8 Chapter 8 Tyrion, Jon, Catelyn

Tyrion.

"Two weeks, he won't be coming back," Tyrion thought, remembering how his brother, looking like a wretched soul, shed his white cloak and departed for the Wall after telling Cersei to her face that she was a miserable bitch.

Unfortunately, that wasn't the only thing his brother said; it wasn't the worst either. He had responded to his reason for killing the Mad King while informing them at the same time that the city could burn at any moment if they did nothing to prevent it. Therefore, with nothing else to do after taking care of his own personal affairs, Tyrion summoned two guards, placed a dagger at Varys' throat, and forced him to lead him to where the wildfire was hidden. Although Varys cooperated without resistance, Tyrion wanted an excuse to slit his throat, which he didn't achieve.

After confirming his brother's story, Tyrion went to the pyromancers, the only ones mad enough to dare manipulate wildfire.

Now, Tyrion oversaw as the pyromancers took inventory of the third cache, located beneath the Great Sept of Baelor. Tyrion had given priority to the one beneath the Red Keep and had left the one beneath the brothel for last, as there was a cache in almost every landmark in the city.

"Seems we won't lack for warmth when Stannis reaches the city," said Bronn, who stood guard by his side, directing a group of a hundred Gold Cloaks to ensure no one entered to see what the pyromancers were doing beneath the sept.

The wildfire would be transported during the night, and no one would find out about it. Tyrion grimaced because the mercenary referred to Shae.

"I had grown fond of that whore," Tyrion said sincerely.

Tyrion had hesitated a bit when she, tears in her eyes, swore that she had nothing to do with his father before he escorted her out of his home and banished her from the city. He wouldn't give his father the satisfaction of throwing a tantrum. Moreover, what Jaime had told him about their father having a fetish for his prostitutes had made his skin crawl at night, and he had made the decision to never, ever, under any circumstances, seek out a whore again. In fact, he couldn't even think of a prostitute without shuddering from head to toe, recalling his brother's words.

"It could have been worse," Bronn said.

Tyrion looked at him coldly. His father had placed a spy beneath him, and he hadn't even imagined it. There wasn't much that could be worse than that, especially if he thought about how chilling what would come next might be.

"You could have fallen in love with her. You were getting closer," Bronn said.

"Damn, that would have been a real disaster," Tyrion said, though he couldn't get over the disgust of what his father did, but it would have been a big problem.

Tyrion had to admit that Shae attracted him enough to fall in love with her.

"So, off to the Wall," Bronn said, kicking a rock at his side. "That Winter Wolf, I don't think getting close to him is wise. Have you thought that war is overrated? A couple of assassins could rid us of that headache," Bronn advised.

Tyrion recalled again how his brother had walked away from him, as if saying goodbye to this world. Begging him not to look back and to live for the future, because the truth would shatter his soul, just as it had already happened to him and he couldn't fix it either. So, he would lose his soul for nonsense.

Tyrion wondered what truth that was, but remembering how his brother looked, his curiosity recoiled as if burned by fire.

"You can't fix it," Tyrion remembered. If he couldn't fix it, what was the point? His options were to live in blissful ignorance or know the truth and accompany his brother.

Tyrion shook his head. His brother was the most stubborn and obstinate person he knew. If he ended up like this, Tyrion didn't want to imagine what state he would be in after learning this truth that tormented him. So, it was his fear of pain that held him back.

"That sounds like an excellent idea, but there's no money to hire assassins," Tyrion said, shaking his head.

"They say the Winter Wolf has plenty," Bronn said. Tyrion looked him up and down.

"It's a good idea, but assassins don't work on credit," Tyrion said sadly.

"Well, at least our men are motivated. They say rivers of gold are flowing beneath Riverrun right now," Bronn said.

"Bronn, if you want to go, you can, but when the Winter Wolf catches your greedy ass and does the same thing to you as he did to my brother, please refrain from coming to visit me," Tyrion said earnestly. Bronn burst into laughter.

"I'm serious!" Tyrion scolded.

…

After a grueling day of work, Tyrion returned to the Red Keep. His atrophied legs could take no more, but he was summoned to a Small Council meeting as soon as he arrived, as there was a letter from Stannis.

Tyrion read the letter under the watchful gazes of Pycelle, Varys, and Littlefinger. Cersei was there, but after her twin had called her a miserable bitch and accused her of sleeping with Lancel, she was always drunk and indifferent to any news. Tyrion wasn't bothered by this, as he had the entire city to himself, and no one cast a shadow over him…

"Uncle, we need to send word to grandfather and bring my army here," Joffrey ordered, that annoying fly that still buzzed around, but he wasn't an obstacle, just a minor annoyance.

Tyrion finished reading the letter, which in summary was Stannis' self-proclamation as king and the formal accusation that Cersei was a whore and her children were bastards. A rumor that was already circulating throughout the realm. Tyrion felt an urge to yawn, and he did.

"Your Majesty, my lords, this is merely a formal accusation of what we saw coming. Our enemies have spread rumors, and now they are preparing to reap the rewards. As for Stannis' self-proclamation as king, it's something we expected. Now we must decide how to respond to this and the rumors.

"Given that Stannis is fabricating baseless slanders, we'll respond in kind by spreading rumors about him. I've heard he has a daughter and also a fool who's quite attached to her. We'll start with that.

"This letter is also sealed with a flaming heart, and I've heard that Stannis now follows the Red God. We can use that to turn the Faith of the Seven and the devout citizens of this realm against him. Let's talk about dark rituals, burning people. Let's turn Stannis into a second Mad King," Tyrion said, looking at Varys, who nodded. He had been the one to tell him about Stannis' new religion. Then he looked at the rest. "What do my lords suggest we do?" Tyrion asked, observing his three useless assistants.

"If Stannis proclaimed himself king at the same time as Renly, we can assume they'll settle their matter between them before thinking about King's Landing," Littlefinger said.

"Yes, that will give us more time to prepare for his arrival," Tyrion said, and Littlefinger offered him a conspiratorial smile. "Do you have any plans to capitalize on this delay in the battle?" Tyrion asked directly, because Littlefinger seemed to want to prolong the conversation, and he was tired.

"I have a good relationship with Lysa Arryn. If I ask for her help, she won't refuse," Littlefinger said with a smile. That wasn't an action, it was a proposal. This man was demanding payment for his services.

"Bring the army of the Vale to defend the city, and I assure you, you'll be well rewarded with your spoils. Land of your own and a grand castle will be on the list," Tyrion promised, as Cersei wasn't in a condition to pick up on hints at the moment, and he had to take charge of everything.

"My Lord Hand, I'll do my utmost to serve my king," Littlefinger said and nodded toward Joffrey.

"Very well, bring me Stannis' head, and you'll be well rewarded," Joffrey declared. Tyrion looked at Varys.

"Varys, what can you tell us about the situation in the Riverlands?" Tyrion asked.

Lately, it seemed like Varys' role was merely decorative, and Tyrion trusted not a single hair on his powdered head. This man who had allowed them to live fifteen years with wildfire beneath their feet. If he wasn't planning something, Tyrion would do the same thing as the army of wildlings he had recruited from the Vale and cut off a testicle as compensation. But he knew such a thing wouldn't happen, and Varys wasn't trustworthy.

"My Lord Hand," Varys said solemnly, "my little birds no longer sing near the Winter Wolf. That wicked man has corrupted them, and I fear some have been feeding me false reports," Varys said sorrowfully.

"So even our spies don't escape the Winter Wolf," Tyrion thought, observing the fake sadness in Varys.

"Nevertheless, my little birds still fly, and we can learn a few things," Varys said. "The Northern army remains at Riverrun. The Riverlords are regrouping, at least those who survived their father's attack. Reports of the Iron Bank delivering a fortune to the Winter Wolf and his alliance with the Manderlys are true. They are building extra shipyards for them in Braavos.

"The Freys are preparing the wedding after old Walder Frey finished cursing the crown's rejection by his future son-in-law. Of course, he didn't dare to claim it, the Winter Wolf has such a bad reputation that his lords don't dare to contradict him, and Walder Frey is not yet part of his family, so he doesn't feel secure enough to complain.

"Your lord father remains at Harrenhal, gathering his scattered forces while raising a second army in his own lands to face the Northern army and the Riverlords. Roose Bolton lurks outside Harrenhal and has already killed several of the mercenary bands your lord father uses to raid the Riverlands, including the group known as the 'Bloody Mummers,' the band that had been the most successful in these attacks.

"He has also forced the Mountain to return to Harrenhal by laying several ambushes and killing nearly all his trusted men. This Lord Bolton is called the Leech Lord, and rumors say he has tasted the blood of a lion and liked it, so he's always on the lookout for your lord father," Varys concluded. Tyrion grimaced.

"Varys, refrain from using vulgarities like that in the future!" Tyrion scolded, feeling disturbed by any fetish related to his father. Varys nodded with a knowing smile.

"Maester Pycelle," Tyrion said, concluding the meeting and retiring to rest after having some wine.

…

Jon.

Jon, like all his brothers, discreetly observed the entrance of Castle Black, as the Old Bear had punished the boldest ones who tried to establish an observation post there. This was because the letter they were waiting for had arrived two days ago, and the news had leaked through the assistants of Maester Aemon, namely Samwell Tarly, his best friend, who had told him, and Jon had shared it with Grenn, and thus the word spread throughout the Night's Watch.

Today was the day. A Lannister would arrive at the Night's Watch. And it wasn't just any Lannister; it was Tywin Lannister's son and heir, Jaime Lannister, known as the Kingslayer.

Jaime Lannister had left King's Landing twenty days ago, and just three days after, a letter from his father reached the Old Bear, Jeor Mormont, the Lord Commander of the Night's Watch. In the letter, Tywin Lannister informed him that his son would present himself there in a few weeks and offered money for his safe return to Casterly Rock, threatening punishment and death if he dared to accept his son into the Night's Watch.

The Old Bear stood and walked to the campfire, tossing the letter into the flames. Jon glanced sideways, standing beside his chair. He couldn't help but look at what the letter said upon seeing the lion seal.

The Old Bear noticed that Jon was reading the letter, but he didn't say anything. Upon returning to his seat, he requested paper and quill to write to the Northern lords and find out what had transpired between Tywin Lannister and his son, and why Jaime was heading for the Wall.

Two days later, the rookery received over fifty ravens, including some not from the North. The Old Bear spent the entire day reading and cursing those who had sent unsolicited letters.

In summary, the Kingslayer had been captured by the Winter Wolf, and while he was his prisoner, the Wolf had crushed his arm. It was a dishonor to the North, so they offered him his freedom in exchange for lying about how he got injured. Jaime, known for breaking oaths, accepted.

The Northern lords agreed to a false hostage exchange: Jaime for one of the Stark girls, Sansa Stark.

However, Jaime didn't expect the Winter Wolf to show him any mercy while in his hands. Many lords swore they had seen him cry like a baby after being tortured day after day. But Jaime proved to be a coward, not revealing the torture or taking his own life. When the day of his release came, he was returned to his own. Still, his reputation was in ruins: the Winter Wolf had exchanged him for a girl, humiliating him, and it was said he couldn't even speak of his traumatic experience due to the torture. He was limited to reciting a rehearsed speech when asked about what happened.

It wasn't a surprise to anyone that Jaime Lannister, immediately upon his release, renounced his white cloak and fled to the Wall to avoid ever seeing those who had witnessed his disgrace.

Jon was left stunned as the Old Bear spat on the ground several times while reading the letters, scolding his brother Robb for being so cruel to his enemies and risking his honor, and the honor of the North, for small vengeances.

The Old Bear responded to the major lords, advising them to rein in Robb before they had their own "Mahegor the Cruel." According to the Old Bear, his brother still had a chance and only needed a firm hand. Robb wondered if he'd hold the same opinion if facing Robb as an enemy. He also knew his lord father would never approve of Robb's behavior if he were alive.

Jon didn't approve of Robb's actions. Maiming a prisoner and then torturing him, and not content with that, humiliating him before the whole realm during his release, which was still theoretically his responsibility, was too much. If Jon could speak to him, he'd grab him by the collar and ask him what the hell he was doing to their father's honor. It wouldn't be long before people said it was their father who taught him to be that way.

Two days after his confrontation with his friends in the training yard, Jon pondered and decided that, despite what those lords said, he knew his brother. Robb wouldn't torture a prisoner or maim him. Something had to be amiss, and he could find out as soon as Jaime Lannister arrived.

For all this, now that a letter had arrived from Eastwatch-by-the-Sea reporting that several ships had arrived with supplies and that one of them carried the Kingslayer, Jon was on watch for his arrival. The Old Bear cursed his stubbornness but left him be. As long as he didn't cause trouble, he could talk to whomever he wanted.

"They're coming, he's leading the way, his golden hair can be seen…" an officer gave a knock on the head to the storyteller at the gate and sent him to clean the kitchen.

Jon's heart began to beat fast due to the apprehension he felt. Ghost, who was lying beside him, got up and looked beyond the gate.

"Jon, remember to behave. The Old Bear threatened to send those who did anything foolish or caused a disturbance around the Kingslayer to the ice cells. Now he's just another brother; his past is behind him," Samwell Tarly reminded him, one of his best friends in that place, and an intelligent young man whom his strict father had sent to the Wall for being fat and preferring books to a sword. Jon smiled.

"Sam, I just want to talk, I promise. I hold no grudge against this man," Jon said to reassure him, but Sam frowned.

"Jon, their families are at war," was all Sam said. Jon grimaced.

"I'll try to keep my composure," Jon promised. "Besides, the expedition beyond the Wall is in a few days, so I won't have much time to get into trouble," Jon added. He also had the Old Bear watching him closely, Jon thought, looking at the two black brothers guarding him from the gate of the Night's Watch Castle.

…

Half an hour later, just as the unfortunate fellow sent to the kitchen had said, Jaime Lannister was the first to cross the gates of the Night's Watch Castle, followed by Yoren, a roving crow who recruited brothers from the Seven Kingdoms, and many carts of provisions covered with tarps. It was a great amount of supplies, and the Old Bear hurried the people to help the stewards inspect and arrange them. Jon joined these helpers.

"The Winter Wolf sends some things as a token of gratitude to the Night's Watch for fulfilling their duty," Yoren said, pointing to the provision wagons.

Jon helped unload a cart under the sidelong glance of the Old Bear and the supervision of his new personal guards, now numbering five and surrounding him, Jon realized bitterly. What did these guys think he would do? Throw himself with a dagger in hand at Jaime Lannister? He just wanted to talk and have him tell the truth about what happened with Robb.

"Are you Jon?" Jaime Lannister asked, and Jon tensed.

Jon had kept his gaze on the Lannister and noticed him looking at him, but he didn't think he recognized him, as they had only seen each other a couple of times in Winterfell, and he never gave any indication of having seen him.

Jon clenched his teeth, wondering if the Old Bear would take into account that he might also be attacked by the man his brother supposedly tortured until he cried.

Jon left the cart he was helping with and, surrounded by his five shadows, looked Jaime Lannister in the eyes. However, Jaime remained on his horse, while Jon stood on the ground about five meters away.

"Ser Jaime, this is the Night's Watch. Family grudges are left behind," the Old Bear warned, stepping away from supervising the carts to intervene.

"Nonsense, there's no enmity between this lad and me," declared Ser Jaime Lannister seriously to the Old Bear, then looked at Jon. "Jon, I once served your father. He was a man of honor and a loyal friend. I regret his death and the death of your siblings, which happened in my custody. I hope you can forgive me. I have no excuse other than my own pride," Ser Jaime said.

Jon was confused but grew indignant upon hearing what he said about his siblings.

"My father, Eddard Stark, was always a man of honor, and my brothers—"

"Ha," the Kingslayer interrupted with a snort. "Eddard Stark is not your father!" he scolded with indignation. "He was just another coward in this realm of cowards and traitors!" he said angrily. "Your father was Rhaegar Targaryen, your mother Lyanna Stark, and your brothers Aegon Targaryen and Rhaenys Targaryen.

"Eddard Stark is only the coward who snatched you from the hands of my brothers of the Kingsguard and hid you in the North to escape the truth and maintain the peace of this damned realm," the Kingslayer spat out.

Jon was paralyzed and couldn't move or say anything as the Kingslayer's words struck deep into his soul, reminding him of past events he had never paid much attention to. How his father never wanted to talk about his mother. How his honorable father had a bastard. How his birth didn't fit into the short time his father was in Dorne. Every small detail that had once passed through his mind by chance suddenly rushed back to him.

"Yes, lad, Eddard Stark is only your uncle, and one who raised you as a bastard, just so his whoremonger friend could sit on the throne that rightfully belonged to you. In the end, he gave you an honorable and fitting destiny, the heir of Rhaegar, but that was just a coincidence and was never his intention," Jaime concluded and kicked his horse to start moving. "My ass is frozen and sore. If you want to talk about your father or kill me for letting your brothers be killed, come see me tonight," he added as his horse moved forward.

"Samwell Tarly!" the Old Bear ordered furiously, and Sam, who was helping with the books, dropped them and rushed over to him.

"My lord?" he said with a tremulous voice.

"Watch over the ravens, and if a single scroll leaves that place, this time you'll pay with your tongue," reprimanded the Old Bear. Sam's eyes widened, and then he dashed towards the raven tower. "All exits are canceled. Officers to my office now. Jon Snow, continue helping with the provisions," the Old Bear ordered.

"Back off!" one of his guards reprimanded when Grenn tried to approach him.

"I just wanted to see if he's alright," Grenn complained.

"Well, look from there," his guard reprimanded. Jon looked at the sky, took a deep breath, and as his thoughts couldn't or wouldn't settle, he dedicated himself to work until night fell and the Old Bear summoned him.

…

"Have you gone to see Ser Jaime?" the Old Bear asked when he was seated in front of him. Jon shook his head.

"Do you think what he said is a lie?" the Old Bear asked. Jon shook his head. "Then?" the Old Bear growled impatiently.

"The only thing I've ever been proud of in my life is being Eddard Stark's son," Jon said. The Old Bear looked at him with understanding.

"They say Rhaegar Targaryen was a good and honorable man too. Only that matter of your mother's abduction tarnished his honor, but if the Kingsguard was watching over you instead of being with their lord, that means…"

"My father didn't abduct me!" Jon interrupted brusquely.

"And what if he did? What future awaited you in the hands of three Kingsguard without any support? The war was over, and the remaining Targaryens fled shortly thereafter. That would have been your fate too. Eddard Stark gave you a life, and in my opinion, a better one than exile," the Old Bear said. "Which doesn't mean you should deny your family or accept it, for you are now a Black Brother, and everything is behind you. Still, having a Targaryen and a Lannister on the Wall will be complicated. Now get back to your work, Stark or Targaryen, it doesn't matter anymore," the Old Bear concluded.

…

The Old Bear had him working until midnight, and Jon fell asleep as soon as he reached his dormitory.

In the morning, Jon was the center of attention for everyone, or almost everyone, as the Kingslayer was in the training yard and some brothers were interested in seeing if he was truly injured. When Jon passed by, he saw he was using his left arm because the right one was still splinted. But from the way he moved, it didn't seem to hurt him too much. However, he was a lousy swordsman with his left hand, and the new Master-at-Arms was giving him a beating, always being careful not to hit his splinted arm.

Jon watched for a minute and continued on his way, as he was the Old Bear's squire and needed to prepare his breakfast.

…

At noon, Jon went to the Raven Tower to collect the letters, finding himself in an awkward situation when Maester Aemon fixed his blind eyes on him.

"I, uh, have to fetch food for the ravens," Sam said and hurriedly left. Maester Aemon smiled, a weary, aged smile.

"They say you resemble your father not at all," Maester Aemon said. Jon grimaced. It was obvious he wasn't referring to Eddard Stark.

"They say he was a dragon, tall, handsome, and a prince like no other," Jon said.

Jon had heard a few stories whispered by Sansa, who worshipped anything bearing the word "prince," even Rhaegar, though very rarely.

"Yes, he was all of that. A prince like few, I would say, but not perfect in any sense," Maester Aemon said as he prepared the ravens' food that Sam was supposed to have fetched. "That traitor," Jon thought. "Your father wasn't a warrior, Jon. He was a man of peace. He enjoyed music, and his most cherished possession was a harp, not a sword. He was also quiet, meticulous, and kind to everyone. He had skills with a sword and other weapons, but I wouldn't describe him as a warrior.

"In fact, what defined your father was the melancholy he lived in. So, everyone is mistaken, you are the spitting image of your father, Rhaegar Targaryen," Maester Aemon said.

Jon wanted to retort that his father was Eddard Stark, but he didn't dare and left in silence.

…

"So, I resemble my father," he thought as he reached the courtyard, but he shook his head when he saw the Kingslayer and hurried up to deliver the letter he had collected to the Lord Commander's office.

…

The next day, things were busier than usual as everything was being prepared for the journey beyond the Wall. Jon also had work preparing the Lord Commander's things and his own. The Kingslayer had sworn his oath the day before, but Jon wasn't there to witness it, and he wouldn't be going on the expedition due to his injured, perhaps crippled, arm, though he didn't seem willing to give up his sword.

…

Catelyn.

Catelyn Stark paced back and forth on the terrace of the central tower of Riverrun castle. In her childhood, she used to play in this place with her sister Lysa, so it was a spot that brought happy memories, but at this moment, she didn't feel happy.

Catelyn was worried about too many things, the main one being her dying father, suffering from a deadly illness, languishing in tremors and hallucinations.

The second was the hostage exchange her brother Edmure Tully was conducting with Tywin Lannister halfway between Riverrun and Harrenhal, and finally, her own son, Robb Stark, who had departed for the Westerlands, as rumors suggested that Tywin Lannister was raising a second army there with the intention of destroying him.

Catelyn didn't know the details of the plan and was very worried because they were invading the lands of the Lion, and in enemy lands, the advantage always lay with the locals, who were the lords of the Westerlands. Fortunately, Tywin Lannister remained in Harrenhal, besieged by Roose Bolton's host, one of her son's closest lords whose merits had far surpassed the other lords in this war.

Catelyn didn't like this. Roose Bolton had a bad reputation in the North. She had also heard that he didn't respond appropriately when banners were called. Despite this, her son had left him In charge of his second army without hesitation, entrusting him with three thousand men, including many of his minor lords and some of their heirs.

Roose Bolton had used this army to audaciously attack Tywin Lannister, resulting in the loss of more than two hundred men, and Tywin capturing another eight hundred, including Willys Manderly, the heir to Wyman Manderly, one of the most important lords for her son in this war.

The Manderlys depended on relations with the Braavosi, who were the major economic support for her son in this war, and Tywin Lannister knew it.

The entire realm knew that her son had dealt with the Iron Bank and obtained gold from them. What they didn't know was that gold wasn't the only thing they got, because there was much more. However, Robb only discussed it with the Braavosi representatives and the Iron Bank in secret, in the presence of his uncle Brynden, his brother Edmure, Rickard Karstark, Maege Mormont, Wendel Manderly, and herself. On the Braavosi side, Tycho Nestoris and the representative of the Sealord of Braavos, Torden Fregar.

Grey Wind stood guard at the gate, and beyond it, ten of Robb's guards were ordered to kill anyone who had lost their way to the bathroom and was found in the vicinity.

Catelyn could only blink at that order. Her son had also threatened her brother Edmure, warning him that he would hold him directly responsible if any word from the meeting leaked.

Catelyn didn't understand this either, as there was nothing to hide in the meeting. Her son had ordered the construction of a fleet, requested food to prevent the common people affected by the war from starving, and had also commissioned weapons and armor.

With all the gold he had received, he hadn't spent even half of it to purchase everything he asked for. The most expensive was the fleet of two hundred armed warships, whose crews would be a mix of Braavosi and Northern men, primarily from Wyman Manderly. Everything was normal, as they were at war. Anyone could imagine that her son would ask for ships and also weapons and supplies for his supply lines.

The only thing that wasn't normal was the price of the ships, which was ten times what a warship should cost. This prompted Rickard Karstark to draw his sword when Maege Mormont and Wendel Manderly explained that they were being charged ten times the normal price for the ships. However, her son ordered him to sit down and only thanked the Braavosi for giving him a discount, to which the representative of the Sealord shamelessly nodded, saying it was the way his lord showed gratitude for the ship designs and for sharing the new weapons with them, not minding the slaver cities that would surely pay more. That was odd.

Catelyn knew her son hadn't designed any weapon plans because she had drawn and written everything. The only strange thing was that steam engine. She hadn't drawn any swords, bows, crossbows, or spears. Not even armor. Robb hadn't drawn them either. He might have written them, but she was the one who wrote…

Well, she didn't even know what she wrote, and her son had come up with a bunch of strange words. Gunpowder, cannons, bullets, steam engine, hydraulic brakes, cellulose, nitrogen, nitrates… Catelyn had to admit she understood none of what he wrote, nor did she understand what he drew. Nothing made sense to her, but she supposed that if it made sense to the Braavosi, who had come all the way for that purpose.

Catelyn had also seen the steam engine, or at least that little toy her son made that actually moved on its own. Besides that, her son had written a book on his own, and she had designed the cover. This book was titled "Usage Instructions" and was as thick as the one she had written. Still, Robb didn't want her to see its contents, which mortified Catelyn, as her son's handwriting was terrible and he tended to write with many corrections and ink blots.

Catelyn couldn't do anything to convince him to let her write the second book as well. Her son had become extremely mistrustful. To help him, he found a locked room and set up a workshop there. This workshop was guarded by ten guards at all times with orders to kill anyone who entered, including her. The workshop door had three locks, of which Robb held the keys. She couldn't enter at will; it was her son who opened and closed it.

After finishing writing the book he had given her, Robb ordered everything in the workshop to be taken outside, and he himself set fire to it all, not moving until materials worth hundreds of gold coins were reduced to ashes.

Catelyn had never met someone so mistrustful; she didn't know her son, and she had told him so, but he just nodded, telling her that everything she believed had changed due to what he now knew, and he couldn't tell her. Maybe one day, when he felt safe. From his actions, Catelyn suspected that day would never come, but she couldn't do anything.

Robb didn't obey her. He listened, but didn't heed her. He did what he said, and anyone who opposed him received a warning glance. Her son had become ruthless and cruel. Catelyn had seen it with her own eyes and had heard it too, just like the entire castle, when he tortured Jaime Lannister.

Robb had also smiled when Roose Bolton's letter arrived to inform him of the results of the attack they had planned against Tywin Lannister, when Tywin set an ambush for the army that had been raiding his supplies.

Robb had smiled with happiness as he read about the death of two hundred men and how, after capturing eight hundred men, Tywin Lannister adhered to his plans and despite surviving, didn't order the survivors to be executed. This was because they held over two thousand prisoners from the western lands, including his son and his brother Kevan Lannister's sons.

Against this backdrop, her son had planned the attack and ordered his men by letter to surrender if surrounded and unable to escape, but to kill as many of Tywin Lannister's battle guards as possible. Catelyn had been scandalized because those were murder orders; the battle was merely an excuse.

Her lords had protested too, because the battle guard was a position of honor, and the sons and heirs of the western lords would be there. This meant they would want revenge, and it was possible that along with Tywin's anger, if he survived the attack, the prisoners would also be executed. Then, due to honor's demand, they would have to execute their own prisoners, turning her son's plan into a slaughter.

Her lords disagreed, but her son ignored them and sent his orders. Then he smiled with happiness upon receiving the results while his lords looked at him with displeasure, and Catelyn felt like crying, wondering what had happened to her son, and wondering what her late Ned would have thought…

Catelyn pushed her thoughts aside as her eyes caught movement in the distance. It was an army, and ahead of them, everything looked white from the peace and Seven's Faith banners, indicating that negotiations had gone as planned.

Catelyn nearly fainted with relief. She had always feared that Tywin would lie in his letters and already killed the prisoners due to Robb's actions. So these negotiations would be the end of her brother's life.

Catelyn hurried down to the lord's hall followed by three guards Robb had left for her, as she couldn't trust her own family. Even in her own house, her son had ordered a three-man guard for her, threatening them with their lives if they dared disobey his orders. Robb completely ignored her, as he did the Riverlords, who saw his orders as a gesture of distrust toward them. But her son merely gave them a cold, disdainful look, indicating their opinions were worth nothing to him. Catelyn could do nothing; her son no longer paid her any attention.

…

Edmure and the lords accompanying him entered the great hall half an hour later, accompanied by a multitude of the main prisoners captured by Tywin Lannister.

"They're all here!" Edmure declared in annoyance.

Catelyn nodded and hugged him. Her brother was still angry because Robb had ordered him to wait there to see what Tywin Lannister would do after he had destroyed his army. There was also the matter that in the prisoner exchange, Robb had demanded all his captured men, regardless of whether they were peasants, in exchange for Westerlands knights.

In the eyes of the lords, this was a great loss, even more so since Tywin Lannister also held other prisoners from the Riverlands. But Robb had demanded his men first, and the fate of the other prisoners would only be discussed after his men were returned. Robb warned Tywin that if he killed one of his peasants, the first heads to roll would be those of Kevan Lannister's sons. Another matter that would surely irk Tywin Lannister.

Certainly, the Riverlords and her brother Edmure were angered by these negotiations, as their prisoners weren't enough to exchange for all the Riverlands prisoners, and they had to pay in gold for them. This gold was lent by Robb and the payment wouldn't have interest, but it didn't placate the Riverlords or her brother.

"Edmure, the Braavosi ships are still arriving, your weapons and armor have been replenished, and the extra supplies have also arrived to equip the rest of your troops," Catelyn said to deliver good news to her brother, who sat in his chair while looking at the released prisoners, as if remembering the snubs Robb had given him and his lords.

"And the fleet of ships?" he asked.

"The timeline wasn't wrong; it's still a maximum of one year for the first ships to be delivered, and a minimum of eight months," Catelyn said.

"I heard one of their craftsmen boasting that they were building a ship daily in their shipyards," her brother grumbled. He had left specific instructions to inquire whether it was true that the ships they were building for Robb would take a year to arrive, and he couldn't believe it.

Catelyn thought that by the time those ships finally arrived, the war would already be over and they wouldn't be useful.

"At least the supplies arrived on time," Catelyn said, as with everything that had arrived, people wouldn't die of hunger, and the entire army would be armed, including the peasants whom Robb had provided with steel breastplates, helmets, and lances.

For the troops he had taken with him, he had raided the southern lords' reserves, promising not to charge them the gold he had borrowed if they yielded to his demands. This had angered them as well, since they believed he first forced them to pay ransom and then indebted them to him, taking their weapon reserves for his army. But in the end, the Braavosi brought the weapons and armor that Robb had raided, along with many more supplies. So, the lords no longer felt cheated, and Edmure's expression was proof of that.

"Good," Edmure said with evident relief. He looked at her with dejection. "Cat, I swear I don't know what the hell your son is thinking. I don't understand anything he does, and he refuses to explain the sense of his plans to anyone," he said with a sigh.

Catelyn could only agree in her mind because, like her mother, she had to show confidence in her son's actions, even though like everyone else, she didn't understand anything he was doing.

"Has the Kraken's son left?" her brother asked.

"As soon as Robb departed," Catelyn said.

That was another decision Robb had made on his own, ignoring everyone who warned him not to let Theon Greyjoy go, as his father, Balon Greyjoy, was not at all trustworthy…

Catelyn interrupted her thoughts as a group of silent sisters entered the hall, and behind them, guards carried a wooden box bearing the signs of the Faith.

"Cat, these are your husband's bones, sent from King's Landing as a gesture of goodwill for the exchange of Jaime Lannister. Although that was over a month ago, I suppose they didn't expect your son to have sent the Kingslayer before the deal was approved. We found them along the way, and since we also carried the peace banners of the Seven, they joined us," Edmure said.

Catelyn trembled, and tears spilled from her eyes.

NA 1: Of course, Robb would have powder and cannons made, but even though Braavos has skilled artisans, experts in shipbuilding, and detailed plans for constructing blast furnaces, accelerating the production of steel for cannons within a year is still lightning-fast for producing the first ships. So, in this war, there won't be cannons or firearms. Robb will have to make do with what he has now, which is not insignificant, since with a supply of food and weapons coming from Braavos, he has matched the Lannisters in economic resources.

NA 2: For the next chapter, we'll have Robb's point of view and the beginning of the second part of the war. We'll also learn the details of the downfall of Robb's battle guard and the reason they were sacrificed in his plans to secure his and his family's lives.

NA 3: There's a time gap between the first and second viewpoint, as well as between the second and third.

In Tyrion's viewpoint, two weeks have passed since Jaime left for the Wall. In Jon's viewpoint, a month has already passed since Jaime left for the Wall. And in Catelyn's viewpoint, two weeks have passed since the start of the expedition beyond the Wall. Therefore, these three viewpoints have covered almost two months of peacetime.