Queen Catelyn Stark

she-wolf Forty Wife of Eddard Stark Queen of the Seven Kingdoms Lady of Winterfell Mother of Robb, Sansa, Arya, Brandon and Rickon Aunt of Jon Snow AU Indie Game of Thrones RP

[zelda-p-spellman-blog]

"Zelda! Will you hurry up in there" Hilda hollered at her older sister, knocking once more on the bathroom door, her sister taking much longer than usual, as she had the past few days " what's taking you so long! I need to pee and I'm not conjuring a toilet! It's far too messy!"

Zelda resisted the urge to zap her sister back to the Other Realm. Of all the times for Hilda to start banging on the door. “Then go to mother’s!” How this house didn’t have another bathroom she’d never know. “Just go away.”

[hildaspxllman]

"But I have to go now!" She whines. The bathroom downstairs was useless, the toilet causing a hurricane like flood whenever flushed, the plumber coming within the next 20 years, so they promised. "What is wrong? You’ve been like this everyday! Why aren’t you telling me" oh, she could just use Mother’s but she was far too curious as to what Zelda was hiding. Was it a rash or some reaction to an experiment? "Please, come out!"

[queencatelynstoneheart-blog]

"Go away go away go away go away." Zelda continued to stare at the potion in her hand. She'd willed herself into denial the last few weeks. She couldn't possibly be pregnant. She'd missed one potion for goodness sake. One! It was a false positive. That was it a false positive! "My stomach is upset is all Hildy I'm sorry."

[petyrbaelishs]

Sansa Stark Meme

     ↳ Six Relationships: Catelyn & Sansa [ 2/6 ]

[devorps-deactivated20140708]

dear current and future rp partners: i’m going to go days without replying to you, please don’t take it personally.

[doortotheheart]

Marry, Fuck, Kiss, Cuddle, Get Drunk With send me FIVE names.

[yongmuney]

this is an appreciation post for anyone who has ever tolerated me

[bellamybake-deactivated20150605]

Reblog if one of your favorite characters has ever died.

[macklemorehentai-deactivated201]

Rest in peace, Mongo from Shrek 2. Your life was fleeting but you will never be forgotten.

[queencatelynstoneheart-blog]

[queencatelynstoneheart-blog]

handmaidenmara:

[queencatelynstoneheart-blog]

The Crownlands were pretty enough and a fair bit warmer than...

[queencatelynstoneheart-blog]

Despite the help when she'd come before Cat didn't trust Varys one bit. He was too willing to lie and too clever by half. “You will go with the the girls and Rickon should anything start to stir, and unless this babe has come I'm staying here with the King.” she said quite simply. It wasn't something anyone would convince her to do otherwise. The children would be safe enough at Riverrun, should a war start they could be sent to safety easily enough.

“It won't be for a while yet with this belly I'm sure to get.” Travel wasn't safe for a pregnant woman much less terribly comfortable. “Which I'm sure neither he nor Arya will be terribly pleased about.” Rickon had never been to Riverrun and the younger ones were all too young to remember their last visit. It would be no two day ride from King's Landing but it was closer than the ride from Winterfell. “They'll be learning how to skate without my help I think.” With their father depending on a cane for the foreseeable future and her pregnant now the children would be on their own learning to skate on the frozen Trident if it was cold enough by the time they managed a visit. It wasn’t the visit Cat had invisioned but it was a visit and a chance for Rickon to meet his grandfather- well a visit he'd remember anyway. Hostor Tully had made the trip up north shortly after Rickon's birth but that had been the last time Cat had seen her father excluding recent events.

“He's taken it as his personal sigil. To annoy my father more than anything I suspect.” Better the Blackfish than Little Cat then again Cat was quite sure no one but Ned called her anything but Lady Stark- well more lately Your Grace- or Mother anymore. She hardly saw Lysa or even Ben much less any other member of the family. The price she paid for marrying a northman.

Robb would do his duty, as his father had before him but Cat wasn't one bit happy about it. Robb would always be her little boy running about the keep on unsteady legs babbling 'mamama'. None of them were old enough to wed- not in her mind anyway. “Sansa has been planning her wedding since she could talk.” she smiled softly. In the process of cleaning one year the maids had found the Stark Wedding Cloak; for a month afterward Sansa had refused to let it be put away forever petting the fur and asking all sorts of questions about weddings. She'd insisted Uncle Ben take a bride so she could see it on someone. “Her turn will come soon enough.”

Too soon to suit Cat.

She shook her head. “If Rickon's rooms were any further away than they are that beast wouldn't dare leave his side.” With Nymeria and Lady gone the boys' wolves had taken to checking on the girls and Cat herself- which made more sense once she'd realized she was pregnant. The Direwolves had to make sure the little pups were safe before they'd settle, much to the dismay of most of the maids and guards. “If I could guard them every minute of every day myself I would.” Bran's fall had shaken her badly- Cat still wans't quite sure she was over the shock of it.

Cat flushed pink as her maid spoke. “I haven't a clue what you're speaking of.” Surely they hadn't been that loud. . . It was bad enough seeing the looks from the guards much less hearing it from her own maid! For the most part she and Ned behaved and kept THAT restricted to either her bed or his. . . except when she'd found Ned in his office. . . and that lovely bath again. . . and the wall in the bathing chamber. . . and the bench in the bathing chamber. . . and the couch in her room. . . When a three-year-old insisted most nights that his mother put him to bed a person got desperate. 

[queencatelynstoneheart-blog]

handmaidenmara:

[queencatelynstoneheart-blog]

The Crownlands were pretty enough and a fair bit warmer than the North would be upon their return but it wasn’t where the Starks belonged. The south could fight it’s own battles in the…

[queencatelynstoneheart-blog]

“It’s not longer a matter of if; the princess and her khal are coming one way or another. Be it to wage war or celebrate at the coronation.” When a Targaryen was born the gods flipped a coin; they were brilliant rulers or mad. There was no middle ground with the dragon kings. Dorne had little reason to love any house who’d sided with Robert in the rebellion; Cat hoped Ned’s condemnation of Tywin’s slaughter of the Dornish princess and her children would be enough to keep them from attacking as well.

Cat shook her head. “He’s…” Rickon had already offered to trade Shaggy for a dragon from the princess- something she was quite sure would never work out. “I’m to order House Tully to change their sigil because he wishes to be a dragon instead of a direwolf and a trout.”

The thought of either of her daughters having a handmaiden, or Rickon having a nursemaid, was mildly terrifying. There were too many people in this city who weren’t to be trusted. “The Lannisters aren’t the threat they once were. The singers will have to write the Rains of Casterly Rock if anyone is to sing about them. Both the sons are our guests, and Cersei has been banished.” IT didn’t mean Cat wasn’t worried by the Lannisters at all. They were a very ambitious fertile family but Tywin’s line was in their hands now.

“As much as I wish it did, just who she takes a shine to doesn’t matter.” Sansa would have to marry for the good of the realm. She’d marry for swords or rights to a river or to keep an enemy in their pocket. Marrying two children to the Tyrells just didn’t make good political sense. Feelings didn’t particularly matter. It made Cat sick to think of marrying her children off like that but it was the way the world worked. Had Ned stayed in Winterfell and none of this happened it would have been the same way. Robb would have likely married a Mormont daughter and Sansa an Umber or a Karnstark.

The marriages now were just that much more splinded.

“Those wolves make me feel safer than a dozen guards. Had it not been for Bran’s he would have died and I probably would have right along side him.” 

[handmaidenmara-moved]

Samara sighed, “I have the feeling that there will be many prayers said…. Both in the Sept and in the old Godswood….” She stated, the Godswood of King’s Landing was not like those further north, let alone those in the North. “I’m sure she will listen to reason…… Though I worry about the cities that she left behind in her wake…… They probably have no legal system now, no hierarchy nor rulings to set themselves upon…. And that is as dangerous…”

Samara fought to stop herself from laughing at that thought. “That is not very easily done….. To change one’s sigil is to change the very essence of the House it represents…… So t’is nigh on impossible…. As you said, Rickon is but three years old and thus prone to such thoughts……. So I wouldn’t worry so much over such….”

"So take comfort in that, my Queen…. Tywin can’t do anything that may cause him issues with you or his Grace lest harm comes to his children…. He knows the risks so he won’t do anything….. Plus you have people of the North here, who are loyal to your Husband and to you……" Samara spoke softly as she held Catelyn’s hand.

"No,but if she does to the match that is a possibility for her, then all the better for to makes the process far smoother… But time is a strange thing, and it may be that having a strong alliance between the North and South may well be necessary if indeed the Targaryen does attack… Then we will need all the armies of the Seven Kingdoms united under Westeros." Samara stated, understanding and knowledge quite clear for she knew much about political marriages having been a Handmaiden for long enough to know of such matters despite her, well some would say youth but at 16, she was a woman by all accounts.

"My Lady….. There is no need to think of such….. Bran is alive, as are you…" Samara soothed as she rubbed Catelyn’s hand with one hand whilst the other rubbed her back gently and tenderly. "The Gods, whether Old or the Seven, willed it that both you and  your son are alive…. T’is not wise to worry on what might have been, what is past has passed and you must focus on the here and now whilst slightly looking to what might be….." She added softly.

She then stood up, albeit a small shake from having knelt for so long. “I best let you rest… After all, you’ll need it for the Queen of Thorns tomorrow… She notices many things, despite her age….. So I will bid you good night, my Queen… If there is nothing else…” She stated, brushing down her dress a little.

[queencatelynstoneheart-blog]

“And safely across the Narrow Sea. Though once upon a time everyone knew the Dothraki would never cross the sea- yet we have a horde coming for my husband’s coronation.” That was a horrifying thought. The gods only knew if they had peaceful intentions or not. “No doubt we’ll hope she has good intentions but still prepare for a seige.”

With Stannis against them already the last thing the realm needed was a war from three sides. Since the Kings of the North bent the knee to the Targaryens there had been retaliative peace for the North… until the Mad King took it into his head the Starks were planning a rebellion. That,and Lyanna’s kidnapping, had destroyed years of peace.

“I don’t think my father would be very pleased with it.” she smiled. “Or my uncle. I suppose Brynden would have to be the Black Dragon instead of the Blackfish.” Rickon was young enough to just be learning the houses and their sigils and words, but he was also young enough to not know of the wars fought yet. He just knew the Lannisters were the ones to take his father. They’d never have to worry about him wanting to be a lion.

Cat doubted when it came down to it the North standing alone against Tywin Lannister would make much of a difference. If nothing else the Lannisters could outspend them what with the state Robert had left the treasury in. “Loyal to the king more than me.” Barbery Dunstin and Roose Bolton were the only one of the northerners Cat truly didn’t trust; Barbery had never let her forget Brandon and the Boltons… they weren’t to be trusted at the best of times.

There were more pressing things to worry about than the Lannisters and the threat they might pose- Sansa’s wedding for one. “Robb will marry Margaery soon enough Sansa’s husband might well be Dornish, or someone from the Stormlands.” Two children married to Tyrells just didn’t make sense. Margaery would be enough to keep Mace loyal, Cat hoped it would at least. The Lord of Highgarden would jump at the chance to support his old king’s daughter if he saw an advantage in it for himself.

To think she’d thought this was all complicated BEFORE the princess and her khal started on their journey.

She smiled weakly. “One assassin stopped doesn’t mean another won’t try.” What really worried her was the fact they still didn’t know who had sent the assassin. Of course Peyter insisted it was Tyrion Lannister but as the days went by Cat believed that less and less. Evil, whoring, little pervert he was Tyrion wasn’t stupid enough to attack a Stark and he wasn’t cruel enough to kill a child. The thing was there were few other culprits possible.

“You should go to bed.” Neither one of them would be getting much rest in the months to come. Wars to plan and a baby coming… and Arya being Arya. Peace and quiet would be hard to come by. “Rickon will be here to be tucked in to bed soon enough, no doubt he’ll end up asleep with me.”

[handmaidenmara-moved]

"Offer one hand in negotiation but keep the other one armed secretly…." Samara surmised with a sigh as she listened to Catelyn; despite the topic of conversation, she liked to listen to Catelyn, something in her voice just made Samara cling to every word eagerly and her laugh….. When she heard her Queen laugh, she couldn’t help but join in, or try not to if such was the situation but it was very hard to not join in. "Still, we can hope…. If an invasion was imminent we would have heard of such by now, such things are rarely kept quiet about….." She stated in a, she hoped, reassuring manner as she gently rubbed Catelyn’s shoulder. She would do more as was her affectionate nature but, these were still early days and most Handmaidens didn’t cross such a line…. Mind most Handmaidens didn’t relieve their pasts in such a way either….

"No I would imagine Lord Tully would not be most pleased of that coming from his youngest grandchild!" Samara chuckled at this, "Why is your Uncle called Black Fish?" She asked, finding it quite odd to be called as such, mind Rickon’s hopes of being a dragon were just as odd to her as she gently shook her head. "No, but those of the Riverlands will no doubt pledge to aid you if you called upon such…. You have more allies than you think, my Lady…. If you know the people and how to ask, you’ll be surprised." She added.

"Well, at least Lady Margaery will be a good match for Robb, if it is not too forward of me to say… She’s beautiful, intelligent, is able to talk to people easily, thankfully not as blunt as her grandmother……" Samara stated knowingly, after all, if one knows the Handmaidens, one gets a good insight to their Lady that they serve or even the Ladies of the whole House that they serve.

"And if they try, they’ll find themselves with a dagger or two at their throat…." Samara stated somewhat darkly and yet with a fierce protective tone in her voice as she sighed to calm herself, she’d be having her wits about her as usual but it wasn’t at Lannisters but old…. Acquaintances, unless they knew what was good for them. Which she hoped they did but she was sworn to her Queen and Lady, along with her family. Anyone who dared to harm them and, Gods help them if Mara knew who it was.

Samara smiled softly as she kissed her Lady’s hand, as come the habit for her now. “Then I bid you good night, my Queen……” she spoke softly as she moved away from Catelyn and walked smoothly to the door before slipping out. “Alright Shaggy! Come on, bed time now…… Another adventure to be had tomorrow….” She chuckled softly as she took the dire wolf with her to young Rickon.

[queencatelynstoneheart-blog]

"I have no doubt we'll be sent to the Riverlands should something happen." Seige or not it would be easy enough to sneak someone out of this city. It was simply too large to police effectivly. Sending the children was one thing- Rickon and the new baby especially- but Cat wouldn't stand to be sent away herself. She'd made that much perfectly clear to Ned her first night in the city. "The whole of the realm is talking about the Dothraki on the move, half of them seem to think they're marching for war." No one knew though.

That was the problem.

"If he hears of it Rickon will be in a for a bit of a lecture from his grandfather when we go up for our visit." The Gods willing he was still alive then. Only Ned's place on the throne could have called Cat away from her father's bedside. For years he'd written of a cough or a cold but she'd never suspected he was well and truly ill. Seeing him bedridden had scared her half to death.

Outside the immediate family there were few who even knew her uncle's name he'd been the Blackfish for such a long time. Long enough Cat herself wasn't even sure just when it had happened. "I couldn't have been more than ten; Father had decided, yet agian, it was past time his brother did his duty to the family and wed. Uncle Brynden declared he'd never marry anyone. There was Lysa and Edmure and me to carry on the family line should anything happen to Father so he needen't marry. To make a long story short they pair of them went on fighting for hours and it ended up Uncle said he was more than happy to be the black sheep of the Tully family but Father said since we were trouts he was a Blackfish rather than a black sheep."

Growing up it had seemed perfectly normal for an uncle and father to fight the way hers did. Every few months Father found someone Uncle Brynden was to marry and they'd have a fight before making up in a matter of days. When Lysa had taken him with her to the Eyrie was the first time all three of the Tully children had been seperated and the first time Edmure and Cat herself had been away from their uncle. He'd been the first man to hold Robb what with holding the position of Castillian during the Rebellion. Hostor Tully had ridden away with his newly wed good sons to fight leaving his daughters and heir in the care of his brother.

"And the only daughter of Highgarden." An alliance north and south and a marriage to keep Mace Tyrell loyal in the face of the Targaryen princess's return. "Sansa will find a husband sooner or later." The longer she could keep her little ones around the happier Cat would be. She didn't even particuarly want Robb to get married; it was just past time he had a bride. Afterall, he was a man grown and had been for a couple of years.

Sooner or later the Lannisters would have to be dealt with; keeping Jamie and Tyrion as hostages would, no doubt, only be a temporary answer to Twyin's ambitions. He wanted power it was as simple as that. But the fact remained none of them knew just who had sent that man after Bran. He'd hardly said more than two sentences to her that night. "Or a wolf's teeth."

Don't stop him if he wants to come in." she called after Samara.

[queencatelynstoneheart-blog]

Catelyn Stark would never feel well and truly safe in the Red Keep but at least she felt more at peace at night. Surely it was harder for the spiders and the shadows and the little birds to spy at night. Harwin himself was guarding the door tonight but it didn't really settle her mind all that much tonight. Not with what she had to tell her husband. If she waited too terribly much longer he'd notice without her telling him.

Rickon had snuck in with all the noisy stealth only a three-year-old could manage; he'd refused to settle until he had a song and a cuddle- from Mama because her songs were better than Samara's- before falling asleep in her arms a lounge. Cat herself had settled at the vanity fussing with her hair. Samara had combed it out before she'd gone to bed herself but just sitting there was making Cat more than a little nervous. It had been nearly four years since she'd told Ned she was pregnant. Surely he'd be happy about it.

Wouldn't he?

They'd talked about a baby and given he'd spent more nights with her than apart since she'd arrived in King's Landing it was little wonder she was pregnant. That first week alone, she blushed at the thought turning as red as her hair. Certainly it had been that first week- if not the first day. Really the only person Cat was terribly worried about finding out was the three-year-old snoring away not eight feet away. The past few months had been so hard on him without all the attention soon shifting onto a baby. Sansa would be over the moon at the prospect of a little brother or sister, the older boys and Arya would probably less than thrilled.

Cat's heart fluttered when she saw a figure in the doorway.

“We have company tonight.” she said softly. Usually by the time Ned came to bed she'd put Rickon in his own, or as of late had Samara do it. Her baby boy or not Rickon was no lightweight and picking him up wasn't safe anymore. “He wouldn't sleep in his own room. He's fussed and kicked every time Samara or I have tried to move him so we gave up.”

[queencatelynstoneheart-blog]

handmaidenmara:

[queencatelynstoneheart-blog]

The Crownlands were pretty enough and a fair bit warmer than the North would be upon their return but it wasn’t where the Starks belonged. The south could fight it’s own battles in the…

[queencatelynstoneheart-blog]

“It’s not longer a matter of if; the princess and her khal are coming one way or another. Be it to wage war or celebrate at the coronation.” When a Targaryen was born the gods flipped a coin; they were brilliant rulers or mad. There was no middle ground with the dragon kings. Dorne had little reason to love any house who’d sided with Robert in the rebellion; Cat hoped Ned’s condemnation of Tywin’s slaughter of the Dornish princess and her children would be enough to keep them from attacking as well.

Cat shook her head. “He’s…” Rickon had already offered to trade Shaggy for a dragon from the princess- something she was quite sure would never work out. “I’m to order House Tully to change their sigil because he wishes to be a dragon instead of a direwolf and a trout.”

The thought of either of her daughters having a handmaiden, or Rickon having a nursemaid, was mildly terrifying. There were too many people in this city who weren’t to be trusted. “The Lannisters aren’t the threat they once were. The singers will have to write the Rains of Casterly Rock if anyone is to sing about them. Both the sons are our guests, and Cersei has been banished.” IT didn’t mean Cat wasn’t worried by the Lannisters at all. They were a very ambitious fertile family but Tywin’s line was in their hands now.

“As much as I wish it did, just who she takes a shine to doesn’t matter.” Sansa would have to marry for the good of the realm. She’d marry for swords or rights to a river or to keep an enemy in their pocket. Marrying two children to the Tyrells just didn’t make good political sense. Feelings didn’t particularly matter. It made Cat sick to think of marrying her children off like that but it was the way the world worked. Had Ned stayed in Winterfell and none of this happened it would have been the same way. Robb would have likely married a Mormont daughter and Sansa an Umber or a Karnstark.

The marriages now were just that much more splinded.

“Those wolves make me feel safer than a dozen guards. Had it not been for Bran’s he would have died and I probably would have right along side him.” 

[handmaidenmara-moved]

Samara sighed, “I have the feeling that there will be many prayers said…. Both in the Sept and in the old Godswood….” She stated, the Godswood of King’s Landing was not like those further north, let alone those in the North. “I’m sure she will listen to reason…… Though I worry about the cities that she left behind in her wake…… They probably have no legal system now, no hierarchy nor rulings to set themselves upon…. And that is as dangerous…”

Samara fought to stop herself from laughing at that thought. “That is not very easily done….. To change one’s sigil is to change the very essence of the House it represents…… So t’is nigh on impossible…. As you said, Rickon is but three years old and thus prone to such thoughts……. So I wouldn’t worry so much over such….”

"So take comfort in that, my Queen…. Tywin can’t do anything that may cause him issues with you or his Grace lest harm comes to his children…. He knows the risks so he won’t do anything….. Plus you have people of the North here, who are loyal to your Husband and to you……" Samara spoke softly as she held Catelyn’s hand.

"No,but if she does to the match that is a possibility for her, then all the better for to makes the process far smoother… But time is a strange thing, and it may be that having a strong alliance between the North and South may well be necessary if indeed the Targaryen does attack… Then we will need all the armies of the Seven Kingdoms united under Westeros." Samara stated, understanding and knowledge quite clear for she knew much about political marriages having been a Handmaiden for long enough to know of such matters despite her, well some would say youth but at 16, she was a woman by all accounts.

"My Lady….. There is no need to think of such….. Bran is alive, as are you…" Samara soothed as she rubbed Catelyn’s hand with one hand whilst the other rubbed her back gently and tenderly. "The Gods, whether Old or the Seven, willed it that both you and  your son are alive…. T’is not wise to worry on what might have been, what is past has passed and you must focus on the here and now whilst slightly looking to what might be….." She added softly.

She then stood up, albeit a small shake from having knelt for so long. “I best let you rest… After all, you’ll need it for the Queen of Thorns tomorrow… She notices many things, despite her age….. So I will bid you good night, my Queen… If there is nothing else…” She stated, brushing down her dress a little.

[queencatelynstoneheart-blog]

“And safely across the Narrow Sea. Though once upon a time everyone knew the Dothraki would never cross the sea- yet we have a horde coming for my husband's coronation.” That was a horrifying thought. The gods only knew if they had peaceful intentions or not. “No doubt we'll hope she has good intentions but still prepare for a seige.”

With Stannis against them already the last thing the realm needed was a war from three sides. Since the Kings of the North bent the knee to the Targaryens there had been retaliative peace for the North. . . until the Mad King took it into his head the Starks were planning a rebellion. That,and Lyanna's kidnapping, had destroyed years of peace.

“I don't think my father would be very pleased with it.” she smiled. “Or my uncle. I suppose Brynden would have to be the Black Dragon instead of the Blackfish.” Rickon was young enough to just be learning the houses and their sigils and words, but he was also young enough to not know of the wars fought yet. He just knew the Lannisters were the ones to take his father. They'd never have to worry about him wanting to be a lion.

Cat doubted when it came down to it the North standing alone against Twyin Lannisters would make much of a difference. If nothing else the Lannisters could outspend them what with the state Robert had left the treasury in. “Loyal to the king more than me.” Barbery Dunstin and Roose Bolton were the only one of the northerners Cat truly didn't trust; Barbery had never let her forget Brandon and the Boltons. . . they weren't to be trusted at the best of times.

There were more pressing things to worry about than the Lannisters and the threat they might pose- Sansa's wedding for one. “Robb will marry Margery soon enough Sansa's husband might well be Dornish, or someone from the Stormlands.” Two children married to Tyrells just didn't make sense. Margery would be enough to keep Mace loyal, Cat hoped it would at least. The Lord of Highgarden would jump at the chance to support his old king's daughter if he saw an advantage in it for himself.

To think she'd thought this was all complicated BEFORE the princess and her khal started on their journey.

She smiled weakly. “One assassin stopped doesn't mean another won't try.” What really worried her was the fact they still didn't know who had sent the assassin. Of course Peyter insisted it was Tyrion Lannisters but as the days went by Cat believed that less and less. Evil, whoring, little pervert he was Tyrion wasn't stupid enough to attack a Stark and he wasn’t cruel enough to kill a child. The thing was there were few other culprits possible.

“You should go to bed.” Neither one of them would be getting much rest in the months to come. Wars to plan and a baby coming. . . and Arya being Arya. Peace and quiet would be hard to come by. “Rickon will be here to be tucked in to bed soon enough, no doubt he'll end up asleep with me.”

[queencatelynstoneheart-blog]

…

[queencatelynstoneheart-blog]

What sort of man risked both his sons for the second and third born of another? “We hold both his sons, and Cersei and her children are banished across the Narrow Sea. Surely even he’s not a big enough fool to dare try and hurt the boys.” Well she hoped he wasn’t. No matter how dear Bran and Rickon were in the line of sucession they’d hold nothing of mch importance. Some holdfast would be found for each of them eventualy. Unless Bran could- in time- father a child and took Winterfell if Robb took the throne. 

"I can only imagian how bad Arya would be if she’d met Lyanna." Or any of the rest of the family. Without the rebellion and the Mad King more of the Starks would have lived to see her babies but they’d have had a different father. No matter what the plans were in the beginning Ned was the one she was meant to have. 

Little sister or not as far as she was concerned Lysa could go through the moon door herself. “So long as his favorite niece asks he’d do it.” she kissed him. “Mind you he’d hurt his hand trying to knock some sense into her.” When Brynden had said as much to her at the Eyrie it hadn’t made much sense. Well it hadn’t until she spoken with her sister.

"I’ve missed you so much Ned."

[nedstarkrp]

"Let’s just hope that he remembers that"

Ned’s smile faded for a bit as he imagined Arya with Lyanna. “I think Lyanna would have made Arya listen to her lessons. When they weren’t making trouble” the two of them could have turned Winterfell upside down. Ned would have loved to see that. Lyanna was a lady, as well as a trouble maker. Maybe she could have helped Arya become the same. 

He chuckled lightly as he pulled her in for another kiss. “I’ll keep it in mind, as a last resort” he mumbled against her lips. His hands stroke her back as he leaned back just far enough to look at her. “I’ve missed you too, love”

[queencatelynstoneheart-blog]

"If he has any sense he will."

More than half the Starks had died in the Rebellion so what family the both of them had had shrunken to just Ben and Cat’s own siblings. It was funny to think at one time they’d have had two aunts, another uncle and a grandfather. “We’d have Arya begging to go on visits to Storm’s End to see Lyanna and Robert every other day.” It wasn’t fair to any of their children they never met their aunt but then again Catelyn herself had never met her sister-in-law. She hadn’t met Ben until she’d gone north after the rebellion was over. When Brandon and Rikkard had decended upon Riverrun for visits it had always just been the two of them. She’d met Ned on their wedding day!

"What do you think," she traced a scar on his chest. "if we have another girl about naming her after your sister?" Having more children was completely hypothetical as of yet but it hadn’t been something they’d talked about in ages. When Sansa had been born the wounds had been too fresh, and with Arya she hadn’t thought to do it without Ned near.

"If she doesn’t listen to him I’ll throw her out the moon door myself." She’d been at the Eyrie less than a week but Lysa was alreaedy on Cat’s last nerve. The woman refused to see sense! "Hiding won’t do her any good." And now she was ruining a perfectly good soak in the tub. Horrible woman.

[nedstarkrp]

"Would that be such a bad thing?" Ned asked. As it was now she was asking every other day, when they could go home. Ned’s reply was always the same, and yet she kept asking. Having her ask to go see her aunt, would be easier to handle. 

Nodding, Ned smiled softly at his wife. “I would like that” They hadn’t talked about having another child for that long. But Ned knew that if Cat wanted more children he would want to grant her that wish. 

Ned chuckled lightly as he pull cat in for a kiss more insistent than before, As he hoped to occupy her mind with thoughts about anything but her sister. “Let’s not talk more about her.. We can deal with that later” He mumbled and tugged softly at her lower lip. 

[queencatelynstoneheart-blog]

For the most part it had only been the two them with the children; Ben had taken the Black when Robb and Sansa were still babies and Riverrun was so far away. “They all deserved to have more time with family.” And lots of cousins to play with. Lots and lots of little cousins.” With Robert’s libido there ws no doubt in Cat’s mind there would have been lots and LOTS of little Baratheons about. As it stood there was just Robin; somehow none of it had turned out the she thought it would.

"Eddard for a boy then?" Three boys and they’d always managed to name one after someone other than Ned. By northern standards most of the Tully names were off limits; it was just one of the prices she’d paid to marry a northman. Rickon was three there was no reason in Catelyn’s mind they couldn’t have another. They weren’t THAT old. It would just take some more pratice. Lots and lots and lots of pratice.

"And what is it exactly you would rather talk about, your Grace?" she smirked. "Or would you rather not talk at all?"

[nedstarkrp]

Ned nodded silently, that they did. 

"Only if you insist, but then we really should name her Catelyn, if we had a girl" It seemed only fair, and as much as Ned would love a girl named Lyanna, he would love to name one of his girls after his wife too. 

"I think you know perfectly well what I want" Ned smiled at his wife, leaning forward to seek out that place of her neck, that he knew would make her forget everything else. 

[queencatelynstoneheart-blog]

"One Catelyn isn’t enough?" Sansa was as southern as the Stark children’s names got and she was named for one of Hostor Tully’s aunts long dead. With any luck the next one would be a little girl. It had been far too long since they had a daughter. It was only fair the numbers were even.

Robb should have been named Eddard but she’d been alone and desperate to please Ned at the time. “I only meant Bran is named after your brother and Rickon’s for your father. It’s high time we named a son for you.” Naming a son for his future king seemed the proper idea at the time. They hadn’t known then what Robert would turn into then.

"I think I need some remi-nding." she moaned. How was it that man could still make her see stars after seventeen years?

[nedstarkrp]

"I don’t think you could ever have too many" Ned replied. If a son should be named after him, then a daughter should be named after her. If she didn’t like that thought, she would have to think of another boy’s name. 

"Just as it’s high time we named a daughter after you" Ned insisted. 

Cat’s moan sent shivers up and down his spine. He continued to kiss, nip and tuck for a few moments more. “Do you remember now?” He asked, keeping his lips close to her skin, his hot breath dancing over her skin. 

[queencatelynstoneheart-blog]

Women were supposed to have sons but Cat couldn’t help but want another girl- or however many of either sex the gods blessed them with. But it was high time they had another girl. Sansa and Arya were much too grown up to be babied. “We’re going to have to have a dozen more to use all these names my love. Boys and girls.” There wasn’t much to do else to do in King’s Landing or the North really now that she thought of it. “We just don’t have the excuse of ‘keeping warm’ when Rickon storms in now.” Explaining to a three year old why Papa was in bed with Mother and just why Papa was naked was always awkward. It wasn’t nearly as bad though as facing Robb on mornings after Ned got back from whateer it was the Lord of Winterfell did to keep the North in line only to see poor. Poor Robb with a dull red face. He most certinally knew just what had happened the night before.

"We’re going to make that baby we’ve been talking about if you keep that up." Or twins if it kept up at this rate. Not that she was complaining one bit. Making them was half the fun of babies afterall.

"Ned." she swallowed. That just wasn’t fair. The things he could do with his mouth.

[nedstarkrp]

"We can have as many as you want my love" Ned smiled at her. She wasn’t too old to bear children yet, and if she wanted them, Ned would give them to her. Of course he wanted more children too, but she was the one who had to bear them, and give birth to them. "I can have a lock put on the door. It’s about time that boy learned to knock, anyway" He really was old enough to sleep in his own bed. And Ned did hate being interupted. But at the same time he didn’t want to cut off his sons need for his mother. 

"It’s just practice.. We need it, it’s been so long" Well technically it had only been an hour or so. But that was beside the point. 

"Cat" Ned smiled teasingly, as he kissed his way up her neck, and along her jaw, before he reached her lips. 

[queencatelynstoneheart-blog]

Rickon would be four by the time they saw him again. He was old enough to be in the yard training with his brothers but that was beside the point; he was still her little boy and if he wanted a cuddle he was more than welcome. “He tries. Storms notwithstanding.” The last thunderstorm they’d been at Winterfell together Rickon had all but vaulted into the middle of her big bed- heedless of the fact they’d both fallen asleep naked. “It just so happens he still prefers my company to yours.”

Cat bit back a smile. “If I remember corretctly Bran came about when we were just ‘praticing’.” Which was why he was only a year Arya’s junior. It wasn’t completely out of the realm of possibility to say this would lead to the next Stark pup. Bran was the result of Ned’s return from the Greyjoy Rebellion

"I can’t think when you do that." she nipped at his bottom lip.

[nedstarkrp]

Ned remembered that night well, it had been a bad storm. Ned could understand that his youngest would be scared of it. But Ned never was happy to have a third person in bed, child or not. “Well I can’t blame him for that” After all Ned did prefer her company to anyone else’s.

"Well I can always stop, if you really want me to" Ned knew that she wouldn’t want it, which was the only reason he would suggest such a thing. 

"Which is why I do it" Ned grinned, stroking his lips softly against hers. 

[queencatelynstoneheart-blog]

The flaw in the entire plan was having to share a bed with a baby all over again. Rickon had just start spending most every night in his own bed when everything started. He’d either want nothing to do with them when he arrived- or as Cat hoped- he’d not want to leave her side for at least a few weeks. “All the more reason to spend the time we have alone praticing.” Rickon and Shaggydog would bring all sorts of chaos to King’s Landing. Three-years-old or not he could cause all sorts of trouble when he wanted to.

"Don’t you dare." she kissed him." "I’ll have you beheaded or something." Which wasn’t much of a threat mainy because he was Ned and she was quite certain she couldn’t lift Ice if the occasion ever called for it. Then again they did have a headsman now. Being queen did have its advantages.

"That’s cheating, Ned." she rolled her eyes.

[nedstarkrp]

Ned chuckled a bit, he highly doubted that Cat would ever have him beheaded. Even if a queen could order a king beheaded, she would never. He kissed her again, slow and soft. “I doubt that you would.. I rather think you would beg me to touch you again” He smirked at her, pretty sure that he was right in that observation. 

"It is not. I can rarely win an arguement with words, so I use my mouth for other things in stead. And if it makes you be silent, that’s not really my fault, now is it?" Ned nudged her earlobe with his nose before he kissed the soft skin below it. 

[queencatelynstoneheart-blog]

“I'll have someone do it for me if you don't behave yourself.” she grinned. This would never be home but it was so much better to be in his arms again. “This business of being queen has to have some perks.” Not that this bathing chamber didn't count as a perk in and of itself. The hot pools were all well and good but this was completely different.

All that time apart and Cat could scarce keep her hands off of him; beheading was too permanent a solution really. “I will think of a suitable way to deal with this presumption of yours later.”

Well he'd the nail on the head with that. It was rare Ned won an argument- with her anyway. “Are you saying I talk too much?” she smiled and tipped her head to the side. 

[queencatelynstoneheart-blog]

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handmaidenmara:

[queencatelynstoneheart-blog]

The Crownlands were pretty enough and a fair bit warmer than the North would be upon their return but it wasn’t where the Starks belonged. The south could fight it’s own battles in the...

[queencatelynstoneheart-blog]

“It's not longer a matter of if; the princess and her khal are coming one way or another. Be it to wage war or celebrate at the coronation.” When a Targaryen was born the gods flipped a coin; they were brilliant rulers or mad. There was no middle ground with the dragon kings. Dorne had little reason to love any house who'd sided with Robert in the rebellion; Cat hoped Ned's condemnation of Twyin's slaughter of the Dornish princess and her children would be enough to keep them from attacking as well.

Cat shook her head. “He's. . .” Rickon had already offered to trade Shaggy for a dragon from the princess- something she was quite sure would never work out. “I'm to order House Tully to change their sigil because he wishes to be a dragon instead of a direwolf and a trout.”

The thought of either of her daughters having a handmaiden, or Rickon having a nursemaid, was mildly terrifying. There were too many people in this city who weren't to be trusted. “The Lannisters aren't the threat they once were. The singers will have to write the Rains of Casterly Rock if anyone is to sing about them. Both the sons are our guests, and Cersei has been banished.” IT didn't mean Cat wasn't worried by the Lannisters at all. They were a very ambitious fertile family but Twyin's line was in their hands now.

“As much as I wish it did just who she takes a shine to doesn't matter.” Sansa would have to marry for the good of the realm. She'd marry for swords or rights to a river or to keep an enemy in their pocket. Marrying two children to the Tyrells just didn't make good political sense. Feelings didn't particularly matter. It made Cat sick to think of marrying her children off like that but it was the way the world worked. Had Ned stayed in Winterfell and none of this happened it would have been the same way. Robb would have likely married a Mormont daughter and Sansa an Umber or a Karnstark.

The marriages now were just that much more splinded.

“Those wolves make me feel safer than a dozen guards. Had it not been for Bran's he would have died and I probably would have right along side him.” 

[golden-rose-growing-strong-deac]

Reblog if you want CAT as Lady Stoneheart and NOT Talisa!

[queencatelynstoneheart-blog]

[handmaidenmara-moved]

queencatelynstoneheart:

[handmaidenmara-moved]

"I’ve never gone late but if it looks to be near my time when the coronation finally happens I imagine the king won’t allow me to go." Granted it would probably be his asking more than forbidding. Ned...

[queencatelynstoneheart-blog]

The Crownlands were pretty enough and a fait bit warmer than the North would be upon their return but it wasn't where the Starks belonged. The south could fight it's own battles in the warmth of summer, they had winter to prepare for. "It isn't just his grace who wishes to go home." Starks who came south didn't go home agian. Brandon, Lyanna, and Rikkard were proof enough of that. "Let's hope this Targaryen princess and her khal don't think so or we'll have another war on our hands." Ned was more forgiving than Robert or the girl would already be dead. Cat didn't blame the girl for her father's doing but it didn't mean she liked the idea of a horde of Dothraki screamers anywhere near King's Landing. 

"Mind you Rickon is elated at the chance to see her dragons." But when you were three life was nothing but a game. The most serious thought the boy had every day was trying to decide which sibling to chase after. 

She shook her head. Sansa was always in such a hurry when it came to celebrations. "We'll find her a handmaiden of her own soon enough." Cat would have rathered she had the chance to do her daughter's hair herself but that wouldn't happen any time soon, if ever. The baby would be enough of a challange with her hands still as stiff as they were.

"Taking care of my children isn't overfilling my plate." It wasn't as if she was with Sansa and Arya all day; the girls had their septa for a good deal of the day. Once they were weaned though she still saw quite a bit of them all the children fell into their septa's care for the most part. "The babe won't leave me for a while once it's born and the rest of them have Septa Mordane." 

The Tyrell boy could well have been a gentleman but it didn't make any political sense marrying two children to Tyrells. "Robb is already marrying Margery. I imagian Sansa will marry into the Riverlands or the North." The Riverlands woud be better for her but like her sister and little brother Sansa would marry either their greatest enemy or a friend they hoped to keep. It wasn't the most romantic notion in the world but, hadn't Cat's own marriage been just that? "She won't marry for a while yet." Like as not she'd have to marry but it would be put off as long as Cat could manage. "That match with Joffery was a mess we. . . it was rushed into." Ned's best friend or not she'd never forgive Robert Baratheon for that. He'd caused all this for gods' sake!

"We can't hide form all of them like it or not." It was pathetic hiding from people in one's own keep! Even going to Ned's solar she could feel eyes on her back. There were too many spies in the Red Keep for Cat to feel anywhere near comfortable; it was half the reason she wanted to go home. Winterfell had it's share of spies but at least it felt safer than here. 

"This one won't have a wolf and the girls don't have theirs anymore." she looked down at her stomach for a moment. The wolves had seemed like a rather insane idea when the boys had come into the yard cradling the five pups between them but now. . . now Cat couldn't imagain life without them. Summer had saved Bran's life. The girls and this babe wouldn't be safe without wolves of their own. The gods- Ned's old nameless gods- had sent those puppies to her children. 

What would this one do without a wolf pup of it's own?

[queencatelynstoneheart-blog]

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[queencatelynstoneheart-blog]

"I’ve never gone late but if it looks to be near my time when the coronation finally happens I imagine the king won’t allow me to go." Granted it would probably be his asking more than forbidding. Ned had learned, or she hoped he had anyway, years ago Arya’s bullheaded ways were more troutheaded ways than anything. "As much as my husband wants to put it off I doubt it will be five months or more away." Catelyn wasn’t quite sure how far she was exactly but it wasn’t more than three months. She hadn’t been in King’s Landing that long! 

"The thought of food is the most pleasant in the world right now." Meals were a chore and would be for some time to come. "Don’t bother with any sausages or bacon in the morning it will only make it worse."

Cat raised an eyebrow. “What does Sansa have to be worried about?” True enough the first real chance she’d had at a husband had been thrown away but from what she’d heard of Joffery, and seen, it wasn’t such a loss. “I’ll speak with her tomorrow after breakfast.” The last thing she wanted was the children worrying about things beyond even her own control. They had little enough time to be children the way it was. Robb had a marriage arranged, Sansa would have one soon, and Arya soon after. Only the little boys were still really children.  

She should have known it was Varys. Just how that man managed to have spies in her own castle Cat still wondered. The Red Keep was full of spiders and shadows at every turn. “His little birds have their way of nesting in places they shouldn’t.” No doubt he would learn of the baby before even Ned did. He’d known of the attack on Bran before she arrived in King’s Landing the first time!

[handmaidenmara-moved]

Samara sighed softly, she probably should have known better than to try to say to her Queen that she shouldn’t worry so much, especially when it came to the Coronation gown, let alone the others that were going to be needed within the coming moons. “I doubt that it will be possibly to push the Coronation so far back….. One, the people will not fully acknowledge him as King, and two, I believe Princess Sansa may well burst at the idea of being a princess and yet not being seen as an official one till the Coronation…” She stated, a smile on her face at the last part. Sansa was so much of an innocent that Samara felt very protective over the girl though she knew that soon enough, Sansa would be pledged to someone for marriage and such dream filled days would ebb away.

"Very well, my Queen…. I shall be sure of that when I come to you in the morn." Samara replied, bringing it to the fore of her mind and storing it into her memory. Such was one of her blessings of being able to memorise many things, some for the shorter time purposes and other things to be recalled for a longer period, mind it was to be expected of Handmaidens in truth so it shouldn’t be so surprising.

"She…." Samara sighed softly, "You did not hear this from me… But…. Sansa still has nightmares….. About Joffrey….. Obviously he said things to her which has her frightened of any marriage match which she knows will soon enough be made…." She stated, her concern easily seen. She certainly couldn’t help Sansa in terms of her fears save for whatever it was she would hear from her Queen, or the whispers from the Kitchen, the Kitchen Maids heard everything….. Somehow. Samara smiled gratefully when Catelyn said she would speak to Sansa. "Thank you my Queen…. I pains me that O cannot help her myself, knowing you to be worried about other things that happening and with so much on your mind…"

"It is not the birds that you should be worried about, but the Shadows… They do not hide any where near as openly as the birds do…. They hide in the shadows and the darkest corners of the night…." Samara whispered carefully, knowing that some may well be nearby so her ears were pricked. "In order to do….. What must be done…. Whatever that may be…." "And as I said…. The Spider knows little about the Shadows, so even he has a lapse in time of knowing things…. The Shadows tell the birds and the birds tell the Spider….. That is how things are…. Occasionally run… However, some Shadows use what they learn as leverage, using the information as a means to buy silence…"

[queencatelynstoneheart-blog]

"There are those in the kingdoms who still say the Targaryen princess should be on the throne and not my husband.” Half the reason the marriage between Robb and the Tyrell girl had been arranged was to secure Mace Tyrell to their cause. He'd been one of the Mad King's staunchest supporters in the Rebellion. Who was to say he wouldn't support the daughter. “Time will be allowed for the northern bannermen to arrive, and the Dornish but yes we won't be able to put it off for months.” Like as not it would happen just about the time she was as big as a holdfast and standing for long periods was more than a little uncomfortable.

“I think Sansa is excited enough to make up for her father and Arya's lack of enthusiasm.” Sansa was the Stark born for this; she was the most southern of any of them, sometimes Cat even thought her eldest daughter was more southern than she was. She'd been a lady since she could walk.

“I'd rather not get sick and have everyone fussing overmuch just yet.” Meaning she didn't want Ned worrying terribly much just yet. He had enough on his plate without worrying over a child not yet here. “I am their mother before any of the rest of this mess. It's my job to worry about them, especially when they think it's nothing.”

The last thing Cat wanted was for her daughter to turn into Lysa. If Ned had any sense he would have arranged a marriage for Sansa years ago and settled it. Now the poor girl had gone through a betrothal to a prince only to have it broken and her future left uncertain.

One way or another Sansa would marry someone. The question was who would it be? A mother's instinct to keep a child close was overruled by the political matches they'd need to make to keep the kingdoms safe. “She knows she has to marry someone sooner or later.” A southern match like as not the way things stood. The little boys and the the new baby would make northern matches when their turns came.

“It should all be settled by her age but I'm afraid it won't be for a while.”

Her arrival a few months before had had only been Cat's third time in the capital but she knew enough not to trust the Red Keep. It was said walls everywhere had ears- it was truer here than anywhere else. Secrets were hard enough to keep in a castle like Winterfell but here it was downright impossible. The walls- even in her private rooms- seemed to have eyes and ears.

“I'd rather they all keep to themselves and away from my chambers all together.” Nowhere felt safe in this place. It was beautiful she couldn't deny that and more comfortable than Winterfell in many ways but it would never be home. “If there was a way to stamp them all out shadows, spiders, and little birds I'd do it.”

Varys had proven helpful when it came to the attack on Bran but that had proven just how dangerous the Master of Whispers was when we wanted to harm someone. He knew far too much.

[queencatelynstoneheart-blog]

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[queencatelynstoneheart-blog]

What sort of man risked both his sons for the second and third born of another? “We hold both his sons, and Cersei and her children are banished across the Narrow Sea. Surely even he’s not a big enough fool to dare try and hurt the boys.” Well she hoped he wasn’t. No matter how dear Bran and Rickon were in the line of sucession they’d hold nothing of mch importance. Some holdfast would be found for each of them eventualy. Unless Bran could- in time- father a child and took Winterfell if Robb took the throne. 

"I can only imagian how bad Arya would be if she’d met Lyanna." Or any of the rest of the family. Without the rebellion and the Mad King more of the Starks would have lived to see her babies but they’d have had a different father. No matter what the plans were in the beginning Ned was the one she was meant to have. 

Little sister or not as far as she was concerned Lysa could go through the moon door herself. “So long as his favorite niece asks he’d do it.” she kissed him. “Mind you he’d hurt his hand trying to knock some sense into her.” When Brynden had said as much to her at the Eyrie it hadn’t made much sense. Well it hadn’t until she spoken with her sister.

"I’ve missed you so much Ned."

[nedstarkrp]

"Let’s just hope that he remembers that"

Ned’s smile faded for a bit as he imagined Arya with Lyanna. “I think Lyanna would have made Arya listen to her lessons. When they weren’t making trouble” the two of them could have turned Winterfell upside down. Ned would have loved to see that. Lyanna was a lady, as well as a trouble maker. Maybe she could have helped Arya become the same. 

He chuckled lightly as he pulled her in for another kiss. “I’ll keep it in mind, as a last resort” he mumbled against her lips. His hands stroke her back as he leaned back just far enough to look at her. “I’ve missed you too, love”

[queencatelynstoneheart-blog]

"If he has any sense he will."

More than half the Starks had died in the Rebellion so what family the both of them had had shrunken to just Ben and Cat’s own siblings. It was funny to think at one time they’d have had two aunts, another uncle and a grandfather. “We’d have Arya begging to go on visits to Storm’s End to see Lyanna and Robert every other day.” It wasn’t fair to any of their children they never met their aunt but then again Catelyn herself had never met her sister-in-law. She hadn’t met Ben until she’d gone north after the rebellion was over. When Brandon and Rikkard had decended upon Riverrun for visits it had always just been the two of them. She’d met Ned on their wedding day!

"What do you think," she traced a scar on his chest. "if we have another girl about naming her after your sister?" Having more children was completely hypothetical as of yet but it hadn’t been something they’d talked about in ages. When Sansa had been born the wounds had been too fresh, and with Arya she hadn’t thought to do it without Ned near.

"If she doesn’t listen to him I’ll throw her out the moon door myself." She’d been at the Eyrie less than a week but Lysa was alreaedy on Cat’s last nerve. The woman refused to see sense! "Hiding won’t do her any good." And now she was ruining a perfectly good soak in the tub. Horrible woman.

[nedstarkrp]

"Would that be such a bad thing?" Ned asked. As it was now she was asking every other day, when they could go home. Ned’s reply was always the same, and yet she kept asking. Having her ask to go see her aunt, would be easier to handle. 

Nodding, Ned smiled softly at his wife. “I would like that” They hadn’t talked about having another child for that long. But Ned knew that if Cat wanted more children he would want to grant her that wish. 

Ned chuckled lightly as he pull cat in for a kiss more insistent than before, As he hoped to occupy her mind with thoughts about anything but her sister. “Let’s not talk more about her.. We can deal with that later” He mumbled and tugged softly at her lower lip. 

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For the most part it had only been the two them with the children; Ben had taken the Black when Robb and Sansa were still babies and Riverrun was so far away. “They all deserved to have more time with family.” And lots of cousins to play with. Lots and lots of little cousins.” With Robert’s libido there ws no doubt in Cat’s mind there would have been lots and LOTS of little Baratheons about. As it stood there was just Robin; somehow none of it had turned out the she thought it would.

"Eddard for a boy then?" Three boys and they’d always managed to name one after someone other than Ned. By northern standards most of the Tully names were off limits; it was just one of the prices she’d paid to marry a northman. Rickon was three there was no reason in Catelyn’s mind they couldn’t have another. They weren’t THAT old. It would just take some more pratice. Lots and lots and lots of pratice.

"And what is it exactly you would rather talk about, your Grace?" she smirked. "Or would you rather not talk at all?"

[nedstarkrp]

Ned nodded silently, that they did. 

"Only if you insist, but then we really should name her Catelyn, if we had a girl" It seemed only fair, and as much as Ned would love a girl named Lyanna, he would love to name one of his girls after his wife too. 

"I think you know perfectly well what I want" Ned smiled at his wife, leaning forward to seek out that place of her neck, that he knew would make her forget everything else. 

[queencatelynstoneheart-blog]

"One Catelyn isn’t enough?" Sansa was as southern as the Stark children’s names got and she was named for one of Hostor Tully’s aunts long dead. With any luck the next one would be a little girl. It had been far too long since they had a daughter. It was only fair the numbers were even.

Robb should have been named Eddard but she’d been alone and desperate to please Ned at the time. “I only meant Bran is named after your brother and Rickon’s for your father. It’s high time we named a son for you.” Naming a son for his future king seemed the proper idea at the time. They hadn’t known then what Robert would turn into then.

"I think I need some remi-nding." she moaned. How was it that man could still make her see stars after seventeen years?

[nedstarkrp]

"I don’t think you could ever have too many" Ned replied. If a son should be named after him, then a daughter should be named after her. If she didn’t like that thought, she would have to think of another boy’s name. 

"Just as it’s high time we named a daughter after you" Ned insisted. 

Cat’s moan sent shivers up and down his spine. He continued to kiss, nip and tuck for a few moments more. “Do you remember now?” He asked, keeping his lips close to her skin, his hot breath dancing over her skin. 

[queencatelynstoneheart-blog]

Women were supposed to have sons but Cat couldn’t help but want another girl- or however many of either sex the gods blessed them with. But it was high time they had another girl. Sansa and Arya were much too grown up to be babied. “We’re going to have to have a dozen more to use all these names my love. Boys and girls.” There wasn’t much to do else to do in King’s Landing or the North really now that she thought of it. “We just don’t have the excuse of ‘keeping warm’ when Rickon storms in now.” Explaining to a three year old why Papa was in bed with Mother and just why Papa was naked was always awkward. It wasn’t nearly as bad though as facing Robb on mornings after Ned got back from whateer it was the Lord of Winterfell did to keep the North in line only to see poor. Poor Robb with a dull red face. He most certinally knew just what had happened the night before.

"We’re going to make that baby we’ve been talking about if you keep that up." Or twins if it kept up at this rate. Not that she was complaining one bit. Making them was half the fun of babies afterall.

"Ned." she swallowed. That just wasn’t fair. The things he could do with his mouth.

[nedstarkrp]

"We can have as many as you want my love" Ned smiled at her. She wasn’t too old to bear children yet, and if she wanted them, Ned would give them to her. Of course he wanted more children too, but she was the one who had to bear them, and give birth to them. "I can have a lock put on the door. It’s about time that boy learned to knock, anyway" He really was old enough to sleep in his own bed. And Ned did hate being interupted. But at the same time he didn’t want to cut off his sons need for his mother. 

"It’s just practice.. We need it, it’s been so long" Well technically it had only been an hour or so. But that was beside the point. 

"Cat" Ned smiled teasingly, as he kissed his way up her neck, and along her jaw, before he reached her lips. 

[queencatelynstoneheart-blog]

Rickon would be four by the time they saw him again. He was old enough to be in the yard training with his brothers but that was beside the point; he was still her little boy and if he wanted a cuddle he was more than welcome. “He tries. Storms notwithstanding.” The last thunderstorm they’d been at Winterfell together Rickon had all but vaulted into the middle of her big bed- heedless of the fact they’d both fallen asleep naked. “It just so happens he still prefers my company to yours.”

Cat bit back a smile. “If I remember corretctly Bran came about when we were just ‘praticing’.” Which was why he was only a year Arya’s junior. It wasn’t completely out of the realm of possibility to say this would lead to the next Stark pup. Bran was the result of Ned’s return from the Greyjoy Rebellion

"I can’t think when you do that." she nipped at his bottom lip.

[nedstarkrp]

Ned remembered that night well, it had been a bad storm. Ned could understand that his youngest would be scared of it. But Ned never was happy to have a third person in bed, child or not. “Well I can’t blame him for that” After all Ned did prefer her company to anyone else’s.

"Well I can always stop, if you really want me to" Ned knew that she wouldn’t want it, which was the only reason he would suggest such a thing. 

"Which is why I do it" Ned grinned, stroking his lips softly against hers. 

[queencatelynstoneheart-blog]

The flaw in the entire plan was having to share a bed with a baby all over again. Rickon had just start spending most every night in his own bed when everything started. He'd either want nothing to do with them when he arrived- or as Cat hoped- he'd not want to leave her side for at least a few weeks. "All the more reason to spend the time we have alone praticing." Rickon and Shaggydog would bring all sorts of chaos to King's Landing. Three-years-old or not he could cause all sorts of trouble when he wanted to.

"Don't you dare." she kissed him." "I'll have you beheaded or something." Which wasn't much of a threat mainy because he was Ned and she was quite certain she couldn't lift Ice if the occasion ever called for it. Then again they did have a headsman now. Being queen did have its advantages.

"That's cheating, Ned." she rolled her eyes.

[queencatelynstoneheart-blog]

…

[queencatelynstoneheart-blog]

What sort of man risked both his sons for the second and third born of another? “We hold both his sons, and Cersei and her children are banished across the Narrow Sea. Surely even he’s not a big enough fool to dare try and hurt the boys.” Well she hoped he wasn’t. No matter how dear Bran and Rickon were in the line of sucession they’d hold nothing of mch importance. Some holdfast would be found for each of them eventualy. Unless Bran could- in time- father a child and took Winterfell if Robb took the throne. 

"I can only imagian how bad Arya would be if she’d met Lyanna." Or any of the rest of the family. Without the rebellion and the Mad King more of the Starks would have lived to see her babies but they’d have had a different father. No matter what the plans were in the beginning Ned was the one she was meant to have. 

Little sister or not as far as she was concerned Lysa could go through the moon door herself. “So long as his favorite niece asks he’d do it.” she kissed him. “Mind you he’d hurt his hand trying to knock some sense into her.” When Brynden had said as much to her at the Eyrie it hadn’t made much sense. Well it hadn’t until she spoken with her sister.

"I’ve missed you so much Ned."

[nedstarkrp]

"Let’s just hope that he remembers that"

Ned’s smile faded for a bit as he imagined Arya with Lyanna. “I think Lyanna would have made Arya listen to her lessons. When they weren’t making trouble” the two of them could have turned Winterfell upside down. Ned would have loved to see that. Lyanna was a lady, as well as a trouble maker. Maybe she could have helped Arya become the same. 

He chuckled lightly as he pulled her in for another kiss. “I’ll keep it in mind, as a last resort” he mumbled against her lips. His hands stroke her back as he leaned back just far enough to look at her. “I’ve missed you too, love”

[queencatelynstoneheart-blog]

"If he has any sense he will."

More than half the Starks had died in the Rebellion so what family the both of them had had shrunken to just Ben and Cat’s own siblings. It was funny to think at one time they’d have had two aunts, another uncle and a grandfather. “We’d have Arya begging to go on visits to Storm’s End to see Lyanna and Robert every other day.” It wasn’t fair to any of their children they never met their aunt but then again Catelyn herself had never met her sister-in-law. She hadn’t met Ben until she’d gone north after the rebellion was over. When Brandon and Rikkard had decended upon Riverrun for visits it had always just been the two of them. She’d met Ned on their wedding day!

"What do you think," she traced a scar on his chest. "if we have another girl about naming her after your sister?" Having more children was completely hypothetical as of yet but it hadn’t been something they’d talked about in ages. When Sansa had been born the wounds had been too fresh, and with Arya she hadn’t thought to do it without Ned near.

"If she doesn’t listen to him I’ll throw her out the moon door myself." She’d been at the Eyrie less than a week but Lysa was alreaedy on Cat’s last nerve. The woman refused to see sense! "Hiding won’t do her any good." And now she was ruining a perfectly good soak in the tub. Horrible woman.

[nedstarkrp]

"Would that be such a bad thing?" Ned asked. As it was now she was asking every other day, when they could go home. Ned’s reply was always the same, and yet she kept asking. Having her ask to go see her aunt, would be easier to handle. 

Nodding, Ned smiled softly at his wife. “I would like that” They hadn’t talked about having another child for that long. But Ned knew that if Cat wanted more children he would want to grant her that wish. 

Ned chuckled lightly as he pull cat in for a kiss more insistent than before, As he hoped to occupy her mind with thoughts about anything but her sister. “Let’s not talk more about her.. We can deal with that later” He mumbled and tugged softly at her lower lip. 

[queencatelynstoneheart-blog]

For the most part it had only been the two them with the children; Ben had taken the Black when Robb and Sansa were still babies and Riverrun was so far away. “They all deserved to have more time with family.” And lots of cousins to play with. Lots and lots of little cousins.” With Robert’s libido there ws no doubt in Cat’s mind there would have been lots and LOTS of little Baratheons about. As it stood there was just Robin; somehow none of it had turned out the she thought it would.

"Eddard for a boy then?" Three boys and they’d always managed to name one after someone other than Ned. By northern standards most of the Tully names were off limits; it was just one of the prices she’d paid to marry a northman. Rickon was three there was no reason in Catelyn’s mind they couldn’t have another. They weren’t THAT old. It would just take some more pratice. Lots and lots and lots of pratice.

"And what is it exactly you would rather talk about, your Grace?" she smirked. "Or would you rather not talk at all?"

[nedstarkrp]

Ned nodded silently, that they did. 

"Only if you insist, but then we really should name her Catelyn, if we had a girl" It seemed only fair, and as much as Ned would love a girl named Lyanna, he would love to name one of his girls after his wife too. 

"I think you know perfectly well what I want" Ned smiled at his wife, leaning forward to seek out that place of her neck, that he knew would make her forget everything else. 

[queencatelynstoneheart-blog]

"One Catelyn isn’t enough?" Sansa was as southern as the Stark children’s names got and she was named for one of Hostor Tully’s aunts long dead. With any luck the next one would be a little girl. It had been far too long since they had a daughter. It was only fair the numbers were even.

Robb should have been named Eddard but she’d been alone and desperate to please Ned at the time. “I only meant Bran is named after your brother and Rickon’s for your father. It’s high time we named a son for you.” Naming a son for his future king seemed the proper idea at the time. They hadn’t known then what Robert would turn into then.

"I think I need some remi-nding." she moaned. How was it that man could still make her see stars after seventeen years?

[nedstarkrp]

"I don’t think you could ever have too many" Ned replied. If a son should be named after him, then a daughter should be named after her. If she didn’t like that thought, she would have to think of another boy’s name. 

"Just as it’s high time we named a daughter after you" Ned insisted. 

Cat’s moan sent shivers up and down his spine. He continued to kiss, nip and tuck for a few moments more. “Do you remember now?” He asked, keeping his lips close to her skin, his hot breath dancing over her skin. 

[queencatelynstoneheart-blog]

Women were supposed to have sons but Cat couldn’t help but want another girl- or however many of either sex the gods blessed them with. But it was high time they had another girl. Sansa and Arya were much too grown up to be babied. “We’re going to have to have a dozen more to use all these names my love. Boys and girls.” There wasn’t much to do else to do in King’s Landing or the North really now that she thought of it. “We just don’t have the excuse of ‘keeping warm’ when Rickon storms in now.” Explaining to a three year old why Papa was in bed with Mother and just why Papa was naked was always awkward. It wasn’t nearly as bad though as facing Robb on mornings after Ned got back from whateer it was the Lord of Winterfell did to keep the North in line only to see poor. Poor Robb with a dull red face. He most certinally knew just what had happened the night before.

"We’re going to make that baby we’ve been talking about if you keep that up." Or twins if it kept up at this rate. Not that she was complaining one bit. Making them was half the fun of babies afterall.

"Ned." she swallowed. That just wasn’t fair. The things he could do with his mouth.

[nedstarkrp]

"We can have as many as you want my love" Ned smiled at her. She wasn’t too old to bear children yet, and if she wanted them, Ned would give them to her. Of course he wanted more children too, but she was the one who had to bear them, and give birth to them. "I can have a lock put on the door. It’s about time that boy learned to knock, anyway" He really was old enough to sleep in his own bed. And Ned did hate being interupted. But at the same time he didn’t want to cut off his sons need for his mother. 

"It’s just practice.. We need it, it’s been so long" Well technically it had only been an hour or so. But that was beside the point. 

"Cat" Ned smiled teasingly, as he kissed his way up her neck, and along her jaw, before he reached her lips. 

[queencatelynstoneheart-blog]

Rickon would be four by the time they saw him again. He was old enough to be in the yard training with his brothers but that was beside the point; he was still her little boy and if he wanted a cuddle he was more than welcome. "He tries. Storms notwithstanding." The last thunderstorm they'd been at Winterfell together Rickon had all but vaulted into the middle of her big bed- heedless of the fact they'd both fallen asleep naked. "It just so happens he still prefers my company to yours."

Cat bit back a smile. "If I remember corretctly Bran came about when we were just 'praticing'." Which was why he was only a year Arya's junior. It wasn't completely out of the realm of possibility to say this would lead to the next Stark pup. Bran was the result of Ned's return from the Greyjoy Rebellion

"I can't think when you do that." she nipped at his bottom lip.