A Foregone Conclusion

What followed was Robb bringing the captured Jaime to report the victory to Lady Catelyn.

Then Jaime used provocation, challenging Robb to a life-or-death duel.

Robb, watching it all like a movie, had long realized this was the Battle of the Whispering Wood from the original story.

But he couldn't move at all, until a 'caw' of a bird sounded behind him!

When Robb opened his eyes again, Theon's voice was beside him once more. And so it went, over and over, Robb endlessly reliving the Battle of the Whispering Wood.

As the repetitions increased, Robb noticed the restraint on his body seemed to loosen slightly; he could now move his head a little.

And every time, after meeting Catelyn on the hillside with Jaime in tow, he would hear that bird call behind him just before the next cycle began.

Finally, this time, as Jaime invited Robb to duel. Robb, like a rusty robot, slowly, stiffly turned his neck to look behind him.

There, on a low branch, a three-eyed crow with emerald eyes on its forehead stared intently at him.

"Caw! They cannot die now, caw! They are part of the future!"

Suddenly, the three-eyed crow flapped its wings, its voice sharp and grating.

Robb knew exactly who this was, but though he could turn his head, he couldn't speak.

"One who delusionally seeks to destroy the future! Caw! Who are you, who are you?"

You are not Robb Stark, caw!"

As the three-eyed crow shouted its final words with increasing urgency, it spat out a mouthful of blood, and its body burst apart with a 'bang'.

At the same time, the scene that had trapped Robb for so long vanished rapidly, a flash of light filling his vision—but this time it was white, not green!

"Owww!"

"Robb!!! The Drowned God be praised, he's awake!"

"You prepare some broth, I'll inform Lady Catelyn!"

Through blurry vision, Robb heard several familiar voices. He strained to open his eyes, and the scene before him gradually sharpened.

Robb lay in his own large bed. Theon stood to his right, Blood Wind lay to his left; both man and wolf gazed at him with deep concern.

A bit further away, Daisy and Owen stood at the door. When Robb's glance swept over them, they nodded in salute and turned to leave, each about their own tasks.

"Robb! You must feel weak. Do you remember what happened?"

Theon studied Robb carefully, asking softly.

"Wh...what...happened?"

Robb tried to speak, but found his throat hoarse and painful, barely able to make a sound.

"Robb, you've been unconscious for thirteen days!"

Theon's words struck Robb like a lightning bolt.

"Thir...teen days...Lan...Lannister?"

"Lord Eddard agreed to become Hand of the King. They left three days ago with the Lannisters, heading back to King's Landing.

At the same time, Benjen took Jon and the Imp to the Wall."

Theon knew exactly what he wanted to ask, so he laid out the recent events directly. After a brief hesitation, he continued, "That night, the man I sent to inform you found you collapsed at your door, unable to be woken, and immediately notified me.

Without your signal, the plan couldn't proceed. After quietly hiding the Wildfire, I told Daisy to cancel the plan, then informed Lady Catelyn.

The next day, the King and Lord Eddard rushed back to Winterfell. That afternoon, Brandon... fell from the Broken Tower."

As he finished, Theon lowered his head in shame, almost afraid to face Robb.

But Robb, now well aware of supernatural forces pulling the strings behind the scenes, did not blame Theon.

"Owen? Osha?"

"Because of your coma, everyone was focused on you. Owen was very worried too, so he stayed by your bedside.

And Brandon, using his familiarity with Winterfell, shook off Osha's watch. By the time she found him, he had already fallen at the base of the Broken Tower."

Theon laid it all out clearly in one breath.

Robb nodded at this, pointed to the cup on the desk, and said hoarsely, "Water!"

Theon immediately brought the cup, reaching to help Robb drink, and said, "These past days, we've only been able to force-feed you milk and honey water. Your body is very weak now—don't push yourself."

Robb could feel his own condition. He nodded and let Theon attend to him.

After drinking, his throat felt much better. Robb cleared his throat and tried to speak: "Cough... you... take Blood Wind, Owen, and Little Jon, and catch up to my father and the King's party.

Follow them from a distance once you do—don't let them spot you.

When they stop to rest at the Crossroads Inn, secretly bring back Lady and Nymeria. Blood Wind will help you!

As long as you don't reveal your identities, you may do whatever it takes. Theon, remember! Whatever it takes to bring them back!"

After giving Theon his orders, Robb turned to Blood Wind and conveyed the thought of following Theon to retrieve Lady and Nymeria.

Blood Wind, whose intelligence had long awakened, had no trouble understanding such a simple command.

It gave a soft whimper of understanding, while inwardly conveying to Robb its worry for him.

"Right, have Toren and Edd take a few Wolf Guard to stand watch in my room, and send Daisy to guard Brandon. That's it. Theon, Blood Wind, you two go!"

Feeling the weakness in his body, Robb did not force himself. After arranging everything, he waved for Theon and Blood Wind to set out.

Theon had wanted to wait until Daisy and Catelyn returned before leaving, but Blood Wind leaped behind him and shoved his massive wolf head toward the door, nudging Theon along.

After the man and wolf had left, Robb suddenly wore a face full of rage. He punched the edge of the solid wood bed feebly.

His heart was filled with resentment—not toward anyone else, but toward himself!

He hated his own arrogance, his confidence that he could overturn the board and rewrite his family's fate.

He hated his own powerlessness, trapped in a repeating dream by the Three-Eyed Crow without even the strength to fight back.

If not for the careful care of Theon and the others, he would have starved to death alive in that dream.

After venting for a while, knowing that what had happened could not be changed, Robb closed his eyes and began to think about how to plan for what came next.

Before long, Catelyn hurried into Robb's room. When she saw him lying back against the headboard, she covered her mouth with both hands and wept silently.

Two sons had fallen unconscious one after another, her husband and daughters had left their homeland—this mother had borne too much.

"Mother! Don't worry. From now on, I'll handle everything. I promise!"

Hearing the sound, Robb opened his eyes, looked at the weeping Catelyn, and spoke softly with a smile.

Hearing this, Catelyn's face twisted into a contradictory expression of smiling through tears. She threw herself onto the edge of Robb's bed and hugged him tightly.

After Theon had arranged all of Robb's orders, he set out with Blood Wind, Owen, and Little Jon, each with two horses, tracking along the direction of the King's Road.

With Robb awake, the servants throughout the Main Keep bustled about, making preparations to serve their master.

No one noticed that a raven had already flown silently into the sky.

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