13) Walder Frey – Roose Bolton: "The answer writes itself"
The Twins was a big castle; it was two castles in one to be precise. Plenty of people lived there, people of all ages. Grandfathers, fathers, sons, and grandsons. Mothers and daughters. Trueborn and bastard.
Two people holding not just the future of their Houses in their hands, but the future of the realm itself were pondering what to do. They had a decision to make which could turn the tide of the war, a decision which could assure the survival of their families or which could sign the death sentence of their Houses dooming them to a certain defeat.
"So, the Young Wolf?" Roose Bolton started the conversation with his host.
"So, the Old Lion" replied old Walder Frey.
They had both received the letters. Tywin Lannister was offering them what they could never achieve if they stayed by Robb Stark's side. The benefits were many … the cost was … well, let's just say the benefits far outweighed the cost.
"You'd be Lord Paramount on the Riverlands."
"And you will be Warden of the North" Lord Frey cocked his eyes suggestively. "Isn't that what you have always wanted?"
Lord Bolton nodded almost imperceptibly and breathed out a short sigh, evidence of his long-held frustration.
"The Starks have been betraying the Northern ways little by little, generation after generation. They have neglected the traits that truly represent the north, they have outlawed our ways of living. They have been looking to the South for too long. May he rest with the gods, but Lord Rickard did nothing but spit on the North. He betrothed both his son and heir, Brandon, and his daughter to the south. When that didn't work, Lord Eddard, raised in the South, still married the southern woman. They never thought to look North. And now the boy that leads them is all south."
"He was even born here in the Riverlands. I visited him when he was born. All Tully was that babe."
"The boy is a good tactician, I'll give him that. But he's still green and has disregarded my advice far too many times."
"King in the North and the Riverlands!" Walder Frey toasted with a snicker. "The Riverlands my arse! The Starks got into a bout with the Lannisters and dragged us all down with it. Lord Eddard confronting the Queen and getting himself arrested, Lady Catelyn arresting the Imp, and the boy Stark spitting on the king thinking himself the hero of a song about heroic knights of yore. Pff," he scoffed. "And don't think we haven't noticed, our oh so honourable king is ready to run back home and leave us hanging to face our own demise and clean up the mess he left behind. He wants to go back north to fight the Ironborn while we deal with his shit against the crown - a crown that hadn't really bothered me before the Starks poked their noses where they don't belong."
"Why did you join him then?" Bolton was curious.
"I was offered what I needed. Husbands and wives for my breed" was his simple reply.
Lord Frey motioned to his young maid for her to serve more wine. As she approached he patted her behind and Lord Bolton could almost see the drool coming out of the old man's lips.
"Starks and Tullys" Walder Frey spat with disdain and shook his head. "No offense, Lord Bolton, but the North means nothing to me."
"None taken" replied Roose Bolton bowing his head slightly.
"The Tullys are nothing but a bunch of ambitious climbers. I had begged old Hoster for decades to marry one of his children to mine. Only one would have sufficed. But no. He married his pride and joy into the North. The other girl into an old man hidden away up in the mountains. And the young whelp is still unmarried. I have lots of wives to offer, but he's always spat on my name. He never even came to my last wedding."
"There's only so much a man's pride can take" Bolton agreed encouraging his companion.
"They offer me nothing. So when the Lady Catelyn offered me a wife for my sons and a husband for my daughters, I leaped at the opportunity. But the Young Wolf saw it fitting to smear our name and bed some whore from a far away land. They have no respect for our lands and our peoples."
"Aye. No respect" he had to agree.
Lord Bolton eyed the cup and then looked at his host again. The wine did not look very inviting and he preferred to deal his negotiations with a clear mind.
"So, the Old Lion it is, then" he suggested pursing his lips.
"He's offering us what we deserve, isn't he?"
"The Young Wolf lost his war when he killed Karstark and married the girl. He went against everything I told him. This war is lost."
"There is no dishonour in abandoning a sinking ship if it is the captain the one that is poking holes in the hull."
"Spoken like a true Riverlander" Bolton nodded.
"Ha"
"Robb Stars is a good tactician on the field, it is off the battlefield where he fails. And it is off the field that he will lead if he becomes King. Do we want such figure ruling and making decisions?"
"The answer writes itself, doesn't it?"
Walder Frey's ominous answer floated in the air like a premonition waiting for a signal …