Trial by Combat

Count Rickard and Greatjon had only just risen from the stands upon hearing their names when they heard Roose demand a Trial by Combat, so they sat back down again.

The North's nobles erupted into discussion at Roose's words, and some had already begun questioning the fairness of the trial.

A Trial by Combat was a way in Westeros to adjudicate disputes and resolve disagreements. It could be demanded before the trial or at any point during the proceedings.

As long as one side survived a recognized and fair fight to the death, that survivor would be the victor of the trial.

Of course, a demand for Trial by Combat could be rejected. But in Westeros, a land that believed in the gods and revered heroism, even noble lords and members of the royal family rarely stopped a Trial by Combat from proceeding.

Robb looked at Roose's medium build, unimpressive muscles, and pale, haggard face. He nodded and said, "I accept your request for a Trial by Combat.

"Lord Roose, find a champion willing to fight for you. Otherwise, you will have to enter the arena yourself."

"Lord Robb, please grant me this opportunity and let me fight for you!"

Hearing Robb's words, Roose was still considering his options when Daisy, who had been standing to one side, immediately shouted her request at Robb.

"Lord Robb, I am willing to cut off his head. Please choose me!"

Little Jon, dressed in full plate armor, reacted a beat slower. Only after Daisy spoke did he bellow loudly, "I'll fight for you, Lord Robb!"

Owen and Eddard immediately came to their senses as well, jostling to fight for Robb.

Robb shook his head and raised a hand to quiet them. Then he slowly said, "Thank you for being willing to risk your lives for me. But my father always taught me, 'The man who passes a death sentence must carry it out himself.'"

Hearing him invoke Lord Eddard's teaching, Daisy and the others knew that further persuasion would be useless. They silently returned to their original positions.

When Roose saw that Robb intended to fight personally, the corner of his mouth curled into a smile. He raised the shackles on his hands.

Eddard glanced at Robb. Seeing him nod, he took out his keys and unlocked Roose's shackles.

Robb drew the longsword from Theon's waist beside him and threw it in front of Roose.

Then he reached out and tore off the black cloak he was wearing. Drawing his own longsword, he said to Roose, "It seems no one here will fight for you. Then come on, Lord Roose.

"Outside the Dreadfort, I once had a messenger tell you, 'I will end your life with my own hands.'

"Now, the time has come!"

Roose picked up the longsword from the ground and rose to his feet, moving his hands and feet after having worn shackles for so long.

Eddard and the brothers Toren and Owen silently made room, while Daisy and the others at the perimeter quietly formed a circle around them.

A Trial by Combat could, in fact, require the fighters to change into armor before beginning the duel.

But Robb and Roose, the two enemies about to fight to the death, both understood the other's intentions. With perfect tacit understanding, they went straight into an unarmored duel.

"Begin!"

Seeing that Robb and Roose were ready, Theon shouted loudly.

The instant his voice fell, Roose raised his sword in his right hand and advanced on Robb.

As soon as he entered striking range, he gripped the sword with both hands and raised it high before bringing it down in a fierce chop at Robb.

Clang!

Robb's feet did not move. With a calm expression, he raised his sword in his right hand above his head and easily blocked Roose's strike.

The veins bulged on Roose's hands as he gripped the sword and exerted all his strength, trying to force the longsword downward.

Yet Robb canceled out the force on his sword with one hand alone.

At the same time, in a voice only the two of them could hear, he whispered to Roose, "Since you are going to die anyway, rather than die bearing a criminal's name, you might as well die in battle through a Trial by Combat.

"That way, you can also plant doubts in the North's nobles' hearts that I forced a conviction upon you, driving a thorn into their minds.

"Of course, it would be even better if you could use this Trial by Combat to kill me. Right?"

Roose bared his teeth in an ugly smile and replied in a low voice, "Yes. Aren't you doing the same? Since a Trial by Combat cannot be refused, you might as well use it to convict me directly and silence the North's nobles.

"I was never particularly strong to begin with, and after being imprisoned for so long, my body is already depleted. Against you, the brave Young Wolf Lord, I am certain to die. Hah... hah..."

Roose was exerting all his strength while speaking, leaving him somewhat breathless. After a brief pause, he continued,

"During this time, I carefully thought back over this war. Although I initially wanted to throw the North into chaos,

"and wanted to make you, who had just taken charge of Winterfell, lose your prestige and damage House Stark's reputation,

"I had never considered starting a war against House Stark.

"But the series of traps you laid clearly showed that you intended to start a war and weaken House Bolton's power.

"And when we first met in the Dreadfort, I could tell from your eyes that your hatred for me ran extremely deep. You wanted to kill me from the bottom of your heart.

"Before I die, I want to know—why is that?"

"Haha, Lord Roose, you really are a clever man. You saw through me completely! As for why I want to kill you..."

Because in my previous life, I died at your hands!

Robb gave a quiet laugh. Worried that the Three-Eyed Crow might be spying from the shadows, he did not tell Roose the reason in his heart.

"You are unwilling to reveal it even to a man about to die? Robb Stark, you truly are a frightening man!"

Looking at Robb, who fell silent after finishing his words, Roose could not help sighing.

"Then farewell, Lord Roose!"

During the time they had spent talking, the force coming from Roose's longsword had grown weaker and weaker.

Seeing that Roose had finished saying what he wanted to say, Robb offered him one final farewell.

Before Roose could react, Robb exerted force with his sword arm. The longsword in his hand thrust upward, knocking away the sword Roose had pressed above his head.

At the same time, he quickly pulled back his sword arm and swung with all his strength.

Clang!

Roose gripped his sword with both hands as tightly as he could, but he could not stop it from being knocked free and sent flying.

Although Roose knew that his martial ability was not particularly strong, he had never imagined that when facing Robb, he would be utterly incapable of fighting back.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

The astonishment on Roose's face finally froze in place. Robb's second strike beheaded him outright. His head rolled across the high platform, making several muted thuds.

Blood sprayed in hissing streams from the great artery in his neck, covering Robb's head and face.

Count Wyman, who had been watching the Trial by Combat, had only one thought: the fight had been far too perfunctory.

If Roose Bolton's head had not fallen onto the high platform, he might even have thought it was all an acted drama.

From his perspective, all he had seen was Roose swing his sword, the two of them lock together for a moment, and Robb casually knock Roose's longsword away with one hand before cutting off his head with a single stroke.

"Lord Robb is too strong!"

Count Rickard beside him was nothing like Wyman, who was a complete layman when it came to swordsmanship.

He clearly understood the difference between Robb and Roose. Thus, he could not help voicing his admiration.

Hearing his old friend's praise, and recalling the changes in Winterfell and the parade of Winterfell's soldiers, Count Wyman made a decision in his heart.

That batch of Myrish Ointment... forget it. He would only charge the cost price!