Chapter 21 Chapter 20 Caitlin

They carried the body on their shoulders and carried it under the raised platform.In the flickering candlelight hall, there was a complete silence, only the gray wind howling from half the castle away.Through stone walls and wooden doors, through night and freezing rain, Catelyn thought, he smelled blood, felt death and destruction. Standing to the left of Robb's high seat, looking down, she thought she saw the dead bodies of Bran and Rickon.These two were actually older than her children, but their naked bodies had begun to shrink, and there was no trace of life in their wet and cold bodies.

On the chin of the blond child, a few light yellow beards had just grown, and under the beards were red scars cut by a dagger.His long blond hair was still wet, as if he had just taken a bath, and he died so quietly, so peacefully, that he must still be asleep.His brown-haired younger brother has fought for his life, his arms are full of sword wounds from parrying, and the red liquid is still slowly flowing out from the wounds on his chest, lower abdomen and back, as if there are many toothless mouths all over his body. Dripping saliva, but fortunately the night rain washed the rest of it clean.

Robb had come wearing the crown, and the bronze glowed dimly under the torches, casting shadows that hid his eyes from staring at the dead body.Did he see Bran and Rickon too?She wanted to cry, but there were no tears.The two children were imprisoned for a long time before their death. Their skin was pale, but it could not conceal their beauty. The shocking blood red and white and soft skin were unbearable to see.If Sansa was killed, would they put her under the Iron Throne too?Will her fair skin also be stained with blood?Outside the door, the rain is rushing to the ground, and the wolf is howling mercilessly.

His brother Edmure stood to Robb's right, with one hand resting on the back of his father's throne chair, still dazed.The king sent someone to wake up the siblings from their deep sleep, and roughly interrupted the younger brother's dream.Brother, are you really dreaming sweet dreams?Did you really dream of sunshine, laughter and girly kisses?hope so.Her own dreams were always dark and terrifying. The lords and generals under Robb's command stood at the bottom of the high platform, some of them put on their armor and weapons, and some only had time to put on civilian clothes or even pajamas.Ser Leonard Westerling and his uncle Ser Rover Spicer were among them, but Robb left his queen alone.Craggy Rock City was not far from Casterly Rock City. Caitlin recalled that when Jeyne was a child, she might have played with the two children who died today.

So she turned her attention back to the bodies of the squires William Lannister and Tion Frey, waiting for her son to speak. It took a long time before the king raised his eyes from the bloody corpse. "Littlejon," he said, "tell your father to bring them in." After hearing these words, Littlejon Umber turned wordlessly, and his footsteps echoed in the majestic stone hall. Then the Greatjon escorted the prisoner into the hall, and Catelyn found that people shunned them, as if sin could be contagious through touch, look, and even cough.Escorts and captives were equally tall, with thick beards and shoulder-length hair.Two of Greatjon's men were wounded, and three of the captives were struck by the sword.They all wore chain mail or ring mail made of hoops, high boots, and thick cloaks, some of which were wool or natural animal skins.They can only be distinguished by whether they have weapons in their hands.The North was a cold, hard place, without mercy, Ned had reminded her a thousand years ago, when she had first come to Winterfell.

"Five," said Robb, as the captives stood quietly and dripping under the dais, "only five?" "A total of eight," Greatjon said in a loud voice, "we killed two when we captured them, and one was wounded to death." The king looked at the faces of the captives, "You eight strong men are going to kill two unarmed servants?" Edmure Tully interjected: "They murdered two of my guards to get into the tower. Depp and Ewood." "It was no murder, ser," Lord Rickard Karstark declared, his face bloody, bound tightly with ropes, without changing his face. "A father has no power to prevent a father from avenging his son."

His words echoed in Catelyn's ears, harsh and brutal as the drums of war.All she felt was a dry throat.it's all my fault.For my daughter, I killed these two children. "I saw your sons die in the Whispering Wood," Robb told Lord Karstark, "but Torrhen wasn't killed by Tion Frey, and Eddard wasn't killed by William Lannister. Hands, how can this be called revenge? This is folly, bloody murder! Your two sons died in battle, and you can't use this to humiliate them." "They're all dead," said Rickard Karstark, unmoved. "By the hands of the Kingslayer. These two are of his kind. Death is not a pity. The blood debt can only be paid in blood."

"Pay with the blood of children?" Robb pointed at the corpses angrily. "How old are they? Twelve or thirteen! Just squires!" "In every battle, there are attendants killed." "That's right, no one can tell when a war starts. But as early as in the Whispering Forest, Tyn Frey and William Lannister laid down their weapons. Since then, they have only been captured, disarmed, and locked in a cell. ...Damn it, they're just kids! You look at them!" Lord Karstark did not bow his head, but looked up at Catelyn. "Ask your mother to see it," he said proudly, "she has the same responsibility as me."

She had to reach out to support Robb's seat, and the whole hall was spinning before her eyes, and nausea came one after another. "My mother had nothing to do with it," Robb snapped. "You did it, your murder, your betrayal!" "Betrayal? It's so strange. Those who kill the Lannister family become traitors, but those who let the Lannister family become loyal ministers." Lord Karstark said sarcastically, "Your Majesty, have you forgotten that we are still following the Lannister family?" Casterly Rock at war? Wars kill men. Did your father teach you that, boy?"

"What did you say?" Greatjon swung his armored fist and knocked the earl to the ground. "Leave him alone!" Robb ordered sternly, and Lord Umber obediently backed away. Earl Karstark spat out a tooth, "Very well, Lord Amber, let the king deal with me. His Majesty intends to reprimand me lightly and then forgive me. Isn't that how he deals with traitors? Our northern border King?" The bloody mouth smiled, "Oh, should I call you 'King of the Lost North' instead?" The Greatjon snatched the spear from the guard and pressed it to Karstark's back. "Let me kill him, Your Majesty, let me poke open his stomach and see what kind of heart is inside!"

The hall door slammed open, Heiyu stepped in, rainwater dripped down his cloak and helmet, and countless soldiers of the Tully family followed behind.Outside the door, lightning tore through the night sky, and the black rain hit the sandstone walls of Riverrun heavily.Ser Brandon walked to the high seat, took off his helmet, and knelt on one knee. "Your Majesty," he didn't say much, but the stern tone said it all. "After the meeting is over, I will receive Ser Brandon privately in the drawing room," Robb stood up. "Greatjon, please continue to guard Lord Karstark. The other seven are all hanged." Greatjon lowered his spear. "Hanging the dead?" "Yes, I don't want these dirty things to pollute my uncle's river, let them feed the crows." One prisoner slumps to his knees. "Be merciful, Your Majesty, I didn't kill anyone, I just guarded the door for them to see if anyone passed by." The king considered for a moment. "Do you understand Lord Karstark's intentions? Do you see the weapons of your companions? Do you hear the screams and cries and cries?" "Yes, yes, I know, but I didn't participate. I only guarded the door for them, I swear..." "Lord Amber," Rob Lang said, "this man is only in charge of guarding the gate, and he is the last one to hang him so that he can watch the others die. Mother, uncle, please come with me if it is convenient." He turned and left Go, the Greatjon's men drive the captives out of the hall with their spears.The lightning outside the door became louder and louder, rumbling endlessly, as if the entire castle was shaking.Is this the death knell for the kingdom?Caitlin wondered. The reception room was dark, but fortunately there were layers of thick walls to block the sound of thunder.A servant came in with an oil lamp to light a fire, but Robb dismissed him as long as he left the lamp behind.There were no shortage of tables and chairs in the hall, but only Edmure sat down. When he found that everyone else was standing stiffly, he got up embarrassingly.The king took down the crown and placed it on the table before him. Heiyu closed the door, "Karstark's people have all run away." "All gone?" Robb's voice was muddy, was it despair or anger?Even Catelyn didn't know. "Everyone who could fuck has gone," Sir Brandon explained. "Only the peddlers, the camp whores, the servants, and the wounded remained in the camp. I've tortured it, and it's pretty clear that they started running away from the camp at dusk yesterday. Running in twos and threes, and later in droves. Lord Karstark told the wounded and servants to keep the campfires lighted, so that no one would see them, but it was raining so hard it made no difference." "Are they regrouping outside Riverrun?" Robb asked. "No, they scattered and searched everywhere. Lord Karstark swears to God that he will give his daughter to anyone who can offer the head of a kingslayer, regardless of birth." The gods are merciful, Caitlin was dizzy again. "Nearly three hundred horsemen, six hundred horses, just fled in the night without a trace," Robb rubbed his temples, the crown pressed on the soft skin around his ears, "We lost the city of Cahoe cavalry." It's all my fault, my fault, gods forgive me.Although Caitlin is not familiar with military affairs, she also understands the predicament Robb is in at the moment.The son still owns the riverland for the time being, but his kingdom is surrounded by powerful enemies on the north, south and south sides, and Lysa in the east hides on the high mountains, as if nothing to do with him.At present, the attitude of the lord of the river ferry is ambiguous, which has caused the Three Rivers area to be unstable, and now the Karstark family has lost... "The news must be blocked," said younger brother Edmure. "If today's incident reaches Duke Tywin's ears... the world knows that Lannister will pay his debts. If he finds out, we can only pray for the mercy of the Holy Mother .” Sansa.Catelyn's nails dug so deep into the soft palm that she made a fist. Robb gave Edmure a cold look. "You want me to be both a liar and a murderer, don't you, uncle?" "We don't need to lie, just don't say anything. Bury those two children and say nothing about them until the war is over. You see, William is the son of Ser Kevan Lannister, Lord Tywin's son. Nephew, Tion's mother is Lady Gina, and his father is from House Frey. So it seems that even the Twins will not reveal anything until..." "Until the dead are brought back to life?" Blackfish Brandon said sharply, "Edmure, the truth has already been brought out by the Karstarks. We are already one step too late to play the game." "I must tell the truth and give them justice," said the king. "I owe it not only to them, but to their father." He stared at his crown, his long sword of dark bronze and black iron. "Lord Karstark provoked me, betrayed me, and I have no choice but to sentence him to death. God damn it! I don't know how the Karstark infantry under Roose Bolton will react when they know their master has been beheaded , a warning must be issued immediately." "Lord Karstark's heir is at Harrenhal," Ser Brandon reminded Robb. "His eldest son, who was captured by the Lannisters on the Green Fork." "Harion, his name is Harion," Robb smiled bitterly. "A king should know his enemies, shouldn't he?" Black Fish looked at his master shrewdly, "You think he is your enemy? Will the young Karstark become your enemy because of this?" "What do you mean? I killed his father, would he be grateful to me?" "I can't tell. There are many sons who hate their fathers in the world, but once you kill him, he will become the Earl of Cahoe City." Robb shook his head, "Even if he thinks so in his heart, he won't show it, otherwise he won't be able to restrain his subordinates. Uncle, you don't understand, they are all from the north, and the north will never be forgotten." "Then forgive him," advised Edmure Tully. The king looked directly at his uncle with contempt. Edmure blushed under the king's stare. "I mean, spare his life. I hate him as much as you do, Your Majesty. He killed my man, and poor Depp is just recovering from the sword wound Ser Jaime gave him. We Lord Karstark must be punished, yes... perhaps, lock him up..." "As a hostage?" Caitlin said.Maybe it's a way... "Yes, yes, as a hostage!" The younger brother took her thinking as a life-saving straw, "tell his son that as long as he pledges his loyalty, he will spare his father's life. You see... Frey's side, unless I let him do whatever he wants." Give me a daughter and carry the old boy on a stretcher, or he won't let up. What hope is there for our cause if we lose the Karstarks again?" "Hope..." Robb took a deep breath and brushed his black hair away from his eyes. "There is no news from Ser Rodrik, no reply from Walder Frey, and no response from the Eyrie City. he confided to his mother. "Will your sister ever answer? How many letters will I have to write to her? I can't believe not one of the letter crows I sent has arrived." A son needs reassurance, needs reassurance that everything is alright, and Catelyn knows that, but he's not just her son, he's her king, and a king needs the truth. "The raven must have been there—whether she admitted it or not, cared or didn't. To be honest, Robb, you can't expect Lysa to help." "If the Knights of the Canyon join us, the situation of the war will change drastically," Robb said. "Even if she doesn't want to join the war, can she open the Blood Gate and let us go to Seagull Town and take a boat north? Bloody battles are far better. If I land at White Harbor, I can flank Moat Cailin, and within six months I can drive the Ironborn from the North cleanly." "It's impossible, Your Majesty." Heiyu said, "Kate is right. Lady Lysa is very frightened. She can't allow the army to cross the valley, not any army. The blood gate will always be confined." "The White Walkers take her!" cursed the king in despair and rage, "and damned Rickard Karstark, Theon Greyjoy, Walder Frey, Tywin Lannis Te, everyone! Gods be merciful, how can someone knock their heads out and want to be a king? At the beginning, when everyone shouted 'King of the North', 'King of the North', I told myself...I swear to myself... ...Be sure to be a good king, not only respect honor like your father, but also be strong, fair, loyal to your friends, and brave to your enemies... Until now, even I can't figure out why everything is so messed up? You guys Tell me what's going on, Lord Rickard fought by my side, through life and death, his two sons protected me and died heroically in the Whispering Wood, and Tion Frey and William Lannister are my enemies But I want to kill my dead friend's father for them," he looked around the crowd, "will the Lannister family thank me for Lord Rickard's head? Will the Frey family thank me?" "No," Blackfish Brandon said bluntly as always. "Doesn't this just mean that Lord Rickard should be spared? Take him as a hostage." Edmure continued to advise. Robb raised the heavy crown of steel and bronze with both hands, put it on his head, and suddenly became the majestic King of the North again. "He must die." "Why?" Edmure said, "You also said just now—" "I know what I said, Uncle, but I have my own responsibilities." The black iron sword on the crown stood tall, "When there is a war, I will kill Tien and William with my own hands, but this is not a battlefield. They slept in their beds, naked and unarmed, under my protection. Rickard Karstark murdered not only the Freys and Lannisters, but my honour. I will execute him tomorrow morning." The next morning, the sky was gray and cold, and the storm had passed, weakening to a long, continuous rain.The godswood was crowded with people, princes from the riverlands and the north, nobles and servants, knights, mercenaries and stable boys, all stood in the forest to watch this dark dance of death.Edmure sent an order to move the execution platform under the heart tree, and then Greatjon's men escorted the heavily tied Earl Rickard Karstark, with ice rain and fallen leaves flying around.Karstark's men had been hung from the high walls of Riverrun earlier, and the long ropes pulled the corpses to swing in the wind, and the rain ran down their black faces. Elder Lou was waiting at the scaffold with a longaxe, and Robb snatched the weapon and told him to back off. "Let me," he declared, "I have sentenced him to death, and I must do it myself." Lord Karstark looked up stiffly. "For this, I thank you, and for the rest, I hate you." He wore a dark wool coat today, embroidered with the family's sunburst. "Boy, please remember that the blood of the ancestors flows not only in you, but also in me. I, Rickard, named this name in memory of your grandfather. I fought for your father and King Aerys, for You stood against King Joffrey. At Oxford, in the Whispering Wood, and in the camp outside Riverrun, I fought by your side; on the banks of the Trident, I helped your father fight to the end. The Starks and the Karstarks, we They are inseparable relatives." "You are my kin and yet you betray me," said Robb. "Blood cannot save you. Get on your knees, my lord." Lord Rickard is right, Catelyn thought, the Karstarks are descended from Karon Stark.A thousand years ago, the youngest son of Winterfell led an army to quell the rebellion, and was given a fief for his bravery in battle.He named his castle the City of Karon, and over time, it became Kahuo City. After the vicissitudes of the century, the Stark family of Kahuo City was also called the Karstark House. "Gods old and new," Lord Rickard told her son, "will curse Kinslayer forever." "Get down on your knees, traitor," Robb repeated, "do you want me to have you pinned to the scaffold?" Lord Karstark knelt as he was commanded. "You judge me, and the gods will judge you." He put his head on it. "Rickard Karstark, Lord of Kahoe City," Robb raised his heavy ax with both hands, "in the witness of all gods and men, I, Robb, King in the North, sentence you for murder and rebellion Death penalty, and execute it yourself. Do you have anything to say?" "Kill me quickly and accept the curse. You are no longer my king." The sharp ax swung down, heavy and precise, a fatal blow.But the king had to cut off the head three times in a row before separating the head from the body. At this time, the dead and the living were covered in blood.Robb swung the ax away in disgust, and walked up to the Heart Tree without a word, trembling all over.His fists were tightly clenched, and rain was pouring down his face.The gods forgive him, Catelyn prayed silently, he was still a child, he had no choice. That was the last time she saw her son that day.It rained all morning, the rivers swelled, and the grasslands of the godswood became a flood country.Heiyu led a hundred elites, and the flying cavalry chased Karstark's men, but no one expected results. "Just hope I don't make me hang them," Brynden said as he left.After he was gone, Catelyn went back to her father's chambers and sat down by Lord Hoster's bed again. "It won't last long," Maester Wiman warned her when he came to take care of the Duke in the afternoon. "His strength has completely disappeared, but he still refuses to give up in his heart." "He's always been a fighter," his daughter replied, "a lovely yet stubborn man." "Yes," the master agreed, "but he cannot win this battle. Now, it is time to lay down your arms and surrender to fate." Putting down her weapon, she was startled and surrendered to fate.Is he talking about my father, or my son? At dusk, Jeyne Westerling came to meet her.The young queen came shyly into the sickroom. "Mrs. Caitlin, I shouldn't disturb you..." "You are very welcome, Your Majesty." Caitlin was sewing, and hurriedly put down her tools. "Thank you, please call me Jenny, I'm not used to those names." "After all, you are queen. Come, sit down, Your Majesty." "Just call me Jenny," said the queen, sitting by the fireplace, adjusting her skirt nervously. "As you wish. What do you want me to do, Janey?" "It's Robb," the girl began. "He's so poor, he's... lonely and angry. I don't know what to do." "Killing is always hard." "I understand. I advised him to use the executioner. You know, whenever Lord Tywin wants to take a life, he just needs to order it. It's easier that way, isn't it?" "Indeed," Caitlin said, "but my husband taught my son not to take pleasure in killing, nor to escape responsibility." "Oh," Queen Jeyne licked her lips, "Rob has...had nothing all day. I told Loram to send me a good supper of roasted boar ribs and onions and ale, but he Nothing moved. All morning, he wrote letters and told me not to disturb them, but when he finally finished, he burned them with another fire. Now, he sat in front of the map, looking at it in silence, and I asked him where Nothing, he didn't say anything, I don't think he heard me at all. He didn't change his clothes, he was still wearing his wet, bloody clothes in the morning. I want to be a good wife to him, but I don't know what to do, how to encourage He, cheer him up, doesn't understand what he needs. Please, madam, you are his mother, teach me." Who will teach me?Caitlin wanted to ask the same question.It would be nice if the father was there.It is a pity that Duke Hoster is dying, and his life will not be long.Ned was dead too.Bran and Rickon, mother, and long ago Brandon, all dead.Now all I have left is Robb, and the faint hope of his daughters returning. "Sometimes," Catelyn said slowly, "the best thing to do is to do nothing. When I first came to Winterfell, I was not used to my husband Ned sitting in the godswood and sitting in the heart tree. I know that there is a part of his soul in that tree, and that part I can never share; and I know that apart from that, he is no Ned. Jenny, my child, you marry To the north, like me...and in the north, you have to endure the trials of winter," she tried to smile, "you have to be patient, you have to learn to understand. He loves you, needs you, and will come back to you soon By your side. Maybe tonight. Please be patient, that's all I can tell you." The young queen listened intently. "I will," she said after Caitlin finished speaking, "I will wait for him." She stood up, "I have to go back. His Majesty may be missing me. I will take care of him. Even if he continues to look at the map, I will Will wait patiently." "Go, child," Caitlin said, and when the girl came to the door, another thing occurred to her. "Jenny," she cried, "Robb needs your help badly for one thing, though he may not understand it himself. The King must have an heir." The girl smiled shyly. "My mother said the same thing. To get me pregnant, she made a drink made of herbs, milk, and ale, and told me to drink it every morning. I told Robb that there would be twins for him. One One is Ed, one is Brandon. He likes it. We... we try every day, ma'am. Sometimes two or three times a day." The girl's blushing face was very beautiful, "I will soon Those with children, I assure you. Every night, I pray to Our Lady." "Very good, very good. From now on, I will also join in your prayers, praying to the old and new gods at the same time." After the girl was gone, Catelyn went back to her father and smoothed his thinning gray hair. "One's name is Ed, one's name is Brandon," she sighed softly, "the third one is called Horst, do you like it?" Her father didn't answer, she knew he couldn't answer, and there was only the sound of drizzle, Accompanied by the same thin breath.She thought of Jenny again.It seems that Robb has a good eye, and the girl does have a good heart.What's more, she is also very productive...