( Catelyn POV )
Catelyn used to go to the sept often, but never had she spent more time between the Seven-who-are-One than in these past few weeks.
She used to pray here. Pray for the health of her children. Pray for the health of her husband. Pray for the health of her family.
Now, the sept was the only place where she was left alone, in peace and quiet. It was true that despite the castle being overflowing with refugees, most didn't come to pray.
They had seen their lands ravaged, their houses burned, their work destroyed, their sons slain and their daughters raped. They hardly thought about the gods at all, and that is, if they did believe there were gods. For why did the gods besmirch them with such cruelty?
Catelyn was therefore alone, or perhaps accompanied by Arya. Although she knew Arya didn't care much for her gods. All she wanted was to be with her, and be away from everyone else.
Catelyn would pray to the Mother, for the health of her Sansa, whom she hadn't heard a word in weeks. Had the Lannisters slain her? No. Impossible. She would know, she would have felt it. Sansa was still alive, that she knew.
But today, it was different. Today, she lit a candle for the Warrior.
It was hardly the first time she did so. Every time Robb marched to battle, she would ask the Warrior to protect him. And every time, her words were answered, and her son came back from the battle, alive and victorious.
However, this candle wasn't meant for Robb. The dim light that flickered at the end of the stick was meant for Edmure.
The Tyrells had finally had enough of the Riverlands' stubborn resistance. They had sent a host of fifty thousand to lay waste to the Riverlands and lure Edmure out of the castle.
Once again, fields burned, and the people suffered. And this time, the roses had made it under the walls of Riverrun, and asked for a parlay. She already knew Edmure was going to refuse whatever they asked. Not after what they did to his people.
And there she was, lighting a candle to the Warrior, hoping with all her heart that the gods wouldn't rip another family member from her.
Struggling to her feet, she ended her prayer and went outside. Already, people were gearing up for war. There were horses running everywhere, and the blacksmiths were hard at work. Knights were donning their armors, and squires were painstakingly helping them.
The sky was grey, with little to no sunlight. The sun had receded these days, only the grey remained. Winter was coming for them all. Dark clouds on the horizon also predicted rain and perhaps even a storm brewing in the distance.
Worriedly, she took the steps that led her to the ramparts of Riverrun, overlooking the camps where the army was staying. These brave men that had faced off against the Lannisters time and time again, and had been victorious. But today, they faced their toughest challenge yet.
Catelyn found her brother wearing his armor, giving the last orders to his men as he prepared his stand. He was imposing, just as she remembered Ned being when he set off for the Trident. His auburn beard twitched whenever he talked with the utmost seriousness, while his arms pointed at various spots, with men hurriedly setting off in the direction he pointed to.
Behind him, two little figures that could have been easily forgotten if not for the sigils they bore. One was gagged and bore the Lannister sigil, his hands tied behind his back by a rope held by the second figure, hair cut short while wearing the arms of house Stark in a cloth too big for her, a small sword at her side.
Arya.
Catelyn frowned. She had been so elated when her daughter had been given back to her, she had closed her eyes on the sword and her practicing with several men-at-arms, as long as Edmure was there to watch over her. But watching over a prisoner!
"Edmure!" she cried out. "Have you gone mad?"
"Cat," Edmure noticed her storming forwards, even taking a step back.
"What is the meaning of this?" she angrily asked.
"Cat, do not fear…"
"Uncle Edmure is making me guard the prisoner!" Arya smiled.
"Edmure, this is dangerous." Catelyn paid no mind to Arya.
"Have no fear, sister, Lord Tyrion is bound and gagged, and the knots are tight. Arya will have no problem watching over him," Edmure said as if it were normal! "Besides, she is only doing so while one of my men gets ready for the upcoming battle. She hasn't been watching him all day."
"I surely hope so!" Catelyn growled.
Edmure understood, thanked Arya in a low voice, and took the rope from her, ruffling her hair.
Catelyn frowned, but quickly shifted her attention to Edmure once more.
"Brother, you don't have to give battle today," she pleaded.
"You know I do, Cat." Edmure sighed. "The Riverlands are burning, several keeps are under siege once more. If I do not give battle, my lords will abandon me to go and defend their own lands. Bracken, Blackwood, Vance, Vypren…many want to return now. If I do not give battle today, I shall not have an army tomorrow."
"You won't have an army tomorrow regardless!" she pointed out. "The Tyrells outnumber you two to one, and they have come prepared. Let these lords go defend their lands and defend your own while waiting for the Northern host."
Edmure's face darkened.
"Cat…the North is submerged with wildlings. If the new King manages to defeat them…it will be months before he can come here," Edmure pleaded. "By then, food will have run out, and we will all be dead. If I and my army die…you all have a chance. Riverrun can last a siege of two years, even with all the smallfolk."
"Ed…" Catelyn pleaded. "Please wait a few more days, I beg of you…"
"You know I cannot." Edmure shook his head. "I must do what is necessary."
"Edmure…if you die, the Tully name dies with you," Catelyn tried to reason with him."Uncle Brynden has vowed to never marry, and neither I nor Lysa now bear the Tully name."
"Then if I die," Edmure replied with a small smile. "You are a Tully, and you still have a living heir, although not Stark in name, still has Tully blood. You will become the Lady of Riverrun, whether you like it or not. And besides,uncle Brynden stays here.I'd rather you have a commander that knows how to handle a siege to help you."
"He won't be happy with this."
"He wasn't. But it is not his choice. As lord of Riverrun, I am fit to give him orders, and he had to obey."
Catelyn felt her stomach turn. She couldn't believe this was happening. She was about to plead once again, when a commotion formed, with several horses coming with a flag of parley.
Catelyn and Edmure looked at the men in their shiny armor descend from their horses and remove their helms. The most impressive one shouted:
"Where is Edmure Tully?"
"I am here!" Edmure shouted back. "What do you wish?"
"My name is Ser Garlan Tyrell!" the knight shouted. "There is no need for any blood to be spilt today, ser! We come to offer you terms on behalf of King Tommen!"
Catelyn smiled widely. She had welcomed the news of the death of King Joffrey with elation, probably the happiest day of her life since Arya was returned to her. And every reminder that the King who took her husband's head was dead brought her much joy.
Fortunately, Ser Garlan could not see her smile from here.
"What terms do you offer?" Edmure asked, unconvinced.
"Bend the knee to King Tommen and you will be confirmed as Lord Paramount of the Trident. You and your lords will receive a full pardon from the King, provided you give coin and hostages."
"Coin? Why should I be the one paying when it is your men who ravage my lands, pillage my villages and murder my people?" Edmure raged.
"Treachery needs to be paid for, my lord," Ser Garlan answered. "Our new King has decided to be lenient, but he will make this offer once. As a gesture of goodwill, he has released Lady Sansa into your sister Lysa Arryn's custody."
Catelyn's heart stopped and she suddenly made her presence known.
"How can we trust your word?" she shouted at the top of her lungs.
"Lady Catelyn," the Tyrell knight shouted back. "Our King has decided to release your daughter as a sign of friendship. I cannot bring proof to you, but you have my word that Lord Baelish is escorting her to the Eyrie as we speak."
Petyr…Catelyn breathed a sigh of relief.
He had been a good friend to her, and she thanked him inwardly. If anyone could have gotten Sansa out of the capital, it had been him. However…Lysa answered no ravens. Surely if Sansa had been brought to the Eyrie, she should have been warned.
Her eyes turned to Edmure expectantly.
He turned to her.
"Do you believe them?" he asked.
"I…" Catelyn hesitated. "I'm not sure. But we haven't had news of Sansa, not even a letter saying she was fine…I am inclined to believe it."
Edmure thought for a moment.
The moment seemed like an eternity, and Catelyn almost didn't notice their uncle Brynden arriving, no doubt alerted by the commotion.
"Lady Catelyn!" the knight shouted. "The terms I offer Lord Edmure are also valid for the North."
"I fear that I do not speak for it, ser," Catelyn retorted. "Only King Jon may accept, but I shall give him your message."
If he ever answers, Catelyn thought darkly. Not a single word had come from the North. Not even a word after she had written that Arya was safe.
"I have an answer to give you," Edmure finally shouted back. "Since you have been so kind to release my niece into your custody, I shall release a prisoner in return. I shall give you the heir to Casterly Rock."
Edmure brought Tyrion forward, unbound him, and removed the gag.
"Well, I do thank you, the cells were getting cramped after all," the imp said, almost jovially.
"Keep your words to yourself, imp, I may change my mind," Edmure growled.
"Very well!" Ser Garlan shouted. "Will you come and swear fealty to King Tommen?"
Edmure looked at Catelyn for a long moment, then at Arya, then at Uncle Brynden. Finally, with the most serious face, he shouted back:
"Never! Your men have killed, burned and raped your way through the Riverlands. The Starks have a saying: the North remembers, well the Riverlands have a long memory too! I shall never bend the knee to men who have caused such suffering to my people, whose stories of horror and deceit I hear every single day!
House Tully will never bend the knee to King Tommen, or anyone of your bastard line! You may keep your promises, but so long as I am alive, you shall get nothing from me, not a single copper, and not a single man, woman or child!"
"Lord Edmure, I urge you to reconsider…" Tyrion Lannister turned. "This alliance will be beneficial. As heir to the Rock I…"
Edmure finally snapped and picked up the little lion like he was a cask of ale.
"As for the heir to Casterly Rock, as he is so fond of reminding me…" Edmure shouted, enraged. "I keep my word. You can have him…if you can catch him!"
Suddenly, Edmure threw the little man off the ramparts. Lord Tyrion cried out in terror as he was thrust in the air for a brief moment.
The men at the bottom of the ramparts looked at each other in complete shock while watching the little man fly…and hit the water below with a large thud. There was a moment of silence as he fell like a rock below the water, then a moment of shock when the limp body came back to the surface, floating lifelessly in the moat.
"Uncle Brynden." He turned, not even waiting for the Tyrells to lead their horses out of the camp. "Prepare the men to sally out."
Catelyn, Arya and even Uncle Brynden stood in shock, and it was old Brynden who spoke first.
"Why did you do this?" he asked.
"My people have suffered for more than a year." Edmure frowned. "These people thought themselves untouchable, free to insult me as they pleased. Now they know that I am not a boy who they can order around."
"There will be repercussions," Uncle Brynden said.
"We still have the lesser Lannisters, and Lord Tywin will undoubtedly care about these ones more than the imp," Edmure shrugged.
"They will give you no quarter," Brynden warned.
"Good." Edmure smiled. "I didn't plan on giving them any either. Sound the alarm, we are marching off to war."
Edmure walked up to Catelyn and put a hand on her shoulder.
"Take care of Riverrun once I'm gone," he said.
Catelyn hugged her brother tightly, despite the heavy armor he wore. He then moved on to Uncle Brynden, and gave him a few words, and finally settled on Arya.
"I know you don't like being a lady…" Edmure sighed. "But you might have to lead Riverrun one day, if my uncle doesn't want to marry. If you don't want to rule Riverrun, try convincing your great-uncle to do so, will you?"
"I'll drag him to the ceremony if I have to!" Arya smiled widely.
Edmure smiled lightly and patted her shoulder.
"Goodbye," He then said, as a man-at-arms handed him a helmet. "I'm sorry it had to end like this."
Catelyn watched as Edmure then faded from view, then as he gathered and marched his army towards the fields in front of Riverrun. It was then that she finally turned to Arya.
"You should go back to your rooms."
"I want to watch the battle, mother!" Arya pleaded.
"Arya, this isn't something a little girl like you should see," she replied sternly.
"You'll be watching," Arya replied.
"I am not a young girl, Arya," she countered.
"I've seen blood before mother, and I have killed before. I can handle watching a battle from afar," Arya stood her ground, annoyed.
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