Triumphant Return

"Someone, come and tidy this place up. It's so messy, it's unpleasant to look at.

And that area is too bare. Put up some colorful streamers to decorate it."

In Winterfell Main Keep's banquet hall, Lady Catelyn, her cheeks flushed, directed the servants as they rearranged the disorderly tables and chairs and decorated the hall with flowers, colorful cloth, and other ornaments.

Hodor, huge and broad-shouldered, stood expressionlessly to one side, holding the now-conscious Brandon in his arms.

Rickon cheerfully chased Shaggydog through the crowd of servants, causing even more trouble for those already hard at work.

"Lady Catelyn, Lord Robb is about to arrive at Winter Market. We should hurry to the Training Ground to welcome him!"

Maester Luwin hurried in, wearing his maester's robes and chain, and relayed the news the soldiers had reported.

"Everyone, move faster! Once everything is in order, go line up at the Training Ground to welcome him!"

Hearing that time was short, Catelyn urged the servants on even more loudly and urgently.

Clip-clop! Clip-clop!

The hooves of thousands of warhorses trod across the damp earth, making a soft, steady sound.

The men and women, young and old, of Winterfell Market stood on both sides of the road, watching the cavalry pass with excitement in their eyes.

Every so often, they murmured about the imposing, orderly ranks of soldiers as they marched.

"Gods! The army Lord Robb trained looks so impressive. They're in much better spirits than before!"

"Of course. I heard about it two days ago: Lord Robb captured the Dreadfort, the kind of place that could scare a child to tears.

In thousands of years, this is the first time the Dreadfort has ever been taken by force."

"Hey, isn't that Lord Roose of House Bolton? I saw him from a distance when he brought hundreds of cavalrymen to Winterfell.

A great lord like him is in chains now, a prisoner!"

Roose trudged along slowly, his heavy shackles dragging. He could certainly hear the commoners' loud, hateful chatter.

He wanted nothing more than to flay them alive, but there was nothing he could do now. He could only hang his head and pretend not to hear.

Tap!

Blood Wind, walking at the head of the column beside Robb, suddenly tilted aside to dodge a small stone thrown from the left. It sprang into action, leaping over the heads of the commoners watching from that side.

"Ah!"

"Run!"

"That scared the life out of me!"

Blood Wind was so intimidating that the commoners it leaped over screamed in fright and prepared to flee with their heads covered.

"Blood Wind!"

At Robb's voice, Blood Wind—its jaws open and teeth bared—stopped just short of taking another step, right in front of a child's dusty little face.

Huff! Huff!

The beast's vicious jaws were frightening just to look at. Its breath came out in foul-smelling white clouds, making the terrified little rascal in front of it gag.

"Ah, Aeg! My lord, please, have mercy!"

A middle-aged woman in the crowd finally reacted and rushed forward.

She grabbed the bold little rascal who had dared to throw a stone at Blood Wind, and cried out for mercy over and over.

"Come back!"

At Robb's call, Blood Wind turned to leave, but not before mischievously sticking out its long tongue and licking the child's face.

"Uwah... waah!"

Aeg had thought he was about to be eaten. He was so terrified that he wet himself and burst into tears.

Feeling the amusement Blood Wind sent him, Robb rolled his eyes in exasperation. He took a Silver stag from his pocket and flicked it toward the woman. It landed before her with a clink.

"The child's frightened. Buy him something tasty to calm him down!"

"Thank you, my lord! May you be merciful, wealthy, and healthy!"

Seeing that her child had been spared and had even received a Silver stag, the woman immediately showered Robb with the meager praise she could muster.

After this little incident, the Winterfell army continued on its way. But now the commoners were no longer talking about the army's imposing presence.

They were talking about the fearsome Blood Wind, the merciful Robb, and the lucky mother and son.

The triumphant procession stretched for several miles, but once they returned to Winterfell, Robb and the other high-ranking officers no longer needed to worry about the details.

Winterfell's mid-level officials would take care of the prisoners, the wounded, the storage and tallying of the spoils, and all the other such matters.

When they reached the Training Ground, Catelyn had brought everyone from the inner keep out to greet them with the same ceremony they had used when welcoming the king.

"Mother!"

Robb dismounted with a broad smile, called out, and opened his arms to embrace Catelyn.

"I'm glad you're home! I've already sent a raven to your father about the war. He'll be proud of you!"

Seeing her eldest son return unharmed—with the sword wound on his left arm out of sight—Catelyn beamed with joy as she spoke.

"Mother, I used four thousand men as bait this time. More than two thousand eight hundred of them died."

Robb didn't feel happy at the reminder. He didn't need to put on a brave face in front of his mother, so he admitted softly, guilt written across his face.

"They gave their lives for their lord. You should make sure their families receive the compensation they deserve."

Catelyn gently stroked her eldest son's smooth hair as she answered.

"I will. We gained far more than I'd imagined."

After letting some of his vulnerability show and feeling much better, Robb straightened and nodded.

"Good. Robb, you're far stronger than you think."

Catelyn smiled encouragingly at her eldest son, who reminded her so much of Eddard.

Robb nodded and stepped over to Hodor.

Looking at Brandon's still-delicate features and eyes that had lost their former liveliness, he gave Brandon a loving kiss on his chestnut hair.

"Bran, don't worry! Your brother will make you well again!"

"Robb, you know my legs can't possibly recover!"

Brandon no longer called him "brother" affectionately. He addressed him by name, as coldly as if he were a stranger.

"Yes, I know. But I'll make you well again."

Robb didn't mind his coldness. He still answered with a smile.

He told himself that he would make Brandon into the lively, cheerful boy he used to be again, and not let him become that so-called Greenseer.

He also teased little Rickon, checked on Jory, who had returned to Winterfell to recover from his injuries, and Daisy, who had followed his orders and guarded Winterfell.

He checked on Maester Luwin, who worked hard and did just about everything, and Osha, who had little to do, among others...

After making the rounds and thanking each of them for their hard work, Robb dismissed everyone, saying they would meet again in the banquet hall for the evening feast.

Blood Wind had grown too large to fit into Robb's room, so he now had a room of his own.

It was in the left corner of the Main Keep's first floor, where the ceiling was high enough to accommodate him with ease, almost directly beneath Robb's room.

The war had kept Robb away for more than half a month. At last, he was back in his familiar solid-wood bed. After a comfortable bath, exhausted from the journey home, he lay down for a nap.

By the time a servant woke him, the sun was already setting.

He changed into the lord's informal clothes Catelyn had specially asked a servant to bring, then headed to the banquet hall, handsome and imposing as ever.

Catelyn had carefully prepared the feast in the banquet hall to celebrate their victory and welcome them home. The tables were laden with all kinds of fruit, fine bread, and great cuts of meat.

Seated in the place of honor on the raised dais, Robb rapped the long table twice, then stood with his cup in hand.

The discussions in the banquet hall died away at once, and everyone turned to look at him.

"Tens of thousands of Wildlings are still gathering beyond the Wall. Tomorrow, we must continue our training without letting up for a moment.

But that has nothing to do with today. Today belongs to all of us. We are the victors—so enjoy your food and drink to your heart's content!

Cheers!"

"Cheers!"

Thanks to Arbitration Authority for another 1,500 coins and a monthly ticket, and thanks to Little Plane 123, Early Bird Lover, and Ren Woxing—S for the monthly tickets. I'd also like to thank all my readers for voting every day and following the story each day.