grrm.astormofswords-第134部分

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　nice　firm　pair　of　teats；　isn't　that　so？　I　was　the　same。　Some　might　say　I　still　am；　heh　heh。　They'd　be　wrong；　though；　wrong　as　you　were。　But　now　you're　here　to　make　amends。　It　was　my　girls　you　spurned；　though。　Mayhaps　it's　them　should　hear　you　beg　for　pardon；　Your　Grace。　My　maiden　girls。　Here；　have　a　look　at　them。〃　When　he　waggled　his　fingers；　a　flurry　of　femininity　left　their　places　by　the　walls　to　line　up　beneath　the　dais。　jinglebell　started　to　rise　as　well；　his　bells　ringing　merrily；　but　Lady　Frey　grabbed　the　lackwit's　sleeve　and　tugged　him　back　down。
　Lord　Walder　named　the　names。　〃My　daughter　Arwyn；〃　he　said　of　a　girl　of　fourteen。　〃Shirei；　my　youngest　trueborn　daughter。　Ami　and　Marianne　are　granddaughters。　I　married　Ami　to　Ser　Pate　of　Sevenstreams；　but　the　Mountain　killed　the　oaf　so　I　got　her　back。　That's　a　Cersei；　but　we　call　her　Little　Bee；　her　mother's　a　Beesbury。　More　granddaughters。　One's　a　Walda；　and　the　others　。　。　。　well；　they　have　names；　whatever　they　are　。　。　。〃
　〃I'm　Merry；　Lord　Grandfather；〃　one　girl　said。
　〃You're　noisy；　that's　for　certain。　Next　to　Noisy　is　my　daughter　Tyta。　Then　another　Walda。　Alyx；　Marissa　。　。　。　are　you　Marissa？　I　thought　you　were。　She's　not　always　bald。　The　maester　shaved　her　hair　off；　but　he　swears　it　will　soon　grow　back。　The　twins　are　Serra　and　Sarra。〃　He　squinted　down　at　one　of　the　younger　girls。　〃Heh；　are　you　another　Walda？〃
　The　girl　could　not　have　been　more　than　four。　〃I'm　Ser　Aemon　Rivers's　Walda；　lord　great　grandfather。〃　She　curtsied。
　〃How　long　have　you　been　talking？　Not　that　you're　like　to　have　anything　sensible　to　say；　your　father　never　did。　He's　a　bastard's　son　besides；　heh。　Go　away；　I　wanted　only　Freys　up　here。　The　King　in　the　North　has　no　interest　in　base　stock。〃　Lord　Walder　glanced　to　Robb；　as　jinglebell　bobbed　his　head　and　chimed。　〃There　they　are；　all　maidens。　Well；　and　one　widow；　but　there's　some　who　like　a　woman　broken　in。　You　might　have　had　any　one　of　them。〃
　〃It　would　have　been　an　impossible　choice；　my　lord；〃　said　Robb　with　careful　courtesy。　〃They're　all　too　lovely。〃
　Lord　Walder　snorted。　〃And　they　say　my　eyes　are　bad。　Some　will　do　well　enough；　I　suppose。　Others　。　。　。　well；　it　makes　no　matter。　They　weren't　good　enough　for　the　King　in　the　North；　heh。　Now　what　is　it　you　have　to　say？〃
　〃My　ladies。〃　Robb　looked　desperately　unfortable；　but　he　had　known　this　moment　must　e；　and　he　faced　it　without　flinching。　〃All　men　should　keep　their　word；　kings　most　of　all。　I　was　pledged　to　marry　one　of　you　and　I　broke　that　vow。　The　fault　is　not　in　you。　What　I　did　was　not　done　to　slight　you；　but　because　I　loved　another。　No　words　can　set　it　right；　I　know；　yet　I　e　before　you　to　ask　forgiveness；　that　the　Freys　of　the　Crossing　and　the　Starks　of　Winterfell　may　once　again　be　friends。〃
　The　smaller　girls　fidgeted　anxiously。　Their　older　sisters　waited　for　Lord　Walder　on　his　black　oak　throne。　Jinglebell　rocked　back　and　forth；　bells　chiming　on　collar　and　crown。
　〃Good；〃　the　Lord　of　the　Crossing　said。　〃That　was　very　good；　Your　Grace。　'No　words　can　set　it　right'　heh。　Well　said；　well　said。　At　the　wedding　feast　I　hope　you　will　not　refuse　to　dance　with　my　daughters。　It　would　please　an　old　man's　heart；　heh。〃　He　bobbed　his　wrinkled　pink　head　up　and　down；　in　much　the　same　way　his　lackwit　grandson　did；　though　Lord　Walder　wore　no　bells。　〃And　here　she　is；　Lord　Edmure。　My　daughter　Roslin；　my　most　precious　little　blossom；　heh。〃
　Ser　Benfrey　led　her　into　the　hall。　They　looked　enough　alike　to　be　full　siblings。　judging　from　their　age；　both　were　children　of　the　sixth　Lady　Frey；　a　Rosby；　Catelyn　seemed　to　recall。
　Roslin　was　small　for　her　years；　her　skin　as　white　as　if　she　had　just　risen　from　a　milk　bath。　Her　face　was　ely；　with　a　small　chin；　delicate　nose；　and　big　brown　eyes。　Thick　chestnut　hair　fell　in　loose　waves　to　a　waist　so　tiny　that　Edmure　would　be　able　to　put　his　hands　around　it。　Beneath　the　lacy　bodice　of　her　pale　blue　gown；　her　breasts　looked　small　but　shapely。
　〃Your　Grace。〃　The　girl　went　to　her　knees。　〃Lord　Edmure；　I　hope　I　am　not　a　disappointment　to　you。〃
　Far　from　it；　thought　Catelyn。　Her　brother's　face　had　lit　up　at　the　sight　of　her。　〃You　are　a　delight　to　me；　my　lady；〃　Edmure　said。　〃And　ever　will　be；　I　know。〃
　Roslin　had　a　small　gap　between　two　of　her　front　teeth　that　made　her　shy　with　her　smiles；　but　the　flaw　was　almost　endearing。　Pretty　enough；　Catelyn　thought；　but　so　small；　and　she　es　of　Rosby　stock。　The　Rosbys　had　never　been　robust。　She　much　preferred　the　frames　of　some　of　the　older　girls　in　the　hall；　daughters　or　granddaughters；　she　could　not　be　sure。　They　had　a　Crakehall　look　about　them；　and　Lord　Walder's　third　wife　had　been　of　that　House。　Wide　hips　to　bear　children；　big　breasts　to　nurse　them；　strong　arms　to　carry　them。　The　Grakehalls　have　always　been　a　bigboned　family；　and　strong。
　〃My　lord　is　kind；〃　the　Lady　Roslin　said　to　Edmure。
　〃My　lady　is　beautiful。〃　Edmure　took　her　hand　and　drew　her　to　her　feet。　〃But　why　are　you　crying？〃
　〃For　joy；〃　Roslin　said。　〃I　weep　for　joy；　my　lord。〃
　〃Enough；〃　Lord　Walder　broke　in。　〃You　may　weep　and　whisper　after　you're　wed；　heh。　Benfrey；　see　your　sister　back　to　her　chambers；　she　has　a　wedding　to　prepare　for。　And　a　bedding；　heh；　the　sweetest　part。　For　all；　for　all。〃　His　mouth　moved　in　and　out。　〃We'll　have　music；　such　sweet　music；　and　wine；　heh；　the　red　will　run；　and　we'll　put　some　wrongs　aright。　But　now　you're　weary；　and　wet　as　well；　dripping　on　my　floor。　There's　fires　waiting　for　you；　and　hot　mulled　wine；　and　baths　if　you　want　'em。　Lothar；　show　our　guests　to　their　quarters。〃
　〃I　need　to　see　my　men　across　the　river；　my　lord；〃　Robb　said。
　〃They　shan't　get　lost；〃　Lord　Walder　plained。　〃They've　crossed　before；　haven't　they？　When　you　came　down　from　the　north。　You　wanted　crossing　and　I　gave　it　to　you；　and　you　never　said　mayhaps；　heh。　But　suit　yourself。　Lead　each　man　across　by　the　hand　if　you　like；　it's　naught　to　me。〃
　〃My　lord！〃　Catelyn　had　almost　forgotten。　〃Some　food　would　be　most　wele。　We　have　ridden　many　leagues　in　the　rain。〃
　Walder　Frey's　mouth　moved　in　and　out。　〃Food；　heh。　A　loaf　of　bread；　a　bite　of　cheese；　mayhaps　a　sausage。〃
　〃Some　wine　to　wash　it　down；〃　Robb　said。　〃And　salt。〃
　〃Bread　and　salt。　Heh。　Of　course；　of　course。〃　The　old　man　clapped　his　hands　together；　and　servants　came　into　the　hall；　bearing　flagons　of　wine　and　trays　of　bread；　cheese；　and　butter。　Lord　Walder　took　a　cup　of　red　himself；　and　raised　it　high　with　a　spotted　hand。　〃My　guests；〃　he　said。　〃My　honored　guests。　Be　wele　beneath　my　roof；　and　at　my　table。〃
　〃We　thank　you　for　your　hospitality；　my　lord；〃　Robb　replied。　Edmure　echoed　him；　along　with　the　Greatjon；　Ser　Marq　Piper；　and　the　others。　They　drank　his　wine　and　ate　his　bread　and　butter。　Catelyn　tasted　the　wine　and　nibbled　at　some　bread；　and　felt　much　the　better　for　it。　Now　we　should　be　safe；　she　thought。
　Knowing　how　petty　the　old　man　could　be；　she　had　expected　their　rooms　to　be　bleak　and　cheerless。　But　the　Freys　had　made　more　than　ample　provision　for　them；　it　seemed。　The　bridal　chamber　was　large　and　richly　appointed；　dominated　by　a　great　featherbed　with　corner　posts　carved　in　the　likeness　of　castle　towers。　its　draperies　were　Tully　red　and　blue；　a　nice　courtesy。　Sweet…smelling　carpets　covered　a　plank　floor；　and　a　tall　shuttered　window　opened　to　the　south。　Catelyn's　own　room　was　smaller；　but　handsomely　furnished　and　fortable；　with　a　fire　burning　in　the　hearth。　Lame　Lothar　assured　them　that　Robb　would　have　an　entire　suite；　as　befit　a　king。　〃If　there　is　anything　you　require；　you　need　only　tell　one　of　the　guards。〃　He　bowed　and　withdrew；　limping　heavily　as　he　made　his　way　down　the　curving　steps。
　〃We　should　post　our　own　guards；〃　Catelyn　told　her　brother。　She　would　rest　easier　with　Stark　and　Tully　men　outside　her　door。　The　audience　with　Lord　Walder　had　not　been　as　painful　as　she　feared；　yet　all　the　same　she　would　be　glad　to　be　done　with　this。　A　few　more　days；　and　Robb　will　be　off　to　battle；　and　me　to　a　fortable　captivity　at　Seagard。　Lord　Jason　would　show　her　every　courtesy；　she　had　no　doubt；　but　the　prospect　still　depressed　her。
　She　could　hear　the　sounds　of　horses　below　as　the　long　column　of　mounted　men　wound　their　way　across　the　bridge　from　castle　to　castle。　The　stones　rumbled　to　the　passage　of　heavy…laden　wayns。　Catelyn　went　to　the　window　and　gazed　out；　to　watch　Robb's　host　emerge　from　the　eastern　twin。　〃The　rain　seems　to　be　lessening。〃
　〃Now　that　we're　inside。〃　Edmure　stood　before　the　fire；　letting　the　warmth　wash　over　him。　〃What　did　you　make　of　Roslin？〃
　Too　small　and　delicate。　Childbirth　will　go　hard　on　her。　But　her　brother　seemed　well　pleased　with　the　girl；　so　all　she　said　was；　〃Sweet。〃
　〃I　believe　she　liked　me。　Why　was　she　crying？〃
　〃She's　a　maid　on　the　eve　of　her　wedding。　A　few　tears　are　to　be　expected。〃　Lysa　had　wept　lakes　the　morning　of　their　own　wedding；　though　she　had　managed　to　be　dry…eyed　and　radiant　when　Jon　Arryn　swept　his　cream…and…blue　cloak　about　her　shoulders。
　〃She's　prettier　than　I　dared　hope。〃　Edmure　raised　a　hand　before　she　could　speak。　〃I　know　there　are　more　important　things；　spare　me　the　sermon；　septa。　Even　so　。　。　。　did　you　see　some　of　those　other　maids　Frey　trotted　out？　The　one　with　the　twitch？　Was　that　the　shaking　sickness？　And　those　twins　had　more　craters　and　eruptions　on　their　faces　than　Petyr　Pimple。　When　I　saw　that　lot；　I　knew　Roslin　would　be　bald　and　one…eyed；　with　jinglebell's　wits　and　Black　Walder's　temper。　But　she　seems　gentle　as　well　as　fair。〃　He　looked　perplexed；　〃Why　would　the　old　weasel　refuse　to　let　me　choose　unless　he　meant　to　foist　off　someone　hideous？〃
　〃Your　fondness　for　a　pretty　face　is　well　known；〃　Catelyn　reminded　him。　〃Perhaps　Lord　Walder　actually　wants　you　to　be　happy　with　your　bride。〃　Or　more　like；　he　did　not　want　you　balking　over　a　boil　and　upsetting　all　his　plans。　〃Or　it　may　be　that　Roslin　is　the　old　man's　favorite。　The　Lord　of　Riverrun　is　a　much　better　match　than　most　of　his　daughters　can　hope　for。〃
　〃True。〃　Her　brother　still　seemed　uncertain；　however。　〃Is　it　possible　the　girl　is　barren？〃
　〃Lord　Walder　wants　his　grandson　to　inherit　Riverrun。　How　would　it　serve　him　to　give　you　a　barren　wife？〃
　〃It　rids　him　of　a　daughter　no　one　else　would　take。〃
　〃Small　good　that　will　do　him。　Walder　Frey　is　a　peevish　man；　not　a　stupid　one。〃
　〃Still　。　。　。　it　is　po