Lady of Winterfell

Chapter Fifteen: The Assassin

Stepping into Bran's bedroom, Maester Luwin sighed as his eyes came to land on the three occupants inside of the room; he wasn't surprised to see Catelyn still firmly by her son's side and he wished that she could see that she was making herself it. 

It had been over a month since Bran had fallen from the tower and while there was no sign that the Stranger waited to steal the boy away; there was also no sign of him waking up. 

"It's time we reviewed the accounts, my lady. You'll want to know how much this royal visit has cost us," Maester Luwin said hoping that this wasn't how Catelyn planned to spend the rest of her life if Bran did not wake. 

Sanira peeked up from her sowing, she had come to sit with Catelyn while she had a moment to herself; she hoped her good-mother would snap out of this and soon. 

In the days since Eddard and King Robert had left for the capital, things hadn't felt right in Winterfell and Sanira couldn't help but fear what would happen if Catelyn continued to ignore her duties. 

There was very little that she could do for Bran while she was sat by his side day in and day out, she was making herself ill and it wasn't just herself that suffered. 

Poor Rickon was so lost right now and if he wasn't clinging to Sanira's skirts then he was following Robb around crying; he needed his mother just as much as Winterfell needed her. 

"Talk to Poole about it," Catelyn replied stiffly, she continued on making her prayer wheel wishing that everyone would just leave her be. 

She was going to stay with Bran until she knew what the Seven had decided for her son's fate, Catelyn didn't care what else was happening nor did she wish to be bother by outside affairs.

"Poole went south with Lord Stark, my lady. We need a new steward, and there are several other appointments that require our immediate attention..." Maester Luwin explained softly, he felt for Catelyn but her behaviour could not continue now that Lord Eddard had gone south. 

Catelyn as much as she wanted to ignore it had responsibilities and she was allowing herself to be pulled away from them by her grief; she wasn't helping Bran by sitting with him every day. 

"I don't care about appointments," Catelyn interrupted Maester Luwin with a glare, her words making Sanira jump a little and Summer raised his head to look at her; the room was quiet after she had spoken. 

Sanira swallowed not entirely sure what to say, she wished that Catelyn could spend all her time with Bran but it wasn't possible anymore and she had to stop this. 

"I'll make the appointments. We'll talk about it first thing in the morning," Robb announced stepping into the room, he looked to his mother having heard her words from the corridor along with everyone else. 

They were all worried for her and he wished that he could shake some sense into her, his father had chosen the worst time to leave and Winterfell was being crippled because of it. 

Catelyn pursed her lips before returning to her work, she kept her eyes down while Robb stared at her; she felt a pang of guilt for neglecting her other children. 

She barely remembered saying goodbye to Sansa and Arya when they had gone south with their father; she had been so focused on praying for Bran and working on her prayer wheel. 

"Very good, my Lord. My Ladies," Maester Luwin said before leaving the room, he sensed that he didn't need to hear what was going to be said between son and mother. 

Sanira watched him leave, she carefully got to her feet to give Robb and his mother a chance to speak privately.

"When was the last time you left this room?" Robb asked stepping closer to his mother, he glanced back as Sanira left knowing that it was best that she did; he needed to knock some sense into his mother.