WILOW-Ch.316: Renly Sets His Sights on the Throne
Red Keep, King's Landing
POV of Catelyn Stark
Catelyn woke to the sounds of the bells ringing in the distance.
She removed her nightgown and quickly put on her clothes before leaving the room.
Outside, she could see Ser Rodrik Cassel standing in front of the door with a few Stark men, while Lord Renly Baratheon, Ser Loras Tyrell, and a few Baratheon guards stood opposite to them.
She closed the door behind her and turned to Ser Rodrik Cassel. "Ser Rodrik. What is going on here?"
Before Ser Rodrik could say anything, Lord Renly spoke.
"My brother, King Robert, is dead, my lady." He said, "The Grand Maester tells us that it was a heart attack, but we all know that he serves the Lannisters. My brother has been in better health these past few days than he has been in a long time. I suspect conspiracy, my lady."
"Conspiracy? By whom?" she asked.
"By the Lannisters." He replied, "The Lannisters have been after the crown for a long while. And now they've finally killed my brother for it. The Red Keep is no longer safe, my lady."
"What are you saying, Lord Renly?" she asked.
"The Queen hates you, Lady Catelyn. She hates Starks. With the King no longer around to hold her back, she might do something… foolish." Lord Renly said.
"We're leaving Red Keep in an hour." Ser Loras said, "We're asking if you want to come with us."
"And why are you leaving the Red Keep, Ser Loras, Lord Renly? I don't remember the Queen having a vendetta with you."
The two men looked at one another before Lord Renly turned to her.
"We suspect that the Queen's children are illegitimate." Lord Renly said, "Prince Joffrey, Prince Tommen, and Princess Myrcella are the bastard children of Ser Jamie Lannister and Queen Cersei. With no legitimate children, the crown would go to the true Baratheon line. In exchange for seeing to your safety, I ask for the support of House Stark and the North when I fight for the crown to be the King."
All kinds of alarm bells rang in her mind as soon as Catelyn heard those words.
"If the King's children are illegitimate, then the crown should go to Lord Stannis, right?" She said.
"Perhaps." Lord Renly said, "But my brother is a man who has no allies or friends. He has no mind for diplomacy. The Seven Kingdoms will break under his rule. He might be the next King by law, but I am the only one who can keep the Kingdoms together. Will I have the support of House Stark, my lady?"
She stayed silent and thought about his words.
Even if she refused, there was no guarantee that the Baratheon and Tyrell guards wouldn't simply kill the Stark guards and abduct her and Sansa to use them as hostages against House Stark.
It was better to be a guest than a hostage.
With that said, she knew that her husband would never support Renly if the truth of Queen Cersei's children came to light.
As it was, she could only stall for time and send Sansa home.
With her thoughts clear on the matter, she nodded to Lord Renly, "I'll come with you. But I'm not willing to leave my household behind."
"They can come with us." Ser Loras said.
"No." She shook her head, "Too many people will only slow us down, and once the Queen finds out that we're missing from Red Keep, she'll no doubt send men after us. We must travel fast."
"You have a point, my lady." Lord Renly said, "What do you propose then?"
"Lord Bolton has a few ships in King's Landing. My household and guards will leave for the North on those ships." She said.
"That is accepta…" Ser Loras said, but she cut him off. "Along with my daughter."
Ser Loras frowned at her words while Lord Renly's lips thinned.
The atmosphere became cold, and she could see the guards tense on both sides.
There was silence for a long moment before Lord Renly smiled.
"Of course, my lady. Lady Sansa can leave with your household." He said, before his eyes turned serious, "But you must understand my lady. Even if the Lannisters don't have a fleet of their own in King's Landing, they do have a few ships that they might send after your household. If Lady Sansa goes with your household, then I'll not be able to guarantee her safety."
"I'm willing to take that risk, Lord Renly." She replied.
Lord Renly took a deep breath.
"If that is your wish, my lady." He said, "I'll give you a few minutes to talk with your household and prepare your belongings. We'll wait for you in the stables."
"Very well, Lord Renly." She said, and the Lord and his men quickly left the corridor to wait for her in the stables.
But most likely, a few of their men were still waiting in the corridors around them. It was to make sure she hadn't escaped.
She could try to escape with her men, but in that case, it would be impossible for them not to get into a fight with Lord Renly's men and the Tyrells.
Catelyn and Sansa's presence was Lord Renly's only chance of getting help from the North, and Lord Renly wouldn't easily give that up.
And when Lord Renly and Ser Loras's men clashed with the Stark guards, it wouldn't matter who won.
Because then the Red Cloaks would spot them, and then escaping King's Landing would become impossible.
And if they were caught, they would undoubtedly be punished for trying to escape. Even if they didn't run away and stayed here, nothing much would change.
She couldn't let that happen. Whatever happened, they had to leave King's Landing quietly.
Once Baratheon and Tyrell men were out of sight, she turned to Ser Rodrik.
"My lady. You mustn't go with them." Ser Rodrik said, but she shook her head.
"I do not have a choice in this matter, Ser Rodrik. But you must take the rest of our men and Sansa and leave for Winterfell."
"My lady."
"That is an order, Ser Rodrik." She said sternly, and the knight stopped arguing at once. "Please take Sansa to Winterfell."
He looked conflicted for a long moment before he gave a painful nod.
"I'll see to it, my lady." He said and bowed to her, and she quickly went inside her room to gather her belongings.
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Next Chapters' Name:
Ch.317: For the Greater Good
Ch.318: Facing the Realities of Life
Ch.319: Lyra Learns the Latest News