Catelyn Stark (née Tully), later known as Lady Stoneheart, is a fictional character in the A Song of Ice and Fire series of fantasy novels by American author George R. R. Martin and its television adaptation Game of Thrones. She is an important character whose thoughts and actions are shown in the story in the first three novels. She also appears in the fourth novel, A Feast for Crows (2005), and is expected to return in an important role in the upcoming sixth novel, The Winds of Winter.
Catelyn is portrayed by Northern Irish actress Michelle Fairley on the HBO series Game of Thrones. Fairley’s performance received praise from critics, especially during the episode "The Rains of Castamere." Because of this, many fans were upset that she did not return in the TV show, even though the character comes back in the books. Author George R. R. Martin said he disagreed with the decision, calling it "the first major difference between the show and the books." The choice to remove the character was ultimately made by the television producers, David Benioff and D. B. Weiss.
Character description
Catelyn was first engaged to Eddard's older brother, Brandon Stark, who was the heir to Winterfell at that time. When Brandon was brutally executed by King Aerys II, Lord Jon Arryn, who was the guardian of Eddard and Robert Baratheon, rebelled against House Targaryen. After the rebels won the Battle of the Bells, Catelyn married Eddard. She had never met him before their wedding, as the marriage was arranged to strengthen the partnership between the Riverlands and the North. At first, she was disappointed because Eddard was shorter and seen as less handsome than his brother Brandon. However, she later fell in love with him after discovering his kind and gentle nature beneath his serious expression.
Catelyn Stark is described as beautiful, with fair skin, long auburn hair, blue eyes, long fingers, high cheekbones, and full breasts. She often wears simple clothing in the grey colors of House Stark or the blue and red of her father’s House Tully. She is proud, strong, kind, and generous. She has a good understanding of politics and is driven by a strong desire to protect her children. Catelyn usually agrees with her husband, Eddard Stark, but she disapproves of him taking in his son Jon Snow, who was born outside of marriage.
After remaining in the river for several days, half of Catelyn’s auburn hair had fallen out, and the remaining hair turned completely grey. Her throat was cut, which greatly limits her ability to speak. She also has deep, gashing wounds on her face from scratching it after the murder of her son Robb. She is often seen wearing a hood and has been mistaken for Beric Dondarrion’s lover.
Stoneheart is described as lacking Catelyn’s mercy or kindness. As the leader of the Brotherhood without Banners, her goal is to kill anyone connected to the Red Wedding. This includes people from the Freys, Boltons, or Lannisters. She is called an "antagonist" or "villain," especially by Brienne. Because of her throat wound, she cannot speak clearly, which is why she is sometimes called "the Silent Sister." To give commands, she must cover her throat wound with her hand. She is also known as "The Hangwoman" or "Mother Merciless."
Storylines
After the royal party arrives at Winterfell, Catelyn receives a letter from her sister Lysa Arryn saying the Lannisters killed her husband Jon Arryn, who was the king's 'Hand' (second-in-command). King Robert Baratheon encourages Eddard to take Jon Arryn's place. When her son Bran is hurt and falls into a coma, she stays by his bed until they are attacked by an assassin who wants to kill Bran. Catelyn is injured in the attack and travels to King's Landing to warn Eddard after she recovers. There, her childhood friend Petyr Baelish tells her the dagger used in the attack belongs to Tyrion Lannister. On her way back to Winterfell, she takes Tyrion to her sister at the Eyrie for trial. Tyrion avoids execution by asking for and winning a trial by combat. After learning that Eddard was executed by King Joffrey, Catelyn tries to make peace but is ignored by King Robb and his followers.
Catelyn advises Robb against sending Eddard's former ward, Theon Greyjoy, to form an alliance with Balon Greyjoy. She is sent by Robb to try to make an alliance with Renly Baratheon and his large army. Catelyn meets Renly at Bitterbridge and follows his army to Storm's End, where she sees Renly's failed attempt to talk with his brother Stannis and later witnesses Renly's murder by a shadow creature. She then flees with Brienne of Tarth, one of Renly's guards, to Riverrun. After hearing that her younger sons were supposedly killed by Theon Greyjoy, Catelyn confronts the captured Jaime Lannister. Although the story ends with Catelyn's fate unclear, the next book shows she frees Jaime and asks Brienne to take him to King's Landing to exchange him for her daughters, who were still held by Joffrey. This action causes problems for Robb and loses him an ally, House Karstark, which had long been enemies with the Lannisters.
Catelyn's brother Edmure Tully puts her under house arrest at Riverrun, but Robb pardons her after he announces his marriage to Jeyne Westerling, which cancels his earlier promise to marry House Frey. Lord Walder Frey agrees to forgive Robb if Edmure marries his daughter Roslin. Catelyn travels to the Frey home, the Twins, to attend the wedding with Robb and other northern leaders. However, Walder Frey and his men take revenge on Robb by killing the northern army in an event called the "Red Wedding." To save her son's life, Catelyn takes Aegon Frey hostage and kills him when Roose Bolton kills Robb, but she is also slashed in the throat by Raymund Frey. The Freys then damage Robb's body and throw Catelyn's naked body into the Green Fork, mocking House Tully's tradition of burying in rivers.
Three days later, Catelyn's body is found on the shore with many others. A wolf pack led by Arya Stark's direwolf Nymeria is drawn to the bodies. Arya, who is dreaming and controlling Nymeria through a magical ability called skinchanging, recognizes her mother's body and makes Nymeria pull it from the river to protect it from other wolves until the outlaw group Brotherhood Without Banners arrives. Catelyn is brought back to life by Lord Beric Dondarrion, who gives up his life to revive her as a thank you to her husband Eddard. However, Catelyn's body has started to decay, and she no longer acts kindly, except for her hatred of the Lannisters and Freys. She takes control of the Brotherhood and changes their goal to harming anyone connected to House Frey or Lannister. She earns the name "Lady Stoneheart" because of her harsh actions. Under her leadership, the Brotherhood captures Petyr Frey, a great-grandson of Walder Frey, and demands money for his release. When Merrett Frey, a son of Walder Frey, brings the money, he finds Petyr already hanged and is also hanged after being questioned.
Lady Stoneheart uses Tom of Sevenstreams as a spy during the siege of Riverrun, where the Frey forces are led by Ryman Frey, Walder Frey's grandson. Tom, who acts as a musician hired by Ryman, jokes about writing a song called "Talking to the Fish" about a speech by Lord Emmon Frey. Inside a tent, Ser Jaime Lannister notices Ryman has Robb's bronze crown and tells him to leave it behind. Tom provides an excuse for staying. Later, Tom returns the crown to Lady Stoneheart. Jaime learns that Ryman and his men were hanged by the Brotherhood.
Stoneheart and the Brotherhood meet Brienne, who tells them she is searching for Sansa at Jaime's request. Brienne sees Stoneheart has Robb's crown and notices her crying under her hood. Stoneheart accuses Brienne of being a traitor because she carries Oathkeeper, a Lannister sword made from Ned Stark's sword, Ice. Brienne claims she is still loyal but must prove it by killing Jaime, whom Stoneheart believes was involved in the Red Wedding. Stoneheart gives Brienne a choice: use her sword or be hanged. Brienne refuses, even when threatened. Just before her hanging, Brienne sees Podrick Payne and Hyle Hill choking and shouts a word to stop the execution.
Stoneheart spares Brienne, and the word she shouted was "sword." Brienne finds Jaime at a camp in Pennytree during the siege of Raventree, claiming she has found Sansa with Sandor Clegane, who are nearby. Brienne warns Jaime that if he does not come alone, his daughter will die. Jaime agrees and leaves. Later, Jaime disappears for weeks, suggesting he was lured into Stoneheart's trap.
The book says Tom O'Sevens told the Brotherhood about Jaime's order to leave Ryman behind, allowing them to ambush and hang Ryman. However, in Brienne's perspective