"The ford again, my lady," said the serving girl who woke Catelyn during the night. Sure enough, once Catelyn and Brienne had ascended to the roof of Riverrun, they watched the battle rage as Tywin Lannister's army attempted to fight its way across the Red Fork of the Trident under cover of darkness. It was clear, however, that the Tully forces, even outnumbered as they were, were turning them back. That's when they heard the screaming from the far side.

Throughout the night, it was impossible to see precisely what had happened, and what reports that came in were confused and contradictory. One moment, Edmure had led a counterattack across the river that had smashed the Lannisters, then, less than an hour later, it was Roose Bolton, having marched from the crossroads, who had taken Tywin from the rear, then it was Stannis, having already seized King's Landing and force-marched up the Blackwater, who had smashed Tywin's host from behind.

With dawn, however, came the truth, and the cheering: "King Robb! King Robb! Three cheers for the Young Wolf!" It was Utherydes Wayn who came to Catelyn with the report of what had happened. "The king! His Grace has returned!" he cried, red-faced and looking ten years younger.

"My son is here? What has happened?"

"Oh, my lady, a great victory! The king is on his way to Riverrun even now, and with Lord Tywin himself, and Ser Kevan, as his prisoners!"

"How?" demanded Brienne. "Wasn't King Robb in the Westlands?"

"Yes, yes, of course. Forgive me. His Grace forced a march along the Gold Road, bypassed Deep Den somehow, crossed the Blackwater at Stoney Sept, and took the Lannisters from behind."

"Did not Tywin have more than three times the king's numbers?" Catelyn asked pointedly.

"Aye, my lady," interjected Brienne, "but spread out all along the Red Fork, assaulting the different fords, and facing the wrong direction."

"Indeed," Wayn said, clearly wanting to tell the story. "His Grace himself captured Lord Tywin, and Ser Brynden caught Ser Kevan! The Mountain-that-Rides is a prisoner too, caught by Theon Greyjoy! And dozens more highborn prisoners besides!"

"Theon Greyjoy captured Gregor Clegane?" asked Catelyn skeptically.

"Oh, yes, my lady. He shot Ser Gregor's horse out from under him while he was still in the middle of the river. By the time Clegane managed to get back ashore, he was near drowned, and Greyjoy had shot him three times. No one knows if he will live."

"This world would be no poorer for that one's leaving it," Catelyn said.

"Indeed not, my lady. Pardon me please, but His Grace wishes to hold court in the great hall at midday, and I must see that it is ready. You'll attend of course. The king has asked after you, and your lord father."

"See to your duties. I shall attend my son at his convenience."

Hours later, Catelyn stood in attendance at her son's court in the great hall. Robb sat in the high seat, flanked on either side by Greatjon Umber, Rickard Karstark, Theon Greyjoy, and Ser Brynden Blackfish, with Grey Wind lying at his feet. Ser Edmure stood before him.

"Dearest Uncle," Robb began, "my congratulations. This victory was as much yours as mine. Had you and your men not held the fords so stoutly, we never could have won this great victory."

"Thank you, Your Grace."

"Have the prisoners brought in," Robb then called. With that, Lord Tywin Lannister, his brother Ser Kevan, and Ser Cleos Frey were all ushered into the hall, under heavy guard, the former two both in chains. Tywin stared straight ahead, stone-faced, unblinking. Ser Kevan, by contrast, looked all around him, hardly seeming to believe where he was. Ser Cleos was clearly stunned to see his liege lord. He looked back and forth between Lord Tywin and the king, unsure what to do.

"Kneel, or be knelt," called the Greatjon. Ser Cleos went to one knee. When the Lannister brothers refused, the guards struck them in the backs of their knees with the butts of their spears and forced them to genuflect before the king.

"Lord Tywin, Ser Kevan, welcome to Riverrun," Robb proclaimed. "If you will pledge me your word of honor before this assembly that you will not attempt to escape, I shall keep you here in the condition owed to men of your station." When both prisoners remained silent, Robb said "As you wish. Have both of them chained up in the dungeon, in cells out of earshot of each other and the Kingslayer."

"Ser Cleos," Robb continued when the two Lannisters had been led off. "I must confess that this demonstration was as much for your benefit as much as anything else."

"Your Grace?"

"I am sending you back to King's Landing. Once again, you must understand that I am not releasing you, and you must give me your word that you will return here, and this time with no deceptions or tricks."

"I swear again that I had no knowledge of what the Imp had planned, and I give you my sworn word that I shall return as you have commanded."

"Good. Go then and tell the Tyrion what you have seen here today. Tell him that my terms for peace are now these: my sisters must be returned to me, unharmed, along with my father's sword, Ice. Furthermore, Cersei Lannister and Joffrey Waters must be surrendered to my custody. Finally, he must recognize the sovereignty and independence of the North and the Riverlands for all time. If he does these things, I will grant him along with Tommen and Myrcella Waters asylum and safe passage; he and his younger nephew may take the black as sworn brothers of the Night's Watch, and Myrcella may join the Silent Sisters. Tell him that he must surely see that this war is over, and that he would do better to surrender to me than to Stannis."

"I shall go as you command, Your Grace, although I do not expect to be welcomed with these tidings. I beg your leave, Your Grace, though, to alter your message—"

"Alter?" bellowed the Greatjon, stalking forward. "Say the word, Your Grace, and I shall 'alter' his head!"

"Peace, Lord Umber. Alter how?"

"Forgive me, Your Grace," Ser Cleos all by whimpered, "I only meant that I beg Your Grace's leave not to refer to Joffrey, Tommen, or Myrcella with the name Waters, Your Grace. I should be a poor envoy to you with no tongue."

"You have my leave, Ser Cleos. As you say, you would be a poor envoy otherwise. You further have my leave to go." With that, Cleos Frey was conducted from the hall.

"Those are sweeter terms indeed," muttered Lord Rickard Karstark, not altogether unhappily, at his back.

"Lord Jason Mallister," Robb then called.

"Yes, Your Grace?" answered the lord of Seagard, stepping forward.

"I want you to sail again to Pyke, to treat once more with Lord Greyjoy. Tell him of our victory over the Lannisters, and perhaps he will change his mind about entering the war on our side."

"I shall go as you command, Your Grace, but I doubt Lord Greyjoy's answer will have changed. He was adamant in his neutrality last time."

"So be it, but still it must be tried." After Lord Mallister had left, Robb called out "Has anyone any further business before this court is concluded?" When no one stepped forward, Robb declared "Very well. I shall speak privily then with Ser Brynden, Ser Edmure, and my lady mother. Olyvar," he said quietly to his squire, "see that my armor is repaired and cleaned."

"Yes, Your Grace," the boy answered, hurrying from the hall.

It was as Catelyn followed her son into Lord Hoster's private audience chamber that she saw the bandage around Robb's shoulder. "Robb, what happened?" she asked, gesturing to the gauze wrap.

"It's nothing," her son assured her.

"His Grace took an arrow wound during the battle," Ser Brynden explained.

"It is nothing," Robb repeated. "And anyway, Maester Vyman has already seen to it. He assures me that it is nothing to be concerned of."

"Robb—"

"Enough. We have other, more important matters to discuss. How does my lord grandfather?"

"Lord Hoster yet lives, but I fear for not much longer. Will you visit him?"

"Of course, as soon as we are done here. Tell me," he continued after a momentary pause, "do you think that now, finally, Lady Arryn will come in on our side?"

"Possibly, but I doubt it," Catelyn answered.

"I fear Cat is right," Ser Brynden echoed. "When I was still in her service, Lysa would not even let me take a force beyond the Bloody Gate to make safe the High Road through the Mountains of Moon. Your aunt has never been very brave."

"Will not the danger seem much less now, with Lord Tywin our prisoner and his army smashed?" Robb asked, frustration creeping into his voice.

"She might, but she might also decide that with the danger so much less, there is no need for her to do anything," Catelyn answered.

"Would she be wrong?" asked Edmure. "You said it yourself: the Lannisters are beaten. If they don't surrender now, Stannis will take King's Landing and have all their heads on pikes."

"And then what, Uncle? Stannis has branded us traitors as much as the Lannisters. We may have to fight him next before we have peace."

"I pray you are wrong, Robb," Catelyn said, "for if we must fight Stannis, then we must be prepared to deal with the vile shadow-magic he used to kill his own brother."

"I shall send a bird to Winterfell, then, and summon Maester Luwin to Riverrun as fast as he can travel. He once told me that he studied sorcery at the Citadel, which Maester Vyman, for all his skill and learning, did not. Perhaps he can counsel us on this matter. I shall also send another letter to the Eyrie. If there is any chance the knights of the Vale will enter the war, then we must take it.

To be continued….