Chapter 73 Chapter 72 Caitlin

Years ago, Catelyn left Riverrun with her infant son in her arms, and crossed the Tumblestone in a small boat, heading north to Winterfell.Thinking about it now, it seems like it was a thousand years ago.Now, they also crossed the Tengshi River and returned to their homeland. However, the baby at that time had grown into a handsome warrior wearing armor and sword. The oars rose and fell, and Robb and Gray Wind sat in the prow, and he put his hand on the direwolf's head, with Theon Greyjoy at his side.Uncle Brynden sat in the second ship behind, with the Greatjon and Lord Karstark. Catelyn sat in the stern, and they sailed downriver, the mighty current of the Rentenstone carrying them past the tall mill towers.The huge water wheel in the tower was spinning, and the water was splashing. All kinds of childhood memories brought a sad smile on the corner of Caitlin's mouth.Soldiers and civilians lined the sandstone walls of the city, shouting the names of their mothers and sons, and shouting, "Long live Winterfell!" From every rampart flew the banner of House Tully: a prancing silver trout against the wave red and blue background.It was an exhilarating sight, but Caitlin's heart was not happy, and she wondered if her heart would ever feel joy again in this lifetime.Oh Ned...

They made a sharp turn under the mill tower and went straight across the raging water, the boatman paddling vigorously, the great arch of the water gate came into view, and she heard the twisting of the hinges and the slow rise of the huge iron gate.As they approached, Caitlin noticed that the lower half of the gate was almost entirely covered in red rust, which had been submerged in water for many years, hence the name "Watergate".Brown mud trickled down through the gate, the spikes at the bottom of the gate inches from the top of your head.Caitlin looked up at the iron gate, wondering how badly it was corroded, how long would the gate last if hit by a ram, and should it be replaced with a new one?All these things were on her mind these days.

They passed through arches and walls, from sunlight to shadow, and back again to sunlight.There are large and small ships moored all around, all firmly tied to the iron ring in the stone.The younger brother was waiting for them on the steps by the water with his father's guards.Ser Edmure Tully was a well-built young man with ash-red hair and a fiery red beard. His breastplate was full of scratches and dents from the war, and his red and blue cloak was stained with blood and smoke.Standing beside him was Lord Tytos Blackwood, with a stiff body, a short gray beard, a hooked nose, and bright yellow armor with intricate patterns of vines inlaid with black jade. A raven-feather cloak hung from his shoulders.It was Earl Tytos who led the troops out of the city and rescued his brother from the Lannister army camp.

"Bring them in," Ser Edmure ordered.The three of them descended the steps into knee-deep water and hauled the skiff across with long hooks.Hui Feng leaped out, but scared the other person back in a hurry, staggered, and fell into the water. Everyone laughed, but the person showed an embarrassing expression.Theon Greyjoy jumped over to the side of the boat and carried Catelyn by the waist onto the dry stone steps, letting the water lap at his boots. Edmure came down the steps and hugged her. "My dear sister," he said hoarsely.He had deep blue eyes and lips that were supposed to smile, but now he couldn't.He looked exhausted, haggard from the string of battles, the stress, and the wound on his neck was bandaged.Caitlin hugged him tightly.

"Kate, I'm as sorry as you are," he said as they parted. "When we heard what happened to Lord Eddard...the Lannisters will pay the price, I swear to God, I will avenge you .” "Will that bring Ned back to life?" she said sharply.The wound is too new to hear words of comfort.She could not think about Ned now, nor would she want to.This is not acceptable, she must be strong. "I'll talk about this later, I'm going to see my father." "He's waiting for you in the study," Edmure said. "Ma'am, Master Horst is sick in bed." Father's steward explained.When did this good man become so gray and old? "He bade me take you to him at once."

"Let me take her." Edmure accompanied her up the water steps and across the lower courtyard, where Petyr and Brandon Stark had fought for her.With the mighty sandstone walls towering overhead, he pushed open a gate guarded by two guards in fish-patterned helmets, and she took the opportunity to ask, "How bad is he?" s answer. Edmure looked serious. "The maester says he won't live long. The ailments come and go . . . quite badly." She hated the whole world, her brother Edmure and her sister Lysa, the Lannisters, the maesters, Ned and her father, and above all she hated taking them away from her. The hideous gods who took it away. "You should have told me sooner," she said. "You should have told me if you knew."

"It's his fault. He doesn't want the enemy to know that he will die soon. The kingdom is in such turmoil right now. If the Lannisters know that he is so weak, he is afraid they will..." "...Send troops to attack?" Caitlin finished speaking for him with difficulty.It's all your fault, your fault, said a voice inside her, if you're not hotheaded, arrest that dwarf... They climbed the spiral staircase in silence. The main castle, like Riverrun itself, was triangular in shape, and Lord Hoster's study was also triangular, with a protruding stone balcony on the east side, like the prow of a huge sandstone ship.From there, his lordship can have a panoramic view of his walls, fortresses and the junction of the opposite river.Father's bed has been moved to the balcony. "He likes to bask in the sun and watch the scenery on the river." Edmure explained, "Father, look who I brought here? Kate is here to see you..."

Horst Tully had always been large: tall and powerful in youth, and somewhat bloated in old age.However, now he looks a little shrunken, his muscles have melted into his bones, and his face is so shriveled.The last time Catelyn had seen him, his hair and beard had been tan and gray, but now they were all white. Hearing Edmure's voice, he opened his eyes. "Little Kate," the voice was small and full of pain, "my little Kate." There was a trembling smile on his face, and he groped for her hand. "Where am I waiting for you..." "Let's talk." The younger brother kissed his father lightly on the forehead, then turned and left.

Caitlin knelt down and took her father's hand.The hand, once large, was haggard now, with loose skin covering the bones, long since losing all strength. "You should have told me," she said, "to send a message, or call a bird..." "The envoy will be caught and tortured," he replied, "the raven will be shot..." A sudden sharp pain came, and his fingers gripped her hand tightly. "The crabs are in my stomach... pinch and pinch, pinch, pinch, day and night. Their pincers are so sharp, these crabs. Master Wayman made me drink dream wine, and poppy milk ... so I sleep a lot...but when you come, I have to wake up and take a good look at you. When the Lannisters took your brother...I was so scared...their camps are everywhere...I'm good I'm afraid I'll leave just like that, and I won't have a chance to see you again...I'm so scared..."

"Father, am I coming now?" she said. "I came with Robb. He is your grandson, and he wants to see you." "Your boy," he whispered, "he inherited my eyes, I remember..." "Yes, and still. We brought you Jaime Lannister, too, and he is our prisoner. Father, the siege of Riverrun is broken." Duke Hoster smiled: "I saw it. When the battle started last night, I told them... I must see it, so they carried me up to the gate tower... I watched it from the battlements. Ah, it's so beautiful It's gone... The torches came like a tide, and I heard the screams from the other side of the river... What a wonderful scream... The whole siege tower is on fire, Gods bless... It doesn't matter if I die at that time, or Will gladly go, but I want to see your boy first. Did your son do it last night? Just your Robb?"

"Yes," Caitlin said firmly and proudly. "It's Robb...and Brynden. My lord father, uncle he's back too." "He," his father's voice became a weak whisper, "Heiyu...has come back too? Has he come back from the Vale of Arryn?" "yes." "Where's Laisha?" A gust of cold wind blew through his thinning white hair. "Gods bless, your sister...is she back too?" His words were so full of hope and longing that it was difficult to tell the truth. "No, I'm sorry..." "Oh," his face collapsed, and the light in his eyes lost a little. "I had hoped... I had wanted to see her again before..." "She guards her son in the Eagle's Nest City." Duke Hoster nodded weakly. "Poor Arryn is dead, and now he's Lord Robert...I understand...but why didn't she come with you?" "Father, she is very scared. She only feels safe in Eagle's Nest City." She kissed his wrinkled brow. "Robb is waiting outside, would you like to see him first? And Brynden?" "Your son," he whispered, "yes, little Kate's boy...he has my eyes, I remember, when he was born...well...bring him in." "What about uncle?" Father looked at the river. "Heiyu," he said, "is he married? Is he married to a wife?" On her deathbed she still misses it, Catelyn thought sadly. "He's not married. Father, you know, he's never going to get married in his life." "I told him... I ordered him to marry! I am his lord, and he knows that I have the right to arrange marriages for him. The Redwyne family is of old blood, well-connected, and the girl is beautiful and well-behaved... but A little freckle... Bethany, yes, that's the name. Poor girl, waited till now, yes, but..." "Bethany Redwyne married Lord Rowan many years ago," Catelyn reminded him, "and mother of three." "That's right," Duke Hoster murmured, "Is that so, that girl should be damned, the Redwyne family should be damned, and I should be damned. I am his lord, his brother... this black fish, otherwise I have others, too, Lord Bracken's daughter, Walder Frey... Take his choice of three, that guy said it himself... Is he married? Is he married? Is he married?" "He married no one," said Catelyn, "but he fought and fought all the way back to Riverrun to see you. I would not be here without Ser Bryndon's help." "He's always been a fighter," he said, his throat dry. "He's got a knack for it, Knight of the Blood Gate, isn't he?" He lay back, closed his eyes, and seemed to be exhausted. "Call him later, I'm going to sleep for a while now, I'm too tired, I don't have the energy to fight, I'll call him in later, this black fish..." Catelyn kissed him softly, brushed his hair, and left him in the shadow of her own castle, with the rushing river below.He had fallen asleep before she left the study. When she returned to the lower courtyard, she saw Ser Brynden Tully standing on the water steps, his shoes dripping, talking to the captain of the guard at Riverrun.As soon as he saw her, he immediately asked, "Is he—?" "He's running out of time," she said, "as we expected." Uncle's rough face clearly showed pain, and he reached out to brush his thick gray hair. "Would he like to see me?" She nodded, "Yes, but he said that he is too tired to fight now." Blackfish Brynden couldn't help laughing. "I'm sure it's a ghost. Even if he's on the funeral pyre and we're lighting him a fire, Horst's going to keep saying I didn't marry that Redwyne girl, you old bastard." Caitlin smiled knowingly. "I didn't see Robb." "He should have gone down to the Great Hall with Greyjoy." Theon Greyjoy sat on a bench in the great hall of Riverrun, an ale horn in one hand, and told his father's men of the victory in the Whispering Wood. "...The group of people wanted to escape, but we blocked both sides of the valley, and then rushed out of the darkness with knives and guns. When Robb's wolf went in, the Lannister family probably thought it was a strange man. The ghost is coming. I saw it tear off a man's arm alive, and the surrounding horses smelled it and went crazy. There are countless people who fell from the horse..." "Theon," she interrupted, "where is my son?" "My lady, Lord Robb has gone to the godswood." Ned had always been like this before.He is his father's son, as he is mine, and I must remember it well.Oh gods have mercy, Ned... She found Robb under a canopy of green leaves, among tall redwoods and old elms.He knelt before the heart tree, which was a slender weirwood, and the face carved on it was a little more sad, but a little less determined.His long sword was in front of him, the point of which was deep in the earth, and his gloved hands were gripping the hilt tightly. Kneeling beside him were Greatjon Umber, Rickard Karstark, Meggie Mormont, Galbert Glover, and others, with Tytos Blackwood among them, his huge crowfeather cloak spread behind him.These were people who still believed in the old gods, she knew, but when she asked herself: Which god did she believe in now?But can't find the answer. She felt that their prayers should not be disturbed, that the gods do things for their own reasons... even the cruel gods that took Ned from her, and his lord father, and Catelyn waited.The river wind blew the treetops, and she saw the waterwheel tower in the distance to the right, covered with ivy.Standing there, all the memories came to her like mountains and seas. It was in this woods that her father taught her how to ride a horse. Edmure once fell from the elm tree and broke his arm. Playing kissing games with Petyr in the shade. She hadn't thought of those things for years, remembering how young they were then—herself like Sansa now, Lysa younger than Arya, Petyr younger but most impatient.The two girls took turns kissing him, solemnly for a while, and giggled for a while, which is vivid in retrospect now.She seemed to be able to feel his hand on her shoulder, sweating profusely, and smell the peppermint in his mouth.There are mints everywhere in the godswood, and Petyr likes to chew a few slices when he is free.At that time, he was really a daring brat, making troubles all day long. "He's trying to put his tongue in my mouth," Caitlin whispered to her sister when she was alone. "He did the same to me," Lysa whispered, shy but breathless with excitement. "I love so much." Robb stood up slowly, sheathing his sword, and it occurred to Catelyn: Had her son ever kissed a girl in the godswood?There must be.She saw Jenny Poole looking at him with watery eyes, and so did a number of the maids at the castle, several of whom were over eighteen years of age... He must have kissed a maid since he had fought and killed child.Tears filled her eyes, and she wiped them away angrily. "Mother," Robb said when he saw her standing there, "we have to hold a meeting, and many things need to be discussed and decided." "Your grandfather wants to see you," she said. "He's very ill, Robb." "Ser Edmure told me what happened to him. Mother, I am sorry for Lord Hoster... and for you, but we must meet first. We have just had news from the South that Renly Baratheon is crowned king." "Renly?" she was shocked. "It should be Lord Stannis..." "Ma'am, we all think so too." Galbert Glover said. The war council was held in the Great Hall, where four long folding tables were arranged in a square that opened upwards.Duke Horst was too ill to attend the meeting, and he still slept lightly on the balcony, dreaming of the sunset in his youth.Edmure sat high on the Tully throne, with Brynden the Blackfish beside him, and his father's vassals on the left and right.The Trident River nobles who were defeated and fled came back one after another after receiving the news of Riverrun City's success.Khalil Vance's father died in the Golden Tooth Mountain City, and now he has inherited the title.With him was Marq Piper, and Ser Raymun Darry's son, who was about Bran's age.Lord Janos Bracken came from the ruins of Stonehedge in a rage, keeping as much distance as possible from Lord Tytos Blackwood. Catelyn and Robb and the Lords of the North sat across from the high seat, facing her brother.There are fewer of them.The Greatjon sat on Robb's left, followed by Theon Greyjoy; Galbert Glover and the Lady of Mormont sat on Catelyn's right.Lord Rickard Karstark was haggard from the loss of his son, his eyes empty like a man haunted by nightmares, his long beard unwashed.His two sons died in the Whispering Forest, and the eldest son led the Karstarks to fight Tywin Lannister on the Green Fork, and his life is still unknown. What followed was a continual quarrel that lasted well into the night.Every aristocrat has the right to speak, and they each seize the opportunity and try their best... Or yelling, or cursing, or reasoning, or coaxing, or joking, or bargaining, Or slapping the table with wine, or making threats, people leave the table angrily, and then come back with a sullen face or a smile.Catelyn sat quietly, listening. According to intelligence, Roose Bolton has rallied the defeated army at the causeway of the Neck, while Ser Herman Tallhart and Walder Frey still hold the Twins.Lord Tywin's troops had turned back across the Trident and were heading towards Harrenhal.At present, there are two kings in the country, and they refuse to give in to each other. Many vassals hoped to enter Harrenhal immediately, to fight against Duke Tywin, and wipe out the Lannister forces in one fell swoop.The bloody young man Marco Piper even advocated sending troops west to Casterly Rock.But there are still many people who suggest delaying action.Jason Mallister specifically pointed out: Riverrun is just choking the supply line of the Lannister army, so we might as well take advantage of this advantage to prevent Lord Tywin from obtaining additional troops and supplies, and take this opportunity to strengthen our own defenses so that the tired army can get rest.Earl Blackwood refused to listen to all prudent proposals. He believed that the battle in the Whispering Forest should be leveraged to end the war as soon as possible. Therefore, not only did he want to march into Harrenhal immediately, but he also wanted Roose Bolton's troops to go south. Cooperate with support.According to the custom, as long as it is the idea of ​​the Blackwood family, the Bracken family will definitely oppose it to the end, so Janos Bracken stood up and urged everyone to be loyal to King Renly, and went south to join his army. "Renly is no king," said Robb.This is the first time he has spoken since the meeting.He knows when to pay attention and listen, which is very paternal. "My lord, you can't be loyal to Joffrey, can you?" Galbert Glover said, "Your father died at his hands." "That means he's a villain," Robb answered, "but it doesn't mean that Renly is king. Joffrey is Robert's eldest son, and by the law of the kingdom he is entitled to the king's throne. If he dies—gentlemen Believe me, I intend to see him die—he has a brother, too. The line of succession will pass to Tommen." "Tomen is a Lannister through and through," Ser Marq Piper snapped. "Yes," Robb was troubled, "but even if both of them die, it's not Renly's turn to be king. He's Robert's second brother, just as Bran couldn't be the Duke of Winterfell before me, Renly Nor can he claim the throne before Stannis." Lady Mormont agreed. "Lord Stannis is more qualified than he is." "But Renly has accepted the coronation," said Marq Piper. "Highgarden and Storm's End support him, and Dorne will not stand idly by. If the forces of Winterfell and Riverrun join him, seven Five of the big families are under his command. If the Ayrin family is also willing to send troops, it will be six-sevenths of the power! With six against one, my lords, in less than a year, we can kill the queen mother, the imp king, Lord Tywin, Imp, Kingslayer, Ser Kevan all have their heads stuck on the tip of their spears! We only need to join King Renly to achieve such a fruitful result, why throw everything away to serve Lord Stannis What good can he do us?" "His rights precede Renly by law," said Robb stubbornly.Caitlin thought he spoke so much like his father that she was a little scared. "You mean, then, that we serve Lord Stannis?" Edmure asked. "I don't know," said Robb. "I prayed to the gods for direction, but they didn't answer. The Lannisters said my father was a traitor and murdered him, and we all know that A shameless lie, but if Joffrey is the rightful king and we rise up against it, we shall be traitors." "My father would urge caution in the present circumstances," said the elder Ser Stevron, with that trademark Frey weasel smile. "Why not wait and see what happens, and let the two kings play a big game of power? When they are over, we can either surrender to the victor, or raise our troops to resist. Everything is up to us. Now that Renly has raised his troops, Tywin My lords should be eager to make peace with us... and exchange for his son's safe return. My lords, let me go to Harrenhal, negotiate with him on the terms of the truce, and offer a ransom..." A roar drowned out his words. "You coward!" growled the Greatjon. "To beg for peace is to show weakness," declared the Countess of Mormont. "Fuck the ransom, say we can't let the Kingslayer go!" cried Lord Rickard Karstark. "Why no peace?" Caitlin asked. All the lords turned to stare at her, but all she could feel was Robb's eyes on her. "Mother, they murdered my father, your husband," he said sadly.He drew out his long sword and placed it on the table in front of him. The sharp blade made of fine steel shone coldly on the rough wood. "I'll use this to negotiate with them." The Greatjon echoed loudly, and the others agreed, either shouting after him, or slapping the table with their fists, and drew their swords one after another.Catelyn waited for them to calm down. "My lords," she continued, "Lord Ed is your master and colleague, but I have shared his bed with him and bore him children. Do I not love him as much as you?" She mourned so much She almost lost her voice, but she took a deep breath and tried to calm her emotions. "Robb, if the sword can bring him back to life, I will not let you sheath it until Ned stands by me again... But the dead are dead, not if there is a hundred victories in the Whispering Wood Nothing will change the fact. Ned is gone, and Daryn Hornwood is gone, and Lord Karstark's two gallant sons, and many others are gone, and they will not return. Are we going to lose more lives?" "After all, madam, you are a woman," said the Greatjon in that deep, deep voice, "women don't understand such things." "Women are soft-hearted," said Lord Karstark, sorrow etched into his face. "Men need revenge." "Lord Karstark, hand Cersei Lannister into my hands, and I will show you how soft a woman's heart is." Catelyn replied, "I may not know tactics...but I Know what futility is. We fought to stop the Lannister army from burning and looting in the riverlands. To save Ned who was framed and imprisoned. Our purpose is to protect the land and make my husband regain free." "We have achieved one purpose so far, and the other will never be achieved. Although I will mourn Ned until the day I die, I must first think of the living. I hope my two daughters are safe Come back, they're still in the Queen Mother's hands now. If I had to trade four Lannisters for two Starks, I think it's a good deal, and I thank the gods for that. I hope you're well, Robb Ann, take your father's title and rule Winterfell. I hope to see you live happily, kiss girls on the lips, marry wives and have children. I hope this can end. My lords, I long to return home and Weep for my dead husband forever." After Caitlin finished speaking, the hall was silent. "Negotiate peace," said Uncle Brynden. "Ma'am, it would be nice to have peace...but on what terms? If you negotiate peace today, you will have to take up arms and return to the battlefield tomorrow. It is meaningless." of." "What would it matter if my Toren and Eddard were dead if I could only return to Kahoe City with the bones of my son?" demanded Rickard Karstark. "Yes," Lord Bracken said, "Gregor Clegane burned my fields and slaughtered my people, and Stonehedge is now a charred ruin. Do I have to bow my knees to the man who sent him? ?Why fight so hard if you can forget everything so easily?" To Caitlin's surprise and dismay, Lord Blackwood actually agreed with him: "Even if we reach a peace with King Joffrey, wouldn't we become traitors in King Renly's eyes again? , what shall we do?" "Whatever you decide, I will never recognize a Lannister as king," Ser Marq Piper announced. "Neither will I!" cried the little Darry boy. "Neither will I!" Everyone yelled at each other again.Catelyn sat hopelessly, almost convincing them, she thought, they almost listened to her, just a little... But the time was fleeting, hope of peace was gone, there was no chance of healing Relieve the pain and protect the safety of the children.She looked at her son, watching him listen to the arguments of the princes.He frowns, troubled, and has become completely inseparable from this war.He had promised to marry Walder Frey's daughter, but she could see that his real bride was the sword on the table in front of her. Catelyn was thinking about her two daughters, wondering if there would be a chance to meet again in this life, when Greatjon jumped up. "My lords!" he shouted loudly, his voice echoing in the room. "Listen to me what I think of these two kings!" he spat. "Renly Baratheon is shit to me, and neither is Stannis. Why should we be ruled by a man sitting in Highgarden or Dorne full of flowers? What do they know about the Wall and the Wolfwood and The Tomb of the First Men? Not even their gods are real. As for the Lannisters, let the White Walkers take them, I've had enough." He reached over his shoulder and drew the monstrous two-handed sword. "Why can't we fend for ourselves like we used to? We married the dragon's daughter, and the dragon is dead now!" He pointed at Robb. "My lords, it's fine for me to kneel, but I only kneel with this king." He said in a thunderous voice, "Long live the king of the North!" Then he knelt down and laid the sword at her son's feet. "In that case, I also agree to a truce." Earl Karstark said, "Let them keep the Red Castle and the Iron Chair." He drew his long sword. "Long live the King of the North!" he said, kneeling beside the Greatjon. Meggie Mormont stood up. "Long live the King of Winter!" she announced aloud, and placed her barbed mace next to the two swords.At this time, the nobles in the river also stood up one after another. Although the Blackwood, Bracken, and Mallister families had never been ruled by Winterfell, Caitlin saw them standing together, drew their swords, knelt down, and said Shouting an ancient name that no one has heard for three hundred years.For the first time since Aegon the Dragon ruled the Six Kingdoms, the title was revived in grandeur, resounding in her father's wooden halls: "Long live the King of the North!" "Long live the King of the North!" "Long live the King of the North!"