CATELYN

"And so were the seasons of my love," sang Barbara Bracken from the back of her pretty red gelding. "And soooo were the seasons of my looooove."

Catelyn sighed. Barbara had joined the group heading to Harrenhal three days ago along with her sister, Jayne, and since then the entire party had been subjected to her singing, with only the occasional pause. It was not that Barbara had a bad voice, though it was rather deep for a woman-it was that her taste in songs tended towards the improper and ribald, things like 'The Queen Took Off Her Sandal, the King Took Off His Crown', 'The Lusty Lad', 'Her Little Flower', 'The Whirly Whorl', and 'The Bear and the Maiden Fair', a particular favorite which she had sang at least half-a-dozen times. 'Seasons of My Love' was fairly mild in comparison.

Perhaps she has listened to me after all, thought Catelyn. When Catelyn had broached the subject, Barbara had given a booming laugh and declared "And you a woman wed! And with a child yet!" But today, her songs had been things like 'Durnwald', 'The Day They Hung Black Robin', and 'Sing Soft My Lute'-some daring, some sweet, but none too improper. And many of the others enjoyed her voice. Her little brother Edmure had particularly enjoyed 'The Day They Hung Black Robin', and sung along with 'Durnwald'. Indeed, even now he kept glancing back at Barbara as she sang, in a rather disturbingly admiring manner. Catelyn shook her head, and noticed her father was doing likewise. A woman like Barbara was bad enough for Edmure to get involved as she was, with seven years on him, and few unsightly rumors. But add that she was a Bracken... The Lord of Riverrun cannot make Raventree an enemy. Catelyn glanced at the young Blackwoods, all making sure to keep a healthy distance from the Bracken sisters and their retinue. I suppose I should consider it fortunate that Tytos Blackwood and Jonos Bracken aren't here as well. Both Lords were heading armies in the war, far away from each other-Lord Blackwood involved in the efforts to retake Nightsong in the Stormlands, while Lord Bracken remained in Tumbleton, having taken over command of the Riverland armies there from Ser Stevron Frey, now even later than his father, having actually expired.

But the little cluster of Brackens and Blackwoods were only some of the guests with them. They had Pipers from Pinkmaiden, Vances from Atranta, Vances from Wayfarer's Rest, Mallisters from Seagard, amongst other Riverlord families... and a few more unusual guests, most of whom had wound up riding together in a little cluster towards the back. She looked at the little cluster. "Oh, no," said young Tyrion Lannister, his squashed little brutish face looking grave. "No, despite what you hear, we don't have golden chamberpots in the Rock," he said. "Much too pricey. And cold. But we do have gold goblets, and gold plates." The young Dwarf had come from Casterly Rock by route of the Golden Tooth, proceeded by ravens, accompanied by Lannister guardsmen and Vances. "I have come to see off my brother at Harrenhal," the misshapen young noble had declared boldly, without a hint of fear, and no one had thought to question him. Poor little thing, Cat found herself thinking. What it must cost him to come here and hold his head so high, looking like that, and with a brother like the Kingslayer...

"Father has a jade goblet!" said young Aeron Greyjoy excitedly. "From the far east! He got in the Basilisk Islands! He's been there many times!"

Urrigon Greyjoy nodded along. "And the Summer Isles too!" He leaned in close to Tyrion's ear. "His man Dagmer says the girls there..." And then his voice became a fervent whisper, as he told the Imp of Casterly Rock whatever details on Summer Island women he had picked up second-hand.

Catelyn shook her head. Those were some friendships she'd never thought possible. When the Greyjoys arrived along with the Mallisters, young Urri and Aeron had snorted to see Tyrion on a horse. The dwarf had frowned, and ridden his mount towards the pair so fast the inexpert young ironmen were toppled from the backs of their little ponies trying to wheel out of his way. And then Tyrion had had his servants help the pair back on their mounts, had given them a little instruction on riding, and within a day, turned the pair into his devoted partisans. The three had ridden together, told jokes together, and sung along badly to 'The Bear and the Maiden Fair' together. In its own strange way, it made a great deal of sense-Tyrion and the Greyjoy boys were both outcasts and strangers here, amongst the riverlanders. They were probably the only company they were going to enjoy on this trip. Like as not, they'll forget all this in a month or two, she thought. Still-not everyone seemed to think so little of it.

The two boys' elder brother Victarion rode unsteadily on his horse, and spent his time glaring at the pair, as they chatted and laughed with young Tyrion. Catelyn frowned. With a land filled with men like that, she found she could not blame Lord Quellon, wishing his younger sons to get out and see how they lived in the other lands.

"Why, Lady Stark," said Barbara Bracken, riding up beside her. "You, a married woman, looking so fixedly on young Victarion over there." She shook her head. "Shame, shame." And with that, Barbara gave another one of her deep laughs.

"I was merely thinking of things," said Cat, glancing ahead on the road, and wishing that she was already at Harrenhal.

"Mmmm, I can imagine," murmured Barbara, her brown eyes mischievous. "Mayhaps you could clarify a matter I've been thinking of, being married to a great Northern lord and all. I've heard from some that your Northerners' have members that are cold like icicles. And I've heard from others that they are wild, and howl like wolves when they take their pleasure in a woman." She gave a wicked smile. "Would you care to tell me which it is? I'm thinking of trying to snare meself a fine Northern husband, but I'd like to know what circumstances I'd be in, in the marital bed." Catelyn felt her mouth tighten and her cheeks burn, as Barbara watched. "Ahh. So it's the icicles then. You have my condolences." And then with another booming laugh, Barbara Bracken rode away.

Do not rise to her, Catelyn reminded herself. She is... ill-mannered, and no better than she should be. Barbara's mother had died when she was young, and Lord Jonos had responded by leaving most of his daughters' education to their wet nurses, rather than bothering with a septa. In Barbara's case, it most certainly told. Glancing ahead, she saw a familiar set of misshapen towers come into view.

"Behold, Harrenhal!" said Tyrion Lannister. "The largest castle raised by man!" He glanced at Aeron confidently. "Casterly Rock is bigger, of course, but it was not raised."

Aeron stared at Harren the Black's castle with his eyes wide. "It's... it's..." He shook his head. "Why'd he build it so far inland? His longboats..."

"Were based off the God's Eye," answered Tyrion, gesturing to the lake.

Urrigon shook his head. "It's still... he could have built half a dozen castles with those stones, and put his men in them. Ruled over every river crossing and every stream." He gave an assured nod. "That's what I would have done."

"Well, I guess Aegon the Conqueror was fortunate he had to face Harren Hoare, and not Urrigon Greyjoy," said Tyrion.

"There was a Urrigon Greyjoy then!" said Aeron. He blinked. "Well-in Harren's father's time! He told Halleck that it was madness to try the Bloody Gate again, after being repulsed twice. So Halleck tied to the end of the battering ram when he tried again."

Urrigon shook his head. "Bloody Hoares. Bastards deserved to burn."

Aeron continued to stare at the huge ruin of a castle. "I wonder what he thought, when all he built turned to fire..."

"I imagine it was something like, 'oh, I do hope that I just spilled some wine in my lap'," said Tyrion.

The brothers Greyjoy considered that moment, and then burst out into loud laughter.