Chapter 57 Chapter 56 Caitlin

Although the distance was too far to see the pattern on the flag clearly, through the misty fog, she could still see that it was a white flag, and the darker color in the middle could only be the gray ice wolf of the Stark family.After a while, after seeing it with her own eyes, Catelyn reined in her horse, bowed her head and thanked the gods that she was not too late. "They are expecting us, madame," said Sir Willis Manderly, "as my father promised." "Then let's not keep them waiting any longer, sir." Ser Brynden Tully kicked his spurs lightly and galloped forward, Catelyn riding beside him.

Sir Willis and his younger brother Sir Wendel followed behind, leading nearly fifteen hundred soldiers: including twenty knights and the same number of squires, two hundred mounted warriors with guns or swords and freeriders, and the rest are infantry armed with spears, lances, and tridents.Lord Wyman remained in the rear in charge of the defense of White Harbor. He was over sixty and too fat to fight on horseback. "If I knew there would be wars in my life, I should eat fewer eels," he said to Caitlin when he came to pick up the boat, patting his belly with fingers as fat as sausages. "However, you don't need to worry, these two little devils from my family will escort you to your son's side safely."

Both of his "kids" were older than Kaitlyn, and she wished the three of them didn't look so much alike.Ser Willis might not have been a horse if he had been heavier; and she felt sorry for his mount.The younger Ser Wendel was the fattest man she had ever known--if she hadn't met his father and brother.Willis is silent and polite, while Wendell has a rough voice. Both have long walrus-like beards, bald heads like the buttocks of newborn babies, and almost every piece of clothing is stained with food traces.She liked them, though, and they escorted her to Robb as agreed, as their father had promised, and that was enough.

She was glad to see her son sent scouts even to the east.The Lannisters will be in the south when they show up, but it's good for Robb to play it safe.My son is leading an army, she thought, still not quite convinced.She was terribly afraid for him, and for Winterfell, but she couldn't deny that she was just as proud.A year ago, he was just a child, what has become of him now?She couldn't help wondering. The scouts on horseback saw the banner of the Manderly family—a white mermaid holding a trident, slowly rising from the blue-green ocean—and greeted them enthusiastically.They were led to a dry high ground where they could camp, and Ser Willis ordered the troops to stop there, light the fires, and tend the horses.His younger brother Wendell accompanied Caitlin and her uncle to pay tribute to the young master on behalf of his father.

The ground under the horse's hooves was wet and soft, slowly sinking with the trampling.They passed smoky campfires, rows of war horses, wagons laden with hard bread and corned beef.On a higher bare rock, they passed a lord's tent made of heavy canvas.Catelyn recognized the Hornwood banner, brown moose against a dark orange field. A little farther, through the mist, she caught a glimpse of the Walled Tower at Moat Cailin...or rather, the remains of the Walled Tower.Pieces of black basalt as big as farmhouses tumbled here and there like children's blocks, half-sinking into the marshy marsh mud.And the walls built by them, which were once as high as Winterfell, have completely disappeared; the wooden castles have rotted and decayed thousands of years ago, and now there is not even a half of the wood left, and they can no longer see their glory Momentary traces.There are only three towers left in the majestic fortress built by the ancestors... but the storyteller says there were twenty towers in ancient times.

The "city gate tower" seems to be relatively complete, and there are even a few feet of city walls on the left and right sides. The "Drunkard's Tower," sunken at the edge of the marsh where the south and west walls used to meet, now leans as far as a drunkard about to spit his belly full.According to legend, the children of the forest are the nameless gods who summoned them on the top of the tall and thin "Children of the Forest Tower", and sent out the punishment of huge waves. Now the top of the tower is half missing, and it looks like a big monster bit the tower crenelated, and then spit it into the swamp.The three towers were covered with moss, and a tree sprouted from a gap in the stone wall north of the gate tower, its roots twisted and covered with dead bark that was ghostly pale.

"Gods be merciful," Ser Brynden couldn't help being taken aback by the sight before him. "This is Moat Cailin? It's just a—" "—a death trap." Caitlin said, "Uncle, I know this place looks inconspicuous, and I thought so when I first saw it, but Ned assured me that this 'ruin' is much bigger than it looks. It is easy to defend and difficult to attack. The remaining three towers control the causeway from three sides. Any enemy going north must pass through them, because the swamp is full of quicksand and pits, and poisonous snakes are raging in it, making it impossible to pass through. And if you want to attack one of the towers, The army had to wade waist-deep in black mud, span lizard-lion-infested moats, and climb mossy, slippery walls, all while exposed to the arrows of the archers from the other two towers." She said. He smiled at his uncle pretending to be stern, "After nightfall, it is said that this place is haunted by ghosts, and there are many hateful northern ghosts waiting to suck the blood of southerners."

Sir Brynden said with a smile: "Remind me not to linger here too long. The last time I looked in the mirror, I saw that I was still a southerner." Flags were erected on the top of the three towers.On the Drunkard's Tower is the Sunburst banner of House Karstark, flying under the banner of the direwolf; on the Tower of the Children of the Forest is the Greatjon's Chainshard Giant; but on the top of the Gate Tower is only the banner of House Stark. Bodang chose this place as the headquarters.So Catelyn went thither, Ser Brynden and Ser Wendel following, their mounts walking slowly across the plank bridge over the black and green mud.

She found her son in a drafty hall.At this time, surrounded by his father's vassals, coals were burning in the black stove, he was sitting in front of a huge stone table, with maps and various papers piled up in front of him, and he was concentrating on talking with Roose Bolton Discuss strategy with Greatjon.He didn't notice her at first...his wolf saw it first.The big bad wolf was crouching by the fire, but it raised its head as soon as Caitlin entered, and its golden eyes met hers.The princes fell silent, and Robb raised his head when he noticed the sudden silence. "Mother?" His voice was full of emotion.

Caitlin really wanted to run over, kiss his sweet eyebrows, hug him tightly, and never let him suffer any harm... But she didn't dare to do so in front of many princes.Right now he was playing the role of a man, and nothing she said could deprive him of his power.So she stood herself at the end of the basalt slabs that people used as long tables.The direwolf got up and walked lightly across the hall to her side.She had never seen such a big wolf. "You have a beard," she said to Robb, and Gray Wind sniffed at her hand. He stroked his stubble-covered chin, as if he suddenly felt uncomfortable. "Yeah." His beard was redder than his hair.

"I like you so much," Caitlin patted the wolf's head tenderly. "You look a lot like my brother Edmure." Gray Wind bit her finger playfully, and then quickly ran back to the fire. Ser Herman Tallhart followed the direwolf across the room to greet her, knelt before her, and pressed his forehead to her hand. "Lady Catelyn," he said, "you are still beautiful, and it is a relief to see you in these troubled times." Galbert and Robert of the Glover family, the Greatjon, and the other vassals They also came forward to pay their respects one after another.Theon Greyjoy was the last. "Ma'am, I didn't expect to see you here." He knelt down on one knee. "I didn't expect to come here either," Catelyn said. "After I landed in White Harbor, Lord Wyman told me that Robb had summoned the vassals. I changed my mind temporarily. You should all know his son, Sir Wendell." Wendell Mandler stepped forward and bowed to everyone as much as his belt would allow. "This is my uncle, Ser Brynden, who left my sister to come to our aid." "Lord Blackfish," said Robb, "thank you for joining us. We need someone as brave as you. Sir Wendell, I am also glad to have your assistance. Mother, will Sir Rodrik join you?" Back? I miss him so much." "Ser Rodrik has gone north from White Harbor. I have appointed him as the deputy castellan to guard Winterfell until we return. Maester Luwin is knowledgeable, but he is not good at war." "Lady Stark, you needn't worry," the Greatjon told her loudly, "Winterfell will be all right. And we'll be sticking swords up Lannister's assholes before long, alas, talk Pardon the rudeness, and then we'll fight our way into the Red Keep and get Ned out." "Ma'am, if you are not surprised, I have a question to ask." Roose Bolton, the lord of the Dreadfort, had a very small voice, but when he spoke, even tall people would listen quietly.His pupils were so strangely pale that it was almost impossible to describe them, and his eyes were disturbingly disturbing. "I heard that you arrested Lord Tywin's dwarf son. I wonder if you brought him too? I swear to God, we will make good use of this hostage." "I did arrest Tyrion Lannister, but I don't have him now," Catelyn had to admit.As soon as these words came out, there were bursts of astonishment all around. "My lords, I don't want this to happen either, but the gods in the sky intended to let him go free, especially because of my sister's foolish behavior." She knew that she shouldn't show her contempt for her sister so clearly, but Eagle's Nest City Don't be really unpleasant.She had suggested taking young Lord Robert with him, and letting him stay at Winterfell for a while, but she boldly suggested that the company of the other boys would do him good.However, Resha's anger was almost frightening to watch. "I don't care if you are my sister or not," she replied, "If you dare to steal my son, get out through the moon gate!" After that, there was nothing to say. The northern lords were eager to inquire further, but Catelyn held up a hand. "We must have time to talk later. Right now, I have traveled a long distance and I am quite tired. I just want to talk to my son alone. I believe you adults will understand." She left them no choice, so Huo, who always obeyed orders, Under the leadership of Earl Wood, the vassals bowed and left. "You too, Theon," she added, seeing that Greyjoy had stayed behind.He walks away smiling. There was ale and cheese on the table, and Caitlin poured out a horn, sat down, took a sip, and looked at her son carefully.He seemed to have grown a bit taller than when she had left, and the beard did make him look quite a bit older. "Edmure has grown a beard since he was sixteen." "I'll be sixteen soon," said Robb. "But you're fifteen now, and you're only fifteen, and you're leading an army into battle. Do you understand my concern, Robb?" His eyes hardened. "There's no one else but me." "No one else?" she said. "Tell me, who were those people I saw a few minutes ago? Roose Bolton, Rickard Karstark, Galbert Glover and Rob Bet Glover, and Greatjon, and Herman Tallhar... You can give command to any of them. The gods have eyes, and you can be Pytheon, although I don’t will choose him." "They're not Starks," he said. "They're men, Robb, and they're experienced. Not a year ago, you were practicing with a wooden sword." Hearing this, she saw anger flash in his eyes, but the fire was fleeting, and he was a big boy again in the blink of an eye. "I know," he said embarrassedly, "then you... are you going to send me back to Winterfell?" Caitlin sighed, "I should have sent you back. You shouldn't have set off in the first place. But now I don't dare to do this. You have already reached this point. One day, you will become the lord of these princes. If I Just send you back like that, like putting a child to bed. Don't give him dinner, they will remember it and laugh behind his back. You will need their respect and even their fear in the future, and laugh at it It's the poison of fear, and I wouldn't do that to you, though all I want is to keep you safe." "Thank you, Mother," he said.The sense of relief under the layer of politeness on his face was clearly visible. She reached across the table and stroked his hair. "Robb, you are my first child. I just look at you and I can remember the day you were born with a blushing face." He stood up, obviously uncomfortable with her touch.As he walked to the fire, Gray Wind rubbed his feet with his head. "Do you know... about your father?" "I know." The news of Robert's sudden death and Ned's imprisonment scared Catelyn more than anything, but she couldn't let her son discover her fear. "Lord Manderly told me when I disembarked at White Harbor. Have you heard from your sisters?" "I got a letter," Robb said, scratching the direwolf's chin. "There is another one for you, but it was sent to Winterfell with mine." He walked to the table, rummaged through the map and papers for a while, and came back with a crumpled parchment. "She wrote it to me. I didn't expect to bring yours with me." Robb's tone unnerved her.She spread the page and began to read, but then her concern turned to suspicion, then to anger, and finally to apprehension. "This is a letter from Cersei, not from your sister." After reading it, she said, "The real meaning of this letter is the part that Sansa didn't write. Why does the Lannister family take good care of her? ...It was actually a threatening tone. They held Sansa as a hostage and a bargaining chip." "It didn't mention Arya either," Robb pointed out sadly. "Not really." Kaitlyn didn't want to think about what that meant, especially here and now. "I was hoping... if the imp was still in your possession, we could exchange hostages..." He took Sansa's letter and crumpled it up, and she could tell it wasn't the first time he'd rubbed it. "Is there any news from the Eagle's Nest? I have written to Aunt Rasha, asking for her assistance. Has she summoned Lord Arryn's vassals? Will the Knights of the Canyon join us?" "Only one will come," she said, "and the best one is my uncle... But Brynden the Black Fish is a Tully after all. My sister doesn't intend to send troops outside the Blood Gate." Robb was devastated. "Mother, what should we do then? I gathered this army of 18,000 men, but I don't... I'm not sure..." He looked at her with tears in his eyes. The lord disappeared without a trace in an instant, and he turned back into a fifteen-year-old boy, hoping that his mother could provide an answer. This is not acceptable. "Robb, what are you afraid of?" she asked softly. "I..." He turned his head to hide his tears. "If we march...even if we win...Sansa's still in Lannister's hands, and so is Father, they'll be killed, won't they?" "That's what they want us to think." "You mean they lied?" "I don't know, Robb, I only know that you have no choice. If you go to King's Landing and swear allegiance, you will never get out. If you flee back to Winterfell with your tail between your legs, the vassals' original respect for you Respect will be gone, and some people will even turn to Lannister. At that time, the queen will have no worries and can deal with the criminals at her hands. Our greatest hope, or the only hope, is that you can defeat your opponent on the battlefield .If you can capture Lord Tywin or Kingslayer alive, then the exchange of hostages will be very feasible. In fact, the exchange of hostages is not the point, the most important thing is that as long as your strength makes them dare not underestimate, Ned and your sister It will be all right. Cersei is not stupid to know that if the war turns against her, she may need them in exchange for peace." "What if the war isn't against her," Robb asked, "but against us?" Caitlin took his hand. "Robb, I don't intend to hide the truth. If you lose the battle, then we have no hope at all. It is said that people in Casterly Rock City are hard-hearted. You must firmly remember what happened to Rhaegar's children." She saw fear in his young eyes, but also saw strength. "Then, I must not lose." "Tell me what you know about the river war," she said.She wanted to know if he was ready. "Less than two weeks ago, there was a fierce battle in the hills below the Golden Tooth," said Robb. "Uncle Edmure ordered Lord Vance and Lord Piper to defend the pass, but the Kingslayer came down with his men and beat them to death. Lord Vance died in the line of duty. According to the latest news we have, Lord Piper is withdrawing his troops to Riverrun to join his uncle and other vassals. Jaime Lannister is hot on his heels. Not the worst intelligence, but at the same time they were fighting at the pass, Lord Tywin was rounding up from the south with another army, said to be much larger than Jaime's." "Father must have known about it, too, so he sent men under the king's banner to stop it. The leader seemed to be a southerner named Allie or Lord Derry, and Sir Raymond Darry followed, letter It said there were other knights, and a company of my father's own bodyguard. But it was a trap, and Sir Derry had just crossed the Red Fork when he was immediately attacked by the Lannisters. Trampling at will. Then they tried to retreat across Mummer's Fold, and Gregor Clegane swooped in from behind. We're not sure if Lord Derry and a few others escaped, but Ser Raymond and most of our Winterfell guards were dead It is said that Lord Tywin's army is approaching the King's Road and heading north towards Harrenhal, burning, killing and looting along the way." One news was more tragic than the other, Catelyn thought.The situation was worse than she imagined. "Are you going to wait for him here?" "Unless he really intends to come up north, which we all don't think he will," said Robb. "I've sent a message to Howland Reed, father's old friend at Greywater Watch, that if the Lannisters attempt to cross the swamp, The marshmen would make it difficult for them, and they would suffer heavy losses. Galbert Glover thought that Lord Tywin's shrewdness would prevent him from doing so, and Roose Bolton agreed. They believed that he would be active in the Three Rivers Valley and would The castles of the River Lords fell one by one, until at last Riverrun was left alone. So we must go south to meet him." The very thought made Catelyn's hair stand cold.How could he, a fifteen-year-old boy, stand against a seasoned veteran of the battlefield like James or Tywin Lannister? "Is that good? This place is easy to defend but difficult to attack. It is said that the ancient king of the North can repel the enemy ten times as long as he defends Calim Bay." "That's right, that's what I said, but our food supplies are becoming increasingly scarce, and it's not easy to be self-sufficient here. We were originally waiting for Lord Mandalay, but now that his son has arrived, we have to leave." She suddenly understood that what she heard was the princes speaking through her son's voice.Over the years, she had entertained the northern lords many times at Winterfell, and she had visited their homes with Ned. She knew what kind of people they were, and she knew the details of each house, but wondered if Robb knew. However, their concerns are justified.The army her sons assembled was neither the standing army of the Free Cities nor a paid guard. They were mostly common people: tenant farmers, peasants, fishermen, shepherds, sons of innkeepers, merchants, and hiders. smiths, plus a handful of hedge knights, freeriders, and wandering warriors hungry for plunder.When their lord calls, they serve...but not forever. "It's all well and good to march," she said to her son, "but where and for what purpose? What are your plans?" Robb hesitated for a moment, "The Greatjon thinks we should surprise Lord Tywin," he said, "however the Glover family and the Karstark family felt that they avoided it, and hurriedly joined forces with Uncle Edmure to deal with it." A kingslayer would be wise." He ran his hands through his auburn hair, looking sullen. "When we get to Riverrun...I'm not sure..." "You must be sure," Catelyn said to her son, "or go home and practice with your wooden sword. You mustn't hesitate before a man like Roose Bolton or Rickard Karstark." Make no mistake, Robb, they are your vassals, not your friends. Since you have made yourself Commander-in-Chief, you must call the shots." The son looked at her, looking a little surprised, as if he couldn't fully believe what he had just heard. "Mother, you are right." "I'll ask you again: what are your plans?" Robb took out an old leather map full of faded lines and spread it flat on the table. One corner was warped due to long-term scrolling, and he fixed it with a dagger. "Both plans have advantages, but...you see, if we try to bypass Lord Tywin's main force, we have to risk being flanked by him and the Kingslayer. If we fight him head-on...according to various information It shows that he not only has more troops than me, but the number of cavalry far exceeds us. Although the Great Jon said that as long as the opponent is taking off his pants, he is not afraid of many people, but in my opinion, like Tywin A Lannister who has experienced many battles may not be easily caught." "Very good," she said.Watching him sit there, wrestling with the map, she could hear Ned's voice over his words. "go on." "I plan to allocate a small force to stay and defend the Gulf of Calim, with the archers as the core, and then the whole army will go south along the causeway." He said, "After crossing the Neck, I will divide the army into two groups, and the infantry will continue on the King's Road. The cavalry crossed the Green Fork from the Twins." He pointed out to her. "Once Lord Tywin learns that our army is going south, he will lead his army north to fight our main force. At that time, our cavalry can rush from the west bank of the river to Riverrun without any worries." After speaking, Robb sat down, not quite He dared to smile, but he could see that he was satisfied with his performance and longed for her approval. Caitlin frowned, looking down at the map. "You put a river between your armies." "But it's also standing between James and Lord Tywin!" he said eagerly, finally smiling. "The Green Fork has no crossing north of Ruby Fork, where Robert won his crown. The only crossing is at the Twins, which is a long way off, and the bridge is still in Lord Frey's hands. He's grandfather's." Vassal, right?" Late Lord Frey, Catelyn thought. "He is," she admitted, "but your grandfather never trusted him, and neither should you." "I won't," Robb assured her. "What do you think of the plan?" Worried as she was, she still had to agree that it was a brilliant plan.He looked like Tully, she thought, but at heart he was his father's son, and Ned had raised him well. "Which team are you going to command?" "Cavalry," he replied at once.It was like his father, too: Ned always took on dangerous tasks by himself. "What about the other team?" "The Great Jon always said that we should kill Lord Tywin head on. I want to give him this honor and let him realize his wish." It was his first mistake, but how to make him understand without hurting his rudimentary self-esteem? "Your father once told me that the Greatjon was the bravest man he ever saw." Robb grinned. "Grey Wind bit off two of his fingers, and he laughed. So you agree?" "Your father wasn't fearless," Kaitlyn pointed out, "but brave, which is totally different." The son thought about it for a while. "The Eastern Army will be the only barrier that can prevent Lord Tywin from going to Winterfell." He said thoughtfully, "Well, it's just them, and the few archers I left in Cailin Bay. So I don't Let the fearless take the lead, right?" "Yes. I think you should want a cool head, not a man's courage." "That's Roose Bolton," said Robb quickly. "I'm afraid of that man." "Let's hope Tywin Lannister is afraid of him too." Robb nodded and rolled up the map. "Just do it like this, I will send a team to escort you back to Winterfell." These days, Caitlin tried to make herself strong.For Ned's sake, and for the sake of their brave and stubborn son, she had cast aside her despair and fear as if they were clothes she would not wear...and now she found she was wearing them after all. "I'm not going back to Winterfell," she heard herself say, and at the same time she was surprised to find that the sudden tears had blurred her vision. "Your grandfather lies dying in Riverrun, and your uncle is surrounded by enemies."