I do not own any George R. R. Martin articles and or any aforementioned literary articles.
Third person pov:
233 ac
Two years have gone by since the retiring of Myke Frey to Essos with the Red Tridents company.
In the first year much happened in the way of change, the causeway road was completed in that year, and to celebrate the completion of it Walder invited the Mallisters, Starks, and the Reeds to the Twins for a feast.
Another thing that changed in that year was that two more lives were born to House Frey, a girl named Asla Rivers born to Nedis and Walder nine months after the night they shared together, at the same time Alora had a boy named Alvar Frey.
Walder and Alora consider Nedis their paramour but if someone outside of house Frey or their close allies asked then she is Walder's paramour, in Westeros men can cheat and no one will bat an eye, if a woman cheats, then it is considered a scandal.
After Asla's birth Walder sent a letter to the hand of the king to have his daughter legitimized, Bryden Rivers agreed to legitimized his daughter on the agreement that House Targaryen would be given a lowered sales price for a batch of 80 steel swords.
Frey steel gained a reputation for its high quality, and they rarely ever sold it to anyone outside of a close group of friends and allies or to one of their own.
The water dancers came in that year with their families to Agartha, the three water dancers worked on a rotation in teaching at the garden and teaching Walder's children.
In the second year, Houses Lannister and the Grey towers began to business directly with each other, around that time the Grey Towers company had a large influx of monetary wealth.
This allowed them to expand throughout Westeros into Myr, Lys, Tyroshi, Braavos, Lorath, and Pentos.
The Garden in that year had close to a hundred and twenty students in all, majority of the students were Westerosi while the minority were Dothraki, Essosi, Naathi, and Summer islanders.
To accommodate for the numbers, Walder had more buildings built or expanded, and in planning for the future he had an underground facility built under the Garden.
The facility had multiple exits and entrances along with six rooms, two living quarters with enough room for hundred people, one armory, one dining hall, storage room, and a small training room, all of it built with cement and granite brick.
At the end of the year, tragedy struck the Walder Frey
Walder sat with Alora, Nedis on either side of him, and their children breaking there fast, Alvar and Asla were asleep in the arms of their mothers, while Octavia, Nymeria, and Visenya were eating at the table.
They were all enjoying their meals with some light conversation, before at guard barged into the dining room.
"Milord, you need to see this!" He said, out of breath
Following the guard out of the dining hall he led Walder to the courtyard.
The Red Trident company stood in the yard offloading a box from a cart with four other boxes, and carried it to the foot of the steps.
"Alaric what is this, and where is my uncle?" Walder asked, walking to Alaric
Alaric looked injured with bandages covering his forearm.
"I am sorry my Lord." He said somberly, removing the top of the box
He took a step back from the box, Walder leaned forward to the look down into the box.
In the box was his uncle covered in salt with only his pale face exposed, Walder took a shaky step back.
"What happen?" Walder asked, not looking away from his uncle's face
"Lord Myke and a few of our men were ambushed at a tavern in Lys, he and four of our men were killed before the attackers fled." Alaric said, pointing to four other boxes on the cart
"It was the Brave companions they attacked over the death of a specific member that lord Myke killed two years prier." He said, clenching his fists
"Contact the families of the other dead, I will pay for funeral arrangements and give them a stipend." Walder said, taking on form look at his uncle
"Someone have a boat prepared for my uncle, he will be traveling to our ancestors tonight." Walder yelled, walking back into the castle
Walder walked back into the dining hall, his family still sat at the table waiting for his return.
"My love what has happened?" Alora asked, worried at the look on his face
Walder leaned close to Alora, "My uncle is dead." He whispered in her ear
Leaning close to Nedis whispering the same in her ear, both them looked downcast at the news of Myke Freys demise.
Walder straightened himself, "Girls, uncle Myke has died." He said with a plain face
Nymeria and Visenya had a blank look in their eyes, and frowns on their faces, Octavia looked at Walder with a look of confusion at what was going on around her.
Many stood on the bridge of the Twins to see off the dead to the other side, as the boats floated down the river.
Walder stood with the members of Red Tridents holding long bows drawn with lit arrows.
"Loose!" Walder yelled, letting his arrow fly
The boats burst to life with roaring flames, lighting the night like stars in the sky.
They stood there watching the flames consume the five boats as they floated through the harbor, Walder watched the flames with anger rising up into his eyes, and he knew the death of his uncle and his men couldn't go unanswered.
As the boats turned to ash and sunk to the bottom of the river everyone headed into the great hall for the wake feast.
As the feast came into full swing, Walder sat at the high table with Alaric, Alora, Nedis, Octavia, Nymeria, and Visenya.
Alvar, and Asla were being cared for by their wetnurses in their nursery.
Standing up from his chair the room went quiet, "Tonight we will remember the dead as they were, for they have moved beyond us to the halls of our ancestors, to the dead!" He yelled, holding his chalice high
"To the dead!" Everyone yelled, holding their own chalices up
Most would think that after the death of a loved one Walder would be loosen his composer, but sat in his dark throne staring into the flame of a candle.
He was trying to remember is uncles voice and what he looked like, but no matter how hard he tried he couldn't hear his voice, he could remember his uncle's face but every time he looked at it in his minds eye, he felt like he was staring at a stranger.
All the while he thought on these memories, he didn't notice that hours have passed since the start of the feast.
He felt a touch on both of his hands, coming out of his revery he saw that it was Alora and Nedis grasping either of his hands.
"Walder come to bed the feast ended hours ago." Alora said, giving his hand a soft squeeze
"The children want you to read them a story before they go to bed." Nedis said smiling softly
Walder stood from his chair, looking around he saw that the hall was empty and dark, the only light came from the candle he had been staring at.
"I am coming." He said, following them out of the great hall
Walder walked into his daughters' room with a book hand, the three of them were sitting on the bed waiting.
"My little stars what story do you want to hear?" He asked, sitting next to them
"I want to hear about the man of iron." Nymeria said
"No, I want to hear the about the titans." Visenya said
Visenya and Nymeria began to bicker as they always did when deciding on anything to do.
Walder looked over to Octavia, she had a look on her face as if she wanted to say something.
"Octavia, what story would you want to hear?" He asked
"Can we hear about the one-eyed god?" She asked
"Girls you two got to choose the last two stories, I think it is Octavia's turn this time." Walder said, focusing on Visenya and Nymeria
"Yes father." Both said, with a finality
Opening up the book to the page with the story Octavia chose.
Walder began to read the story to three of them.
When he finished telling the story, he noticed that his three little stars were fast asleep.
Leaving their room for his room, he climbed into his with Nedis and Alora on either side of him.
The next morning Walder stood out in the yard of the eastern keep, planning the construction of a small monument for his uncle in each of the Twins keeps court yards.
The monument would be a grey stone of his uncle clad in the clothes of a noble, one hand rested on an oval shield while the other hand rested on the hilt of a sword at his hip.
Both statues would stand on a circular pedestal with a bronze plaque that read.
In honor of Lord Myke Frey
The man who helped our house become what we are now.
233 After conquest.
Discussing the plans and design with the masons, while at the same time they tried to renegotiate how much they were going to be paid.
"My Lord could I speak with you in private?" Someone asked, from behind him
He turned around to see Alys Snow his spy master waiting there.
Walder turned back to the workers, "Get it done." He said, motioning for Alys Snows to follow
They walked to the top of the steps looking out over Agartha.
"What do you want to discuss with me?" He asked
"My Lord, I know you are planning on going after the Brave Companions, and I have a plan to kill them without endangering the Red tridents." She said, handing him a piece of parchment
He read it for a couple seconds, "How long would it take to do this?" He asked, handing it back to her
"In six weeks with enough funds." She said with a confidence in the plan she has
"You got four weeks, Alys." Walder said, turning and walking away
"Ok, My Lord, but wait my lord doing this in four weeks is impossible." She said, nervously
He kept walking, "It's not impossible just improbable, I have confidence in your skills." He said, with his hands clasped behind him
Walder made his way to the bathhouse for a relaxing soak.
As he entered the bathhouse the incense in the air washed over him giving a tingling feeling in his head.
Lowering himself into the water letting the warmth of it relax his muscles, leaning against the wall he drifted off into the back of his mind.
Walder had no clue what stage of grief he was on, all he knew was that he felt nothing no rage or sadness since he was told of his uncles' death.
The only time he felt anything besides apathy was in that split second when he wakes up in the morning.
Before he woke up, he was having a dream that felt so real that the past few days felt as if they were nothing but a horrible nightmare without end.
His mind began to drift towards a conversation his uncle and him had the last time they saw each other.
That was the day Myke Frey left for Essos with the rest of the company.
Flashback begins:
Walder and his uncle stood outside the great hall watching the Red Tridents prepare for the journey to Maidenpool.
The company and Myke were all wearing the black and red tabards over their clothes, while some were holding the banners.
"Uncle since I can't change your mind in staying, what will you do once your back in Essos?" Walder asked
"I will first go to the manse you got for me, then I am going to use my winnings from our game to outfit the company with hobnailed boots." He said, focused on the company
"Uncle, do try to have fun while you're in retirement, and maybe find yourself a wife and have yourself some mini Freys." Walder said, giving his uncle a toothy grin
"I will be having fun, who doesn't enjoy gold, glory, and a battle." Lord Myke said, smiling
"What about having a wife or even a lover?" Walder asked
"I'll probably have a few, but I believe I am too old to have children." Myke said, sadly
"Never make quick decisions when making life altering decisions." Walder said, doing an impersonation of an old man's voice
"Who ever told you that is wise to life, who said it?" Myke asked
"Why did you think I was doing the voice." Walder said, staring at his uncle pointedly
They stared at each other for a couple seconds.
"You're a little shite you know that right." Myke said, glaring at Walder
Hugging his uncle by the shoulder, "Don't be like that uncle, with old age comes understanding and clarity." Walder said, laughing
"But with old age one has to sacrifice the youth of the body to gain understanding and clarity." Myke said
Alaric walked to them from the caravan, "My Lord we are ready to set out." He said, bowing to each of them
"We should head out now before it gets too dark." Myke said, turning back to Walder
Alaric walked back to caravan.
"Nephew once last bit of advice before I go, remember that you and house Frey have limits don't push them." He said, plainly
"I will take that into consideration in the future uncle, may we meet again." Walder said, smiling sadly
"May we meet again." Myke said, pulling Walder into a tight embrace
Climbing onto his horse before riding for the head of the caravan.
Flashback ends:
Walder waded to the middle of the pool, dunking himself under the water.
Exhaling he allowed himself to sink farther under the surface until he hit the bottom, all he could think was he would soon make it right, right a wrong that has been done upon his family.
Soon the Brave companions in its entirety will be nothing but a smear on the bottom of his boot before the year was out.