Chapter Text
Kings Landing
As a girl, Catelyn had not spent time in the Mad King's court, her father had wisely not sought a position there throughout the King's reign and nor had he permitted any of their House or closest vassals to do so. Hindsight had proven his wariness about Aerys all too correct with the King's complete separation from reality years before he had revealed his madness to the Realm. Regardless, her time in Riverrun had been illuminating, no matter how short. Edmure had grown into a talent for gossip that had Catelyn privately contemplate if that was where Arya and Holster had inherited their shared habit. He had also, out of the ears of their father, revealed some more disturbing rumours about Lysa's behaviour, other pieces of gossip revealed far more of the mess that Catelyn had encouraged her husband to go south and manage. She suspected now, knowing more, that she had given Nedd an utterly impossible task. Catelyn had not wanted to leave Riverrun, not while her father was so visibly ailing and deteriorating beyond the reach of any Maester's tonic or prayers to the gods, yet, after telling him everything that had transpired in Winterfell, Bran's fall and near death followed so swiftly by an assassin with a most unusual blade, Holster had sent her to Kings Landing himself. Family, Duty, Honour, he had reminded her. Catelyn had a duty to her children, to protect them and she would find out who had tried to kill her son.
Now, the Lady of Winterfell sat in her family's carriage as she arrived in the capital in the late evening, the smell of the city was horrendous but she heard people gasp and gossip when they went by. A few cheered to see her, Lady Stark, she smiled and had opened the panel to see and wave, to be seen. There was no discretion, no hiding when she was escorted by Northern riders and some of her own family's most skilled knights. Sent by her father to bolster Nedd's household in the Red Keep and guard his granddaughters. They travelled straight into the courtyard by the Tower of the Hand where she was met by Sansa in a blue dress and Arya, visibly mutinous about her skirt but also her husband who looked so very relieved to see her. It wasn't even a few moments later that Catelyn greeted her husband with a warm embrace and a smile, then her girls with the same warmth. Everything else, she knew, could wait for just a moment.
It was the next morning, at a private breakfast that Catelyn let the girls know their brother had woken up and did not recall anything of what had happened before his Fall. Arya caught onto her wording and looked at her sharply, Sansa paused a moment and looked at her mother with guileless eyes, "Mother?"
Nedd paused as well, saying nothing but Catelyn told the girls to spread word that Bran remembered nothing. She didn't explain and for once, neither of the girls questioned their mother's order and soon were leaving to go about their day. Nedd just looked at his wife and then quietly dismissed the servants to other tasks and led her to the private garden in the Tower. A beautiful, well-tended garden with a pond that had water lilies growing in it. It was in the privacy of the garden that he asked her what had happened, Catelyn thought of the dagger under her skirt and taking a breath, began to explain about the assassin that came for Bran, the lock of hair in the Tower, golden and long, the number of people that had been eliminated from the list but also those who were left. Nedd frowned and was quiet for a long painful moment then all he said was, "I have a meeting later today with Renly and Loras Tyrell. If anyone should know of the dagger's origin, it may be them."
It was not even a candle mark later that Catelyn was in her husband's private office in the Tower of the Hand, looking over numbers detailing the sheer mess of the royal and realm finances, when Renly arrived with a book and Loras a step behind. Nedd greeted both with a faint smile and welcomed them, Catelyn also remembered her courtesies and both were effortlessly returned by the two lords. Soon enough, they are sitting down and Renly is looking at the dagger as Loras admits that his brother had sent a message to him of Holster's inquiry, curious about the true reasoning behind it. Catelyn smiles faintly, Holster had been correct to call Wilias Tyrell 'cleverer than many other men', the Queen of Thorns eldest grandson was no fool. It is then that she explains about the assassin, the attempt to kill Bran as he slept after his fall from the broken tower. In the aftermath, Renly is pale very aware that Nedd Stark is Hand of the King and he can, and will, likely demand justice for the attempt to murder his son. That and if he is denied it by the Crown, the uneasy peace of the realm will break.
Loras looks at the dagger and points out that betting is regulated, word would have spread of a Valayrian steel dagger being betted. Renly just says quietly, "It was betted and won by Robert, he complained later that it had gone missing. And my brother is many things but he would never raise a threat to House Stark." Catelyn agreed, the King's affection for Nedd was as strong now as it was when they went to war together over a decade ago, even with Nedd refusing Sansa and Arya as matches for the Prince, he had still been named as Hand. Nedd remained quiet, thoughtful, before Renly took out the law book and in a slight desperation to change the subject, asked why Nedd had asked about precedent laws around Wardens and taxes. Nedd's lips twitched as he stated, "The Paramount Houses of Westeros are responsible for collecting the Crown's taxes. Many lords in the South haven't been paying, I have written to inform Tywin Lannister that the Crown's debt to his house is now forfeit to the same amount which coincidentally is actually over the amount of money he has lent the Crown, he may reclaim the amount in question from his vassals with the Crown's blessing. A similar letter is being sent to Lord Tyrell."
At that revelation, everyone stares. Catelyn furiously asks what about the raised taxes to the North, Nedd's lips twitch into a dark bitter smile as he admits, "Gone to the Iron Bank. I've got men looking for Baelish's private accounts but the treasurers of the Crown are being summoned to speak with me tonight." Renly's lips twitch as he congratulates Lord Stark on enraging every Warden in a neat political mess. Nedd Stark merely shrugs, Catelyn sighs at the reminder that her children get their sense of mischief from their father as Loras admits that his grandmother will have heads rolling in High Garden.
The next session of the Small Council, the Lord Hand somehow drags the King into the Small Council chambers, announces the repayment of half the Crown's debts and how he did it as everyone stares. Pycelle immediately frets about Tywin's response and Nedd Stark merely glances at the King who laughs and declares that it would be fine, Tywin would be more enraged with his bannermen embarrassing him. He should count himself lucky that the Crown hasn't demanded more as is their right. When Robert speaks of hosting a feast, Nedd looks at him then states, "We still have to repay the Tyroshi and the Iron Bank Robert, the latter a considerable sum. I've requested a representative from the Bank come to court, to arrange a debt repayment schedule but the royal house is going to have to cut some of their expenses." Robert blinked and asked what expenses there were on his side, Nedd wryly answered, "The Queen ships sugar and luxury silks from Essos so she doesn't have to deal with the Tyrells and Dorne. The Crown's chief treasurer has been informed of the changes and he will implement them. It is not a large cut as much of the Queen's income is from the allowance her father permits her, but it will do well to appease the commons and not have to increase taxes." At that, everyone agreed, raised taxes tended to lead to angry smallfolk and that meant mobs.
When Pycelle warily asked what the other options were to curb the debt, Nedd Stark admitted he had budgeted to ensure Princess Myrcella's dowry funds were protected and ensured it was in line with previous princesses of Westeros. Robert scowled at the reminder of the previous royal house as Nedd Stark didn't even pause that to reduce the need to budget the court, Prince Joffrey could be married to a Lady from a wealthy house willing to provide a hefty dowry but it would only be a short term solution, the royal estates needed urgent attention. Robert immediately agrees with the proposals and tells Nedd to handle it as he walks out of the room, declaring 'penny-pinching' boring. Nedd stares at the departing King as the door closes, Renly just asks who is getting the list together of the ladies in question. Nedd nods tiredly before saying, "Each of us will bring a list containing around 2 eligible ladies to the next council meeting, we will discuss them, likely with the Queen's input and the Prince's." Renly stares, Baelish's lips twitch at that as he bows his head and commends the Lord Hand's ability to corral the King. Nedd huffs and dismisses them but not before telling them to also present him a list of candidates for the royal steward.
As her husband causes an uproar in the Small Council and the Realm, Catelyn reluctantly commands her things be packed once more to the despair of her daughters, having to bring up her departure from court due to a letter from Lord Royce arriving, asking for her presence in the Eyrie. He had not explained his reasoning but Catelyn, having heard from Edmure of Lysa's behaviour, worries for her sister. And frankly, she is rather irritated and worried that she cannot take either of her daughters with her, not with Nedd admitting that he needs them both.
What few others realise is that when she hosts the wives of some merchants and ship captains in the Tower of the Hand to discuss the Stepstones, she is not just gathering information for her husband about the ever-shifting tides of the Stepstones nor finding herself a reputable ship's captain to shorten her journey to the Eyrie, Catelyn has also arranged to meet with one of Holster's sailors, now a captain in his own right, having bought his ship from the money he received. The man is older than Catelyn's sons, strong-backed with a thick black beard and laughing violet-blue eyes, yet on first introduction, she can see why Holster recommended him, this former slave whom he had freed and given employment. For all her son's heart racing and hair-greying antics, Catelyn knew that he had the finest taste in friends and they were loyal to him and because of that, willing to help Holster's family. Willing to risk their own lives because if Kings Landing's turns dangerous, they will be smuggling them out.
Regardless, word is spreading of Nedd's decisions with the debt, scandalous to many but Catelyn smiles when she realises that most of these merchants agree that it is wise to sort out the crown's budget in these last days of summer plenty.
Catelyn spends only 7 more days with her family before she departs once more as the King throws a grand feast to celebrate her departure, even if it is merely to the Eyrie where she will visit her sister. The last time she sees her husband is when they part ways at the docks with a brief kiss and embraces for her daughters. When she departs, she has no idea that will be their final goodbye as the King departs on his own hunt to celebrate sorting out the debt.
By the time Catelyn arrives in Gulltown on her way to the Eyrie, she's met by a grim Lord Royce and hushed docks. She is visibly stunned when she is told that the King is dead and Nedd has been arrested and accused of treason by the newly crowned King Joffrey and his mother, the Queen Regent. Letters have been sent denouncing all the Starks present in the capital of that very same treason. The only reassurance that Lord Royce can give a suddenly shaky Catelyn is that Sansa and Arya are not in the capital both having somehow managed to escape the Lannisters. Renly Baratheon and several others fled the city when the King was dying, rumours and whispers state that Renly has fled instead to Highgarden and that Sansa was smuggled away in his retinue by Loras Tyrell.
Arya has vanished with no word but Lord Royce has been informed that the fighting in the capital had been fierce, and the knights that Catelyn had left with her husband had been arrested beside him. Every northern member of the Stark's household had already been executed. Catelyn has to steady herself at discovering that, she sends a raven to Robb in Winterfell letting him know that she's fine, similar ravens are sent to Riverrun and Wolf's Bay. She spends the hasty journey to the Eyrie praying for her husband, for her daughters and her sons, for Robb has probably already called the Banners in response to this insult if Joffrey and Cersei do not offer a justified explanation for such an attack on the North's Warden. Unknown to Catelyn, as she prays and travels now to her sister, to plea for her aide, ravens fly with gossip to seedier corners of the realm. On the docks of Kings Landing, Wulfric dies beside most of his crew for the crime of being a Stark spy. His ship is ceased by the Crown and it is not the only one, anyone affiliated with Holster Stark's expedition is hunted down and executed on the orders of the new King to the horror of many merchants and smallfolk in the city. Several merchants hire ships, pack their things and hastily flee to safer harbours, aware that a war is about to start and the Capital is no longer going to be safe or peaceful. In Old Town, Lord Hightower hears of the orders and has those who would enact such orders arrested, he also sends warning North to Holster Stark, wary that the young Sea Wolf may yet be the target of Joffrey who had ever been envious of the second son with a legend to his name.