Ned moaned as Cat started undressing him. He continued kissing her and his hands wrapped around her waist and draw her even closer. He wheeled them around, still kissing and caressing her, and dropped her gently on the bed. He broke away from her warm touch, only for a moment to remove the rest of his shirt.
He also took off his trousers, and his hands went to the hem of her nightgown, slowly drawing it up her body. He smiled down at her, and discarded the nightgown. He felt so powerful standing over her, ready and waiting for him. Cat was the only person that saw this side of him, and he knew it. She saw the lover, the quiet and thinking man.His ‘boys’saw the king of the mountain, the cold and calculating boss man. Cat only saw him as a man,and he loved her for it.
He poised himself over her, and leaned down to kiss her, at the same time, his hand went to her breast, and kneaded it slowly, relishing the moans he elicited from her.
She could feel his weight on her hips, he pressed his legs in between hers, slowly setting them apart. She made no resistence, Cat dubted that even if she wanted to, she wouldn’t be able to deny her body of Ned’s touch. Instead she wrapped her legs on his, her hands tangled and pulled his hair, just to bring his lips to her neck.
Catelyn let herself drown on the river of kisses he poured, gently, from her neck to the shoulder and then they found the way back to her mouth. She trailed his back, the sweat drops ran across her fingers, untill her nails sank on his warm flash, and he moaned at her ear.
She felt his hand sliding from her breast, down her chest, her waist, stopping at her thigh. He caressed, pull it closer to him. His hands were harsh and strong, after all they were used to the cold metal of guns and the roughness of gunpoweder, but still, gentle.
For a moment, the world stopped. They were one, man and wife, and it was truly the most blissful thing Ned Stark could ever do. He loved her - he knew that now. He knew it long ago, but when they were like this, entwined in another, in separate worlds but in one, he was whole.
The symphony of sound they were making in throes of passion send him over the edge, and he soon finished and collapsed, rolling to his wife’s side and holding her. He closed his eyes and said a silent prayer of thanks, for her, for their life together, and a begging of forgiveness for the man he had become. Ned got up and kissed her hair, and went to the window, which he opened and looked out into the chilly dawn.
Catelyn turned on her stomach, so she could see him well. The light from outside shone on his face, clean from worries and free from burdens, at least for the night. She place her head on the hands, her long hair fell on her back, protecting her bare skin from the cold air, but she shivered, when the wind came, turning the warm sweat into little drops of ice.
So different from her, Ned seemed to regain his strenght, on the simple act of breath the pure night air. For some minutes they stayed that way, she enjoyed watching him like that. Her husband looked lighter and even his face had a different bright, those were one of the few moments he was not Mr. Stark, or Eddard Stark, he was just Ned.
And he was hers.
Catelyn couldn’t help but smile.
“Are you going to sleep there?” she asked, smirking “Would you like a pillow, Ned?”
Ned heard the smile in her voice, and closed the window. He went back to the bed and embraced his wife, kissing her playfully and chiding her.
“I have one now, I suppose. And it’s not my fault you southron girls are so damn cold all the time!”
He drew her closer to him and just revelled in the softnes of her. Of her hair, her touch, her voice. And he counted his lucky stars that she was his, and what was even more miraculous, the she loved him with a burning ferocity that surpassed even Eddard Stark’s love for his wife.
He nestled her into the crook of his arm and held her. “How’s this for a pillow, love?”
She pretended to be thinking of an answer for her husband. “Hum… I think I’m quite fond of this pillow” she finished her verdict, planting a light kiss on his lips
Catelyn pushed him, slowly, so she could lay her head on his chest and stare at his eyes. There was no mist or storm in them now, only a grey sea of dreams. Oh, only if she could let him go to sleep like that, so calm and young, but there were still something she had to tell him. Catelyn crossed her hands on his chest, and her smile fade away, now she had to fulfill her duty as wife.
“Ned - she was so used to give him advices that her voice knew exactly how to sound, how to make him listen to her - “I know that you started smoking again, I know.” Catelyn brushed away a lock of hair that fell on her face.
“I can smell on your clothes. I can smell on you.”
Ned moaned as Cat started undressing him. He continued kissing her and his hands wrapped around her waist and draw her even closer. He wheeled them around, still kissing and caressing her, and dropped her gently on the bed. He broke away from her warm touch, only for a moment to remove the rest of his shirt.
He also took off his trousers, and his hands went to the hem of her nightgown, slowly drawing it up her body. He smiled down at her, and discarded the nightgown. He felt so powerful standing over her, ready and waiting for him. Cat was the only person that saw this side of him, and he knew it. She saw the lover, the quiet and thinking man.His ‘boys’saw the king of the mountain, the cold and calculating boss man. Cat only saw him as a man,and he loved her for it.
He poised himself over her, and leaned down to kiss her, at the same time, his hand went to her breast, and kneaded it slowly, relishing the moans he elicited from her.
She could feel his weight on her hips, he pressed his legs in between hers, slowly setting them apart. She made no resistence, Cat dubted that even if she wanted to, she wouldn’t be able to deny her body of Ned’s touch. Instead she wrapped her legs on his, her hands tangled and pulled his hair, just to bring his lips to her neck.
Catelyn let herself drown on the river of kisses he poured, gently, from her neck to the shoulder and then they found the way back to her mouth. She trailed his back, the sweat drops ran across her fingers, untill her nails sank on his warm flash, and he moaned at her ear.
She felt his hand sliding from her breast, down her chest, her waist, stopping at her thigh. He caressed, pull it closer to him. His hands were harsh and strong, after all they were used to the cold metal of guns and the roughness of gunpoweder, but still, gentle.
For a moment, the world stopped. They were one, man and wife, and it was truly the most blissful thing Ned Stark could ever do. He loved her - he knew that now. He knew it long ago, but when they were like this, entwined in another, in separate worlds but in one, he was whole.
The symphony of sound they were making in throes of passion send him over the edge, and he soon finished and collapsed, rolling to his wife’s side and holding her. He closed his eyes and said a silent prayer of thanks, for her, for their life together, and a begging of forgiveness for the man he had become. Ned got up and kissed her hair, and went to the window, which he opened and looked out into the chilly dawn.
Catelyn turned on her stomach, so she could see him well. The light from outside shone on his face, clean from worries and free from burdens, at least for the night. She place her head on the hands, her long hair fell on her back, protecting her bare skin from the cold air, but she shivered, when the wind came, turning the warm sweat into little drops of ice.
So different from her, Ned seemed to regain his strenght, on the simple act of breath the pure night air. For some minutes they stayed that way, she enjoyed watching him like that. Her husband looked lighter and even his face had a different bright, those were one of the few moments he was not Mr. Stark, or Eddard Stark, he was just Ned.
And he was hers.
Catelyn couldn’t help but smile.
“Are you going to sleep there?” she asked, smirking “Would you like a pillow, Ned?”
Ned had put his coat over his wife’s shoulders, and led her through the garden. When they finally got upstairs, Ned locked the door behind them and immediatley pressed his wife against the wall, trailing kisses down her neck and shoulders.
He needed her so much. He needed to wind down and she knew him so well. Fifteen years of marriage had made him know her body almost as well as he knew his own. He caged her body against the wall, and kissed her hard on the mouth. He broke it off after the need for air was neccessary, and looked into her eyes. “Cat.” It was a heartfelt whisper, and he moved in to kiss his wife again.
Catelyn let her nightrobe fall to meet her husband’s coat on the ground, she would have shivered from cold, but Ned’s arms were all around her and his lips against hers, hungry in an endless seek. She patted his face, his skin was burned and harsh from cold, under her pale fingers. Fingers that led her to his neck, her hands were delicated and icy while his neck is warm but tense. He pressed her against the wall and then his chest against her breasts, her ribs ached, but Catelyn didn’t care
She slid her hand on his shirt, unbuttoning it, but there were so many buttons, that Cat promised to herself next time, she would buy him a shirt with less buttons. She smoothed and pulled his hair, always bringing him closer to her. His mouth was on her neck and his hands on the
bottom of her back, they were strong but always so gentle to her. She wrapped her arms around his back, while he kissed her on the lips again. She felt the scars he had won at the war, Cat stroked them, gently, hoping they would heal.Ned moaned as Cat started undressing him. He continued kissing her and his hands wrapped around her waist and draw her even closer. He wheeled them around, still kissing and caressing her, and dropped her gently on the bed. He broke away from her warm touch, only for a moment to remove the rest of his shirt.
He also took off his trousers, and his hands went to the hem of her nightgown, slowly drawing it up her body. He smiled down at her, and discarded the nightgown. He felt so powerful standing over her, ready and waiting for him. Cat was the only person that saw this side of him, and he knew it. She saw the lover, the quiet and thinking man.His ‘boys’saw the king of the mountain, the cold and calculating boss man. Cat only saw him as a man,and he loved her for it.
He poised himself over her, and leaned down to kiss her, at the same time, his hand went to her breast, and kneaded it slowly, relishing the moans he elicited from her.
She could feel his weight on her hips, he pressed his legs in between hers, slowly setting them apart. She made no resistence, Cat dubted that even if she wanted to, she wouldn’t be able to deny her body of Ned’s touch. Instead she wrapped her legs on his, her hands tangled and pulled his hair, just to bring his lips to her neck.
Catelyn let herself drown on the river of kisses he poured, gently, from her neck to the shoulder and then they found the way back to her mouth. She trailed his back, the sweat drops ran across her fingers, untill her nails sank on his warm flash, and he moaned at her ear.
She felt his hand sliding from her breast, down her chest, her waist, stopping at her thigh. He caressed, pull it closer to him. His hands were harsh and strong, after all they were used to the cold metal of guns and the roughness of gunpoweder, but still, gentle.
She loved when he did that.
Catelyn laid her head on his shoulder, and held her husband’s hand. “So should you.” She replied with a playful tone in her voice.
Ned was finally at peace. He drew her even closer and kissed the top of her head. He just rested there with her for a moment, and chuckled lightly. How he came to be in this life with this woman was absolutley insane, but he took it in stride.
Ned took her hand and led her up.”Come love, lets both get inside and warm up, yeah?” He leaned in and kissed her passionatley, just so she would know exactly the kind of warming up he had planned.
Catelyn pulled him closer by the collar of his shirt, with a smile on her face. “Ned…”she said, taking his arm and leading him back to the house, between kisses and whispers. She loved him so much.
Ned had put his coat over his wife’s shoulders, and led her through the garden. When they finally got upstairs, Ned locked the door behind them and immediatley pressed his wife against the wall, trailing kisses down her neck and shoulders.
He needed her so much. He needed to wind down and she knew him so well. Fifteen years of marriage had made him know her body almost as well as he knew his own. He caged her body against the wall, and kissed her hard on the mouth. He broke it off after the need for air was neccessary, and looked into her eyes. “Cat.” It was a heartfelt whisper, and he moved in to kiss his wife again.
Catelyn let her nightrobe fall to meet her husband’s coat on the ground, she would have shivered from cold, but Ned’s arms were all around her and his lips against hers, hungry in an endless seek. She patted his face, his skin was burned and harsh from cold, under her pale fingers. Fingers that led her to his neck, her hands were delicated and icy while his neck is warm but tense. He pressed her against the wall and then his chest against her breasts, her ribs ached, but Catelyn didn’t care
She slid her hand on his shirt, unbuttoning it, but there were so many buttons, that Cat promised to herself next time, she would buy him a shirt with less buttons. She smoothed and pulled his hair, always bringing him closer to her. His mouth was on her neck and his hands on the
bottom of her back, they were strong but always so gentle to her. She wrapped her arms around his back, while he kissed her on the lips again. She felt the scars he had won at the war, Cat stroked them, gently, hoping they would heal.
It was past 2 am.
Catelyn wrapped the nightrobe tightly against her frame, and smiled at Ned’s attempt to hide the cigarette from her. She already knew that, since last week, he had come back to the old bad habit.
The cold breeze played with her loose hair, falling on her shoulders. Catelyn still felt uncomfortable in that part of the garden. The old trees curled their branches, like a nest of arms, preventing light from reaching the damp ground but once a while she was forced to go there, seeking for her husband. For some reason, Ned loved that place, once he told her that the silent he found there, was the only way he could be in peace with God.
And Catelyn knew how hard that was for him, every time he had to take a life, she knew where to find him, sitting on the same white bench, with a lost look on his face, her husband would always be there, questioning his life choices.
The green grass tickled her feet, even though, she was wearing cotton slippers. Catelyn sat by her husband’s side, “Don’t you think it’s a little cold and a little too late to stay here, Ned?”
He had not realized the late hour. Ned always lost track of time when he went out on a job. That night’s job went well, but Ned still needed to clear his head. He sighed as he relished the part of the garden that he shared only with his wife and his God.
He smiled as Catelyn approached. “It’s not too cold for me, love. But shouldn’t you be in bed as well?” He smirked and drew his arm around her to keep her warm.
She loved when he did that.
Catelyn laid her head on his shoulder, and held her husband’s hand. “So should you.” She replied with a playful tone in her voice.
Ned was finally at peace. He drew her even closer and kissed the top of her head. He just rested there with her for a moment, and chuckled lightly. How he came to be in this life with this woman was absolutley insane, but he took it in stride.
Ned took her hand and led her up.”Come love, lets both get inside and warm up, yeah?” He leaned in and kissed her passionatley, just so she would know exactly the kind of warming up he had planned.
Catelyn pulled him closer by the collar of his shirt, with a smile on her face. “Ned…”she said, taking his arm and leading him back to the house, between kisses and whispers.
Ned walked up the driveway through to the back garden. He did not want to face anyone,not even his wife,and that thought deeply pained him. He did not want to think. Jon Arryn was dead, Robert wanted him in New York, and Ned felt as if his children were slipping from his fingers.
He sat on the small bench under one of the many trees in the yard, and lit a cigarette. He knew Catelyn didn’t like it. But right now, he needed it. He needed just to think. He needed to calm himself.
He looked up, to only clear his head, and instead saw his wife coming on the terrace.He blushed and quickly put out and hit the cigarette as she made her way toward him.
It was past 2 am.
Catelyn wrapped the nightrobe tightly against her frame, and smiled at Ned’s attempt to hide the cigarette from her. She already knew that, since last week, he had come back to the old bad habit.
The cold breeze played with her loose hair, falling on her shoulders. Catelyn still felt uncomfortable in that part of the garden. The old trees curled their branches, like a nest of arms, preventing light from reaching the damp ground but once a while she was forced to go there, seeking for her husband. For some reason, Ned loved that place, once he told her that the silent he found there, was the only way he could be in peace with God.
And Catelyn knew how hard that was for him, every time he had to take a life, she knew where to find him, sitting on the same white bench, with a lost look on his face, her husband would always be there, questioning his life choices.
The green grass tickled her feet, even though, she was wearing cotton slippers. Catelyn sat by her husband’s side, “Don’t you think it’s a little cold and a little too late to stay here, Ned?”
He had not realized the late hour. Ned always lost track of time when he went out on a job. That night’s job went well, but Ned still needed to clear his head. He sighed as he relished the part of the garden that he shared only with his wife and his God.
He smiled as Catelyn approached. “It’s not too cold for me, love. But shouldn’t you be in bed as well?” He smirked and drew his arm around her to keep her warm.
She loved when he did that.
Catelyn laid her head on his shoulder, and held her husband’s hand. “So should you.” She replied with a playful tone in her voice.
Ned walked up the driveway through to the back garden. He did not want to face anyone,not even his wife,and that thought deeply pained him. He did not want to think. Jon Arryn was dead, Robert wanted him in New York, and Ned felt as if his children were slipping from his fingers.
He sat on the small bench under one of the many trees in the yard, and lit a cigarette. He knew Catelyn didn’t like it. But right now, he needed it. He needed just to think. He needed to calm himself.
He looked up, to only clear his head, and instead saw his wife coming on the terrace.He blushed and quickly put out and hit the cigarette as she made her way toward him.
It was past 2 am.
Catelyn wrapped the nightrobe tightly against her frame, and smiled at Ned’s attempt to hide the cigarette from her. She already knew that, since last week, he had come back to the old bad habit.
The cold breeze played with her loose hair, falling on her shoulders. Catelyn still felt uncomfortable in that part of the garden. The old trees curled their branches, like a nest of arms, preventing light from reaching the damp ground but once a while she was forced to go there, seeking for her husband. For some reason, Ned loved that place, once he told her that the silent he found there, was the only way he could be in peace with God.
And Catelyn knew how hard that was for him, every time he had to take a life, she knew where to find him, sitting on the same white bench, with a lost look on his face, her husband would always be there, questioning his life choices.
The green grass tickled her feet, even though, she was wearing cotton slippers. Catelyn sat by her husband’s side, “Don’t you think it’s a little cold and a little too late to stay here, Ned?”
Catelyn/Ned; Part of A Storm of Guns
A couple of hours ago, Luwin had brought her the telegram, while she was with her youngest son in the garden, but she still didn’t know how to tell Ned about his dearest friend’s death. Catelyn knew how much he steemed the man who had been second father to him. This time she thanked God for the fact that he had been busy all day, locked in the company’s office with his…employees, the Cassels, Theon Greyjoy, even Jon Snow was there. And so was her own son too.
The Bathtub
Theon was nowhere to be seen, Robb swore, so he didn’t understand how he got to be standing in front of the door of his house. He payed no mind to that and proceeded to put the shinny metal key on the keyhole, doing much more noise than he had planned.
“Fuck” he thought.
But Robb smiled and opened the door, stepping inside in a sloppy way. The light from outside was illuminating part of the entrance and his back as well, converting him into a shadow next to the door to anyone who would see him from inside the house.
And there she was.
The Telegram
A couple hours ago, Luwin had brought her the telegram, while she was with her youngest son in the garden, but she still didn’t know how to tell Ned about his dearest friend’s death. Catelyn knew how much he steemed the man who had been second father to him. This time she thanked God for the fact that he had been busy all day, locked in the company’s office with his…employees, the Cassels, Theon Greyjoy, even Jon Snow was there. And so was her own son too.
The first time Ned took Robb to one of his meetings, their son was fourteen. Robb knew about the business and sometimes he was in the office when they discussed it, but there were some matters Ned had never spoken about in Cat’s presence. He usually asked for a coffe or a whiskey, a simple excuse to make her leave the room, untill they were done. She knew that Robb wasn’t a child anymore, but that world was just too dangerous for him, and she was his mother, her duty was to protect him, though not to blind him to something he already knew. That was how, at the age of fourteen her eldest son stepped deeper in that world. Maybe deeper than she would ever go.
Catelyn tried to take those thoughts out of her mind, at least for now, she read the telegram again, praying for the words to change, but they continued dark. It was good that all the messages were delivered to her first, she knew her husband very well, she could see behind the mist of his grey eyes. And It had been like that since they got married. Although, at first, was because her husband wasn’t used to that world, not as much as she was, and now it was because he valued her opinion in such matters.
Catelyn sat down on the couch and took a deep breath. The children were at school and Rickon was playing in the garden, with his dog. Hodor, their butler and Nan, the nanny were looking after him, so she alllowed herself to take a deep breath and turn on the radio, while she waited for her husband to come home.
Ned had always found his ‘business’ meetings tedious. Fortunatley, he had the Greatjohn, Jory, and Rodrik there to run interference and calrify. He was not meant for this. And worse, it fell to him to groom his son, his eldest, to take up his mantle some day.
It went well, although Theon, Jon and Robb were a bit too excited about the next job for his liking. And there was the matter of the telegram Cat had sent him earlier. She ‘needed to talk’ and that was never good, not when she sent it like that. Even though they were far away at the moment, it was like she was there before him, like he could read her thoughts.
He exited his office and drove back to the house. It seemed so empty now. Jon and Robb were out on the job, Sansa and Arya were in New York and School, as was Bran. So the sight of his youngest playing in the yard made Ned smile and want to lift his youngest onto his shoulders and run around the yard.
But he more pressing matters on his mine - like the telegram.
He went into the house and found his wife sitting in the living room, obviously waiting for him. He went to her and kissed her lightly.
“What is it?”
”Ned” she got up quickly, and took his hands on hers.
”I’m so sorry, love”
Catelyn knew that sweet words wouldn’t ease the pain her husband would feel. And Ned always prefered the truth, bitter or not. Still, she looked away before staring his grey eyes once more.
”The telegram said” -she tightened his hands, just to show him that she was there for him- “Jon Arryn is dead.”
She waited to see his reaction, Catelyn wanted to say something else but there weren’t any words left, she simply stood there, by his side.
