The Mountain of Ice and Fire

Catelyn couldn't forget last night.

Last night, a crescent moon in the sky, a crescent moon in the water.

Under the moonlight radiating from the two crescent moons above and below, Robb Stark led his knights, lancers, free riders, and horse archers across the river.

Catelyn felt like she was dreaming.

She couldn't believe that Robb's meeting with Walder Frey had been such a rare success. She knew Walder Frey; he would never let the Northern army cross the river without sufficient benefits. The past decades had already proven this.

So, what kind of 'humiliating' agreement did Robb and Walder Frey reach last night?

Currently, Catelyn only knew one of the 'agreement' terms, and that was—

Robb had sent six Winterfell soldiers to escort Lord Frey's two grandsons north to Winterfell. Robb assured Marquis Walder Frey that Lady Catelyn would take them in as foster sons. The two children, one seven years old and one eight years old, were both named Walder. Catelyn only hoped that Bran Stark would happily accept them; playmates of the same age were the best choice to accompany Bran.

Of course, the 'agreement' reached between Walder Frey and Robb couldn't be so simple, but the army was busy crossing the river all night, and Robb was the commander-in-chief of the legion, so he had no free time to talk to Catelyn in detail about the specifics of the 'deal'…

Was her son old enough to understand the meaning of his promises? Could he distinguish the advantages and disadvantages of every transaction made by Marquis Walder Frey?

Catelyn suddenly felt a strange chill, despite the warm weather and harmonious sunshine.

Walder Frey was a cunning weasel!

Looking back, behind her were two columns like giant steel snakes, with no end in sight.

Suddenly, in front of Catelyn's eyes, the two columns of steel cavalry overlapped with the image of “horseshoe hooves stepping over the drawbridge last night, winding into East Riverrun, detouring around the square, passing through the inner city, and walking onto the arched bridge like two long steel snakes,” seeming real and illusory. In a trance, after the real and illusory images overlapped, they turned into the condescending, piercing gaze of Marquis Walder Frey from the River Gate tower in the middle of the long bridge.

Last night, on the River Gate tower in the middle of the Twins, Walder Frey sat on a stretcher, looking down through the narrow iron bars of the murder hole, watching them leave. His piercing gaze had met Catelyn's gaze. Catelyn politely paid attention and smiled, but Walder Frey didn't respond in any way.

The old guy, over ninety years old, looked like a shriveled pink weasel, his head already bald, but his expression was dignified and inviolable, his eyes cold.

Catelyn shook her head, shattering and driving away Walder Frey's image from her eyes, returning to reality. In her ears was the surging river of clattering iron hooves, on her body was the warm sunshine, and at the front of the two huge steel snake teams were three figures, the central figure being her child, Robb Stark.

Judging from his back, the child had grown into an adult, not weaker than the adult knights on either side. But she still saw Robb's young and immature gaze looking at her a little helplessly.

The two knights beside Robb were Ser Brynden, Catelyn's uncle, and Ser Stevron Frey, who Catelyn still found unbelievable.

Last night, Marquis Walder Frey not only agreed to let Robb lead his army across the river, but also handed over all 4,000 of his family's troops to Robb Stark, leaving only 400 soldiers to guard the castles on both the east and west banks. Even more surprising to Catelyn was that Robb left Ser Helman Tallhart to assist Walder Frey in guarding the city, and left the same number of Northern soldiers, 400 men.

Robb quietly told Catelyn when crossing the river last night: Mother, Walder Frey is not trustworthy, but don't worry, I have left my own people to remind him to keep his promise.

Ser Helman Tallhart and 400 Northern soldiers remained in the Twins, which guaranteed the Northern army's retreat route. Once defeated, if the Northerners wanted to retreat, Helman Tallhart would ensure that the bridge of the Twins was unimpeded.

If Walder Frey changed his mind and defected to the Lannisters—which was entirely possible, because Tywin Lannister had a sister married into the Frey family. The younger generation of the Frey family and Jaime, Tyrion, and Cersei's generation were cousins—assuming Walder wanted to betray them, Earl Helman Tallhart and his 400 Northern soldiers would fiercely teach him how to be a person who keeps his promises.

The main force of the Northern army, including the foot spearmen, archers, and a large number of militiamen, remained on the east bank, commanded by Roose Bolton. Robb ordered Roose Bolton to continue south and engage in a decisive battle with Lord Tywin's Lannister army on the east bank of the Green Fork.

Because of Marquis Walder's joining, the Northern army's strength increased by four thousand. Among the four thousand troops, the cavalry followed Robb, and the infantry followed Roose Bolton.

So, what exactly did Robb talk about with Marquis Walder Frey last night?

Catelyn thought about this question over and over in her mind. Suddenly, the sound of rapid hooves rang out from behind. Catelyn turned around; it was Ser Wendel Manderly.

Wendel Manderly was the second son of Ser Wyman Manderly. His older brother, Willis Manderly, was leading the family's infantry in the Twins, following Roose Bolton to meet Tywin Lannister.

In Catelyn's eyes, the root cause of the earth-shattering changes in Robb was after he met Wendel's father, Wyman. So, Wendel rushed up on horseback again, looking like he was chasing Robb Stark. What did he have to report to Robb?

Catelyn lightly kicked her spurs, reined in her horse, and walked out of the ranks, blocking the road. Ser Rodrik Cassel, who was responsible for protecting her, immediately followed out of the ranks and stood beside the lady.

Rodrik Cassel, the master-at-arms of Winterfell.

Wendel nodded to the lady on horseback. He was about to go around the lady to get to the front, but Catelyn stopped him: "Ser Wendel, where are you going?"

"Madam, I have something to report to Lord Robb."

Catelyn knew that it was not appropriate for her to ask any further questions. She had no right to interfere with Robb's government affairs. Robb was the commander-in-chief of the army and the real ruler of the Stark family of Winterfell.

But she still asked.

"Ser Wendel, what are you going to report to Lord Robb? Can you tell me? I can tell him."

"…I can't…" Ser Wendel struggled for a moment and said.

"Can't you? Is it a military matter? Robb discusses many things with me now."

"I'm sorry, madam." Ser Wendel was an honest person, and his face turned red. He felt embarrassed.

"Okay, child, go quickly!" Catelyn felt apologetic and said softly.

Wendel was relieved. He hurriedly bowed to Catelyn and rode away.

"Madam, you are worried," Rodrik Cassel said.

Catelyn showed a smile. She couldn't let her inner unease affect anyone: "No, Robb is great."

"Yes, he has grown up. The young master's performance has impressed me. The Stark family has never lacked real men. We will win the war, madam."

*

"Lord Robb!" Wendel bowed respectfully on horseback.

Robb understood. He steered his horse out of the ranks, letting his uncle Brynden and Stevron Frey continue to lead the two steel dragons on their march. He and Wendel rode to the side.

"The lord wants me to tell you that we will pass through the edge of Sea Guard's territory ahead. The lord of Sea Guard, Jason Mallister, is loyal and brave, and his soldiers are brave and good at fighting. The lord wants you to visit Earl Jason Mallister in person, and be sure not to send a vassal to invite him."

"What else did my father say?"

"The lord said that as long as you invite him in person, Jason will definitely lead his troops to join us. In this way, our legion can gain another three thousand well-trained soldiers and several very skilled generals. In this way, our raiding army will have eight thousand men, not much less than Jaime's forces besieging Riverrun."

"Okay, I'll go immediately!".

"I want to follow you, my lord."

"No, you have to return to the main army to protect my father well. I beg you, ser."

Wendel was greatly embarrassed and hurriedly told Robb that a vassal's loyalty was his bounden duty. He and his twenty knights and their attendants, as well as more than two hundred spearmen, mercenaries, and free riders, would definitely protect Lord Eddard Stark and ensure that no one knew that Lord Eddard was in the army.

By not letting the news leak out, the Westerlands army would not take the fifteen-year-old boy Robb Stark and his Northern army seriously. The Westerlanders who underestimated the enemy would pay the price for their arrogance.

*

"Mother, I am going to visit Lord Jason Mallister of Sea Guard on the west coast. He is my grandfather's vassal, and I hope he can join us and relieve the siege of Riverrun."

Catelyn's heart was shocked.

Wendel had just left, and Robb had made a major decision, a decision that was very correct. Although Jason Mallister was old, he was very skilled in martial arts. Catelyn knew that Jason Mallister was loyal and unyielding. As long as the lord summoned him, he would go without hesitation.

Robb, in his capacity as the supreme commander of Winterfell, personally went to request him, which would give Earl Jason an immense honor that he could not refuse. Earl Jason would surely repay him with all his strength.

Why didn't she think of asking Sea Guard for help?!

Sea Guard was located by the sea and was a city very close to the Iron Islands. In order to fight against the Iron Islands' invasion from the sea, the Mallister family had carefully cultivated a very powerful combat army, and Earl Jason's loyalty was beyond doubt. His character was the complete opposite of Marquis Walder's.

As long as she asked him, Jason would definitely send troops to help, without a doubt.

"I'll go with you. Earl Jason knows me," Catelyn said eagerly.

"No, Mother. We will go to Sea Guard at a rapid march and then return at a rapid march. You can't keep up with us on horseback."

Catelyn was silent. She just wanted to help her son too much.

"Mother, the key to successfully raiding Jaime Lannister is speed. We must launch a thunderous blow before the enemy notices. Mother, I must go."

"Let your uncle Brynden accompany you. He is a Tully, and Jason is loyal to our Tully family."

"Okay!"

Soon, Robb and Brynden, with the Winterfell guards and more than thirty guards from the sons of various nobles, including Olivar Frey from the Walder Frey family—one of Walder's nineteen sons—a guard team of more than a hundred people turned at the crossroads ahead and galloped towards Sea Guard on the west coast.

Catelyn watched Robb lead the heroic hundred-man guard team roaring away. She was very emotional. Wendel went to find Robb and said he had something to report, and then quickly, almost immediately, Robb made the decision to detour to the west coast to visit Sea Guard… Why?

Obviously, in Manderly's main cavalry force, someone had instructed Wendel, so Wendel came to find Robb.

Catelyn's heart suddenly beat wildly!

In Manderly's main army, who was unwilling to show his face but was advising Robb, who could think of letting Robb detour to the west coast to ask Earl Jason of Sea Guard for help, was obviously very familiar with the situation of the various lords in the Riverlands.

Could this mysterious figure give her guidance? Would he be willing to rescue Eddard, Sansa, and Arya from King's Landing? Was he a monk proficient in omens? Could he predict the situation of Eddard, Sansa, and Arya? Were her husband and daughters safe? Could they… return safely?

Catelyn couldn't calm down. Her breathing was rapid. She decided that tonight, no matter what, she would go to Manderly's main army camp to ask the expert who was guiding Robb through Ser Wendel if he knew the situation in King's Landing and if he could rescue her husband and her two daughters.

Who exactly could he be?

Eddard, are you okay? Sansa, are you okay?

Arya, who is extremely wild, you must be careful to restrain your character. When your parents are not around, you must not be savage and cunning, otherwise you will suffer a great loss! Are you, are you okay?

*

On the Kingsroad in the Crownlands.

Pa!

The wooden stick in the hand of a thin and scrawny kid hit hard on a thick arm covered with black hair. The arm trembled in pain and quickly retracted, and a murderous voice roared: "You little brat, I'll break your neck, I swear to the Seven Gods."

"Tch!" The scrawny kid said contemptuously, turned around and walked away, but actually pretended to. He suddenly turned around, and the wooden stick in his hand stabbed out like a narrow sword, hitting the black giant's shoulder.

The black giant was sitting in the prison wagon. Although this stab did not cause him any harm, it made him furious. He grabbed the iron bars of the prison wagon and shook them violently, and the handcuffs and shackles made a clanging sound, as if in the next second, he could break out of the cage.

The clever and wild kid jumped away nimbly, far away from the prison wagon, holding the wooden stick in his hand and pointing at the black giant in the prison wagon and scolding: "Black hairy ghost! Don't mess with me again, or you'll be in trouble."

This kid was actually a girl. Her real name was Arya, and her fake name was Arry!