By the time Catelyn received word from Deepwood Motte, two days had already passed.
Maester Luwin hurried into Bran's bedchamber with the letter in hand. The moment he entered and saw that Robb and Sansa were also present, he finally let out a sigh of relief.
He stepped forward quickly, came to Catelyn's side, and slipped a letter from his sleeve, handing it to her.
"My lady, a letter has arrived from Deepwood Motte. You should take a look."
Catelyn sat in her chair, tightly holding Bran's lifeless hand. Hearing Luwin's words, her brows knitted at once.
After the trial by combat and Bran's fall, Catelyn's attitude toward Galon had softened somewhat. She was no longer as hostile as before.
But that was only because he had helped capture one of the culprits behind Bran's attack.
Aside from that, she had no desire to grow close to Galon.
Without turning her head, she continued to rub Bran's thin fingers and snorted coldly. "Why would he write to me?"
Nearby, Sansa's eyes shimmered as a trace of joy and anticipation appeared on her face.
'Could it be that Galon sent this letter especially for me?' she wondered silently.
But Maester Luwin persisted, holding out the letter and lowering his voice. "My lady, you truly should read it."
Catelyn remained unmoved.
Left with no choice, Luwin explained, "My lady, Galon has captured Joel."
"Joel? The poacher?" Catelyn did not immediately recall who Joel was and snapped angrily. "My son lies unconscious, and he troubles me with such trivial matters?"
At that moment, Robb stepped forward, took the letter, and read it while explaining, "Mother... Joel was one of the men who conspired with Theon to harm Bran."
"Galon says they caught Joel near Deepwood Motte, badly mauled by beasts. From him, they learned who was truly behind the attempt on Bran."
Catelyn sprang to her feet, her anger no longer contained. "Who was it?"
Robb did not answer.
His eyes were fixed on the final lines of the letter, disbelief etched across his face.
Seeing his expression, Catelyn could no longer restrain herself. She stepped forward and snatched the letter from his hand.
She skimmed Galon's report at a glance.
"Joffrey?!"
"It was Joffrey!"
Catelyn's body trembled. She still could not believe her own eyes. "Impossible. Absolutely impossible. How could a prince try to kill Bran?"
"This must be Galon spreading lies. It has to be!"
She turned angrily toward Maester Luwin and accused him sharply, "What is Galon's intention in sending this information? Is he trying to sow discord between our liege lord and the king?"
Her piercing voice echoed through the room, causing Sansa's expression to change abruptly.
Sansa hurriedly spoke up in Galon's defense. "Mother, something this serious could not be fabricated. Galon would never make such accusations lightly."
Catelyn, already furious, turned and scolded her. "How do you know he wouldn't lie? That is a prince, the king's own son!"
Sansa panicked. She opened her mouth to continue defending Galon, but Maester Luwin interjected at that moment.
"My lady, this matter is grave. Galon did not only send a letter. He also sent proof."
Catelyn, Robb, and Sansa all looked at him at once. "What proof?"
Luwin withdrew another item from his sleeve, a dirt-stained pouch embroidered with a crowned stag, and handed it to Catelyn.
Catelyn took it in confusion. The moment she touched it, she realized what was inside.
"Gold dragons?"
Luwin nodded. "Yes. One hundred gold dragons."
He emphasized the words "one hundred gold dragons," making it clear that Galon's letter was not baseless slander.
Catelyn fell silent.
She stared at the pouch bearing the crowned stag, her thoughts tumbling over one another.
In the end, only one thought remained.
If this was true, then Ned and the children in King's Landing were in constant danger.
Catelyn slowly raised her head and looked at Maester Luwin. "Where is the man Galon sent?"
"He is in the great hall," Luwin replied. "I had Ser Rodrik keep him company."
"Bring him here."
Luwin nodded and left the room to inform Ser Rodrik to bring the man over.
Meanwhile, the shock on Robb and Sansa's faces had yet to fade.
When Robb thought of his father traveling south with Joffrey, the very boy who had tried to murder Bran, fear and anger twisted together in his chest.
'Could Galon be mistaken?'
'But if it's true, then Father and the others are in terrible danger…'
During the several minutes it took for the messenger to arrive, countless wild and troubling possibilities raced through Robb's mind.
Only when footsteps sounded outside the door did he stop and turn to look.
To his surprise, the messenger was someone he recognized: Roger, Galon's captain of guards.
"Captain Roger, please explain the situation," Maester Luwin said.
Roger gathered his thoughts and, following Galon's instructions, recounted what had happened.
"Joel was originally captured by Lord Robett as a poacher. When he was found…"
"Later, because his injuries were too severe, despite our efforts, we could not save him."
As Roger spoke, the expressions of those present grew darker and darker.
By the end, Robb slammed his fist into the stone wall in fury, ignoring the pain in his knuckles as he cursed Joffrey aloud.
Seeing this, Maester Luwin led Roger out of the room.
After walking a short distance, he summoned a servant and had Roger escorted away to rest.
Then Luwin returned to Bran's bedchamber.
The room was eerily quiet, the atmosphere heavy and oppressive.
Luwin looked around and asked Catelyn, "My lady, what should we do now?"
His voice broke the silence. Anger clouded Robb's face as he suddenly drew his sword. "Damn it all, I'll kill Joffrey with my own hands!"
Ser Rodrik barked at him immediately.
"You foolish boy, put that sword away! How many times have I told you not to draw your blade so lightly?
And King's Landing is leagues away. How do you plan to kill Joffrey? He is a prince!
Do you want the North to rebel?"
But Robb, young and hot-blooded, shot back, "So we do nothing and let Bran's would-be murderer walk free?"
Catelyn came back to herself and answered firmly, "Of course not!"
Ever since Roger left, a blazing fire had been burning in her heart.
She looked at Bran lying on the bed with reluctance, then clenched her teeth. "I will go to King's Landing myself and tell Ned everything."
Maester Luwin was startled. "My lady, doing so would place both you and lord Stark in grave danger!
The witness is already dead. We do not have sufficient proof that Prince Joffrey was involved."
Ser Rodrik also objected. "Yes, my lady. If you are worried about the lord Stark, I can go in your stead."
But Catelyn had already made up her mind.
"Ser Rodrik, you will accompany me. If you go alone, Ned may misjudge the situation.
As for proof, the money pouch is enough.
Do not worry. I am only going to warn Ned. I have no intention of doing anything more."
Grinding her teeth and forcing down her rage, she made her decision.
Maester Luwin and Ser Rodrik exchanged a glance and could only comply with her wishes.
Before long, under Ser Rodrik's protection, Catelyn boarded a ship on the White Knife and headed south, crossing the sea toward King's Landing.
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