CHAPTER 11. FALL OF THE TWINS

WALDER FREY

It is early sunrise and the towers of the twins is coming to life with daily chores and such. Because Walder Frey has such a large family he does not need as many servants. His sons, daughters, and grandchildren fill many of the castle positions. Because Black Walder and Lame Lothar are being held captive the positions of Master at Arms and Chief Steward are being filled by Walter Frey his son by his sixth wife and Oscar his grandson.

The young ladies prepare the main hall for morning meal. As they do Oscar runs through the Main hall towards the Solar, "Father!"

"What is it?"

"We are under attack!"

"What!" He says standing up. He follows him to the roof where Stevron and many others are waiting. Walder Frey is handed a spyglass. He looks across the River to the East tower and the river bank and gasps as a huge force gets into lines out of bow range on the other side. A roar echoes from across the river.

"What the fuck are those?" Oscar asks.

"They are called Elephants my Lord…" Maester Untin says.

"Elephants?"

"Yes…very popular in warfare across the sea in Essos…The Red Scorpion is the sigil of House Maegyr…"

Walder frowns, "Why does that name sound familiar…"

"Robb Stark's dead wife father…" Stevron whispers.

"Yes Talisa Stark nee' Maegyr…If you had told me, My lord what you were planning to do instead of locking me in my room I would have warned you…"

"Warned me?" Walder looks at him.

"Yes…I studied under Maester Hort at the Citidel…He is always encouraging young Maesters to go East and study new healing techniques and poisons…To keep an open mind..."

"What does that have to do with this?" As they talk Elephants cross the river and other troops use a bridge just a mile south of the twins to cross and lay siege to the Western Castle.

"Well My Lord I met Talisa Maegyr three years ago on my way home aboard ship…By her looks and her name…I figured she was of House Maegyr of Volantis…One of the oldest and most powerful families in Volantis…After the…Red Wedding I saw her body…and requested it."

"Why haven't you said anything before now?" Walder asks yelling.

"And why should I…She was dead…I took the body to secretly send it back to her family anonymously…If you had told me what you were up to and I had been in the main hall when Robb Stark came I would have advised against killing her…I would have said to hold her for ransom…"

"We need to ask for terms of surrender…Father…"

"Let me think…"

"Where is the body now?" Stevron asks.

"I sent it away a moons turn ago…By now it is across the sea…"

"She must have sent her family a letter before coming to the Twins…Telling them about the baby…"

"A family member crossed the sea to White Harbor no doubt and learned of her death…" Oscar says.

"And now they have come for vengeance…"

"I see many Northern banners…Roose Bolton must be dead…"

"Alright…Someone needs to go to them and ask for terms of Surrender."

"Father we have Edmure Tully…We can offer him as a sign of good will…"

"Maester Untin you will go speak with them and offer terms…"

MARO

Maro sits on his horse staring at the infamous castle where the Red Wedding took place and his daughter Talisa was murdered. Sansa and Rickon are at his side on horses. "Fucking Freys…" Sansa says.

"Sansa!" Rickon says disapprovingly.

"Someone is coming…" They watch as a horse rides across the bridge from the Western castle to the Eastern tower. The gates are opened and a lone rider gallops out and towards the army. "Good Morning Lord Maegyr…"

"Do you I know you?"

"I met your daughter Talisa three years ago on a ship out of Volantis…I am Maester Untin…Lord Frey has sent me to ask for terms of surrender…"

"There are no terms…I will smash their gates and kill every man inside…Every woman will be sent to the silent sisters…"

"What of Edmure Tully…Lord Frey offers him as a sign of good will…"

Maro waves his hand and two horses trot up, one is carrying Edmure Tully and the other his wife Rosalin. "So you see there is nothing to talk about…"An arrow flies high from the other side of the River.

"My Lord the signal…" Gellar says.

WALDER FREY

"Why isn't he returning?"

"They are attacking!" Stevron yells as huge stones are fired from catapults on the eastern river bank. The roof is struck and rock is blown loose and strikes Stevron in the head killing him.

"Get off the roof…" As they run down the steps dust and rock pebbles fall with each hit from the boulders flung at the Western castle. The young women scream as they all converge on the wine cellar. The pounding on the castle lasts for the next three hours.

"Father those Elephant things are assaulting the gates…We can't stop them…"

One of Walder's sons come into the main hall with an arrow in his side. "They have breached the Eastern tower…" He falls and dies.

ARRO

"Send in the Elephants! Smash those gates…" He commands from his horse. The archers in the towers and on the battlements had abandoned them because of the damage. With a roar the Elephants charge forward and start smashing on the main gates.

"My Lord a signal from your father…They are inside the Eastern tower…"

Not long after the report is given Arro leads a charge into Western castle. He swings his sword killing a man by splitting his helm. He kicks another man in the face and leaps off his horse stabbing the same man in the chest. Two more converge on him, Arro blocks left then right. He counters and slits the throat of the man on the right. He blocks an attack then he takes the man's sword and impales him with his sword.

He throws his new sword into the back of a Frey man fighting one of his men. Then he scoops up a shield and rushes off to the next man. There is a steady flow of soldiers rushing into the Western Castle and soon it is over. Arro himself captures Walder Frey who disguised himself as a woman and hid with his daughters in the wine cellar.

Maro is in the main hall sitting on Walder Frey's throne. "Father look what I found hiding with the women in the cellar. "

"Mercy my Lord! Mercy!" He cries.

Gellar enters the Main Hall, "My Lord we searched the entire castle…All men dead and accounted for…All women accounted for as well…"

"Carry on…"

MARO

Mari walks down the steps and stands before Walder Frey who is on his knees, "Walder Frey Lord of the Twins…Master of House Frey…All Must Pay A Toll…The Late Walder Frey…Late to the battle of the Trident…The Bitch of the Twins I say…You spilled blood after offering guests rights…You spilled my daughter's blood under your roof…"

That is when Sansa and Rickon enter the Main Hall, "Ah King Rickon and Princess Sansa…My son captured the enemy…He was hiding with his daughters…" Sansa walks up to Walder Frey and spits on him. Rickon kicks him in the balls. "Get him up."

Arro gets him to his knees, "Kill me and done with it…"

Maro smiles, "Kill you…Oh no you aren't getting off that easy…" Maro looks back toward the door, "Bring him in…" They drag Roose Bolton in, his hands are chained and he wears a sand colored sack. His eyes have been burned out. "You remember Roose Bolton don't you…"

"By the gods what have you done to him?"

"The same thing I will do to you…First you will be gilded…Then your eyes will be burned out…And you will live whatever is left of your miserable life in my graces…"

Walder looks at Roose, "I beg you don't do this…"

"Did my daughter beg when your son stabbed her in her womb…Killing…killing my unborn grandchild…"

"I am sorry…by the gods I am sorry…I will do anything…"

Maro shakes his head, "You should have thought of that before…Take him away and carry out his punishment…"

"No please have mercy! Have mercy!"

"Take Bolton and let him hear the sound of revenge…" Ravens are sent out to the Lords of the Riverlands to let them know that the Twins have fallen. Seven days later a Raven comes from Riverrun asking for Maro to come to Riverrun.

RIVERRUN

Two weeks later the army marches to Riverrun. As they approach the men on the battlements cheer. The drawbridge is lowered and Maro rides into the courtyard with Arro, Rickon, Sansa, Kasad, Edmure, Roslin, and Gellar. Brynden Tully is waiting to greet the new arrivals. "Welcome to Riverrun…I am Brynden Tully…I am also known as the Blackfish…"

"Maro Maegyr Lord of House Maegyr…This is my son Arro and…this is King Rickon and Princess Sansa…"

"My King…" Rickon smiles, "My Lady…I am your great uncle Brynden…" He looks at Edmure, "It is good to see you boy…"

"And you Uncle…" They hug.

"What is she doing here?"

"She is my wife…and she is carrying my child…"

Brynden kisses her on the cheek, "Welcome to the family…"

"My lord…" Rosalin replies with a bow.

"This is Thoros of Myr and I have a surprise…"

A hooded woman comes forward and removes her hood, "MOTHER!" Sansa and Rickon scream running into her arms. "We thought you were dead…"

"My precious children…"

Maro looks at Thoros, "You serve the lord of light don't you?"

"I do my lord…"

"My daughter is dead can you…"

"There are rules my lord…The head must still be attached and the body must not be touched by the Silent Sisters or a Maester…And I must perform the ritual within five days of death…I am sorry…"

They feast in the main hall talking and eating. Both Walder Frey and Roose Bolton are chained sitting on the floor eating scraps thrown to them by Maro. Then Maro and Arro go to see Lame Walder in his cell. "So you're the bastard that put his hands on my beloved daughter…and stabbed her to death…"

"My Lord forgive me…I did not know…I was only doing as my father commanded…"

Maro smiles looking at his son, "He was only doing as commanded…" Maro looks at him, "Tell me if your father commanded you to fuck a goat would you obey that command as well…" He does not answer.

"May I take his hands now father?"

"By all means…"

"No please! No…"

Two large men hold him while his arms are stretched out. Arro takes a heated sword and places near his wrists. Then he swings the sword taking the right hand. Lame Walder's arm is seared to stop the bleeding. Then Arro takes the other hand, they sear that stub close and leave him to wallow in pain. Later men return to burn out his eyes and hang his severed hands around his neck.

Arro and Sansa stand before Catelyn Stark and Arro asks her permission to marry Sansa. Rickon is there and says yes causing everyone to laugh. Catelyn gives her blessing and they marry at Riverrun. "I have a request my lord…" Catelyn says walking beside Maro.

"We are family ask me anything…"

"I wish revenge on Petyr Baelish…"

"Ah yes…the flesh monger…Lord Wyman told me how he betrayed your husband…"

"Did he also tell you that it was Baelish who told me and my husband that it was Tyrion Lannister who hired the Assassin that tried to kill my son?"

"I did not know this…I have been thinking on his betrayal and now what you tell me…There are certain things that add up to one conclusion…Petyr Baelish poisoned Jon Arryn…and Lysa Arryn helped him."

"How did you come to that conclusion…"

"Logic…First who benefits the most from Jon Arryn's death…"

"My sister, but her power is temporary…At least until Robin comes of age…"

"True…But from all accounts Baelish is still in love with you…And your daughter has told me of how the bastard was whispering into her ear while in King's Landing…Now all of a sudden they marry…And during your son's war against the Lannisters she does nothing to help…But claims the Lannisters killed Jon Arryn…"

"She said she feared for her son's life…"

"Perhaps, but tell me My Lady…has any army ever breeched the Bloody Gates?"

"No."

They are walking the outer grounds through the massive camp, "Even if the Lannisters did poison Jon Arryn why would they allow Lysa Arryn to slip away from the Capital with such vital information…Why not be thorough and poison her as well? Or hold her in the Capital?"

"Maybe they felt she was not a threat…My sister is touched in the head…"

They stop in front of the medical tent where the few wounded are being treated. "Alright say the Lannisters are guilty in Jon Arryn's death…They still face the same problem with Eddard Stark finding out the truth…the goddess grant him peace…Why didn't they poison him as they did Jon Arryn…And Jaime Lannister confronted your husband and attacked him…He could have killed him right there…He did not…"

"He knew that if he killed my husband I would kill his brother…"

"I am not saying the Lannisters are innocent…But logic says Petyr Baelish and your sister have more to gain from Jon Arryn's death than the Lannisters…And consider this…Many in the realm know or consider the Queen's children to be bastards, but many Houses still support them…The Tyrells…and Baelish will most likely play both sides to get what he really wants…"

"Your theory makes sense, but without evidence…"

"My lady has your husband ever written a love letter to you?"

"Oh yes…"

"Did you throw it away?"

"No…I…"

"Women are sentimental…All women in love keep letters from those they desire…Perhaps she has kept some letters from Baelish…He may have even warned her not to send him any letters after the deed was done…But she probably has them hidden somewhere…I have a Faceless Man in my employ…Two actually…Go to the Eyrie with some of my men and sound your sister out…Confront her and Baelish in front of their Knights…"

Catelyn smiles, "I will… thank you my Lord…"