As dawn broke, Catelyn Tully emerged from her dark and cold dormitory. 🐨🍟 🐤🐼
Lady Catelyn tightened the cloak she was wearing; she had awoke from a sweet dream in which she saw her husband and children.
The children's laughter still lingered in her ears, but it became increasingly blurred as she gradually regained consciousness. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't hold onto that sweetness.
As she strolled through the gardens of the Eyrie, Lady Catelyn's mind drifted back to her disastrous "escape" attempt the previous night.
Although she was a lady of the Tully family, she was also the wife of the Direwolf and wait for her fate.
The guards at the Eyrie weren't strict, or rather, they didn't treat her like a prisoner. After observing for a while, Catelyn quickly figured out the soldiers' night watch and patrol patterns, and with the information she gleaned from the naive handmaid... Last night, she quietly left her room, carrying a dagger she had brought from Winterfell.
Apart from its pure white high walls, the Eyrie is surrounded by mountains and endless void. A long and treacherous path leads through Skyhold, Snow, and Stone to Gates of the Moon at the bottom.
The path leading down the mountain was about three feet wide, and as soon as Lady Catelyn got close, she could hear the howling of the cold wind.
With sheer drop-offs on both sides of the road, the children she longed for gave her immense courage, and Catelyn took her first step.
The second step... the third step... an overwhelming fear gripped Catelyn tightly; she felt the emptiness on either side, and the black vortex yawning all around her.
The wind howled at Catelyn, tugging at her cloak and trying to drag her off the cliff; she trembled, too afraid to move forward.
In that instant, Catelyn was perfectly lucid; she knew that if she went any further, she would be thrown into the arms of the Stranger.
Catelyn stepped back, comforting herself that while the Starks might be fearless, the Tully knew how to adapt.
Recalling last night's adventure, Catelyn was still shaken. She stopped in her tracks, looking up at the hazy, pale tower high in the sky, and a wave of dizziness washed over her.
Lady Catelyn closed her eyes for a moment. The Red Keep had four Dungeons, while the Eyrie was a natural prison.
As the sky turned white and Dawn broke, the sun shone like a dazzling pearl, its warm and bright light bathing the mountains in a golden glow.
Catelyn gazed down the mountain. Although she couldn't see the view below, she knew there were lush green forests and quiet villages, golden wheat fields, and sun-drenched streams splashing through the water.
Lysa Tully appeared on the balcony wrapped in a blue velvet robe trimmed with fox fur. Catelyn felt the strong gaze. When she looked up, she only saw the disappearing back of her sister.💙♞ . cOpaw 🐙☟
Lysa ignored her, and given the chance... she wanted to have a huge fight with her sister, the Tully lady who would mercilessly call her a stupid, fat Trout!
With her chest heaving, Catelyn took a deep breath, suppressing the rising anger within her.
Soon... another wave of despair washed over her. Lady Catelyn knew she was in the Eyrie, there was nothing she could do, and she could go nowhere.
My children... Lady Catelyn closed her eyes... In her loss and exhaustion, she turned to the embrace of the divine.
She asked the Smith in charge of repairing the damaged item to give her beloved Bran his attention and protection.
She pleaded with the Maiden to grant Arya and Sansa her courage and protect their virginity.
She prayed for the Father's justice, for the power to pursue justice, and for the wisdom to know justice.
She prayed to the Warrior to make Robb strong and protect him as he crossed the battlefield safely.
She prayed to the Crone to guide her on the right path, so that she wouldn't lose her way in the darkness ahead.
"You should wear more clothes, Cat."
A hoarse voice interrupted Catelyn's prayer, and when she opened her eyes, she found herself kneeling on the cold grass.
Seeing Petyr's smiling face, Catelyn's pupils contracted slightly, and she said, "Why are you back so soon?"
Some time ago, Petyr left the Eyrie with a letter written by Catelyn. Normally, he should be on his way to see Robb now (Chapter 199).
Petyr Baelish walked along, spreading his hands.
His tone was somewhat helpless. "Our Ser Blackfish doesn't trust me, nor does he trust his niece's son. He directly took away my mission to go south."
Lady Catelyn stood up and said, "My uncle?!"
Petyr stopped in front of Catelyn and joked, "He's worried I'll corrupt your eldest son."
He shrugged and added, " The Knight of the Bloody Gate Knight of the Bloody Gate left without a second thought, and I had a hard time finding a reliable new one."
This is wonderful news! Catelyn's eyes sparkled with joy, her lips curved into a slight smile, her smile as warm and bright as the Dawn sun.
Looking at Cat, Petyr was slightly taken aback. Her smile seemed to bring him back to his childhood, making him want to get closer to her.
Petyr clenched his hands behind his back. He was no longer the impulsive young man from Riverrun. He told himself that he needed to take it slow and approach her gradually.
Petyr's lips curled into a smile. "Madam," he said, "You seem pleased that Uncle Brynden made things difficult for me. I can detect your schadenfreude."
He feigned fear. "He's still so strong, I don't dare refuse him, I can only obediently let him arrange things."
Lady Catelyn then realized that Petyr was very close to her, her smile vanished instantly, and she immediately took a step back.
Petyr's eyes flickered, but his smile remained unchanged; he seemed oblivious to Catelyn's earlier actions.
Petyr's lips curled into a smile. "I have even better news... well, good news besides Uncle Brynden's trip south on my behalf."
Even better news?!
Catelyn seemed to have thought of something; her eyes trembled slightly, and she quickly asked, "What news is it?"
Under Lady Catelyn's expectant gaze, Petyr nodded slightly and said, "News to the two Miss Stark."
As Petyr finished speaking, Lady Catelyn approached him, grabbed Petyr, and hurriedly asked, "Tell me, how are they?"
"This is accurate information that I finally managed to find out..."
Petyr opened his arms and continued, "At least reward me with a hug first, okay?"
Catelyn's response was a cold, detached voice. "Little... finger..."
Petyr immediately withdrew his hand, coughed slightly awkwardly, and said, "Sorry, I just..."
Catelyn glared at Petyr, repeating, "Little... finger..."
"Okay, okay."
Petyr shrugged and said, " Sansa and Arya have returned safely to Winterfell."
He smiled and continued, "This information is reliable, I guarantee it."
Upon hearing this, Lady Catelyn was slightly taken aback, then murmured, " The Gods help me..."
Before long, tears welled up in Catelyn's eyes; she wept with joy.
Catelyn remained motionless, tears streaming down her face. Then, her Littlefinger uttered a hoarse voice. "No hugs? Then I'll demand the kind of reward I had when I was a child..."
As he spoke, his Littlefinger suddenly kissed Catelyn, their lips touching.
Lady Catelyn's eyes widened instantly, her pupils dilating. She was about to push Petyr away when he stepped back first.
Petyr's smile was like that of a boy who had just stolen some candy, "Still as sweet as ever."
"You..."
Catelyn's voice was filled with anger. "There must be no next time!"
After saying that, Catelyn left immediately. On the way, she glanced uneasily at Lysa's balcony and breathed a slight sigh of relief when she saw that it was empty.
Before hearing news of her daughters, Catelyn would never have let Petyr's offense go unpunished. He knew her; he knew she was filled with joy. He was no longer the clever boy; he had become a cunning man.
As she walked, Catelyn smiled again... "My children, I will find a way to be with you as soon as possible."
Catelyn's smile was both gentle and charming, but it was precisely this smile that Lysa was standing behind the window, saw.
That afternoon, Lysa's servant came to Catelyn's room.
The waiter bowed and said, "Lady Lysa of Lady of Winterfell requests your presence in the main hall."
Perfect timing... I must get my sister to let her go today!
Lady Catelyn nodded slightly. "Tell Lysa I'll be there in a bit."
Upon hearing this, Lysa's waiter did not leave. He said, " Lady Lysa me to escort you to the hall."
Catelyn frowned slightly, a surge of anger rising within her. Was her sister treating her like a prisoner?!
After glancing at the respectful-looking waiter, Catelyn chose to back down. It was a small matter; her children needed their mother's embrace, and that was what mattered most.
Escorted by waiters, Lady Catelyn descended the tower steps, crossed a bridge, and arrived at the intricately carved wooden doors of the hall.
Two guards, each wearing a sky-blue cloak and holding a spear, stood on either side of the gate.
As Lady Catelyn entered the hall, she faintly heard the voice of a waiter as the door behind her closed.
"During Lady Lysa's conversation with the Lady of Winterfell... no one may disturb them..."
The Eyrie hall is flanked by rows of slender, spear-like beams and columns. The floors and walls are made of milky-white marble with blue veins, and dappled, pale sunlight streams in through the narrow arched windows on the east wall.
Lady Catelyn walked on the blue silk carpet, the carpet drowning out her footsteps, while the cold wind howled lonely outside the window.
Catelyn spotted her "long-lost" sister, who was all alone in the hall. Lysa sat gracefully in a high-backed weirwood on the platform, with a huge banner of the House Arryn hanging behind her.
Lady Lysa wore a cream-colored velvet dress, a necklace of sapphires and moonstones, and her reddish-brown hair was tied into a thick braid that hung over her left shoulder.
Lady Catelyn stopped in front of the platform, looked up, and said directly, " Lysa, we need to have a serious talk."
Lady Lysa's face, flushed and plump with makeup, stared coldly at Catelyn.
Seeing that Lysa did not respond, Catelyn continued, "Listen, I'm going back to the children."
She paused, then raised her voice slightly. " Lysa, did you hear me?"
After a moment of silence, Lady Lysa suddenly exclaimed, " Petyr kissed you!"
Her nostrils flared, and she shrieked, "Why did he do this?! He already has a wife who loves him with all her heart! You seduced him, Catelyn!"
Catelyn frowned and said, " Lysa, it's not what you think, I..."
Lysa interrupted, "Go back to the child? Trying to run away? Are you feeling guilty?"
Catelyn, suppressing her frustration, explained, " Petyr stole a kiss from me while I was distracted..."
Lysa interrupted Catelyn again, "You think I'm a fool? Don't you? Don't you? It seems you really do think I'm a fool! Don't think you can win Petyr's heart with a lewd smile, he's mine! Mine!"
She suddenly stood up. "You all want to steal him away from me—my father, my husband, and especially you, you used to love kissing Petyr!"
Her stubby fingers pointed at Catelyn standing below. " Catelyn, don't play innocent. All these years in Riverrun, you've treated Petyr like a toy, manipulating his feelings with smiles, sweet words, and lewd glances."
Her voice trembled with tears. "Poor Petyr... sleepless nights..."
Soon, she shrieked again, "At the banquet that night, you and Petyr danced six dances in total, six! I counted them clearly! He tried to kiss you, but you pushed him away, and you even laughed at him. He looked so hurt, I was furious!"
Her expression was both sweet and proud. "Later, he got himself drunk, and that night I went to his room and gave him... a comfort you couldn't give. I bled, but it was a sweet pain. He said he loved me, he said he only loved me, and he called me ' Cat '! He fell asleep after saying that... Even so, I didn't leave before dawn. You wronged him; he dueled Brandon Tully Stark for you... You wouldn't even give him your token, but I will give him mine, I will give him everything..."
She roared furiously, "He's mine now! Not Catelyn's! Not yours! Not yours! Not yours!"
Catelyn, enraged, shouted, "Enough! You stupid, fat Trout! I didn't want Petyr! He's yours! Yours!"
Lysa, with her large, plump figure, strode down the steps. Her angry, contorted face appeared before Catelyn, her breath carrying the strong smell of wine.
Lysa's plump hand gripped Catelyn's slender wrist tightly. "Father said I should thank the Gods that a duke as prestigious as Jon Arryn would marry a woman who's been defiled," she said. "But really, all he wants is Father's army. I have no choice but to marry Jon; otherwise, Father would have rejected me like he did his own brother Brynden!"
Catelyn said coldly, "Enough! I have no interest in your love story! Let me leave; I don't want to stay here for another second!"