"Wake up you fool! Wake up and admire the landscape." Black Walder was sitting next to him, his voice like an harsh murmur to his ears. He was pointing at the small window and at the terror of the battlefield. Edmure's eyes were barely opened but he could see the black smoke and the thousands of corpses, some beheaded, some so much injured that one could never say who it was, if he was young or old, high placed or simple soldier waiting to come back home. It was Robb's men that had been killed, but also his. The North will never forget, the Riverlands will never forgive.
"Get up, lazy arse! We wanted to show you something, a special gift only for you!"
They were going to show him the bodies. He didn't know how they had killed them but it couldn't be a gentle death, they had too much pride not to make them feel what it was like to be killed by a Frey. The walk seemed to last hours until they reached the courtyard. When they finally managed to get there, the sun blinded him. It was so strong... Not a gentle summer sun, but a strong winter one.
And then he saw him. Robb, his nephew, with the head of Grey Wind sewed on his neck. The vision was terrible, but not enough to make him cry before them. He was Edmure of House Tully from Riverrun, he was not going to cry, not for Freys of the crossing. But then he saw her. She was laying on the ground, her throat cut, her dress as red as the Tully's flags, burning behind her. Tears running on his cheeks, legs giving up, Edmure fall on the ground of the courtyard. They were laughing at him, at his situation. Laughing at the shadows in his life: Robb, Hoster, Catelyn, Brynden...
"Is my uncle still alive?" The words had trouble coming out of his mouth, his throat strangled by angst. "Your damn uncle is, Tully. He escaped during the night" The way he had pronounced his family name, like it was some sort of curse one would say to its enemy, filled him with rage. I'm a Tully, I must be brave.
He could feel water on his face but it wasn't tears, rain was softly washing him and the corpses of his loved ones. The Frey men didnt seem to enjoy it, but this rain, his rain, made him feel alive. I shall not bend to no one. Ever. He felt a small hand on his back, turning his face he discovered the painful face of his wife, Roslin. Slowly she sat next to him, taking Edmure in her arms. The men remained silent. Only a glance from his great aunt had made him understand. She was a Tully now. And she knew their words better than anyone. Family came always first and he was now his family. They would suffer together.
"Roslin. Leave us now." She put a small kiss on her husband's forehead and stood up, whispering for him only "I'll be your eyes and ears.." They were looking at each other. Our wedding may be cursed, but our marriage will be strong. You will never be alone I promise you that. They said you loved someone because they sing a song only you can hear, Roslin was singing the soft hymn of the river and in this deafening silence only him recognized it.
The men made him stood up and walk to her sister's body. One of them and Lame Lothar carried her on their shoulders and together they walked to the riverside. "Watch, Tully, and watch carefully. People say that you couldn't shoot an arrow strait for your father's funeral, well this time you won't have to do so. Throw her in the water." Black Walder was admiring the view. The traitor Catelyn Stark born Tully was dead and they were now going to show her how Freys of the crossing paid tribute to traitors. By humiliating them.
This was a parody of the Tullys funeral. I am lord Edmure Tully of Riverrun, lord paramount of the Trident. You may think you're burying my pride my joy and my reason to live, but it's my leniency you killed. And from this day till the day I'll die I will have the strength to hate you and to bring justice for my family.
Do you hear the sound of the bloodied Tumblestone and the Red Fork's waves Walder Frey? That's the hymn of vengeance. And they sing for you.