Chapter Text
Catelyn Tully Stark always considered herself a religious woman, who followed the teachings of the gods, and for that, the gods would reward her for her faith. She was betrothed to Brandon Stark.
He was handsome, strong, virile and even though he worshiped pagan gods, she loved him and had hopes that he would convert to the true gods. She was about to marry the man of her dreams, but Brandon's sister was kidnapped by Crown Prince, Rhaegar Targaryen and everything fell apart. Her beloved Brandon and his father, Lord Rickard, were murdered by the Mad King.
Catelyn was then given in marriage to Brandon's brother, Eddard, for her father aid in the rebellion against the Targaryens and their supporters. The war was long and many lost their lives. Eddard, known as Ned, returned alive, however, with his sister's bones, and a bastard child, conceived during the war, by the Honorable Ned. Catelyn was forced to live with the stain her husband had brought on her life and her marriage.
As the years passed, the boy grew up with Robb, legitimate son and heir to Winterfell. It was obvious that the boy, as Catelyn referred to him, had every Stark look, the long face, the gray eyes, where Robb had taken after Catelyn in everything, the red hair, the blue eyes, the Tully face, not at all like the Starks in appearance, which was talked about by the loyal servants of Winterfell, in whispers, when they thought Catelyn was not listening, and how much they favored the boy, as they considered him to be the continuation of the Starks at Winterfell.
Catelyn was tired of the constant comparisons, she did everything to harm the boy, made her loyal servants give him less food, old clothes, less firewood, a room away from the family, closer to the servants. Many times servants of Winterfell would tell Ned about her actions, causing the couple to fight, and despite Ned's calm nature, in those moments she could see the wolf blood of the Starks, her husband's face changed, like stone and ice, as well as the statues of the crypts of the ancient lords and Kings of Winter....
Catelyn allowed her husband to return to her bed, and in this return, a new pregnancy, the birth of a girl. Catelyn wept with joy. But when Ned brought Robb and the boy over to see their new baby sister, Catelyn raged and screamed at the bastard not to come near. That very night, as she kept watchful eyes on her perfect girl, Catelyn was reminded of her youth, while being courted by Brandon. Her precious Brandon would never stress her out on her postpartum bed, how Catelyn missed Brandon, impetuous and wild Brandon, who agreed to enter into a duel for Catelyn, for her love...
That same night, as Catelyn watched the sky, waiting see beautiful stars, just like in Riverrun, a shooting star crossed the sky. And Catelyn made her wish with all her heart... What if the revolt and war hadn't happened and Brandon hadn't been killed by King Aerys? What if Catelyn had married Brandon, living their beautiful courtship? That way Catelyn wouldn't have the bastard Jon Snow in her life and her family would be perfect....