164 ASOS 21 Catelyn III: The King Who Lost the North

When the bodies of the Lannister boys are discovered, Robb rages at having been made guilty of war crimes. Robb executes Lord Rickard Karstark. Jeyne asks Catelyn for advice about how to be a good wife to Robb in his struggles.

Catelyn envisions first Bran & Rickon, then Sansa layed out naked when she sees the squires' bodies. The Lannisters may kill Sansa now. Edmure points this out, suggesting they hide this crime. Robb says he owes the boys' fathers the truth. Edmure argues for mercy, suggesting Robb pardon Karstark or keep him as a hostage. Robb puts his crown back on and states it is his duty to execute Karstark. "The swords in his (Robb's) crown stood stark and black against his brow." The suggestion is that Robb does not feel free to make decisions: he must give the Lannisters justice for their murdered boys, though he could give none to Karstark.

The Toll of Being a King as Seen on Robb

Robb avoids assembly when upset and must disguise his emotions even in a small council of family members, where he rubs at the marks the crown left on his temples. Jeyne asks Catelyn for advice, since Robb is so upset and won't remove his bloody clothes.

"When everyone was shouting King in the North, King in the North, I told myself...swore to myself...that I would be a good king, as honorable as Father, strong, just, loyal to my friends and brave when I faced my enemies... now I can't even tell one from the other. How did it all get so confused? Lord Rickard's fought at my side in half a dozen battles. His sons died for me in the Whispering Wood. Tion Frey and Willem Lannister were my enemies. Yet now I have to kill my dead friends' father for their sakes." 280

Who Is Allowed to Sleep: In-Chapter Motif

• Robb was woken at once, being king but Edmure was summoned later and Jeyne was not to attend, having known the murdered boys.

• The detail that one boy clearly died in his sleep while the other fended off blades seemed marked. Maybe it's that they killed the one who looked more like Jaime first, but that this caused more distress to the one who was slightly less a target. Maybe it points out the insanity of the revenge.

Son for a Son: Major Construction

Rickard Karstark blames Catelyn for freeing Jaime ("Tell your mother to look at them, he said "She slew them as much as I." 275) though that's insane: had Jaime been available to kill, it would have been as much a war crime, though this is worse. Still, Catelyn thinks " I did this. These two boys died so my daughters might live." 275

Since Catelyn will die in the attempt to trade Jinglebell for Robb, future chapters will build heavily on the idea of traded lives.

• The count of five Karstark men to trial would have been eight, but three were killed being taken.

• The count of the dead includes two Riverrun guards who Edmure names

  
  

"How can it be treason to kill Lannisters, when it is not treason to free them?" 276

Stannis will soon feel the same way about his Hand sending peace terms to Tywin. The theme is building that vengeance is not only about a specific woundedness but about a war that may not end.

Hang the Corpses: Stoneheart Theme

Robb calls for even the corpses to be hanged so as not to foul Edmure's rivers. The crows will eat them, if hung. This may foreshadow the desecration of Catelyn's corpse, thrown into the river as a "fish." I suspect it's more than that, though, because Hoster Tully's funeral reminds us that it can be reverent to send corpses down the river.

Pretexts: In-Chapter Motif

Lord Karstark makes several "crazy" assertions, like about how any man deserves to die who gets between a father and revenge.

Then, when the Blackfish arrives, Robb uses it as a pretext to end the trial and speak in private, where not so taxed by the need to perform. 276

Catelyn's Sense of Guilt: "I did this"

Within the chapter, Catelyn agrees several times with Lord Rickard's bizarre condemnation of her. " Lost by me. By me, may the gods forgive me" 277

The Broken Man Theme

Robb describes his confusion at having fought by Lord Rickard's side, now preparing to execute him. The slain boys were enemies. Yet, he must now bring justice for the Lannisters down on the head of his own man, though that man curses his name.

Robb despairs: "When everyone was shouting King in the North, King in the North, I told myself...swore to myself...that I would be a good king, as honorable as Father, strong, just, loyal to my friends and brave when I faced my enemies... now I can't even tell one from the other." 280

Ironies

Robb must kill his enemy's killer and give justice to those who have wronged him.

Ambiguities

"All? Was it anger or despair that thickened Robb's voice like that? Even Catelyn was not certain." 277 That this question is asked means it might matter how it's answered. I speculate it is meant to enrich the description of Robb's emotional state, suggesting he is experiencing both anger and despair. It also reminds that, as king, he must disguise such emotions, even in a small group of family members.

Scenes 1: Ominous. The trial of the Karstarks: Men gather to see the bodies of the slain squires, then those who slew them are brought in, tried and ordered hanged. When the Blackfish arrives, Robb sees him in private with Edmure and Catelyn, instruting that Lord Karstark is to await his judgment.

2: Small council: The Blackfish shares that the Karstark men have all left to hunt Jaime. Edmure councils mercy for Lord Karstark, but Robb puts on his crown and declares he must be just.

3: The maester tells Catelyn Hoster does not have long to live.

4: Jeyne comes to Catelyn to ask how to be a better wife to Robb, who won't take off his bloody clothes. Catelyn reminds Jeyne to be patient and to focus on becoming pregnant. Jeyne says she is and that her mother is providing a fertility posset.

Mnemonic Titles

2005: Enemies: So many of Robb's supposed allies are acting like enemies. Both Catelyn and the Blackfish are certain Lysa won't even grant Robb permission to pass through the Vale. The Karstarks will now be enemies and it will be difficult to restore terms, especially after having executed Lord Rickard. Jeyne's mother will turn out to have been acting like an enemy, too, with the fertility possets.

2006: The King Who Lost the North. Emphasis on the way Robb's sense of duty to execute Karstark comes from his crown. This act of kinslaying will cast a dark shadow moving forward that does not lift until the red wedding. While it is not specified that Robb erred in executing Karstark, it's clear he suffers for having had to perform such duty.