Chapter 56 Chapter 56 Caitlin

The great hall of Riverrun looked very empty to two lonely dinnerrs.Long shadows cast on the wall.One torch was extinguished silently, leaving only three remaining.Caitlin sat silently, staring at the wine glass in front of her, the tasteless and sour wine on her lips.Brienne sat across from her, and between them her father's high seat was as empty as the rest of the hall.Even the servants left, and she allowed them to join in the celebration. The walls of the castle are extremely thick, but even so, the revelry of the people in the courtyard can still be heard faintly.Desmond moved twenty barrels of wine from the wine cellar for the commoners to celebrate Edmure's imminent triumph and Robb's conquest of Crag City.Everyone raised their horns full of brown beer and drank happily.

I can't blame them, Catelyn thought, they don't know.Even if they know, what does it matter to them?They didn't know my boy at all, didn't watch Bran climb with trepidation, proud and worried as twin brothers;She looked at the dinner in front of her: trout wrapped in bacon, a salad of turnips, red fennel, and beets, peas, onions, and warm bread.Brienne ate her meal methodically, as if eating was yet another piece of work to be done.What a dull woman I am, Catelyn thought. Wine and meat do not cheer me, and songs and laughter are strange to me.I am a monster of sorrow and dust, with nothing but hatred in my breast, where my heart used to be.Now it is empty.

The sound of another woman eating was unbearable to her. "Brennie, don't just be with me. If you want to, join the celebration, drink horn ale, and dance to the sound of Raymond's piano." "I'm not for that, ma'am." She tore off a piece of black bread with her large hands, then stared blankly at the loaf, as if forgetting what it was. "If it's your order, I..." Caitlin sensed her embarrassment. "I just think you should find a better partner than me." "That's fine." She sucked the bacon fat off the fried trout with her bread.

"Another bird came this morning," Caitlin said without knowing why. "The maester woke me up at once. It was his responsibility, and he was inconsiderate. Not at all." She didn't want to tell Brienne about it, only she and Maester Wayman knew about it, and she intended to keep it a secret until...until ... Until when?Stupid woman, do you think that if you keep a secret in your heart, it will no longer be true?Do you think that if you don't mention it and don't tell others, it's just a dream, or it's not even a dream, just a fright in a half-dream and half-awake?Oh, the gods are so merciful if that happens.

"Any news about King's Landing?" Brienne asked. "Yes, that's good. The bird flew from Seven City, and was released by my acting lord, Sir Rodrik." Black wings, black news. "He's marching on Winterfell with all the strength he can muster, and will take the castle back." How little it mattered. "But he said...he wrote...he told me he..." "Madam, what did he say? Any news of your sons?" Such a simple question, such a simple answer.Catelyn tried to answer, but the words caught in her throat. "I have no sons but Robb." She managed to squeeze out the dreadful words, and was glad she didn't cry.

Brienne stared at her in horror. "lady?" "Bran and Rickon tried to escape and were caught at a mill by the River Oak. Theon Greyjoy hung their heads on the Wall of Winterfell. Theon Greyjoy! The one who has dined with my family since I was young!" I spoke the words, and the gods forgive me, I spoke them, and now it is true. Looking through tears, Brienne's face was blurred.She stretched out her hand from across the table, but her fingers never touched Caitlin, as if hesitating that such a touch was unwelcome, "I... don't know what to say, madam. My dear madam. Your sons, they ...they are now with the gods."

"Really?" said Catelyn tartly. "What kind of god would allow this to happen? Why did Rickon die when he was a baby? And Bran... when I left the North, he fell I haven't opened my eyes back downstairs. I left before he woke up, and now I can never come back to him, never hear his laughter again." She opened her palm to show Brienne hers. finger. "These scars... When Bran was unconscious, they sent killers to slit his throat. Bran almost died, and I will die with him. Fortunately, his wolf slit the throat of someone, Saved his life." She paused for a moment. "Surely Theon killed the wolves too, it must have been, otherwise... I know my sons are safe as long as the wolves are alive, as Gray Wind was to Robb...but none of my daughters have wolves. "

Brienne was a little confused by the sudden change of subject. "Your daughters..." "Since the age of three, Sansa has been a little lady, polite and charming at all times. She loves to hear stories of knights' valor. People say she looks like me, but she will grow up to be better than me." She was much prettier back then, and you will understand when you see her. I often dismiss her maid and comb her hair myself. Her hair is maroon, lighter than mine, thick and soft... The red hair is like the light of a torch, Shine like copper." "And Arya, huh... Ned's guests always take her for a stable boy when they ride into the yard unannounced. Arya is a tricky child, I have to admit, half boy, half Little wolf. The more you forbid her to do anything, the more she thinks of herself. She has inherited Ned's long face, and her brown hair is messed up like a bird's nest. I tried my best to make her a lady, but Nothing. Other girls collect dolls, but she collects scars and speaks without thinking. I think she's dead." The words came out abruptly, as if a giant were squeezing her chest . "Brienne, I want them all dead. First Theon Greyjoy, then Jaime Lannister, Cersei, and the Imp, everyone...everyone dies, and none stays. And My daughter, my daughter..."

"The queen...she has a young daughter too," Brienne said awkwardly. "She has sons too, about the same age as yours. When she hears the news, maybe... maybe she will sympathize with you, and then..." "Send my daughter back safe and sound?" Caitlin smiled sadly. "It's just your sweet and innocent thoughts, my boy. I wish so...but it won't happen. It's up to Robb to avenge his brothers now, and may the ice be as deadly as the fire. Did you know that once upon a time Ned's side sword was called ice, a Valyrian steel sword with a thousand spiral ripples so sharp I dared not touch it. Robb's sword was like ice Like a club, I'm afraid it won't be easy for him to cut off Greyjoy's head. There is no executioner in Stark Hill, Ned used to say, and the man who condemns must do it himself, and it is his duty to kill. But he never got joy from it. But I will, oh, I will!" She looked at the scar on her hand, opened and closed her fingers, and finally raised her eyes slowly. "I sent him a jug of wine, too."

"Wine?" Brienne didn't know what to say. "To Robb? Or to... Theon Greyjoy?" "To the Kingslayer." The trick worked for Cleos Frey.I hope you are thirsty too, James, and I hope your throat is dry and dry. "I want you to come with me." "Everything is at your command, madam." "Okay." Caitlin stood up suddenly. "Stay here and have a good meal. I'll see you later, around midnight." "So late, ma'am?" "The dungeon has no windows, and there is no difference between day and night. Anyway, for me, all moments are the same as midnight." After saying that, Caitlin stepped out of the hall, and the sound of her footsteps echoed hollowly.She went up to Duke Hoster's ward on the top of the main castle, and all the way she heard people shouting outside: "Long live Tully!" "Cheers! Cheers to the young hero Duke!" Roar.Although my son is dead, my father is still alive, damn you, he is still your Lord Duke.

Duke Hoster was in a deep sleep. "He just had a sleeping wine, ma'am," Maester Wayman said, "to stop the pain. Now he doesn't know you're here." "It's okay," Caitlin said.Looking at my father's appearance, it is better to say that he is dead than alive. However, compared to my two poor sons, he is really alive. "Madam, can I do something for you? Maybe you want a sleeping pill too?" "Thank you, Master. I don't want anything. I don't sleep to escape my grief. It would be unfair to Bran and Rickon. You go away and join in the celebration. I want to be alone with my father." "As you wish, ma'am." Wayman bowed and walked away from her. Duke Hoster lay on the bed with his mouth open, his breath whistling like a sigh.One of his hands hung by the bed, thin and pale, with no flesh left, but still warm when Catelyn touched it.She threaded her fingers through her father's and squeezed them tightly.No matter how tightly I hold him, I can't keep him, she thought sadly, let him go.But she would not let go. "Daddy, I have no one to talk to," she told him. "I pray, but the gods won't answer." She kissed his hand softly.The skin is still warm, under the pale and transparent skin, the blue veins are intertwined, just like the rivers in the distance.Outside the gate, the great river flows eastward, the Hongcha River and the Tengshi River merge together, rushing endlessly, but the river in the palm of my father can't do this, and will soon dry up. "Last night, I dreamed that we were going home from Haijiang City. Lysa and I lost our way halfway, do you remember? A strange thick fog surrounded us, and we fell behind the line. Look around , was gray, and we couldn't see a foot from the horse's nose. We couldn't find the road. The branches of the trees were like long thin arms, surrounding us and scratching us. Lysa cried, and I We shouted for a long time, but the sound was absorbed by the thick fog. Only Petyr knew where we were, and he came back alone and found us..." "This time, no one will come to me, right? This time, I have to find my own way. It's so hard, really hard." "I've always kept the Stark words in mind. Winter's coming, Daddy, and it's for you as it is for me. Now Robb's not only fighting the Lannisters, he's fighting the Lannisters with the same force. Greyjoy, but what is it for? For a golden crown and an iron chair? Surely the land is bloodied. I want my daughters home; I want Robb to lay down his sword, Go to Walder Frey and pick a no-frills girl, and have children, and live happily ever after; I want Bran and Rickon back; I want..." Catelyn dropped her head. "I want," she repeated the word, and the word was blown away in an instant. After a long time, the candle flickered and finally went out.Moonlight streamed in through the gaps in the narrow windows, mottled and mottled my father's face with silver.She listened to the soft whispers of his labored breathing, the never-ending turbulent waves, and the faint love songs played by the harp floating in the courtyard, sad and sweet. "I'm in love with a beauty as bright as the autumn sun," Raymond sang, "with the sunset in her hair..." The singing had stopped, but Catelyn didn't notice it.Hour after hour flew by, but it seemed like an insignificant moment before Brienne knocked on the door. "Ma'am," she announced softly, "it's midnight." It's midnight, Daddy, she thought, and I have to do my duty.She let go of his hand. The jailer was a sneaky dwarf with a nose full of broken veins.On entering, the man was sprawled beside a mug of ale and leftover pigeon pie, looking quite drunk.He narrowed his eyes and eyed them suspiciously. "I beg your pardon, ma'am, Lord Edmure has ordered that no one shall visit the Kingslayer unless he has a letter of authorization from him." "Master Edmure? Could it be that my father is dead and I don't know?" The jailer licked his lips. "No, ma'am, of course not." "Well, you can either open the cell door, or go to Master Horst's study with me and explain to your face why you refused me." He lowered his eyes. "Everything is according to my wife's orders." There was a large bunch of keys hanging from his studded leather belt, and he searched for a long time before he took out the one that opened the door of the Kingslayer's cell. "Go back to your bar," she ordered.An oil lamp hung from a hook in the low ceiling, and Catelyn took it down to light a flame. "Brennie, don't let anyone bother me." Brienne nodded, put her hand on the pommel of the sword hilt, and stood still outside the prison door. "When madam needs me, just speak up." Caitlin pushed open the heavy iron-wooden door with her shoulder, and walked into a filthy darkness.This was the "gut" of Riverrun, and it smelled as bad as it did.The straw that hasn't been changed for a long time is scattered all over the ground, and it rustles when stepped on.There are patches of saltpeter on the wall, no color can be seen.Through the stone wall, the weak pulsation of the Tengshi River can be heard. Under the dim light, there is a bucket filled with excrement at the foot of one wall, and a huddled figure on the other side.The flagon was by the door, unmoved at all.It seems that this time I have to use my brain.Fortunately, the jailer didn't talk too much. Jaime raised an arm to shield his face, the cuffs on his wrists clanging. "Mrs. Stark," he said in a hoarse voice after he hadn't spoken for a long time. "I'm like this, I'm afraid I can't entertain you." "Look at me, ser." "The light hurts the eyes. Wait a moment, if you like," Jaime Lannister has not been allowed to shave his face since he was captured that night in the Whispering Wood, that face so resembling the Queen Mother Now covered in a fluffy beard.Under the light, his long beard shone with golden light, and he looked like a huge golden lion, although he was shackled, he was still very majestic.The unwashed hair is tangled and hangs down the shoulders, the clothes on the body are torn, and the face is pale and haggard... But this man is still full of strength and beauty. "You don't seem to accept my favor." "Sudden generosity raises doubts." "It's so easy to chop off your head, why should I poison you?" "Death by taking poison can be considered a natural death, but the head will not move automatically." He lay on the floor, squinting up and looking up, his blue eyes like a civet gradually adapted to the light. "I should ask you to sit down, but your brother forgot to arrange a chair." "I'll just stand." "Okay? I gotta say, your face looks terrible. Maybe it's the light." He was handcuffed and chained together, making it uncomfortable for him to sit or stand.The shackles were still nailed to the wall. "Aren't my bracelets heavy enough? Would you like to add more? Shall I play them?" "It's all your fault," she reminded him. "We made you comfortable in the tower cell in a way that befits your status and status, and you paid back by escaping." "A cell is a cell, although compared with some places under Casterly Rock, this place is really a sunny garden. Maybe one day, I will let you see it." If he was afraid too, at least it was well hidden, Catelyn thought. "A man handcuffed should be polite and keep his mouth shut, ser. I didn't come here to hear your threats." "No? Then you probably want to have an affair with me? No wonder they say that widows are hard to stay in. Although we the Kingsguard swear never to marry, but as long as you open your mouth, I will still do it. Come, pour two glasses of wine, Take off the skirt and see if I respond." Catelyn looked down at him in disgust.Could there be anyone else in the world so beautiful and yet so contemptible? "If my son hears these words, he will definitely kill you." "Unless he makes me carry these things." Jaime Lannister jingled the chain. "We all know that that kid doesn't dare to fight me at all." "Although my son is young, if you treat him as a reckless man, then you are making a big mistake... In my opinion, when you command the army, why don't you have time to challenge him?" "Forget it, the ancient king of winter will only hide behind mommy's skirt?" "I'm too lazy to talk nonsense with you, Sir, I have something to ask this time." "Why should I answer?" "To save my life." "You think I'm afraid of death?" He seemed amused. "You will. The gods have eyes, and the heinous crime you committed will cause you to suffer forever in the deepest abyss of the seven hells after death." "Where are the gods, Mrs. Caitlin? Are they the trees your husband worships all the time? What did they do when my sister picked off his head?" James chuckled, "If there are gods in this world , why is it still full of pain and injustice?" "Because there are people like you." "Nobody can be like me. There is only one me in the world." He's crazy, and he's got nothing but arrogance and valor.What a waste of time I was.If there was ever a spark of honor in him, it was long gone. "You really don't want to talk, so forget it. Whether you drink the jug or piss in it, sir, I don't care." When she reached for the door he said, "Lady Stark," and she turned, waiting. "Everything rusts in this dank dank place," James continued, "even human manners. Stay and I'll give you the answer... if you can afford it." He has no shame. "Captives have no bargaining rights." "Oh, I'm fair. Your jailer tells vulgar lies and is inconsistent. One day he said Cersei was skinned and the next day he was my father. Well, you answer my question , I will give you the answer you want." "The real answer?" "Oh, you want the truth? Be careful, my lady. Tyrion used to say that most people would rather deny the truth than face it." "No matter what you say, I have the strength to bear it." "I hope so, I hope so. Well then, would you be kind... Give me the drink, I've got a dry throat." Catelyn hung the lamp by the door, and fetched the cup and flagon.James swished the wine in his mouth before swallowing it. "It's sour and bad," he said, "but never mind." He leaned against the wall, raised his knees to his chest, and stared at her. "What's your first question, Mrs. Caitlin?" I don't know how long this game will last, she has no time to waste. "Are you Joffrey's father?" "Why ask when you know the answer." "I want to hear from you." He shrugged. "Joffrey is mine, and all Cersei's children are mine." "You admit to being your sister's lover?" "I have always loved my sister. You owe me two questions now. Are my loved ones all right?" "Ser Stafford Lannister is said to have died at Oxford." James was unmoved. "My lady calls him Uncle Dumb, and he deserves it. All I care about is Cersei, Tyrion, and my lord father." "They're alive, all three." But not long, gods bless. James continued to drink. "Next question." Caitlyn wondered if he dared to face her next question, or just lightly lie. "How did my son Bran fall?" "I threw it out of the window." She answered so lightly that she was speechless for a while.If there is a knife, I will kill him at once, she thought, until she remembered her daughters, and tried to calm her voice: "You are a knight, sworn to protect the weak and the innocent." "He's weak enough, but he's not innocent. He's peeping." "Bran would never do such a thing." "Then blame your precious gods for leading the boy to the window and seeing things he shouldn't." "Blame the gods?" She couldn't believe it. "You threw him out with your own hands. You wanted him to die." The iron shackles sounded softly. "Of course I didn't throw the kid off the top of the tower to give him exercise. Yes, I wanted him dead." "But he's not dead, and you know you're in greater danger, so pay the killer a bag of silver to make sure Bran doesn't wake up." "Me?" James raised his glass and took a swig. "I don't deny that we have talked about this matter, but you are by his side day and night, and your scholar and Lord Ed also come to visit from time to time, as well as the guards, and those damned direwolves... If you want to go, it will probably take half a year. A man from Winterfell killed his way. Besides, why should I bother? What was the difference between a child and a dead man back then?" "You're dishonest, this is the end of the conversation." Kaitlyn spread her palms, letting him see the fingers and palms. "That's what the man who tried to cut Bran's throat left. You swear it had nothing to do with it?" "In my honor as a Lannister." "You Lannisters have less honor than this." She kicked over the dung pail.The dirty, smelly brown mud was scattered all over the floor, absorbed by the straw. Jaime Lannister kept as far from the filth as his shackles would allow. "Yes, I despise shit honors in my heart, but I would never hire someone to kill for me. Believe it or not, Lady Stark, if I were going to kill your Bran, I would do it myself. " Gods be merciful, he speaks the truth. "It wasn't sent by you, it was arranged by your sister." "In that case, I shall know. There are no secrets between Cersei and me." "Then it's the work of the little devil." "Tyrion is as innocent as your Bran. Although he is not tall, he won't climb up to other people's windows and peek in." "Why did the killer carry his dagger?" "What dagger?" "It's so long," she said, comparing it to "plain but finely crafted, Valyrian steel with a handle of dragonbone. Your brother came from Beric at the tourney at Prince Joffrey's name-day celebration. Earl Xi won it over." The Lannister poured the wine, drained it, poured another, and stared at the glass. "This wine seems to get better the more you drink it, at least I imagine it this way. From your description, I seem to remember this dagger. You said he won it? How did he win it?" "When you challenged the Knight of Hundred Flowers, he bet on you." As soon as the words came out of her mouth, she immediately understood that something was wrong. "No...isn't that the case?" "You're right, Tyrion has always stood by me," said Jaime, "but Ser Loras knocked me off the horse that day. It was bad luck. I underestimated the boy. Never mind. Never mind. You see, my brother was the loser that day... yes, but Robert did win a dagger and showed it off to me at dinner. Your Grace loves to rub salt in my wounds, especially when I'm drunk. Hey, when will he not be drunk?" On the way through the Bright Moon Mountains, she remembered Tyrion saying the same thing, and she refused to believe it at the time, because Petyr had sworn on it—that Petyr who could be her brother, That Petyr who would fight to love her and hold her hand...but Jaime and Tyrion are on the same page, what does that mean?She could hardly think about it.The brothers hadn't seen each other for more than a year since they parted in Winterfell. "You want to lie to me?" It must be a trap. "I even admitted throwing your precious little rascal out of the window, so why hide it on a dagger?" He drank another glass of wine. "Believe it or not, I don't care what people say about me. Now I ask, did Robert's two brothers send troops?" "yes." "Look, what a stingy answer, be more specific, otherwise your next answer will be just as brief." "Stannis is marching on King's Landing," she managed. "Renly is dead, murdered by his brother at Bitterbridge, in some black art I don't understand." "Unfortunately," James said. "I admire Renly, but as for Stannis, that's another matter entirely. Where's Tyrell?" "Supported Renly at first. Now, I don't know." "It seems that your kid is very lonely." "Robb just turned sixteen a few days ago...he is a man now, and even a king, and he is invincible. According to the latest news, he has taken the Crag of the Westerlings." "He didn't fight my father head-to-head, did he?" "Even against him, Robb can beat him as well as you." "Tsk tsk, he just caught me off guard. It's a coward's trick." "You still have the face to talk about tricks? Your brother Tyrion actually let villains pretend to be messengers and sneak in under the banner of peace!" "If your son were lying here today, what do you think his brother would do?" My son has no brothers, she thought, but she would not show her pain in the presence of this monster. James drank more wine. "How does a brother's life compare to his own honor, huh?" He took another sip. "At least Tyrion was smart enough to know your son wouldn't let me pay the ransom." Caitlyn couldn't deny that. "Robb's vassals are dying for you to die as soon as possible, especially Rickard Karstark. You killed his two sons in the Whispering Wood." "Those two white sunbursts are stunned, aren't they?" James shrugged. "To be honest, I wanted to kill your son and turn the tide of the battle, but other guys came to block the way. I killed them openly on the battlefield, so why make a fuss? Any other knight would do the same." "How can you still call yourself a knight? You broke every oath you swore!" James took the flagon and poured another glass. "Yeah, lots and lots of vows...they made me make them again and again. Defend the king. Obey the king. Keep the king's secrets. Do the king's orders. Dedicate your life to the king. And, obey your father and love your sisters .Protect the innocent. Protect the weak. Respect the gods. Obey the law... There are too many. No matter what you do, sooner or later you will either violate one or the other." He took a sip of wine, closed his eyes and rested After a long while, he rested his head on the saltpetre patch on the wall. "Fifteen years old... I am the youngest white robe knight ever." "What is the so-called white robe? You are the youngest shameless traitor, Kingslayer!" "Kingslayer." He repeated it word for word. "What kind of king is that!" He raised his glass. "To Aerys II of House Targaryen, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms and Protector of the Realm! To the sword that slit his throat! Did you know? It was a golden sword. It was stained with his blood, and it was Lannister colours, red and gold." When he laughed, she knew the wine had taken effect, that James had almost finished a jug and was now drunk. "Only people like you are not ashamed but proud." "I said, there's no one like me. I ask you, Lady Stark—did your Ned tell you how his father died? Did he tell you how his brother died?" ?” "They hanged Brandon in front of his father, then Lord Rickard." Ugly story, and sixteen years later, why is he bringing it up now? "Killed, that's right, how did you kill it?" "Probably a rope or an axe." James gulped down and wiped his mouth. "Ned sure doesn't want you to hear that, even if she's not a virgin, she's his young and beautiful bride. Well, if you want the truth, ask me, we've reached an agreement, and I won't refuse your question. Ask. " "The dead are gone." I didn't want to probe. "Brandon and his brother are two different kinds of people, aren't they? He has hot blood in his veins, not cold water. He's like me." "Brendon is nothing like you." "It's up to you if you think so. Don't forget, you and him were originally a couple." "He was on his way to Riverrun to get married, and on the way..." Strangely, after all these years, talking about this incident still made her mouth dry. "...took news of Lyanna and rushed to King's Landing. In a great hurry." She remembered how furious her father had been when the message reached Riverrun.A heroic fool, he called Brandon. James poured out the last half of his drink. "He rushed into the Red Keep with only a few companions, and yelled for a duel with Rhaegar, but the Dauphin was not there. Aerys ordered the Kingsguard to arrest him and the others for treason and conspiracy to kill the Dauphin. I remember that those few are also the heirs of great nobles." "Ethan Glover was Brandon's squire," Caitlin said, "and the only survivor. Joffrey Mallister, Caleb Royce, Albert Arryn—nephew and heir of Jon Arryn." It was strange that she could remember the names, after all these years. "Aerys accused them of treason, and held their father as a hostage, and summoned their father to the palace for trial. At King's Landing, he was put to death without trial, father and son." "Actually there was a trial, but in a different form. Duke Rickard asked for a trial by combat, which was approved by the king. That day Stark put on his helmet and armor, fully armed, thinking that he would face a Kingsguard—perhaps, he wanted to meet I—but I was taken to the throne room, and hung from the rafters, while two of Aerys' pyromancers lit a fire beneath him. The king told him that fire was the champion of House Targaryen. Lord Rickard would have to prove his innocence. Must... huh, not get burned." "While the flames were raging, Brandon was brought in, with his hands handcuffed behind his back, and a wet leather rope round his neck, one end attached to some contraption the king had bought from Tyrosh. Only his feet were free, And his sword was placed on the floor just out of reach in front of him." "The pyromancers roasted Lord Rickard slowly, turning them over and spreading them out again, taking care to let the flames cook evenly and finely. His cloak caught fire first, then his tunic, and soon he was nothing but metal and ashes. Cooking would Go on, Aerys promises...unless the son saves the father. Brandon tried hard, but the harder he tried, the tighter the noose around his neck tightened, and he strangled himself." "As for Lord Rickard, his breastplate was a cherry red, and the gold from his spurs melted and dripped into the flames. I was standing under the Iron Throne in white robes and armor, trying to fill my mouth with Cersei's blood. Mind full. Afterwards, Jayno Hightower took me aside and told me: 'You have to remember, you swore to defend the king, not to judge him.' This is the white bull, dedicated to the last moment, is a Everyone knows a man who is much better than me." "Aerys..." Catelyn felt bile well up in her throat.The story was so terrible that she could hardly doubt its truth. "Aerys is mad, everyone in the country knows it, and you want me to believe that you killed him to avenge Brandon Stark..." "I don't mean that, Stark means nothing to me at all. What I'm saying is that while there is one person who loves me for the kindness I never paid, there are many, many people who reviled me for my greatest favor I, I am used to it. At Robert's coronation, I was forced to kneel at his noble feet, along with Grand Maester Pycelle and Eunuch Varys, so that he, before accepting my services, 'Absolute' me first. And you Ned, who should have kissed the hands that yielded Aerys, but scorned the ass that warmed Robert's seat when he came. All I can say is Ned Stark loved Robert more than his own father and brother...even more than you, my lady. He was faithful to Robert, wasn't he?" Jaime smiled drunkenly. "Come here, Mrs. Stark, don't you think all this is too ridiculous?" "What's so ridiculous, Kingslayer?" "Bring up this name again. That's fine, forget it if you don't come, I won't fuck you after all, Littlefinger fucked you for the first time, right? I don't like grabbing food from other people's plates. What's more, you Not half as cute as my older sister." His smile stopped abruptly. "I've never slept with another woman in my life but Cersei. I have my own way of doing things, and I'm more honest and faithful than your Ned. Poor dead old Ned. I'll ask you, after all." Who treats honor as shit? What's the name of his bastard?" Caitlin took a step back. "Brennie." "No, no, it's not that name." Jaime Lannister raised the flagon and poured it down, a trickle ran across his face, bright as blood. "Son, that's his name. So innocent . . . like the beautiful capes we put on when we recited those beautiful vows." Brienne flung the door open and ducked into the cell. "You called me, ma'am?" "Bring the sword!" Caitlin held out her hand.