A Clash of Kings-Chapter 39

Catelyn V
A Clash of Kings chapter
POV	Catelyn Stark
Place	Riverrun
Page	407 UK HC (Other versions)
Chapter chronology (All)
Catelyn IV ↑
Arya VIII  ← Catelyn V →  Daenerys III
↓ Catelyn VI

Catelyn Stark returns to Riverrun and learns of Edmure's plans against Tywin Lannister.

Synopsis

Catelyn and her escort are nearing Riverrun and are met by one of Martyn Rivers' outriders. The scout tells Catelyn that Robb Stark left her brother, Ser Edmure Tully, to hold Riverrun and guard his rear. Catelyn then learns from Martyn that Robb has crushed Ser Stafford Lannister's levies, and that the Greatjon has seized three of the Lannisters' gold mines. Robb reached Oxcross by following a trail Grey Wind had discovered around the Golden Tooth. However, Martyn tells her that Lord Tywin is marching on Riverrun as they speak. catelyn takes Brienne of Tarth as her sworn sword, to prevent the girl from doing anything foolish.

Catelyn makes all haste back to her father Hoster's castle, fearful of Edmure's chances in battle against Tywin. Outside Riverrun she discovers Lannister men hanging from the walls. Edmure informs her that four men from Ser Cleos Frey's party attempted to free Ser Jaime Lannister, and nearly succeeded. The false envoys were hanged for their deeds, and the Kingslayer was placed in the deep dungeons and chained to the wall. Edmure explains that birds have arrived from Storm's End, with messages from Ser Cortnay Penrose seeking help. Cortnay claimed he feared for the boy Edric Storm, Robert's only known high-born bastard. Her father's steward, Utherydes Wayn, asks Catelyn if there is no hope of aid from the south, hoping that Stannis Baratheon will be forced to make common cause with them, but Catelyn gives no answer.

Catelyn disapproves of Edmure having admitted scared smallfolk into Riverrun, and in the castle godswood she makes known her dissent in Edmure giving Lord Tywin battle. Her brother has commanded Roose Bolton, who took the ruby ford and the crossroads, to take Harrenhal, and has also called the levies from the Twins, those under the command of Ser Helman Tallhart, to support Roose. Catelyn argues that Robb left those men to make certain Lord Walder Frey kept faith. Catelyn also learns that Roose wed one of Lord Walder's daughters. Edmure explains that the Red Fork will be fortified against Tywin's approach, and that Tywin would be trapped between Riverrun and Harrenhal if he holds back. The Lannisters can then be defeated when Robb returns from the west. Edmure's plan is supported by river lords like Jonos Bracken and Tytos Blackwood, though Catelyn worries.

Catelyn then visits her fevered father, but Lord Hoster mistakes her for Lysa, and mumbles several strange, disjointed lines. Maester Vyman gives him milk of the poppy.

Catelyn is then led by Utherydes to the pair of silent sisters who have brought Lord Eddard Stark's bones from King's Landing. When Catelyn states that she must thank Cersei for even this much, her father's steward tells her to thank the Imp, since it was his doing. Catelyn thinks to herself, "One day I will thank them all". Catelyn commands the silent sisters to lay Ned's bones to rest in the crypts of Winterfell, with Hallis Mollen leading their escort. She then asks to be left alone with her husband's body, musing that she envies the silent sisters for their supposed ability to speak to the dead.

Character list

Appearing: Lucas Blackwood Robin Flint Perwyn Frey Desmond Grell Wendel Manderly Hallis Mollen Martyn Rivers Robin Ryger Catelyn Stark Brienne Tarth Edmure Tully Hoster Tully Utherydes Wayn

Mentioned: Jon Arryn Lysa Arryn Joffrey Baratheon Renly Baratheon Robert Baratheon Stannis Baratheon Petyr Baelish Tytos Blackwood Roose Bolton Jonos Bracken Delp Enger Cleos Frey Ryman Frey Stevron Frey Fat Walda Frey Walder Frey Big Walder Frey Black Walder Frey Little Walder Frey Ghost Galbart Glover Grey Wind Rickard Karstark Lady Cersei Lannister Jaime Lannister Stafford Lannister Tyrion Lannister Tywin Lannister Long Lew Maege Mormont Myles Nymeria Poul Pemford Cortnay Penrose Marq Piper Rymund the Rhymer Shadd Shaggydog Arya Stark Bran Stark Brandon Stark Eddard Stark Rickon Stark Robb Stark Sansa Stark Edric Storm Summer Helman Tallhart Aerys II Targaryen Rhaegar Targaryen Selwyn Tarth Brynden Tully Minisa Tully Margaery Tyrell Jon Umber Vyman

Mentions

Events: Robert's Rebellion Battle of the Trident Sack of King's Landing Weddings of Catelyn and Lysa Tully War of the Five Kings Battle on the Green Fork Battle of Oxcross Battle under the walls of Riverrun Battle in the Whispering Wood Melee at Bitterbridge Plot to free Jaime Lannister Raiding along the westerlands coast Siege of Storm's End Seizure of westerlands gold mines Wedding of Roose Bolton and Walda Frey

Houses: House Arryn House Baratheon House Blackwood House Bolton House Bracken House Darry House Flint of Widow's Watch House Frey House Glover House Grell House Karstark House Lannister House Mallister House Manderly House Mollen House Mormont House Paege House Pemford House Penrose House Piper House Ryger House Stark House Tallhart House Targaryen House Tarth House Tully House Tyrell House Umber House Wayn

Places: Bitterbridge Castamere Casterly Rock Eyrie Golden Tooth Green Fork Harrenhal King's Landing Lannisport Nunn's Deep Oxcross Pendric Hills Red Fork Riverlands Riverrun Godswood River Gate Ruby ford Storm's End Trident Tumblestone Twins Whispering Wood Winterfell Crypts

Terms: Archer Bannerman Bastard Bone Cattle Chicken Crow Direwolf Dreams Eagle Evenstar Fosterage Goat Godswood Gold Horse House Lannister guards Ice Incest Iron King Knight Hedge knight Longsword Lord Lady of Bear Island Lord of Casterly Rock Lord of the Crossing Lord of Karhold Lord of the Last Hearth Lord of Raventree Hall Lord of Tarth Maester Maiden Master of Deepwood Motte Master-at-arms Mead Milk of the poppy Mummer North Old gods Prostitution Rainbow Guard Raven Sandstone The Seven Shadow child Sheep Silent sisters Smallfolk Snake Southron Squire Steel Steward Trout Wayn Wolf "Wolf in the Night"

References and Notes

• The synopsis was copied from AOL member vbkorik27 previously at [1].
• Summary and analyses of the chapter in the course of a 10th reread.
• Review and summary by Leigh Butler.