Catelyn | OTA and a closed tag for Robb

[onlyvengeance]

Who: Catelyn Stark
Broadcast: no
Action: a nice dose of hallucinations, for the most part
When: now

A. Hallucinations, OTA

[ At first they were faint, such that she wasn't even certain that she heard them. But a mother knew her children's cries. They were distinct to her, even when they were only small babies. And though she knew in her heart that none of her children would sound like infants, still she heard them. And as time wore on they only got louder and louder, and the compulsion to find them grew more and more urgent. So in earlier stages, she'll simply stop at seemingly random points, listening intently. Later, she will find herself doing things like ripping up the deck plates, or trying to, growing more and more frantic. She may not recognize people that she should. And these moods are chaotic and come out of seemingly nowhere, so you might find her to be perfectly lucid as well. ]

I will find you, my sweetlings. Nothing will hurt you now.

B. Closed to Robb, in the Iskaulit gardens

[The voices did not follow her here to the gardens. And though she was not given to praying in the godswood at home, preferring the ritual of the sept and voices raised in song, she felt compelled to seek the green space and it's quiet here and now. She has closed her eyes and is singing in her heart, seeking a calm she struggles to feel in any other way. And even here it is fleeting. Though it is ship's night and she should be sleeping, she cannot. ]

Comments

[kingofbadlifechoices]

[His mother has not been inside her chambers when he arrived and maybe that has been a good thing. Now he would not dare to touch her belongings without her permission but it gave him some time to cry properly. At this point he is not even sure about what he saw Jeyne doing.

After he has washed his face he goes to seek his mother out.

When he finally finds her he moves his hands through his hair first before approaching her, chewing his lower lip a little.]

Mother...

[There is somewhat of a smile on his face.]

...I could not find you so I have put some of my belongings in your chambers. I have not touched anything. I can sleep in the chair.

[onlyvengeance]

[She does not have to be told to know that he is distressed, though she cannot immediately discern the reason, of course. She opens her arms to him, as though he is still small, and all he needs to set his world aright is his mother. ]

I find I cannot sleep, of late, so I have no need for a bed at the moment. What troubles you, sweetling?

[ She brushes a hand through his hair, the motion soothing and gentle, and she cannot help but be reminded of all the times before this one. She loves her boy, and she cannot stand the thought of him being upset. ]

[kingofbadlifechoices]

[At times his mother can be very motherly, fretting and worrying about him non stop and straining herself because of it. He almost wants to tell her that he is not planning on dying here. After being buried into her arms for a short while he stirs and moves to sit up. It is hard not to look worried and tired. His face is pale and he has a heavy heart.]

What is the matter? [Better to focus on his mother’s problems first.] You should sleep, mother. [And he realizes it is maybe not a good idea to tell her about Jeyne’s unfaithfulness. He does not wish that his mother would approach his wife.]

I will not use your bed. [But what could he say instead?] I have a bit of a disagreement with Jeyne. [That sounds better. It is not a lie.] I prefer some silence and your company, if you do not mind.

[onlyvengeance]

[ He might be a man grown, but to her, he will always be her little boy, and she will always want to salve whatever hurts he suffers. And if he wants her company and quiet, well, she will be as mute as one of the silent sisters if it will help. ]

Sit here with me then, and listen to the quiet. Perhaps it will soothe you. Perhaps the gods will speak to your heart.

[kingofbadlifechoices]

[Robb shakes his head when his mother mentions the gods.]

They do not speak to me here. [It isn’t a soothing thought. He wishes the gods would turn to him to give him any clearance. Or an explanation for what Jeyne has done. Gods, he misses her so and on the other side he hates it that he misses her.] I just... Jeyne and I have separated for the time being. I am afraid that being alone will drive me mad.

[onlyvengeance]

[ Her first reaction is a flash of near-rage at the thought that he is in any sort of distress. But she tamps that down quick enough. ]

What happened? All couples disagree at times.

[ With an effort, she keeps her tone even and calm. ]

[kingofbadlifechoices]

She has been unfaithful. I saw her exchange kisses with another man and...

[That would mean he had to tell his mother about what happened a while ago. With Kitty and him being in his cups while behaving like an absolute fool.]

...once I have wooed a lady, I have been drunk and I told her I wanted to see her...her teats, mother. They told Jeyne of this. And apparently this is her revenge. Yet...she tells me it wasn’t her.

And I am not sure about anything anymore. [His smile is sad.] You cannot ask a woman to love a dead man.

[onlyvengeance]

[ Child, no. This is not how you relationship. ]

Then it sounds as though you are both a bit to blame.

[ At his last remark she flinches, almost as though he has reached out and struck her, though Robb would never do such a thing. ]

Love is not something that dies with the loved one.

[ She is as stonefaced now as when she learned of Ned's death, but her pain is obvious in her tone. ]

I will love your father until the end of my days, even if I never see his dear face again. Love is not always as the songs and stories would have you believe. The truest love is seen in the smallest of ways. And there is not less of it as time goes by.

Do you love her? Or is it just a pretty face you love?

[kingofbadlifechoices]

I have not touched them! [Suddenly his voice drips with frustration.] I have been...stupid...that is all! The lady Kitty has not showed me them either...I was just a pitiful, lonely man.

[He shakes his head.]

She kissed the man and then blamed me for what happened with the lady Kitty and me...again to return sitting in his lap, showering him with attention. It...it is not even close to the Jeyne I know.

[And that is the biggest upsetting thing of all. She looked like Jeyne and spoke like her...but Jeyne would never. Not everything that happened. What they did.]

What do you think, mother?