Chapter 46 Chapter Forty-Six Caitlin

"Tell Dad, I will make him proud of me." The younger brother got on his horse, wearing a pair of bright armor, with a long cloak flying behind him - the color of red mud and rivers - quite a lord.On the top of his helm is a silver trout that echoes the one carved on his shield. "He has always been proud of you, Edmure. He has always loved you very, very much, please believe me." "Then I'll give him a better reason than being his son." He spurred his steed, raising an arm.Trumpets sounded, war drums thundered, and in an instant the suspension bridge was lowered.Ser Edmure Tully left Riverrun with his men, spears raised, banners fluttering.

I command a larger army than yours, Catelyn thought as she watched them go.I command the armies of doubt and fear. With Brienne beside her, the distress was palpable.Catelyn had a tailor make new clothes for her size and birth and sex, but she preferred to wear the mail and boiled leather with the sword belt.She wanted to join Edmure in battle, no doubt, but Riverrun needed guards, no matter how strong it was.The younger brother had taken every man of age to fight, leaving behind Sir Desmond Greer a contingent of old and wounded soldiers, a few squires, and untrained, even underage country children. garrison.Women and children all over the city depend on them for protection.

After the last of Edmure's foot soldiers disappeared under the gate, Brienne asked, "What shall we do now, ma'am?" "We have our responsibilities." Caitlin walked across the courtyard with a heavy face.I'm always fulfilling my responsibilities, she thought, and maybe that's why Dad thinks of me as his most precious child.Her two elder brothers died in infancy, so before Edmure was born, Duke Hoster always treated her as his son.Soon after, her mother passed away, and her father asked her to be the housewife of Riverrun, a role she played brilliantly.Later, when Lord Hoster told her that she had been betrothed to Brandon Stark, she thanked him for picking a match for her.

I gave the token to Brandon, but I didn't offer any comfort to the injured Petyr, not even saying goodbye when Dad drove him away.After Brandon was murdered, my father asked me to marry his brother, and I was happy to obey, though Ned and I never saw each other until the wedding day.I gave my virginity to this dignified stranger, and sent him away to his wars, his king, and the woman who bore him his illegitimate child, all because I always knew how to fulfill responsibility. She wandered to the door of the church, which stood in her mother's garden, made of seven sand walls and shining with seven colors of light.It was packed when they entered, and it seemed Caitlyn wasn't the only one eager to pray.Kneeling before the painted marble statue of the warrior, she lit a joss stick for Edmure and another for Robb over the hill.Please keep them safe and help them to win, she prayed, and bring peace to the souls of the slain, so that those who lie in the ground may rest at last.

While she was praying, the monks of the sept came in with censers and crystals, so she stayed a little longer for the ceremony.She didn't recognize the monk, who looked very pious and about Edmure's age.He blessed the Seven with his round, joyful voice, and the work was well done, but Catelyn found herself missing Septon Omid's small, quivering tone.The old monk has passed away for many years. If he is still alive, he will listen patiently to her about what happened in Renly's camp, and understand her feelings. He must know what happened there, and he must be able to teach her how to get rid of the entangled nightmare. Get rid of the shadow that shouldn't be there.Omid, Father, Uncle Brynden, Master Kem, they always know everything, but now I am alone, and I know nothing.I don't even know where my responsibility lies.If I don't even know this, how can I fulfill my responsibilities?

Caitlyn's knees were stiff when she stood up, but she didn't get the revelation.Maybe it's time to go to the godswood tonight and pray the same to Ned's spirit.They are older than the Seven. Walking outside, a song with a unique style came along with the wind. Raymond the "Poet" sat outside the brewery, surrounded by a circle of listeners.With a deep and melodious voice, he sang "Lord Draymond in the Bloodthirsty Grassland": Sword in hand, standing proudly The last warrior of Darry's ten... Brienne stopped and listened for a moment too, her broad shoulders shrugged and her thick arms folded across her chest.A group of ragged children ran around, screaming and fighting each other with sticks.Why do children like war games so much?Kaitlyn suspects that the game is starting because of Raymond.As the song draws to a close, the voice grows louder.

The blood-red weeds step on the feet The blood-red banner dazzles The blood-red radiance, the sunset sun The person who is in the light is so red "Come, come," cried the great warrior, "My long sword is hungry and thirsty." With wild cries, Cross the creek and duel... "It's better to fight than to wait," Brienne said. "In battle, you won't feel so helpless. You have a horse, a sword, and an axe. Wearing armor, no one can easily hurt you." "Knights die in battle," Catelyn reminded her. Brienne stared at her with those beautiful blue eyes. "It's like ladies falling on the birth bed. But no song is sung for them."

"Birdhood is another form of combat." Caitlyn started across the courtyard. "There are no flags, no trumpets, but the intensity is exactly the same. From pregnancy, to childbirth... your mother must have told you how much pain it would take." "I don't know my mother," Brienne said. "My father had many wives... almost every year, so..." "Those are not ladies," Catelyn said. "Brennie, childbirth is hard, but it's even harder later on. Sometimes I feel like I'm about to be torn into pieces. It would be great if I could be five people, each of whom can take care of a child and keep them safe. "

"Who will protect you, madam?" Her smile was pale and feeble. "Why do you ask that? People in the family will protect me. My mother has always said this, and she told me: When you grow up, your father, your brother, your uncle, your husband, they will all I'll do my best to protect you . . . but they're not with me right now, and I thought you could take their place, Brienne." Brienne looked down. "I'll do my best, ma'am." Later that day, Master Wayman brought a letter asking to see him.She invited him in at once, wishing secretly that it was Robb's letter, or that it was from Ser Rodrik of Winterfell, but it turned out to be from some Lord Maid, who called himself Captain of the Watch of Storm's End.It was addressed to her father, her brother, and her son "or the present lord of Riverrun."Ser Cortnay Penrose is dead, he wrote, and Storm's End has come to welcome Stannis Baratheon, to make him true and rightful king.The entire garrison has sworn allegiance to him.No one was harmed. "Except Ser Cortnay Penrose," Catelyn whispered.She had never met the Sir, but mourned his passing. "Robb should be informed of this at once," she said. "Where is he now?"

"His Majesty was marching on Crag City, the castle of House Westerling, when we last communicated," Maester Wayman said. "If I send a raven to Brand, maybe they can send a messenger after him." "Go ahead and do it." After the maester left, Caitlin read the letter again. "Lord Meadow said nothing about Robert's bastard," she confided to Brienne. "I suppose he dedicated the army to Stannis, along with the child, but I really don't understand why Stannis wanted the child?" "Perhaps he fears his inheritance." "Inheritance of an illegitimate child? No, there must be some purpose... What does this child look like?"

"About ten, handsome, black hair, bright blue eyes. Visitors often mistake him for Lord Renly's own son." "And Renly and Robert were cast from the same mold." Catelyn thought she caught a glimmer of an answer. "It seems that Stannis intends to exhibit his brother's bastard son to the whole country, so that people will see Robert's shadow in the child's face and thus doubt Joffrey's real father." "Is there such a great significance?" "Those who are on Stannis' side will call it ironclad. And those who are on Joffrey's side will say it's nonsense." As far as her own children were concerned, the Tully side was more characteristic than the Stark side. The coming is obvious.The only ones who look like Ned are Arya, and Jon Snow, but he's not my child.She couldn't help thinking of Jon's mother again, Ned's enigmatic shadow lover, and the "she" her husband had been reluctant to mention.Did she mourn for Ned too?Does she hate him for choosing me over her?Is she praying for the baby as I am? These thoughts disturbed her, and she knew they meant nothing.If the rumors were true and Jon was really born of Ashara Dayne of Starfall, his mother would have been dead long ago; if not, Catelyn would have no clue as to where his mother was or where he came from.But none of this mattered.Ned was gone, and his love, his secrets, were gone with him. Still, she couldn't help but think how differently men treat illegitimate children.Ned was always fiercely protective of Jon, while Ser Cortnay Penrose defended Edric Storm with his life, Roose Bolton's bastard son on the other hand was nothing more than a dog to him It was clear from the strange and cold letter that Edmure received three days ago.In his letter, he declared that he had crossed the Trident River and was marching towards Harrenhal as ordered. He wrote: "This is an extremely strong castle with a huge garrison, but I will kill every living thing." soul, to fulfill Your Majesty's wish." He hoped His Majesty would allow him to make up for the crimes of his illegitimate son, who was put to death by order of Ser Rodrik Cassel. "This is what he deserves," Bolton wrote. "The tainted blood is always the source of trouble. This Mr. Ramsay is cunning, greedy and cruel by nature. I dissociate myself from him. If If he lives in the world, my sweet wife and the legal child I will give birth to will never be in peace." The sound of hurried footsteps washed away her sick thoughts.Sir Desmond's squire burst into the room panting and knelt on one knee. "Lady...the Lannister army...began to cross the river." "Don't panic, take a breath first, young man, speak slowly." He complied. "A long armed column," he reported, "is preparing to cross the Red Fork. Lannister's lion banner is the purple unicorn banner." At the lead was one of Lord Brax's sons.Brax had come to Riverrun once when she was a little girl, to court her or Lysa for his son.She wondered if it was the kid who was proposed that year who was leading the attack. Lannister cavalry appeared from the southeast under dazzling banners.She went up to the battlements to watch, and Ser Desmond was there too. "An advance team, nothing to worry about," he assured. "Duke Tywin's main force is still far to the south. We are safe." On the south bank of the Red Fork River, the plain stretches endlessly, open and open.From the Waterwheel Tower, Catelyn could see miles and miles, but only the nearest ferry could be seen clearly.Edmure entrusted the defense of the shoal in front of him and the other three places upstream to Lord Jason Mallister.Lannister horsemen were circling hesitantly along the river bank, red and silver banners fluttering in the wind. "Not more than fifty, madam," Sir Desmond estimated. Catelyn watched as the cavalry broke into one long line.Master Jason's subordinates waited for them hiding behind rocks, grass and hillocks.The trumpets sounded, and the cavalry stepped into the rapids with heavy steps, splashing splashes of water.They set up a heroic image, bright armor, waving banners, and the sun shining on the points of the spears. "Right now," she heard Brienne whisper. It was hard to tell what was happening in front of them. In an instant, only the long neighing of the war horse could be heard clearly, and there was a faint sound of steel colliding in the neighing.A banner suddenly disappeared because its bearer had been carried away by the river, and not long afterward the first victim of the battle floated past Riverrun's walls and flowed eastward with the river.By this time, the Lannister men had recovered from the chaos.She saw them regroup, exchange ideas briefly, and flee back the way they had come.The guards of the castle shouted insults, but they were too far away to hear them. Sir Desmond patted his stomach, "If Lord Horst sees it, he must dance to celebrate." "My father's days of dancing are over," Catelyn said, "and the battle has only just begun. The Lannisters will return. Lord Tywin has twice as many troops as my brother." "So what if it's ten times?" Desmond said. "The dykes on the west bank of the Red Fork are much higher than the east bank, my lady, and are made of good wood. Our archers are well protected and have a good view...Even if there is an accident, Edmure has put the best knights Keep it in reserve, ready to respond in case of urgent need. This great river will hold back the enemy." "I pray you're right," Caitlin said sternly. At night, they finally came back.Before Caitlin rests, order the enemies to wake her up as soon as they return.Long after midnight, a maid came into the room and shook her shoulders.Caitlin was startled immediately. "What's wrong?" "There is another situation at the ferry, madam." Putting on her nightgown, Caitlin hurried to the top of the castle.From then on, through the high walls and the moonlit river, she saw the place where the two armies exchanged fire.The defenders lit the guard's bonfire on the river bank. The Lannister army probably thought that they could take advantage of the darkness or relax the defenders, but they were completely wrong.Darkness is a dubious ally.At first they trudged with their heads held high and their chests held high, but suddenly they stepped into dark pits and were swept away by the water, or stumbled over stones and stepped on briers.Mallister's crossbowmen unleashed a burst of rockets, and the flying arrows hissed over the river, which was beautiful from a distance.A soldier with more than a dozen crossbow arrows in his body, his clothes on fire, jumped up and down in the knee-deep water, and finally fell down and was washed away by the water.By the time his body floated across Riverrun, flames and life had died out. A small victory, Catelyn thought.The battle ended quickly, and the surviving enemy troops fled without a trace in the night.It was a victory after all.As they descended the winding tower stairs, Catelyn asked Brienne what she thought of the battle. "It was just a flick of Lord Tywin's fingertip, ma'am," said the girl. "He's probing, looking for a weak node, an unreinforced crossing. If he can't find it, he'll tighten his fingers into an iron fist and force one out." Brienne shrugged. "If I were him, I would do this." She put her hand on the hilt of the sword and patted it lightly, as if to make sure that the sword was still with her. May the gods be on our side, Catelyn thought.But she can do nothing, the war on the river is Edmure's war, and her battle is in the castle. The next morning, at breakfast, she called for Uthereth Wayne, her father's elderly steward. "Send a jug of wine to Ser Cleo Frey. I want to ask him a few questions, and loosen his tongue first." "At your command, ma'am." It was not long before a rider with the Mallister eagle on his breast brought word from Lord Jason, and there was another skirmish at the ferry, and another victory for our army.Ser Fremont Brax attempted to force a crossing at a ford six leagues to the south.This time the Lannisters slashed their lances and charged across the river on foot, but the Mallister crossbowmen raised their crossbows and rained arrows into the sky, over the shield wall.At the same time Edmure's ballista on the embankment hurled countless heavy stones, smashing the enemy ranks. "They threw a dozen dead bodies in the river, and only two fellas scrambled to our beach, and then they were killed in twos and twos," the rider reported.He also mentioned the battle further upstream, at the ford held by Sir Karel Vance, "where the assault was in vain, and the enemy lay dead." Maybe Edmure is smarter than I thought, Kateto thought.His plan has won the wholehearted support of his princes, why am I not satisfied?My brother is not the kid he used to be, just like Robb. She waited until evening to see Ser Cleo Frey, telling herself the longer he waited, the drunker he became.Sure enough, she stepped into the tower cell, and Ser Cleos staggered to his knees. "Ma'am, I don't know anything about the escape. The little devil said that the Lannister family is of different value, and they must have their own guards. I issue it as a knight—" "Get up, ser." Catelyn found a place to sit. "I know Walder Frey's grandson would never be an oath-breaker." Unless it was profitable. "My brother said you brought peace terms." "Yes." Ser Cleo stood up, staggering.Seeing his swaying appearance, she was secretly satisfied. "Tell me," she commanded, and he did. After listening, Caitlin frowned.Edmure was right, there was no condition other than... "A Lannister would trade Arya and Sansa for his brother?" "Yes. He sat on the Iron Throne and swore it." "Who is the witness?" "Both men and women of the court can testify, and so can the gods, my lady. I told Ser Edmure all this, but he said no, His Majesty Robb would never allow such an exchange." "He's right." She couldn't blame Robb.Arya and Sansa were only children after all, and the Kingslayer, once set free, was more dangerous than anyone in the land.This way does not work. "Have you seen my daughters? How are they treated?" Sir Cleo hesitated. "I... yes, they all..." He faltered and tried to lie, Catelyn realized, only dulled by the wine. "Sir Cleo," she said coldly, "you were no longer under the banner of peace when your men deceived us. If you dare lie, I will hang you with them on the wall. Thousands Don't take chances, I'll just ask you once—have you seen my daughters?" Sweat soaked his brows. "I saw Sansa at the palace, the day Tyrion made his peace offer. She looked very lovely, my lady, only a little pale, as if... drowned." Only Sansa, no Arya!Various reasons are possible.Arya has always been difficult to discipline.Perhaps Cersei was afraid to bring her to the palace to show off, for fear of what she would say and do.They might lock her up secretly and safely, or kill her!Caitlin quickly dismissed the thought. "According to what you said. The terms of the peace talks were proposed by Tyrion...but Cersei is the queen regent." "The queen was absent, and Tyrion spoke for them both. I hear she was unwell that day." "How queer." Catelyn's mind went back to that terrible trip in the Bright Moon Mountains, remembering how Tyrion Lannister had lured the sellswords around her to him.For a man and a half, the dwarf was too clever.She couldn't imagine how he survived Lysa's drive from the valley, but she wasn't surprised.At least he had nothing to do with Ned's murder, and he protected me when the natives came to attack.If I take his word for it... She opened her palm and looked at the scar across her fingers.It was his dagger, she reminded herself, his dagger, in the hands of the killer he had hired to slit Bran's throat.But the dwarf denied it, even when Lysa threw him into the dungeon and threatened him with the moon gate... "He lied," she stood up abruptly, "every Lannister Liar! The dwarf is the biggest liar! The killer has his dagger!" Sir Cleo was terrified. "I don't even know what you said—" "You really don't know," she agreed, walking quickly out of the cell.Brienne followed, silent.Her life was so simple, Caitlin felt intense jealousy.She is like a man, a man can solve everything with a sword.But for a woman, especially a mother, the road is rough and hard to find. To boost morale, she had a belated dinner with the garrison in the castle hall.During the meal, Raymond the "Jerker" kept singing, which relieved her from talking.The last song he sang was a ballad he wrote in praise of Robb's victory at Oxford: "The stars in the night are the eyes of running wolves, and the howling wind is their singing." Along with the scale, Raymond shook his head and roared loudly, to In the end, half the hall yelled after him, even a drunk Ser Desmond Greer joined in.The voices of the crowd made the roof rustle. Let them sing, if it makes them brave, Catelyn thought, playing with her silver goblet. "When I was a child, the singers used to come to Evenfall Hall," Brienne said quietly. "I memorized all the songs by heart." "Sansa too, though few singers would make the long journey to Winterfell." I told her there would be many, many singers in King's Landing.I told her that all kinds of music can be heard there.I told her that there her father could find a good teacher for her and teach her to play the harp.Oh gods forgive me... Brienne said, "I remember a songstress . . . from across the Narrow Sea. I couldn't understand her language, but her voice was as beautiful as her face. Plum-colored eyes, a slender waist— My father can probably hold it with both hands, and his hands are about as big as mine." She squeezed her thick and long fingers together, as if trying to hide them. "Can you sing to your father?" Caitlin asked. Brienne shook her head, staring intently at the plate in front of her, as if looking for answers in the remaining gravy. "For Renly?" The girl blushed. "No, I... his jester, always telling cruel jokes, but I..." "I hope one day you can sing for me." "I... But, I don't have that kind of talent." Brienne pushed the table and got up. "Excuse me, ma'am, may I take my leave first?" Caitlin nodded.No one in the reveling crowd noticed her as the tall, awkward girl strode out of the hall.May the gods be with her, Catelyn thought, and went on with dinner listlessly. The blow that Brienne had prophesied came three days later, but Riverrun was not informed of it until five days later.Catelyn was at her father's bedside when Edmure's messenger arrived.The man's armor was dented, his boots were dusty, and his jacket had a hole in it, but the look on his face as he knelt made it clear that he was bringing good news. "Ma'am, we have won!" He presented Edmure's letter.Trembling, she unwrapped it. Duke Tywin attempted to cross by force at a dozen crossings, his brother wrote, and failed repeatedly.Lord Lefford was drowned, the knight nicknamed "Strong Pig" from Crakehall Crakehall was taken prisoner, and Ser Adam Marbrand was driven back three times... The fiercest fighting took place at Stonemill, where Gray Ser Gol Clegane led the attack.During the charge, so many of his men fell from their horses that dead horses blocked the river.In the end, the Mountain led a group of elite soldiers to rush to the west bank, but Edmure dispatched a reserve force to counterattack.Ser Gregor, without his steed and wounded in a dozen places, fled across the Red Fork in dismay, while our men sent off with a hail of arrows and flying stones. "They can't cross the river, Kate," Edmure scribbled. "Lord Tywin retreats to the southeast, presumably intending to feint and return, or to actually retreat. Doesn't matter, they'll never cross the river .” Ser Desmond Greer was in high spirits. "Oh, it's a pity I didn't go," she exclaimed, reading about the old knight. "Where's that fool Raymond? Let him make a good song for this battle, Gods, I think Lian Ai Demu is also willing to listen. "The Mill that Crushed the Magic Mountain", how about the title? I should write the lyrics myself!" "I don't want to hear any songs until the battle is over," Catelyn said tartly, but she allowed Sir Desmond to spread the word of victory, and agreed to his proposal to toast the glory of Stonemill with a cask of wine.During this time, the atmosphere in Riverrun has been tense and depressing, giving people a little hope and a drink is the best thing. That night, the castle was filled with celebratory laughter. "Long live Riverrun!" the commoners shouted, "Long live Tully! Long live!" They came terrified and helpless, and it was the younger brother who took them in--though most lords in the world would turn them away.They cheered him in unison, their voices streaming through the tall windows and seeping through the heavy mahogany doors.Raymond played the harp, accompanied by two drummers and a boy on the reed.Caitlin listened to the shy laughter of the young boys left by her younger brother as the defense team, and chattered excitedly.Those voices were lovely...but they couldn't touch her heart.She couldn't share their joy. In her father's study, she found a thick, leather-bound atlas and turned to the Riverlands.Under the flickering candlelight, her eyes traveled back and forth along the Red Fork River.He backed southeast, she thought.It was probably near the source of the Blackwater River now, she reckoned. When she closed the book, she only felt more uneasy.The gods have given us victory after victory: at Stonemill, at Oxford, outside Riverrun, in the Whispering Wood... Why do I have fear when we keep winning?