Narrative/Closed (cont.)
His eyes did flutter open though, and they came to rest upon her. “My Lady,” he rasped. “Cat.” She kept one hand in one of his and moved the other to his face once more. Despite everything, Catelyn smiled at her husband. “Ned,” she kissed his forehead. “I've missed you.” He grimaced as he tried to speak though, and she knew he was battling. He managed to speak, though it clearly pained him to do so. “The girls. Find the girls. Take them home.” His eyes closed and Catelyn watched the pain take hold of him. He was still back in King's Landing. “They're safe,” she assured him. It was the kind of lie you told a dying man, though it hurt her to do so – how far from the truth it was and how much she wished it were true. “They're safe,” she repeated, planting another kiss upon his face. But he was going, gone.
Catelyn had felt so drained. Even before being here. Of her love, her emotions. Ned, her father, her boys. She was surprised to find that she still had tears left. Again, she swept the hair and some sand from his face, and let her tears fall quietly. There was no-one here she had to remain strong for. She'd borne so many deaths these past few months. She wondered how many more would come. Was she destined to relive them all in new ways here? She could not suffer that. Catelyn remained with her husband and her grief as others moved around her. After a little while, though, she stood up and brushed the sand from her dresses. Catelyn retrieved Ice, Ned's great-sword, and lay it with him, before heading off to find out if there was anything she could do for the living.