(Untitled)

[juno_chan]

(Cross-posting here because this turned into over 3,000 words of pure LET ME SALVE MY SOUL WITH SHAMELESS HURT/COMFORT MMMKAY?)

For the kink meme, prompted by blackcigars - prompt: Ned/Cat, a difficult pregnancy and birth puts Catelyn in a depression that Ned works to pull her from.

No porn, non-graphic childbirth. JUST ME TRYING TO FIX MY FEELS.

Comments

[juno_chan]

EEEEE THANK YOU SO MUCH BB. I AM SORRY THAT I MADE YOU WEEP. I JUST HAVE SO MANY CATELYN FEELS AFTER THE LAST EPISODE AND WAS LIKE OMG I WANT SOMEONE TO HUG HER TO I WROTE HER GETTING HUGS APDJGPIRFPHWJRHPOISDFJPOIFH.

I'm so glad you liiiiiiked!

[lainemontgomery]

AHHHHHHHHHHH THIS IS LIKE A SNUGGIE FOR MY SOUL!!!! After last week's episode, some wonderful, heartwarming Ned/Cat fic is just what the doctor ordered. And you deliver it like no one else

[juno_chan]

THANK YOU BB!!!! <3 I so needed some CATELYN DOESN'T HAVE TO DEAL WITH SHIT ALL BY HERSELF fic after last week

[fauxkaren]

This was really wonderful. I LOVED the way that you positioned Cat's story in conversation with other women (specifically mothers) in Westeros- not only Ashara and how her ghost affects Cat, but also with Elia Martell and Cat's own mother- which I think really helped to highlight WHY Cat would feel like a failure if she couldn't bear more children.

[juno_chan]

Thank you so much! I'm glad that you thought it came across about being about the inability, not so much the number (because four is a respectable number of children, certainly - Ned had three siblings and Catelyn only two). There's just SO much pressure in Westeros society on the women to bear children. It's one of the reasons I felt so badly for Lysa - taking his family history into consideration, all the miscarriages and stillbirths can probably be traced to Jon Arryn, and yet it would be Lysa to bear the brunt of the blame and pressure.

So glad you liked!

[workswithwords]

OMGGGGG. FOR REALS, I AM CRYING RIGHT NOW. This was absolutely beautiful and touching and heartbreaking, and Catelyn fears and worries are something very close to my own heart.

I'm utterly speechless because this was amazing and you have done Cat such a justice that she deserves. AND, I love that your Ned is so loving, so warm, with her. That is really how I think Ned was, because he loved her so much, and I feel like I need to know that SHE KNEW JUST HOW MUCH HE LOVED HER. It hurts my heart to think otherwise.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WRITING THIS.

[juno_chan]

THANK YOU SO MUCH LOVELYYYYY I DID NOT MEAN TO MAKE YOU CRY I JUST NEEDED CAT TO NOT HAVE TO BE ALOOOOOOONE.

You are well aware of my feels since I spasm about them all the time but I really hate fanon interpretations that because Ned is gushing about his feelings that he didn't love Catelyn (which honestly seem to come for the most part from people who hate Catelyn anyway). When I reread the first book I noticed that almost anytime that they touch, he's the one who's initiating the contact. I think he's definitely just more of a 'show, don't tell' kind of guy, and he's pretty physically affectionate when they're together. And at least just from her thoughts at the Red Wedding (GROSS SOBBINGGGGG), I think she knew that she was loved.

Thank you for your comments!!!! <333

[workswithwords]

LOL CRYING IS GOOD. SO GOOD.

I agree, its mostly Cat hate propaganda or Ned/Ashara stans. He totally is a show don't tell guy! He's not good with words, he's a soldier! But GODS DOES HE LOVE TO SHOW HER HOW MUCH HE LOVES HER. MOSTLY WITH HIS MOUTH. LOL. SORRY IT IS KNOWN.

[juno_chan]

He is the opposite of good with words! Just look at him trying to verbally spar with Petyr! He comes out with lame ass comebacks like "I WOULDN'T WANT YOU IN ANY PARTY" and just shoves a dagger under his little chin beard instead and tells him Brandon should have killed him dead. XD But seriously, when he's in the dungeon he's like I WANNA GO HOME AND SPOON. ZOMG HE JUST WANTS CUDDLE TIME.

LOOOOOLZ IT IS KNOWN. IT IS KNOWN. IT IS WHY THE STARK BOYS ARE POPULAR. I loooooove the prompt that was left about awkward-father-or-father-figure-and-son-convo about pleasin' the ladies. XD Mostly because I feel like Theon would refuse to believe that oral-sex-on-the-ladies is a THING. And because it would be the most awkward thing to ever be awkward because again Ned=NOT THE WORDS TYPE OF GUY. I hope it gets filled - humor and heavy dialogue-based fics are not my strength or I would do it mahself!

[fields195]

All my feelz! You are all over the Cat angst lately, and you did a great job with the themes of childbirth and depression in this story. It is a wonderful portrayal of the impossible situation faced by the women of Westeros; their society pushes them to internalize all the guilt and failure associated with childbearing. No one can be the ideal wife, mother, and lady all the time, but Cat certainly tries so very hard and remains her own harshest critic for any weaknesses or lapses of duty

[juno_chan]

Eeeee, you are the best, you picked up on so many of things I tried to convey. <33 Mostly yes, with Ned trying to get it but not really being able to, because he's not a WOMAN and therefore not subject to the crushing pressure to bear children. He loves her and he's happy (they have four kids, after all) and he's relieved that she made it through (because as you noted, it would be almost more frightening for him to watch the birth, knowing exactly what's going on), so he tries to reassure her but while she takes his comforts there's still a part of her that worries.

Yeah, I've been on a Cat-angst roll lately - not sure why! But at least it's Cat-angst with a side of sexytimes! XD I guess I have a weak spot for hurt/comfort and Cat in the books/show is just hurt/hurt/hurt/hurt/hurt - so I need him to take caaaaaare of her! XD

THANKS AS ALWAYS LOVELY!!!!