Bringing the Dawn

XXVI.

Catelyn Tully Stark

On route from the Eyrie to Winterfell, 300AC

For many years now, she had thought to herself that if she reunited with any of her siblings she would be ecstatic and not want to leave them again. Yet the last few days, she had been thinking of how much she had wanted to get away from Lysa. She loved her sister fiercely, but she hated how stupid she was at times. Even when they were young, the younger only thought 'in the now' and not the wider impact her actions may cause. The taking of Tyrion was a prime example of this. Time was of the essence now. Her father's men were likely to arrive soon and she knew her brother would be with them. Catelyn was torn between wanting to see him again as she hadn't since she had left Riverrun with Robb to head to Winterfell for the first time.

But it was a ticking explosion, one she was roped in on. And she couldn't even do anything about it because one of her core values was to support family and Jon was family to her- just not through blood. She wondered where he was now. Probably back in Greywater Watch but she had no way to know with certainty as she wasn't near a rookery. As soon as Tyrion had officially been cleared of the charges against him, both her and her uncle packed their little belongings and made their way out, the sellsword who had fought for him coming too alongside a few guards so nothing would happen. Remembering when she had last seen the dwarf deep in his cups and charming numerous people with his wit.

But two days into their journey, she was at her wits end with the man. He never stopped talking. Not even for a few minutes. Both he and the sellsword sharing numerous similarities it was like bouncing back and forth between a loving wife and husband. It reminded her greatly of the banter she shared with Ned. It had taken years for them to get to that stage, but she had grown to love him deeply and she knew he was the same with her. Who would've thought the eldest child of a Lord Paramount would match so well with a second son? Right now, Tyrion was chatting animatedly to his new friend, talking about the numerous escapades he had done when he was a child. Whether that be tying his brothers shoelaces when he wasn't looking, to once covering his sisters chair in a thin layer of glue which caused her to get stuck and rip her favourite dress.

"Does he ever stop talking?"

Catelyn rolled her eyes at her uncle's words. He was sworn to protect Lysa, but he was also brought up in the same vicinity to protect family at all costs. Therefore, he was travelling back to Winterfell with her before turning around to go back to where he stayed. He had been asking her numerous questions about it, genuinely interested. Remembering he had fought alongside Ned in the rebellion started by Balon Greyjoy. Her husband spoke highly of the man, and that was saying something. If Ned didn't like someone, he said it aloud and didn't really care much on it. Many Northerners were like that, something that terrified her at first but now welcomed as it allowed her to not keep guard of her own sharp tongue as often as she did in the south. In the south, everything could be an insult. In the North, there were simply statements of truth. Remembering once where he had told her he was brought up by his mother saying that if a person took offence to a statement of truth, they needed smacked across the face. She had snorted at the time, but as she grew older and more accustomed to her new lifestyle, it was something she had adopted too.

"Lord Tyrion, I must say I find it strange that you were in the Vale. Last I heard you were back in Kings Landing."

Her words cut the other two off as the sellsword- Bronn- kicked his horse into a gallop to get ahead, her uncle doing the same as well which left them alone. The Lannister was riding a pony, with a saddle shaped to accommodate his stunted legs.

"How honest would you like me to be, my Lady?"

"As honest as your lips will allow you to be."

Tyrion let out a loud laugh at her retort, and she had to fight herself from laughing too.