Chapter 25. THE RED WEDDING
Robb marches to Harrenhall, then through the Riverlands as they march through the riverlands a messenger for House Arryn informs Robb that his aunt Lady Arryn wishes to pledge fealty to the King in the North on the condition that he help her destroy Stannis Baratheon.
Robb meets in private with Tara, his father, mother, Talisa, Roose Bolton, Galbart Glover, Edmure Tully, Bryden Tully and Jon Umber. "I don't like it…" Catelyn says, "My sister is unstable. Now she wants to make war on Stannis…"
"Stannis will march North and when he does he will come with the Tyrells and whatever is left of the west and the Stormlands…With the Vale on our side we can make those bastards summit…"
"Hasn't there been enough bloodshed?" Talisa asks looking at Robb. "Don't you want to go home and raise our child in peace…"
"There will be no peace so long as we do not bend the knee to Stannis…" Roose Bolton says, "But I agree with Lady Catelyn we cannot trust Lady Arryn…Lets make peace with Walder Frey and return North…Winter is Coming…"
Tara listens to each suggestion her gut still bothering her about Cersei's letter. Walder Frey would not try to betray Robb without an ally, but who. She had considered Jon Umber but he would not betray the Starks. The Glovers have no reason, maybe House Mormont. But she quickly dismissed Lady Lyanna Mormont. That leaves Roose Bolton ho House above has the greatest reason to betray the Starks. Problem was that Tywin Lannister is dead, even with Jaime Lannister the West is in no positon to fight the Starks. Unless Walder Frey made a deal with Stannis Baratheon.
"Winter is Coming!" Eddard Stark says speaking up, If Stannis marches North his people will die in the cold and snow…As for Lysa Arryn. My wife is right…Too unstable to rely on as ally."
"What about the Riverlands?" Bryden says, "We are rebuilding and we have no army big enough to defend ourselves."
"I have not forgotten your people." Robb says speaking up, "After our business with Walder Frey I will leave an army ten thousand strong to defend the Riverlands…" He looks at Tara, "Will your brother agree to leading this army?"
"If I ask him." Just then a man enters and hands Tara a letter, "Well I know the reason why Lysa Arryn wants to make war on Stannis…I left a man in King's Landing." She looks at Cat, "Your sister married Petyr Baelish…King Stannis had him executed…"
Catelyn closes her eyes and looks at Eddard, "She was always in Love with Petyr Baelish…"
"And he with you!" Bryden says speaking up.
"Good riddance!" Eddard says still angry for Petyr's betrayal.
("That doesn't explain why the King killed him…") Tara says in her head, "That doesn't explain why the King had him executed." Jon Umber says outloud shadowing Tara's thoughts.
"Summon the messenger!" Robb orders. Robb informs the messenger that he will not be making war Stannis who will probably march North for a war. He also said that House Arryn was welcome to reinforce the Riverlands and swear fealty to the King in the North.
Tara's Tent
Later on Tara summons her brother Sandor Clegane, Ackbar, Brienne, and Eagen to her tent. She informs them of her suspicions about Walder Frey. Eagen shakes his head, "Tywin Lannister is dead!"
"Keep your voice down." Tara says.
"It would be foolish for Walder Frey to betray us."
Sandor sneers, "If I were in his position with his reputation…I would! I mean I did break my oath to the Lannisters…The Tyrells weren't always Lords of the Reach…Seven hells look at what Robert Baratheon did…Tara you should warn Robb…I mean the King."
"If you do it will tip off Roose Bolton or whoever is helping Walder Frey…" Brienne says.
"Have you considered the fact that Walder Frey may have changed his mind about betraying us?"
Tara nods, "I have! If he changed his mind then I am being paranoid…If he is…"
Sandor interrupts Tara, "If is still going to betray Robb Stark he will want to draw him close and kill us all…"
Eagen shakes his head, "The Wedding!"
"No one is that sick to murder guests in their own house…" Tara says.
Sandor sighs, "Makes the most logical sense…Even if it is twisted…Draw the King and his family into a sense of safety then slit everyone's throats…We need to be on guard…"
"We place our men strategically around the castle…If they see anything funny…They strike…"
"Are you going to tell the King?" Sandor asks, Tara sighs.
The Twins
Robb's army finally arrives at the Twins. They camp outside on the south side of the castle. Tara has Hiram set up the camp in such a way that if someone attacked her men would have time to regroup and counter attack. Also archers covertly left the camp and hid in the countryside until the wedding started. Six men guarded Grey Wind who was placed in a stall. Meanwhile Robb, Talisa, Eddard, Catelyn, Edmure, Bryden, Tara, Ackbar, Eagen, Brienne, Roose Bolton, Jon Umber, Galbart Glover and many others stand in the main hall of the Twins.
"Welcome to my home King in the North…"
"Thank you Lord Frey. I have come to make my apologies for my actions and to make peace…"
Walder nods as a man enters the hall and whispers into Tara's ear. "Its not me you should apologize to your grace…But my daughters…They were the ones you spurned." Tara looks at the man and whispers back into his ear.
Robb looks at the gathered young women, "Ladies! I cry your pardon. A king should keep his word. But it was for love that I broke my word…That is little comfort to you. I am sure you will all make fine wives to the men you marry…"
"Well said Lord Stark. I am my household accept your gracious apology…" Walder Frey looks at Talisa as his son Black Walder whispers into his ear. He nods pointing at Talisa, "Young lady step forward let me get a good look at you…" Talisa nervously leaves Robb's side and Tara's hand falls to her dagger as does Sandor's. "Love my ass!" Walder says looking at Robb Stark, "Why hide her under all those clothes…I have known many a women in my life and no matter how much clothes they wear I can a good pair of tits when I see them…
A tight pussy as well and pregnant to boot…Her tits will swell like with milk."
Robb's hand flies to his sword, but Catelyn grabs his hand. "Lord Frey!" Eddard says speaking up as Robb pulls Talisa back to his side, "My son the King in the North came to make peace with you…That being said disrespect my daughter in-law again and I will forget we are guests here…"
"AYE!" Robb says glaring at Walder Frey.
"I meant no disrespect Lord Stark. It was a compliment…" Walder Frey waves and Jaime Lannister joins them, "You know my son-in-law Jaime Lannister…He will swear fealty to you for a full pardon…The West will be ruled by the King in the North…One big happy family…"
Later that day everyone gathers in the main hall for ceremony. A vailed young woman is escorted down the isle of people by Walder Frey. Edmure Tully sighs and removes her vail. Underneath is very beautiful young redhead. He smiles in relief and she smiles at him. Walder Frey looks at Robb Stark and nods at her. Robb just stares and grabs Talisa's hand. Edmure Tully places his cloak on Rosalin Frey and they say their vows and kiss.
Food and wine flow freely among the guests as Edmure and his bride sit at the main table with Walder Frey. Robb sits with Talisa his Squire and Lothar Frey sits next to the Squire. Tara is at the back of the room with Sandor, Brienne, Eagen, and Ackbar keeping a watchful eye. The man who whispered into her ear reported a lot of Sell Swords around the Twins. Tara sent orders that her men were to have one drink of wine and one only.
Also Tara sent orders to the fleet, the naval forces were ordered to march one day behind the main force. So six thousand men were camped a half of a mile from the Twins ready to strike. Tara smiles looking at Robb and Talisa. She thinks about Gendry and smiles her attraction to Gendry grows strong every day. Then she looks at Sandor and Brienne who have grown closer as well. "No!" Brienne replies.
"You lie! There must have been one…"
She sighs, "There was one boy…A noble, but he was an ass like all the others. That is why I say no…none of them felt the same as I did for them. I am not pretty like your sister…"
Sandor looks at Tara, "You are beautiful to me in your own way…" Sandor replies. "Prettier than a lot of these uptight stuck up bitches I have met…" Brienne smiles, leaning over and kisses Sandor, "What was that for?"
"For your kind words."
"I meant every word."
Robb stands up in the front, and when he does Tara kicks Sandor on the leg, "Pay attention!"
He leans over as a group of men grab Rosalin for the bedding ceremony. He leans over to her, "If he was going to try something he would have done it by now."
As they take Rosalin and Edmure away the musicians start to play the Rains of Castamere. Tara notices how Catelyn Stark is acting and when she turns to look back at the men closing the door she does as well. Tara sighs and kicks Sendor, "Ah shit!" She says as Jaime Lannister and his wife leave the main hall.
"Lord Stark I'm afraid I have been lack in my duties as host…I have a gift for you…"
Tara's hand slips to her dagger as Lothar Frey makes his way to Talisa, "ROBB!" Catelyn screams slapping Roose Bolton.
"TRAITORS!" Tara screams throwing her dagger across the room. Just as Lothar Frey reaches Talisa he is struck in the head by Tara's dagger. Blood splatters on Talisa and she gasps in shock as he falls to the floor pulling on her dress dropping the dagger. She screams in horror.
As the musicians pull out crossbows Eddard Stark flies across the room and tackles Talisa. As they fall to the floor he spins around and hits his back then he turns over and shields her from five arrows that strike him in the back. Catelyn is hit in the shoulder and dives under the table, Robb is hit in the shoulder and leg.
Brienne stands up drawing her sword. She pulls a shield from under the table stopping the arrows. Ackbar uses the chair he was sitting on as a shield and uncoils his whip. He pulls a man down from the second level. Both Tara and Sandor kill a man each and use their bodies as human shields. Eagen rolls to the ground and comes up grabbing a torch of the wall.
"Tara! Wine!" Eagen yells. Tara grabs a jar of wine off the table and hurls it into the air just above the archers on the second level. Eagen throws the torch like a spear and it shatters the jar showering the archers in flaming wine. They cry out as Eagen swings his sword batting away arrows and dodging. He rolls away and takes the legs off a man before he can kill Wyndel Manderly.
"Get up and fight!" Eagen yells to the young lord and heir of White Harbor.
On the other side of the room on the second level a few of Tara's men burst through the door and start killing the archers on that side. Robb sees Roose Bolton making his way to Talisa who is trapped under his father. He gathers his strength drawing his sword and cuts him off. Meanwhile beheads a man with one swing and leaps up onto the table. She is armed with a sword and an axe. A man swings for her legs, she jumps and lands on one knee burying the axe in his head.
Then she kicks another man in throat sticking out her free legs. She spins on one knee and slits his throat. She stands as a man rushes her with a spear. She flips off the table landing behind him and stabs backwards. Tara spots Robb fighting Roose Bolton. She sneers and stabs forward impaling a Bolton man. She pulls her sword free spinning around and bashes a man upside the head. Then she kicks the next man in the gut and raises her foot. She runs across his back, spinning in the air throwing a dagger into his back.
Tara lands on the table kicking another man in the face. She rolls off the table and cuts the legs off another man. Just as Roose Bolton disarms Robb, he kicks him in the chest. As Robb hits his back Roose raises his sword to finish him off. But his sword is stopped by Tara. "Traitor!"
"BITCH!"
Robb grabs his sword off the ground, "Tara!" He yells throwing her his sword.
She catches the sword and attacks Roose Bolton. She slashes him on the leg, but he cuts her arm and knocks the sword from her right hand. Tara backs away spinning around to decapitate Black Walder and raises her sword above her head. Roose Bolton places his sword off to the side. Then they attack each other.
Meanwhile outside, when the music started Frey and Bolton men got into position. Hiram is on the wall and kills a man then he grabs a torch and waves it. An archer in Tara's camp fires and arrow into the air just as the fighting breaks out. The six men guarding Grey Wind are attacked, but one man manages to release the wolf as he dies. Archers shoot down Bolton and Frey men from all sides of the camp. Tents are set on fire as men cry out in terror betrayed by House Frey.
Then things start to change as the six thousand men Tara hired to man the fleet for the attack on King's Landing appear. In the heat of battle Gendry takes command and rallies the Star forces. Bryden Tully had left the main hall to take a piss. As he urinated by a tree a man tried to sneak up behind him, but Grey Wind kills the man and together they return to the castle.
The women escorting Edmure Tully lead him to a group of men who take him prisoner. As they take him to the dungeons a few of Tara's men attack saving him from them. Back in the main hall Tara kicks Roose Bolton between the legs and knees him in the face.
"Tara wait!" Robb screams getting to his feet.
She places her foot in his throat as Catelyn rushes from under the table grabbing a dagger. She runs up to Walder Frey and places the knife to his throat. "ENOUGH! Tell them to surrender old man…or swear on my life as a Tully and a Stark I'll slit your fucking throat…"
A man tries to flank Catelyn, "Mother look out!" Robb screams.
Ackbar throws a dagger from the table he is standing on and kills the man. Sandor snaps the neck of one man and slams another by the throat into a table smashing it. Then he raises his foot and kills the man.
The doors to the main hall are opened and in walks Gendry with a hundred men, "We have routed the Frey and Bolton men!" He shouts choosing his words carefully. Sandor makes his way to Catelyn Stark and takes charge of Walder Frey. Then she rushes over to her husband Eddard Stark.
"Ned!" She screams as Robb joins her. They lay him on his side.
"High Cat!"
"You survived the rebellion, the battle of the Trident…Dam you survive this…"
Robb helps Talisa up, "Are you alright?"
"I am fine! He saved my life!"
Robb kisses Talisa and kneels beside his father Eddard Stark, "This is the best kind of death…saving the life of my son's wife…"
"You can't die! You can't leave me!"
"R…Ro…Robb ta…ke…" He coughs up blood, "…c…are…of…your mother!"
"I will father!"
"J…Jo…Jon…is…my…ne…NEPHEW!" He gasps his last breath and dies.
"NO!" Catelyn screams raising her voice. Talisa squats down next to Robb and places her arm around him. Catelyn stands and looks at Walder Frey. "You old shit!" She starts to make her way towards Walder Frey. Sandor punches him in the face and backs away as she snatches a dagger from his hip. "DIE!" She screams slitting his throat.
Robb stands up, "Who will take up my father's body?" Several men rush forward including Great Jon Umber and Wendel Manderly. As they place his body on a shield Robb looks at Sandor Clegane, "Kill them all…Every Frey man bearing the name and sigil of Walder Frey…" He salutes and leaves the main hall with Gendry and the men Gendry brought with him.
Talisa tends to Robb's wounds, "See to my mother first…"
"But!" Robb looks at Talisa.
"I am fine!" Catelyn says looking down on Walder Frey's lifeless body. "You need more attention than I do…"
Talisa works quickly and makes Robb drink wine while she removes the three arrows. The whole time he stares at Roose Bolton on the floor with Tara's foot in his throat. When he is a little better Robb walks over to Roose Bolton. "Why?"
He smiles defiantly, "You know the histories of our family…At least before I die I got to see the great Eddard Stark die…"
Robb roars shoving Tara to the side and takes the sword. He stabs Roose Bolton in the neck. He wiggles the sword back and forth then he removes his head and spits on it. He looks at Tara, "Send that to Ramsey Snow…Then take eight thousand men to the Dread Fort…Burn it to the ground…"
Edmure Tully offers the Twins to Sandor Clegane who accepts then asks Brienne to be his wife, she accepts. The Bolton and Frey men who escaped into the countryside were hunted down and killed. All of Walder Frey's sons were beheaded, their heads sent to King's Landing by his daughters. After questioning Rosalin Tully nee' Frey, Edmure Tully had her executed deciding he didn't want any of Walder Frey's bloodline mixed with his. He makes an offer of marriage to Bethany Blackwood of House Blackwood. Of course the Blackwoods accept. The Red Wedding is what they call the events at the Twins and it spread like fire throughout the seven Kingdoms.
With Walder Frey and Roose Bolton dead it will take longer for Stannis Baratheon to make war on the King in the North. There is one silver lining for him and that is the fact that Jaime Lannister and his wife Sylene Lannister nee' Frey who is pregnant escaped. Jaime had kept her alive in case his escape plan failed. Upon returning to King's Landing he learned that his beloved sister was dead. After swearing fealty to Stannis and the lord of lights Jaime was pardoned and made Warden of the West. His mind on revenge of his sister, his father, and his son Joffrey.