I said some time ago that I wanted to update this story more regularly. I'm afraid I've failed over the last month. On the brighter side, this is the first chapter out of a package of five. I will publish one per day, so I hope your wait will be worth it. We start with a chapter from Catelyn Stark's perspective.


CATELYN X

The wooden boards creaked under her feet. On her left, the land. Farms, fields, forests, mountains. And closer to her, traps. Some were visible, others required attention to be noticed, and the rest were purely impossible to see. Three lines of trenches succeeded each other. Only the middle one would be visible to any newcomer. The first and third were covered with branches, leaves and earth, hiding pikes that would impale the first to walk on them and break through the camouflage. Between the trenches, pits had been dug and covered in the same fashion, hiding other spikes ready to kill the upcoming enemies.

At the end of this series of traps, a huge wooden barricade of a few feet high, toppled by towers waited, swordsmen at its feet and archers on the battlements. Behind, more swordsmen and knights, ready to run and ride to any point where difficulties would arise. And behind them, the army camping grounds, and then the river. Behind, surrounded by this river, Riverrun with its own battlements, crenellations, bowmen and archers. Those were the only defenses which hadn't been built within the last few days.

After the visits from Lady Margaery and Petyr, Robb had tasked the whole army to prepare for a siege. Riverrun not being wide enough to welcome all their soldiers, Robb had a second line of defenses and fortifications built all around the castle. Any attempt to attack the castle of Riverrun would have to break through that first line. Fortifications included defenses on the three rivers that joined at the castle's level. Temporary bridges were built within the first line of defense to allow the men to travel at any point.

Her son's strategy was both simple and complex: hold Stannis away as long as they could. It was simple because the objective was clear. No pursue, no attack, only repel any attack on the walls. The complexity was in its application. They needed men all along these new fortifications, while maintaining a presence on the walls of the castle itself. This made for a very large circumference to cover. They needed men in front of those fortifications to take the first hit of the assault, and others behind to assist them with arrows and swords if need be. And they needed mobile units, mostly cavalry but also infantry, in retreat to intervene wherever the defenses would weaken.

Ned might have said that one man on battlements was as valuable as a hundred men in the fields, the area to defend this time was so large that Catelyn was no longer sure this would apply. Robb wanted to limit his losses and hold Stannis off, while they waited for the Vale to bring their reinforcements. Scouts told them the Knights of the Vale were very close to Stannis, maybe only a day or two of march. Stannis was at their door. They estimated he would be there before the end of the day.

"You don't have to worry, my lady. All these men are experienced soldiers. They will defend the castle to the death."

Brienne of Tarth followed her in her informal inspection of the defense system. The Maid of Tarth appraised the situation like a soldier, and her words were that of a soldier.

"What I fear the most, Lady Brienne, is that they will fight to the death, and that death will come to take them within the next few days."

"I'll make sure this doesn't happen to you, my lady. And that it doesn't happen to your daughter either."

Catelyn had ordered Brienne to take Arya to safety if Riverrun fell. The Knights of the Vale weren't far away. If Stannis defeated them before Petyr could arrive with Lysa's army, Lady Brienne and Arya stood a chance to reach their allies all the same. Catelyn couldn't protect Robb from the vicissitudes of war, but she could protect the only daughter she still had.

She thought of Sansa. What would befall her? Now that Lord Karstark murdered the two Lannister children, they could take their revenge on her.

"Lady Brienne, when you left Tarth to join Renly's army, did Lord Selwyn try to dissuade you?"

"He tried, my lady. I told my lord father I would go a few days in advance, and then he spent the time between my announcement and my departure trying to convince me to stay."

"He couldn't force you to stay?"

Lady Brienne displayed a smile with a sad expression. "He could have tried, but he would have failed. Just before I left, he told me…"

"Yes?"

She reddened. "He told me if I was to fight for a king, then I would better fight for the king I… for a king I believed in." Her voice almost broke up at the end. "Lady Stark, I know that I made an oath to you, and if you want me to ensure Lady Arya's safety, then I will. But you know as much as I do that Stannis is the man who murdered Renly Baratheon. He was my king, and I was his kingsguard. I have a duty to avenge him. Stannis will be here soon, and we will fight him. I want an opportunity to perform my sacred duty of kingsguard."

Catelyn noticed that she was looking at her with a pleading expression. She desperately wanted a chance to kill Stannis. Catelyn understood, more than she might imagine.

"Lady Brienne, I have known what it is, to want revenge over everything else. This is how I felt when my husband died. I still feel it sometimes, and my son and my daughter feel it all the time. But revenge comes with a price. I paid this price." She may not be done paying it yet. "And you don't want to pay it, no matter what you're telling yourself." She approached the lady knight. "Watch over my daughter."

Lady Brienne lowered her head to show she would obey. Catelyn resumed her round of the battlements, then rode back to Riverrun. On her way, she crossed many faces. Most men bowed on her passage, but despite their deference, she could see various emotions traveling through their eyes. Most were busy working and showed eagerness. They had been forced to stay at the same place for some time after the retreat from Stannis' forces, and now they were ready to deliver a new fight against the enemy. They all knew the Knights of the Vale were close and coming for them. They just needed to hold long enough, and then Stannis would be the one to be surrounded, stuck between the walls of Riverrun on one side and the standards of the Corbrays, the Royces and many more houses on the other.

However, there was also an awkwardness in many people. After Robb had executed Rickard Karstark, his men had deserted. Some minor houses sworn to the Karstarks followed them, though others remained. Robb' authority and the respect he inspired to his men dwindled, and without the alliance with the Vale, Riverrun might be a near empty castle. Edmure had lost too many bannermen to the Baratheon and the Lannisters. Robb couldn't lose any. It was already a miracle that so many bannermen of House Karstark remained loyal to their king, seeing not only did Robb behead Lord Karstark, but also allowed Lady Margaery Lannister to leave Riverrun with Ser Kevan, their most valuable hostage. They had no one to trade for Sansa now.

As Catelyn dismounted in the courtyard, a young woman with hard features approached her.

"You spare me the trouble of looking for you, Lady Stark. Your son just ordered me to find you. He wants to talk," Dacey Mormont told her.

"I'm coming."

She followed the Mormont lady, Brienne at her side.

"So, Maid of Tarth, has anyone caused you trouble here?" asked Dacey.

"No. Everyone has been very decent."

"Good. If you ever have any problem with anybody, you know where to find other women to give those lords a lesson. Even though I know you wouldn't need our help for that."

Catelyn had empathic thoughts for those women. The Mormonts of Bear Island were ruled exclusively by women since the day Ser Jorah Mormont, the son of Jeor Mormont, until recently Lord Commander of the Night's Watch, sold criminals to slavers. Ned had been on its way to the island when its lord flew away with his wife to Essos. Without any man left to lead their house, women like Maege and Dacey took matters into their hands. It wasn't difficult, as women had always played an important role through the history of House Mormont, bearing and raising their children one moment, fighting with lance and sword the next.

It wasn't a surprise that the ladies of House Mormont got along well with Brienne. Although women like Dacey hadn't met hostility in their family or on their lands when they seized the sword, no one could ignore the disapproval that all the other lords displayed, especially those from the Riverlands. Outside their homes, Dacey Mormont faced the same challenges as Brienne of Tarth.

"Are your men ready for battle?" Brienne asked, changing the subject as she was clearly uncomfortable talking about it.

"Aye, they are. Though I wish we didn't let that Lannister escape. I don't mean to insult your brother's people, lady Stark, but they're children. Since our king executed Karstark, they keep whining in their corner, whispering about it as if it was the worst of things Robb Stark could do. In Bear Island, we know what our duties are. Your lord husband would have done to Karstark the same thing as your son, had he been still alive. We don't betray our king, and we know only one king, the King in the North, whose name is Stark. What bothers our men is not that he executed Karstark, but more that he allowed the Imp's uncle to leave. That is the real blow to the morale."

As always, the Northerners spoke frankly. Catelyn wasn't sure all the Northerners thought that way. It was reassuring and frightening to see how some lords viewed the same decision as either unfit for a king, while others praised it but rejected another choice.

Robb was in his room. When they entered, he was in discussion with Roose Bolton. Jon Snow was with them.

"Leaving Karhold to the youngest son of Rickard Karstark would prove to be dangerous at best, my king. You killed his father."

"Rickard Karstark was executed, not murdered," Robb reminded his bannerman.

"To Harald Karstark, it won't change anything to the fact that you removed his head to his father. My son already sent me word that Karhold is preparing a rebellion against you. With Winterfell gone, the Ironmen occupying our west coast and our army in the Riverlands, this is not the right time to have one of your most powerful bannermen turn on you. Some of the minor lords under the authority of House Karstark remained loyal to you. A quick and decisive action against Lord Harald would quench his betrayal before it spreads. You can put him into chains or send him to the Wall, then betroth his sister Alys to whoever you see fit to rule Karhold."

"And who would that be? Your son Ramsay?"

"A possible option, though I suppose it wouldn't be appropriate for a bastard to occupy such a position."

The Lord of the Dreadfort had spoken coldly, without a hint of his feelings showing up. Catelyn wondered if the man had any feelings at all. Despite this, she couldn't miss the arrow he sent to Jon Snow through his last words, hinting that if Jon Snow could be an important advisor to Robb, then Ramsay Snow could certainly occupy a position.

"Let your bannermen take Karhold. Order House Bolton, House Umber and House Manderly to capture Harald Karstark and his sister. Your three most powerful bannermen taking down the house that betrayed the Starks. You will maintain the loyalty of your subjects this way."

Jon Snow chose this moment to speak. "The Karstarks have been loyal to us for centuries. And for now, we don't have any proof that Harald Karstark is preparing a rebellion. What if he remains loyal to us? Sons are not responsible for their father's crimes."

"I'll deal with Harald Karstark once we're back in the North," Robb declared. "In the meantime, Lord Bolton, I want your son to keep an eye on Karhold. No military action, only surveillance. If he rebels, then I'll have you and the Umbers and the Manderlys deal with it, but I won't fight a rebellion that may not exist."

"As you wish, my king," the Lord of the Dreadfort flatly replied, as always.

"You may dispose, Lord Bolton." The said lord walked away. He stopped before her. "Lady Stark." He turned to face her son once more. "I would have one more advice for you, my king. I suggest that when this battle is over, you abandon the Riverlands."

Catelyn was so shocked that she couldn't muster a reply to this. She wanted to tell this man how he dared to suggest such a thing. But he continued to speak as if she wasn't here.

"This kingdom is too difficult to hold. The loyalty of its lords is… fragile. And they were not as determined to avenge your father as we were, nor to mention the difference in faith and customs. Defending them against their enemies only caused us to lose time and men, not to mention it prevented us from facing the threat of the Iron Islands. As soon as this battle is over, we should just head North and leave them to deal with Stannis and the Lannisters, if this is still their desire."

The silence that settled was thick. And it was Catelyn who broke it.

"How dare you say such things? My brother is as dedicated to this cause as we all are."

"I doubt it. He was only related to Ned Stark through your marriage. Our army has marched on the south to help them. Had the wildlings breached through the Wall, I doubt the Tullys would have helped us. And ever since this war began, we've saved Riverrun twice. We even abandoned plans to take King's Landing for that. Since the Iron Islands attacked our shores, what has Edmure Tully done to help us? And what has he done to save Winterfell?"

He looked to Robb the whole time he spoke. Catelyn crisped her hand. She wanted to strangle that man. And then it flew…

"And what have you done to save my family? Your son let my children's home be sacked and burned. Your bastard let my sons die."

"Enough." Robb stood as he raised the voice. He wore the same expression Ned had when he acted as the Warden of the North. "I won't have any of this here. Lord Bolton, I thank you for your advice, but House Tully is our ally, and House Stark is linked to them through blood. I will not abandon them. Not when they've fought side by side with us since the beginning of this war."

"I understand, your Grace. I only hope they show you the same loyalty as you do show them."

On that, Roose Bolton left.

"I wish to speak to my mother. Leave us alone. You too, Jon."

All the others, Jon Snow, Lady Brienne and Lady Dacey, left the chamber. Robb came to hug her. He was a man now. Once she used to take him in her arms, after she cradled him. Today he was the one comforting her. He broke their embrace and looked at her. The lordly face was gone. Only the regret of the son remained in his eyes.

"You shouldn't have heard that, and he shouldn't have said these things in your presence." He went back to stand by his desk. "But you shouldn't have replied to his words." Some of the lord was back.

"I know, Robb. But what else could I do?"

"I don't blame you, mother. We are all on edge right now. But there is some truth in what he said. Uncle Edmure has not been of very good help so far. He's losing his bannermen one by one, and his soldiers… They fought valiantly, but Edmure is not good at waging a war."

She knew he was right, but she panicked as she heard her son speak this way of her brother. "Are you going to abandon him?"

"Of course not." The irrational fear that gripped her heart receded. "I'll never abandon my family. But once we've dealt with Stannis and the Lannisters, once this castle is free and the Knights of the Vale are here, I'll send most of my men north. I will leave a force here to help Edmure reconquer his lands with the help of the Vale… but I won't take the Westerlands or the Reach, or even King's Landing. Tommen Baratheon can have the Iron Throne if he wants it. It is of no interest to me. I'll just make sure the Riverlands hold, and that the Vale is safe, no matter whether they decide to join my kingdom or to remain in the Realm."

"The Lannisters will never accept this. They want you to give up your crown."

"Which will never happen. They'll have to make up their mind. The North is going to be an independent kingdom, whether they want it or not. They can fight it and lose more men to take back lands they cannot get, or they can accept it and keep the lands they already have. Once we've defeated them they'll have to accept the situation, anyway."

"And if they win? What if we don't defeat them?"

"It won't happen."

He looked straight into her eyes when he said that. Catelyn knew her son wouldn't move. He would never move. And she knew the Lannisters too well to assume they would ever move. Even if they defeated the army they had in the Riverlands, the Westerlands were out of reach. The River Road that connected Casterly Rock to Riverrun went through the Golden Tooth, a strong fortress that was almost impossible to take. The Lannisters could easily take lands east of the Tooth, but no one could occupy the territory west of it, except for the Lannisters, as long as the Leffords would hold. And the Lannisters could rely on the Reach to send armies again and again. As of Stannis, he would never let her house go. Their only hope was if their two enemies ended up fighting each other for a very long time, without any side gaining a decisive victory. This would prevent them from focusing on the Riverlands. This was very unlikely to happen.

"Why did you want to see me?" she asked.

"It was about Edmure. I know he is your brother, and I wouldn't ask you if there was any other way to know. Mother, do you think he could betray us?"

"What?" Again, she couldn't believe what she was hearing.

"I mean, not stabbing us in the back. Nothing like what Theon Greyjoy did. Truth be told, I don't believe a single second he could do that. Only… I had a conversation with Ser Brynden not long ago. He told me that if Edmure could, he would leave us to fend for ourselves and throw us out of Riverrun. Apparently, Edmure told him so."

Catelyn needed some time before she was able to provide an answer.

"He would never do such a thing, Robb. Your uncle… has his flaws. He's not perfect. He is arrogant, thinks himself more intelligent than he is. He was the only brother I had, the only man in the family who could succeed your grandfather. But he is a good man. He would never turn on you, nor turn on me. Family is more important than anything for him. No matter what your granduncle told you… if he said such words, it must have been in a moment when he was discouraged, when his words went farther than his thoughts. Words are wind, Robb. Don't judge him on a few words he might have said once."

Her son shook his head. "I know, mother. I… I guess I'm just tired, like we all are. I guess I just needed to be reassured. It was stupid to ask."

"If we cannot trust each other, inside the family, then who could we trust?"

"I know, mother. Please forgive me."

"Was it Lord Bolton who put that idea into your mind?"

"No. Well, at least, he wasn't alone. Times are difficult. There are so many river lords who defected that Northerners started to call every riverman a traitor. And then when I executed Lord Karstark, it was the other way around. Some of my lords blamed me for releasing Ser Kevan. Others took my defense and blamed Edmure because we are in his castle and the murders happened there. You have no idea how hard it is to keep both sides in good terms. I thought the news of our alliance with the Vale would lift spirits up, but then two children were butchered."

"That wasn't your fault, Robb," she told him after a while. This was Jon Snow's fault. She didn't understand how Robb could continue to hear his advice after he put the Lannisters on the track to discover the murders. At least, he was colder with the bastard, and Jon Snow was silent most of the time. Catelyn had to give that to the boy, he knew when he committed a mistake.

"I should have made sure they had proper protection. I should have known Lord Karstark better. I should have seen he would do something like that." He sighed. "How could I know one of my bannermen so bad?"

"When someone loses people he loves, we never know what he's capable of doing."

She thought about herself. What wouldn't she do to save the children she still had?

"I'm sorry for bothering you, mother. You may go. The day is coming to an end, and tomorrow will be busy."

"Really?"

"Stannis' scouts have been spotted. He will be here by nightfall."

"And the Vale? Lysa's help?"

"Our scouts couldn't spot them. Stannis covers his flanks very well. He doesn't allow anyone to circle his forces. Let's hope the Knights of the Vale arrive in time."

With that, their conversation ended. When they dined all together in the Great Hall later, she tried to guess how things were going between Robb and Edmure. Her brother seemed eager. When she asked him why he seemed like this, he told her that very soon, this would be over. Either they would win or they would lose, but this war was coming to an end. Catelyn didn't think so. Even if they defeated Stannis, they would still have to drive his forces out of the Riverlands, and to face the Tyrell-Lannister alliance. And then there would be the Ironborn to chase out from the North, and perhaps their islands to invade. She decided not to tell him, to not ruin his good mood. Still, the question her son asked her today kept throttling in her head.

Anyway, the dinner was cut short when it was announced that Stannis' forces were in line of sight. Right away most of the men, which was almost all the assistance, left the hall. Arya also made to move out, but Catelyn refrained her. When her daughter was about to argue, Jon Snow told her something in the ear. Arya remained with her, though she was obviously not pleased. She spent the rest of the evening listening to her daughter and Brienne talking about the upcoming battle.

Catelyn had a restless night. She couldn't find any sleep, too afraid that she was of what might befall them all in the morning. Brienne might have reported that it was very unlikely that Stannis would launch the assault right now, according to the guards she spoke to, Catelyn didn't feel reassured at all. She ended up going to see how her daughter fared.

Arya wasn't resting anymore than her mother. She sat still, her legs crossed, looking through the window of her room, all dressed in armor.

Catelyn hadn't approved, but Robb convinced her it might be as well that Arya be clothed for battle. Her daughter knew to use a sword and, if they had to escape, not only would it provide protection if they were ever in trouble, but people wouldn't expect the king's sister to dress like a boy.

"You're not sleeping?" she asked her daughter.

"You neither," Arya replied.

Catelyn walked to her and sat by her side. "Are you afraid?"

"Are you?" her daughter returned the question.

"Yes, I am," she confessed.

"I'm afraid as well. In King's Landing, Syrio Forel told me to use my fear in battle, like a weapon. But… I don't know how to use it outside of it."

Catelyn closed her eyes. She couldn't imagine what her daughter went though ever since Ned died. She was there when he was killed.

"We had a letter from Sansa." Arya turned her head to look straight to her at this news. Catelyn didn't know why she didn't tell Arya before. "She misses you."

"I miss her too. Is she alright?"

Catelyn pulled on the most reassuring expression she could muster. "Yes, she is."

"We will free her, won't we?"

"Yes, of course. Your brother will not rest until she's back with us."

"I know. My brothers won't rest until she is safe."

The jab about Jon Snow being Arya's brother as well didn't escape Catelyn's notice. She nodded. She didn't want to argue with her daughter.

"There will be battle tomorrow?" her daughter asked.

"It's very likely to be so. But we will win this time. Lysa sent us help."

Arya nodded as well. For hours they remained there, mother and daughter, until finally Catelyn drifted into sleep. When she woke up, she was resting on her daughter's bed, while Arya stood awake by her side, still looking through the window.

Someone knocked on the door. Lady Brienne's voice came through its wood.

"Lady Stark, your son is asking for you."

Catelyn followed her sworn shield. Arya wasn't far behind them. When they arrived in the courtyard, morning had settled, its light bright for an autumn day. Lady Brienne led them to the battlements where Robb and Edmure were waiting for her. Right in front of them, the might of Stannis Baratheon was assembled. The soldiers of the Stormlands seemed to cover all the land ahead of the fortifications their men built over the previous days.

"You see the same thing as we do," Robb told her.

"Yes, I see it." Stannis's army was much larger than she thought it would be.

"The banners," Edmure added. There was something that sounded like discouragement in his voice. Catelyn focused her attention on the sigil displayed at the front of this army. Her eyes grew wide with astonishment.

"Stannis called us for a parley. You're coming with us. Arya, stay here."

Numbed, Catelyn followed her son and her brother. Her mind was all fuzzy. She barely realized it when she mounted her horse and rode through the gates with Robb and Edmure, accompanied by her uncle Brynden, Jon Snow, Brienne and a few men to ensure their safety.

She slowly regained her senses as their mounts led them outside the improvised fortifications towards the small delegation awaiting them on the other side. Stannis Baratheon stood straight on his horse, his eyes as unforgiving and determined as ever, with two other lords by his side, one of them from House Florent and the other from House Velaryon, according to their sigils. Three guards accompanied them. When Robb and the others stopped right in front of them, Catelyn's gaze was attracted to the four other men who constituted the envoys of the opposite side. Two were mere soldiers she never met, the others she knew only too well. One she saw for the last time at Winterfell. He had sparred with her husband and Ser Rodrik Cassel, and hunted with them too. He was acccompanying his son to the Wall back then, where he would join the Night's Watch. He was stony-built, almost bald, and nothing seemed able to overthrow him. The other man was physically the total opposite, and Catelyn had seen him only a little over three weeks ago.

Yohan Royce, Lord of Runestone, and Petyr Baelish stood next to Stannis as the parley was about to begin, and the Knights of the Vale behind them were mixed with the forces of the Baratheons.

"We meet again, Robb Stark," Robert's brother declared.

"Aye, we do. And we meet again as well, Lord Baelish."

"My lord. It is always a pleasure to meet you."

Catelyn tried to perceive whatever regret, whatever hesitation Petyr might have had in his reply, but there were none. Nor in his eyes. When he looked at her, all she saw was self-satisfaction.

"Robb Stark, you swore fealty to serve me as your king, and then you decided to take that title for yourself, and with it half of my realm. Westeros only has one king. Either you serve the one true king, either you betray him. You made your choice long ago. But in the memory of your father who warned me about Joffrey, I'll give you one last chance. Kneel before your king, and I will spare your men who followed you. Refuse, and I will kill every man in Riverrun by nightfall."

Stannis Baratheon said nothing more. It was an ultimatum. Catelyn had witnessed his negotiations with his brother months ago. The man was a soldier. Either you obeyed or you were sentenced to death.

"Your Grace, I never wanted to be king. But my fellow countrymen chose me. I will not force them to follow you. I'm a Northerner, and I am the King in the North. I do not pretend to be the Lord of the Seven Kingdoms and I don't want to be. Just accept that the North and the Riverlands are no longer part of your Realm, and you will be free to fight the only people who want your throne. We can help you to fight them, if you still desire it. But we will not kneel before a southern king again."

Stannis Baratheon didn't seem surprised. "So you've made your choice. What about you, Lord Tully? Is that your choice as well, to follow a northern king?"

Her brother was pale, but his traits straightened and he raised his head to reply to the king.

"The words of House Tully mean something, your Grace. Family, Duty, Honor. You must understand. You fought the Mad Kind when your brother rebelled against him."

"So be it. We have nothing else to tell each other. You will all be dead by the end of the day."

"I'm surprised you have Lord Baelish in your army, your Grace," Jon Snow barked. "Especially after he made an alliance with Riverrun and the North."

Stannis Baratheon didn't seem moved by these words, nor was the man who was mentioned. "I don't care what Littlefinger told you. The Knights of the Vale decided to serve their king. If you don't believe it, read this." One of his guards brought a parchment to Robb. "You'll see the signature of your aunt at the bottom. In the name of her son, Robin Arryn, Lord Protector of the Vale, she declared her fealty to me. She might be late and maybe she never fought for me, but unlike you she never fought against me."

Robb stared at Littlefinger with pure hatred. "You were planning this the whole time. The visit you paid us was only a joke for you. You lied to us."

"I'm deeply sorry, my lord, but I am merely a consort who obeys the orders of his wife," Littlefinger replied.

"Your wife?" Catelyn asked, totally bewildered.

"Yes, Cat. As much as I would like the Knights of the Vale to side with you, they obey your sister, not me. And she clearly states that her lords are to fight for the one true king, Stannis Baratheon."

"First you betrayed my father for Joffrey, then you betrayed Joffrey for Stannis, and now you betray us again. What honor do you have?" Robb asked.

"Probably none, your Grace." For the first time, Lord Royce raised the voice. "I hate this man, believe me, and I condemn his treachery, but the orders of Lady Arryn and her son are clear. She swore her allegiance to King Stannis, so he's the only king I'm going to fight for."

"Lord Royce, how can you do this? You knew Ned. He was a friend of yours when he grew up in the Vale. And now you're going to fight his family?" Catelyn let her emotions speak.

The gaze of Lord Royce was compassionate, but his whole body told the answer before he voiced it.

"I appreciated your husband, my lady. He was a fine man. But I read the letter he sent to his Grace before his demise. Your husband believed in Stannis, and he gave his life for his claim to the Iron Throne. I shouldn't be fighting you, it is true, but it is also true that you shouldn't be fighting your true king. King Stannis promised us that nothing would befall you, my lady, that you and your daughters will be safe. But your son…" The Lord of Runestone looked to Robb. "You should never have rebelled against your king, my lord, no matter the circumstances. I'm sorry. The Lord Protector of the Vale has spoken, and if you are against Stannis Baratheon, then you are against us."

Robb turned to Stannis. "Be careful with that one." He pointed Littlefinger. "He will stab you in the back the first chance he gets."

"He won't get a chance to do it. Why do you think he's here? As military commander? He's only a consort, like he said. The Knights of the Vale are being led by Lord Royce. He's the one you'll have to face, not a brothelkeeper."

"Then we will meet on the battlefield, your Grace."

"And you will die there, Stark. Let's hope for some of your men that they have enough mind to desert before the end of the day."

And on that, Stannis Baratheon rode away. Catelyn shot a killing glare to the man she foolishly thought to be a friend. In return, she got a smirk. As soon as they were back inside their defense lines, Robb took her apart.

"Go back inside the castle. Stay with Arya."

He barely had time to speak that a boulder crushed an archer not far from them.


"Is there an idiot in any village who trusts Littlefinger?"

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Next chapter : Arya