Bringing the Dawn

XXXV.

Catelyn Tully Stark

The Northern Camp near Riverrun, 300AC

There was an odd feeling currently surrounding them. It was one she had experienced on a few occasions, and it set her on edge. Then again, it was to be expected with what was about to happen today. The night prior, Jaeron had come to the tent that she was occupying with his loyal shadow behind him to ask her for any pointers on speaking to her father. Whilst she had given as many as she could, a small pit of hopelessness was eating her up alive.

The last time Catelyn had seen her father was the day she had left for Winterfell all those years ago, and it had been the same amount of time since she had saw her little brother. They'd remained in regular contact throughout the years and they had expressed in their many ravens that they would like to meet up, but it never came to be. Something always got in the way of it. But now, nothing could get in the way, this was needed. Whilst she believed Hoster would raise the banners in favour of her nephew, there was no telling if anything had changed his mind drastically in recent times.

By now, ripples would be spreading throughout all the Kingdom's that a war was about to break out. People would be gathering and deciding who they were going to rally against. For what seemed like a while, time was their best port of call. Now though, she knew that was not the case anymore. With Renly rallying the entirety of the Reach and much of the Stormland's due to his position and his wife being Margaery, Ned finding out that the royal children were all bastards by the Queen's twin brother, and with her nephew already experiencing a massive betrayal. Everything was now set in motion, and they needed to strike hard and they needed to strike fast to ensure maximum calamity.

Catelyn had never been in a war council, her Septa, Septon, and Maester stating many a time that war councils were solely for men and not for Ladies. She wished she had fought back on this now because if there was one thing she hated, it was being seen as useless. Her father and uncle trained her to have a mind for politics, but politics had little to no use on the battlefield. All courtesies were nought but words in the wind. Whilst on the battlefield, the only thing that went through people's minds was to survive to see the next sunrise. A long sigh left her as she finally left her tent and searching for Robb to prepare him for what is going to happen. It didn't take her long to spot him, dark auburn curls leaning against a tree as he stared down at her childhood home.

"Does it feel strange to be back?"

"A little. I grew up here, would swim in the rivers frequently, play hide and seek in amongst the trees when people weren't looking with my siblings. But oddly, it doesn't feel like home anymore."

Robb was silent as these words echoed in the otherwise silent morning. The sun was just rising above the horizon, knowing her father always had to be awake at the crack of dawn. Edmure on the other hand would rather sleep until the middle of the day, but he knew it was not a good thing to anger Hoster.

"Where's Jaeron anyway? I haven't-"

She was cut off as a bright flash of silver caught her attention far above. The sun just hitting against the reflective scales before disappearing once again.

"According to Arthur, scouting the grounds from above. Searching for any other Lannister armies which could potentially infiltrate."

They talked for what seemed like forever after this, but with the position of the sun she knew it hadn't been long at all. Arthur and Jaeron walking over and the older confirming Howland was preparing the horses for them to ride down. Why was she so nervous? Even when she had ridden south to speak to Varys to have him take a step back to ensure nothing was revealed yet. That was something else that was bugging her, trying to piece together what Arya had heard. Why would there be a boy pretending to be a Blackfyre to get the Golden Company? It was known said sellsword company was created by Aegor Bittersteel to aid his half-brother Daemon in trying to seize the throne from King Daeron as they believed he wasn't King Aegon's son and was in fact his brother Aemon's to their sister Queen Naerys. Whether it was true or not, no one alive could confirm or deny said rumours. Much like it was believed that Laenor Velaryon did not sire Jacaerys, Lucerys, and Joffrey Velaryon.