18. Catelyn : Meeting with Littlefinger

Location: KingsLanding

Characters: Catelyn, Littlefinger, Varys

Catelyn arrives in KingsLanding on the ship named Storm Dancer which belonged to Captain Moreo Tumitis. He spoke the common tongue fluently, with only the slightest hint of a Tyroshi accent. He had been plying the narrow sea for thirty years. He had a forked green beard. The Tyroshi loved bright colours even in their facial hair. This reminds us of another Tyroshi, Majister Illyrio, who had yellow forked beard.

Catelyn plans to see Ser Aron Santagar, the King's master of arms who is a vain man but an honest one. Catelyn fears that now that she is in KingsLanding, she can be easily recognised by Littlefinger or Lord Baelish as he was known now. Catelyn's brother Edmure had given him that name long ago at Riverrun. His family's modest holdings were on the smallest of the Fingers and Petyr had been slight and short for his age.

He was Cetelyn's father's ward and they grew up together in Riverrun. Catelyn thought of him as a brother but his feelings for her were more than brotherly. When it was announced that Catelyn was to wed Brandon Stark, Petyr challenged to the right to her hand. It was madness. Brandon was twenty, Petyr scarcely fifteen. Catelyn begged Brandon to spare Petyr's life so Brandon left him off with a scar. Afterwards, her father send him away and Catelyn had not seen him since.

Littlefinger wrote to Catelyn at Riverrun after Brandon was killed, but she burned the letter unread. By then, Catelyn knew Ned would marry her in his brother's place.

Littlefinger sits on the small council now. Catelyn knew he would rise high. He was always clever. But Catelyn wonders what time has done to him.

On deboarding the ship, Catelyn asks the Captain to suggest some inn to stay.

Catelyn and Ser Rodrick chen in into the inn suggested by Moreo. Catelyn rests in the inn while Ser Rodrick goes to fetch Ser Aron Santagar.

Soon, Littlefinger sends his men to fetch Catelyn from the inn. He got the details of her whereabouts from the Tyroshi Captain.

Catelyn goes to Littlefinger. The years had not changed him much. He was short with sharp features and same laughing grey green eyes. He had a little pointed chin beard now and threads of silver in his dark hair though he was still shy of thirty.

Littlefinger knew about Catelyn reaching KingsLanding from Varys. Lord Varys knows all. Lord Varys is eunuch. Nothing happens in the city without Varys knowing. Most times he knows about it before it happens. He has informants everywhere. When Varys knew Catelyn was in KingsLanding, he came to Littlefinger as he was also a friend to her sister Lysa.

Lord Varys  was plump, perfumed, powdered and hairless as an egg. His flesh was soft and moist and his breath smelled of lilacs.

Catelyn trusted Littlefinger only a little and Varys not at all.

Varys asks her about the dagger. He knew about the dagger because he knew Ser Rodrick met with Aron Santagar in the armoury and talked about a certain dagger. They left together for the inn and were waiting for Catelyn there. Catelyn shows them the dagger. Littlefinger tells her that the dagger belonged to him but he lost it to Tyrion on Joffrey's name day tournament.

It is mentioned that Aron Santagar was honest and Catelyn distrusts Littlefinger and Varys. Its worth noting that Catelyn did not get a chance to show the dagger to Aron Santagar, the master of arms.