Chris had returned to Riverrun. He and most of his lords were gathered in the great hall.
"Your grace, I have prayed for your safe return," said Lois. "I heard you were wounded."
"I took an arrow through the arm while storming the Crag," he said. "It's healed well, though. I had the best of care." He had an apprehensive look in his eyes.
"The gods are good, then." Lois took a deep breath. "They will have told you what I did. Did they tell ya my reasons?"
"Yeah, you let the Kingslayer go so you could trade him for Meg."
"I had three children," Lois said. "Now I have two."
"Yeah," said a lord named Bud Gleeful, "an' I had a brother, but I don't anymore cause the Lannisters killed 'im! You have robbed me of my vengeance."
Lois faced him calmly. "Lord Bud, the Kingslayer's dyin' would not have bought life for your brother. His living may buy life for Meg."
The lord was unappeased. "Jaime Lannister has played ya for a fool. You've bought a bag of empty words, no more."
"Leave off, Gleeful," rumbled Randy Marsh, crossing his arms against his chest. "It was a mother's folly. Women are made that way."
"A mother's folly?" Lord Gleeful rounded on Lord Marsh. "I name it treason."
"Enough," said Chris. "No one calls my mother a traitor." When he turned back to Lois, his voice softened. "If I could wish the Kingslayer back in chains I would. You freed him without my permission… but what you did, I know you did for love. For Meg, and out of grief for Dad and Stewie. Love's not always wise, I've learned. But when someone does something out of love, you've got to forgive them. Isn't that right, Mom?"
"Yep, that's right," said Lois. "I'll do whatever I can to make this up to you an' Lord Gleeful."
But Bud did not accept her apology. He just left the hall without saying anything.
"So, you forgive me?" Lois asked Chris.
Chris nodded. "If you'll forgive me."
"Wait, what have I gotta forgive you for?"
Pam came in then. "Mother," Chris said, "I have the great honor to present you my new wife, Queen Pam Griffin!"
"Oh, Mother have mercy, Chris, what have you done?" Lois exclaimed.
"I was with Chris when he got the news of Stewie's death," said Pam. "That night, I… I comforted him. If you know what I mean."
"And we got married the next day," Chris confessed. "It was the only honorable thing to do."
"I'll be a good wife for Chris, just like you were for Lord Peter," Pam promised.
"Walder Frey's not gonna be happy though," said Lois. "He only joined our side cause ya promised to marry one of his daughters."
"I know," Chris said, stricken. "I've made a mess of everything but the battles, haven't I? Maybe Uncle Patrick could marry one of Lord Frey's daughters instead."
"That's fine with me," said Patrick. "As long as she's not fat."
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William and Martin Lannister sat in their cell. Suddenly four or five guys came bursting in, with Bud Gleeful at their head, carrying an axe.
"Is this a rescue?" one of the boys asked.
"No," Bud answered as he swung the axe.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Everyone stared down at the two dead boys in front of them.
"Bring them," said Chris, his anger barely visible.
Lords Marsh and Glover dragged forward Lord Bud Gleeful and three of his men.
"Is this all?" asked Chris. "It took five of you to murder two little boys?"
"Not murder, yore grace," said Lord Gleeful. "My son said it was vengeance."
"Vengeance?" asked Chris. "Those boys didn't murder your brother, he died at Whispering Wood."
"At the hands o' the Kingslayer," said Bud. "They were his kin."
"THEY WERE BOYS!" shouted Chris. "Look at them."
"Tell yer mother to look at them," said Gleeful. "She killed them as much as I."
"My mother had nothing to do with this," said Chris. "This was your treason."
"Well pardon me, yore grace, but it's treason to free yer enemies," said Bud. "I thought yer father taught ya that."
Stan then punched Bud across the face at this.
"Leave him!" ordered Chris. "Where's his son?"
"We don't know, your grace," said Lady Mormont of Bear Isle. "He must have fled."
"Send your daughters out to find him," said Chris. "Lord Glover, escort Lord Gleeful to the cells. Hang the rest."
As Lord Glover dragged them out, one of the Gleeful troops called out pleadingly. "Mercy, your grace, mercy! I didn't kill anyone. I was just watchin' out for other guards!"
"Wait! This one was just a watcher," said Chris. "Hang him last so he can watch his friends die."
With that, Lord Glover dragged them away, with the trooper begging. "No, please! They made me! They made me!"
Chris then returned to his desk, exhausted.
"Word of this can't leave this castle," said Patrick. "They were Tywin Lannister's nephews. The Lannisters keep their debts."
"You're saying I should keep this quiet?" asked Chris.
"Pretty much, yeah," said Randy. "Maybe keep him locked up."
"We're supposed to be fighting for justice," said Chris. "We cannot do that if I don't serve justice to murderers in our ranks. Lord Gleeful must die."
"The Gleefuls are Northmen, Chris," said Lois. "Gideon won't forgive his father's death."
"For all we know the little monster probably put his dad up to this," said Stan.
"He's right." said Chris. "Lord Gleeful must die."
"Whoa, wait a minute, you just said that," said Stan. "I didn't even say he should die."
"If we do this, the other Gleefuls will abandon us," said Pam.
"Spare his life. Keep him as a hostage," said Lois.
"Yes," agreed Patrick. "A hostage."
"Tell Gideon that if he gives up now, he'll be unharmed," said Randy.
Meanwhile, Gideon had taken refuge in Harrenhal, He entered the hall and found Lord Bolton in the war room conversing with Jared, Aenys, Hosteen and Danwell Frey, and Aenys's brother in law, Ser Leslyn Heigh.
"Has Lord Walder been told?" he asked Roose Bolton.
"Yes, we should be well underway now," said Roose, as he burned a letter in the fire, the one with the seal of House Lannister.
