Catelyn Vance

Lady Catelyn Waxely, born Catelyn Vance, is eldest daughter of Lord Lyndon Vance of Wayfarer's Rest, and brother to Lord Edmund Vance. She is married to Ser Stannis Waxley, and as his wife she is Lady of Wickenden.

Appearance and Character
Despite being over forty years old, Catelyn Vance is remarked for being beautiful. Though she is not as young as she once was, the years have been kind to her. She remains a slender woman with a lean but comely figure. She has her father Lyndon's raven black hair, which is quite long and well groomed. She has pale blue eyes and fair skin.

She is a quiet and reserved woman, and is introverted. That said, she is also comfortable around people and can be gregarious and sociable when it is required. She is also known for being kind but firm when necessary. She is devoted to her family, and works tirelessly towards that end.

One of her distinguishing features is her sharp intelligence and cleverness. Not only is she learned and skill in numbers, she is also very competent administrator. It is known that it is she that truly runs Wickenden. Her husband is an able soldier, but she knows how to efficiently run his land. She also uses her connections to build Wickenden's position.

Early Years (394-404)
Lady Catelyn was born in 394 at Wayfarer's Rest as the third child and first daughter of Lord Lyndon Vance and his wife Leila Lannister. Lord Lyndon had been Lord of Wayfarer's Rest for seven years, and already had two sons, Robert and Harrold. Catelyn would be expected to grow up and marry to strengthen her family's position.From an early age she learned the importance of duty to family.

She was a serious and bookish child, she often preferred to read instead of playing or sewing. She learned to read quickly, and soon learned how to do arithmetic efficiently. She was a bright child, although she was also shy and reserved. She watched the affairs of her father with great interest, studying and observing what she could about the affairs of state.

She did not travel much during her childhood, staying around the castle. Whenever her father would be absent she would help whoever was running the lands in his stead. Some said Lord Lyndon kept his daughter locked up, but she chose to remain in Wayfarer's Rest- it was her home, and she had a duty to her family.

Being much younger than her brothers, she formed a bond with her younger sister, Lyra, and helped to take care of her as she was growing up. She was six when the Scarlet Winter began. It was brutal and difficult, and in the end both of her older brothers died. So in 404 with the death of her brother Robert she became the heir to Wayfarer's Rest at the age of 10.

Heir to Wayfarer's Rest (404-409)
Initially she was shocked and had a hard time adjusting to the fact that it was she and not her brothers that would be her father's successor. But, she eventually accepted it- she was committed to doing her duty to the family. However, this meant that she couldn't afford the luxury of being a background character anymore. She could no longer read or study as she wished. She had to be groomed to be the heir. Thrust into the limelight, she was uncomfortable, but eventually grew more acclimated to the expectations which were expected of her.

In 407, she and her father attending the Tourney at Harrenhal. During that time, she met a squire of a Knight of the Vale, a lad named Stannis. They began to talk over the course of the tourney, and she was impressed by his attention to duty and his sense of honor, and striving to do the right thing. Both were of a more serious and melancholic nature. Although she was four years his elder, she took a liking to him. She introduced him to her father, and his father was also impressed with the young man. However, he was still a boy, and as heir to Wickenden, he could not be married to his heir. So they could not be betrothed at the time. Catelyn was saddened by this, but knew that is what the right thing. However, she never forgot about Stannis. She never really had any other interest, despite her blossoming beauty attracting some attention from other suitors.

When her father marched his forces off to Riverrun during the Mummer's War, Catelyn remained behind to help manage his lands in his absence and gained valuable skills in the art statesmanship. After the war, her father was appointed as Master of Coin in 408. With her mother and sister accompanying him, she was to stay behind and act as regent. Now as official regent, she had true experience of running and managing the Vance domains. She interacted with commoners, made decisions, oversaw the harvests. She was well loved by the common folk, and worked hard to do what she could to help with the good of the House. Word soon came to her from King's Landing that she had a new brother, named Edmund. She was no longer heir.

Family and Marriage (409-418)
A few months later Lord Lyndon returned home from his service at King's Landing, and resumed his Lordship over Wayfarer's Rest. Now Catelyn was old enough to begin more actively assisting him in affairs of state. Lord Lyndon's wish for peace and quiet allowed for Catelyn to assist him in some of the management, to help ease his burden. However, it was coming time for her to marry and raise a family of her own. By 412 she was nearly 18 and unwed, and as his oldest daughter and second in line the match would be important.

One day, quite unexpectedly, a visitor, a Knight from the Vale, appeared at Wayfarer's Rest and sought to meet with Lord Lyndon. The guards saw him in, and a youthful but serious knight in armor came up before Lord Lyndon and asked for Catelyn's hand in marriage. It was none other than Ser Stannis, a lad of 14, but now an anointed Knight and heir to Wickenden. After finally being anointed, he said, he had ridden all the way from the Vale to finally ask for Catelyn's hand in marriage. Catelyn was overjoyed to see Stannis, now a knight. But the decision was her father's to make.

Lord Lyndon was surprised as well. This boy was certainly bold if he were to do such a thing, but, he was of high birth, and heir to a coastal town with the combined advantage of Vale Knights and warships. It would be good to get an alliance with his house. He took his daughter aside, and the two discussed the match. Neither had seen Stannis for five years, and he was still young. But although he seemed the same in many respects, he had also seemed to grow. Still Catelyn said that she wanted to marry him as well. He was clearly still devoted to her if the first thing he did once he became a knight was to ask for her hand after they hadn't seen each other in years.

So Lord Lyndon consented, and the two were joyfully wed in the sight of the gods. Soon after the wedding, she said her goodbyes to her family and friends, and the rode off with him back to Wickenden, where she was received with honor and celebration. She soon settled down and adjusted herself to her new life. She quickly became involved with the affairs of state of her father-in-law, Ser Walter, and assisted in what ways she could. Just under a year into the marriage, however, Ser Walter grew ill. He passed away, and Ser Stannis became the Knight of Wickenden. Catelyn helped him through this difficult time, and was grieved herself, although she had only known Ser Walter for a short time.

As the new Lady of Wickenden, she took her responsibilities seriously. Ser Stannis was no statesman- he was a warrior at heart. His wife, eager to help, gladly stepped up to help him with his responsibilities, and established herself firmly in the working of the court of Wickenden. Her marriage to Stannis was a happy one- they both loved each other very much, Catelyn loved to help in whatever way she could, and Stannis's burden of ruling was eased significantly. In 414, their first child, a son named Yohn, was born. In the following years, she would give birth to two more children- a daughter Catelyn and a son Peyton.

Stannis's Campaigns and Peacetime (418-435)
In 418, Osric Arryn began his war against Royce Redfeather. Stannis and his men when on campaign against the Mountain Clans. Catelyn now assumed full responsibility for the management of Wickenden in his absence. She did not want Stannis to leave and campaign- she did not want to lose him in battle. Still, she knew he was a fighter, and so she relented. He was on and off on campaign, returning occasionally to stay for a while before continuing on campaign. This period was hard on her. She did not like him gone, and although she was able to preform admirably, she did not like being left alone. After four years of on and off campaigns, Ser Stannis finally returned home, much to the joy of Catelyn.

A decade of peace followed Stannis's return, and during which her other children, Leona and Lysa, Kyle, Lyndon and Jocasta were all born. They were able to settle down and focus on affairs of Wickenden and family for a time, and both were happy. Catelyn continued to assist Stannis in management, and oversaw the raising of the children. She occasionally became overworked, but she always came back to it. She was committed to serving her family as best she could. She and Stannis would visit her relatives in the Riverlands sometimes when they could. She would even go sailing or riding with her husband sometimes.

In 433, Stannis went to the Riverlands to fight the Warsmiths. Although he would be gone again for over a year, Catelyn was better prepared for it. She trusted in his abilities, and knew he would return safely. She expected him to return after Ser Maric was subdued; instead, he continued on to join the King's host in the march to Bitterbridge. However, after the battle, he returned home at her request. Soon after he had returned home, Lord Arryn called his banners to march on Gulltown, much to Catelyn's chagrin. After the siege of Gulltown was over, he marched back to Wickenden and rejoined his wife.

Recent Events
After Ser Stannis's return to Wickenden, he has not had the need to depart on Campaign since then, a fact for which Catelyn is grateful. However, in the years following the Bleeding, her sister, her father, and her mother all died. She traveled back to Wayfarer's Rest to see her father in his terminal illness before he died, but for the other two she and her family were only able to attend the funerals. She continues her oversight of many of the affairs of Wickenden, and is well loved by the smallfolk and lesser nobility alike for he care and protection. She became well skilled in the art of management.

Family
Family Tree

Lord Norbert Vance, Lord of Wayfarer's Rest. Married to Lythene Darry. Together they had 4 children:
 * Harys Vance, born 360 AC. Died in infancy.
 * Lord Lyndon Vance, born 367 AC. Lord of Wayfarer's Rest. Died in 437 AC due to illness. Married to Leila Lannister. They had 5 children together:
 * Robert Vance, born 385 AC. Died 404 AC.
 * Harrold Vance, born 388 AC. Died 403 AC.
 * Catelyn Vance, born 394 AC. Married to Ser Stannis Waxley, the Knight of Wickenden. Together they have eight children:
 * Ser Yohn Waxley, heir to Wickenden. Born 414 AC. He has two children:
 * Jeyne Waxley, born 435 AC.
 * Edmund Waxley, born 437 AC.
 * Catelyn Waxley
 * Ser Peyton Waxley, born 418 AC.
 * Leona Waxley, born 424 AC. Twin sister of Lysa.
 * Lysa Waxley, born 424 AC. Twin Sister of Leona.
 * Kyle Waxley, born 426 AC. A page for Lord Edmund Vance.
 * Lyndon Waxley, born 429 AC. A squire for Lord Tristifer Mooton.
 * Jocasta Waxley, born 432 AC.
 * Lyra Vance, born 397 AC. Married Lord Mathis Mooton, Lord of Maidenpool. They had four children together:
 * Forrest Mooton, born 415 AC. Married Lady Lysa Shawney. Died 433 AC. They had one child:
 * Perwyn Mooton, born 433 AC. Died 434 AC.
 * Tristifer Mooton, Lord of Maidenpool. Born 416 AC.
 * Perianne Mooton, born 417 AC.
 * Edmund Vance, born 409 AC. Lord of Wayfarer's Rest. Married to Victaria Vance.


 * Amerei Vance, born 377 AC.
 * Elinor Vance, born 384 AC. Disappeared in 407 AC.