Catelyn

           Mylady,youshouldhavesentwordofyourcoming,"SerDonnelWaynwoodtoldherastheirhorsesclimbedthepass."Wewouldhavesentanescort.Thehighroadisnotassafeasitoncewas,forapartyassmallasyours."

           "Welearnedthattooursorrow,SerDonnel,"Catelynsaid.Sometimesshefeltasthoughherhearthadturnedtostone;sixbravemenhaddiedtobringherthisfar,andshecouldnotevenfinditinhertoweepforthem.Eventheirnameswerefading."Theclansmenharriedusdayandnight.Welostthreemeninthefirstattack,andtwomoreinthesecond,andLannister’sservingmandiedofafeverwhenhiswoundsfestered.Whenweheardyourmenapproaching,Ithoughtusdoomedforcertain."Theyhaddrawnupforalastdesperatefight,bladesinhandandbackstotherock.ThedwarfhadbeenwhettingtheedgeofhisaxeandmakingsomemordantjestwhenBronnspottedthebannertheriderscarriedbeforethem,themoon-and-falconofHouseArryn,sky-blueandwhite.Catelynhadneverseenamorewelcomesight.

           "TheclanshavegrownboldersinceLordJondied,"SerDonnelsaid.Hewasastockyyouthoftwentyyears,earnestandhomely,withawidenoseandashockofthickbrownhair."Ifitwereuptome,Iwouldtakeahundredmenintothemountains,rootthemoutoftheirfastnesses,andteachthemsomesharplessons,butyoursisterhasforbiddenit.ShewouldnotevenpermitherknightstofightintheHand’stourney.Shewantsallourswordskeptclosetohome,todefendtheVale...againstwhat,nooneiscertain.