grrm.astormofswords-第87章

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　〃Battles；〃　muttered　Robb　as　he　led　her　out　beneath　the　trees。　〃I　have　won　every　battle；　yet　somehow　I'm　losing　the　war。〃　He　looked　up；　as　if　the　answer　might　be　written　on　the　sky。　〃The　ironmen　hold　Winterfell；　and　Moat　Cailin　too。　Father's　dead；　and　Bran　and　Rickon；　maybe　Arya。　And　now　your　father　too。〃
　She　could　not　let　him　despair。　She　knew　the　taste　of　that　draught　too　well　herself。　〃My　father　has　been　dying　for　a　long　time。　You　could　not　have　changed　that。　You　have　made　mistakes；　Robb；　but　what　king　has　not？　Ned　would　have　been　proud　of　you。〃
　〃Mother；　there　is　something　you　must　know。〃
　Catelyn's　heart　skipped　a　beat。　This　is　something　he　hates。　Something　he　dreads　to　tell　me。　All　she　could　think　of　was　Brienne　and　her　mission。　〃Is　it　the　Kingslayer？〃
　〃No。　It's　Sansa。〃
　She's　dead；　Catelyn　thought　at　once。　Brienne　failed；　Jaime　is　dead；　and　Cersei　has　killed　my　sweet　girl　in　retribution。　For　a　moment　she　could　barely　speak。　〃Is　。　。　。　is　she　gone；　Robb？〃
　〃Gone？〃　He　looked　startled。　〃Dead？　Oh；　Mother；　no；　not　that；　they　haven't　harmed　her；　not　that　way；　only　。　。　。　a　bird　came　last　night；　but　I　couldn't　bring　myself　to　tell　you；　not　until　your　father　was　sent　to　his　rest。〃　Robb　took　her　hand。　〃They　married　her　to　Tyrion　Lannister。〃
　Catelyn's　fingers　clutched　at　his。　〃The　Imp。〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃He　swore　to　trade　her　for　his　brother；〃　she　said　numbly。　〃Sansa　and　Arya　both。　We　would　have　them　back　if　we　returned　his　precious　Jaime；　he　swore　it　before　the　whole　court。　How　could　he　marry　her；　after　saying　that　in　sight　of　gods　and　men？〃
　〃He's　the　Kingslayer's　brother。　Oathbreaking　runs　in　their　blood。〃　Robb's　fingers　brushed　the　pommel　of　his　sword。　〃If　I　could　I'd　take　his　ugly　head　off。　Sansa　would　be　a　widow　then；　and　free。　There's　no　other　way　that　I　can　see。　They　made　her　speak　the　vows　before　a　septon　and　don　a　crimson　cloak。〃
　Catelyn　remembered　the　twisted　little　man　she　had　seized　at　the　crossroads　inn　and　carried　all　the　way　to　the　Eyrie。　〃I　should　have　let　Lysa　push　him　out　her　Moon　Door。　My　poor　sweet　Sansa　。　。　。　why　would　anyone　do　this　to　her？〃
　〃For　Winterfell；〃　Robb　said　at　once。　〃With　Bran　and　Rickon　dead；　Sansa　is　my　heir。　If　anything　should　happen　to　me　。　。　。〃
　She　clutched　tight　at　his　hand。　〃Nothing　will　happen　to　you。　Nothing。　I　could　not　stand　it。　They　took　Ned；　and　your　sweet　brothers。　Sansa　is　married；　Arya　is　lost；　my　father's　dead　。　。　。　if　anything　befell　you；　I　would　go　mad；　Robb。　You　are　all　I　have　left。　You　are　all　the　north　has　left。〃
　〃I　am　not　dead　yet；　Mother。〃
　Suddenly　Catelyn　was　full　of　dread。　〃Wars　need　not　be　fought　until　the　last　drop　of　blood。〃　Even　she　could　hear　the　desperation　in　her　voice。　〃You　would　not　be　the　first　king　to　bend　the　knee；　nor　even　the　first　Stark。〃
　His　mouth　tightened。　〃No。　Never。〃
　〃There　is　no　shame　in　it。　Balon　Greyjoy　bent　the　knee　to　Robert　when　his　rebellion　failed。　Torrhen　Stark　bent　the　knee　to　Aegon　the　Conqueror　rather　than　see　his　army　face　the　fires。〃
　〃Did　Aegon　kill　King　Torrhen's　father？〃　He　pulled　his　hand　from　hers。　〃Never；　I　said。〃
　He　is　playing　the　boy　now；　not　the　king。　〃The　Lannisters　do　not　need　the　north。　They　will　require　homage　and　hostages；　no　more　。　。　。　and　the　Imp　will　keep　Sansa　no　matter　what　we　do；　so　they　have　their　hostage。　The　ironmen　will　prove　a　more　implacable　enemy；　I　promise　you。　To　have　any　hope　of　holding　the　north；　the　Greyjoys　must　leave　no　single　sprig　of　House　Stark　alive　to　dispute　their　right。　Theon's　murdered　Bran　and　Rickon；　so　now　all　they　need　do　is　kill　you　。　。　。　and　Jeyne；　yes。　Do　you　think　Lord　Balon　can　afford　to　let　her　live　to　bear　you　heirs？〃
　Robb's　face　was　cold。　〃Is　that　why　you　freed　the　Kingslayer？　To　make　a　peace　with　the　Lannisters？〃
　〃I　freed　Jaime　for　Sansa's　sake　。　。　。　and　Arya's；　if　she　still　lives。　You　know　that。　But　if　I　nurtured　some　hope　of　buying　peace　as　well；　was　that　so　ill？〃
　〃Yes；〃　he　said。　〃The　Lannisters　killed　my　father。〃
　〃Do　you　think　I　have　forgotten　that？〃
　〃I　don't　know。　Have　you？〃
　Catelyn　had　never　struck　her　children　in　anger；　but　she　almost　struck　Robb　then。　It　was　an　effort　to　remind　herself　how　frightened　and　alone　he　must　feel。　〃You　are　King　in　the　North；　the　choice　is　yours。　I　only　ask　that　you　think　on　what　I've　said。　The　singers　make　much　of　kings　who　die　valiantly　in　battle；　but　your　life　is　worth　more　than　a　song。　To　me　at　least；　who　gave　it　to　you。〃　She　lowered　her　head。　〃Do　I　have　your　leave　to　go？〃
　〃Yes。〃　He　turned　away　and　drew　his　sword。　What　he　meant　to　do　with　it；　she　could　not　say。　There　was　no　enemy　there；　no　one　to　fight。　Only　her　and　him；　amongst　tall　trees　and　fallen　leaves。　There　are　fights　no　sword　can　win；　Catelyn　wanted　to　tell　him；　but　she　feared　the　king　was　deaf　to　such　words。
　Hours　later；　she　was　sewing　in　her　bedchamber　when　young　Rollarn　Westerling　came　running　with　the　summons　to　supper。　Good；　Catelyn　thought；　relieved。　She　had　not　been　certain　that　her　son　would　want　her　there；　after　their　quarrel。　〃A　dutiful　squire；〃　she　said　to　Rollam　gravely。　Bran　would　have　been　the　same。
　If　Robb　seemed　cool　at　table　and　Edmure　surly；　Lame　Lothar　made　up　for　them　both。　He　was　the　model　of　courtesy；　reminiscing　warmly　about　Lord　Hoster；　offering　Catelyn　gentle　condolences　on　the　loss　of　Bran　and　Rickon；　praising　Edmure　for　the　victory　at　Stone　Mill；　and　thanking　Robb　for　the　〃swift　sure　justice〃　he　had　meted　out　to　Rickard　Karstark。　Lothar's　bastard　brother　Walder　Rivers　was　another　matter；　a　harsh　sour　man　with　old　Lord　Walder's　suspicious　face；　he　spoke　but　seldom　and　devoted　most　of　his　attention　to　the　meat　and　mead　that　was　set　before　him。
　When　all　the　empty　words　were　said；　the　queen　and　the　other　Westerlings　excused　themselves；　the　remains　of　the　meal　were　cleared　away；　and　Lothar　Frey　cleared　his　throat。　〃Before　we　turn　to　the　business　that　brings　us　here；　there　is　another　matter；〃　he　said　solemnly。　〃A　grave　matter；　I　fear。　I　had　hoped　it　would　not　fall　to　me　to　bring　you　these　tidings；　but　it　seems　I　must。　My　lord　father　has　had　a　letter　from　his　grandsons。〃
　Catelyn　had　been　so　lost　in　grief　for　her　own　that　she　had　almost　forgotten　the　two　Freys　she　had　agreed　to　foster。　No　more；　she　thought。　Mother　have　mercy；　how　many　more　blows　can　we　bear？　Somehow　she　knew　the　next　words　she　heard　would　plunge　yet　another　blade　into　her　heart。　〃The　grandsons　at　Winterfell？　〃　she　made　herself　ask。　〃My　wards？〃
　〃Walder　and　WaIder；　yes。　But　they　are　presently　at　the　Dreadfort；　my　lady。　I　grieve　to　tell　you　this；　but　there　has　been　a　battle。　Winterfell　is　burned。〃
　〃Burned？〃　Robb's　voice　was　incredulous。
　〃Your　northern　lords　tried　to　retake　it　from　the　ironmen。　When　Theon　Greyjoy　saw　that　his　prize　was　lost；　he　put　the　castle　to　the　torch。〃
　〃We　have　heard　naught　of　any　battle；〃　said　Ser　Brynden。
　〃My　nephews　are　young；　I　grant　you；　but　they　were　there。　Big　Walder　wrote　the　letter；　though　his　cousin　signed　as　well。　It　was　a　bloody　bit　of　business；　by　their　account。　Your　castellan　was　slain。　Ser　Rodrik；　was　that　his　name？〃
　〃Ser　Rodrik　Cassel；〃　said　Catelyn　numbly。　That　dear　brave　loyal　old　soul。　She　could　almost　see　him；　tugging　on　his　fierce　white　whiskers。　〃What　of　our　other　people？〃
　〃The　ironmen　put　many　of　them　to　the　sword；　I　fear。〃
　Wordless　with　rage；　Robb　slammed　a　fist　down　on　the　table　and　turned　his　face　away；　so　the　Freys　would　not　see　his　tears。
　But　his　mother　saw　them。　The　world　grows　a　little　darker　every　day。　Catelyn's　thoughts　went　to　Ser　Rodrik's　little　daughter　Beth；　to　tireless　Maester　Luwin　and　cheerful　Septon　Chayle；　Mikken　at　the　forge；　Farlen　and　Palla　in　the　kennels；　Old　Nan　and　simple　Hodor。　Her　heart　was　sick。　〃Please；　not　all。〃
　〃No；〃　said　Lame　Lothar。　〃The　women　and　children　hid；　my　nephews　Walder　and　Walder　among　them。　With　Winterfell　in　ruins；　the　survivors　were　carried　back　to　the　Dreadfort　by　this　son　of　Lord　Bolton's。…
　〃Bolton's　son？〃　Robb's　voice　was　strained。
　Walder　Rivers　spoke　up。　〃A　bastard　son；　I　believe。〃
　〃Not　Ramsay　Snow？　Does　Lord　Roose　have　another　bastard？〃　Robb　scowled。　〃This　Ramsay　was　a　monster　and　a　murderer；　and　he　died　a　coward。　Or　so　I　was　told。〃
　〃I　cannot　speak　to　that。　There　is　much　confusion　in　any　war。　Many　false　reports。　All　I　can　tell　you　is　that　my　nephews　claim　it　was　this　bastard　son　of　Bolton's　who　saved　the　women　of　Winterfell；　and　the　little　ones。　They　are　safe　at　the　Dreadfort　now；　all　those　who　remain。〃
　〃Theon；〃　Robb　said　suddenly。　〃What　happened　to　Theon　Greyjoy？　Was　he　slain？〃
　Lame　Lothar　spread　his　hands。　〃That　I　cannot　say；　Your　Grace。　Walder　and　Walder　made　no　mention　of　his　fate。　Perhaps　Lord　Bolton　might　know；　if　he　has　had　word　from　this　son　of　his。〃
　Ser　Brynden　said；　〃We　will　be　certain　to　ask　him。〃
　〃You　are　all　distraught；　I　see。　I　am　sorry　to　have　brought　you　such　fresh　grief。　Perhaps　we　should　adjourn　until　the　morrow。　Our　business　can　wait　until　you　have　posed　yourselves　。　。　。〃
　〃No；〃　said　Robb；　〃I　want　the　matter　settled。〃
　Her　brother　Edmure　nodded。　〃Me　as　well。　Do　you　have　an　answer　to　our　offer；　my　lord？〃
　〃I　do。〃　Lothar　smiled。　〃My　lord　father　bids　me　tell　Your　Grace　that　he　will　agree　to　this　new　marriage　alliance　between　our　houses　and　renew　his　fealty　to　the　King　in　the　North；　upon　the　condition　that　the　King's　Grace　apologize　for　the　insult　done　to　House　Frey；　in　his　royal　person；　face　to　face。〃
　An　apology　was　a　small　enough　price　to　pay；　but　Catelyn　misliked　this　petty　condition　of　Lord　Walder's　at　once。
　〃I　am　pleased；〃　Robb　said　cautiously。　〃It　was　never　my　wish　to　cause　this　rift　between　us；　Lothar。　The　Freys　have　fought　valiantly　for　my　cause。　I　would　have　them　at　my　side　once　more。〃
　〃You　are　too　kind；　Your　Grace。　As　you　accept　these　terms；　I　am　then　instructed　to　offer　Lord　Tully　the　hand　of　my　sister；　the　Lady　Roslin；　a　maid　of　sixteen　years。　Roslin　is　my　lord　father's　youngest　daughter　by　Lady　Bethany　of　House　Rosby；　his　sixth　wife。　She　has　a　gentle　nature　and　a　gift　for　music。〃
　Edmure　shifted　in　his　seat。　〃Might　not　it　be　better　if　I　first　met　…
　〃You'll　meet　when　you're　wed；〃　said　Walder　Rivers　curtly。　〃Unless　Lord　Tully　feels　a　need　to　count　her　teeth　first？〃
　Edmure　kept　his　temper。　〃I　will　take　your　word　so　far　as　her　teeth　are　concerned；　but　it　would　be　pleasant　if　I　might　gaze　upon　her　face　before　I　espoused　her。〃
　〃You　must　accept　her　now；　my　lord；〃　said　Walder　Rivers。　〃Else　my　father's　offer　is　withdrawn。〃
　Lame　Lothar　spread　his　hands。　〃My　brother　has　a　soldier's　bluntness；　but　what　he　says　is　true。　It　is　my　lord　father's　wish　that　this　marriage　take　place　at　once。〃
　〃At　once？〃　Edmure　sounded　so　unhappy　that　Catelyn　had　the　unworthy　thought　that　perhaps　he　had　been　entertaining　notions　of　breaking　the　betrothal　after　the　fighting　was　done。
　〃Has　Lord　Walder　forgotten　that　we　are　fighting　a　war？〃　Brynden　Blackfish　asked　sharply。
　〃Scarcely；〃　said　Lothar。　〃That　is　why　he　insists　that　the　marriage　take　place　now；　ser。　Men　die　in　war；　even　men　who　are　young　and　strong。　What　would　bee　of　our　alliance　should　Lord　Edmure　fall　before　he　took　Roslin　to　bride？　And　there　is　my　father's　age　to　consider　as　well。　He　is　past　ninety　and　not　like　to　see　the　end　of　this　struggle。　It　would　put　his　noble　heart　at　peace　if　he　could　see　his　dear　Roslin　safely　w