Some time later, Catelyn and Ser Rodrik have made their way down south and have arrived in King's Landing. They attempt to sneak into the city, however, they are spotted by one someone working for Lord Petyr “Littlefinger” Baelish, a long-time friend to Catelyn and her sister Lysa. They are taken to meet Littlefinger at a brothel he owns, where one of the King Robert’s other advisors named Lord Varys is also waiting. Varys explains that one of his 'little birds' told him they were coming, a network of young, low-born children who act as his spies throughout the kingdoms. Catelyn is angered by the way her and Rodrik have been treated, but asks Littlefinger for aid in finding the people who tried to have Bran killed. Littlefinger is able to answer this quickly and states that the elaborate dagger wielded by the assassin used to be his. He then explains that he lost it in a gamble with the queen’s brother, Tyrion Lannister. Lord Baelish then fetches Eddard to meet his wife, but Ned suspects a trick and pushes Littlefinger up against a wall outside the brothel, demanding to know what his game is. Catelyn then appears, and Eddard is pacified. After hearing news of Bran’s attack, he vows to expose the Lannisters to King Robert. Littlefinger agrees to be his ally in this, for the affection he once bore Catelyn as a youngster. That evening, Catelyn takes her leave of Eddard and King’s Landing, regretting that she cannot stay and see the girls, but it’s safer this way.

Days later, Lady Catelyn and Ser Rodrik stop at the Crossroads Inn, along the Kingsroad, on their way back towards Winterfell. Inside, they are accosted by a singer named Marillion, as the door then opens and Tyrion Lannister enters, who is seeking a break from his journey south to the capital. The innkeeper tells Tyrion that she has no rooms available, but he holds aloft a coin and asks if anyone is willing to give up his bed for the night. A sellsword named Bronn confirms that he can, as Tyrion thanks him. He then notices Catelyn, who is wearing her hood over her head, in the corner and tells her he is sorry to have missed her at Winterfell. Catelyn, now with her identity exposed, stands and identifies several knights who serve bannermen of her father's, Lord Hoster Tully. Catelyn then identifies another knight wearing the sigil of House Frey, assuming their allegiance as well. After rallying her father’s sworn bannerman, she announces to the entire inn that Tyrion was a guest in her household and betrayed that trust by conspiring to murder her son. She calls upon those knights present to help her seize him and return him to Winterfell to await the king’s justice. Several knights pull out their swords and level them at Tyrion, to his amazement.

Some days later, Tyrion has his blindfold removed and finds that Lady Catelyn’s newly-recruited party, augmented by several knights and the sellsword Bronn from the Crossroads Inn, is on the Eastern Road en route to the Vale of Arryn. Lady Catelyn had been saying that they were riding for Winterfell often and very loudly as part of her ruse. Tyrion congratulates Catelyn on her cunning, while pointing out that his father, Lord Tywin Lannister, will have people looking for him in the wrong place. He then insists that his father will provide a handsome reward for his safe return, a point that clearly piques Bronn's interest. Tyrion informs Catelyn that her sister Lysa has gone mad since Jon Arryn’s death and will try to kill him in the Eyrie. He demands his innocence be known in the attempt on Bran Stark's life and points out he'd have to be an idiot to give the assassin his own blade. Before Catelyn can answer, the party comes under attack from one of the local hill tribes in the Vale. Despite taking several losses, the party is able to drive off the attackers. Though having the opportunity to escape, Tyrion fights, killing his first man in the skirmish, and in doing so, saves Catelyn's life. Afterwards, they resume their trek to the Eyrie.

Riding through the Vale, Catelyn's party is met by a group of knights, led by Ser Vardis Egen. Vardis asks why Tyrion is with them and Catelyn replies that he is their prisoner. They then ride in towards the Eyrie, as an impressed Tyrion states that the castle is supposedly impregnable. Bronn laughs and asserts that with ten good men and climbing spikes, he’d “impregnate the bitch.” Tyrion laughs and says he likes Bronn. Upon Catelyn’s arrival, in the high hall of the Eyrie, Lysa Arryn gives her new guests a frosty reception. Catelyn and Tyrion are both distracted by the unedifying sight of Lysa's young son Robin Arryn – and the titular Lord of the Vale – still sucking at her breast despite being many years too old for it. Lysa asserts her annoyance in the fact that her sister brought Tyrion to the castle without permission, endangering all of them. Tyrion, however, points out that only if he is harmed, would there will be war with House Lannister. Despite this, Lysa is unconcerned about his threats, as the Vale is strongly-defended and the Eyrie is impregnable. Catelyn herself is puzzled by Lysa’s attitude, since she wrote to her about the Lannisters warning her, but Lysa asserts that she warned Catelyn to stay away from them, not bring one to the very heart of the Vale. Lysa then orders Tyrion to be sent to the sky cells: three-sided cells with the fourth open to a sheer drop down the mountainside. This forces Tyrion to huddle in a corner and try not to roll out to his death during sleep.

Later on, after a few failed attempts at bribing a simple-minded guard named Mord, Tyrion stands in the center of the High Hall and insists that he wishes to confess his crimes. Lysa is pleased, commenting to Catelyn that he has been broken by the sky cell. As the court stands watching, Tyrion’s “crimes” he confesses to are merely those of lying, gambling, cheating, encouraging violent behavior, whore-mongering and playing practical jokes. Bronn laughs from the back of the room but Lysa loses patience with this, as Catelyn asks him to speak directly on the charges of which he has been accused: conspiring in the murder of Jon Arryn and the attempted murder of Bran. Tyrion repeats that he is innocent of these charges and is accused without benefit of a trial. Lysa explains that there will be a trial and, if found guilty, Tyrion will die. Tyrion may present evidence, and afterward Robin will act as judge and give the verdict. But Tyrion announces he wants his innocence proved in a trial by combat. There is scattered laughter from the court and after several appeals by an increasingly nervous Tyrion, just when it seems that no-one will fight for him, Bronn the sellsword then volunteers with a shrug. Two men then turn the wheel that opens the moon door as Ser Vardis Egen, Bronn’s combatant,  lowers the visor on his helm. Robin Arryn rises from next to his mother on the weirwood throne and swings his knife to the cry of "Fight!" to begin the combat. They come together with blows and sword swings, but almost immediately, Bronn starts to give ground, leaving Vardis to swing repeatedly while he retreats. The combat leads them back to the moon door where Ser Vardis tries to throw Bronn over the edge. Bronn manages to push him back and cuts Egen across the back of the knee. Ser Vardis can only rise with great difficulty, and he tries again to attack, but Bronn dodges aside and trips him. Bronn kicks away Egen's heavy shield and, at his next strike, Bronn catches his arm. Bronn looks Lysa in the eye as he plunges the sword in under Vardis' helm. There are gasps of horror from the court, and Bronn allows Ser Vardis' limp body to drop through the moon door and to fall to the ground far below. Tyrion nods his approval. Lysa is disgusted and accuses Bronn of having fought without honor. Bronn agrees that he hadn't, but assures her that Ser Vardis had as Tyrion then has his shackles removed. Robin wishes to know if the fight is over, and if he can make the little man fly now. Tyrion says that will have to be another little man, as he is going home. Tyrion bows to Catelyn and Bronn follows him out the front door of the hall.

Some time later, King Robert is fatally wounded during a boar hunt outside of the capital and succumbs to his death shortly thereafter. Following Robert’s passing, Queen Cersei’s son Joffrey takes the Iron Throne while Eddard Stark is arrested for treason when he challenges Joffrey’s legitimacy as a Baratheon. The secret of Cersei’s children born out of incest with her brother Jaime was discovered by Eddard, as he then confronted the queen who did not deny this as fact. After receiving news of Eddard’s arrest at the Eyrie, Catelyn runs up the stairs of the High Hall and into Lysa Arryn’s quarters in fury. She shakes the piece of parchment in anger and asks her sister as to why she wasn’t notified of her husband Eddard’s arrest in King’s Landing. Lady Arryn, who sits with her son Robin, asserts that the letter was addressed to herself and not Catelyn. The message further informs of Catelyn’s son Robb’s intention of going to war for his father, as Lysa then suggests she goes to him and teach patience. Catelyn grows more irate at the notion of sitting idle while her husband is held captive and queries if family means anything to her sister. This is quickly answered with Lysa’s refusal to consider summoning the Knights of the Vale to join the Starks in the war against the Lannisters. Lysa, despite her actions of setting this war in motion by implicating the Lannisters in Jon Arryn's death, does not believe that war is in the Vale's best interests. Lysa wants the knights to stay in the Vale, fearfully citing the Lannister’s actions against them with her husband’s death and the harm that has befallen Bran.

After departing from the Vale, Catelyn and Ser Rodrik intercept her son Robb's army who have set up camp in the Neck, as they press further south towards the Lannister army in the Riverlands. Robb initially exclaims with excitement upon seeing his mother, but stops short of embracing her lest he look weak in front of his Northern bannermen. Catelyn looks at her son with understanding, later embracing once their liege-lords have left their tent. Once they are in private, she tells Robb he has no choice but to go to war. Catelyn adds that Robb can’t lose, for the sake of Eddard and his sisters’ freedom. She strongly asserts that if Robb is defeated, Lord Tywin Lannister will show no mercy to their family who are imprisoned in the capital. Later on, Robb and his lords are debating on the route of their march, and on whether to march directly against Tywin's army or against his son Jaime’s army who is currently besieging Riverrun, Catelyn’s childhood home where her father Hoster Tully rules over. In order to get to Jaime, however, they need to cross the Green Fork of the Trident River, and the only crossing is at the Twins, held by the notoriously prickly and easily-offended Lord Walder Frey. A Lannister scout is then captured, and Robb sends him back to warn Lord Tywin that twenty thousand Northern soldiers are marching against him.

Some days later, Robb and his army have reached the Twins, the heavily-fortified crossing over the Trident River. To enter the castle would be perilous for Robb, so Catelyn instead enters alone in order to negotiate with Lord Frey. Though House Frey are bannermen to Catelyn's father, Hoster Tully, the ruling Walder has not yet taken up arms with them. When Catelyn mentions this, Lord Frey says that he had been preparing to march, and was just waiting for all his forces to arrive. Catelyn understands, however, that in reality, he waited to see which side was winning before deciding whether to get involved. Now, as House Tully's army has been defeated and Catelyn’s home of Riverrun is held by the Lannisters, Walder wants to know why he should be helping Robb and taking up arms against Joffrey Baratheon and Tywin Lannister. After some hard bargaining between Catelyn and Walder, they strike a deal that will allow Robb to cross the river, as well as commit troops to his army. In return, both Robb and his youngest sister Arya must each marry one of his own children. When Catelyn arrives back at Robb’s camp and informs him of the negotiations, he ultimately feels that he has no choice and reluctantly agrees to the proposal. Robb asks Catelyn about the beauty of Frey’s daughters, to which she can remember only one rather unfavorably, much to Theon Greyjoy’s amusement.

The following morning, the Lannister army finds that Robb and his army have stolen a march on them, as they are about to be attacked and have to hastily prepare for the Battle of the Green Fork. Leading the vanguard, Tyrion Lannister is knocked out by an accidental blow to the head from one of his own men’s club. When he regains consciousness on the back of a wagon, Bronn informs him that the Lannisters won the battle, but it was a feint. As a diversion, Robb had sent a small portion of his army to confront and delay Lord Tywin's forces, while the main army marched on Riverrun to attack Jaime's army. Meanwhile, Lady Catelyn and Ser Rodrik are waiting in the Whispering Wood as they hear sounds of battle in the distance. Suddenly Robb returns from his victory with his guards and their new prisoner: Ser Jaime Lannister himself. The Battle of the Whispering Wood has lifted the siege of Riverrun, and Jaime's army has now been destroyed. Ser Jaime suggests they end the war now with a bout of single combat between himself and Robb, but Robb refuses, as Jaime is one of the most skilled knights in the Seven Kingdoms. Instead Robb has him imprisoned. After this command, Robb laments to Catelyn, Theon and Rodrik that his diversion sent twenty-thousand men to their deaths. He gives a speech to his army and tells them that they have won a great victory, but the war against the Lannisters is far from over.

Some days later, the news of Lord Eddard Stark’s brutal execution in the capital has reached the Stark camp in the Riverlands. Lady Catelyn stoically walks through the encampment and receives the condolences and respect of the northern bannermen, who bow to her as she passes. She makes her way into the woods around the camp.  Once she is out of everyone's sight, she breaks down, practically hyperventilating with grief. Hearing something from deeper in the woods, she finds her distraught son Robb hacking his sword at a tree in anger and grief. Catelyn calls to her crying son and tells him he is ruining his sword. Robb drops the sword and falls into her arms, vowing to kill the Lannisters who murdered his father: “I’ll kill them all! Every one of them.” Catelyn comforts him and promises him revenge, but only after they rescue Sansa and Arya first: “We have to get the girls back, and then we will kill them all.” Unbeknownst to Catelyn or Robb, however, is that Arya herself has gone missing since Eddard’s execution and cannot be located in the capital.

That evening, Robb and his bannermen debate whether to cooperate with Stannis or Renly Baratheon in the war against the illegitimate King Joffrey. Though Renly has greater forces, Stannis is the elder Baratheon and next in line of succession. Greatjon Umber reminds them all that the North was an independent kingdom before the Targaryens threatened them with their dragons. With the dragons gone, Umber then declares there is only one king worthy of his respect and allegiance and bows before Robb, calling out, "The King in the North!" The northern bannermen then take up the cry and bow before the new King in the North, swearing fealty to Robb. Meanwhile, Catelyn herself visits the captive Jaime Lannister who taunts her about Eddard's death and offers to serve her as a lover. She hits him in the head with a rock. Jaime says that if she keeps hitting him, she can kill him and that he doesn't fear death, though Jaime probably realizes that the Starks won't kill him as long as his sister Cersei holds Sansa and Arya hostage in the capital. Catelyn tells him he has violated the laws of man and gods, however, Jaime then asks where Ned's gods were when his head was cut off, questioning the existence of all gods, Old and New. She says there is injustice in the world because of men like him to which Jaime responds, "There are no men like me, only me." He coolly admits to pushing young Bran from the tower, but still doesn't reveal to Catelyn as to why. However, she now can assume that her son witnessed him and Cersei engaging in a sexual act, threatening Joffrey’s line of succession.

Some months following her husband’s execution, Cateyn’s son Robb sends his prisoner Ser Alton Lannister to King's Landing with peace terms. His demands include the release of his sisters, still unaware that Arya fled from the from the capital following Eddard’s execution. Another demand includes the return of his father's remains along with the remains of all those who served him. His final demand is the recognition of the North as a free and independent kingdom. Theon Greyjoy appeals to King Robb to send him back to his home of Pyke to seek an alliance with his father Balon Greyoy, citing their need for a fleet in order to attack King's Landing should the peace terms be rejected. Once in private, Lady Catelyn then counsels her son against putting trust in Balon Greyjoy because of his history of rebellion. She then asks Robb to consider exchanging Jaime for his sisters, but he insists that they cannot exchange Jaime for his sisters and maintain the loyalty of his bannermen. After getting heated with one another over this, Catelyn asks to return to Bran and Rickon at Winterfell. Robb, however, tasks her with seeking an alliance with Renly Baratheon in the Stormlands and sends Ser Rodrik instead to Winterfell. Catelyn promises to leave at first light and Robb kisses her forehead before promising that they will be together again soon.

Some weeks later, in the Stormlands, Catelyn is brought to King Renly's camp by his outriders. She finds his men watching a duel between two fully armored knights. Renly himself and his new Queen Margaery Tyrell watch from a wooden dais. Margaery stands and cheers on her brother Ser Loras Tyrell as he disarms his opponent who manages to step under a swing of his axe and knock him off his feet. Loras yields and the crowd is shocked when the fighter removes their helm and is revealed to be a woman; Brienne of Tarth. Renly tells her that she is everything that her father promised as Margaery says that Loras fought valiantly. Renly names Brienne champion and offers to grant anything that she requests, which is to join his Kingsguard. After Catelyn greets Renly and Margaery, Renly promises to avenge the death by presenting Catelyn with King Joffrey's head when he takes King's Landing. Loras interrupts to ask if Robb has marched against Lord Tywin yet. Catelyn denies knowing Robb's strategy and warns Renly to take the war more seriously, saying that his men are the knights of summer and winter is coming. A courteous but distant Brienne then shows Catelyn to a tent assigned to her. Catelyn compliments her performance in the tournament, calling her Lady Brienne. Brienne credits Renly for motivating her to fight and informs Catelyn that she is no Lady.

Days later, Lord Baelish then visits Catelyn and she receives him in anger over his previous betrayal of Eddard, which played a part in his eventual execution. He says that he wanted Ned to serve as protector of the realm and begged him to seize the moment but Catelyn bluntly asserts that he repaid their faith in him with treachery. Littlefinger asserts that he loves her and tries to take her arm, as she then grabs a knife. Baelish asks if she wants to see her daughters and adds that Sansa is growing more beautiful while Arya is just as wild. Catelyn asks if they truly have Arya and he repeats the lie, then claims that he is concerned for them if they remain captives of the Lannisters. Catelyn puts down her weapon and asks what he wants as he informs her that the Lannisters would trade her daughters for the imprisoned Ser Jaime. Catelyn informs that Robb will not agree to those terms as he then suggests she consider the terms on her own. Baelish adds that he has a gift to show Tyrion Lannister’s goodwill as a chest filled with the remains of her husband is brought in. Littlefinger insists that Eddard was an honorable man and deserves burial with his family in the crypts of Winterfell. Lady Catelyn again orders him to leave. When she is alone with her late husband’s remains she allows herself a moment to cry before closing the chest.

The following day, Stannis Baratheon arrives and meets with Renly and Catelyn on the coast of the Stormlands to parley. Renly looks at his brother’s banners and wonders why Stannis’ version of the stag is aflame. A Red Priestess named Melisandre explains that Stannis has taken the fiery heart of the Lord of Light for his sigil. After looking upon the beautiful priestess, Renly jokes that he now knows why Stannis has found religion late in life. Melisandre admonishes Renly to kneel before the Lord’s chosen. As the brothers continue to fling barbs at each other, Catelyn admonishes them to stop bickering and remember that they are brothers. Stannis counters that he would expect her to support his claim as Eddard did, remarking that her husband's integrity cost him his life. Catelyn informs that they share a common enemy and Stannis retorts that all who deny him the throne are his enemies. Renly says that no-one wants Stannis for their king and that a man without friends is a man without power. Stannis insists that he will give Renly the night to reconsider and offers to restore Renly to his seat on the council and to name him as his heir, adding that otherwise he will destroy him. Renly reminds Stannis of his numerous supporters and says that they will make him king. Stannis wheels his horse and rides away as Melisandre warns Renly to look to his sins because "The night is dark and full of terrors."

Some time later, King Renly’s camp is a hive of activity as his troops prepare for the coming battle against the forces of his brother King Stannis in darkness. In his tent, Renly offers Lady Catelyn terms: Robb can retain the title of King in the North, and control of all lands north of Moat Cailin, but must swear fealty to Renly as Eddard did to Robert eighteen years earlier. Catelyn is hesitant but Renly reminds her that Robert and Eddard’s friendship held the Seven Kingdoms together. Catelyn swears that her son has no interest in challenging him for the Iron Throne.  When Renly then stands before a mirror and Brienne of Tarth helps him out of his cloak, an unnatural gust suddenly parts the tents opening and black smoke rushes inside. Catelyn and Brienne are stunned at the sight while Renly watches transfixed in his mirror. The smoke coalesces into a human shape and stabs Renly through the chest. In the mirror, its face resembles his brother Stannis. The smoke dissipates and Renly collapses forward to his death. The guards rush in and assume Brienne is responsible and threaten her life. She fights both of them off, killing them. Catelyn comforts her and implores her to leave, fearing that she will be blamed for Renly’s death and hanged as result. Brienne refuses to leave Renly’s side until Catelyn tells her that she cannot avenge him if she is dead.

Some time following their escape from Renly’s camp, Catelyn and Brienne of Tarth stop by a river to water their horses. Brienne insists that the shadow resembled Stannis Baratheon, however, Catelyn is unconvinced, adding that they should be one more days ride from Robb’s camp and will report she has seen and then return to Winterfell, as her sons need her. Brienne confides that she did not know her mother and Catelyn sympathises that her mother died on the birthing bed when she was very young. Brienne asks if Catelyn will give her leave to pursue Stannis but Catelyn warns Brienne that Stannis has a great army. Brienne asserts that she is as good as any of Stannis’ guards and self recriminates about fleeing with Catelyn who then reassures Brienne that she cannot be faulted for Renly’s death, adding that she serves no-one by following him into the earth. Catelyn says that Renly’s enemies remain Robb’s enemies. Brienne says that while she does not know Robb she would be willing to serve Catelyn. She says that Catelyn has a woman’s courage and asks her not to hold her back from Stannis when the time comes. Catelyn promises as asked and Brienne lays her sword on the ground between them. She swears an oath of fealty to Catelyn before the old gods and the new. Catelyn takes Brienne’s hand and reciprocates the oath.

Some time later, King Robb walks through his camp in the Westerlands when he spots Talisa Maegyr, a battlefield healer he had met in the aftermath of the Battle of Oxcross, who has continued to follow his campaign. When Robb approaches her, Talisa is writing a letter and he greets her as “Lady Talisa.” She claims to be unsure if she is a lady, according to Westerosi customs, adding that her father sold lace on the Long Bridge of Volantis and that her family lived above her shop. Robb then mentions that they have found a pretty spot, as Talisa asks if they will be there long. He replies that he cannot discuss troop movements with her, as she retorts that she is not a spy. They share a laugh when Robb replies saying that is exactly what a spy would say. Their conversation is interrupted by the arrival of Lady Catelyn and Brienne of Tarth. Robb thenintroduces Talisa to his mother, as Catelyn then asks her surname, which she does not recognize. Talisa explains that it is an old name in her home of Volantis. She excuses herself and Catelyn watches Robb’s reaction to her departure. Robb tells his mother that he has missed her and Catelyn wryly states that he looks positively forlorn. She warns him that he is not free to follow his heart and cautions him not to forget his betrothal to Lord Walder and House Frey. Robb’s advisor Roose Bolton interrupts them with urgent news from Winterfell.

After reading the news in his command tent, Robb is in disbelief when learning of Theon’s betrayal, who has seized Winterfell for House Greyjoy. As Catelyn paces behind him, Robb is furious with his friend’s betrayal and asks about his young brothers, Bran and Rickon. Roose informs that there has been no word of either, while also reporting news of the execution of Ser Rodrik, who attempted to stop Theon and his Ironborn men. Catelyn asserts that she warned Robb never to trust a Greyjoy. Robb’s intention now is to march his army back to the North to repel the invasion but Roose counsels that Robb still has a war to win in the south. Robb angrily asks Roose how he can call himself king if he cannot hold his own castle. Catelyn asks Robb to send her to talk to Theon but Robb insists that there will be no more talking and that Theon will die for his treachery. Roose advises that the few hundred soldiers left scattered in the North can be rallied by his bastard son, Ramsay Snow, who is in the North at the Dreadfort, and warns that retreating the entire Northern army group would lose everything they have gained. Robb agrees, but insists that Bolton's men take Theon alive so Robb can look him in the eyes and ask "Why?" before personally executing him.

Some days later, King Robb is away at the Crag, a nearby stronghold that he’s commanding to surrender. At the Stark encampment, a guard named Jacks, bursts into Catelyn’s tent as she is writing a letter.  Brienne of Tarth restrains him and he demands that she unhand him, calling her “woman.” Brienne admonishes him for entering uninvited, reversing the address. He apologizes as Catelyn wearily asks what he wants. Jacks reports the re-capture of their hostage, Jaime Lannister. The captive had escaped during the night but was quickly found and dragged back to camp in chains. Lord Rickard Karstark, a bannerman to House Stark, emerges from the tents and demands Jaime’s head in retaliation for killing his son during the escape. Lady Catelyn rushes out to intervene, accompanied by Brienne. Catelyn reminds Lord Rickard of his oaths of fealty to her son King Robb. Rickard asks where Robb is now, as Catelyn asserts that he is not present amidst negotiations. As tensions rise, Brienne half-draws her sword and warns Rickard that threatening Catelyn is an act of treason. Rickard relents but insists that he will demand Jaime’s head when Robb returns. Ser Jaime then sarcastically thanks Catelyn for standing up for him, insisting that he would’ve helped her if he was not indisposed. She orders her men to take Jaime to the stockade and bind him with every chain they can find. Jaime then comments that she has become a real “she wolf” in her later years.

Later that evening, Catelyn watches as the Karstark men argue about Jaime’s fate, as Brienne worries that Robb will not return until dawn. She predicts that the men will eventually move to kill Jaime. Due to this risk, Catelyn and Brienne both enter Jaime’s cell as he asks if Catelyn has come to say goodbye. She ignores the question and asks if he can hear the men calling for his death. Jaime is unrepentant, however, saying that killing Torrhen Karstark was in his way out and that any knight would have done the same. Catelyn asserts that he is no knight because he has forsaken every vow he has taken. Jaime rationalizes that he’s had to swear many vows and they eventually conflict with one another. He then asks where Catelyn found Brienne, calling her a “beast.” Catelyn declares that she is a truer knight than he will ever be, calling him by his famed nickname of “Kingslayer,” as well as adding that he is a “man without honor.” Jaime reveals that he has only ever slept with his sister Cersei, admitting to the rumors of incest, so in ways he is more honorable than Catelyn’s husband, who fathered a bastard son while married to her. Jaime then asks if she pretended to love the boy when he was first brought home. He notes that Catelyn is an honest woman and deduces that she showed her hatred to Jon Snow. Catelyn then angrily orders Brienne to hand over her sword.

Days later, King Robb and Talisa Maegyr walk through woodland near a riverbank on their way back from the Crag. Talisa questions Robb about his betrothal to the Freys, as he explains that the bridge was important, particularly at the time because his father was still alive and he believed that he could rescue him if he could cross. Talisa says that when she has spoken with people from the North they have told her how much they loved Eddard and that she would have liked to have met him. A pair of riders flying a Stark pennant then approach. The lead rider is a messenger who brings news for Robb; Ser Jaime has again escaped during the night. Immediately following his return to camp, Robb and Rickard Karstark burst into Lady Catelyn’s tent and her son demands that she tell him that news of her involvement in Jaime’s escape are not true. Catelyn assures that she acted for her daughters, as Robb angrily states that he’s been betrayed, talking over her protests, because she knew that he would not allow her to release Jaime but did it anyway. Catelyn explains that with news that Bran and Rickon were captured at Winterfell she thought that returning him might buy freedom for Sansa and Arya. Robb asserts Catelyn that Jaime has played her for a fool and orders her to be guarded day and night.

Some time later, Robb visits his mother Catelyn in her tent to discuss his plan to break his betrothal to House Frey in order to marry Talisa. Catelyn is still confined to her tent having released Jaime Lannister without Robb’s consent. She counsels that Lord Walder Frey is a dangerous man to cross and urges Robb to remember his vow or face severe consequences. Further attempting to steer him away from this decision, she informs Robb that she and Eddard didn't love each other when they first married, but that they grew to love each other over time. Catelyn predicts that Robb and his betrothed might build a similar love over time, emphasizing that it might not be as passionate but that doesn’t necessarily equate to strong relationship. Robb then questions if he can expect to slowly build a loving relationship with one of Walder Frey’s daughters. Catelyn warns Robb that if he treats his oaths recklessly then his people will do the same. Robb rejects her counsel, however, stating that she has no right to criticize him following her release of Jaime. That evening, a septon conducts a secret marriage between Robb and Talisa in the woods. He binds their hands together with a ribbon and proclaims their souls bound together in the sight of the seven for eternity. He asks them to turn to one another and say the words. They name the Seven gods and say “I am [theirs] and [they] are mine from this day until the end of my days.” They kiss tenderly and then hold one another close.

Some time later, in the Riverlands, the morale of King Robb’s army is starting to wane with the news of House Lannister’s victory over rivaling king Stannis Baratheon, as well as their newly-formed alliance with House Tyrell. In frustration, Robb launches a new offensive to the east that takes the great castle of Harrenhal, which Lord Tywin had been using as the main Lannister forward base in the Riverlands prior to his return to the capital. Roose Bolton starts preparing for a siege as they close in on the castle, but Robb is skeptical a siege will be necessary as Ser Gregor Clegane cannot defend a ruin. Sure enough, they see that the castle has been abandoned as Tywin withdrew his garrison to King's Landing to counter the attack of Stannis at the Battle of the Blackwater. Tywin also didn't bother wasting any men on a token defense of the castle, and the Stark army takes control unopposed. As Lady Catelyn and Robb enter the ruins of the castle they are further demoralized to find that two hundred Northern and Riverlands prisoners of war were massacred and the courtyard is choked with piles of bodies. Roose assures him that their best hunters are in pursuit of the “Kingslayer,” Ser Jaime, as Robb and Catelyn find the corpse of a sworn bannerman to House Tully. Robb then orders that a cell be found for his mother, as his new wife Talisa tends to a survivor of the massacre named Qyburn.

Days later, at Harrenhal, Roose interrupts Robb and Talisa in the council chamber with bad news from two messenger-ravens. First, Robb's maternal grandfather Hoster Tully has finally died after a long illness at his castle of Riverrun. Second, Roose delivers a letter from his bastard son Ramsay Snow, stating that the Ironborn torched Winterfell and put all of its inhabitants to the sword, and then fled all before his force arrived there. There has been no sighting of Bran or Rickon Stark, and though Robb hopes that they are still alive, there is a strong possibility that they are dead. Moreover, there has been no word of Theon Greyjoy. This double-blow reduces Catelyn to tears and she laments that she had not seen her father in years. She is horrified at the thought that Bran and Rickon were in danger while she was away and could not protect them, and are now likely dead.

Later on, Roose is left in command of Harrenhal with a detachment of his army while Robb leads his main host to Riverrun. Rickard Karstark angrily says that this is a waste of time, though Robb points out that Catelyn's brother, Edmure Tully, is now lord of Riverrun and his levies will reinforce their army. Robb asks if Karstark has lost faith in their cause, and Karstark says he still believes in revenge. He then adds that Robb lost the war the day he married Talisa, a political nobody, thus breaking his marriage-alliance with House Frey. Meanwhile, Talisa notices that Catelyn is making a prayer wheel for the Faith of the Seven, and offers to help. Catelyn explains that they can only be made by mothers who are praying for the welfare of their children. Catelyn reveals that she has only made them twice before, one of which was when she was praying for Bran to wake from his coma. The second was for a young Jon Snow when he once had pox, and Catelyn sat with him all through the night. She explains that when Eddard first brought Jon home as a baby, she couldn't bear to look at him. She inwardly prayed for the gods to take him away and make him die. When Jon then came down with the pox, Catelyn tells Talisa, "And I knew I was the worst woman who ever lived. A murderer.” So Catelyn prayed to all seven gods to let Jon live and made a prayer wheel. She stayed up with him all night, praying to the gods that if they forgave her earlier wish that Jon would die, she promised she would urge Eddard to have Jon legitimized as a Stark and she would raise him as her own son. Jon recovered but Catelyn tells Talisa, "I couldn't keep my promise.” The grieving Catelyn now believes the gods are punishing her with this war and has resulted in the death of her father and potential loss of her youngest boys, Bran and Rickon.

Some days later, at Riverrun, the funeral of the recently deceased Lord Hoster Tully is held on the banks of the river. King Robb has arrived with Catelyn and Talisa, who look on with the assembled crowd on the dock. Edmure Tully attempts to light the funeral boat on fire with a flaming arrow but fails three times, much to everyone’s embarrassment. Just as the boat is about to disappear around a bend of the river, Catelyn’s uncle, Brynden Tully, pushes his nephew out of the way and skillfully makes the shot with one attempt. Afterwards, her uncle Brynden joins Catelyn in her old quarters growing up, as she stares out the window in mourning. She asks him if he made peace with his older brother, whom he had been fighting with for the past thirty years. Brynden explains that he did while he was on his deathbed. Catelyn remains upset that she couldn't have been there and reminisces with Brynden that she used to look out from this window during her childhood whenever Hoster left the castle, then stating that now he won't be coming back. She tearfully wonders if her sons Bran and Rickon similarly watched for her return at Winterfell when she failed to arrive in order to save them. Brynden insists that neither he, nor Robb, have given up hope that the boys may be alive and in hiding. Her uncle then urges her to be strong for Robb.

Weeks later, Lord Rickard has Martyn and Willem Lannister killed, two young Lannister squires that were imprisoned. Afterwards, Rickard has the corpses laid out on the floor in front of King Robb and Lady Catelyn in the council room. Robb is disgusted, as Rickard insists that it was a father's vengeance. Robb then points out that these boys had nothing to do with the death of his sons, who were both killed by Ser Jaime. Brynden then punches Karstark but Robb tells him to leave him alone. Rickard has lost faith in Robb, saying that he’ll just give him a scolding, adding that he should be called "the King Who Lost the North" after he allowed Winterfell to fall. Robb then orders all of Karstark's men hanged, however, Catelyn warns him that Rickard’s men will abandon his cause. However, Robb ignores their pleas, and he has Karstark brought out to the courtyard to be executed during a driving rainstorm. Rickard points out that the Starks and Karstarks are kin as Robb says that their blood relationship did not stop Rickard from betraying him and won't stop Robb from executing him now. Rickard says it isn't meant to stop Robb: he wants it to haunt Robb until the day he dies. With his last words, Rickard says that Robb will be cursed as a kinslayer and that Robb is no king of his. Obedient to the laws of his father who said that “the man who passes the sentence must swing the sword,” Robb pronounces the sentence of death and personally beheads Lord Rickard. Later on, as predicted, the Karstarks withdraw their soldiers from his army, as Robb then plans on winning back the allegiance of House Frey, whose thousands of soldiers withdrew from Robb's army when he broke his promise to make a marriage-alliance with them by marrying Talisa instead of one of Walder Frey's daughters.

Days later, King Robb, along with Catelyn, Brynden and Edmure, meet with Walder Frey’s sons, Walder Rivers and Lothar Frey. The Frey brothers carry Lord Walder’s demands for an alliance, which includes a formal apology from Robb himself for his violation of the oath he took to marry one of his daughters. Robb admits that he was wrong in his betrayal and happily agrees. Frey also demands that as restitution for the betrayal he will take Harrenhal and all of its lands and incomes. Edmure, however, starts to argue this but Robb cuts him off and agrees to this arrangement, stating that once it is no longer needed for the war Harrenhal is expendable as it is not part of the North. The final request is for Edmure to marry Roslin Frey, one of his daughters, within a fortnight. If this is not agreed upon, the alliance will be broken. Edmure is reluctant to marry a woman he has never met, but Robb stresses: “If we don’t do this, and do it now, we’re lost.” Eventually, Edmure is convinced to go through with the arrangement.

As they travel to the Twins, Robb’s army has set up camp for the night, delaying their journey due to heavy rain. Catelyn warns her son and his advisors that the prickly Walder Frey will take their delay as a deliberate insult to him, but her brother Edmure points out that Frey is getting the wedding he wanted. His sister counters, however, that Walder is getting a wedding, but not the one he wanted, glaring at Robb and Talisa as she says so. Catelyn then points out that Frey wanted one of his daughters wed to a king, as Robb retorts that Edmure is the best match House Frey has been offered in its history. That evening, after her and Robb finish having sex, Talisa starts writing on her parchment. When Robb asks her who she is writing to in Valyrian, Talisa confirms it is for her mother. Upon questioning she tells Robb that her mother does not yet know that she is a queen. When Robb mentions that this will be a surprise to her Talisa coyly suggests that it would be one of many surprises. She then asks him when all of this is over if one day would he come with her to Volantis. Upon his promise to her that he will, Talisa mentions that her mother would love to meet him… and their grandchild. A stunned Robb turns to her in disbelief. She asks if he is angry but is quickly relieved by his elated reaction. He tells her that he loves her and she is his queen.

Some time later, continuing towards the Twins, King Robb consults with his mother Catelyn about attacking Casterly Rock. Robb claims that it is a dangerous move, but if Tywin Lannister's castle is taken away from him - the lords of Westeros will realize that he is not invincible. Catelyn points out that the plan requires the cooperation of Walder Frey and also informs that in case reinforcements arrive from King's Landing before the castle is taken the Stark host will be destroyed. She silently examines the map, and vengefully tells her son Robb in a harsh voice "Show them how it feels to lose what they love." Shortly after, Robb's army arrives at the Twins, the castle seat of House Frey, for his uncle Edmure's wedding to Roslin Frey. Enduring  Lord Frey's insults directed towards him and his wife Talisa, the King in the North makes a public apology to Lord Frey's daughters and granddaughters for breaking his promise to marry one of them. Walder then accepts the apology and offers the Starks, and their men, his hospitality during the festivities.

Meanwhile, Catelyn’s daughter Arya, who fled the capital after their father’s execution, arrives across a river from the Twins with Sandor "the Hound" Clegane, who captured her on the road and is expecting to deliver Arya to her family in exchange for money. The young Stark girl looks in the distance towards the castle, anticipating a reunion with her family that has been years in the making. That evening, inside the Twins, an anxious Edmure is introduced to his new bride Roslin Frey as the ceremony then begins. However, during the unveiling he discovers, much to his relief, that she is a beautiful young woman and not like her other siblings at all, commonly deemed unattractive. The wedding and the feast that follows are quite celebratory and lively affairs, with all the participants in high spirits as King Robb and Queen Talisa affectionately display their excitement with regards to their recent pregnancy. Edmure himself is quickly besotted with his new bride Roslin and his attentions are focused solely on her. Catelyn’s uncle Brynden, having drunk too much wine, excuses himself from the celebration to "find a tree to piss on." As the festivities reach the height of the evening, Lord Walder calls out for the bedding ceremony. King Robb agrees to this, as the bride and groom are then carried off to their wedding bed. Roslin herself is carried off by the male guests and is followed closely by Edmure, who is collected by the women of House Frey. Talisa comments on the strange custom, but Robb excuses it as proof of consummation. When stating that pregnancy is alternate evidence, Talisa informs Robb that they will name their child Eddard if it ends up being a boy.

After the festivities begin to wind down, Catelyn becomes suspicious when she notices Walder Rivers close the banquet hall doors and the musicians in the gallery begin playing "The Rains of Castamere" - the song commemorating House Lannister's brutal victory against the rebellious  House Reyne years ago. Walder Frey rises to make a toast to Robb, and Catelyn, seated beside Roose Bolton, notices that the Lord is wearing protective chain mail under his clothing. Realizing they are in a trap, Catelyn slaps Roose and screams a warning to Robb, but by then it is too late. Walder signals his men to attack and, in what becomes known as the infamous Red Wedding, Lothar Frey draws a knife and repeatedly stabs the pregnant Talisa in the stomach, killing her unborn child. Before he can react, Robb is shot by multiple crossbows, falling to the floor. Numerous other Stark men are killed or set upon by Frey soldiers. Catelyn is then shot in the back and also falls to the floor. Outside, Arya and the Hound arrive at the Twins in disguise and are turned away by Frey guards. Arya then gives Sandor the slip and sneaks past the gate guards, only to witness Frey men kill Stark soldiers and Robb’s direwolf Grey Wind. She makes a desperate run for the castle, but is stopped by the Hound, who tells her that it is too late. When Arya won't stop, Sandor knocks her unconscious before carrying her out of the castle to safety. Inside, a wounded Catelyn crawls to safety beneath a table as Walder motions the soldiers to cease their slaughter. Walder mocks Robb as he limps to his dying wife and holds Talisa in his arms as she passes. Catelyn then limps out from her hiding spot to seize Walder’s cowering  young wife from under his table. She holds a knife to the girl's throat and threatens to kill her if Walder does not negotiate an end to the attack. Walder refuses her, recalling the betrayed oath that Robb would marry his daughter.  She begs they take her hostage and that Robb, who hovers over Talisa’s corpse, be allowed to leave. He questions why he should agree to such terms to which Catelyn responds by swearing on her honor as both a Tully and a Stark that if he does not let Robb go she will kill his wife. Walder nonchalantly responds, "I'll find another." Robb stands and utters "mother" as Roose, who had fled the hall when the massacre began, seizes Robb, whispering "the Lannisters send their regards," before stabbing him in the heart. Robb maintains eye contact with Catelyn as he collapses to the floor. Mad with grief at the death of her son, Catelyn cries out in anguish and kills Walder's wife. Now catatonic with grief, she stands there and accepts her fate, allowing Black Walder to slip up behind her and viciously cut her throat. She falls to the floor with a thud. Outside the walls of the castle, Frey soldiers ambush the Stark army in its own camp. What follows is not a battle but a one-sided massacre, as the Northern army is taken completely by surprise due to the betrayal of their supposed allies. The betrayers torch all of the camp's tents, with many men burning alive inside of them. Frey men wildly mutilate the dead and dying. From one of the twin towers of the Frey stronghold, Roose Bolton watches the massacre from high above. Meanwhile, Sandor Clegane attempts to slip away on horseback with the unconscious Arya amidst the carnage by casually riding away while carrying a Frey banner. Before they can leave, Arya regains consciousness - as she and the Hound turn to find a group of Frey men shouting as they march through the main gate. The Freys have horrifically desecrated Robb's corpse by decapitating him, then crudely attaching the severed head of his direwolf Grey Wind in its place. Drunk in their victory, the Freys gleefully parade the mutilated body around the castle on a horse while mockingly chanting "King in the North!,” which is met with by cheers by Frey soldiers. Sandor is horrified by the gruesome spectacle, while he holds Arya, who looks on with a dead stare. The Hound then rides away with the devastated Arya.

*In the aftermath of Catelyn’s death, follow Arya, Sansa, Bran or Jon’s journey throughout the rest of the series.