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Chapter 72
🕑 Added 2025-10-29 10:37:17 +0000 UTCNed smiled in relief, both at the fact that his son lived and that his boy had made a clever use of tactics.
"Do you know what I did?" Robb whispered to Jon.
"I can guess that you used the scout from before to set a trap and delay Tywin Lannister's main troops" Jon whispered back.
"So I sent men to their deaths? For what?" Robb asked in a panic.
Jon gripped his hand.
"We'll see soon I know it."
Q. Who wins the fight between the Lannister and Stark?
A) Jamie Lannister wins against Robb Stark
B) Robb Stark wins against Jamie Lannister
C) No conclusion comes and both parties retreat
D) Robb Stark captures Jamie Lannister
"D) Robb Stark captures Jamie Lannister" Jon Snow said
"Wow! You have too much trust in me" Robb said with a smile
"A) Jamie Lannister wins against Robb Stark" Jamie answered as he glared at Jon Snow who flipped him back.
"B) Robb Stark wins against Jamie Lannister " Robert Baratheon answers
[Robb sends Brynden with a few hundred men carrying Tully banners to raid and draw Jaime from his camp at Riverrun. Expecting to crush a small force, Jaime and most of his cavalry are lured north of the Tumblestone to a forested valley where the rest of Robb's men are hidden. Lady Maege Mormont and Lord Jason Mallister wait east of the valley, while Lord Rickard Karstark is to the north. West is Ser Stevron Frey, and across a far ridge Lord Greatjon Umber. Robb's mother, Lady Catelyn Stark, waits high on a ridge under the protection of thirty guards led by Hallis Mollen.
Once all of Jaime's unsuspecting men have entered the valley, Catelyn hears the sound of snow shrikes, possibly alerts by the waiting northmen. The Mormonts sound horns to signal the moonlit trap has been sprung, followed by Umbers, Mallisters, Freys, and Karstarks. Jaime's horsemen are attacked by bowmen hidden in the trees by Robb, and the Young Wolf and northern bannermen lead their own cavalry against the ambushed westermen. Robb is joined in the fighting by his direwolf, Grey Wind. Theon Greyjoy, Robb's friend, kills men in the battle.
When Jaime sees the battle is lost, he rallies his retainers and attempts to cut his way through the host to slay Robb in single combat. He is halted, but not before slaying Daryn Hornwood, Eddard Karstark, and Torrhen Karstark of Robb's personal guard.Grey Wind howls as dawn breaks and the fighting winds down.]
[We cut to Catelyn and Rodrik Cassel overlooking the Trident from a safe distance at higher ground. The Stark host arrives at the clearing. Robb is amongst them, and he comes carrying a tied and bound Jaime Lannister.]
"See" Jon pointed out to his brother. "You captured Jaime fucking Lannister. You outsmarted Tywin Lannister and got yourself a hostage!"
Robb couldn't help but grin up at the wall.
Wrong answers by Jamie Lannister and Robert Baratheon they lose the chance to answer the next two questions.
Congratulation to Jon Snow for the right answer. He gains the knowledge of forging Valyrian steel.
"Hiss..." Jon grabbed his head as he hissed in pain from the knowledge that was crammed in his head.
"Damn, who would have thought that you would need to be a fire mage to forge Valyrian steel" Jon Snow mumbled under his breath.
"Jon are you okay" Arya asked in worried tone.
"I am fine just a little headache from getting too much knowledge" Jon replies with a smile.
"Than will you make me a Valyrian sword after we go back" Arya asked excitedly after finding that Jon was okay.
Jon smirked at that and said "Of course how about I make the needle into a Valyrian needle"
"Really thank you thank you Jon, you are my best brother" Arya said excitedly as she hugged Jon.
"Hey! I am right here" Robb said with a bemused tone.
"Sorry Robb but you can't compete with Jon now" Arya replied with a smile.
"Make sure to not forget about me nephew, since Ned had the Ice, I would need something in comparison to that" Brandon Stark the elder added.
"Of course uncle don't worry you will be happy with your sword" Jon Snow said
"Jon me too me too" Bran said as he raised his hand waving towards Jon who nodded his head towards Bran.
It wasn't just the Stark's who were happy with Jon Snow gaining the knowledge of making Valyrian steel, Robert Baratheon was happy for Ned Stark and his family. Another happy man would be Rhaegar Targaryen was also happy that his son was gaining the powers of their Valyrian heritage back.
The other families like the Martell's and Tyrell were thinking of how to get few Valyrian weapons of their own.
[At King's Landing, Arya follows the crowd to the Sept of Baelor. She climbs up the pedestal of Baelor's statue to get a better view of her surroundings. We cut to Ned Stark being taken from the sept and into the courtyard, in full view of the gathered populace; Baelor's statue is seen in the background to his left. Ned catches Arya's eye at the foot of the statue.]
And just like that Robb's grin fell, as did the smiles on everyone who watched Robb outsmart Tywin Lannister.
[Ned is taken across the populace and runs into Yoren of the Night's Watch.]
"Baelor!"
[Yoren looks towards the statue knowingly.]
Ned relaxed seeing that. Arya would be safe.
[Ned is taken to a raised platform where Sansa, Cersei, Joffrey, and Littlefinger are standing. Sansa smiles warmly at her father as he addresses the crowd.]
"I am Eddard Stark, Lord of Winterfell and Hand of the King. I come before you to confess my treason in the sight of Gods and men."
"Good... good" Catelyn swallowed thickly. Ned confessed he wouldn't die. He'd be sent to the Wall, which was better than dying.
"I betrayed the faith of my King and the trust of my friend Robert. I swore to protect and defend his children, but before his blood was cold I plotted to murder his son and seize the Throne for myself. Let the High Septon and Baelor the Blessed bear witness to what I say: Joffrey Baratheon is the one true heir to the Iron Throne, by the grace of all the Gods, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms and Protector of the Realm."
"As we sin, so do we suffer. This man has confessed his crimes in sight of Gods and men. The Gods are just but beloved Baelor taught us they can also be merciful. What is to be done with this traitor, Your Grace?"
"Why is Pycelle saying that instead of the Septon?" Rhaegar asked.
All shrugged. Nobody had an answer for him.
"My mother wishes me to let Lord Eddard join The Night's Watch. Stripped of all titles and powers, he would serve the realm in permanent exile. And My Lady Sansa has begged mercy for her father. But they have the soft hearts of women."
"No..." Catelyn whispered in horror.
"So long as I am your King, treason shall never go unpunished. Ser Ilyn, bring me his head!"
"No!" Lyanna shouted in alarm.
[The townsfolk roar with approval; Arya leaves the pedestal and runs towards the commotion. Sansa gets visibly distraught and starts yelling as a member of the Kingsguard holds her back. Varys runs to the platform to talk to Cersei and Joffrey, Ilyn Payne puts on his executioner's mask. Arya marches towards the courtyard but is grabbed by the arm by Yoren.]
"Don't look!"
"Let me go."
"Shut your mouth. Look at me."
"Stop him, stop!"
[From Ned's perspective, the roars of the crowd become almost silent; he looks towards Baelor's statue but finds no one there. He lowers his head in recognition of his fate as the sound of Payne's longsword cuts through the hushed silence. We see the sword swing until it reaches his head, with a direct cut to Arya as Yoren prevents her from seeing the actual execution. Arya looks at the sky; a flock of pigeons flies away from the courtyard as she holds her head against Yorer's chest, she sighs heavily, and the wall turns black.]
