Catelyn Tully Stark
| House / Order | House Tully; House Stark (by marriage) |
|---|---|
| Race / Culture | Westerosi (of the Riverlands) |
| Status | Undead (resurrected as Lady Stoneheart) |
| Origin | The Riverlands; The North |
| Born | 264 AC, Riverrun |
| Died | 299 AC, the Twins (slain at the Red Wedding; later resurrected) |
| Weapon | |
| Fate | Risen as the vengeful Lady Stoneheart, leading the Brotherhood Without Banners in bloody reprisal |
| Portrayed by | Michelle Fairley |
Catelyn Tully Stark, née Tully, is the wife of Eddard Stark, Lady of Winterfell, and a major viewpoint character through the first three novels of A Song of Ice and Fire. A loving mother and a shrewd, strong-willed noblewoman, she is undone by grief and the treacheries of war, and in death is transformed into something terrible.
Catelyn's love for her children and her sense of family duty drive many of the saga's pivotal events, and her grim resurrection as Lady Stoneheart is among the most striking developments cut entirely from the television series.
Background
Catelyn was the eldest child of Lord Hoster Tully of Riverrun. Originally betrothed to Brandon Stark, she married his brother Eddard after Brandon's murder by the Mad King. Their marriage, born of war and alliance, grew into deep love, though Catelyn never accepted Eddard's bastard Jon Snow, whom she resented as a stain on her family and a rival to her own children: Robb, Sansa, Arya, Bran, and Rickon.
Biography
A Game of Thrones
When Bran is crippled and then nearly assassinated, Catelyn discovers a Valyrian dagger that points to Lannister involvement. Traveling secretly to King's Landing, she is counseled by Littlefinger, who deceives her into blaming Tyrion. On the road she seizes Tyrion and brings him to her sister Lysa Arryn at the Eyrie, an act that helps ignite open war. She returns north as her son Robb raises his banners.
A Clash of Kings
Catelyn serves as her son's counselor and envoy. She is sent to treat with the Baratheon brothers, Renly and Stannis, and witnesses Renly's murder by a shadow, fleeing with Brienne of Tarth, who takes her into service. Acting on a mother's desperate logic, she frees the captive Jaime Lannister, sending him south with Brienne to trade for her daughters, a decision that costs her dearly with Robb's lords.
A Storm of Swords and the Red Wedding
Catelyn accompanies Robb to the Twins for the wedding meant to mend his broken vow to House Frey. There she senses the trap too late. At the Red Wedding, Walder Frey and Roose Bolton betray and slaughter the Stark host. Catelyn watches her son cut down, kills a Frey hostage in helpless fury, and has her own throat slit. Her body is thrown into the river.
Resurrection
Three days later, the Brotherhood Without Banners find her corpse. Their leader Beric Dondarrion gives his own life-force to revive her through the last kiss of R'hllor. She rises as Lady Stoneheart, a grey, mute, half-rotted creature consumed by hatred, who leads the Brotherhood in hanging Freys, Lannisters, and any she judges guilty, and who in A Feast for Crows captures Brienne of Tarth and demands she choose between death and killing Jaime.
Character
In life, Catelyn was warm, intelligent, and fiercely devoted to her family, though her coldness toward Jon Snow was a lasting cruelty. Her decisions, seizing Tyrion, freeing Jaime, were driven by maternal love but proved disastrous. In undeath, every gentler quality is burned away, leaving only vengeance.
Relationships
Catelyn's love for Eddard Stark and their children defines her life. Her enmity toward Jon Snow is her great failing. Her bond with Robb is close and ultimately tragic. Brienne of Tarth becomes her sworn sword in life and her captive in undeath. Littlefinger's lifelong obsession with Catelyn shapes events around her.
Quotes
When the snows fall and the white winds blow, the lone wolf dies but the pack survives. (recalling Eddard)
The Freys offered Robb bread and salt and roof... and slaughtered him beneath their roof.
In the television series
In HBO's Game of Thrones, Catelyn was portrayed by Michelle Fairley. Her arc follows the novels through her death at the Red Wedding. Crucially, the show omitted her resurrection as Lady Stoneheart entirely; in the books she lives on as the vengeful undead leader of the Brotherhood, a major ongoing storyline with no television counterpart.