Robb Stark was stood staring hard at the map that showed the path to King's Landing and in turn his father's freedom. In his head he tried to come up with some way of reaching it without having to deal with the Frey's, their formidable toll for passing their bridge was not something he had the time to deal with but everything he could think of would slow down their march to such a painful pace that Robb feared any opportunity to save his father or his sisters would have longed passed once they reached the capital. His war room was full of noise as Northern lords argued with each other about the best way to proceed, some thinking that Walder Frey should be punished for not answering Edmure Tully's call and others thinking that they should avoid the Frey's all together. The only other person who seemed to be as quiet and thoughtful as Robb was his mother until she eventually sliced through the noise with a question that silenced the lords.

"Robb, what are you willing to give to cross?" Lady Catelyn asked, the men turned to Robb as they waited for the young Lord to answer.

"Everything" Robb said sternly, though his mother could see that under his hard exterior he was terrified. The lords slowly began to rise in noise, arguing with each other yet again about the situation and Robb's decision. "Look, I know that the Frey's can be difficult but we do not have the time to look for another way to King's Landing, this is our way" Robb silenced the room slamming the wooden wolf emblem down on the map, on top of where The Twins was drawn.

"Are you sure, Walder Frey doesn't make light demands" She questioned making sure that this time their eyes met.

"Mother, I am left with no other choice. I know how this works. Walder Frey can have what he desires, I'm sure that his list of payment will contain endless demands of marriages amongst them mine own, but if giving myself in marriage is the way to save father, to save the girls, I'll marry whoever Walder Frey likes." Robb said attempting to end one of his mother's endless worries.

"My Lord, who goes to talk to Lord Frey?, I know you likely wish to go yourself but we need to have a plan for what happens in King's Landing if things go wrong" Roose Bolton interjected.

"We won't get to King's Landing without Walder Frey" Robb replied sharply.

"I'll go, I've known Walder Frey since I was a girl and as unlikely as it is he may react better to a Tully than a Stark" Catelyn said, standing from her chair. She gave her son a smile and a nod in some attempt to reassure him that everything would be okay but she wasn't sure if she had succeeded, before she exited the tent to talk to the late Walder Frey

A small group of men from her son's army were sent with her to the entrance of the ominous stronghold of House Frey. She had always known that Walder Frey was not a man easily pleased. Though the list of demands that the old man was about to give her would be extensive, she could bet her position at Winterfell that she would walk back through the main doors to the Great Hall with a Frey as a future good-daughter. Just the thought of one of Walder Frey's offspring marrying her eldest son made her feel ill. She had known since the moment that she found herself pregnant, that her child would be forced to marry for the advancement of House Stark. But Robb was still a young boy in her eyes, her baby. He wasn't ready for any of this, for leading armies, for being a husband. Still, she knew that this was the only way that she would have a chance of getting her Ned back, besides she trusted Robb and his ability to be what was needed when it was needed, even if that meant becoming a man before his time.

She took a deep breath as the large wooden doors slowly opened, creaking constantly, the ungodly noise reminded Catelyn that this was not a place to be trusted.

As soon as the doors were fully open, she went to take a step inside but as her body filled with fear, it was as if she had forgotten how to walk. She took one last deep breath and forced her legs to begin to walk the length of the chamber, she noticed that despite the size of the great hall it was empty and cold, she was surprised that for a house with so many children the room was silent with just the lord sat on his chair with just a meek girl beside him. She curtseyed low when she finally reach his seat, mostly out of a want not to look at the withering Lord. He looked down at her as she did so; a large smile filled his face, displaying the few golden yellow teeth that remained.

"Lady Stark" he greeted, his tone that of a toddler who had been given a new toy, despite recently celebrating his 90th name day.

"Lord Frey" Catelyn returned, keeping her voice as demure as possible.

"To what do I owe this pleasure?" he asked slowly, as his hard eyes explored her body, despite the presence of his young wife, who was perched on the arm of his chair, with a look of pure discomfort permanently resting on her face.

"Even you must know of my son's journey south"

"And you want me to open my gates to your young wolf" He guesses.

"It is the fastest way south, my lord" Catelyn confirmed his theory.

"You will know that I'll want something in return" Walder Frey said, licking his lips and tightening his grip on the waist of the young girl he called his wife.

"I have come in my son's place to here your demands, what is it that you want?" She asked, already knowing the answer.

"I have a great many daughters, granddaughters and even great-granddaughters living under my roof. Too many if you ask me, I have to get rid of them."

"You would have Robb marry one of them?" She guessed and a smile once again spread across his face.

"He can have his pick, though I warn you they're an ugly lot...save for a few of them... tell you what if he takes an ugly one, he can take another to keep his bed warm" He cackled.

"My son will have one wife and he will be true, the Starks are loyal" Catelyn said supposing it would assure the old lord of their intent.

"I don't care if he's true or not, just give me a Stark grandson and he can never touch her again for all I care"

"I give you my word that upon our return to Winterfell, Robb will marry one of these girls" Catelyn promised

"Oh no" He began to laugh "I don't trust you to come back. He will marry her and then he will cross."

"But he must cross as quickly as possible!" Catelyn cried.

"Then he better chose quickly" Lord Frey commanded, matching her tone.

Catelyn knew of the little good it would do to argue with the elderly Lord.

"Now!" He shouted, making her jump "I'll spare you having to see the whole pack, my young wife will go get girls who are suitable for the great Stark lord"

"Which ones, my Lord" Lady Frey, who couldn't have reached her 19th name day, barely whispered.

"Alyx, Walda and Roslin" He replied, not looking at her but directly at Catelyn.

"Which Walda?"

"I don't care!" Lord Frey snapped his eyes to his wife. "The buxom one, Walton's girl!"

The girl, now distraught ran off almost tripping up over her skirt.

"Oh and bring Tyta, I've just found her a new job" He shouted after her.

After she had left the room, Walder's eyes quickly returned to Catelyn.

"Now, my other demands, your girl Arya will marry one of my grandsons and your son will take on my son Olyvar as his personal squire. 2 young boys will be taken to Winterfell as Ward's."

"I believe Robb will agree to this –"Catelyn begun before Lord Frey stopped her.

"You will help these boys get wives and you, Lady Stark will take my daughter Tyta as your personal companion. I have given up trying to marry her off, she's too old to have sons. But say a Northern Lord loses a wife at 40 and he's left with children to raise and a bed to fill as Lady of Winterfell I would expect you to recommend Tyta"

Catelyn just nodded making a mental note of everything that he was asking for.

"Now, will you be choosing your son's bride?" He asked rising slowly from his chair.

"I would presume that Robb would wish to pick his own wife" She said calmly, refusing to let him distract her from her task.

"And what choice he will have"

Catelyn turned to one of her son's men.

"Inform Robb of what has happened and tell him of his pending choice and that his presence is required."

The man nodded and began to walk out of the hall.

"Better turn that walk into a run" She heard Lord Frey mock from behind her, she didn't turn to see if the soldier ran but she inferred from the fast footsteps that he had definitely picked up his pace.

"Ah! Here they are my gems, Lady Stark, the only things I have that are actually worth anything" He announced, making Catelyn feel sorry for all the other girls who had to live with his constant comments. She turned as the girls approached her; she felt relief fill her as she saw that the 3 young girls were rather beautiful, a mercy that she was sure that Robb would be thankful for.

"This Alyx, my granddaughter, she is nearing her 16th name day" Walder Frey introduced the first girl, who curtseyed politely to Catelyn before straightening up to face her. Her face was soft and spotted by freckles that made her look extremely young, she had long dark-brown hair that fell only just past her shoulders, she had high cheekbones and deep blue eyes. "Walda, a granddaughter, just passed her 17th " Lord Frey gestured to the second girl who immediately dropped into a low curtsey, Walda was taller than her cousin by several inches and was only slightly shorter than Catelyn herself. Just from looking at her you could tell that she was the oldest of the 3 girls. She had womanly curves and as much as it disturbed her to say Lord Frey had been right to call her buxom. Her blonde hair served a bright relief from the dark-brown strands that were seen on almost every other Frey. Catelyn noticed that she had an undeniable beauty that she had no doubt would appeal to many of the Northern lords "And finally Roslin, my daughter, my prize, just turned 16" The shortest girl stepped forward, she was dainty and her pale skin almost made her look like one of Sansa's clay dolls. Her features matched this claim; she had a delicate nose and large brown eyes. She curtseyed to Catelyn before standing up and greeting her. "It is an honour Lady Stark" As she spoke Catelyn noticed a small gap between her 2 front teeth that added to her features whereas in other girls it would have drawn all of the focus. Her mahogany coloured hair reached the bottom of her back and had slight curls at the bottom. She seemed out of place as a Frey and reminded her of the faint memories she had of her late mother.

"And this Lady Stark is Tyta" An older girl, closer to 30 than 20 stepped forward, she wasn't as slim as the girls in front of her but had a quaintness in her eyes that assured Catelyn that it wouldn't be hard to find Tyta a husband in the North. "Tyta, you will be moving to Winterfell and become Lady Stark's companion."

"Whilst one of you girls will marry Robb Stark" Their Lord announced.

Catelyn saw little to no reaction from the oldest girl, Roslin's eyes widened but most of her emotions stayed hidden but the youngest was less able to hide her fear, so much so that Catelyn saw her hands start shaking.

"You've seen them, now piss off to your son, and tell me when he's decided" Catelyn merely tipped her head to him and began to walk to the door and the girls left the room the way they had come. Just as she reached the door, she was met with the face of the messenger she has sent for Robb.

"Lord Stark has been caught up with Lord Bolton and asked as his mother if you use your experience and choose the most suitable bride."