270 AFFC 45 Jaime VII: Words Are Wind

Riverrun has been delivered to its new lord, Emmon Frey, but the Blackfish has escaped. Sybell Westerling is upset she wasn't warned about the Red Wedding. Jaime begins to think about how to seize power from Cersei. Jaime burns Cersei's letter.

The riverlands are still home to wolves. Edmure delayed lowering the Stark banner to buy time for Ser Brynden to swim away. Robb's queen still wears her crown. Lady Catelyn and Arya harry the region as Lady Stoneheart and Nymeria. Then, as if to invoke the Stark words, winter comes with the first snow. When Jaime receives Cersei's letter begging him to come at once, a snowflake lands on the page, blurring the ink and seeming to pronounce a winter on their relationship, too.

Jaime is happy with the job he's doing, especially with having ended the siege without breaking his oath to never raise hand against Stark or Tully again. He makes Riverrun's garrison promise the same toward Emmon and Lannister. Genna thinks one in ten will uphold it, but then she would have tortured them for intel on the Blackfish. Jaime, who had emulated Tywin because of Genna in his last chapter, now resents Tywin's dead hand moving them from the grave with his secret promises to pay for evil schemes like Robb's betrayal by Westerling. The chapter establishes a new intention in Jaime to help Tommen and to see rule done well. However, Tom o'Sevens has infiltrated Riverrun. His pointing out Emmon is a Frey rminds he is of the Brotherhood, who just hung Ryman's party.

Sabboteur

Edmure tells Jaime he helped the Blackfish escape

Jaime speaks to Jeyne Westerling and is assured she's not pregnany by Lady Sybell, who is upset at not having been warned about the Red Wedding. She fears for son, Raynald who Jaime soon learns died.

Jaime warns Ser Forley Prester the Blackfish may try to free Edmure enroute to Casterly Rock

Edwyn Frey is angry Ryman was killed on his way back to the Twins (theme of attack by Brotherhood)

Winter Is Coming

Ser Ilyn councils Jaime kill Cersei

Jaime allows the garrison to walk away unarmed

Jaime dreams of his mother

Jaime receives and burns Cersei's letter