CHAPTER 173
Outside Riverrun, the military camp echoed with the shouts of soldiers, the neighing of horses, and the snapping of banners in the wind.
Amid the booming voices of the Northern lords, Robb's cavalry completed its formation.
Robb looked back toward the castle walls where Jeyne Westerling and Garon stood to see him off before raising his sword.
"Ride!"
With that single command, Robb led several thousand cavalry south along the Red Fork, riding toward the Trident crossings where Stannis Baratheon awaited.
Only after the last riders disappeared beyond the horizon did Garon turn toward Brynden Tully.
"Lord Brynden."
"With His Grace and Lord Edmure leading the campaign, would it be possible for my men to enter Riverrun and rest within the castle?"
Following the campaign against Pyke, the force Garon had originally brought south had suffered considerable losses.
Of the seven hundred Glover men and five hundred Skagosi warriors who had departed Deepwood Motte, barely more than eight hundred remained fit for service.
After weeks of continuous marching and hard fighting, even the hardy Skagosi desperately needed rest.
Brynden glanced toward the weary soldiers encamped outside the walls before nodding.
"Of course."
"I'll have Maester Vyman arrange quarters inside the castle."
Garon smiled.
"My thanks, Lord Brynden."
He then turned toward Ron Glover.
"Ron."
"Coordinate with Lord Brynden."
"Move our men into Riverrun."
Ron immediately nodded.
"It will be done."
After giving the order, Garon looked back toward Brynden.
"There is one more request."
"I've heard Ser Jaime Lannister remains imprisoned beneath Riverrun."
"I'd like to visit him."
Brynden's brows immediately furrowed.
"What business do you have with the Kingslayer?"
Garon deliberately revealed a nostalgic smile.
"We crossed paths at Winterfell."
"Although we now serve opposing kings..."
"I'd still like to speak with him."
"And if I can persuade him to write to Lord Tywin..."
"So much the better."
Brynden considered the request for a moment before slowly nodding.
"Very well."
"I'll accompany you."
Garon gently shook his head.
"That won't be necessary."
"I only wish to exchange a few words."
"It won't take long."
Brynden hesitated briefly before agreeing.
"Very well."
"I'll have the guards take you there."
Garon thanked him with a nod.
Before leaving, his gaze casually swept across the Westerlings as they prepared to return to their quarters.
When his eyes met Lady Sybell Spicer's, a faint smile appeared on his face.
The smile caused Lady Sybell's expression to stiffen ever so slightly.
A trace of unease flashed across her eyes.
She forced herself to smile politely before quietly leading her children away from the battlements.
Garon merely watched them leave.
Brynden silently noticed the exchange.
Although curiosity flickered across his face, he chose not to ask.
Instead, he summoned one of the castle guards to escort Garon to the dungeons.
Before descending below the castle, Garon first visited the kitchens.
He requested fresh food along with a skin of wine.
Only then did he follow the guard down the cold stone stairway leading into Riverrun's ancient cells.
After unlocking the deepest iron door, the guard prepared to accompany him inside.
Garon politely declined.
Carrying an oil lamp in one hand and the basket of food in the other, he entered alone.
The dim light immediately revealed a familiar figure.
Even in the darkness, the tangled golden hair remained unmistakable.
Ser Jaime Lannister.
Once the proud Lord Commander of King Robert's Kingsguard, he now resembled a lion caged beneath the earth.
Months of imprisonment had left him noticeably thinner than when Garon had last seen him at Winterfell.
Garon quietly opened the cell.
He hung the oil lamp upon the wall before calmly looking toward Jaime.
"Ser Jaime."
"How have you been?"
The familiar voice instantly woke Jaime.
His green eyes snapped open.
The moment he recognized Garon, a trace of his former sharpness returned.
He abruptly rose to his feet.
The chains around his ankles immediately caught him.
He stumbled before leaning heavily against the damp stone wall.
"Hmph..."
After catching his breath, Jaime slowly lowered himself back onto the floor.
He no longer bothered resisting the chains.
Instead, he looked directly at Garon.
His familiar arrogance had not entirely disappeared.
"Well."
"Look who decided to visit."
A mocking smile appeared.
"The famous Garon Glover."
"I heard you went north to hunt krakens."
"So..."
"Have you come here to laugh at me?"
"Or has the Young Wolf finally realized he needs my help?"
His tone sounded casual.
Yet every word struck directly at the truth.
Garon simply nodded.
"The situation is difficult."
"Lord Tywin has secured House Tyrell."
"King's Landing has become stronger than ever."
"Robb now finds himself trapped between powerful enemies."
Jaime's expression immediately relaxed.
"So I was right."
He leaned comfortably against the cold wall.
"Garon."
"Did the Young Wolf send you to beg me?"
"Not at all."
Garon calmly shook his head.
"Things may be difficult."
"But they are far from hopeless."
"I came only to visit an old acquaintance."
Jaime's smile became even more mocking.
Without another word, Garon crouched beside him.
He placed a wineskin and half of a roasted steak upon the stone floor.
"You probably think I'm lying."
"But the truth is..."
"I've always admired you."
Jaime blinked.
"Admired me?"
His expression became utterly strange.
Moments later, he burst into loud laughter.
"Haha..."
He laughed until he nearly ran out of breath before finally calming himself.
"You admire me?"
"The Kingslayer?"
Garon remained completely composed.
"The Mad King murdered Lord Rickard Stark and Brandon Stark through monstrous cruelty."
"He ordered you to murder your own father."
"And before King's Landing fell..."
"He intended to burn hundreds of thousands of innocent people alive with wildfire."
"No god could ever forgive such madness."
He continued quietly.
"The only reason that catastrophe never happened..."
"Was because you drew your sword."
"How could I fail to admire the man who saved an entire city?"
Jaime froze.
He stared silently at Garon's sincere expression.
Eventually, he lowered his head.
"Yes..."
"I saved King's Landing."
"But I also killed my king."
"I broke my vows."
Pain filled every word.
Within the solitude of the prison, Jaime suddenly looked up again.
"Garon."
"Tell me honestly."
"Was I wrong?"
His question carried years of guilt and longing.
It was the plea of a man desperate for someone to justify his choice.
Garon did not disappoint him.
"A king is honored because of his deeds."
"Not because of the blood flowing through his veins."
"When Aerys Targaryen decided to murder his own people..."
"He forfeited the right to rule."
Garon slowly extended his hand toward Jaime.
"You did what was necessary."
"You saved countless innocent lives."
"Even the gods would judge those deeds worthy of redemption."
Those words struck Jaime like thunder.
Ever since Robert's Rebellion, the realm had mocked him as the Kingslayer.
No one had ever acknowledged the burden he carried.
Yet today...
An enemy had spoken the truth no one else would.
For the first time in many years...
Jaime felt understood.
The overwhelming emotion nearly suffocated him.
"You..."
"What exactly do you want from me?"
Despite his emotions, Jaime still retained enough clarity to remain cautious.
"You didn't come here merely to comfort me."
"No."
Garon answered honestly.
"I want you to write a letter."
"A proposal for peace."
Jaime frowned.
"Peace?"
Garon nodded.
"I'll persuade King Robb to release you."
"In return..."
"King's Landing must recognize the independence of the North."
Jaime immediately shook his head.
"Impossible."
"My father would never agree."
Garon smiled knowingly.
"I think you've underestimated your own value."
"To Lord Tywin..."
"Your safety outweighs almost everything else."
Jaime hesitated.
He understood his father's character better than anyone.
There was truth in Garon's words.
After a long silence, he finally nodded.
"Very well."
"I'll write it."
Not long afterward, a letter personally written by Ser Jaime Lannister departed Riverrun beneath the wings of a raven.
Several days later, on the eve of that raven's arrival at King's Landing, the Small Council gathered within the Red Keep to discuss the increasingly dangerous situation unfolding in the Riverlands.