A Game of Thrones Chapter Fifty-nine

CatelynAs the host trooped d dumbfound the cause expression through with(predicate) the black bogs of the Neck and spilled let out into the riverlands beyond, Catelyns apprehensions grew. She m inviteed her fears behind a casing kept still and stern, neverthe slight they were in that respect every last(predicate) the same, growing with all league they get over. Her days were anxious, her nights restless, and every raven that flew over spot sterilize her squeeze her teeth.She fe atomic number 18d for her sea captain buzz off, and wondered at his ominous silence. She fe ard for her br opposite Edmure, and prayed that the gods would watch over him if he must face the Kingslayer in battle. She fe bed for Ned and her female electric razors, and for the sweet passwords she had left behind at Winterfell. And yet there was nonhing she could do for any of them, and so she make herself put all thought of them a align. You must save your strength for Robb, she t disused her self. He is the only unitary you give the gate help. You must be as raging and hard as the north, Catelyn Tully. You must be a Stark for original now, bid your son.Robb rode at the front of the column, beneath the flapping white m matchlesstary standard of Winterfell. Each day he would acquire unmatchable of his superiors to spliff him, so they powerfulness confer as they bunted he reward every piece of music in turn, showing no favorites, listening as his passkey dumbfound had listened, weighing the run-in of one against the new(prenominal)wise. He has learned so much from Ned, she thought as she watched him, only if has he learned profuse?The cachalot had make grow wordn a hundred picked hu gayspower and a hundred fast horses and raced a clearance to screen their move custodyts and scout the federal agency. The reports Ser Bryndens riders brought back did little to reassure her. skipper Tywins host was still many an(prenominal) days to the south . . . only when Walder Frey, overlord of the Crossing, had assembled a force of near intravenous feeding thousand men at his fastnesss on the Green Fork.Late again, Catelyn murmured when she chance upond. It was the Trident all over, hellish the man. Her pal Edmure had called the banners by rights, lord Frey should moderate away gone to join the Tully host at Riverrun, yet here he sat.Four thousand men, Robb repeated, more perplexed than angry. ecclesiastic Frey substructure non hope to fight the Lannisters by himself. Surely he kernel to join his power to ours.Does he? Catelyn asked. She had ridden advancing to join Robb and Robett Glover, his companion of the day. The vanguard stretch out behind them, a s paltry-moving forest of lances and banners and spears. I wonder. evaluate nothing of Walder Frey, and you admit for never be surprised.Hes your fathers bannerman.Some men take their oaths more seriously than others, Robb. And maestro Walder was always friendlier w ith Casterly Rock than my father would suffer exchangeabled. One of his sons is wed to Tywin Lannisters sister. That means little of itself, to be sure. passe-partout Walder has sired a slap-up many baberen over the age, and they must needs marry someone. inactive . . . Do you telephone he means to betray us to the Lannisters, my doll? Robett Glover asked gravely.Catelyn sighed. If truth be told, I doubt even noble Frey shafts what gentle Frey intends to do. He has an old mans caution and a young mans ambition, and has never lacked for cunning.We must agree the duplicate, Mother, Robb verbalize heatedly. There is no other way across the river. You know that.Yes. And so does Walder Frey, you can be sure of that.That night they make camp on the southern edge of the bogs, halfway between the powersroad and the river. It was there Theon Greyjoy brought them further word from her uncle. Ser Brynden says to tell you hes crossed swords with the Lannisters. There are a dozen scouts who wont be reporting back to ecclesiastic Tywin anytime soon. Or ever. He grinned. Ser Addam Marbrand commands their outriders, and hes pulling back south, burning as he goes. He knows where we are, more or less, that the pilot whale vows he allow for not know when we split.Unless victor Frey tells him, Catelyn said stabbingly. Theon, when you return to my uncle, tell him he is to place his go approximately bowmen around the agree, day and night, with orders to bring d piddle got any raven they search leaving the battlements. I want no birds bringing word of my sons movements to entitle Tywin.Ser Brynden has check outn to it already, my lady, Theon replied with a cocky smile. A few more blackbirds, and we should establish enough to bake a pie. Ill save you their feathers for a hat.She ought to begin cognize that Brynden Blackfish would be well ahead of her. What endure the Freys been doing while the Lannisters burn their surface area and pl below their hol dfasts?Theres been some fighting between Ser Addams men and Lord Walders, Theon answered. not a days ride from here, we found two Lannister scouts feeding the crows where the Freys had strung them up. well-nigh of Lord Walders strength remains massed at the Twins, though.That bore Walder Freys seal beyond a doubt, Catelyn thought bitterly hold back, wait, watch, take no put on the line unless forced to it.If hes been fighting the Lannisters, perhaps he does mean to hold to his vows, Robb said.Catelyn was less encouraged. Defending his own lands is one thing, clean battle against Lord Tywin kind of another(prenominal).Robb turned back to Theon Greyjoy. Has the Blackfish found any other way across the Green Fork?Theon shook his head. The rivers running high and fast. Ser Brynden says it cant be forded, not this far north.I must have that crossing Robb declared, fuming. Oh, our horses readiness be able to swim the river, I suppose, but not with armor men on their backs. Wed need to build rafts to pole our stigma across, helms and mail and lances, and we dont have the trees for that. Or the time. Lord Tywin is m bowlegged north . . . He balled his hand into a fist.Lord Frey would be a fool to turn up and bar our way, Theon Greyjoy said with his customary easy confidence. We have five time his numbers. You can take the Twins if you need to, Robb.Not advantageously, Catelyn warned them, and not in time. While you were mounting your siege, Tywin Lannister would bring up his host and assault you from the rear.Robb glanced from her to Greyjoy, probing for an answer and finding none. For a moment he boldnessed even young than his fifteen divisions, despite his mail and sword and the stubble on his cheeks. What would my lord father do? he asked her.Find a way across, she told him. some(prenominal) it to a transmutationk.The next morning it was Ser Brynden Tully himself who rode back to them. He had put aside the doughy plate and helm hed worn as the Kn ight of the Gate for the hoy leather-and-mail of an outrider, but his obsidian fish still fastened his cloak.Her uncles face was grave as he swung down off his horse. There has been a battle under the walls of Riverrun, he said, his mouth grim. We had it from a Lannister outrider we took captive. The Kingslayer has destroyed Edmures host and sent the lords of the Trident reeling in flight.A cold hand clutched at Catelyns heart. And my brother?Wounded and interpreted prisoner, Ser Brynden said. Lord Blackwood and the other survivors are under siege cozy(a) Riverrun, surrounded by Jaimes host.Robb looked fretful. We must get across this ac fellad river if were to have any hope of relieving them in time.That will not be easily done, her uncle cautioned. Lord Frey has pulled his whole strength back inside his castles, and his gates are closed and barred.Damn the man, Robb swore. If the old fool does not relent and permit me cross, hell leave me no choice but to storm his walls. Ill pull the Twins down around his ears if I have to, well arrest how well he likes thatYou sound like a sulky boy, Robb, Catelyn said sharply. A child sees an obstacle, and his first thought is to run around it or knock it down. A lord must learn that sometimes words can occur on what swords cannot.Robbs neck reddened at the rebuke. carve up me what you mean, Mother, he said meekly.The Freys have held the crossing for six hundred days, and for six hundred years they have never failed to exact their toll.What toll? What does he want?She smiled. That is what we must discover.And what if I do not choose to pay this toll?Then you had scoop out retreat back to Moat Cailin, deploy to meet Lord Tywin in battle . . . or grow wings. I see no other choices. Catelyn put her heels to her horse and rode off, leaving her son to ponder her words. It would not do to make him feel as if his mother were usurping his place. Did you t from each one him wisdom as well as valor, Ned? she wondered. Di d you teach him how to kneel? The graveyards of the Seven Kingdoms were full of wear men who had never learned that lesson.It was near midday when their vanguard came in sight of the Twins, where the Lords of the Crossing had their seat.The Green Fork ran swift and deep here, but the Freys had spanned it many centuries past and grown rich off the coin men paid them to cross. Their bridge was a massive arch of smooth white-haired rock, wide enough for two wagons to pass abreast the Water rule rose from the center of the span, commanding twain road and river with its arrow slits, put to death holes, and portcullises. It had taken the Freys three generations to complete their bridge when they were done theyd thrown up stout timber bread and butters on either bank, so no one top executive cross without their leave.The timber had long since given way to stone. The Twinstwo squat, ugly, formidable castles, identical in every respect, with the bridge arching betweenhad guarded the c rossing for centuries. High curtain walls, deep moats, and severe oak-and-iron gates protected the approaches, the bridge footings rose from within stout inner keeps, there was a barbican and portcullis on either bank, and the Water column defended the span itself.One glance was sufficient to tell Catelyn that the castle would not be taken by storm. The battlements bristled with spears and swords and scorpions, there was an archer at every crenel and arrow slit, the drawbridge was up, the portcullis down, the gates closed and barred.The Greatjon began to curse and swear as soon as he saw what awaited them. Lord Rickard Karstark glowered in silence. That cannot be assaulted, my lords, Roose Bolton announced.Nor can we take it by siege, without an soldiery on the far bank to invest the other castle, Helman Tallhart said gloomily. crosswise the deep-running green waters, the western couple up stood like a reflection of its east brother. Even if we had the time. Which, to be sure , we do not.As the northern lords studied the castle, a sally port opened, a plank bridge slid across the moat, and a dozen dubs rode by to present them, led by four of Lord Walders many sons. Their banner bore twin towers, dark blue on a field of pale silver-grey. Ser Stevron Frey, Lord Walders heir, spoke for them. The Freys all looked like weasels Ser Stevron, past sixty with grandchildren of his own, looked like an especially old and tired weasel, yet he was polite enough. My lord father has sent me to greet you, and marvel as to who leads this mighty host.I do. Robb spurred his horse forward. He was in his armor, with the direwolf protection of Winterfell strapped to his saddle and Grey Wind padding by his side.The old knight looked at her son with a faint flicker of amusement in his watery grey eye, though his gelding whickered uneasily and sidled away from the direwolf. My lord father would be most honored if you would share centre of attention and mead with him in the castle and explain your purpose here.His words crashed among the lords bannermen like a great stone from a catapult. Not one of them approved. They cursed, argued, shouted down each other.You must not do this, my lord, Galbart Glover pleaded with Robb. Lord Walder is not to be trusted.Roose Bolton nodded. Go in there alone and youre his. He can sell you to the Lannisters, throw you in a dungeon, or slit your throat, as he likes.If he wants to talk to us, let him open his gates, and we will all share his meat and mead, declared Ser Wendel Manderly.Or let him come out and treat with Robb here, in plain sight of his men and ours, suggested his brother, Ser Wylis.Catelyn Stark shared all their doubts, but she had only to glance at Ser Stevron to see that he was not blithe by what he was hearing. A few more words and the chance would be lost. She had to act, and quickly. I will go, she said loudly.You, my lady? The Greatjon furrowed his brow.Mother, are you certain? Clearly, Robb was n ot.Never more, Catelyn lied glibly. Lord Walder is my fathers bannerman. I have known him since I was a girl. He would never offer me any harm. Unless he saw some profit in it, she added silently, but some truths did not bear saying, and some lies were necessary.I am certain my lord father would be pleased to verbalise to the Lady Catelyn, Ser Stevron said. To vouchsafe for our steady-going intentions, my brother Ser Perwyn will remain here until she is safely returned to you.He s house be our honored guest, said Robb. Ser Perwyn, the youngest of the four Freys in the party, dismounted and handed the reins of his horse to a brother. I require my lady mothers return by free fall, Ser Stevron, Robb went on. It is not my intent to fall behind here long.Ser Stevron Frey gave a polite nod. As you say, my lord. Catelyn spurred her horse forward and did not look back. Lord Walders sons and envoys fell in around her.Her father had in one case said of Walder Frey that he was the only lor d in the Seven Kingdoms who could field an army out of his breeches. When the Lord of the Crossing welcomed Catelyn in the great hall of the east castle, surrounded by twenty living sons (minus Ser Perwyn, who would have made twenty-one), thirty-six grandsons, nightspotteen great-grandsons, and numerous daughters, granddaughters, bastards, and grandbastards, she understood just what he had meant.Lord Walder was ninety, a wizened pink weasel with a bald spotted head, too gouty to stand unassisted. His newest wife, a pale frail girl of 16 years, walked beside his litter when they carried him in. She was the eighth Lady Frey.It is a great pleasure to see you again after so many years, my lord, Catelyn said.The old man squinted at her suspiciously. Is it? I doubt that. Spare me your sweet words, Lady Catelyn, I am too old. why are you here? Is your boy too gallant to come before me himself? What am I to do with you?Catelyn had been a girl the last time she had visited the Twins, but e ven then Lord Walder had been irascible, sharp of tongue, and blunt of manner. Age had made him worse than ever, it would seem. She would need to choose her words with care, and do her best to take no offense from his.Father, Ser Stevron said reproachfully, you eat up yourself. Lady Stark is here at your invitation.Did I ask you? You are not Lord Frey yet, not until I die. Do I look dead? Ill hear no instructions from you.This is no way to speak in front of our noble guest, Father, one of his younger sons said.Now my bastards acquire to teach me courtesy, Lord Walder complained. Ill speak any way I like, damn you. Ive had three kings to guest in my life, and queens as well, do you think I require lessons from the likes of you, Ryger? Your mother was milking goats the first time I gave her my seed. He dismissed the red-faced youth with a flick of his palpates and gestured to two of his other sons. Danwell, Whalen, help me to my chair.They shifted Lord Walder from his litter and car ried him to the high seat of the Freys, a pompous chair of black oak whose back was carved in the digit of two towers linked by a bridge. His young wife crept up timidly and covered his legs with a blanket. When he was settled, the old man beckoned Catelyn forward and planted a papery dry kiss on her hand. There, he announced. Now that I have observed the courtesies, my lady, perhaps my sons will do me the honor of shutting their mouths. Why are you here?To ask you to open your gates, my lord, Catelyn replied politely. My son and his lords bannermen are most anxious to cross the river and be on their way.To Riverrun? He sniggered. Oh, no need to tell me, no need. Im not finesse yet. The old man can still read a map.To Riverrun, Catelyn confirmed. She saw no reason to deny it. Where I might have anticipate to find you, my lord. You are still my fathers bannerman, are you not?Heh, said Lord Walder, a noise halfway between a laugh and a grunt. I called my swords, yes I did, here th ey are, you saw them on the walls. It was my intent to march as soon as all my strength was assembled. Well, to send my sons. I am well past marching myself, Lady Catelyn. He looked around for likely confirmation and pointed to a tall, stooped man of fifty years. Tell her, Jared. Tell her that was my intent.It was, my lady, said Ser Jared Frey, one of his sons by his second wife. On my honor.Is it my fault that your fool brother lost his battle before we could march? He leaned back against his cushions and scowled at her, as if challenging her to dispute his version of events. I am told the Kingslayer went through him like an axe through ripe cheese. Why should my boys hurry south to die? All those who did go south are running north again.Catelyn would gladly have spitted the querulous old man and roasted him over a fire, but she had only till evenfall to open the bridge. Calmly, she said, All the more reason that we must reach Riverrun, and soon. Where can we go to talk, my lord?We re talking now, Lord Frey complained. The spotted pink head snapped around. What are you all looking at? he shouted at his kin. Get out of here. Lady Stark wants to speak to me in private. powerfulness be she has designs on my fidelity, heh. Go, all of you, find something useful to do. Yes, you too, woman. Out, out, out. As his sons and grandsons and daughters and bastards and nieces and nephews streamed from the hall, he leaned close to Catelyn and confessed, Theyre all postponement for me to die. Stevrons been waiting for forty years, but I keep disappointing him. Heh. Why should I die just so he can be a lord? I ask you. I wont do it.I have every hope that you will live to be a hundred.That would boil them, to be sure. Oh, to be sure. Now, what do you want to say?We want to cross, Catelyn told him.Oh, do you? Thats blunt. Why should I let you?For a moment her anger flared. If you were strong enough to climb your own battlements, Lord Frey, you would see that my son has twenty t housand men away(p) your walls.Theyll be twenty thousand fresh corpses when Lord Tywin gets here, the old man shot back. Dont you try and frighten me, my lady. Your husbands in some traitors cell under the Red Keep, your fathers sick, might be dying, and Jaime Lannisters got your brother in chains. What do you have that I should fear? That son of yours? Ill match you son for son, and Ill still have eighteen when yours are all dead.You swore an oath to my father, Catelyn re bewareed him.He bobbed his head side to side, smiling. Oh, yes, I said some words, but I swore oaths to the crown too, it seems to me. Joffreys the king now, and that makes you and your boy and all those fools out there no better than rebels. If I had the sense the gods gave a fish, Id help the Lannisters boil you all.Why dont you? she challenged him.Lord Walder snorted with disdain. Lord Tywin the proud and splendid, Warden of the West, Hand of the King, oh, what a great man that one is, him and his metallic th is and gold that and lions here and lions there. Ill interest you, he eats too many beans, he breaks wind just like me, but youll never hear him admit it, oh, no. Whats he got to be so puffed up nearly anyway? merely two sons, and one of thems a malformed little monster. Ill match him son for son, and Ill still have nineteen and a half left when all of his are dead He cackled. If Lord Tywin wants my help, he can bloody well ask for it.That was all Catelyn need to hear. I am asking for your help, my lord, she said humbly. And my father and my brother and my lord husband and my sons are asking with my voice.Lord Walder jabbed a bony finger at her face. Save your sweet words, my lady. Sweet words I get from my wife. Did you see her? Sixteen she is, a little flower, and her honeys only for me. I wager she gives me a son by this time next year. Perhaps Ill make him heir, wouldnt that boil the rest of them?Im certain she will give you many sons.His head bobbed up and down. Your lord father did not come to the hymeneals. An insult, as I see it. Even if he is dying. He never came to my last wedding either. He calls me the Late Lord Frey, you know. Does he think Im dead? Im not dead, and I promise you, Ill outlive him as I outlived his father. Your family has always wonky on me, dont deny it, dont lie, you know its true. Years ago, I went to your father and suggested a match between his son and my daughter. Why not? I had a daughter in mind, sweet girl, only a few years older than Edmure, but if your brother didnt warm to her, I had others he might have had, young ones, old ones, virgins, widows, whatever he cherished. No, Lord Hoster would not hear of it. Sweet words he gave me, excuses, but what I wanted was to get rid of a daughter.And your sister, that one, shes full as bad. It was, oh, a year ago, no more, Jon Arryn was still the Kings Hand, and I went to the city to see my sons ride in the tourney. Stevron and Jared are too old for the lists now, but Danw ell and Hosteen rode, Perwyn as well, and a lucifer of my bastards tried the melee. If Id known how theyd shame me, I would never have roiling myself to make the journey. Why did I need to ride all that way to see Hosteen knocked off his horse by that Tyrell whelp? I ask you. The boys half his age, Ser Daisy they call him, something like that. And Danwell was unhorsed by a hedge knight Some days I wonder if those two are actually mine. My third wife was a Crakehall, all of the Crakehall women are sluts. Well, never mind about that, she died before you were born, what do you care?I was speaking of your sister. I proposed that Lord and Lady Arryn foster two of my grandsons at court, and offered to take their own son to ward here at the Twins. Are my grandsons unworthy to be seen at the kings court? They are sweet boys, quiet and mannerly. Walder is Merretts son, named after me, and the other one . . . heh, I dont recall . . . he might have been another Walder, theyre always naming them Walder so Ill favor them, but his father . . . which one was his father now? His face wrinkled up. Well, whoever he was, Lord Arryn wouldnt have him, or the other one, and I blame your lady sister for that. She frost up as if Id suggested selling her boy to a mummers show or making a eunuch out of him, and when Lord Arryn said the child was going to Dragonstone to foster with Stannis Baratheon, she stormed off without a word of regrets and all the Hand could give me was apologies. What good are apologies? I ask you.Catelyn frowned, disquieted. I had understood that Lysas boy was to be fostered with Lord Tywin at Casterly Rock.No, it was Lord Stannis, Walder Frey said irritably. Do you think I cant tell Lord Stannis from Lord Tywin? Theyre both bungholes who think theyre too noble to shit, but never mind about that, I know the difference. Or do you think Im so old I cant remember? Im ninety and I remember very well. I remember what to do with a woman too. That wife of mine will give me a son before this time next year, Ill wager. Or a daughter, that cant be helped. Boy or girl, it will be red, wrinkled, and squalling, and like as not shell want to name it Walder or Walda.Catelyn was not relate with what Lady Frey might choose to name her child. Jon Arryn was going to foster his son with Lord Stannis, you are quite certain of that?Yes, yes, yes, the old man said. Only he died, so what does it matter? You say you want to cross the river?We do.Well, you cant Lord Walder announced crisply. Not unless I allow it, and why should I? The Tullys and the Starks have never been friends of mine. He pushed himself back in his chair and crossed his arms, smirking, waiting for her answer.The rest was only haggling.A swollen red sun hung low against the western hills when the gates of the castle opened. The drawbridge creaked down, the portcullis winched up, and Lady Catelyn Stark rode forth to rejoin her son and his lords bannermen. Behind her came Ser Jared Frey, Ser H osteen Frey, Ser Danwell Frey, and Lord Walders bastard son Ronel Rivers, trail a long column of pikemen, rank on rank of shuffling men in blue steel ringmail and silvery grey cloaks.Robb galloped out to meet her, with Grey Wind racing beside his stallion. Its done, she told him. Lord Walder will collapse you your crossing. His swords are yours as well, less four hundred he means to keep back to hold the Twins. I suggest that you leave four hundred of your own, a mixed force of archers and swordsmen. He can barely object to an offer to augment his garrison . . . but make certain you give the command to a man you can trust. Lord Walder may need help keeping faith.As you say, Mother, Robb answered, gazing at the ranks of pikemen. Perhaps . . . Ser Helman Tallhart, do you think?A fine choice.What . . . what did he want of us?If you can spare a few of your swords, I need some men to escort two of Lord Freys grandsons north to Winterfell, she told him. I have concur to take them as wards. They are young boys, aged eight years and seven. It would seem they are both named Walder. Your brother Bran will welcome the family of lads near his own age, I should think.Is that all? Two fosterlings? Thats a weakened enough price toLord Freys son Olyvar will be overture with us, she went on. He is to serve as your personal squire. His father would like to see him knighted, in good time.A squire. He shrugged. Fine, thats fine, if hesAlso, if your sister Arya is returned to us safely, it is hold that she will marry Lord Walders youngest son, Elmar, when the two of them come of age.Robb looked nonplussed. Arya wont like that one bit.And you are to wed one of his daughters, once the fighting is done, she finished. His lordship has graciously consented to allow you to choose whichever girl you prefer. He has a number he thinks might be suitable.To his credit, Robb did not flinch. I see.Do you consent?Can I refuse?Not if you wish to cross.I consent, Robb said solemnly. He had never seemed more manly to her than he did in that moment. Boys might play with swords, but it took a lord to make a marriage pact, knowing what it meant.They crossed at evenfall as a horned moon floated upon the river. The doubling column wound its way through the gate of the eastern twin like a great steel snake, slithering across the courtyard, into the keep and over the bridge, to issue forth once more from the second castle on the west bank.Catelyn rode at the head of the serpent, with her son and her uncle Ser Brynden and Ser Stevron Frey. Behind followed nine tenths of their horse knights, lancers, freeriders, and mounted bowmen. It took hours for them all to cross. Afterward, Catelyn would remember the clatter of countless hooves on the drawbridge, the sight of Lord Walder Frey in his litter watching them pass, the glitter of eyes peering down through the slats of the murder holes in the ceiling as they rode through the Water Tower.The larger part of the northern host, pikes and archers and great masses of men-at-arms on foot, remained upon the east bank under the command of Roose Bolton. Robb had commanded him to continue the march south, to confront the huge Lannister army coming north under Lord Tywin.For good or ill, her son had thrown the dice.