grrm.astormofswords-第39部分

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a　bushy　mustache。　Young；　lean；　rough…hewn；　he　had　good　teeth　and　a　thick　mop　of　chestnut　hair。　〃Elenya。〃　The　little　girl　did　a　quick　curtsy。　〃Rollarn　Westerling；　my　squire。〃　The　boy　started　to　kneel；　saw　no　one　else　was　kneeling；　and　bowed　instead。
　〃The　honor　is　mine；〃　Catelyn　said。　Can　Robb　have　won　the　Crag's　allegiance？　If　so；　it　was　no　wonder　the　Westerlings　were　with　him。　Casterly　Rock　did　not　suffer　such　betrayals　gently。　Not　since　Tywin　Lannister　had　been　old　enough　to　go　to　war　。　。　。
　The　maid　came　forward　last；　and　very　shy。　Robb　took　her　hand。　〃Mother；〃　he　said；　〃I　have　the　great　honor　to　present　you　the　Lady　Jeyne　Westerling。　Lord　Gawen's　elder　daughter；　and　my　。　。　。　ah　。　。　。　my　lady　wife。〃
　The　first　thought　that　flew　across　Catelyn's　mind　was；　No；　that　cannot　be；　you　are　only　a　child。
　The　second　was；　And　besides；　you　have　pledged　another。
　The　third　was；　Mother　have　mercy；　Robb；　what　have　you　done？
　Only　then　came　her　belated　remembrance。　Follies　done　for　love？　He　has　bagged　me　neat　as　a　hare　in　a　snare。　I　seem　to　have　already　forgiven　him。　Mixed　with　her　annoyance　was　a　rueful　admiration；　the　scene　had　been　staged　with　the　cunning　worthy　of　a　master　mummer　。　。　。　or　a　king。　Catelyn　saw　no　choice　but　to　take　Jeyne　Westerling's　hands。　〃I　have　a　new　daughter；〃　she　said；　more　stiffly　than　she'd　intended。　She　kissed　the　terrified　girl　on　both　cheeks。　〃Be　wele　to　our　hall　and　hearth。〃
　〃Thank　you；　my　lady。　I　shall　be　a　good　and　true　wife　to　Robb；　I　swear。　And　as　wise　a　queen　as　I　can。〃
　Queen。　Yes；　this　pretty　little　girl　is　a　queen；　I　must　remember　that。　She　was　pretty；　undeniably；　with　her　chestnut　curls　and　heart…shaped　face；　and　that　shy　smile。　Slender；　but　with　good　hips；　Catelyn　noted。　She　should　have　no　trouble　bearing　children；　at　least。
　Lady　Sybell　took　a　hand　before　any　more　was　said。　〃We　are　honored　to　be　joined　to　House　Stark；　my　lady；　but　we　are　also　very　weary。　We　have　e　a　long　way　in　a　short　time。　Perhaps　we　might　retire　to　our　chambers；　so　you　may　visit　with　your　son？〃
　〃That　would　be　best。〃　Robb　kissed　his　Jeyne。　〃The　steward　will　find　you　suitable　acmodations。〃
　〃I'll　take　you　to　him；〃　Ser　Edmure　Tully　volunteered。
　〃You　are　most　kind；〃　said　Lady　Sybell。
　〃Must　I　go　too？〃　asked　the　boy；　Rollam。　〃I'm　your　squire。〃
　Robb　laughed。　〃But　I'm　not　in　need　of　squiring　just　now。〃
　〃Oh。〃
　〃His　Grace　has　gotten　along　for　sixteen　years　without　you；　Rollam；〃　said　Ser　Raynald　of　the　seashells。　〃He　will　survive　a　few　hours　more；　I　think。〃　Taking　his　little　brother　firmly　by　the　hand；　he　walked　him　from　the　hall。
　〃Your　wife　is　lovely；〃　Catelyn　said　when　they　were　out　of　earshot；　〃and　the　Westerlings　seem　worthy　。　。　。　though　Lord　Gawen　is　Tywin　Lannister's　sworn　man；　is　he　not？〃
　〃Yes。　Jason　Mallister　captured　him　in　the　Whispering　Wood　and　has　been　holding　him　at　Seagard　for　ransom。　Of　course　I'll　free　him　now；　though　he　may　not　wish　to　join　me。　We　wed　without　his　consent；　I　fear；　and　this　marriage　puts　him　in　dire　peril。　The　Crag　is　not　strong。　For　love　of　me；　Jeyne　may　lose　all。〃
　〃And　you；〃　she　said　softly；　〃have　lost　the　Freys。〃
　His　wince　told　all。　She　understood　the　angry　voices　now；　why　Perwyn　Frey　and　Martyn　Rivers　had　left　in　such　haste；　trampling　Robb's　banner　into　the　ground　as　they　went。
　〃Dare　I　ask　how　many　swords　e　with　your　bride；　Robb？〃
　〃Fifty。　A　dozen　knights。〃　His　voice　was　glum；　as　well　it　might　be。　When　the　marriage　contract　had　been　made　at　the　Twins；　old　Lord　Walder　Frey　had　sent　Robb　off　with　a　thousand　mounted　knights　and　near　three　thousand　foot。　〃Jeyne　is　bright　as　well　as　beautiful。　And　kind　as　well。　She　has　a　gentle　heart。〃
　It　is　swords　you　need；　not　gentle　hearts。　How　could　you　do　this；　Robb？　How　could　you　be　so　heedless；　so　stupid？　How　could　you　be　so　。　。　。　so　very　。　。　。　young。　Reproaches　would　not　serve　here；　however。　All　she　said　was；　〃Tell　me　how　this　came　to　be。〃
　〃I　took　her　castle　and　she　took　my　heart。；'　Robb　smiled。　〃The　Crag　was　weakly　garrisoned；　so　we　took　it　by　storm　one　night。　Black　Walder　and　the　Smalljon　led　scaling　parties　over　the　walls；　while　I　broke　the　main　gate　with　a　ram。　I　took　an　arrow　in　the　arm　just　before　Ser　Rolph　yielded　us　the　castle。　It　seemed　nothing　at　first；　but　it　festered。　Jeyne　had　me　taken　to　her　own　bed；　and　she　nursed　me　until　the　fever　passed。　And　she　was　with　me　when　the　Greatjon　brought　me　the　news　of　。　。　。　of　Winterfell。　Bran　and　Rickon。〃　He　seemed　to　have　trouble　saying　his　brothers'　names。　〃That　night；　she　。　。　。　she　forted　me；　Mother。〃
　Catelyn　did　not　need　to　be　told　what　sort　of　fort　Jeyne　Westerling　had　offered　her　son。　〃And　you　wed　her　the　next　day。〃
　He　looked　her　in　the　eyes；　proud　and　miserable　all　at　once。　〃It　was　the　only　honorable　thing　to　do。　She's　gentle　and　sweet；　Mother；　she　will　make　me　a　good　wife。〃
　〃Perhaps。　That　will　not　appease　Lord　Frey。〃
　〃I　know；〃　her　son　said；　stricken。　〃I've　made　a　botch　of　everything　but　the　battles；　haven't　I？　I　thought　the　battles　would　be　the　hard　part；　but　。　。　。　if　I　had　listened　to　you　and　kept　Theon　as　my　hostage；　I'd　still　rule　the　north；　and　Bran　and　Rickon　would　be　alive　and　safe　in　Winterfell。〃
　〃Perhaps。　Or　not。　Lord　Balon　might　still　have　chanced　war。　The　last　time　he　reached　for　a　crown；　it　cost　him　two　sons。　He　might　have　thought　it　a　bargain　to　lose　only　one　this　time。〃　She　touched　his　arm。　〃What　happened　with　the　Freys；　after　you　wed？〃
　Robb　shook　his　head。　〃With　Ser　Stevron；　I　might　have　been　able　to　make　amends；　but　Ser　Ryman　is　dull…witted　as　a　stone；　and　Black　Walder　。　。　。　that　one　was　not　named　for　the　color　of　his　beard；　I　promise　you。　He　went　so　far　as　to　say　that　his　sisters　would　not　be　loath　to　wed　a　widower。　I　would　have　killed　him　for　that　if　Jeyne　had　not　begged　me　to　be　merciful。〃
　〃You　have　done　House　Frey　a　grievous　insult；　Robb。〃
　〃I　never　meant　to。　Ser　Stevron　died　for　me；　and　Olyvar　was　as　loyal　a　squire　as　any　king　could　want。　He　asked　to　stay　with　me；　but　Ser　Ryman　took　him　with　the　rest。　All　their　strength。　The　Greatjon　urged　me　to　attack　them　。　。　。〃
　〃Fighting　your　own　in　the　midst　of　your　enemies？〃　she　said。　〃It　would　have　been　the　end　of　you。〃
　〃Yes。　I　thought　perhaps　we　could　arrange　other　matches　for　Lord　Walder's　daughters。　Ser　Wendel　Manderly　has　offered　to　take　one；　and　the　Greatjon　tells　me　his　uncles　wish　to　wed　again。　If　Lord　Walder　will　be　reasonable…〃
　〃He　is　not　reasonable；〃　said　Catelyn。　〃He　is　proud；　and　prickly　to　a　fault。　You　know　that。　He　wanted　to　be　grandfather　to　a　king。　You　will　not　appease　him　with　the　offer　of　two　hoary　old　brigands　and　the　second　son　of　the　fattest　man　in　the　Seven　Kingdoms。　Not　only　have　you　broken　your　oath；　but　you've　slighted　the　honor　of　the　Twins　by　choosing　a　bride　from　a　lesser　house。〃
　Robb　bristled　at　that。　〃The　Westerlings　are　better　blood　than　the　Freys。　They're　an　ancient　line；　descended　from　the　First　Men。　The　Kings　of　the　Rock　sometimes　wed　Westerlings　before　the　Conquest；　and　there　was　another　Jeyne　Westerling　who　was　queen　to　King　Maegor　three　hundred　years　ago。〃
　〃All　of　which　will　only　salt　Lord　Walder's　wounds。　It　has　always　rankled　him　that　older　houses　look　down　on　the　Freys　as　upstarts。　This　insult　is　not　the　first　he's　borne；　to　hear　him　tell　it。　Jon　Arryn　was　disinclined　to　foster　his　grandsons；　and　my　father　refused　the　offer　of　one　of　his　daughters　for　Edmure。〃　She　inclined　her　head　toward　her　brother　as　he　rejoined　them。
　〃Your　Grace；〃　Brynden　Blackflsh　said；　〃perhaps　we　had　best　continue　this　in　private。〃
　〃Yes。〃　Robb　sounded　tired。　〃I　would　kill　for　a　cup　of　wine。　The　audience　chamber；　I　think。〃
　As　they　started　up　the　steps；　Catelyn　asked　the　question　that　had　been　troubling　her　since　she　entered　the　hall。　〃Robb；　where　is　Grey　Wind？〃
　〃In　the　yard；　with　a　haunch　of　mutton。　I　told　the　kennelmaster　to　see　that　he　was　fed。〃
　〃You　always　kept　him　with　you　before。〃
　〃A　hall　is　no　place　for　a　wolf。　He　gets　restless；　you've　seen。　Growling　and　snapping。　I　should　never　have　taken　him　into　battle　with　me。　He's　killed　too　many　men　to　fear　them　now。　Jeyne's　anxious　around　him；　and　he　terrifies　her　mother。〃
　And　there's　the　heart　of　it；　Catelyn　thought。　〃He　is　part　of　you；　Robb。　To　fear　him　is　to　fear　you。〃
　〃I　am　not　a　wolf；　no　matter　what　they　call　me。〃　Robb　sounded　cross。　〃Grey　Wind　killed　a　man　at　the　Crag；　another　at　Ashemark；　and　six　or　seven　at　Oxcross。　If　you　had　seen…〃
　〃I　saw　Bran's　wolf　tear　out　a　man's　throat　at　Winterfell；〃　she　said　sharply；　〃and　loved　him　for　it。〃
　〃That's　different。　The　man　at　the　Crag　was　a　knight　Jeyne　had　known　all　her　life。　You　can't　blame　her　for　being　afraid。　Grey　Wind　doesn't　like　her　uncle　either。　He　bares　his　teeth　every　time　Ser　Rolph　es　near　him。〃
　A　chill　went　through　her。　〃Send　Ser　Rolph　away。　At　once。〃
　〃Where？　Back　to　the　Crag；　so　the　Lannisters　can　mount　his　head　on　a　spike？　Jeyne　loves　him。　He's　her　uncle；　and　a　fair　knight　besides。　I　need　more　men　like　Rolph　Spicer；　not　fewer。　I　am　not　going　to　banish　him　just　because　my　wolf　doesn't　seem　to　like　the　way　he　smells。〃
　〃Robb。〃　She　stopped　and　held　his　arm。　〃I　told　you　once　to　keep　Theon　Greyjoy　close；　and　you　did　not　listen。　Listen　now。　Send　this　man　away。　I　am　not　saying　you　must　banish　him。　Find　some　task　that　requires　a　man　of　courage；　some　honorable　duty；　what　it　is　matters　not　。　。　。　but　do　not　keep　him　near　you。〃
　He　frowned。　〃Should　I　have　Grey　Wind　sniff　all　my　knights？　There　might　be　others　whose　smell　he　mislikes。〃
　〃Any　man　Grey　Wind　mislikes　is　a　man　I　do　not　want　close　to　you。　These　wolves　are　more　than　wolves；　Robb。　You　must　know　that。　I　think　perhaps　the　gods　sent　them　to　us。　Your　father's　gods；　the　old　gods　of　the　north。　Five　wolf　pups；　Robb；　five　for　five　Stark　children。〃
　〃Six；〃　said　Robb。　〃There　was　a　wolf　for　Jon　as　well。　I　found　them；　remember？　I　know　how　many　there　were　and　where　they　came　from。　I　used　to　think　the　same　as　you；　that　the　wolves　were　our　guardians；　our　protectors；　until　。　。　。〃
　〃Until？〃　she　prompted。
　Robb's　mouth　tightened。　until　they　told　me　that　Theon　had　murdered　Bran　and　Rickon。　Small　good　their　wolves　did　them。　I　am　no　longer　a　boy；　Mother。　I'm　a　king；　and　I　can　protect　myself。〃　He　sighed。　〃I　will　find　some　duty　for　Ser　Rolph；　some　pretext　to　send　him　away。　Not　becau