A/N: This chapter assumes that even though Jaime asked for the Freys to hand over their prisoners, after he disappeared they did not do it. They are shifty after all and they pretty much told Jaime they didn't want to do it.

I apologise for the previous chapter. I'm guessing I annoyed a lot of you. Perhaps I should have warned you upfront or justified my decision not to have Lord Reed spill all to Arya. I was tempted to do it but I then thought that after he kept it secret for what, 18 years and we can assume he made some promise to Ned about it that he might not be so quick to tell it to somebody other than Jon. I like the idea of Jon hearing it from Reed himself so the last chapter was more in preparation for that. Also I didn't want Arya pulled back North just yet and I think that news would tempt her to go to Jon

No Arya/Aegon reunion this chapter but you know it is coming. The next chapter will be Arya and you will see some of the stuff in this chapter from her POV

If I make errors I don't mind being told but I am not GRRM, I know little of a lot of the warfare tactics so please be gentle :)

Chapter 46: Connington

The march from Harrenhal to the Twins had been fraught with difficulty. Crossing the Trident had been the largest challenge by far. Harry Strickland lamented the loss of some of his elephants. Jon wanted to tell him he should be thankful he had any left at all. The river was not running as rapidly as it might during spring, the snows had replaced the rain and slowed the flow of it. It was icy in parts and Jon suspected that if it got much colder it would freeze over.

When they got past the river, the going was less difficult but it became colder. The snow fell more often and was heavier. Jon was thankful for the men of the Golden Company. Despite the conditions not being what they were used to, they kept their discipline and set off early each day, covering maximum ground. The bannermen and knights were less disciplined but did not want to be left behind so kept moving far more than they might have if the sellswords had not been part of the company.

At some point along the way they picked up a singer. He seemed to have his woodharp attached to one arm permanently. He was small, dressed in ragged garments and at least fifty. Jon did not like the look of him but he knew a lot of bawdy songs and he smiled often and easily and he had won over Aegon. The prince had said he could stay and entertain the men with his singing so there was naught to be done about it.

As they drew close to their target Jon dwelled more on the difficulties they would face. He was not familiar with the castle itself. He knew it more by reputation. The Freys had held the Crossing for six hundred years. They will not give in easily. They were known to be treacherous. Jon knew they were extremely unlikely to just yield, they had an agreement with the Lannisters which had spared them from answering for the Red Wedding. They would know that they would be held accountable by Aegon, particularly if word had now spread of the alliance with the North.

When the Crossing came within view, they set up camp. It was unlikely they would be attacked but the men set to work quickly, digging a ditch around the camp with sharpened stakes inside. While they were working Jon rode closer to the Twins accompanied by outriders to see what they were facing. It was even more formidable than he expected. He had thought they might storm the castle but it was not going to be so simple.

The bridge spanning the Green Fork was guarded on either end by the two identical stone castles, the Twins. They were shielded by high curtain walls, deep moats and heavy gates protecting the approach. Jon could see spears, swords and scorpions on the battlements and archers ready at the crenels and arrow slits. Access was barred by the gates and the portcullis was unlikely to be raised for them. Even weakened the Freys were well defended.

A prolonged siege was going to be a problem, it would not work laying siege to the castle in front of them while the castle of the other side of the bridge could lend aid. Their company would not hope to outlast the Freys, they were not provisioned well enough. Jon expected they would need to resort to a different sort of tactic. Aegon is not going to like what I am thinking.

They began to build trebuchets to begin with. Even though a siege had little chance of success, Jon knew the construction would send some message of their intentions. The trebuchets would allow them to strike some blow.

They had finished building the trebuchets and were about to put them to use when Jon saw movement on the opposite side of the Crossing. A host had gathered to make camp outside the other castle. He did not have to squint very hard to make out the direwolf of Stark on the lead banner. He had not received a raven from the Stark girl but that did not surprise him. If she had sent anything it would have been in either Maidenpool or Harrenhal.

The arrival of the Northern army on the opposite bank prompted movement from the Twins. A plank bridge spanned the moat and a small group of men rode forth from their side of the Crossing bearing the banner of the twin towers. Jon barked to some of the men nearby him, quickly assembling his own small party to meet with the Frey spokesmen. Prince Aegon was out of sight and out of earshot, a fact Jon was thankful for. The Prince was unlikely to approve of what Jon was going to say.

A pallid, slender man led the Frey representatives. "My Lord Grandfather has sent me to speak for House Frey" he began. "I am Edwyn Frey; I am to inquire as to who leads the host" he looked disdainfully at the trebuchets "and to ask what is it you want to achieve here".

Jon studied him. This man is cold and he knows hate. It could be seen in the way he held himself and the twist of his mouth.

"I am Lord Jon Connington and I command here on behalf of Prince Aegon" he replied. "I think you know what we want to achieve".

Edwin Frey fixed him with a cold stare. "You think to take the castle".

Jon let the silence hang.

"I should let you know that we have prisoners" Edwyn said with a glint in his eyes. "We are prepared to kill them".

Jon had expected this. It was the reason he was glad Aegon was not with him for this meeting. Aegon thought he could deal with men like this but he was too young, he might become hot headed and if not that, he had a tendency to be too soft and too lenient and that would not do here. A hard man was needed for this, somebody who would do whatever needed to be done. Jon would not make the mistake he made in the Battle of the Bells. Miles Toyne's words echoed in his head Lord Tywin would not have bothered with a search.

"You could do that" Jon said calmly, meeting Edwyn's stare with equal coldness. "If you do I will be sure to burn the Twins down with everybody still inside. It will take time I don't doubt but I have patience. When I am certain that nobody has eluded me I will then hunt down any Freys who remain in Westeros wherever they may be and I will have them put to the sword".

Edwyn Frey shrank back and his companions paled. "You can't do that" he said, suddenly looking uncertain. "You wouldn't. Prince Aegon..."

Jon made a dismissive gesture. "Prince Aegon will have no part in it. He is not in command, I am. The prince will be suitably horrified, he will want me punished I'm sure but I expect that the North might shield me. Nobody will really mourn. They may bleat about it and the North will be unhappy at justice being taken from their hands but most will whisper in secret that you brought it on yourselves. They may even write a song about it".

He could see Edwyn had lost all confidence and the look of disdain was gone. The silence was broken when the singer plucked a string on his woodharp. Jon glanced at him. He wasn't sure how or when the man had joined the group but the expression on the singer's face was not even close to an easygoing smile now. Jon shared a look of understanding with the man as he burst into song. He and his men retreated back to their camp with the words to the Rains of Castamere still ringing in their ears.

The Freys still did not yield but Jon had not expected them to. Walder Frey was vain and prickly and full of spite. He was going to force the conflict to be as bloody as possible. They readied the trebuchets and began flinging stones. When a breach was made, he instructed the archers to let loose bolts dipped in burning pitch. Part of the castle caught fire.

They would have thought I was bluffing. This will prove I am not.

Aegon was in his pavilion. He had asked about what Jon planned to do and Jon had given him some details but he had not told him of the conversation with Edwyn Frey. The Prince had watched the beginnings of the assault but laying siege to a castle was long and tiring work and he had since retired, telling Jon to call him if he was needed.

It became interesting as the flames tried to catch. The flames were put out after a time and Jon saw a procession of Freys fleeing to the other castle. Some were not there long before they returned. Edwyn Frey was seen crossing the moat again. Jon rode to meet him. He looked haggard.

"My lord grandfather is dead" he said. "So is my brother. I am now Lord of the Crossing".

Jon thought on that a moment. "How did they die?"

"In their beds" Edwyn said abruptly, swinging a glance over his shoulder. Jon saw where he was looking. It was the castle the Northern army had camped near. There was something Edwyn Frey was not saying. Jon could guess what it was. They did not die in their sleep.

"What terms will you offer if we surrender".

"Are the prisoners alive?" Jon asked.

Edwyn's expression flickered "Most of them".

Jon ground his teeth. Damn them.

"We will not discuss terms until you release the prisoners".

Edwyn glowered.

"You might kill us if we release them".

Jon did not flinch from the accusation. "We will kill you if you don't. I suppose you could try to negotiate with the Northmen if you are not interested in hearing me".

Edwyn's mouth twisted.

"The Blackfish would not hear us. The direwolf killed some of the party when we tried a second time. Somebody needs to put an end to that creature".

Jon smiled a grim smile. "You have not met Lady Arya?"

Edwyn snorted. "She hides".

Jon knew Arya Stark was no coward. Whatever she was doing, hiding was not it. By the next morning, a different party was crossing the moat. Jon could not help being curious. The man in the lead was older than Edwyn Frey.

"Where is Edwyn?" he asked.

"Dead" was the reply. "I am Walton Frey. I'm now the Lord of the Crossing".

For how long?

"We will give you the prisoners" Lord Walton said, looking anxious.

Jon nodded. "We make no promises until they are handed over".

It took some time for the prisoners to be led from their cells and marched out. There were far fewer than Jon expected. They killed everybody else. He checked them over. One of them was a large man, almost seven feet tall and heavily muscled despite his time in captivity. His eyes gleamed with defiance. He grabbed Jon's arm.

"What did you give them to let us go?"

"Nothing" Jon replied. "I would not talk while they held you"

The big man grinned. "They're scared".

"They should be".

He looked at Jon distastefully. "It isn't your lot they are scared of my lord".

What does he know?

"You have seen her" Jon guessed.

"You are Lord Connington" the big man said. "They call me the Greatjon". He lowered his voice. "Lady Arya sends her regards".