Ⅲ 冰雨的風(fēng)暴 Chapter2 凱特琳
CATELYN
戴斯蒙·格瑞爾爵士終其一生都在侍奉徒利家族。凱特琳誕生時(shí)，他只是個(gè)侍從；在她學(xué)會(huì)走路、騎馬和游泳時(shí)，他當(dāng)上騎士；在凱特琳出嫁那年，他成為教頭。他看著霍斯特公爵的小凱特長成少女，當(dāng)上大領(lǐng)主的夫人，變作國王的母親。然而現(xiàn)在，他卻目睹她成為叛徒。
Ser Desmond Grell had served House Tully all his life. He had been a squire when Catelyn was born, a knight when she learned to walk and ride and swim, master-at-arms by the day that she was wed. He had seen Lord Hoster’s little Cat become a young woman, a great lord’s lady, mother to a king. And now he has seen me become a traitor as well.
弟弟艾德慕出征前任命戴斯蒙爵士為奔流城代理城主，所以他不得不前來處理她的罪行。為減輕不安，老騎士特地帶上她父親的總管，不善言談的烏瑟萊斯·韋恩。兩個(gè)大男人站在她面前，胖胖的戴斯蒙爵士漲紅了臉、窘迫萬分，瘦瘦的烏瑟萊斯則面色暗淡、眼神憂郁。兩人都想等對(duì)方先開口。他們把一生都獻(xiàn)給了我父親，而我?guī)Ыo他們的卻是恥辱，凱特琳疲憊地想。
Her brother Edmure had named Ser Desmond castellan of Riverrun when he rode off to battle, so it fell to him to deal with her crime. To ease his discomfort he brought her father’s steward with him, dour Utherydes Wayn. The two men stood and looked at her; Ser Desmond stout, red-faced, embarrassed, Utherydes grave, gaunt, melancholy. Each waited for the other to speak. They have given their lives to my father’s service, and I have repaid them with disgrace, Catelyn thought wearily.
“您的孩子，”最后戴斯蒙爵士終于開口，“韋曼學(xué)士把情況都對(duì)我們說了。可憐的孩子，多悲慘，多悲慘，但是……”
“Your sons,” Ser Desmond said at last. “Maester Vyman told us. The poor lads. Terrible. Terrible. But …”
“我們與您同感悲傷，夫人，”烏瑟萊斯·韋恩說，“奔流城內(nèi)所有人都一樣，但是……”
“We share your grief, my lady,” said Utherydes Wayn. “All Riverrun mourns with you, but …”
“這消息一定讓您發(fā)了瘋，”戴斯蒙爵士接著道，“為悲傷而瘋狂，這是母親的瘋狂，男人們會(huì)理解的。可您不明白……”
“The news must have driven you mad,” Ser Desmond broke in, “a madness of grief, a mother’s madness, men will understand. You did not know …”
“我什么都明白，”凱特琳?qǐng)?jiān)定地說，“我明白我做過什么，我明白那是叛逆大罪。如果你不肯懲罰我，人們將會(huì)認(rèn)為我們串通一氣放走了詹姆·蘭尼斯特。這事是我干的、我一個(gè)人干的，由我自己承擔(dān)。給我戴上弒君者留下的鐐銬吧，如果是那樣，我會(huì)自豪地戴著它們.”
“I did,” Catelyn said firmly. “I understood what I was doing and knew it was treasonous. If you fail to punish me, men will believe that we connived together to free Jaime Lannister. It was mine own act and mine alone, and I alone must answer for it. Put me in the Kingslayer’s empty irons, and I will wear them proudly, if that is how it must be.”
“鐐銬？”這個(gè)詞讓可憐的戴斯蒙爵士震驚，“給國王的母親，我們公爵大人的親生女兒？不可能。”
“Fetters?” The very word seemed to shock poor Ser Desmond. “For the king’s mother, my lord’s own daughter? Impossible.”
“也許，”管家烏瑟萊斯·韋恩說，“夫人可以禁閉自己，直到艾德慕爵士歸來。您可否獨(dú)處一段時(shí)間，以為自己被謀害的孩子們祈禱？”
“Mayhaps,” said the steward Utherydes Wayn, “my lady would consent to be confined to her chambers until Ser Edmure returns. A time alone, to pray for her murdered sons?”
“禁閉，是的，”戴斯蒙爵士趕緊道，“住在塔頂房間，我們?yōu)槟才?。?/p>
“Confined, aye,” Ser Desmond said. “Confined to a tower cell, that would serve.”
“如果要禁閉我，請(qǐng)準(zhǔn)我待在父親的臥室，好讓我在他最后的日子里給他些許安慰?！?/p>
“If I am to be confined, let it be in my father’s chambers, so I might comfort him in his last days.”
戴斯蒙爵士考慮了一會(huì)，“很好。您會(huì)受到禮遇，住得舒適，但不得在城堡內(nèi)自由活動(dòng)。如果您想要，可以去圣堂，但在艾德慕公爵返回之前別的地方都不能去。”
Ser Desmond considered a moment. “Very well. You shall lack no comfort nor courtesy, but freedom of the castle is denied you. Visit the sept as you need, but elsewise remain in Lord Hoster’s chambers until Lord Edmure returns.”
“如你所愿?！钡艿茉诟赣H歸天以前根本不是什么公爵，凱特琳懶得去糾正他，“你可以派守衛(wèi)看守我，但我向你承諾，我決不會(huì)逃跑?！?/p>
“As you wish.” Her brother was no lord while their father lived, but Catelyn did not correct him. “Set a guard on me if you must, but I give you my pledge that I shall attempt no escape.”
戴斯蒙爵士點(diǎn)點(diǎn)頭，為能完成這尷尬的任務(wù)而形喜于色。眼神沉痛的烏瑟萊斯·韋恩在代理城主離開后多呆了一會(huì)，“您干了一件非?？膳碌氖?，夫人，可這件事毫無意義。戴斯蒙爵士已命羅賓·萊格爵士前去追趕，要活捉弒君者……倘若不行，就把他人頭帶回?！?/p>
Ser Desmond nodded, plainly glad to be done with his distasteful task, but sad-eyed Utherydes Wayn lingered a moment after the castellan took his leave. “It was a grave thing you did, my lady, but for naught. Ser Desmond has sent Ser Robin Ryger after them, to bring back the Kingslayer … or failing that, his head.”
這點(diǎn)凱特琳早已料到。戰(zhàn)士啊，請(qǐng)賜予她力量，布蕾妮，希望你別辜負(fù)我，她如此祈禱。她已經(jīng)做了力所能及的一切，除了期望，再?zèng)]什么能做的了。
Catelyn had expected no less. May the Warrior give strength to your sword arm, Brienne, she prayed. She had done all she could; nothing remained but to hope.
人們把她的物品搬到父親的臥室，臥室中有一張帶巨遮罩的大床——她便是在這出生的——床柱被雕成跳躍鱒魚的形狀。早先父親將床移下一半臺(tái)階，面對(duì)著臥室外的三角陽臺(tái)，以便觀看他一輩子鐘愛的河流。
Her things were moved into her father’s bedchamber, dominated by the great canopied bed she had been born in, its pillars carved in the shapes of leaping trout. Her father himself had been moved half a turn down the stair, his sickbed placed to face the triangular balcony that opened off his solar, from whence he could see the rivers that he had always loved so well.
凱特琳進(jìn)門時(shí)，霍斯特公爵正在熟睡。于是她走到外面的陽臺(tái)，一只手放在粗糙的石欄桿上。城堡夾角處，迅猛的騰石河注入寧靜的紅叉河，越過交匯點(diǎn)，她可以眺望很遠(yuǎn)的下游。若有條紋風(fēng)帆的船從東方出現(xiàn)，定是羅賓·萊格爵士無疑。但暫時(shí)水面什么也沒有，她為此感謝諸神，然后回到父親身旁坐下。
Lord Hoster was sleeping when Catelyn entered. She went out to the balcony and stood with one hand on the rough stone balustrade. Beyond the point of the castle the swift Tumblestone joined the placid Red Fork, and she could see a long way downriver. If a striped sail comes from the east, it will be Ser Robin returning. For the moment the surface of the waters was empty. She thanked the gods for that, and went back inside to sit with her father.
凱特琳不知霍斯特公爵是否明白她的存在，或者能否帶給他安慰，她只知道陪伴他能予自己以慰籍。如果你知道我剛犯下的罪過，會(huì)怎么說呢，父親？她思索，如果我和萊莎落在敵人手中，你會(huì)做出一樣的行為嗎？你會(huì)譴責(zé)我，稱其為母親的瘋狂嗎？
Catelyn could not say if Lord Hoster knew that she was there, or if her presence brought him any comfort, but it gave her solace to be with him. What would you say if you knew my crime, Father? she wondered. Would you have done as I did, if it were Lysa and me in the hands of our enemies? Or would you condemn me too, and call it mother’s madness?
房間里充斥著死亡的氣息，濃重、甜膩而腐敗，附在空氣里。這讓她想到失去的孩子，她的甜心布蘭和小瑞肯，他們都被奈德的養(yǎng)子席恩·葛雷喬伊給殺了。她一直沉浸在失去奈德的悲傷中，從來都無法擺脫，而今又加上兩個(gè)寶貝……“失去孩子，是多么可怕而殘忍的事啊?！彼p聲呢喃，更像是自言自語，而不是說給父親聽。
There was a smell of death about that room; a heavy smell, sweet and foul, clinging. It reminded her of the sons that she had lost, her sweet Bran and her little Rickon, slain at the hand of Theon Greyjoy, who had been Ned’s ward. She still grieved for Ned, she would always grieve for Ned, but to have her babies taken as well … “It is a monstrous cruel thing to lose a child,” she whispered softly, more to herself than to her father.
霍斯特公爵的眼睛卻陡然張開?！鞍?，”他嘶啞的聲音中帶著深深的苦痛。
Lord Hoster’s eyes opened. “Tansy,” he husked in a voice thick with pain.
他沒認(rèn)出我。凱特琳已經(jīng)開始習(xí)慣被他當(dāng)做她母親或妹妹萊莎，但“艾菊”對(duì)她而言還是個(gè)陌生名字?！拔沂莿P特琳，”她說，“凱特啊，父親?！?/p>
He does not know me. Catelyn had grown accustomed to him taking her for her mother or her sister Lysa, but Tansy was a name strange to her. “It’s Catelyn,” she said. “It’s Cat, Father.”
“原諒我……那鮮血……噢，求你……艾菊……”
“Forgive me … the blood … oh, please … Tansy …”
難道父親生命中還有另一個(gè)女人？他年輕時(shí)候?qū)Σ黄鹉澄秽l(xiāng)下少女？還是母親死后他在某個(gè)女仆懷中找到過慰藉？這些想法十分奇怪，讓人不安，突然間她覺得自己并不真正了解父親?！罢l是艾菊，大人？你想讓我把她找來嗎，爸爸？我該上哪兒去找她？她還活著嗎？”
Could there have been another woman in her father’s life? Some village maiden he had wronged when he was young, perhaps? Could he have found comfort in some serving wench’s arms after Mother died? It was a queer thought, unsettling. Suddenly she felt as though she had not known her father at all. “Who is Tansy, my lord? Do you want me to send for her, Father? Where would I find the woman? Does she still live?”
霍斯特公爵呻吟，“死了?！彼氖置鬟^來，“但沒有關(guān)系，你會(huì)再懷上的……懷上一群乖寶寶，嫡生的寶寶?！?/p>
Lord Hoster groaned. “Dead.” His hand groped for hers. “You’ll have others … sweet babes, and trueborn.”
再懷上？凱特琳心想，什么意思？莫非他忘了奈德已死？他是一直在和“艾菊”對(duì)話，還是在對(duì)我說，再或者對(duì)象是萊莎或媽媽？
Others? Catelyn thought. Has he forgotten that Ned is gone? Is he still talking to Tansy, or is it me now, or Lysa, or Mother?
他咳嗽起來，血沫飛濺，手指卻握得更緊?！啊?dāng)個(gè)好妻子，諸神會(huì)保佑你……會(huì)有孩子……嫡生的孩子……啊啊啊赫赫赫，”突發(fā)地、伴隨著痛苦的痙攣?zhàn)尰羲固毓羰直劭嚲o，他的指甲摳進(jìn)她手掌，他發(fā)出一聲窒息的尖叫。
When he coughed, the sputum came up bloody. He clutched her fingers. “… be a good wife and the gods will bless you … sons … trueborn sons … aaahhh.” The sudden spasm of pain made Lord Hoster’s hand tighten. His nails dug into her hand, and he gave a muffled scream.
韋曼師傅立即進(jìn)門，調(diào)好另一劑罌粟花奶，幫他的領(lǐng)主灌下去。片刻之后，霍斯特·徒利公爵重新陷入沉眠。
Maester Vyman came quickly, to mix another dose of milk of the poppy and help his lord swallow it down. Soon enough, Lord Hoster Tully had fallen back into a heavy sleep.
“他在呼喚一個(gè)女人，”凱特說，“一個(gè)叫艾菊的女人。”
“He was asking after a woman,” said Cat. “Tansy.”
“艾菊？”學(xué)士茫然地盯著她。
“Tansy?” The maester looked at her blankly.
“連你也不知道？我猜是某個(gè)女仆，或者附近村莊里的姑娘，再或許是某位故人？”凱特琳已經(jīng)離開奔流城很久很久了。
“You know no one by that name? A serving girl, a woman from some nearby village? Perhaps someone from years past?” Catelyn had been gone from Riverrun for a very long time.
“不，我不記得，夫人，如果您想要的話，我可以去調(diào)查一下。烏瑟萊斯·韋恩清楚在奔流城當(dāng)過奴仆的每個(gè)人的底細(xì)。艾菊，是這個(gè)名字？老百姓喜歡用鮮花或草藥的名字來為女兒命名，”學(xué)士沉呤半晌，“曾有個(gè)寡婦，我想起來了，常到城堡來回收需換鞋底的舊鞋。她似乎叫艾菊，讓我再想想看，也許叫蘭花？就是這類名字。但她已有多年沒來過了呀……”
“No, my lady. I can make inquiries, if you like. Utherydes Wayn would surely know if any such person ever served at Riverrun. Tansy, did you say? The smallfolk often name their daughters after flowers and herbs.” The maester looked thoughtful. “There was a widow, I recall, she used to come to the castle looking for old shoes in need of new soles. Her name was Tansy, now that I think on it. Or was it Pansy? Some such. But she has not come for many years …”
“她叫紫羅蘭，”凱特琳說，對(duì)這女人她有記憶。
“Her name was Violet,” said Catelyn, who remembered the old woman very well.
“是嗎？”學(xué)士有些抱歉。“請(qǐng)?jiān)?，凱特琳夫人，我不能待在這兒。戴斯蒙爵士向我們明確宣布，除非與職責(zé)相關(guān)，否則不能和你說話?！?/p>
“Was it?” The maester looked apologetic. “My pardons, Lady Catelyn, but I may not stay. Ser Desmond has decreed that we are to speak to you only so far as our duties require.”
“那你應(yīng)該遵令行事?！彼裏o法指責(zé)戴斯蒙爵士，一切都是她自作自受，毫無疑問，代理城主擔(dān)心她利用奔流城中眾人對(duì)領(lǐng)主之女的忠誠去繼續(xù)干蠢事。至少我擺脫了戰(zhàn)爭，她告訴自己，盡管只有一小會(huì)兒。
“Then you must do as he commands.” Catelyn could not blame Ser Desmond; she had given him small reason to trust her, and no doubt he feared that she might use the loyalty that many of the folk of Riverrun would still feel toward their lord’s daughter to work some further mischief. I am free of the war, at least, she told herself, if only for a little while.
學(xué)士離開后，她披上一件羊毛斗篷，再度踱回陽臺(tái)。陽光灑在河面上，河水奔騰流過城堡，燦燦生輝。她用手遮檔光線，極目眺望遠(yuǎn)處的風(fēng)帆，深深地畏懼著可能看到的的景象。但什么也沒有，什么也沒有代表著希望依舊存在。
After the maester had gone, she donned a woolen cloak and stepped out onto the balcony once more. Sunlight shimmered on the rivers, gilding the surface of the waters as they rolled past the castle. Catelyn shaded her eyes against the glare, searching for a distant sail, dreading the sight of one. But there was nothing, and nothing meant that her hopes were still alive.
她望了一天，一直站到夜晚，直到雙腿酸痛得無法直立。下午晚些時(shí)候，有只烏鴉飛回城堡，拍打著巨大的黑翅膀進(jìn)入鴉巢。黑色的翅膀、帶來黑色的消息，她心想，一邊回憶起上只烏鴉所帶來的恐怖。
All that day she watched, and well into the night, until her legs ached from the standing. A raven came to the castle in late afternoon, flapping down on great black wings to the rookery. Dark wings, dark words, she thought, remembering the last bird that had come and the horror it had brought.
夜幕降臨時(shí)，韋曼學(xué)士進(jìn)房為徒利公爵作護(hù)理，同時(shí)給凱特琳捎來一頓簡樸的晚餐，包括面包、奶酪和山葵煮的牛肉?！拔腋鸀跎R斯·韋恩談過了，夫人。他十分確定在他為奔流城服務(wù)期間，絕對(duì)沒有一個(gè)叫艾菊的女仆。”
Maester Vyman returned at evenfall to minister to Lord Tully and bring Catelyn a modest supper of bread, cheese, and boiled beef with horseradish. “I spoke to Utherydes Wayn, my lady. He is quite certain that no woman by the name of Tansy has ever been at Riverrun during his service.”
“我看見今天有只烏鴉返回。抓到詹姆了嗎？”難道他已被殺了？噢，諸神慈悲。
“There was a raven today, I saw. Has Jaime been taken again?” Or slain, gods forbid?
“不，夫人，我們沒有收到關(guān)于弒君者的消息?！?/p>
“No, my lady, we’ve had no word of the Kingslayer.”
“那是別的戰(zhàn)斗？艾德慕有麻煩？或是羅柏？求求你，發(fā)發(fā)慈悲，不要讓我如此恐慌?！?/p>
“Is it another battle, then? Is Edmure in difficulty? Or Robb? Please, be kind, put my fears at rest.”
“夫人，我不能……”韋曼四下掃視，好似在確認(rèn)沒有旁人監(jiān)視?！笆沁@樣，泰溫公爵離開了河間地，所有渡口都恢復(fù)平靜?！?/p>
“My lady, I should not …” Vyman glanced about, as if to make certain no one else was in the room. “Lord Tywin has left the riverlands. All’s quiet on the fords.”
“請(qǐng)問：烏鴉從哪邊來？”
“Whence came the raven, then?”
“西邊，”他答道，一邊手忙腳亂地打理霍斯特公爵的睡衣以避開她的目光。
“From the west,” he answered, busying himself with Lord Hoster’s bedclothes and avoiding her eyes.
“是關(guān)于羅柏的消息？”
“Was it news of Robb?”
他猶豫了一下，“是，夫人?！?/p>
He hesitated. “Yes, my lady.”
“他有麻煩，”從對(duì)方的表情和行動(dòng)中，她明白他在刻意隱瞞什么?！翱旄嬖V我！羅柏出事了嗎？他受傷了嗎？”千萬別死啊，諸神在上，求求你們，千萬別告訴我他已經(jīng)死了。
“Something is wrong.” She knew it from his manner. He was hiding something from her. “Tell me. Is it Robb? Is he hurt?” Not dead, gods be good, please do not tell me that he is dead.
“陛下攻打峭巖城時(shí)負(fù)了傷?！表f曼師傅說，仍舊回避著凱特琳的眼睛，“他信中說是小傷，不值得牽掛，很快就要班師回來?！?/p>
“His Grace took a wound storming the Crag,” Maester Vyman said, still evasive, “but writes that it is no cause for concern, and that he hopes to return soon.”
“受傷？什么傷？有多嚴(yán)重？”
“A wound? What sort of wound? How serious?”
“他說是不值得牽掛的小傷。”
“No cause for concern, he writes.”
“胡說！所有的傷我都非常牽掛。他得到精心照料了嗎？”
“All wounds concern me. Is he being cared for?”
“請(qǐng)您放心，卡格城的師傅會(huì)照顧他，這毫無疑問?！?/p>
“I am certain of it. The maester at the Crag will tend to him, I have no doubt.”
“他傷在那兒？”
“Where was he wounded?”
“夫人，我奉命不得和您談話，很抱歉?！笔帐昂盟幤亢螅f曼匆匆離去，凱特琳再度和父親獨(dú)處。罌粟花奶發(fā)揮了效用，霍斯特公爵沉浸在酣睡中。一條薄薄的唾沫從張開的嘴角里流出來，弄濕了枕頭。凱特琳折好一塊麻布，將唾沫輕柔地擦掉，當(dāng)她碰他時(shí)，霍斯特公爵又開始呻吟?！霸徫?，”他說，聲音輕得讓她幾乎無法分辨字句，“艾菊……鮮血……那鮮血……諸神在上……”
“My lady, I am commanded not to speak with you. I am sorry.” Gathering up his potions, Vyman made a hurried exit, and once again Catelyn was left alone with her father. The milk of the poppy had done its work, and Lord Hoster was sunk in heavy sleep. A thin line of spittle ran down from one corner of his open mouth to dampen his pillow. Catelyn took a square of linen and wiped it away gently. When she touched him, Lord Hoster moaned. “Forgive me,” he said, so softly she could scarcely hear the words. “Tansy … blood … the blood … gods be kind …”
盡管她并不明白他究竟在說什么，但他的話語令她意外地困擾。鮮血，她心想，所有一切都?xì)w結(jié)于鮮血？父親，這女人是誰，你對(duì)她做了什么，以至到現(xiàn)在都還祈求她的原諒？
His words disturbed her more than she could say, though she could make no sense of them. Blood, she thought. Must it all come back to blood? Father, who was this woman, and what did you do to her that needs so much forgiveness?
當(dāng)晚，凱特琳睡得時(shí)斷時(shí)續(xù)，不斷作著關(guān)于她孩子們的夢(mèng)，失去的孩子和死掉的孩子，各種各樣的噩夢(mèng)。破曉之前很久，她突然為父親的話所驚醒。乖寶寶，嫡生的寶寶……他為何那樣說，除非……除非他和這叫艾菊的女人有了私生子？她不相信。若是弟弟艾德慕，一打私生子她都不奇怪。但父親不會(huì)，霍斯特公爵不會(huì)，絕對(duì)不會(huì)。
That night Catelyn slept fitfully, haunted by formless dreams of her children, the lost and the dead. Well before the break of day, she woke with her father’s words echoing in her ears. Sweet babes, and trueborn … why would he say that, unless … could he have fathered a bastard on this woman Tansy? She could not believe it. Her brother Edmure, yes; it would not have surprised her to learn that Edmure had a dozen natural children. But not her father, not Lord Hoster Tully, never.
難道艾菊是他對(duì)萊莎的某種昵稱，正如他叫我凱特？我從南方返回奔流城那次，他就把我和妹妹弄混了。你會(huì)再懷上的……懷上一群乖寶寶，嫡生的寶寶。萊莎流產(chǎn)過五次，其中在鷹巢城兩次，君臨三次……但在奔流城從來沒有，怎么可能？這兒霍斯特公爵可以親自照顧她。除非……除非她懷過孩子，在她的初次……
Could Tansy be some pet name he called Lysa, the way he called me Cat? Lord Hoster had mistaken her for her sister before. You’ll have others, he said. Sweet babes, and trueborn. Lysa had miscarried five times, twice in the Eyrie, thrice at King’s Landing … but never at Riverrun, where Lord Hoster would have been at hand to comfort her. Never, unless … unless she was with child, that first time …
她和妹妹于同一天結(jié)婚，但她們的丈夫新婚燕爾就拋下妻子前去參加勞勃的叛軍，把她們留給父親照料。當(dāng)她們的月經(jīng)不再定時(shí)到來，萊莎認(rèn)定她倆都懷了孩子，并為此陷入無比的喜悅中?！澳愕膬鹤訒?huì)是臨冬城繼承人，而我的呢，會(huì)是鷹巢城公爵。噢，他們會(huì)成為最好的朋友，就象你的奈德和勞勃大人，真的，他們會(huì)比親兄弟更緊密，我就是知道?！碑?dāng)年的她好開心啊。
She and her sister had been married on the same day, and left in their father’s care when their new husbands had ridden off to rejoin Robert’s rebellion. Afterward, when their moon blood did not come at the accustomed time, Lysa had gushed happily of the sons she was certain they carried. “Your son will be heir to Winterfell and mine to the Eyrie. Oh, they’ll be the best of friends, like your Ned and Lord Robert. They’ll be more brothers than cousins, truly, I just know it.” She was so happy.
但萊莎的經(jīng)血不久又回來了，她所有的歡樂也隨之而逝。凱特琳一直認(rèn)為萊莎只是那次月經(jīng)來得有點(diǎn)遲，如果她真懷過孩子……
But Lysa’s blood had come not long after, and all the joy had gone out of her. Catelyn had always thought that Lysa had simply been a little late, but if she had been with child …
她還記得頭一次將寶寶放到妹妹懷中的情景，當(dāng)時(shí)的羅柏好小啊，雖然紅著臉，號(hào)哭個(gè)不停，卻強(qiáng)壯，充滿生命和活力?？吹剿?，萊莎臉上爬滿淚痕。她匆忙將孩子推回凱特琳懷中，飛奔而去。
She remembered the first time she gave her sister Robb to hold; small, red-faced, and squalling, but strong even then, full of life. No sooner had Catelyn placed the babe in her sister’s arms than Lysa’s face dissolved into tears. Hurriedly she had thrust the baby back at Catelyn and fled.
如果在此之前她失去過一個(gè)孩子，就足以解釋父親的言語，以及其他一些事……萊莎和艾林公爵的婚姻安排得非常匆忙，當(dāng)年的瓊恩就已是老人了，比她們父親的年紀(jì)還大。但他是一個(gè)沒有繼承人的老人。他前兩任妻子都沒給他留下子嗣，他的外甥和布蘭登·史塔克一起死在君臨，他英勇的表兄在“鳴鐘之役”中陣亡。若要延續(xù)艾林家族，他需要一個(gè)年輕妻子……一個(gè)確能生產(chǎn)的年輕妻子。
If she had lost a child before, that might explain Father’s words, and much else besides … Lysa’s match with Lord Arryn had been hastily arranged, and Jon was an old man even then, older than their father. An old man without an heir. His first two wives had left him childless, his brother’s son had been murdered with Brandon Stark in King’s Landing, his gallant cousin had died in the Battle of the Bells. He needed a young wife if House Arryn was to continue … a young wife known to be fertile.
凱特琳起身脫掉長袍，走上臺(tái)階，沒入黑暗之中，暫時(shí)遠(yuǎn)離父親。無邊恐怖充斥在她心底。“父親，”她說，“父親，我明白了。”她已不再是那個(gè)滿腦子白日夢(mèng)的純潔新娘，她成了寡婦、成了叛徒、成了悲傷的母親，但也更加懂事，對(duì)這個(gè)世界的世態(tài)炎涼瞧得一清二楚?！澳惚扑⒘怂?，”她低語道，“萊莎就是瓊恩·艾林為獲得徒利家族的軍隊(duì)所必須付出的代價(jià)?！?/p>
Catelyn rose, threw on a robe, and descended the steps to the darkened solar to stand over her father. A sense of helpless dread filled her. “Father,” she said, “Father, I know what you did.” She was no longer an innocent bride with a head full of dreams. She was a widow, a traitor, a grieving mother, and wise, wise in the ways of the world. “You made him take her,” she whispered. “Lysa was the price Jon Arryn had to pay for the swords and spears of House Tully.”
難怪妹妹的婚姻如此乏味。艾林家族素來驕傲，非常珍惜自己的榮譽(yù)。瓊恩公爵或能為促成徒利家族加入叛亂事業(yè)而迎娶萊莎，同時(shí)也期望彼此產(chǎn)下子嗣，但要他愛上一個(gè)被玷污過、而且是不情愿地和他上床的女人實(shí)在太難。他心地善良，富有責(zé)任感，這些都毫無疑問，可萊莎需要的是溫暖。
Small wonder her sister’s marriage had been so loveless. The Arryns were proud, and prickly of their honor. Lord Jon might wed Lysa to bind the Tullys to the cause of the rebellion, and in hopes of a son, but it would have been hard for him to love a woman who came to his bed soiled and unwilling. He would have been kind, no doubt; dutiful, yes; but Lysa needed warmth.
第二天早餐時(shí)，凱特琳要來鵝毛筆和紙，開始給身處艾林谷的妹妹寫信。雖然字字都難以下筆，她還是把布蘭和瑞肯的事原原本本地告訴了萊莎，但說的最多的還是她們的父親。他滿腦子想的都是對(duì)你干下的錯(cuò)事，而他的時(shí)間已經(jīng)不多。韋曼師傅告訴我，他不敢再調(diào)更高劑量的罌粟花奶。是父親與他的劍和盾長眠在一起的時(shí)候了，是他休息的時(shí)候了?？伤€竭力斗爭，不愿倒下，我想，這都是因?yàn)槟?，因?yàn)樗释愕脑彙?zhàn)火紛飛，鷹巢城和奔流城之間十分危險(xiǎn)，對(duì)此我很明白，但你可否讓一大隊(duì)騎士護(hù)衛(wèi)著穿越明月山脈呢？帶上一百個(gè)騎士，一千個(gè)騎士，行不行？假如你真的不能來，至少給他寫封信，好嗎？寫幾句愛戀的話語，讓他平靜的死去？你總可以隨便寫寫，我會(huì)親自讀給他聽，讓他安詳?shù)仉x開。
The next day, as she broke her fast, Catelyn asked for quill and paper and began a letter to her sister in the Vale of Arryn. She told Lysa of Bran and Rickon, struggling with the words, but mostly she wrote of their father. His thoughts are all of the wrong he did you, now that his time grows short. Maester Vyman says he dare not make the milk of the poppy any stronger. It is time for Father to lay down his sword and shield. It is time for him to rest. Yet he fights on grimly, will not yield. It is for your sake, I think. He needs your forgiveness. The war has made the road from the Eyrie to Riverrun dangerous to travel, I know, but surely a strong force of knights could see you safely through the Mountains of the Moon? A hundred men, or a thousand? And if you cannot come, will you not write him at least? A few words of love, so he might die in peace? Write what you will, and I shall read it to him, and ease his way.
甚至在擱筆封蠟時(shí)，凱特琳就已經(jīng)感到這封信太渺小也太遲了。韋曼學(xué)士認(rèn)為霍斯特公爵撐不過烏鴉往返鷹巢城的時(shí)間。盡管父親以前常說……不論機(jī)會(huì)多么渺茫，徒利家的人從不輕易屈服。把羊皮紙托付給學(xué)士之后，凱特琳去了圣堂，在天父面前為父親點(diǎn)上一根蠟燭，另一根獻(xiàn)給老嫗，是她透過生死之門向世界窺視時(shí)把第一只烏鴉送到人間，第三根給了圣母，為的是萊莎和她們所失去的孩子們。
Even as she set the quill aside and asked for sealing wax, Catelyn sensed that the letter was like to be too little and too late. Maester Vyman did not believe Lord Hoster would linger long enough for a raven to reach the Eyrie and return. Though he has said much the same before … Tully men did not surrender easily, no matter the odds. After she entrusted the parchment to the maester’s care, Catelyn went to the sept and lit a candle to the Father Above for her own father’s sake, a second to the Crone, who had let the first raven into the world when she peered through the door of death, and a third to the Mother, for Lysa and all the children they had both lost.
當(dāng)天晚些時(shí)候，當(dāng)她坐在霍斯特公爵床邊翻來覆去地看同一本書的同一頁時(shí)，遠(yuǎn)處有喧嘩傳來，伴隨著“嘟嘟”的喇叭聲。羅賓爵士回來了，她立即想到，心中無比恐懼。她奔向陽臺(tái)，只見河面依舊空無一物，而遠(yuǎn)方的聲音卻越來越清晰，那是無數(shù)馬匹的嘶鳴，鎧甲的叮當(dāng)以及此起彼伏的歡呼。凱特琳趕緊登上彎曲的樓梯，來到堡頂觀察。戴斯蒙爵士并沒有禁止我上堡頂，她邊爬邊告訴自己。
Later that day, as she sat at Lord Hoster’s bedside with a book, reading the same passage over and over, she heard the sound of loud voices and a trumpet’s blare. Ser Robin, she thought at once, flinching. She went to the balcony, but there was nothing to be seen out on the rivers, but she could hear the voices more clearly from outside, the sound of many horses, the clink of armor, and here and there a cheer. Catelyn made her way up the winding stairs to the roof of the keep. Ser Desmond did not forbid me the roof, she told herself as she climbed.
聲音發(fā)源于城堡遠(yuǎn)端的正門處。一大群人站在閘門前，等著它顛簸上升，城外的曠野里，大約聚集了數(shù)百名騎士。朔風(fēng)吹起，旗幟飄揚(yáng)，看到奔流城跳躍鱒魚的徽記，她顫抖的心才得到平息。原來是艾德慕。
The sounds were coming from the far side of the castle, by the main gate. A knot of men stood before the portcullis as it rose in jerks and starts, and in the fields beyond, outside the castle, were several hundred riders. When the wind blew, it lifted their banners, and she trembled in relief at the sight of the leaping trout of Riverrun. Edmure.
兩小時(shí)后，他才過來見她。這期間，城堡里回蕩著團(tuán)聚的歡笑，男人和女人擁抱，父親和孩子擁抱。三只烏鴉從鴉巢中放出，舞動(dòng)著黑色的翅膀，騰空而去。凱特琳站在父親的陽臺(tái)上望著它們。她重新梳洗過頭發(fā)，換好干凈衣服，準(zhǔn)備接受弟弟的責(zé)備……即便如此，等待依舊難熬。
It was two hours before he saw fit to come to her. By then the castle rang to the sound of noisy reunions as men embraced the women and children they had left behind. Three ravens had risen from the rookery, black wings beating at the air as they took flight. Catelyn watched them from her father’s balcony. She had washed her hair, changed her clothing, and prepared herself for her brother’s reproaches … but even so, the waiting was hard.
終于，門外傳來聲響，她連忙坐下，把手放在膝蓋上。干涸的褐泥濺滿艾德慕的靴子、護(hù)脛和罩袍?？粗臉幼樱汶y以想象他是得勝歸來的將軍。他變瘦了，精神憔悴，面頰蒼白，邊幅不整，眼窩深陷。
When at last she heard sounds outside her door, she sat and folded her hands in her lap. Dried red mud spattered Edmure’s boots, greaves, and surcoat. To look at him, you would never know he had won his battle. He was thin and drawn, with pale cheeks, unkempt beard, and too-bright eyes.
“艾德慕，”凱特琳擔(dān)憂地問道，“你看來很不舒服。發(fā)生了什么事？蘭尼斯特軍過河了嗎？”
“Edmure,” Catelyn said, worried, “you look unwell. Has something happened? Have the Lannisters crossed the river?”
“我把他們趕了回去。泰溫大人，格雷果·克里岡、亞當(dāng)·馬爾布蘭……統(tǒng)統(tǒng)都打不過我?？桑墒?，史坦尼斯他……”他的臉皺成一團(tuán)。
“I threw them back. Lord Tywin, Gregor Clegane, Addam Marbrand, I turned them away. Stannis, though …” He grimaced.
“史坦尼斯？史坦尼斯怎么了？”
“Stannis? What of Stannis?”
“他在君臨一敗涂地?！卑履綈瀽灢粯返卣f，“艦艇被焚毀，軍隊(duì)潰散覆滅。”
“He lost the battle at King’s Landing,” Edmure said unhappily. “His fleet was burned, his army routed.”
蘭尼斯特的勝利是壞消息，但凱特琳不若弟弟那么失望。她忘不了那些關(guān)于影子的噩夢(mèng)，忘不了影子潛入藍(lán)禮的帳篷，在鋼鐵閃耀的那一剎那，他的血從護(hù)喉甲里涌出?！笆诽鼓崴购吞毓粢粯?，不是我們的朋友。”
A Lannister victory was ill tidings, but Catelyn could not share her brother’s obvious dismay. She still had nightmares about the shadow she had seen slide across Renly’s tent and the way the blood had come flowing out through the steel of his gorget. “Stannis was no more a friend than Lord Tywin.”
“你根本不懂。高庭已宣誓效忠喬佛里，多恩也一樣，整個(gè)南方都一樣?！彼淖炀o抿在一起?！岸憔谷环抛吡藦s君者！你沒這個(gè)權(quán)利?！?/p>
“You do not understand. Highgarden has declared for Joffrey. Dorne as well. All the south.” His mouth tightened. “And you see fit to loose the Kingslayer. You had no right.”
“作為母親，我為什么沒這個(gè)權(quán)利？”她語調(diào)平靜。其實(shí)她心中明白高庭的倒戈對(duì)羅柏的事業(yè)是個(gè)沉重的打擊，但眼下不能分心。
“I had a mother’s right.” Her voice was calm, though the news about Highgarden was a savage blow to Robb’s hopes. She could not think about that now, though.
“你沒這個(gè)權(quán)利，”艾德慕重復(fù)，“他是羅柏的俘虜，你的國王的俘虜，羅柏讓我保證他的安全?！?/p>
“No right,” Edmure repeated. “He was Robb’s captive, your king’s captive, and Robb charged me to keep him safe.”
“布蕾妮會(huì)保護(hù)他，她用她的劍向我發(fā)了誓。”
“Brienne will keep him safe. She swore it on her sword.”
“就憑那個(gè)女人？”
“That woman?”
“她會(huì)將詹姆送到君臨，然后把艾莉亞和珊莎平安地帶回來?！?/p>
“She will deliver Jaime to King’s Landing, and bring Arya and Sansa back to us safely.”
“你以為瑟曦是傻瓜？”
“Cersei will never give them up.”
“我沒有指望瑟曦，我想到的是提利昂。他在朝堂上發(fā)過誓，弒君者同樣對(duì)我發(fā)了誓?！?/p>
“Not Cersei. Tyrion. He swore it, in open court. And the Kingslayer swore it as well.”
“詹姆的話一錢不值。至于小惡魔，據(jù)說他頭上挨了一斧，多半在你的布蕾妮趕到君臨以前就得死掉——如果她到得了的話?！?/p>
“Jaime’s word is worthless. As for the Imp, it’s said he took an axe in the head during the battle. He’ll be dead before your Brienne reaches King’s Landing, if she ever does.”
“死掉？”諸神真的如此殘酷？她逼詹姆發(fā)了上百道誓言，但真正的希望其實(shí)寄托在他弟弟身上。
“Dead?” Could the gods truly be so merciless? She had made Jaime swear a hundred oaths, but it was his brother’s promise she had pinned her hopes on.
艾德慕無視她的痛苦，“看守詹姆是我的職責(zé)，我會(huì)把他抓回來。我已送出烏鴉——”
Edmure was blind to her distress. “Jaime was my charge, and I mean to have him back. I’ve sent ravens—”
“給誰？送了幾只？”
“Ravens to whom? How many?”
“送了三只，”他說，“以確保消息傳達(dá)到波頓大人那邊。無論走陸路還是水路，去君臨都必須接近赫倫堡。”
“Three,” he said, “so the message will be certain to reach Lord Bolton. By river or road, the way from Riverrun to King’s Landing must needs take them close by Harrenhal.”
“赫倫堡，”這個(gè)詞讓房間剎時(shí)黯淡下來。恐懼讓她的聲音變得粗濁了許多，“艾德慕，你知道自己干了什么嗎？”
“Harrenhal.” The very word seemed to darken the room. Horror thickened her voice as she said, “Edmure, do you know what you have done?”
“別害怕，我把你排除在外。在信中，我只說詹姆業(yè)已自行潛逃，并懸賞一千金龍以捕獲他?！?/p>
“Have no fear, I left your part out. I wrote that Jaime had escaped, and offered a thousand dragons for his recapture.”
錯(cuò)上加錯(cuò)，凱特琳絕望地想，我弟弟是個(gè)白癡。她的淚水不爭氣地盈滿眼眶?！叭绻撬阶悦撎樱彼p聲說，“而不是作為被交換的俘虜，蘭尼斯特家怎可能把我的女兒們交給布蕾妮？”
Worse and worse, Catelyn thought in despair. My brother is a fool. Unbidden, unwanted, tears filled her eyes. “If this was an escape,” she said softly, “and not an exchange of hostages, why should the Lannisters give my daughters to Brienne?”
“這你不用擔(dān)心，因?yàn)楦咀卟坏侥且徊?。就憑撒下的天羅地網(wǎng)，我可以保證，弒君者休想逃脫?！?/p>
“It will never come to that. The Kingslayer will be returned to us, I have made certain of it.”
“你可以保證我永遠(yuǎn)見不到我的女兒！布蕾妮本來也許能把他安全帶到君臨……只要無人搜捕，可現(xiàn)在……”凱特琳說不下去了，“走開，艾德慕?！彼龥]有命令他的權(quán)力，而這座城堡過不多久就將徹底屬于他，但此刻她的語調(diào)不容爭議，“把我留給父親和悲傷，我再?zèng)]什么同你說的了。走開，走開。”她只想立刻躺下，閉上眼睛，陷入沉睡，祈禱噩夢(mèng)不要到來。
“All you have made certain is that I shall never see my daughters again. Brienne might have gotten him to King’s Landing safely … so long as no one was hunting for them. But now …” Catelyn could not go on. “Leave me, Edmure.” She had no right to command him, here in the castle that would soon be his, yet her tone would brook no argument. “Leave me to Father and my grief, I have no more to say to you. Go. Go.” All she wanted was to lie down, to close her eyes and sleep, and pray no dreams would come.
