Out of the woods // Ned Stark

16. Kiss Kiss

'Good news?' Petyr said approaching Ned in the throne room Ned held a scroll tightly in his hands. 'perhaps you would like to share it with your wife?'

'Catelyn is in Winterfell' Ned told him.

'Is she?' Petyr grinned walking past him. Ned followed him begrudgingly into the city, down to one of Petyrs brothels.

'I thought she would be safest in here, this is one of the safer establishments I know-' Ned pushed Petyr up against the wall.

'you're a funny man you know that?' Ned said 'a very funny man.' he said strangling him

'Ned.' catelyn called from above, ned released Petyr and moved to the Brothel. "seven fucking hells." Ned grumbled.

'The starks and their tempers,' Petyr muttered following him in.

'I wish I could see the girls.' catelyn said anxiously looking around.

"What are you doing here? How did you get here? Where is Maester Lewin or Rodrick?" Ned said anxiously he couldn't believe she had gotten here alone and sane without her meds. what was she doing here why leave Winterfell? He was free of her and she had to keep popping up.

'just for a moment.' Catelyn suggested hopefully Ned saw her eyes darting around and the tremor in her hands.

'Until we know who the enemy are-' Ned began

'I know it is the Lannister's in my bone they are not to be trusted I know it.' Catelyn assured him. She was confident in that and that alone right now. Everything else was a bit of a blur but Lannisters were bad. That stuck in her twisted, failing mind. "Petyr said that-"

"I got the news." He still clutched the scroll.

"It was petyrs blade and he lost it to Tyrion Lannister." Catelyn told him. "They are evil all of them. Must be punished."

'If little fingers right I can't do anything without proof.' Ned reminded her.

'And if you find the proof?' Catelyn questioned her voice rising.

'Then I bring it to Robert and hope he is the man I once knew.' Ned informed her.

'You are a weak man.' Catelyn informed him. Weak? Being in a place where Hands of the king were being killed off possibly... brave enough to stay in place to try and protect his oldest friend... not weak. Ned was always the problem he rolled his eyes annoyed, Petyr saw the distaste Ned had for Catelyn. Catelyn was weak and Ned had been faithful and protected her for years but her moments of sanity were brief and violent. "If you wont do anything. I will." She hissed shoving him back. Ned ran a hand over his hair with a heavy sigh as he headed back to the castle.

When ned got back to the palace he was in a bitter mood. Until he saw Maelia.

"Hey." He whispered pulling her to him.

"Hi." She replied and he kissed her right there in the hall for anyone to see. She melted into him but he heard a crash coming from arya's room and his head spun towards her door. Maelia smiled knowingly.

"What's going on in there?" Ned questioned hands still wrapped around her. Maelia shrugged kissing him again. "I will be there. Don't fall asleep before I get there." Ned begged and Maelia shot him a fake yawn over her shoulder. "Maelia!'

"Be quick." Her voice a whisper trailing down the hall. Ned chuckled as he moved to Arya's door.

'Go away!' Arya shouted

'Arya open the door,' Ned requested, she begrudgingly got up needle in hand, 'may I come in?' he questioned coming into her room closing the door behind him. 'Arya who's sword is that?'