Thank you to everyone who has favourited or is following the story.
ATP: Yes, Joffrey did, in secret. With Ned's death they weren't involved in the southern events.
So rebels?
They barely dismount when Arya and Bran run towards them.
"Robb. Jon," Arya cries. Her face is shining, her smile is wild. "Have you heard? We are rebels now."
Bran catches up with her, and stares disapprovingly.
"No, we are not. And mother asked you to stop saying that."
"Quiet, silly. Don't ruin it."
Robb embraces her but his eyes search the castle.
"Arya, where is Sansa?"
"With mother." Arya steps back, her expression is serious now. "She is alright. Really. She is stronger than you would think."
"I know she is. But I want to see her."
Catelyn is glad that she has Robb and Jon home, that she can see Sansa in her brothers' arms. Safe. She has so many questions about the campaign's success, about the fights, the first real ones of their life… but those have to wait.
She holds a letter in her hand.
"King Joffrey confesses that he was so eager to meet his beautiful bride that he may have chosen his words improperly when he gave orders to his knights. He is begging for our forgiveness and ensures Sansa of his remorse and compassion… and so on. Not important." Catelyn casts the letter aside, disgusted. "According to Lord Tyrion, Tywin Lannister dictated every single word of it. And I believe him."
Now, Sansa speaks in a low voice. "He also said that King Joffrey doesn't even know such things as remorse and compassion. And he certainly can't feel them."
Catelyn nods and picks up another parchment. "What really matters though is this letter. Apparently, Lord Tywin didn't trust that they could achieve anything with the first one."
That Joffrey Baratheon's word – prewritten for him or not – is worth anything.
"He admits that he made a mistake when he didn't pay close enough attention to what his grandson was doing and who had whispered advices into his ears. But he vows that it won't happen again."
"And what does he offer?" Robb asks sternly.
Standing in the centre of the Great Hall, Tyrion Lannister looks between Grey Wind, Ghost and Storm.
"Ah, more wolves," he says wearily. "And more Starks," he adds glancing at Robb and Jon. "Such a pleasure."
"I am Robb Stark, Lord of Winterfell and Warden of the North."
Lord Tyrion bows.
"It's an honor to meet you, my lord. Although, I would have been more pleased with a cheerful occasion."
"So would I."
"I suppose you made a decision in my case."
Robb shows him the letter. Lord Tyrion saw the previous one but they have not spoken to him about that.
"Your father, the Lord Regent states that you are innocent in this disgraceful affair… as he called it."
Lord Tyrion's mouth twitches. "Refreshing change in his general opinion about me," he replies in a bitter tone.
"King Joffrey and Ser Arys alone bear the responsibility," Robb continues, reading the letter. "His Grace is young and reckless, but Lord Tywin will take care of him. On the other hand he gives the judgment of Ser Arys in our hands. He is released from service as a kingsguard."
Though, if someone like Arys Oakheart or Meryn Trant could have been a member of it, the Kingsguard is rotten, with or without them.
"In addition, he is planning on sending us forty thousand gold dragons as compensation for the crimes of Ser Arys and Ser Meryn."
"Generous amount of money," Lord Tyrion nods.
"I presume it's a kind of ransom for your safe homecoming as well," Robb notes.
The man looks up at him with curiosity. "Would you allow me to go home?"
"I think I must." He does not like it, but Lord Tywin suggests a reasonable compromise – as long as Tyrion Lannister proves innocent in the abduction. For now, it seems he is. Robb, however, has his doubts. He has doubts about all the Lannisters after what happened. "And when you arrive to your lord father," he says, "please, tell him this: I hope he will triumph over his enemies and peace returns to the Seven Kingdoms. But I won't lift a finger to help King Joffrey."
