Cersei and Catelyn arrived at the dungeons of Winterfell together, both covering their noses with their sleeves because the smell was unbearable, especially for women.
When Cersei and Catelyn reached Ygritte's cell, they saw a red-haired Wildling woman.
"Catelyn, look, she has red hair too. Doesn't she remind you of your sister Lysa? Lysa's red hair always drew attention in King's Landing," Cersei said.
Seeing Ygritte's red hair filled Catelyn's heart with memories.
"Wildling girl, what is your name?" Cersei asked.
"I am Ygritte, of the Free Folk, kissed by fire."
"'Kissed by fire,' that truly is a beautiful name! If you were not a Wildling but a noble lady from the South, I imagine you would be pursued by many young lords and knights," Cersei said.
"By the Mother, Ygritte, if you have any request, please speak freely. Lady Catelyn and I will do everything we can to help you."
"I, I, I," Ygritte looked hesitant, unsure if she should speak.
"Speak, child. I am Lady Stark, and this is Winterfell. No one will trouble you!" Catelyn Tully seemed to have forgotten the girl was a Wildling and a prisoner.
Ygritte gritted her teeth and recounted a story that she and Mufasa had concocted together.
"What? Jon? He actually did such a thing? He, he, he!"
Lady Stark seemed inexplicably agitated. She was always worried that the future of her son, Robb Stark, would be usurped by Jon Snow.
A bastard ascending to the position of Lord of Winterfell would be a disgrace to her.
But now she held leverage against Jon Snow, and she was delighted.
"Lady Stark, it seems you need to properly discipline Jon Snow!" Cersei said.
"Ygritte is so pitiful; we cannot let her die in a trial like this!"
"I suggest, Lady Stark, that you take Ygritte as your adopted daughter. How about making her a goddaughter?"
Catelyn Tully understood Cersei's intentions. She wanted to embarrass the Stark family, but this was a small price to pay. As long as she could secure Robb's future position as Lord, Catelyn could endure this slight.
"Ygritte, are you willing to recognize Lady Catelyn as your godmother?" Cersei asked.
"I am willing. Greetings, Godmother!"
Ygritte immediately bowed deeply to Catelyn, her head hitting the floor with a "thud!"
When she lifted her head, her forehead was bright red, clearly from hitting the floor too hard.
Catelyn Tully immediately wanted to help her up, but the cell door was locked! She instantly called for the jailer to open the door.
"My Lady, she is a Wildling! It could be dangerous if she comes out," the jailer warned.
"I told you to open the door. Is my status not enough to command you?" Catelyn said coldly.
The jailer, having no choice, opened the cell door.
Catelyn entered the cell and led Ygritte out of the dungeon.
The other Wildlings watched her leave, not saying a single word.
After Cersei left, she immediately began spreading rumors: Catelyn Tully had adopted a Wildling as a goddaughter, and Jon Snow had been sleeping with that Wildling woman!
Catelyn first took Ygritte to the hot springs to bathe her, and then brought out a set of her own old clothes for her to wear.
When Ygritte appeared before her again, Catelyn felt as if she was looking at her younger self—so vibrant and full of youthful spirit.
Mufasa, meanwhile, invited Jon Snow to drink, getting him completely drunk before letting him go back.
On his way back to his room, Jon Snow was ambushed. Someone threw a sack over his head, and then three or four people started beating him with sticks.
Jon Snow took a beating, and by the time he pulled the sack off, the attackers were long gone. Only the sack remained.
"What in the world happened? I was attacked right here in Winterfell?" Jon Snow looked around blankly.
Arya, Myrcella, and Sansa ran back to Sansa's room, panting heavily.
They had just given Jon a good beating. It was so exciting, so satisfying!
"That idiot Jon will never guess it was us who beat him up, hahaha, the big fool!" Arya laughed.
"Jon isn't dead, is he?" Myrcella asked worriedly.
"No, no, I made sure he's perfectly fine!" Arya replied.
"I can't believe Jon actually hurt the Wildling girl's feelings. He really deserved that beating!" Sansa said, gritting her teeth.
She and Myrcella had heard the story of Jon Snow and Ygritte from Arya, which was essentially the same version Cersei and Catelyn had heard in the dungeon.
"By the way, I heard Ygritte has been released. Shall we go see her?" Sansa suggested.
"Let's go look!"
The three of them went to Catelyn's chambers and found Ygritte. Dressed in noblewoman's clothing, she indeed looked like a proper young lady.
"Mother!" Sansa called out to Catelyn.
"Lady Stark!" Myrcella greeted her with a bow.
Arya was much simpler; she simply rushed into her mother's embrace.
"Mother, I heard you adopted Ygritte as your goddaughter. Does that mean she's my older sister now?" Arya asked.
Catelyn Tully nodded.
"Not only is she your sister, but I am also going to marry her to Jon Snow!" Catelyn declared.
If Jon Snow married Ygritte, he would never have a chance to claim the Lordship of Winterfell.
Jon's wife being a Wildling meant he would absolutely never win the hearts of Winterfell's people, and Robb Stark's position would be as solid as a mountain.
Meanwhile, Eddard Stark received the news that Catelyn had taken the Wildling woman, and he was greatly surprised. He came over and found Catelyn teaching the girls needlework.
Eddard Stark knocked gently on the door.
"My Lady, I need to speak with you. Please step out for a moment!"
Catelyn told Ygritte not to be afraid, and she walked out alone.
The two of them went to the Weirwood tree in the Godswood.
Only then did Eddard Stark ask.
"Why did you take that Wildling woman? Not only is she a Wildling, but she was also supposed to face trial by combat!"
"I have already taken her as my goddaughter, and I will marry her to Jon Snow! As for the trial by combat, let us forget about it!" Catelyn Tully stated.
"My Lady, you!" Eddard Stark looked at her in confusion, unable to understand what had gotten into her.
"Did the Queen make you do this?" he suddenly asked.
"Although she went to the dungeon with me, the decision to adopt Ygritte as my goddaughter was my own. It has nothing to do with her," Catelyn replied.
Eddard Stark did not possess great political acumen. He had never been educated to be an heir since he was a second son, not trained as a lord. Had Brandon not died, he would never have inherited the Lordship of Winterfell..
Therefore, Eddard Stark was unable to make a wise judgment immediately, so he decided to seek help from Maester Luwin.
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