CHAPTER 175
The Riverlands.
At the crossroads where the Green Fork, Blue Fork, and Red Fork merged to form the mighty Trident, the river surged eastward toward the Narrow Sea.
At that moment, the Northern cavalry crossed the broad river one ferry at a time.
Only after the last boat reached the opposite bank did the scouts sent by Roose Bolton finally arrive.
"Your Grace, Lord Bolton awaits you in his camp."
"Please allow me to lead the way."
Still seated atop his horse, Robb nodded with the calm authority of a king.
"Lead on."
The scout wasted no time.
He wheeled his horse around and galloped south along the Kingsroad, guiding Robb and his companions.
The thunder of hooves echoed across the countryside.
Roughly half an hour later, a heavily fortified military camp came into view beside the Kingsroad.
Tall banners fluttered above the wooden palisades.
Among them, the most eye-catching was the pale pink banner of House Bolton bearing the flayed man of the Dreadfort.
By the time Robb's cavalry reached the gates, Roose Bolton was already waiting alongside his closest retainers.
Standing beside him was Black Walder Frey, who had arrived as Lord Walder's representative from the Twins.
Roose calmly watched Robb and his escort dismount.
His face remained as emotionless as ever.
Black Walder, however, wore a distinctly unpleasant expression.
His resentment over Robb's broken betrothal had clearly not faded.
"Your Grace."
"My lady."
Roose bowed politely.
"The tents have already been prepared."
Robb handed his reins to a squire before asking directly,
"Lord Bolton."
"What news is there of Stannis?"
Roose began leading them toward the command tent while answering in his usual quiet voice.
"Your Grace."
"Stannis Baratheon remains encamped at Saltpans."
"He has made no further movements."
"It appears he is simply waiting for your reply."
As he spoke, his indifferent eyes casually drifted toward Lady Catelyn before stopping on another unfamiliar figure.
Rodrik Harlaw.
His calm expression almost faltered.
"Harlaw..."
"Why are Ironborn accompanying Robb Stark?"
A bad feeling instantly surfaced within him.
Because his previous raven had reached Riverrun before Garon's arrival, Robb had never informed him that the Iron Islands had already submitted to Queen Asha's alliance with the North.
Roose still believed the Ironborn remained enemies.
Black Walder was equally stunned.
Then his eyes widened.
"Petyr?"
"What are you doing among the king's household guard?"
Robb immediately understood their confusion.
"Ser Petyr Frey has served faithfully and managed supplies for Lord Garon's army with great diligence."
"I judged him worthy of greater responsibility."
"So I brought him into my personal household guard."
Standing behind the king, Ser Petyr nodded confidently toward Black Walder.
Black Walder instinctively turned toward Roose Bolton.
Unfortunately, Roose himself was equally distracted.
Another name had already caught his attention.
"Garon?"
He frowned slightly.
"Wasn't Lord Garon still securing Pyke for Queen Asha?"
"When did he arrive in the Riverlands?"
Robb answered naturally.
"He reached Riverrun only a few days ago."
"Queen Asha and Garon completed their agreement."
"The Iron Islands now stand with us."
Those simple words caused a storm to erupt inside Roose Bolton's mind.
"Garon has already arrived..."
"If he remains beside Robb..."
"The North may recover."
"And if Tywin exposes my correspondence before Stark is defeated..."
"I'm finished."
"I made my choice too early."
Cold sweat silently formed beneath his armor.
Yet the more dangerous the situation became, the calmer Roose appeared.
His eyes quietly swept across the gathering.
Garon was nowhere to be seen.
He asked casually,
"Where is Lord Garon?"
Robb noticed Black Walder still digesting the news and answered without suspicion.
"Garon has fought one campaign after another."
"I ordered him to remain at Riverrun for several days and recover."
"Once I've met Stannis, I'll decide whether to summon him."
He then returned to the earlier discussion.
"You were saying something about Stannis?"
Roose quietly relaxed.
"My scouts recently discovered riders carrying King Stannis's banners heading toward the Bloody Gate."
"What?"
Catelyn's expression immediately changed.
"He intends to win the Vale."
"Robb."
"We cannot delay."
Roose calmly reassured her.
"My lady."
"There is little reason for concern."
"The knights of the Vale may not answer a defeated king."
"And Lady Lysa remains your own sister."
"She also shares blood with His Grace."
Catelyn still appeared uneasy.
She was about to continue when Robb gently interrupted.
"Mother."
"We'll discuss this inside."
He then turned toward Roose.
"Lord Bolton."
"Please arrange quarters for the cavalry."
Roose nodded.
After issuing several quick orders to his retainers, he continued leading everyone deeper into the camp.
The camp itself bustled with activity.
Smiths hammered steel.
Soldiers shouted commands.
Servants hurried between cookfires.
The arrival of Robb's cavalry made the entire encampment even livelier.
Passing through muddy lanes lined with tents, the group finally entered Roose Bolton's command pavilion.
After everyone had taken their seats, Robb immediately asked,
"Has Rickon's presence been confirmed?"
Roose nodded.
"I'm afraid so, Your Grace."
"When I met King Stannis..."
"Prince Rickon remained under heavy guard."
"My men found no opportunity to rescue him."
Disappointment flashed across Robb's face.
It was quickly replaced by determination.
"This isn't your failure."
"Rickon is Stannis's greatest bargaining chip."
"He would never allow him to escape so easily."
At that moment, Black Walder deliberately cleared his throat.
"Your Grace."
"Since you've expressed your desire to restore relations with House Frey..."
"My great-grandfather has one condition."
Everyone immediately turned toward him.
"My great-grandfather has grown tired of promises."
His eyes moved between Robb and Catelyn without the slightest respect.
"Lord Edmure Tully must first marry Lady Roslin Frey."
"Only after the wedding has taken place will House Frey believe your sincerity."
"Only then will our men once again march beneath Lord Edmure's command."
Robb rejected the demand immediately.
"Impossible."
"Lord Edmure is currently gathering Riverlords and levies throughout the Red Fork."
"Now is hardly the time for a wedding."
Black Walder merely shrugged.
"Then there is nothing more to discuss."
His voice remained completely unapologetic.
"My great-grandfather has only one condition."
"No wedding."
"No Frey soldiers."
"You deceived House Frey once."
"You won't deceive us again."
The atmosphere inside the pavilion instantly became tense.
Robb's expression darkened.
He knew he had broken his promise.
He also understood that Lord Walder was deliberately seeking repayment for the insult.
At last, Catelyn quietly spoke.
She looked toward her son.
Weariness filled her eyes.
"Robb."
"Accept it."
"We need House Frey."
"We need stability throughout the Riverlands."
"Let Edmure marry first."
"We can manage here without him."
Faced with Black Walder's pressure and his mother's plea, the young king finally closed his eyes.
After a long silence, he slowly nodded.
He understood there was no better choice.
"Very well."
The words emerged through clenched teeth.
"Send riders."
"Find Lord Edmure."
"Tell him to prepare to return to Riverrun."
Black Walder smiled with obvious satisfaction.
"A wise decision, Your Grace."
"My great-grandfather also hopes you will attend the wedding."
"What value is a marriage sealing our renewed alliance if the King in the North is absent?"
Robb answered coldly.
"After my meeting with King Stannis..."
"I'll ride directly to Riverrun."
He had no desire to continue looking at Black Walder.
Instead, he turned toward Roose Bolton.
"Send word to King Stannis."
"I'll meet him in three days."
"At the crossroads where the Kingsroad meets the High Road to the Vale."
Roose immediately bowed.
"It shall be done, Your Grace."
With that, he became the first to leave the pavilion.
Seeing this, everyone else also quietly withdrew.
Soon, only Robb Stark and Lady Catelyn remained inside the command tent.