Catelyn wiped her eyes. It surprised her that she still had tears left to shed. They had found out about Ned before arriving at Riverrun. Then not too long after a raven had arrived. Sansa had proven herself a true Stark and had avenged her father, and then suffered the same fate. Anyone would agree that Catelyn had a right to grieve. She was a widow, had suffered the death of her eldest daughter, had witnessed the mangled corpses of far too many brave young men, and knew that her own father's time was drawing to a close. It was hard to remember just how happy she had been just months before. Ned had been at her side and all of her beautiful children had been hale and healthy. The worst burden she'd had to deal with had been seeing Jon Snow every day. She had always imagined that once he was gone from Winterfell she would be truly content.
Oh, how quickly she would return to those days if only she could!
From the moment Robert had arrived in Winterfell her family had been struck by tragedy.
Was all this really Robert's fault? Or was it mine?
Her own silent accusation clawed at her heart. What had happened to Bran could be blamed on Robert's visit and on the Lannisters. But the rest? How much of it was her fault? Had she not visited King's Landing? Had she not taken it upon herself to seize the dwarf and seek justice for her son? Would Ned and Sansa still be alive? Would all those boys who were dead on the battlefield? Would Robb, Arya, and her other children be in so much danger now?
I thought I was protecting Bran. I thought I was seeing justice done.
Tyrion had not been what she had expected, and much of what he had said had made sense. And after Petyr's betrayal she could not trust in what he had told her. The world was a sad place when you had more faith in the Imp than in a childhood friend you had loved like a brother.
She scrubbed at her eyes. Catelyn would grieve when she was alone. Now though she had to be strong. For the sake of the family she had left.
XXX
She found him in the godswood. Robb was standing before the heart tree reading from a piece of parchment. Near him was a small group of men huddled together whispering to one another. They were Theon Greyjoy, Greatjon Umber, Rickard Karstark, Tytos Blackwood, and her uncle Brynden. Seeing her, her uncle came to her side.
"There is news," he told her quietly. "We've had a couple ravens."
Catelyn reached out to get a hold of his arm to steady herself. "Arya? Is she?"
"No, no Cat," he said quickly. "We've had no mention of Arya at all."
"Thank the gods." She shut her eyes. "Ever since the raven that told us of Jon Arryn's death I've come to dread the news they bring."
"Well I can understand that. The tidings we received aren't dreadful, though I am not sure if I should call them fair or foul."
"What is the news then?" Catelyn asked.
She had not spoken as quietly as she had thought, for it was Robb who answered her.
"Two ravens and two pieces of news mother. First is a declaration from Renly Baratheon. He has wed Margaery Tyrell and proclaimed himself king."
"Not Stannis?" Catelyn said in surprise. "Does he support his younger brother's claim?"
"Who knows? We've heard nothing at all from Dragonstone."
"Who cares what Stannis thinks?" Theon said. Since Robb had finally spoken he and the others now approached. "Renly has the support of Highgarden and Storm's End. Stannis can't even muster the loyalty of his own house."
"The Greyjoy has a point," Tytos Blackwood said. "It doesn't matter if Stannis is the older brother if it's Renly who has the numbers."
"So you would have me bend my knee to him?" Robb asked placidly.
Catelyn was struck by how much he reminded her of his father. Even she could not tell if the suggestion pleased or upset him.
"I would have you join the winning side." Tytos said.
"Is that what all this is about?" Robb asked. "Being on the winning side?"
"It's about vengeance," Rickard Karstark declared.
Those words clearly displeased Robb. "I should think justice is the goal, not vengeance."
"So long as both mean killing Lannisters I don't see the difference."
"My lord," Catelyn said. "Robb summoned his banners to rescue his father and defend our smallfolk. The one is forever beyond our reach and the other is done. We ought now to think about the realm and about those who we can still aid."
"And what does that mean my lady?"
Catelyn chose her words carefully. Lord Rickard had lost two sons in the Whispering Wood, both killed by Ser Jaime Lannister. She well understood the pain he was feeling and his need for vengeance. But she still had living children to protect, and that came before all else.
"What I mean to say is that our priority should be the living rather than the dead." Though she addressed Karstark her eyes drifted to her son.
"Then you will be interested in what the second raven brought us." He held out the parchment to his mother. "It was sent by Tywin Lannister."
Her eyes widened. She took the message from him and began to read it. "Does he offer a truce?"
"No," Robb said. "He offers us peace."
Catelyn hurriedly saw that the message was indeed a peace offer, with the terms being quite generous. Robb would be confirmed as Lord of Winterfell and Warden of the North. He and all the lords and men who had served with him would receive full pardon for their actions up until now. All prisoners taken by both sides would be freed. The lands of the North and the Riverlands would be granted a two year exemption on payment of tax and tariff and they would not be called upon to provide troops or supplies. The only requirement was that the Crown be able to move troops and goods through their territory. She was staggered when she read an offer for five hundred thousand gold dragons in recompense for all deaths and injuries caused by the conflict.
But what truly caught her attention was the very last item, one that seemed added almost as an afterthought. It was the specific offer to return Arya Stark to them unharmed.
"Gods be good," Catelyn breathed. "This gives us everything we could hope for."
"I will not accept these terms." Robb said.
"What? But why not? What more could we hope to gain?"
"I won't make peace until I see the head of every Lannister on a pike."
The words they had spoken when they'd received the news of Ned's death came back to her. 'I'll kill them all.' Robb had said. 'We will get the girls back and then we will kill them all.' Was what she had said in return. Much worse than the memory was the sight of every man in the godswood nodding his head in approval, even her uncle.
Robb continued, his right hand tightening about the hilt of his sword. "Tywin says he will acknowledge me as Lord of Winterfell. That's generous of him since I am only Lord now because his grandson took my father's head."
"Do you think I've forgotten that?"
"I think if you kept it in mind you wouldn't be so swift to tell me to make peace."
"He says we should be granted pardon." Blackwood said. "For what crimes? Defending our homes and lands from Ser Gregor and his bandits?"
"Why should we let all our prisoners go when we've taken three or four times as many as they have?" Greatjon asked. "Why would we pay the crown any sort of tribute or lend them aid? He pretends that's generosity, but the truth of it is he can't collect any of it. He is trying to give us what's already ours."
"Aye, but the worst of it is the gold." Lord Karstark growled. "Half a million gold dragons to pay us for all we have suffered. We all know what this money is for. It's a ransom to buy back the kingslayer. Oh, he never mentions his name, but we all know Tywin wouldn't offer a bucket of horseshit for all the folk he's killed. It's his son's life that matters." Karstark turned to Robb's direction. "Only a coward would agree to this."
"Watch your tongue." Greatjon said. The man had questioned Robb's leadership not long ago, but was now completely devoted to his liege lord.
"I speak only the truth."
"I have already said I will not accept these terms. There will be no peace with the Lannisters." Robb said.
Karstark gave a grudging nod while the others looked on in approval.
Catelyn felt as though she were sinking into the earth. "Robb, I want vengeance too. I want to see Cersei and all the others responsible for your father's and Sansa's deaths to pay for their crimes. But think on what we have to lose. Think of all the lives you will save. This peace gives us everything we could ask for."
"Everything but justice."
"And just how much do we have to pay for justice?"
"How much have we already paid?" Karstark demanded. "My two boys are dead! They died fighting the kingslayer. What did they die for if we are going to just hand him back?"
"Lord Rickard I grieve for your loss," Catelyn said to him. "But nothing we do can bring your sons back to you. But if we accept these terms there are many other lives that will be spared."
"Like your daughter's? You would make all that we have suffered be in vain just to get your girl back."
"I do want Arya back. I won't deny that. But I also want to stop the fighting now that we can have peace on good terms."
"Cat," Brynden chided. "You are a good woman and a fine mother, but you don't understand war. There is no point in making a peace that can't last. 'A Lannister always pays his debts.' Lord Tywin is not the sort to forgive or forget a slight. It doesn't matter what terms he offers us now. If he wins this war, if one of his grandchildren sits the Iron Throne, you can be sure he will come looking to settle the accounts one day. Maybe not next year, or the year after, maybe not for five years or ten, but he will come one day. So long as that man lives we will never know real peace. That's why it's better to finish this now, while we hold the hammer."
Catelyn despaired to see everyone including her son nod his head.
"And what of your sister? Will you sacrifice her as well Robb?"
"Arya is already dead." Theon declared.
Catelyn whipped about and stared at him, mouth hanging open and face as pale as the fields beyond the Wall. "How do you know that? Have you received some news none of us have heard?"
"It's what I haven't heard that tells the tale." Theon spread his hands before him. "No one has seen or heard of Arya since Lord Eddard was arrested. They made all sorts of proclamations about him and Sasnsa, but never a word about Arya. If she were alive the court in King's Landing would make sure we knew about it. There are all sort of rumors that she was killed when they tried to take her or that she was tortured to death in a black cell when she refused to acknowledge Joffrey. What we know for sure is that if she were still alive we would know it."
"You know nothing!" Catelyn snapped at him. "The terms from Tywin specifically mention Arya's release to us."
"And would that be the first time Tywin Lannister ever told a lie?" Theon bowed to her. "I am sorry if I must be the one to tell you this harsh truth."
"Arya is alive and I will not believe different until I receive some proof."
"You are her mother. It's only natural for you to hold out hope for her." He looked about the grove. "Does anyone else think so?"
No one spoke. Robb lowered his eyes.
Catelyn stared at him. "Robb? Robb surely you don't believe it do you?"
He was silent for a long while. When he at last spoke it appeared he had come to a decision. "Bring all the lords in camp here come sunset, and bring Jaime Lannister as well."
"Robb what are you going to do?" She took a step towards him and reached out a hand.
"I am sorry mother, but I have much to attend to." He stepped quickly around her and left the godswood as swiftly as he could.
Theon and the others followed after him, while Catelyn could only watch him leave.
XXX
That evening as the sun began to set all the noblemen of the North and Riverlands who were present in Riverrun gathered in the godswood. Hoster Tully was too ill to attend, but his son and heir Edmure was present. They bore witness as the great Jaime Lannister was brought in, a half healed wound across his forehead and both hands tied behind his back.
If he was frightened he gave no sign of it as he stood before Robb and the heart tree.
"You know I've never understood you northerners and your worshipping trees. I will admit though that keeping a grove is a lot cheaper than having to build a sept. Not to mention everything you save on incense and crystals and robes. I mean what expenses do you have? A gardener and some manure?"
Those who worshipped the old gods growled at his blasphemy, while the rest simply looked on.
"Are you sure you want to say such things when the gods are about to judge you?" Robb asked.
"It seems that you're the one judging me. I don't imagine the trees care much one way or the other."
"You can mock all you want, but today is the day you pay for your crimes."
"And what crimes are those? You Starks seem to care an awful lot about honor and justice. As the accused shouldn't I at least know what you are killing me for?"
"You're dying for what you did to my two sons." Rickard Karstark called out.
"Oh, well I apologize for that." He offered a half bow in Lord Rickard's direction. "I wasn't trying to kill them. I was trying to kill Robb here, they just got in the way." His words were met by angry mutters and a couple of his men had to keep Lord Rickard from drawing his sword. "But if that's my crime, killing armed men in battle, you're going to be very busy with executions, including your own."
"Your crime is the attempted murder of my brother, Brandon Stark, when you were a guest in my father's home."
Jaime glanced at Catelyn who was standing near her son. "Funny, I seem to recall Lady Stark making that same accusation of my brother. There was even a trial as I recall. Did you get the two of us confused? I don't blame you if you did, people often have trouble telling us apart."
"Watch your tongue sir."
"Why? Will I get myself into trouble?"
"Do you deny the charge?" Robb asked.
Jaime smiled at him. "I confess… that it's rather convenient that this is the crime you want to execute me for. I don't suppose there is any actual evidence against me? Or is this just the excuse you trot out whenever you want to kill a Lannister?"
"Are you saying you had nothing to do with what happened to Bran?"
"You know I don't think old Ned would be happy to know his son was presiding over such a mockery. He and I had our differences, but he was one of the few men who actually meant it when he talked of honor. Come on boy, why pretend?" He looked about at the crowd that surrounded him. "No one here is going to think the less of you, they all want to see my head separated from my neck. This has nothing to do with any of the crimes I've committed in my life. This is your revenge for your father and sister."
"This is justice."
"If that's really so then give me a trial by combat. Put a sword in my hand. I will fight you or any man you name."
"Was my father given a trial on the steps of the Sept of Baelor? Was my sister given one?"
"Was Joffrey?"
"Joffrey was the one who ordered my father's death. My sister avenged him!"
Jaime looked Robb straight in the eye. "And now you are avenging her. See? Doesn't it feel good to tell the truth? I just wonder which of you my father will kill to avenge me. You Starks really aren't so different from us after all you know. You pay your debts as well."
"We are nothing like you Lannisters."
"You go right on telling yourself that boy. Who knows? Maybe if you tell yourself enough times you'll even come to believe it."
"Enough," Robb motioned to the guards standing behind the prisoner. They forced him to his knees and made him bend. Robb drew his broadsword and stepped to Jaime's side. "If you have any final words I will have them sent to your family."
Jaime smirked. "Just tell them that I loved them, especially my sweet sister."
"I will, you have my word."
"That is such a great comfort." Jaime turned his face to the ground. "Try and make a clean job of it. I would simply hate to be inconvenienced."
Robb held his sword up high. "In the name of Stannis of House Baratheon, the First of his Name, King of the Andals and the Rhoynar and the First Men, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms and the Protector of the Realm, by the word of Robb of House Stark, Lord of Winterfell and Warden of the North I do sentence you to death."
He brought his sword down, and sliced clean through.
XXX
Having witnessed the execution of the kingslayer the men present departed after speaking a few words to their liege lord. Rickard Karstark made a point to shake Robb's hand and loudly proclaim that he and his would follow him to the end. Theon had slapped his back and told him that his father would have been proud.
As the people departed Catelyn was the last. The body had been removed, all that remained was a pool of blood in the grass. Robb waited for his mother to chide him, to tell him what he had done was wrong.
"You acted in the name of Stannis."
"I did." He was more than a little surprised that she would choose to focus on that.
"I think most of the people would have preferred Renly."
"Stannis has the better claim, my father always did what was right, not what was easiest or most popular. I will never accept Cersei of any of her brood as king or queen. That means I must acknowledge Stannis as my rightful king."
"Renly will see you as an enemy now. That means the armies of the Reach and the Stormlands will view you as an enemy."
"That is not what I want. If Stannis and Renly can come to some sort of an accommodation then we can all concentrate on destroying the Lannisters and restoring peace to the realm."
"If they cannot we will be forced into a much greater war against people who have never done us any wrong."
"So you want to tell me that I made a mistake? That I should have declared for Renly and ignored law and custom?"
He was surprised when his mother shook her head.
"The egg is broken now, there is no mending it." She came to him and placed a gentle kiss on his cheek. "I will do all that I can to support you."
She quietly left.
It was odd, but somehow her words of acceptance left him more concerned than her anger would have.