can help you with anything you need" he smiled to the youngest female Tully but she didn't smile back she simply walked past him before slamming the door in his face. Catelyn frowned at that as she adjusted Robb in her arms.
"I'm so sorry about her, my Lord. You did nothing wrong and I will make sure I scold her later. She's just bitter with everyone, even us" Catelyn assured him. Benjen nodded, looking down. He sighed before he silently lead them to another room. He opened the door and revealed another chamber with a single bed rather than the double bed Lysa's chambers had for when Lord Arryn returned.
"Edmure, here are your chambers. Now mine are right next door to here on the left, okay? If you need anything then knock my door and I will assist you" Benjen smiled down at the younger boy. Edmure smiled back at him, much more welcoming than Lysa.
"Thankyou!" He said excitedly and practically ran into the room.
"Be good Edmure and don't trash the room" Catelyn told him with a small smile.
"I won't Cat" he told her before he went to playing with some wooden toys he had found. Benjen chuckled a little before he closed the door.
"I thought Lord Edmure might like the wooden knights. Me, my brothers and my sister played with them too" he muttered with a sad smile. Looking down at the ground for a few moments before he quickly snapped out of his trance. "I'm sorry my Lady, this way" he told her quickly as he rushed to Catelyn's chambers.
"You musn't be sorry. I have no idea how you feel but this can't be easy for you. Don't apologize over feeling upset due to the loss of your family. It's completely normal" she told him Benjen sighed and stopped as he reached a door and opened it for her. He turned to face her with only slightly glazed over eyes. It was evident tears were forming but Catelyn said nothing about the issue. She simply walked past him and looked around the room. It was cosy, it felt homely as soon as she walked in. She sat down on the bed and looked over to the young Lord at the door. He looked a little awkward as he bit his lip nervously. "You want to hold your nephew?" Catelyn asked him with a warm smile. He immediately looked up and nodded. He stepped into the room, closing the door behind him.
"Is it okay if I sit on the bed?" Benjen asked her as he looked up at her.
"Of course" Catelyn chuckled a little. Benjen jumped up onto the bed beside Catelyn and looked at the tiny bundle in Catelyn's arms. He was sleeping but his Tully features couldn't be denied. He looked nothing like Eddard or Benjen. He looked like a Tully, specifically like Edmure. Catelyn carefully passed the baby to Benjen who was unsure how to hold him but took him from her gently. "Use one of your hands to support his head" Catelyn instructed him gently. Benjen nodded and did so. He looked down at him and smiled fondly down at one of his two living blood relations.
"Hi Robb" Benjen cooed softly before the baby began to stir a little. He looked to Catelyn, a little worried and not knowing what to do.
"I think he heard his Uncle Benjen's voice" Catelyn chuckled a little as he looked at Benjen and then to Robb. Benjen smiled a little before he looked down at him again. Robb's eyes opened and Benjen gasped quietly. The boy's eyes were bright blue just like hers. Robb's blue eyes must have captivated the little Lord. Robb looked to Catelyn and then directly up at Benjen.
"Hi, little one" Benjen said in a hushed tone as he looked right back into her baby's blue eyes. "I'm your Uncle Benjen and I promise I will protect you from any hurt you may face. I will always be here for you, little wolf" Benjen assured him which caused Robb to smile a little. Benjen smiled back and lifted the baby up a little, putting him to his chest. The same way she had carried him earlier. He was lightly embracing Robb who was now using Benjen's shoulder as a pillow.
"He likes you" Catelyn said confidently as she smiled at the young boy. "He usually cries and screams with strangers. He did the first time Lysa held him and many others. He knows you are family" Catelyn smiled at him, feeling proud of both her son and her little brother by law.
"Father would have loved to have a grandchild" Benjen told her as he continued to look into Robb's bright blue eyes. "He would always scold Brandon about him not wanting to settle down. Told him he was the eldest so he had to have a son to be the heir to Winterfell. I never imagined that Ned's son would be the heir instead" Benjen admitted shaking his head a little. Brandon is supposed to be here. He's supposed to be the heir ready for when my father died of old age or sickness not-" he stopped when he felt a tear fall from his eye. "I'm sorry my Lady I shouldn't burden you wih this" Benjen said quickly as he carefully handed Robb back to Catelyn. "There is a party tonight to celebrate the end of the War. I will have a handmaiden help you get ready, my Lady" he added before he got off the bed quickly.
"Benjen" Catelyn called after him but Benjen hurriedly left the room, quietly closing the door behind him. Catelyn sighed sadly, feeling sorry for the boy. Even she had felt pain when Brandon had died but she couldn't imagine the pain Benjen was feeling. She wished Ned would hurry back not for her sake, not even for Robb's sake but for Benjen's sake. He needed his only surviving sibling.
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Many hours had passed since the incident and Catelyn was ready for the celebrations. "I will watch over Lord Robb. If there is any problems I will fetch you" Catelyn's handmaiden told her. Catelyn smiled gratefully to her before she looked at herself in the mirror. Her long silver dress was tight around her waist but flowed at her legs and her hair was braided into a northen style. She walked towards the door and as soon as she opened it she saw her baby brother sitting with his knee's up against the opposite wall. He looked quite upset. She immediately went to him and sat down beside him. Her brother was more important than any feast. "What's wrong Edmure?" She asked him softly. He looked to her, his blue tully eyes full of tears.
"Why does Lysa hate me?" He asked her simply, his voice wavering a little as he looked up at her.
"She doesn't hate you, sweet brother. Why would you think that?" Catelyn asked him. She already knew that Lysa had probably been terrible to their young brother.
"I asked Benjen where her room was because I thought you would be busy with Robb so I went to her instead and then I knocked the door. She said to come in and when she saw me she looked upset and angry. Like she didn't want me there then she was being really mean to me but I just wanted to escort her to the celebrations. Then she said it was better when I wasn't born because I'm an annoying waste of space" Edmure told his older sister before more tears fell from his eyes. Catelyn immediately stood up, offering her hand to Edmure. Her little brother took her hand, standing up.
"Lysa doesn't mean what she said and even if she did I love you. I will always love you. You are not a burden on me and you never will be" she told him as she wiped away Edmure's tears. "You are not a waste of space. You are the heir to Riverrun. Fathers only surviving son but most of all you are a kind boy. You will grow to be whatever you want to be, little brother." She assured him. When she was done all of his tears were gone. He hugged her tightly and she hugged him back, kissing his hair tenderly.
"Can I escort you to the celebrations instead?" He asked her and held his hand out to her as they split from the hug.
"Of course" she smiled at him before she took his hand and they walked. Once they were outside it was obvious where the celebrations were taking place. Everyone was headed in the same direction. As they began to follow people stared at her.
"Welcome home Lady Stark" she heard a few people say as she walked by making her smile a little to them. These were her people now. She was their Lady. She was no longer Lady Catelyn of Riverrun but rather Lady Stark of Winterfell.
They reached the hall at which the celebrations were held. Catelyn immediately spotted Benjen sitting at the front table in the middle as the temporary Lord of Winterfell. She also saw her sister sitting to the left. She was going to approach her but she remembered. She was a woman now. She had to act like one. She would confront Lysa later. When she looked back up to the front table Benjen was gone from his posistion. As she searched for him she saw him making his way through the crowds towards her and Edmure. "My Lady" Benjen greeted her and bowed a little. "Will you be taking your seat at the front table? The lady of Winterfell should sit for all to see" Benjen told her with a small smile. Catelyn smiled back at him and looked down at Edmure who was still holding her hand.
"Is it okay if Edmure sits up there too? He's had a argument with Lysa and was upset. That's okay isn't it?" She asked him, not wanting to sit up there without her brother.
"Of course. He is the Lady of Winterfell's brother. He is more than welcome to sit with us. Besides he will be Lord of Riverrun one day. He should get used to people looking up to him" Benjen smiled down at him. Edmure beamed back at him happily.
Benjen lead the way to the table with Catelyn and Edmure following behind, still holding hands. "Get a chair for Lord Edmure" Benjen told one of the men who was guarding the steps up to the high table. The man bowed before he hurried away.
Just moments later he came back with a chair and placed it beside Catelyn's. Benjen was already seated. "Thankyou" Edmure smiled kindly to the man who had bought the chair for him before he jumped up on it and looked out at the sea of people. "I can't wait until I get to rule" Edmure told them excitedly as he beamed. He looked to Benjen. "Do you like ruling?" He asked the slightly older boy. Catelyn looked to Benjen at that and saw him slightly drop his head. He ran a hand through his dark hair before he looked back to Edmure with a smile.
"I don't think it's my thing. I'm the third born son. I was never supposed to rule but you, Edmure. You are the first born son, your place is being the Lord to Riverrun. I'm sure you will enjoy it. You seem that you would be suited to it" Benjen assured him with a slight nod of his head. Catelyn examined her poor brother by law. She couldn't help but feel extremely sorry fo him. He was only just a teen but so much had happened and he had more responsibility than she could imagine.
"I'm sorry about what happened to your family" Edmure blurted out to Benjen. He had a sincere look on his face. While he was usually joking and smiling that expression had completely faded. Catelyn was suprised at how her brother was being mature for once. "My Mother died but I can't really remember her and that's bad enough I can't imagine how you feel. You are my brother by law though and I just want you to know I am really sorry and I hope you start to feel at least a little better when your brother comes back. None of your family deserved such horror" he told him, a somber look on his young features.
"Thankyou Lord Edmure. Your words are too kind" Benjen smiled at him, genuinely grateful for his words. "I am sorry to you as well. About your Mother. I understand how it feels when your siblings remember her but you barely do" he told him with a small nod. Catelyn looked between the two young boys and her heart swelled with pride. While she had only known Benjen less than a day she felt they had connected already. How could she not connect with such a sweet boy? Her brother had amazed her with his maturity and understanding. "Looks like pretty much everyone is here" Benjen muttered before he looked to Catelyn. "If I start off some dumb speech could you maybe say something? About Robb or Ned? The people will be grateful for positivity after these dark times. Plus you are their lady now" he asked of her. She had made some speeches at Riverrun but that was as the Lord's daughter. Someone they knew would simply be carried away one day to wed into another house. This was different but the pleading look in her brother by law's eyes gave her no choice.
"Of course" she told him smiling when she saw his shoulders relax as he let out a relieved sigh.
Benjen stood tapping a spoon to his glass causing the room to turn silent. His cheeks went a tinted shade of red as all eyes turned to him. "Welcome, my Lords and Ladies. As we all know the war is over and the Targaryen's reign has come to an end" he stated before the whole room errupted into loud cheers. He smiled a little at the northeners who slowly quieted down. "But war always comes with a price and we have lost much in this war" he added causing the atmosphere to become tense. "My father, the Lord of Winterfell; Rickard Stark was burned alive by the mad King Aerys. My brother, the heir to Winterfell; Brandon Stark was strangled trying to save him and my sister. The only remaining Lady Stark of Winterfell kidnapped, raped and killed by Rhaegar Targaryen" he said closing his eyes for a moment and pursing his lips to contain himself.
"The North remembers!"
"We will never forget!"
Catelyn heard people say as she looked into the crowd. She could see the expressions on their faces. They were feeling the losses too. All three of them were members of house Stark. The house they served and looked up to. The house they loved. Benjen opened his eyes again and forced himself to smile. "But with loss also comes gain. We may have lost them but we won the war. My brother, Lord Eddard will be home before we know it and he will resume the posistion as the Lord of Winterfell" he told them before they all began clapping and cheering, their faces once again filling with glee and delight. Catelyn liked the northerners already. They were very different to the people she saw while living at Riverrun but she liked them. She felt as if she was home here. "Not to mention my brothers wife, Lady Catelyn Stark is here as well as her siblings" Benjen said pointing over to Catelyn before quickly lowering his hand. They all stared at her and she smiled at the crowd. She looked to little Edmure who was beaming as he looked out onto the sea of people.
"Her sister. Lady Lysa Arryn is here sitting among you all as well as her brother, the heir to Riverun, Lord Edmure." Benjen introduced them. Edmure waved at the mention of his name causing some of the crowd to wave back and a few of them to chuckle at her little brother. She ruffled his hair affectionately and spotted her sister in the crowd who was rolling her eyes. Catelyn let her smile drop for a moment before she remembered to continue smiling to her people. "I expect everyone to treat all three of them with the same respect you would treat any Northener. Lysa and Edmure are our guests and Catelyn is now the Lady of Winterfell. Now as well as that some of you may know but most may not. My brother and his wife have had a child" Benjen told them with a smile full of pride on his face as everyone in the room began whispering and their faces beaming. "He is a boy named Robb. He is the new heir to Winterfell" Benjen told them causing every single person in the room, besides Lysa of course to stand if they were sitting and scream with joy.
Benjen looked to Catelyn and held a hand out to her. "I will sit by Edmure to make sure he doesn't move too much. Introduce yourself, talk about Robb and Ned. Keep the happiness up" he advised her and she nodded to him, switching places with him. She looked back to see Benjen explaining to Edmure what was happening and smiled a little at them before she turned back to the flood of people.
"It is true. Lord Eddard and I have had a son. He is at the tender age of just three months old. I would have brang him for you all to see but he is sleeping right now. If any of you ever see me or Eddard or even Benjen with him feel free to ask us to see him. He is your heir after all" she told them, keeping her smile. "When my Lord Husband returns I promise you that he and I will do our best to fill the space of those who have been lost. Of course I am no Lyanna and he is no Rickard or Brandon. We will never forget but we can try our best to move on and help to restore Winterfell back to a place of peace rather than fear, pain and worry. On this night let us raise our glasses to Lord Rickard, Lord Brandon and Lady Lyanna" she said before everyone in the room raised their glasses. She grabbed hers from behind her, at the same time she saw Benjen grab his as well as fetching an empty glass for Edmure which she was grateful for. He was much too young for alcohol. Then again so was Benjen but she wasn't about to lecture him. She raised her glass, looking to the people, her people. "To the fallen Starks in the war. May they rest in peace" she stated.
"To the Starks"
"Rest in Peace"
She heard mumbles throughout the hall as she drank a sip of her wine. Benjen stood again and looked to the people. "Enjoy the festivities and have fun. The war is over!" He broke in causing the cheers to errupt once again and the music to continue playing as he took his seat once again in the chair assigned to the Lord of Winterfell. Catelyn took her seat between her little brother by blood and her little brother by law. "Thankyou for your toast to my family" Benjen muttered to her, a grateful smile on his face.
"Your family is also my family now, including you" she reminded him. He nodded to her, she could tell it was his way of saying thankyou before he looked out to all of the people singing and dancing with glee.
Hours had passed since the beginning of the celebrations. "Cat will you dance with me?" Edmure asked her as he tugged on her sleeve. "I'm bored come and dance" he pleaded with her. She was suprised he had kept still for this long.
"Is that okay, Benjen?" She asked as she turned back to the young boy who was watching them fondly.
"Yes, of course. You don't need to ask my permission. You are the Lady of Winterfell. Do what you please" he told her before she was practically dragged to the floor by her brother. As she walked through the crowd people bowed to her, welcoming her as well as Edmure.
Edmure stopped searching for a spot to dance in when he saw Lysa sitting on her own and looking glum. He sighed and put a hand out to her. "Come and dance with us" he insisted. She looked to his hand with an annoyed look and then to Catelyn. "Please Ly Ly" he frowned, trying to guilt trip her into dancing with them.
"One song" she sighed in annoyance before she downed her drink and stood up, taking Edmure's hand. She then moved to take Catelyn's hand as well. While Catelyn did want to talk to Lysa about her behaviour towards both Benjen and Edmure she could leave it for now while she was actually co-operating.
Five songs later and the three of them were giggling, panting and sweating from dancing. Lysa knelt down a little when the fifth song stopped so she was eye level with Edmure. Catelyn watched a listened intently. Ensuring her clearly intoxicated sister didn't hurt Edmure's feelings again. "I am so sorry Edmure" she told him immediately making Catelyn sigh with relief. "I didn't mean what I said to you. You are my little brother and I do not hate you or wish you anything but happiness and joy. I'm just bitter than Cat got a better husband than I and I took that out on you which was not fair" she admitted to him. Catelyn smiled at them as she watched Edmure wrap his arms around Lysa's neck in an embrace. She hugged him back, standing up straight again and lifting the small boy slightly off his feet. Even for a nine year old he was still rather small for his age. He wasn't exactly heavy or difficult to pick up.
"My lady" a voice said and Catelyn turned to face her. She saw her son in her arms crying. "He awoke from his nap and wouldn't stop crying. I assumed he needed his Mother" her handmaiden and wetnurse told her. Catelyn smiled down at her auburn haired son before gently taking Robb from her.
"Hush now Robb" she told him in a calm voice as she rocked him slightly. His cries quieted down after only a few minutes but that was also when people began to notice she was holding a baby.
"The little Lord of Winterfell is here!"
She heard someone shout and soon all eyes were on her and her boy. "He needs to go back to sleep. It is much too loud for him here" Catelyn told them all causing a chorus of sighs.
Benjen stood from his chair, the sound of the chair scraping across the floor causing all to look to him. "My nephew is not a toy or something you can gawk at. He is a baby and needs rest just as any baby does. When he is more awake feel free to look at him but right now he needs sleep and you do not show attitude towards Lady Stark for that. She brang him into this world, let her do her duty and care for him" Benjen told them, his voice sterner than Catelyn had heard before. "You can go Lady Stark. Go and allow the little Lord to rest" Benjen nodded to her. Catelyn smiled to him and curtsied.
"Look after Edmure, Lysa" Catelyn told her younger sister who nodded before Catelyn was able to scurry out of the hall. Once they were outside Robb let a little toothless smile spread across his lips. "You like the fresh air, hm?" Catelyn asked her baby boy who responded with happy squeals. She chuckled and stayed outside for a while. Taking in all the views and structures that Winterfell had to offer. The air was cold, of course it was the North afterall but despite the cold air and gloomy weather Winterfell was not unwelcoming. She felt as if it had open arms ready for her. While, of course, she would miss Riverrun with all of her heart Winterfell would be a suitable replacement.
The thing she would miss most about Riverrun was being able to be with her blood family constantly, especially little Edmure. Her baby brother would be alone now. She would be living in Winterfell while Lysa had wed Jon Arryn and so had to move away too. She knew Edmure wouldn't take it well. She remembered how he used to detest her ever marrying anyone. Back when he didn't understand, when she was betrothed to Brandon. Ned's older and wilder brother. She felt pity that her son would never meet his Uncle Brandon and Aunt Lyanna. She herself wish she could have met Lyanna properly. She was beautiful but she had the wolfs blood. She was a tamer version of Brandon but still wild, Ned had told her after they wed.
She felt the chill of the cold air begin to get to her, sending shivers down her spine. She looked down at Robb who didn't seem to mind the cold air at all. Even though he had Tully looks he was clearly a true Northerner already. Despite that she took him inside, going back to her chambers. She settled him easily, the cold winds of Winterfell seemed to have relaxed him.
After Robb had settled it didn't take long before she herself got into bed, tired from the days events but happy all the same. Her family was all here. All besides her Father, Uncle and husband. She was excited to present Robb to Eddard. He would be so proud of what they had made together. A beautiful baby boy who was more perfect than she could have ever dreamed of. She could hear his soft breaths across the room and smiled contently before she herself drifted into a deep slumber.