iron throne of ice and fire

Chapter 374 Judgment Day 4
Lady Sybelle pretended to be calm and said, "You have no right to treat me like this. I want to see His Majesty the King and tell him that you insulted me without permission."

After saying that, she tore open her collar with a "swish" sound, revealing a small piece of white.

Seeing the extremely childish threat from the woman in front of him, Duke Brynden couldn't help but shake his head: "Lady Sybelle, you have betrayed King Robb's respect for you, and the consequence is..."

He looked her straight in the eye. "I will have cause to hang your husband and children."

Hearing this, Madam Xi Bei'er trembled and screamed, "No, no!"

She was incoherent because of fear: "Robb Stark will kill the Westerling family... My daughter wants to kill us... My husband knows nothing... My children know nothing... You are doomed to fail... I will never let my family be buried with you... You can never defeat Lord Tywin... Lord Tywin will execute all traitors... He will never forgive... I don't want to hear about the rainy season in Castamere... Never... Woo woo woo..."

Listening to Lady Sybelle's sobbing, until her cry faded, Duke Brynden slowly spoke: "I'm sorry, although we are a family sharing the same hearth, you betrayed the king, which is treason."

After a pause, he sighed and said, "Irenia (12-year-old daughter) and Loram... I will try my best to keep them alive."

"Oh, no!"

Lady Sybell knelt on her knees in front of Lord Brynden, tightly grasping one of his legs, begging: "Lord Brynden, please let us go. I promise that I will never betray the king again. I beg for your forgiveness, for Jenny's sake!"

Duke Brynden's face darkened. "As Jenny's mother, you have tarnished her reputation. That poor child, you have made her soul restless."

After saying that, he took a step back and shook off Madam Sybelle's hand.

The black fish was so strong that Lady Sybelle almost fell to the ground. She clasped her hands together and begged humbly, "Please, please give us a chance. I will spend my whole life repenting and atonement. Please have mercy on me."

The atmosphere was gloomy and silent, like the calm before the storm.

Deep fear made Lady Sybelle have difficulty breathing. Just when she thought she would suffocate to death, Lord Brynden's voice came over: "I can hide your shameless behavior from the king."

His eyes were deep: "Be honest about what you have done and what you are going to do. This is your last chance."

Ever since Robb led his army to capture the Rock in the West, Lady Sybell has been secretly in contact with the Lannisters.

The letter she gave to Robb was indeed real, because the Frey family had always had secret dealings with the Lannisters.

Delivering the letter to Robb was a task assigned to her by Lannister, in order to arouse Robb's suspicion and anger towards Lord Frey.

The purpose of her leaving the camp tonight was to warn the Freys. She would use a method that had been prepared long ago to send a letter to the Twins to inform them... Robb already knew that the Freys had secretly defected to the Lannisters, and believed that they had poisoned the wedding. The Stark-Tullys took the initiative to form a marriage this time in order to try the Freys for treason at the wedding banquet.

The Lannisters want a Red Wedding to take place at the Twins.

Lord Brynden clenched his fists, and Lady Sybell, who was in extreme panic, even confessed that she had secretly put drugs in Jeyne's drink. She told him that she didn't dare let his daughter get pregnant with the Stark child.

Lord Brynden barely suppressed his anger, and said, "Who in the Twins...will help you pass on the message?"

"…Eamon Frey."

Emmon Frey is the second son of Lord Walder and his first wife, Pia Royce, and his wife is Gena Lannister, the sister of Lord Tywin.

Duke Brynden looked up at the dark night sky, standing there motionless... Family, responsibility, honor.

After a long while, he bent down and stared at Lady Sybelle. Although his eyes were sharp, his face looked very haggard.

"You have to tell the Freys. You have to make them believe that if Miss Frey is pregnant with Robb's child, that child will at least be the heir to Riverrun. You have a way to make it a Lannister promise, right, Lady Sybelle?"

Old Walder is extremely cunning, and only greed can temporarily blind his eyes. Blackfish wants him to think that as long as the wedding goes smoothly, Tully Stark and Lannister... no matter who wins in the end, Frey will be the huge beneficiary.

Lady Sybelle trembled her lips and said, "Lord Brynden, Lord Frey and Lady Gina will definitely go to Lord Tywin to confirm this matter... The raven will fly to King's Landing in two or three days..."

Lord Brynden looked at Lady Sybell coldly and said, "Only if you do this can Westerling be pardoned."

…………

In the flickering firelight, in the great hall of the Twins stood fourteen open wooden chests filled with brilliantly sparkling jewels, and the Freys gathered around them.

Old Walder, supported by Roslin Frey, walked tremblingly and looked at the jewels in the box: "I have seen many of the jewels here on Targaryens... Now they all belong to my daughter... Huh... Huh..."

After a pause, he suddenly shouted angrily, "Who told you to take it?! Get out, all of you, get out! I'm not dead yet, how dare you steal my daughter's things? Get out, all of you, get out!"

Amid old Walder's curses, dozens of Freys left.

Soon, only Old Walder, Black Walder and Roselyn were left in the hall.

Old Walder continued to look at the jewelry: "What was the result of the test?"

Black Walder glanced at Roselin, who was looking down, and grinned, saying, "He's still so arrogant. He seems to still look down on our family."

Old Walder was not angry. He curled his lips and said, "He must be very upset. Now he has something to ask of the Frey family."

Old Walder stopped and patted his daughter's fair hand with his dry hand. He said, "Move all these things into your room. Watch them carefully and don't let those idiots steal any of them. You should go to bed early. You will be the bride tomorrow."

Roselin carefully let go of Old Walder and bowed gently, "Yes, father."

When Roselin left, Black Walder was scolded by Old Walder for staring at her graceful back: "Asshole, I'm not dead yet, show some respect to your great aunt!"

Black Walder chuckled at his great-grandfather. "My great-aunt is too weak. I am worried about her."

Old Walder snorted and said, "You set up camp next to them. Didn't Brynden and Robb say anything?"

Black Walder's smile turned strange. "As you expected, Lord Blackfish will remain outside the city."

After a pause, he couldn't help but ask, "Great-grandfather, why did you leave Lord Blackfish outside? Are you planning to..."

As he spoke, he stretched out his palm and made a downward chopping motion.

Old Walder's cloudy eyes flashed with sharpness. "If I really intended to kill someone, it wouldn't have to be so complicated. Brynden is a cunning fox. Only when he is not around can I see Robb Stark's true thoughts. I want to understand the role of the Frey family in his heart."

Black Walder seemed a little surprised: "Do you believe Robb can defeat Lannister?"

"Fool!" Old Walder glanced at Black Walder. "Sixteen years ago, most people didn't expect Robert to win the Targaryen Iron Throne."

Black Walder curled his lips. This was his great-grandfather's "old problem". In that war, his great-grandfather did not lead the Frey army to the battlefield until Robert Baratheon won the Battle of the Trident by killing Prince Rhaegar. From then on, the feudal lord, Duke Hoster, called his great-grandfather "the late Lord Frey".

Old Walder seemed to see what Black Walder was thinking: "Fool, if I can always stand on the winning side, what does it matter if I suffer a little stigma? I am doing this for the Frey family!"

Black Walder shook his head: "I have always admired your wisdom. Really, family inheritance is the most important thing. I understand this."

Old Walder nodded with satisfaction: "You still have some brains."

There were footsteps on the other side of the hall, and two figures emerged, one was the bald, short and frail Lord Emmon Frey, and the other was the tall and broad Genna Lannister.

Old Walder glanced at Ser Emmon, who was following Lady Gina like a servant. "My most annoying son is here."

…………

…………

In the morning, on the way to the Twins, Great Jon looked at Daisy Mormont, who was wearing a green velvet dress with a meteor hammer and sword on her waist, and suddenly said: "It's really hard to get used to you wearing a skirt. Why are they staring at your butt? Are you attractive in their eyes, Bear Island woman?"

Daisy glanced back coldly and said, "In your eyes, what woman could be more attractive than a sow?"

As soon as she finished speaking, the people around her burst into laughter.

The Greatjon boomed, "I was drunk that day! If you ever mention it again, I'll make you pay for it with the Umber Giants!"

Daisy glanced at the Greatjon's body with disdain. "Be careful or I'll cut your giant."

"damned!"

Greatjon shouted to the people around him: "Don't let her get close to me when I'm drunk!"

The crowd burst into laughter again.

The heavy rains of the last few days have caused the Green Fork to swell, and its width has increased by one and a half times compared to when Robb led his army across the river last year.

When approaching the Twins, Robb put on the bronze and iron sword crown that symbolized the King of the North. Behind him...Sir Reynald, the standard-bearer, held high the banner of the Ice Wolf.

The bridgehead loomed like a tall ghost ahead, and four Freys rode out from below, all wrapped in heavy cloaks of grey wool.

The squire from the riverlands introduced King Robb: "The fat, round one in front is Ser Ryman Frey, the eldest son of Ser Stevron. The thin and pale one is Ser Ryman's eldest son, Edwyn Frey. The pockmarked one is Ser Ryman's youngest son, Petyr Frey."

The last one needs no introduction. He is Sir Ryman’s second son, the bearded Black Walder.

At Robb's order, they temporarily stopped their horses and waited for the Freys to come to greet them.

They rolled over before Robb, and Ser Ryman rubbed his chest awkwardly. "My father greets you, my king, and welcomes you to the Twins."

Robb nodded slightly. "Thank you for your greeting. It is an honor to visit Lord Walder again, Ser Lyman."

Behind the king, the Greatjon suddenly called out, "Where is the bride? She has not come out to greet His Majesty."

Seeing that Sir Lyman didn't react for a moment, his eldest son said in a cautious and polite tone: "Your Majesty, she is waiting for you in the city. Please forgive my great aunt's shyness. She is still young and has been anxiously looking forward to your arrival these days."

Black Walder grinned and said, "Why don't we talk inside, your majesty?"

"good."

Sir Lyman climbed back on his horse, turned his horse around, and said, "Please follow me. My grandfather is waiting for you."

They rode together toward the bridgehead gate. The Greatjon said in a loud and angry voice: "Lord Frey should come out to greet King Robb himself."

Suddenly, the atmosphere up front became heavy.

Daisy rebuked, "Shut up, Lord Frey is over ninety years old, and Ser Lyman has greeted him on his behalf."

Black Walder slowed down his horse and came to Daisy's side, glancing at her curves obscenely: "You are so charming today. Welcome to the Twins, Miss Mormont."

Daisy pulled the corners of her mouth, but she really couldn't face this man with a smile: "Black Walder, if you stay away from me tonight, maybe I can eat a few more yak legs."

Seeing Black Walder being humiliated, the Greatjon laughed and said, "You'd better stay away from this cruel woman. I'm just reminding you in a friendly way."

Just as he was about to continue mocking the sullen-faced Black Walder, he shut up when he felt Robb's stern gaze coming towards him.

The Lord's Hall of the Twins.

Lord Frey sat high in his ebony Lord's chair, so huge that it made the old man inside it look like a grotesque child.

Robb looked up. Lord Walder's bald head was covered with age spots. His long pink neck rested on skinny shoulders. His small eyes were dim and full of suspicion.

Lord Walder's sons, daughters, grandsons, great-grandsons, sons-in-law, daughters-in-law and servants occupied half of the hall, and the other half was occupied by the northern vassals and servants who followed Robb.

"Your Majesty, I know you will forgive me for not being able to kneel down and salute you. My legs are getting less and less useful... Whew, but the thing in the middle of them is still fine."

He looked at Robb's crown. "Did anyone kindly remind you that... a king looks shabby in a bronze crown?"

"Bronze and iron are stronger than gold and silver."

Robb turned his head and gave a warning look to the Greatjon who was about to step forward, and continued: "The former King of the North wore the same crown as me."

Marquis Walder continued to accuse: "When the dragon descends, it is useless to wear anything... Huh... Huh... By the way, I heard from my great-grandson that Your Majesty has forgotten his sacred promise?"

"I know no words can heal the damage I have caused by my recklessness."

After a pause, Robb stroked his chest solemnly towards Lord Walder who was sitting high up, and then said, "I have come here to solemnly apologize to you and your family for offending the Frey family, and to beg for your forgiveness."

(End of this chapter)