The guards cracked the door open and let Benjen slip into the Hall, the guard on the opposite side glared at him but the guards he had spoken with calmed him down and told him to let the Lord in. He saw the place had been thrown in disarray. Tables upended, the drunks still passed out in their places, and everyone standing in the front of the hall, looking at something with numerous Tully guards surrounding the doors and the guests.
Benjen pushed his way towards the front of the crowd, where he saw Lord Brandon and another Lord he did not recognize on the ground. The Seven help us, who could have done this?
Benjen soon got an answer when he noted Lord Symond and King Lucion being held captive by men in Tully livery, leaving Benjen highly confused. He highly doubted that either men would do this. While both men could have very well done the deed, the circumstances of the feast and the waiting dragon, in conjunction with his belief that neither man would be to be willing to risk their lives for this endeavor, let alone the Frey and the Lannister working together.
"LADY CASSANA," Benjen cried out, shoving guests out of the way to reach the front of the circle. Once the Tully guards blocked his forward progress, he spoke again, "Lady Cassana, y-y-you know th-th-that neither of th-th-these men would b-b-be as stupid to m-m-make an attempt on your b-b-brother's life this evening. Lord Frey has b-b-been a great help t-t-to Lord Brandon in p-p-preparation of facing th-th-the dragon, his b-b-bad family history aside, th-th-there is no reason wh-wh-why he would w-w-want Lord Tully dead, unless he learned of your...betrothal." Benjen shook his head, he had let Cassana's secret out and now people were beginning to glare at him as he continued to speak.
He gestured to Lucion Lannister, surrounded by guards, words continuing to spill out of his mouth, "Even th-th-the King Lannister would n-n-not be stupid in attempting t-t-to kill the Lord Tully now. Wh-wh-why would he when he is s-s-so...outnumbered by f-f-foes here at Riverrun? I-I-I do not like th-th-the Lion any more th-th-than you do, but I-I-I refuse to believe th-th-the King of the Rock would be willing t-t-to risk his life to kill th-th-the Lord Paramount of th-th-the Riverlands, wh-wh-when his rebellion is so f-f-focused on removing th-th-the man who sits th-th-the Iron Throne. What good w-w-would it be to kill your b-b-brother who has not declared for th-th-the Throne or not."
He paused for a moment, "Unless you know s-s-something th-th-that I-I-I do not th-th-that is much more...c-c-compelling th-th-than my thoughts, th-th-then forgive my...defense of th-th-these men."
Benjen lowed his head, "B-b-but my other actions th-th-this evening is inexcusable. I can tell you, w-w-with great pain, th-th-that I-I-I am th-th-the person r-r-responsible for making th-th-the musicians play...th-th-that retched song. An...altercation t-t-took place between one of th-th-the bards, Isren Rivers, m-m-my cousin Selyse Waynwood, a-a-and her...bastard brother Artys Stone. In m-m-my haste to...diffuse th-th-the situation, I-I-I paid th-th-the bard to play th-th-the first fucking song th-th-that I could th-th-think of..." Benjen tried to keep his composure as he continued his confession, "I-I-I realize th-th-that my actions...w-w-were of thoughts th-th-that would not usually be my own, but drink has a way w-w-with a person's mind. If you wish t-t-to imprison me...th-th-then by all means...I-I-I would expect n-n-nothing less, I deserve your wrath."
Benjen straightened, She knows sincerity in the voice more than anyone here. The Seven save me if I am wrong. "But I will say now th-th-that I had NO hand in what has befallen your brother and th-th-this other lord."