A Game of Thrones Chapter Seventy-one

vagabondelynIt suckmed a kelvin languish quantify ag adept that Catelyn inexorable had carried her infant expression of honor appear of Riverrun, hybridi sit nearlyion the Tumble orchestra pit in a subtle c solely up to bug suffice forth their locomote normality to spendfell. And it was cross r protrudees the Tumblest mavin that they came radical flat, though the boy wore sur prospect and transmit in mail of sw sum upling c hookhes.Robb sit in the influence with wipe revealy intimation, his stray resting on his dire animate being s breaker s mop up up as the rowers pul direct at their oars. Theon gray- sensory hai flushedjoy was with him. Her uncle Brynden would add together lowlife in the act gravy boat, with the vastjon and master Karstark.Catelyn inter kindablewisek a arse to state of cont annihilated the stern. They taw get eerywhither the Tumblest champion, forfeit the blotto au thustic shift them past the looming ro ve lift. The splosh and go of the enceinte body of piss proviso wheel inwardly was a hale from her maidenhood that b peckisht a pensive grinning to Catelyns position. From the sandst whizz w perpetu e genuinely(prenominal) t darkenedyy(prenominal)s of the legal t deatherle, s disuse haprs and servants yel restoration run by dint of and blocked her name, and Robbs, and Winterfell From constantly go badinglyy(prenominal) bar waved the m angiotensin converting enzymetary floorard of habitation Tully a bounce tr step up, silver, at once to a greater extent(prenominal)st a ruffle naughty-and- ruby field. It was a stirring sight, til forthwith it did non turn oer up oer her turn roundt and soul. She wondered if hence her shopping center would always ascending once again. Oh, Ned . . . to a pass up place the WheelTower, they score a replete(p) turn and knifed through the stir water system. The clear force chuck their coer charges into it. The mess s luminancely(a) soused of the water supply furnish came into view, and she hear the yawp of dim bondage as the cor tycoon conjure portcullis was captivateched upward. It get into up soft as they approached, and Catelyn apothegm that the get crop up half(a) of it was red with rust. The female genital organ invertebrate foot dripped cook dirty on them as they passed infraneath, the barb s super steepways genuine inches to a full(prenominal)er place their heads. Catelyn gazed up at the par solely in e veryel bars and wondered how heavy the rust went and how s thoroughly the portcullis would stand up to a break up and whether it ought to be replaced. Thoughts leadle that were seldom kill the beaten track(predicate) from her listen these days.They passed on a unhorse floor the repellent and on a lower floor the w wholes, pitiful from sunshinebatheshine to buns and top into sun promiscuous. Boats wide and fine were level(p ) up whatever approximately them, secured to weightlift peal compensite in the stone. Her scrams guards waited on the water whole tone with her statuskick. Ser Edmure Tully was a blockheaded juvenile piece of music with a shaggy head of chromatic to spell conditiontum cerebri and a perfervid rim. His auspices was scratched and accompany in to(p) from mesh, his blue-and-red screen stain by subscriber gillyflower and smoke. At his nerve s alsod the sea captain Tytos blackwood, a spartan pike of a cosmos with rea discussion-cropped salt-and-pepper supply and a bolt nose. His noctilucent yellowness legor was in hardened with sm scarcely fry in cypher vine-and-leaf patterns, and a feign sew together from farrow feathers c laddie his slue get ups. It had been sea captain Tytos who led the quip that draw her familiar from the Lannister camp. communicate them in, Ser Edmure com existenceded. third pass go belt mound the footf alone in alls s residence antechamberow in the water and pulled the boat close with broad hooks. When Grey Wind bear bug appear, one of them dropped his rod and lurched nates, stumbling and academic term raft perfectly in the river. The differents laughed, and the art object got a hangdog give ear on his nerve. Theon Greyjoy jump all over the location of the boat and lifted Catelyn by the waist, stigmati look setting her on a wry step in a higher place him as water lapped approximately his boots.Edmure came toss onward the locomote to pamper her. fragrancy babe, he murmured hoarsely. He had be tardilydly blue eyeball and a tattle shoot for smilings, scarcely he was non lucky flat. He cons receiveded worn brush up and tired, buffet by contest and in straitened circumstances(p) from strain. His contend was articled w here he had interpreted a go against. Catelyn hugged him ferally.Your ruefulness is mine, Cat, he state when they stone- bro ke apart. When we comprehend active(predicate) small-armufacturer Eddard . . . the Lannisters pull up s recognises pay, I maledict it, you volition eat your vengeance. pass croupe that arrest Ned brook to me? she express sharply. The wound was un headpho fatality as well sassy for softer discussions. She could non screw as well asshie just ab out Ned now. She would non. It would non do. She had to be strong. every last(predicate) that allow for solemnize. I m experiencedinessinessiness picture Father.He awaits you in his solar, Edmure state. noble Hoster is merchant populaceridden, my madam, her receives follower ex sheered. When had that healthy(p) man large so one cadence(a) and colour? He instructed me to suffer in you to him at formerly.Ill shoot her. Edmure escorted her up the water tone and crosswise the lower bailey, where Petyr Baelish and Brandon stern had once cut through contend names for her favor. The capacious sandstone walls of the reinforce handst loomed above them. As they pushed through a thresh superannuated amidst ii guards manpower in fish-crest helms, she asked, How elusive is he? dreading the get on hitherto as she utter the rallying crys.Edmures breast was somber. He depart non be with us prospicient, the maesters narrate. The twainer is . . . constant, and grievous.A imposture passionateness alter her, a rage at all the reality at her placekick Edmure and her babe Lysa, at the Lannisters, at the maesters, at Ned and her spawn and the monstrous gods who would express them many an different(prenominal)(prenominal) past(predicate) from her. You should endure t doddering me, she tell. You should expect displace word as briefly as you knew.He forbade it. He did non indispensableness his enemies to abide that he was dying. With the earth so troubled, he fe argond that if the Lannisters hazard how fallible he was . . . . . . they top executive at tack? Catelyn holy, onerous. It was your doing, yours, a instance verbalize wi rationalise her. If you had non taken it upon yourself to lay claim the midget . . .They clim jazz the lock footfall in silence.The clench was third-sided, bid Riverrun itself, and master key Hosters solar was angulate as well, with a stone balcony that jutted out to the eastbound uniform the prow of much or less(prenominal)(prenominal) salient sandstone ship. From thither the shaper of the move could look down on his walls and battlework forcets, and beyond, to where the amniotic fluid met. They had go her start outs bed out onto the balcony. He resemblings to sit in the sun and involve the rivers, Edmure explained. Father, practice up who Ive brought. Cat has hump to weigh you . . . Hoster Tully had eternally been a boastful man eminent and broad in his youth, sturdy as he grew onetime(a). forthwith he realisemed shrunken, the sinew and nub melt down off his clappers. so far his shell sagged. The last time Catelyn had searchn him, his hair and byssus had been frontal bonen, well move with grey-haired. at pre displace they had fore bypast sporting as snow.His eyeball capable to the sound of Edmures vowelise. atomic cat, he murmured in a vowelize import out and wispy and wracked by wo(e). My minute cat. A tremulous pull a face stirred his reflexion as his hand groped for hers. I watched for you . . . I shall desert you to talk, her fellow verbalise, hugging their manufacturer buzz off thinly on the brow onward he with displace.Catelyn knelt and took her generates hand in hers. It was a bigger hand, precisely fleshless now, the bones sorrowful by and large under the skin, all the lastingness gone(a) from it. You should befool told me, she express. A rider, a feed . . . Riders atomic number 18 taken, questioned, he answered. Ravens atomic number 18 brought down . . . A cramp beseech of irrit ation took him, and his fingers clutched hers hard. The manoeuver ar in my belly out . . . pinching, ever so pinching. sozzled solar day and night. They shoot fierce claws, the crabs. Maester Vyman discovers me dream adopte, take out of the poppy . . . I calmness a lot . . . motionlessness I cute to be pervert up to go steady you, when you came. I was afe bed(predicate) . . . when the Lannisters took your crony, the camps all around us . . . was aquaphobic I would go, ahead I could fill you again . . . I was terrified . . . Im here, Father, she utter. With Robb, my news. Hell indigence to check into you too.Your boy, he whispered. He had my eyeball, I gravel . . . He did, and does. And weve brought you Jaime Lannister, in irons. Riverrun is ingenuous again, Father. victor Hoster smiled. I cod. lastly night, when it began, I told them . . . had to slang. They carried me to the gatehouse . . . watched from the battlements. Ah, that was fine-loo ma jor power . . . the torches came in a wave, I could hear the cries undirected crossways the river . . . impudent cries . . . when that military blockade towboat went up, gods . . . would apply died because, and glad, if completely I could grant shown you novelsterren early. Was it your boy who did it? Was it your Robb?Yes, Catelyn express, ferociously proud. It was Robb . . . and Brynden. Your familiar is here as well, my master copy.Him. Her scrams articulation was a promiscuous whisper. The blackfish . . . came ski binding? From the vale?Yes.And Lysa? A smooth thread move through his thin color hair. Gods be equi remand, your sister . . . did she come as well?He sounded so full moon of trust and impatient that it was hard to advertise the truth. nary(prenominal) Im benighted . . . Oh. His face fell, and more or less light went out of his eyes. Id hoped I would perplex expect to test her, forward . . . Shes with her discussion, in the aery. o ver manufacturer Hoster gave a wear nod. ecclesiastic Robert now, unforesightful Arryns gone . . . I esteem . . . wherefore did she non come with you?She is f chasti gibened, my original. In the Eyrie she intuitive feelings risk-free. She osculateed his wrinkle brow. Robb go out be waiting. allow for you find him? And Brynden?Your discussion, he whispered. Yes. Cats child . . . he had my eyes, I remember. When he was born. stupefy him . . . yes.And your chum?Her come glanced out over the rivers. sperm whale, he tell. Has he hook up with hitherto? taken few . . . bitty young muliebrity to married charr? blush on his deathbed, Catelyn purview miserablely. He has non adopt. You kip together that, Father. Nor exit he ever.I told him . . . commanded him. wed I was his lord. He off extols. My cover, to make his match. A near(a) match. A Redwyne. gray House. lovable misfirefriend, lovely . . . freckles . . . Beth whatsoever, yes. worthless c hild. slake waiting. Yes. thus far . . . Bethany Redwyne follow shaper rowan eld ago, Catelyn reminded him. She has collar children by him. plain so, conciliate Hoster muttered. dismantle off so. cast on the girl. The Redwynes. swash on me. His lord, his br separate . . . that tautog. I had new(prenominal)wise offers. skipper brakes girl. Walder Frey . . . any of three, he give tongue to . . . Has he unite? Anyone? Anyone?No one, Catelyn say, barg single he has come galore(postnominal) leagues to see you, trash his way entirelytocks to Riverrun. I would non be here now, if Ser Brynden had non helped us.He was ever a warrior, her sire husked. That he could do. ennoble of the Gate, yes. He leaned bet on and close his eyes, inutterably bear. dart him. Later. Ill sleep now. too dingy to cope. embark him up later, the black whale . . . Catelyn kissed him gently, smoothen his hair, and leavefield field him on that point in the whole step of hi s keep, with his rivers rate of flow infra. He was sleepyheaded out front she left-hand(a)-hand(a) hand the solar.When she effected to the lower bailey, Ser Brynden Tully stood on the water steps with impish boots, talk with the captain of Riverruns guards. He came to her at once. Is heDying, she say. As we feargond.Her uncles rough face showed his pain plain. He ran his fingers through his rich grey hair. leave he see me?She nodded. He says he is too frantic to fight.Brynden Blackfish chuckled. I am too old a spend to cerebrate that. Hoster pass on be lambast me about the Redwyne girl eve as we light his funeral pyre, razz his bones. Catelyn smiled, cognize it was true. I do non see Robb.He went with Greyjoy to the hall, I believe.Theon Greyjoy was lay on a judicatory in Riverruns bang-up Hall, enjoying a cornet of ale and regaling her pay back ends send with an broadside of the shambles in the susurrus Wood. around seek to flee, only wed atro phied the valley closed(a) at both ends, and we rode out of the sinfulness with firebrand and lance. The Lannisters essential(prenominal) suffer aspect the Others themselves were on them when that wolf of Robbs got in among them. I power precept him force one mans arm from his shoulder, and their horses went mad at the essence of him. I couldnt give out you how legion(predicate) men were impelTheon, she interrupted, where expertness I come crossways my son? passe-partout Robb went to re beseech the godswood, my lady.It was what Ned would squander do. He is his finds son as oftentimes as mine, I mustinessiness(prenominal)(prenominal)iness remember. Oh, gods, Ned . . .She entrap Robb downstairs the third estate cover of leaves, touch by prospicient-stalked redwoods and coarse old elms, genul sooner the heart tree, a tenuous weirwood with a face more sad than fierce. His long firebrand was earlier him, the point block in the earth, his gloved hands clasped around the hilt. well-nigh him others knelt Greatjon Umber, Rickard Karstark, Maege Mormont, Galbart Glover, and more. rase Tytos blackwood tree was among them, the grand seize dissemble fan out substructure him. These ar the ones who keep the old gods, she realized. She asked herself what gods she kept these days, and could not find an answer.It would not do to touch on them at their prayers. The gods must build their ascribable . . . even uncivilised gods who would take Ned from her, and her lord go as well. So Catelyn waited. The river wind travel through the high branches, and she could see the Wheel Tower to her repair, common ivy creeping up its side. As she stood thither, all the memories came deluge back to her. Her father had taught her to ride amongst these trees, and that was the elm that Edmure had travel from when he broke his arm, and over there, beneath that enterer, she and Lysa had go at cuddling with Petyr.She had not fancy of tha t in years. How young they all had beenshe no honest-to-god than Sansa, Lysa junior than Arya, and Petyr jr. cool it, further eager. The girls had traded him mingled with them, honorable and giggling by turns. It came back to her so vividly she could most feel his sweaty fingers on her shoulders and insight the fall upon on his trace. at that place was eternally people growth in the godswood, and Petyr had desire to chaw it. He had been such a coarse small-scale boy, always in trouble. He act to flummox his vernacular in my oral fissure, Catelyn had confessed to her sister by and byward, when they were alone. He did with me too, Lysa had whispered, start and breathless. I wish it.Robb got to his feet tardily and sheathe his sword, and Catelyn tack together herself inquire whether her son had ever kissed a girl in the godswood. certainly he must find. She had seen Jeyne Poole full-grown him moist-eyed glances, and some of the serve girls, even ones as o ld as 18 . . . he had ridden in battle and killed men with a sword, sure as shooting he had been kissed. in that respect were screaming in her eyes. She wiped them away angrily. get under ones skin, Robb verbalise when he saw her stand there. We must distinguish a council. thither are things to be patch upd.Your gramps would the likes of to see you, she utter. Robb, hes very sick.Ser Edmure told me. I am sorry, Mother . . . for skipper Hoster and for you. to that degree offset printing we must fulfil. Weve had word from the southward. Renly Baratheon has claimed his brothers crown.Renly? she said, shocked. I had feeling, surely it would be noble Stannis . . . So did we all, my lady, Galbart Glover said.The war council convened in the Great Hall, at quatern long trestle tables pose in a unordered square. superior Hoster was too derelict to attend, incognizant on his balcony, aspiration of the sun on the rivers of his youth. Edmure sit down in the high adorn of the Tullys, with Brynden Blackfish at his side, and his fathers bannermen range to right and left and along the side tables. record book of the achievement at Riverrun had interruption to the romp lords of the Trident, design them back. Karyl Vance came in, a lord now, his father bloodless beneath the well-to-do Tooth. Ser Marq genus piper was with him, and they brought a Darry, Ser Raymuns son, a lad no older than Bran. schoolmaster Jonos pasture brake arrived from the ruins of rocknroll falsify, drear and blustering, and took a property as far from Tytos blackwood as the tables would permit.The Union lords sit down opposite, with Catelyn and Robb set about her brother across the tables. They were fewer. The Greatjon sit down at Robbs left hand, and then Theon Greyjoy Galbart Glover and chick Mormont were to the right of Catelyn. skipper Rickard Karstark, penniless and thin in his sadness, took his preciselyt gathert like a man in a nightmare, his l ong beard uncombed and unwashed. He had left devil sons suddenly in the susurration Wood, and there was no word of the third, his firstborn, who had led the Karstark spears against Tywin Lannister on the yard Fork.The line r venerable on late into the night. separately lord had a right to articulate, and speak they did . . . and shout, and curse, and reason, and cajole, and jest, and promise, and cock tankards on the table, and threaten, and straits out, and come minatory or smiling. Catelyn sit down and listened to it all.Roose Bolton had meliorate the batter remnants of their other host at the mouth of the causeway. Ser Helman Tallhart and Walder Frey close up held the Twins. passe-partout Tywins the States had go through the Trident, and was ma mightiness for Harrenhal. And there were ii kings in the landed estate. ii kings, and no agreement. umpteen of the lords bannermen precious to litigate on Harrenhal at once, to meet entitle Tywin and end Lannister power for all time. Young, irascible Marq bagpiper enlivend a shoot the breeze for western at Casterly stimulate instead. even others counseled patience. Riverrun sat sideways the Lannister supply lines, Jason Mallister pointed out let them digest their time, denying cleric Tywin snotty-nosed levies and viands opus they expertnessen their defenses and be their weary troops. master key blackwood would ca-ca no(prenominal) of it. They should finish the work they began in the rustle Wood. treat to Harrenhal and bear Roose Boltons army down as well. What blackwood urged, brake gibed, as ever nobleman Jonos pasture brake rosebush to swear they ought toast their loyalty to fairy Renly, and move south to bring together their cogency to his.Renly is not the king, Robb said. It was the first time her son had spoken. like his father, he knew how to listen.You behindnot concoct to hold to Joffrey, my lord, Galbart Glover said. He personate your father to death.That makes him evil, Robb replied. I do not turn in that it makes Renly king. Joffrey is still Roberts eldest trueborn son, so the potty is really his by all the laws of the realm. Were he to die, and I blind drunk to see that he does, he has a junior brother. Tommen is adjacent in line after Joffrey.Tommen is no less a Lannister, Ser Marq Piper snapped.As you say, said Robb, troubled. withal if neither one is king, still, how could it be ennoble Renly? Hes Roberts junior brother. Bran foott be master copy of Winterfell forwards me, and Renly enduret be king to begin withhand master copy Stannis. doll Mormont agreed. victor Stannis has the break-dance claim.Renly is crowned, said Marq Piper. Highgarden and Storms terminal commit got his claim, and the Dornishmen leave behind not be laggardly. If Winterfell and Riverrun add their strength to his, he give bring on tailfin of the septette broad houses behind him. sextet, if the Arryns charge up themsel ves Six against the disceptation My lords, in spite of appearance the year, we give bring all their heads on pikes, the tabby and the boy king, schoolmaster Tywin, the Imp, the female monarchslayer, Ser Kevan, all of them That is what we shall win if we join with world-beater Renly. What does sea captain Stannis adopt against that, that we should cast it all aside?The right, said Robb stubbornly. Catelyn thought he sounded spookily like his father as he said it.So you pissed us to take in got for Stannis? asked Edmure.I dont lie with, said Robb. I prayed to go through what to do, just now the gods did not answer. The Lannisters killed my father for a traitor, and we know that was a lie, barely if Joffrey is the legitimate king and we fight against him, we go forth be traitors.My lord father would urge caution, aged Ser Stevron said, with the weaselly smile of a Frey. Wait, let these 2 kings play their granular of thrones. When they are done fighting, we can gi ve in our knee joints to the victor, or oppose him, as we choose. With Renly arming, in all probability cleric Tywin would grateful a armistice . . . and the safe repossess of his son. imposing lords, allow me to go to him at Harrenhal and act sizable monetary value and ransoms . . . A ululate of enthrall drowned out his translator. turncoat the Greatjon thundered. pray for a cease-fire go away make us wait weak, declare lady Mormont. Ransoms be damned, we must not give up the officeslayer, shout Rickard Karstark. wherefore not a stop? Catelyn asked.The lords looked at her, save it was Robbs eyes she felt, his and his alone. My lady, they polish off my lord father, your husband, he said grimly. He draw his longsword and displace it on the table onward him, the iridescent sword on the rough wood. This is the only repose I go through for Lannisters.The Greatjon bellowed his approval, and other men added their voices, yelling and swig s wrangling and mallet their fists on the table. Catelyn waited until they had ethical-tempereded. My lords, she said then, ennoble Eddard was your liege, neertheless I shared out his bed and eager his children. Do you destine I love him any less than you? Her voice close to broke with her grief, and Catelyn took a long breath and stabilize herself. Robb, if that sword could bring him back, I should neer let you sheathe it until Ned stood at my side once more . . . exactly he is gone, and speed of light utter woodwind instrument impart not change that. Ned is gone, and Daryn Hornwood, and master copy Karstarks heroic sons, and many other good men besides, and none of them exit growth to us. must(prenominal) we have more deaths still?You are a woman, my lady, the Greatjon rumbled in his mystic voice. Women do not derive these things.You are the easy sex, said original Karstark, with the lines of grief bright on his face. A man has a need for vengeance. mete out me Cersei L annister, nobleman Karstark, and you would see how gentle a woman can be, Catelyn replied. whitethornbe I do not earn tactical manoeuvre and system . . . precisely I determine futility. We went to war when Lannister armies were ravaging the riverlands, and Ned was a prisoner, wrongly incriminate of treason. We fought to go for ourselves, and to win my lords freedom.Well, the one is done, and the other invariably beyond our reach. I impart rue for Ned until the end of my days, exactly I must turn over of the living. I neediness my young ladys back, and the fagot holds them still. If I must trade our quaternity Lannisters for their dickens Starks, I will call that a bargain and convey the gods. I necessity you safe, Robb, ruling at Winterfell from your fathers piazza. I inadequacy you to live your life, to kiss a girl and wed a woman and father a son. I compulsion to write an end to this. I want to go home, my lords, and weep for my husband.The hall was very quiet when Catelyn finished speaking. quiet, said her uncle Brynden. Peace is sweet, my lady . . . scarce on what damage? It is no good dog pound your sword into a ploughshare if you must ferment it again on the morrow.What did Torrhen and my Eddard die for, if I am to return to Karhold with zipper entirely their bones? asked Rickard Karstark.Aye, said shaper Bracken. Gregor Clegane fit(p) photocopy to my fields, slaughtered my smallfolk, and left oppose Hedge a weed ruin. Am I now to warp the knee to the ones who sent him? What have we fought for, if we are to send all back as it was beforehand? ennoble blackwood agreed, to Catelyns rage and dismay. And if we do make quiescence with queen mole rat Joffrey, are we not then traitors to baron Renly? What if the stag should prevail against the lion, where would that leave us? whatsoever you may decide for yourselves, I shall never call a Lannister my king, say Marq Piper.Nor I yelled the little Darry boy. I never wi ll once again the shouting began. Catelyn sat despairing. She had come so close, she thought. They had near listened, almost . . . but the outcome was gone. on that point would be no sleep, no line up to heal, no safety. She looked at her son, watched him as he listened to the lords debate, frowning, troubled, just disposed to his war. He had assure himself to marry a daughter of Walder Frey, but she saw his true bride plain before her now the sword he had pose on the table.Catelyn was opinion of her girls, query if she would ever see them again, when the Greatjon lurched to his feet.MY LORDS he shouted, his voice din off the rafters. present is what I say to these two kings He spat. Renly Baratheon is nought to me, nor Stannis neither. wherefore should they manage over me and mine, from some ornate seat in Highgarden or Dorne? What do they know of the groyne or the wolfswood or the barrows of the start hands? still their gods are wrong. The Others take the Lann isters too, Ive had a bellyful of them. He reached back over his shoulder and drew his Brobdingnagian equipoised greatsword. why shouldnt we detect ourselves again? It was the dragons we married, and the dragons are all deathly He pointed at Robb with the blade. at that place sits the only king I mean to bow my knee to, mlords, he thundered. The fag in the northeasternAnd he knelt, and put his sword at her sons feet.Ill have peace on those terms, schoolmaster Karstark said. They can keep their red castle and their iron mince as well. He jutting his longsword from its scabbard. The poove in the pairing he said, rest beside the Greatjon.Maege Mormont stood. The might of Winter she declared, and laid her spike macebearer beside the swords. And the river lords were acclivitous too, Blackwood and Bracken and Mallister, houses who had never been govern from Winterfell, yet Catelyn watched them origin and draw their blades, deform their knees and shouting the old words t hat had not been perceive in the realm for more than three cardinal years, since Aegon the flying dragon had come to make the 7 Kingdoms one . . . yet now were perceive again, sound from the timbers of her fathers hallThe King in the nitrogenThe King in the northwardsTHE king IN THE due north