Chapter 8. Traitors
Part 1. Battle of the Twins
"Where are we?" Arya Stark asked riding a horse sitting in front of Sandor Clegane.
"You don't know where you are?"
"If I did I wouldn't have asked…"
Sandor smiles, "That is the red river…" He says pointing, "We are in the river lands…Heading for the Twins…"
"Why the Twins and not Riverrun…"
"Your uncle Edmure Tully the new Lord of Riverrun is going to marry one of Walder Frey's daughters…More importantly your brother the King in the North and your mother will be at the wedding…"
"How do you know?"
"Because I heard the brotherhood talking about it…" He looked at the sun, it was setting. "We'll camp here for the night."
As Sandor unpacked the horse Arya watched the sky and heard something, "I hear a wagon…"
Sandor tethers the horse then he and Arya walk to the road and find a man and his cart. "Wo boy…" He looks at Sandor and Arya. "Do you two need a ride…"
"No thank you…My daughter and I are hunting…" Arya looks at Sandor. "Where are you headed sir?"
"The Twins this food be for Lord Walder Frey…I live in a village on his land and under his protection…"
"Might I buy a piece of meat from ya…We have had no luck hunting…"
"Sure!"
They wait until the man is out of sight before returning to their camp. They eat then go to sleep. Arya recites her death list before falling to sleep. "Cersei, Joffrey, Tywin, the Hound…" People have already been crossed off her list. Soon she is asleep and Sandor falls to sleep when she is finished. At first light Arya is up practicing the dance of the sword. She moves from one position to the next the way Syrio Farrel taught her. Arya screams when she spins around because a man is standing behind her. He catches her wrist and squeezes it until she drops her sword needle.
"Let me go!"
The man pulls her close as Sandor jumps up, but he cannot help Arya as he has ten spears in his face. "Well if isn't King Joffrey's hound…" The commander says. He is a Stark man and recognizes Sandor immediately.
"Fuck the King and the Lannisters!" Sandor says.
"I'm suppose to believe that you turned your back on the Lannisters?"
"Would I be taking Arya Stark to the Twins if I hadn't…"
The man looks at the girl being held by the easterner, "Arya Stark is dead!"
"I am Arya Stark of Winterfell…" She shouts.
The men exchange glances, "You three stay here and keep scouting…Bring them!"
They trek through the forest for a mile until they come upon a large group of soldiers sitting around separate camp fires. There are men in trees with bows keeping a watchful eye. The commander walks up to Justin who is sitting by a fire with Edmure and his knights. He whispers into Justin's ear and backs away as he stands. The man Sandor bought the meat from is tied to his wagon his food had been confiscated.
"The Hound! Sandor Clegane…You are a long way from home…" Then he turns his eyes on Arya. She has her mother's hair and her father's eyes, but resembles her dead aunt Lyanna. When Justin walks up to Arya she takes a step back as he takes one knee before her. "Hello Arya! I am your cousin Justin Stark…"
She studies his face for a while and takes a step forward, "You look like Uncle Benjen…"
He smiles, "Yes but I have my mother's eyes…"
"They said you ran away…"
He shakes his head, "When I was thirteen…"
"Why?"
"It's a long story…I will tell you after we have sacked the twins…"
"She had this on her…"
Justin stands up and takes the sword, "Nice blade…"
"Its called Needle!"
"Good name for a sword…" He hands it back to her, "I trust you won't run any of men through if I give this back…" He looks at Brice, "Brice I am placing my cousin in your care until we have taken the Twins…"
"Aye Sir…"
Now Justin turns his attention to Sandor, "I suppose you want payment for delivering my cousin?"
"Aye I would…and a horse along with my sword…" Justin pulls his coin bag from his belt and hands the whole bag to him, "Why are you attacking the Twins? I thought Lord Edmure was going to marry one of Walder Frey's daughters…"
"I decided to strip him of his titles and exile him along with his sons to the wall…" Edmure said speaking up.
Justin looks at Edmure, "Since you no longer serve the Lannisters how would you like one silver for every man you kill for me?" He asks returning his attention to Sandor.
"Make me Lord of the Twins in his place and give me one of his daughters for a wife and I will burn the Westerlands to the ground for you…"
"DEAL!" Both Edmure and Justin shout at the same time.
"Give him his sword back…" Justin commands then they sit around the fire and make a plan to take the Twins. Three hours later the three men left where Arya was found return. They report that Walder Frey has ten thousand sell swords.
The Twins
"They should have been back by now…" Walder says to his son Lothar. "I should have sent you Lothar…"
"Be patient father…Robb Stark needs our men…Soon our house will be paramounts of the River-lands…" Lothar replied. With his father calm the castle bedded down for the night unaware that Stark forces were converging on the castle. The plan was to tread up the river from both sides and climb onto the bridge. Justin and Sandor would lead a small group to climb the wall. The rest of the forces waited in the forest for the gate to be opened.
As a man walked the tower Justin slipped onto the roof and slit the man's throat. Then he threw his dagger into the other man's head. He was joined by Sandor and ten other men. One man took his bow and shot the man on the other tower. They climbed down to the courtyard via a rope and killed the gate guards slitting their throats. With the gate open the signal was sent and Justin's forces stormed the courtyard. The Sell swords were just bedding down for the night.
With Sandor at his side Justin cut a bloody path through the tents of men. One of Walder's sons was exiting the main hold when he was shot in the shoulder. Lothar lead a counter attack and faced Sandor. In two moves Sandor knocked his sword from his hand and was about to finish him when his sword was blocked by Justin.
"We need them alive…" He said swinging around and slashing Lothar on the leg.
It was a bloody battle as the Frey men and the Sell swords tried to regroup at the north gate, but when they opened the gate arrows rained down on them and Stark forces rushed in armed with spears. The screams of Walder Frey's daughter filled the air as they doors were kicked in and the women were herded downstairs. By high noon the next day the Twins had fallen and all the Frey men and sell swords were dead.
Walder Frey and his sons were on their knees while the daughters stood by the wall guarded and crying. "Edmure Tully! What is the meaning of this attack?"
"The Late Walder Frey! That is what my father called you…For years you have been a thorn in the side of my family…No more! Walder Frey in the name of the King of the North I Edmure Tully Lord of Riverrun strip you of your title, your lands, and all that go with it…I exile you and your sons to the Night's Watch…"
"Crows will pluck my eyes out before I obey that command!"
"You will obey or die!" Edmure looks at Sandor who has been walking up and down before Frey's daughters, "Have you chosen?" He asked.
"Her I choose her…" Sandor says standing before Derwa Frey.
"Come here girl and don't be afraid…" She obeys, "What is your name?"
"Derwa milord…"
"Sandor Clegane take a knee…" He does and Derwa joins him, "I Edmure Tully grant you lordship of the Twins…From this day forth may your sons always rule in the Twins of the River-lands…Arise now and take this girl to be your wife…"
"My Lord I swear to serve House Tully and the King in the North Faithfully…"
"You son of a bitch!"
Just then Rice brings Justin a letter he found in Walder Frey's room. As he reads it Edmure looks at Justin, "What is it?"
"You better read this for yourself…" He says handing him the letter.
Edmure reads the following:
To Walder Frey Lord of the Twins
It has come to my attention that you made a marriage agreement with the King in the North…As I understand he broke his word and married in secret…Is this the kind of man you wish to follow? A King who breaks his word…This is the time to forge your own destiny Lord Frey…No longer do you have to be the Late Walder Frey…You can be Walder Frey Lord Paramount of the River-Lands…Roose Bolton has taken his destiny in his hands as well…He is in league with me…Together the two of you can destroy Robb Stark and Edmure Tully…
Sincerely
Tywin Lannister Hand of the King
Before Edmure can ball the letter up Justin snatches it from him, "We will need it as evidence against Roose Bolton…Where is he anyway…"
Edmure's eyes are firmly fixed on Walder Frey. "He has gone back to the Dread Fort…" Trent Bracken says speaking up.
"So what was the plan Lord Frey…Lure me and the King to the Twins and kill us at the wedding…" When he didn't answer he struck him across the face, "Was that the plan you old shit…" He looks at Justin, "Thank the gods we listened to your council…" As Walder sat up Edmure kicks him in the ribs, "Take this shit out of my sight and behead him…"
"My Lord please no! Have mercy!" One of Walder's daughters yell running forward. Some of them add their voices to the red head's, while the others are too scared to speak.
When Edmure looks at the girl his heart skips a beat, "Come here girl…" She sheepishly obeys, "What is your name?"
She curtseys, "Rosalin my lord…Rosalin Frey…"
"Why should I spare him…He planned to betray me and my cousin the King?"
"Please my lord show mercy…" She says dropping to her knees.
He picks her up, "By the gods you are beautiful…Agree to be my wife willingly and I shall not harm him…"
"I will be your wife in all things my lord but spare my family…"
He kisses her on the cheek, "Chain them and deliver them to the wall…As for the late Walder Frey take him to a room and bolt the door…Make sure he can't hurt himself…"
"You won't get away this!" Lethor and his brothers scream as they drag him away.
"How do you want to handle Roose Bolton?" Edmure asks.
Justin smiles, "How many men does he have?"
"About 12,000 give or take a man or so…"
"We send him a raven with a letter in Tywin' Lannister's hand writing…He must come to the Twins with his army as Tywin has grown impatient…"
"What about the seal?" Edmure asked.
"I have forged seals before that won't be a problem…Bolton will probably bring anywhere from 6 to 9,000 men…We slaughter them here and send my friend Victor to the Dread Fort to finish off the rest."
"I like that plan…"
Both Edmure and Sandor marry their brides that day. Sandor's wedding is very private with Justin as a witness and the Septa. Edmure's wedding is extravagant and Rosalin's sisters are allowed to attend. Arya refuses to go to the wedding after refusing to wear a dress.
"The servants tell me that there is a wildling in here…" Justin says entering the room. The servants of the castle had been spared so long as they swore allegiance to Sandor Clagane. Arya is by the bed holding Needle out.
"I'm a killer not a lady…"
He smiles, "I believe you…" He holds his hand out for the sword, "May I see that?" Reluctantly she gives him the sword. He smells the blade, "This sword has tasted blood…"
"How do you know?"
"You clean your sword with salt water to remove blood stains…Now who did you kill little warrior?"
"A man on the road he was a Lannister…Another man named Rorge…And a man at an inn called Polliver…" she looks at Justin, "You're going to take me back to my mother and brother aren't you?"
"Yes…Why? You have somewhere else to be…"
She reluctantly pulls out her coin, "I would like to go to Braavos…Like you did…"
He takes the coin and smiles, "Ah Valar Morghulis…" Arya gasps, "All men die…So you wish to become an assassin of the Faceless Men…"
"You know of them…"
"I did grow up in Braavos…" He says handing the coin back and her sword Needle.
Arya drops on the bed as Justin is on a chair, "Why did you run away…" She listens to his story. How he travelled alone to the wall to see his father. Then Justin ran away after his father spoke unkindly to him and his Uncle Eddard came to the wall to get him. By horse he traveled to eastwatch and stowed away on a boat. When Justin arrives in Braavos he steals to survive on the streets. Then a high born sword master takes him in and teaches him the sword. Justin is seventeen now and befriends Victor Brace a noble born youth who is apprenticed to the sword master.
Justin and Victor become sworn sword brothers and together they build an army gathering a fortune protecting small villages and cities from the Dothraki. They also protect ships of the banks of the east but Justin refuses to go into slave trade remembering how his Uncle exiled Sir Jorah of House Mormont.
"That is what I want to be a warrior…Not some prissy little wife who must do what a man tells her…That will never be me…"
"Talk to your mother and tell her how you feel…"
"She will never listen…"
"My aunt may surprise you…Come you owe the servants an apology for threatening them…"
She sighs, "Do I have too?"
"If you don't, I will put a dress on you myself…"
Part 2. The Scourging of Roose Bolton
To Roose Bolton Lord of the Dread Fort
I grow weary of these games I am marching my army to Riverrun…I have ordered Walder Frey to withdraw aid to the young wolf…I need you and as many men as you can muster to join Walder at the Twins…This ends now
Signed
Tywin Lannister Hand of the King
"You wished to see me milord?" Locke Roose Bolton's Sword Master aske.
"Yes gather the men we march on the Dread Fort…Where is Ramsey?" He was in the armory with Reek AKA Theon Greyjoy.
"Father!"
"I am off to the Twins and I am leaving you in charge for now…Don't disappoint me…"
"Have I ever?"
Jaime Lannister and Brienne Tarth are sitting at a table, "Sorry to keep the two of you waiting…I am to march to the twins and combine my army with Walder Frey's your father is marching on Riverrun to crush Robb Stark…"
"I'm not going anywhere without the lady…"
"Oh she is coming as well…Maybe Lord Tarth can be convinced to fight for us against Stannis…"
Ramsey watches from the wall with Myranda and Reek as Roose Bolton marches from the Dreadfort. It takes a couple of weeks to march to the Twins. As they cross the bridge menrise up out of the water and fire arrows. Archers on the shoot down Bolton men as well. As soldiers flank Roose Bolton from the front and behind. It is a massacre and when it is over Roose Bolton, Jaime, and Brienne are the only ones left. As they drag them inside Roose Bolton notices Locke lying face up in the river.
"Hello Roose!" Edmure says with Justin at his side.
Justin throws the letter on the floor before him, "Who is your friend Ed?"
"Justin Stark at your service…"
"The long lost Stark returns…"
"The King is in Golden Tooth…He will be very interested in what you have been up to…"
"Don't think your bastard will ride to your rescue…" Edmure says, "Justin has 8,000 men headed to the Fort as we speak…" Then he looks at Jaime Lannister, "The Kingslayer…Welcome back…"
"Let me go…I swear I can get Sansa out of King's Landing…"
Edmure and Justin exchange looks, "With one hand?" Justin asks, "Besides I already freed my cousin…"
"Then there is no need to keep me…"
"My aunt tells me that you pushed my cousin from the tower in Winterfell…I think I will take you back to the King…"
Edmure points at Brienne, "You stand up and come here…"
She obeys, "I am…"
"I know who you are…"
"Enough!" Justin shouts, "Lets get to Golden Tooth the King is waiting…"
As they ride in a cart Jaime spots Sandor Clegane, "Psst!" He looks at him, "Sandor! Set me free and my father will make you Lord of Clegane's Keep…"
"What would the new Lord of the Twins need with a Keep?"