grrm.astormofswords-第167章

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　Jinglebell　jingled　his　bells。　A　thin　line　of　spit　ran　from　one　corner　of　his　mouth　when　he　smiled。
　〃Save　your　royal　breath。　You'd　do　as　well　talking　to　a　chamberpot。〃　Lord　Walder　shifted　his　gaze　to　the　others。　〃Well；　Lady　Catelyn；　I　see　you　have　returned　to　us。　And　young　Ser　Edmure；　the　victor　of　the　Stone　Mill。　Lord　Tully　now；　I'll　need　to　remember　that。　You're　the　fifth　Lord　Tully　I've　known。　I　outlived　the　other　four；　heh。　Your　bride's　about　here　somewhere。　I　suppose　you　want　a　look　at　her。〃
　〃I　would；　my　lord。〃
　〃Then　you'll　have　it。　But　clothed。　She's　a　modest　girl；　and　a　maid。　You　won't　see　her　naked　till　the　bedding。〃　Lord　Walder　cackled。　〃Heh。　Soon　enough；　soon　enough。〃　He　craned　his　head　about。　〃Benfrey；　go　fetch　your　sister。　Be　quick　about　it；　Lord　Tully's　e　all　the　way　from　Riverrun。〃　A　young　knight　in　a　quartered　surcoat　bowed　and　took　his　leave；　and　the　old　man　turned　back　to　Robb。　〃And　where's　your　bride；　Your　Grace？　The　fair　Queen　Jeyne。　A　Westerling　of　the　Crag；　I'm　told；　heh。〃
　〃I　left　her　at　Riverrun；　my　lord。　She　was　too　weary　for　more　travel；　as　we　told　Ser　Ryman。〃
　〃That　makes　me　grievous　sad。　I　wanted　to　behold　her　with　mine　own　weak　eyes。　We　all　did；　heh。　Isn't　that　so；　my　lady？〃
　Pale　wispy　Lady　Frey　seemed　startled　that　she　would　be　called　upon　to　speak。　〃Y…yes；　my　lord。　We　all　so　wanted　to　pay　homage　to　Queen　Jeyne。　She　must　be　fair　to　look　on。〃
　〃She　is　most　fair；　my　lady。〃　There　was　an　icy　stillness　in　Robb's　voice　that　reminded　Catelyn　of　his　father。
　The　old　man　either　did　not　hear　it　or　refused　to　pay　it　any　heed。　〃Fairer　than　my　own　get；　heh？　Elsewise　how　could　her　face　and　form　have　made　the　King's　Grace　forget　his　solemn　promise。〃
　Robb　suffered　the　rebuke　with　dignity。　〃No　words　can　set　that　right；　I　know；　but　I　have　e　to　make　my　apologies　for　the　wrong　I　did　your　House；　and　to　beg　for　your　forgiveness；　my　lord。〃
　〃Apologies；　heh。　Yes；　you　vowed　to　make　one；　I　recall。　I'm　old；　but　I　don't　forget　such　things。　Not　like　some　kings；　it　seems。　The　young　remember　nothing　when　they　see　a　pretty　face　and　a　nice　firm　pair　of　teats；　isn't　that　so？　I　was　the　same。　Some　might　say　I　still　am；　heh　heh。　They'd　be　wrong；　though；　wrong　as　you　were。　But　now　you're　here　to　make　amends。　It　was　my　girls　you　spurned；　though。　Mayhaps　it's　them　should　hear　you　beg　for　pardon；　Your　Grace。　My　maiden　girls。　Here；　have　a　look　at　them。〃　When　he　waggled　his　fingers；　a　flurry　of　femininity　left　their　places　by　the　walls　to　line　up　beneath　the　dais。　jinglebell　started　to　rise　as　well；　his　bells　ringing　merrily；　but　Lady　Frey　grabbed　the　lackwit's　sleeve　and　tugged　him　back　down。
　Lord　Walder　named　the　names。　〃My　daughter　Arwyn；〃　he　said　of　a　girl　of　fourteen。　〃Shirei；　my　youngest　trueborn　daughter。　Ami　and　Marianne　are　granddaughters。　I　married　Ami　to　Ser　Pate　of　Sevenstreams；　but　the　Mountain　killed　the　oaf　so　I　got　her　back。　That's　a　Cersei；　but　we　call　her　Little　Bee；　her　mother's　a　Beesbury。　More　granddaughters。　One's　a　Walda；　and　the　others　。　。　。　well；　they　have　names；　whatever　they　are　。　。　。〃
　〃I'm　Merry；　Lord　Grandfather；〃　one　girl　said。
　〃You're　noisy；　that's　for　certain。　Next　to　Noisy　is　my　daughter　Tyta。　Then　another　Walda。　Alyx；　Marissa　。　。　。　are　you　Marissa？　I　thought　you　were。　She's　not　always　bald。　The　maester　shaved　her　hair　off；　but　he　swears　it　will　soon　grow　back。　The　twins　are　Serra　and　Sarra。〃　He　squinted　down　at　one　of　the　younger　girls。　〃Heh；　are　you　another　Walda？〃
　The　girl　could　not　have　been　more　than　four。　〃I'm　Ser　Aemon　Rivers's　Walda；　lord　great　grandfather。〃　She　curtsied。
　〃How　long　have　you　been　talking？　Not　that　you're　like　to　have　anything　sensible　to　say；　your　father　never　did。　He's　a　bastard's　son　besides；　heh。　Go　away；　I　wanted　only　Freys　up　here。　The　King　in　the　North　has　no　interest　in　base　stock。〃　Lord　Walder　glanced　to　Robb；　as　jinglebell　bobbed　his　head　and　chimed。　〃There　they　are；　all　maidens。　Well；　and　one　widow；　but　there's　some　who　like　a　woman　broken　in。　You　might　have　had　any　one　of　them。〃
　〃It　would　have　been　an　impossible　choice；　my　lord；〃　said　Robb　with　careful　courtesy。　〃They're　all　too　lovely。〃
　Lord　Walder　snorted。　〃And　they　say　my　eyes　are　bad。　Some　will　do　well　enough；　I　suppose。　Others　。　。　。　well；　it　makes　no　matter。　They　weren't　good　enough　for　the　King　in　the　North；　heh。　Now　what　is　it　you　have　to　say？〃
　〃My　ladies。〃　Robb　looked　desperately　unfortable；　but　he　had　known　this　moment　must　e；　and　he　faced　it　without　flinching。　〃All　men　should　keep　their　word；　kings　most　of　all。　I　was　pledged　to　marry　one　of　you　and　I　broke　that　vow。　The　fault　is　not　in　you。　What　I　did　was　not　done　to　slight　you；　but　because　I　loved　another。　No　words　can　set　it　right；　I　know；　yet　I　e　before　you　to　ask　forgiveness；　that　the　Freys　of　the　Crossing　and　the　Starks　of　Winterfell　may　once　again　be　friends。〃
　The　smaller　girls　fidgeted　anxiously。　Their　older　sisters　waited　for　Lord　Walder　on　his　black　oak　throne。　Jinglebell　rocked　back　and　forth；　bells　chiming　on　collar　and　crown。
　〃Good；〃　the　Lord　of　the　Crossing　said。　〃That　was　very　good；　Your　Grace。　'No　words　can　set　it　right'　heh。　Well　said；　well　said。　At　the　wedding　feast　I　hope　you　will　not　refuse　to　dance　with　my　daughters。　It　would　please　an　old　man's　heart；　heh。〃　He　bobbed　his　wrinkled　pink　head　up　and　down；　in　much　the　same　way　his　lackwit　grandson　did；　though　Lord　Walder　wore　no　bells。　〃And　here　she　is；　Lord　Edmure。　My　daughter　Roslin；　my　most　precious　little　blossom；　heh。〃
　Ser　Benfrey　led　her　into　the　hall。　They　looked　enough　alike　to　be　full　siblings。　judging　from　their　age；　both　were　children　of　the　sixth　Lady　Frey；　a　Rosby；　Catelyn　seemed　to　recall。
　Roslin　was　small　for　her　years；　her　skin　as　white　as　if　she　had　just　risen　from　a　milk　bath。　Her　face　was　ely；　with　a　small　chin；　delicate　nose；　and　big　brown　eyes。　Thick　chestnut　hair　fell　in　loose　waves　to　a　waist　so　tiny　that　Edmure　would　be　able　to　put　his　hands　around　it。　Beneath　the　lacy　bodice　of　her　pale　blue　gown；　her　breasts　looked　small　but　shapely。
　〃Your　Grace。〃　The　girl　went　to　her　knees。　〃Lord　Edmure；　I　hope　I　am　not　a　disappointment　to　you。〃
　Far　from　it；　thought　Catelyn。　Her　brother's　face　had　lit　up　at　the　sight　of　her。　〃You　are　a　delight　to　me；　my　lady；〃　Edmure　said。　〃And　ever　will　be；　I　know。〃
　Roslin　had　a　small　gap　between　two　of　her　front　teeth　that　made　her　shy　with　her　smiles；　but　the　flaw　was　almost　endearing。　Pretty　enough；　Catelyn　thought；　but　so　small；　and　she　es　of　Rosby　stock。　The　Rosbys　had　never　been　robust。　She　much　preferred　the　frames　of　some　of　the　older　girls　in　the　hall；　daughters　or　granddaughters；　she　could　not　be　sure。　They　had　a　Crakehall　look　about　them；　and　Lord　Walder's　third　wife　had　been　of　that　House。　Wide　hips　to　bear　children；　big　breasts　to　nurse　them；　strong　arms　to　carry　them。　The　Grakehalls　have　always　been　a　bigboned　family；　and　strong。
　〃My　lord　is　kind；〃　the　Lady　Roslin　said　to　Edmure。
　〃My　lady　is　beautiful。〃　Edmure　took　her　hand　and　drew　her　to　her　feet。　〃But　why　are　you　crying？〃
　〃For　joy；〃　Roslin　said。　〃I　weep　for　joy；　my　lord。〃
　〃Enough；〃　Lord　Walder　broke　in。　〃You　may　weep　and　whisper　after　you're　wed；　heh。　Benfrey；　see　your　sister　back　to　her　chambers；　she　has　a　wedding　to　prepare　for。　And　a　bedding；　heh；　the　sweetest　part。　For　all；　for　all。〃　His　mouth　moved　in　and　out。　〃We'll　have　music；　such　sweet　music；　and　wine；　heh；　the　red　will　run；　and　we'll　put　some　wrongs　aright。　But　now　you're　weary；　and　wet　as　well；　dripping　on　my　floor。　There's　fires　waiting　for　you；　and　hot　mulled　wine；　and　baths　if　you　want　'em。　Lothar；　show　our　guests　to　their　quarters。〃
　〃I　need　to　see　my　men　across　the　river；　my　lord；〃　Robb　said。
　〃They　shan't　get　lost；〃　Lord　Walder　plained。　〃They've　crossed　before；　haven't　they？　When　you　came　down　from　the　north。　You　wanted　crossing　and　I　gave　it　to　you；　and　you　never　said　mayhaps；　heh。　But　suit　yourself。　Lead　each　man　across　by　the　hand　if　you　like；　it's　naught　to　me。〃
　〃My　lord！〃　Catelyn　had　almost　forgotten。　〃Some　food　would　be　most　wele。　We　have　ridden　many　leagues　in　the　rain。〃
　Walder　Frey's　mouth　moved　in　and　out。　〃Food；　heh。　A　loaf　of　bread；　a　bite　of　cheese；　mayhaps　a　sausage。〃
　〃Some　wine　to　wash　it　down；〃　Robb　said。　〃And　salt。〃