chapter 171 part 2
Queen Regent Cersei stopped in her tracks, her pair of emerald eyes turning to Lancel at her side.
With Jaime's departure, Lancel's status had risen considerably. He was now not only the Captain of the Red Keep detachment of the Goldcloaks, but the Lannister red cloaks within the Red Keep were also under his command. It could be said that he alone held all the defenses of the Red Keep.
"Can you do it?"
Lancel puffed out his chest and said, "Your Grace, they are merely commoners who love to wag their tongues. I will pull out every one of their tongues until no one dares to spread rumors again."
Lancel's method pleased Queen Regent Cersei greatly, but she was still hesitant, as she had no faith in his ability to get things done.
Seeing Queen Regent Cersei's hesitation, he said hastily, "Queen Regent, Glyn also has only two arms and two legs. We are the same. I just need a chance to prove myself, I beg you."
Queen Regent Cersei saw a layer of mist form in Lancel's eyes, and she couldn't help but frown slightly.
Cersei disliked weak men, but... Lancel did indeed need an opportunity for others to see his capabilities.
*Slap!*
Lancel covered his cheek in terror. *Why did the Queen Regent hit me?!*
Queen Regent Cersei's pale fingers clamped onto Lancel's chin. She curled her lips into a smile and said, "Lancel, don't let me see you like this again. Remember... you are wearing armor, not a skirt."
Lancel's voice trembled as he replied, "As you command, Queen Regent."
Queen Regent Cersei's voice was cold. "My Lancel, I can give you the chance, but do not disappoint me."
With that, she gently caressed Lancel's reddened cheek.
...
...
The North, Winterfell.
In a short span of time, the Stark bannermen of The North arrived one after another with their levies to gather at Winterfell. Due to the frequent movement of men and horses, Robb Stark, the heir to Winterfell, ordered the gates of both the inner and outer castle walls to be raised.
Winterfell was filled with the sounds of sharpening axes, rumbling carts, and barking hounds.
A long column of heavy lancers was crossing the moat. They wore black half-helms and black wool cloaks bearing the device of a white sunburst.
They were the forces of House Karstark, led by Lord Rickard himself. His sons Harrion, Eddard, and Torrhen rode alongside him.
House Karstark was a branch of House Stark. They were tall and powerfully built men, with fierce expressions, thick beards, and hair that grew past their shoulders. Their cloaks were made from the hides of bears, seals, and wolves.
The other lords had already arrived at Winterfell with their troops; they were the last contingent.
...
Robb was fifteen this year. He had a stout build and had inherited the blue eyes and reddish-brown hair of his mother's House.
Robb had heard all sorts of news from different people, each more terrifying than the last. No one could be certain of the truth.
For example: Lord Eddard had killed King Robert and become a wanted fugitive; his father's guards' heads were impaled on spikes, rotting on the walls of the Red Keep; House Baratheon's forces were besieging King's Landing; Lord Eddard had fled south with the King's brother, Lord Renly; both Arya and Sansa had been torn apart by hounds; Lord Tywin Lannister was marching his army on the Eyrie; Rhaegar Targaryen had been resurrected and was preparing to retake the Iron Throne, and so on.
Before Robb could even digest this unsettling news, a raven arrived, bringing a letter written in Sansa's own hand and sealed with his father's seal... The cruel reality no longer seemed quite so shocking.
Maester Luwin read aloud, "...King Robert is dead. Mother and my brother should come to the Red Keep at once and swear fealty to King Joffrey... We must promise never to be traitors... I will ask Joffrey to pardon Father..."
Catelyn Tully said angrily, "This is Cersei's letter, not Sansa's! She was surely forced by the Lannisters!"
Lady Catelyn grabbed her eldest son's hand. Her son had gathered his father's vassals, winning their hearts with his calm and courteous demeanor.
She could no longer see him as a child who had yet to grow up. Catelyn felt both heartache and pride.
"Robb, the true meaning of this letter is in the part Sansa didn't write... All this about how well the Lannisters are treating her... it's actually a threat. They hold Sansa, making her their hostage and bargaining chip."
Robb couldn't help but show a pained expression. "Mother, the letter doesn't mention Arya."
Catelyn fought desperately to hold back her tears, not daring to think too deeply about what that meant.
"Mother, I've already written three letters to Aunt Lysa at the Eyrie, asking for the help of the Knights of the Vale, but I still haven't received a reply."
Catelyn sensed Robb's anxiety and nervousness.
Catelyn comforted him, "Don't worry, my child. I will go to the Vale myself. I will bring you reinforcements."
"Thank you, my mother. I'm just worried..."
The calm and strong heir of Winterfell suddenly vanished, and Robb reverted to the fifteen-year-old boy he was, hoping his mother could provide an answer.
Catelyn saw the glint of tears in Robb's eyes. She knew her son needed encouragement... a commander cannot let his confidence be shaken.
She spoke gently, "Robb, can you tell me what you are afraid of?"
"I..." he opened his mouth.
Robb, like his father, was accustomed to keeping everything bottled up inside and bearing it alone, but Sansa's handwritten letter had made it impossible for him to suppress it any longer.
Robb took a deep breath and continued, "If I lead the army south... even if we win, Father and Sansa are still in Lannister hands. They'll kill them, won't they? Should I...?"
"Robb, look at me."
Robb looked up at his mother.
Catelyn said firmly, "The Lannisters want us to think that way."
"You mean..."
"Robb, I only know that you have no other choice! If you go to King's Landing to swear fealty, you will find it very difficult to leave... If you return to Winterfell with your tail between your legs, the respect your father's bannermen have for you will vanish. Some might even defect to the Lannisters.
"At that point, the Lannisters will have no more worries and can do as they please with their hostages... Our greatest hope, or rather our only hope, is for you to defeat the Lannisters on the battlefield... If you can capture Lord Tywin or the Kingslayer alive, then you can use them to trade for our family.
"Actually, exchanging hostages isn't the most important part. What's most important is... as long as your strength makes the Lannisters dare not act rashly, Eddard and your sister will be safe... Cersei is not a fool. She knows that if the war goes against her, she will offer them up to sue for peace."
Robb spoke up, "What if the war doesn't go against her, but against us?"
Catelyn gripped her son's hand tightly and said, "Robb, I won't hide the truth. If you are defeated, then we have no hope at all. The Lannisters are never merciful to the vanquished. You must remember what happened to Rhaegar's children."
The Young Wolf said in a low voice, "Mother, I will defeat the Lannisters."
(end of chapter)