Out of the woods // Ned Stark

11. Pretty Boy

'It's time to review the accounts my lady... do you want to know how much this royal visit has cost us?'

'Talk to Paul about it.' Catelyn said distractedly.

'Paul went South with Lord Stark my lady you need a new steward and there are several other appointments that require our meeting.' The maester went on.

'I don't care about our appointments.' Catelyn spat, she never handled this before she didnt know why she was being bothered with this now.

'I will make the appointments.' Robb said 'we will talk about it first thing in the morning.'

'Very good my lord.' the maester said 'my lady.'  He turned back to Catelyn before exiting

'When was the last time you left this room?' Robb asked

'I have to take care of him' Catelyn told him kneading her hands together. she stared down at him, she knew him, he was important to her but she couldnt entirely place him. so she sat and stared.

'He's not going to die mother the master has assured us that the dangerous time has passed.' Robb assured. "Bran will be fine." Bran. her clarity came back at full force. Her baby.

'I do not care Brandon needs me.' Catelyn told him defensively.

'Rickon needs you,' rob corrected 'he is six he does not know what is happening he follows me around all day crying I try to comfort him but he's scared and confused. He needs his mother.' the wolf started to howl outside

'Close the windows I can't handle that make them stop!' Catelyn said in outrage, her hands over her head.

'Fire.' Robb noted looking out the window 'you stay here I'll come back.' Catelyn looked to Bran, fixing his covers when she heard a creak in the floor.

'You're not supposed to be here...' she spun around to see a guard staring at her but it wasn't a Stark guard., 'no one is supposed to be here... it's a mercy. he's dead already...' the guard said coming at Bran.

"What?" Catelyn stuttered looking between them. "NO!"

''NO!" Catelyn screamed as he advanced pushing him back, she tried to grab the blade but had a blade at her throat she gripped it her hand bleeding in the process she bit him trying to get him to stop but he threw her to the ground. His target was bran, but summer came tearing at the man protecting her master, once dead Summer jumped up on the bed sitting next to Brandon her dead kill bleeding out on the floor.

Catelyn looked to the assailants blade and had one thought. Lannister.

+

They were on their way to Kings Landing, stopping on the kings road for the night as everyone made camp and all of the knights were horrifying beasts Sansa stumbled backwards running into Sandor. She stared up at him taking nervous steps back away from him, her eyes wide her lip quivered.  Maelia came up behind them.

'Do I frighten you so much girl?' sandor questioned she didn't answer, 'or is it him that's making a shake? He frightens me to look at that face.' Sandor teased nodding to Illyn Payne.

'Sansa, I see you met Sandor.' Maelia remarked. "Such a pretty boy he is." Maelia added and Sandor stared down at her, something in her eyes was familiar. Sansa clung to Maelia.

'I'm sorry if I offended you sir.' Sansa said sheepishly he only stated at her, a deep frown on his face as he walked past them. 'Why won't he speak to me?' Sansa questioned sandor. Maelia's gaze followed Illyn Payne cautiously.

'He hasn't been talkative the last 20 years since the mad king had his tongue cut out.' Sandor informed her his gaze drifting to Maelia a protective hold around sansa.