The Westerlands, House Westerling.
Robb Stark was peerless and valiant throughout the Westerlands, led by his Direwolf Grey Wind along various hidden paths.
During the Battle of Oxcross, he led several thousand cavalry in a night raid while the Westerlands' army was unprepared, scattering tens of thousands of newly recruited soldiers. Subsequently, he took several castles in succession, and the fame of the young wolf spread across the country instantly.
Tywin Lannister, who was in the Red Fork region, was also struck with alarm and hurriedly led his troops back to defend the Westerlands.
However, what Tywin did not expect was that several waves of troops he sent were intercepted by Edmure Tully, who was guarding the Red Fork. Especially near the mill, Tywin had dispatched his capable subordinate, "The Mountain" Gregor Clegane, and his vanguard.
As a result, the vanguard suffered heavy casualties and was nearly wiped out.
"The Mountain" himself almost died there, and the river in that area of the Red Fork was blocked by the carcasses of dead horses and dyed red.
Just at this time, Tywin Lannister received news that Stannis Baratheon was leading an army of tens of thousands to attack King's Landing. He decisively gave up crossing the river and turned his troops back to King's Landing for rescue.
After this battle, the morale of Edmure Tully and other Riverlands nobles soared.
They never expected that they would actually defeat Tywin Lannister and leave "The Mountain" Gregor Clegane severely wounded.
Once Edmure Tully and the others returned to the camp by the Red Fork, they began to boast loudly, holding feasts with the nobles to drink and make merry. Riverlands singers even wanted to write a song to commemorate this great victory, titled "The Mill that Crushed the Mountain."
However, what Edmure Tully did not realize was that it was precisely his valiant performance that disrupted his nephew Robb Stark's strategy.
Robb Stark and "The Blackfish" Brynden Tully had originally intended to lure Tywin back to the Westerlands, then lead their cavalry around to occupy key passes like Casterly Rock, trapping Tywin Lannister in the Westerlands so he couldn't get out.
This was also to coordinate with Stannis's decision to attack King's Landing.
If the plan went smoothly, once Stannis Baratheon took King's Landing, they could join forces to deal with Tywin Lannister in the Westerlands.
It was a great strategy, but Robb Stark's mistake was not telling his uncle Edmure Tully about this plan.
First, Robb Stark was afraid his plan would be leaked, acting out of a desire for secrecy.
Second, Robb Stark looked down on his uncle a bit because Edmure Tully had been easily captured by Jaime Lannister during the skirmish at Riverrun.
He thought that even if Edmure Tully tried to stop him, he certainly wouldn't be able to hold back Tywin. But to his surprise, his uncle Edmure Tully performed exceptionally well this time, firmly blocking Tywin Lannister's army on the other side of the Red Fork.
In fact, Edmure Tully meant well but caused harm; he felt that if Tywin Lannister were allowed to cross the river and return to the Westerlands, his nephew Robb Stark would be in danger. Out of a protective instinct, he led his troops to desperately intercept Tywin Lannister.
However, Robb Stark did not yet know that Tywin Lannister had already headed for King's Landing; he was currently lying in the bed of the eldest daughter of House Westerling, recovering from his injuries.
...
Just a few days ago, Robb Stark had led his troops to attack The Crag, the seat of House Westerling in the Westerlands.
He personally led the frontal assault, while letting the Blackfish Brynden Tully and Black Walder Frey climb into the city from the rear when they were least expected, ultimately taking the ancestral castle of House Westerling with minimal losses.
However, Robb Stark's left hand suffered an arrow wound during the attack. In response, Jeyne Westerling, the eldest daughter of House Westerling, brought Robb Stark to her bed and took meticulous care of him, treating his injury.
Jeyne Westerling had curly chestnut hair, a heart-shaped face, and brown eyes. She was slender, kind-natured, and full of compassion.
"Your arrow wound isn't serious; it will be better in a few days. Don't do any strenuous exercise for now," Jeyne Westerling said.
"Thank you, My Lady."
Looking at the quiet and gentle Jeyne, Robb Stark, who was in his mid-teens, couldn't resist; his heart was truly moved.
Although Jeyne wasn't exceptionally beautiful, her temperament deeply attracted the young wolf's heart.
At this moment, Robb Stark had completely forgotten the instructions Joffrey had given him when they parted at Winterfell, throwing himself wholeheartedly into love.
Just then, a thin scout slowly walked in and handed a secret letter to Robb Stark.
After the letter was delivered, the scout glanced at Jeyne beside him, left quietly, and closed the door.
Robb Stark frowned, having a bad premonition. Unless it was extremely important news, a letter would not be sealed with the Direwolf sigil.
He opened the letter with trembling hands, and the news he saw inside left him heartbroken.
"Bran... Rickon... my brothers. It's my fault!"
Robb Stark read in the letter that Theon Greyjoy had betrayed him, slaughtered those in Winterfell, and burned his two younger brothers, Bran and Rickon, hanging them from the castle walls.
(In fact, after failing to capture the House Stark children, Theon followed the plan of Ramsay Snow, the Bastard of Bolton, and disfigured two commoner children to pass them off as Bran and Rickon.)
The remorse and pain that Robb Stark had kept hidden deep in his heart since the death of his father, Eddard Stark, erupted completely. He looked dazed and kept hitting his head.
Why, Theon? Why did you betray me! You were my brother!
"Don't be so agitated; your wound hasn't healed yet."
Seeing this, Jeyne Westerling also panicked. To prevent Robb Stark from hurting himself and worsening his injury, she pressed her whole body against his.
Smelling the girl's scent, feeling the physical contact between them, and combined with the incense in the room, the dazed young wolf Robb Stark committed the greatest mistake of his life.
...
Meanwhile, in the shadows of the Westerling stronghold.
Lady Sybelle Spicer, Jeyne Westerling's mother, handed a secret letter to a thin guard beside her.
"Go, deliver this letter to Lord Tywin Lannister."
"Yes, My Lady."
The guard took the letter, placed it in a flat, sealed box, and tucked it inside his breastplate.
Seeing the northern soldiers immersed in the excitement of House Westerling's surrender, he found a weakly guarded spot and slipped out through the sewers under the cover of night.
Lady Sybelle Spicer looked at the stars outside the window, her thoughts racing.
This letter would be the ladder to heaven for the advancement of House Spicer.
...
Early the next morning, Robb Stark woke up from his sleep. Seeing Jeyne Westerling's naked body beside him, he knew he had done something wrong and began to feel at a loss.
"Yesterday, we..." Robb Stark stammered.
"You don't need to be nervous; I know you have a marriage contract. Don't worry, I won't ask for anything from you," Jeyne said softly in his ear, stroking Robb's youthful face.
However, these considerate words deeply stung Robb Stark's heart. He remembered his father's teachings and his brother Jon Snow's countless curses at his status as a bastard.
He fell into a dilemma; he didn't want his son to also carry the title of bastard and live in the shame of others' gossip.
He made up his mind to protect Jeyne Westerling's honor. He said, "Jeyne, I will take responsibility. I won't let your honor be insulted. I will marry you and make you my queen."
Just then, a group of people suddenly cried out in surprise outside the attic.
To deal with the sudden situation, Robb Stark and Jeyne Westerling quickly dressed and walked out side by side.
...
As Robb Stark and Jeyne Westerling stepped out of the attic, they were both frozen in shock.
In the center of the castle, in the middle of the crowd, a massive fire tornado was spinning and frictioning in the air.
The fire tornado was dozens to hundreds of meters high, spinning incessantly. It rotated very fast, accompanied by a whistling sound, like a fierce beast roaring.
The fire tornado was funnel-shaped on the ground, wider at the top and narrower at the bottom, similar in shape to a massive cyclonic storm.
As it rotated, its color gradually changed, cycling through gray, black, dark brown, and other colors. Accompanied by bright firelight, it gathered the clouds from high in the sky and stood there majestically.
Slowly, the fire tornado's rotation stopped, and the flames across the sky began to gather in the very center. In Robb Stark's blue eyes, an old, tall, and thin figure gradually formed.
His hair and beard were already white. He wore a deep red ceremonial robe, and on his sleeves was embroidered the Flaming Heart sigil of rhllor, the red god, and he wore a Tongtian crown.
He bowed to Robb Stark and said:
"Your Majesty, I am Kings Hand Ragu. By the command of my lord, rhllor, the red god, I have come to guide your path ahead."
Kings Hand Ragu glanced at Jeyne Westerling beside Robb Stark and thought: I am a step too late after all.
However, with his subsequent guidance, he believed that Robb Stark would definitely not die at the Red Wedding like last time.
"I don't know what connection I have with rhllor, the red god?" Robb Stark asked in confusion.
House Stark had worshipped the old gods for generations. Regarding the red god from the continent of Essos, it wasn't just a matter of having superficial knowledge; they had practically never heard of him.
Meanwhile, Robb Stark's guards Dacey Mormont and Raymund Westerling stepped between this person and Robb, fearing that this mysterious fellow might harm the King in the North.
Dacey Mormont was the only female member among Robb Stark's guards. She was tall and average in appearance, but there was a sense of boldness in her eyes. Full of heroic spirit, she hailed from House Mormont of Bear Island and possessed strength no less than that of an ordinary man.
Raymund Westerling was the eldest son of Lord Gawen Westerling and Lady Sybelle Spicer, and also Jeyne Westerling's older brother.
He was very young, lean, with thick chestnut hair and a bushy mustache. He wore a sand-colored surcoat embroidered with six seashells.
Ever since he surrendered to the King in the North, Robb Stark, on behalf of House Westerling, he had been very loyal. Combined with his cheerful personality, he had quickly become well-acquainted with the northern soldiers.
"In a world about to be shrouded in darkness, my lord rhllor needs to unite all forces to oppose the ancient Great Other. This includes the Seven, the Many-Faced God, and the old gods."
"What about the drowned god?"
At the mention of the drowned god, Robb Stark thought of Theon Greyjoy again, and his whole being became sorrowful.
Seeing this, Jeyne Westerling beside Robb Stark gently squeezed his hand and leaned against his shoulder. Jeyne's body leaned on Robb, but Robb's heart leaned on Jeyne.
Robb patted Jeyne's hand, feeling much better. Jeyne was the support he had found again since the death of his father, Eddard Stark.
"The drowned god is a servant of the Great Other and an enemy of my lord rhllor."
Seeing the two leaning against each other, Ragu sighed in his heart: It seems that no matter how many times it repeats, these two will end up together.
"The drowned god... is an enemy..."
Robb Stark's eyes were lonely as he thought to himself: Theon, are you destined to be my enemy as well?