A Game of Thrones, Chapter 63, Catelyn
Summary
Robb and his army lure Jaime into the trap in the Whispering Wood. Lannister force is slaughtered and Ser Jaime is captured. It’s a great victory for Starks, however not entirely without a sacrifice. Three of Robb’s liege lord sons die protecting him from Jaime.
Quotes
Catelyn watched her son as he moved among the men, touching one on the shoulder, sharing a jest with another, helping a third to gentle an anxious horse. His armor clinked softly when he moved. Only his head was bare. Catelyn watched a breeze stir his auburn hair, so like her own, and wondered when her son had grown so big. Fifteen, and near as tall as she was.
Let him grow taller, she asked the gods. Let him know sixteen, and twenty, and fifty. Let him grow as tall as his father, and hold his own son in his arms. Please, please, please.
Once she heard Robb’s voice, as clear as if he’d been standing at her side, calling, “To me! To me!” And she heard his direwolf, snarling and growling, heard the snap of those long teeth, the tearing of flesh, shrieks of fear and pain from man and horse alike. Was there only one wolf? It was hard to be certain.
“No one can fault Lannister on his courage,” Glover said. “When he saw that he was lost, he rallied his retainers and fought his way up the valley, hoping to reach Lord Robb and cut him down. And almost did.”
“He mislaid his sword in Eddard Karstark’s neck, after he took Torrhen’s hand off and split Daryn Hornwood’s skull open,” Robb said. “All the time he was shouting for me. If they hadn’t tried to stop him-”
“-I should then be mourning in place of Lord Karstark,” Catelyn said. “Your men did what they were sworn to do, Robb. They died protecting their liege lord. Grieve for them. Honor them for their valor.”
Commentary
The Whispering Wood. This chapter sends chills down my spine.
The story picks up the speed, two chapters in a row are filled with fighting. This time it’s the Lannisters who have their asses handed to them. The Whispering Wood becomes the symbol of Robb’s success. The first skirmish with the enemy is a howling success that fills his men with hope that this war can be won.
This chapter is special to me because of two things. One is of course the way Martin describes both the valor in combat and at the same time the ugly reality often forgotten in battle scenes. Jaime Lannister is a fearless warrior and readers start to respect him as one in this chapter. However we’re also drawn to the fact that his skill in combat results in death of men sworn to Robb. Eddard Karstark, named after Robb’s father, his brother Torrhen and Daryn laid their lives to save their liege lord. Robb is finding out that ruling people is not the hardest part of his destiny. It’s living with the consequences that is going to give him sleepless nights.
The second aspect of this chapter I really sympathize with is Lady Catelyn’s silent plea to gods to save, protect her son. The love she bears towards her son, her memories of seeing him grow up, the terror that holds her on mere thought that he might be in danger sends her heart racing.
It’s simply amazing that GRRM is able to put so much feeling into various and different elements of the book. Whether it’s a battle, a political intrigue or a vivid image of mother fearing for her son, Martin reaches into the bottom of readers heart and finds emotions we didn’t think we had for a book.
I can read his SoIaF over and over again. 
Tags: Catelyn
