The Mountain of Ice and Fire

Chapter 303: Young Hero (Seeking Recommendations and Subscriptions)

(Bonus chapter for Alliance Leader Golden Little Yamen, thank you for your support!)

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Although the Twins were within sight, it still required a considerable amount of time to reach them.

The various lords—Roose Bolton, Rickard Karstark, Greatjon Umber, Lady Maege Mormont, and others—urged their horses forward, surrounding Robb as they advanced, discussing matters among themselves.

Walder Frey, though a vassal of House Tully, had always been difficult to command. During the War of the Usurper sixteen years ago, the North, the Vale, the Riverlands, and the Stormlands had all risen up against the Mad King. Lord Hoster Tully of the Riverlands summoned Walder Frey to bring his troops to join the fight, but Walder Frey only arrived after Robert Baratheon and Eddard Stark had joined forces and defeated the royalist forces. From then on, Lord Hoster Tully referred to Lord Walder Frey as 'Late Lord Frey'.

Walder's Twins were situated on the Green Fork, where the river was deep and swift, the water rushing ceaselessly day and night. The power of House Frey had spanned both banks for centuries, enriched by the exorbitant fees paid by those crossing the river.

Two square, ugly, yet sturdy castles, almost identical in appearance, with an arched bridge spanning between them—had guarded the crossing for centuries. It possessed towering walls, deep moats, and heavy oak-and-iron gates. The entrances on both sides of the bridge were located within heavily fortified inner wards, with bridgehead fortifications and iron portcullises on both banks, while the River Gatehouse protected the center of the river.

The River Gatehouse stood at the center of the arched bridge, its arrow slits, murder holes, and iron gate overlooking the river and the road. It took the Frey family three generations to complete this arched bridge.

Finally, they drew closer, and they could see the glint of spears and swords and large ballistae everywhere on the walls. Every merlon and arrow slit was manned by archers, the drawbridge was raised, and the gate was lowered. The city gate was tightly closed, bolted shut.

The walls above the moat, the walls of the River Gatehouse in the middle of the river, were densely packed with soldiers, appearing as if they were prepared to go to war with Robb.

With a single glance, Catelyn could tell that the castle before them could not be quickly taken.

Greatjon cursed loudly, vowing to use catapults to smash the Twins, and then tear the Twins down completely. Lord Rickard Karstark glared silently in anger.

"Lord Robb, Lady Catelyn, my lords, such a castle cannot be taken in a short time," Roose Bolton said softly, "Even if we eventually capture it, we will suffer heavy losses due to the siege. Walder has gathered no fewer than four thousand soldiers. Although we have five times his strength, he has a moat and a strong fortress, and our time does not allow us to fight Walder here."

"Even a siege would be useless if we didn't have troops on the opposite bank," Heman Tallhart said gloomily.

Everyone looked at Robb Stark, awaiting his command.

Robb was quietly observing the Twins' castle and defenses, and he was surprised by the thorough defense and the castle's sturdiness. He had to cross the river here, otherwise, if Riverrun were breached by Jaime, the entire Riverlands would fall. The war would be greatly disadvantageous to the North. He already had an idea in mind: Walder was a man who valued profit above all else, so he would give him profit.

His father had said that people become brave out of fear, and sometimes, lies are also necessary, lies can also... not lose honor.

So no matter what Walder wanted, Robb had already decided to agree to it and then cross the river.

On the opposite bank, a side gate suddenly creaked open, and a wooden plank bridge slid out from the gate opening, pulled by ropes, gradually crossing the moat, and finally, it was released in mid-air, the bridgehead landing in front of Robb and the others. Then, a dozen knights rode their horses onto the wooden bridge and slowly approached them.

A banner with a silver-gray background and deep blue twin towers fluttered behind these dozen knights.

The old man at the front was Ser Stevron Frey, the heir of Lord Walder, over sixty years old. The other three knights beside him were his brothers.

The Freys all looked like weasels. Ser Stevron, who already had grandchildren, looked especially like an old and tired weasel, but he was very courteous.

"My father has sent me to greet you all. May I ask who leads this elite force?"

"I am Robb Stark of Winterfell in the North. These lords are my vassals of Stark of the North," Robb urged his horse forward. He was fully armored, the direwolf sigil of Winterfell was fastened to his saddle, and Grey Wind followed lightly beside him.

A glint of interest flashed in the old knight's watery gray eyes, but his mount snorted uneasily and took several steps back, greatly fearing the direwolf. This affected the warhorses of the other dozen people, and the formation became chaotic.

Robb rebuked Grey Wind, and Grey Wind reluctantly retreated behind his master's horse, but his eyes were still full of aggression.

"Lord Robb, if you are willing to come to the castle and have dinner with my father, stating your intentions, I believe he will be greatly honored."

Ser Stevron Frey's courteous words caused a great uproar among the northern nobles!

"Lord, you must not go," Galbart Glover said decisively, "You must not trust Lord Walder so rashly."

Roose Bolton said softly, "Lord, if you go alone, you will be at his mercy. He can sell you to the Lannisters, throw you into the dungeon, or cut your throat, whatever he pleases."

"If he wants to talk to us, tell him to open the city gates and let us all go in and have dinner with him," Greatjon Umber, wearing the Broken Chain badge, roared.

"Why not have him come out and host Robb here, in front of everyone?" suggested young Ser Wylis Manderly.

Catelyn was also suspicious. She could see that Stevron Frey was displeased, and if the northern lords continued to shout, Walder's goodwill would disappear.

The opportunity was fleeting.

"Let me go," Catelyn said loudly.

Lady Catelyn's words caused even more of an uproar among the northern lords, and everyone objected.

"No, Mother, I'll go!" Robb said resolutely. For a moment, his youthful immaturity was almost completely gone, and only the solemn majesty of a commander remained. In that instant, Catelyn saw Eddard's shadow.

Stevron Frey was secretly amazed.

Robb was still a boy, anyone could see that, although he stood up straight, he was still a child.

"You go? Are you sure?" Lady Catelyn was surprised by Robb's great change, but her worries suddenly increased.

"I am sure," Robb said calmly, "I am the supreme commander of the army, and I must go and talk in person to show our sincerity. If anything unexpected happens, I believe you will tear down the Twins completely. Lord Walder will not risk having the Twins torn down."

Her worries were lessened by Robb's composure, and the vassals' gazes towards Robb changed.

Such courage at a young age was admirable.

Roose Bolton remained expressionless, his thin lips tightly closed.

"My lords, please rest assured, Lord Walder is my grandfather's vassal, he will definitely not do anything to me, I believe in his honor." Unless it's profitable, Robb thought to himself, but some things cannot be said clearly. Once Robb is threatened, he only needs to tell Lord Walder that Eddard Stark is waiting for him outside, and Walder will definitely not dare to do anything to him.

With Eddard Stark's personality, he would definitely fight to the death with the Frey family for the sake of his family's heir. Eddard had the strength, the courage, and the ability to do so.

"I believe my father will be happy to have dinner with Lord Robb," Ser Stevron said, "To ensure that we have no ill intentions, my brother Ser Rywin will stay here until your Lord Robb returns safely."

"And we will treat Ser Rywin as an honored guest," Catelyn said immediately.

Ser Stevron Frey nodded politely: "Please rest assured, Madam, we will also treat Lord Robb as a distinguished guest and would never dare to be disrespectful in the slightest."

Robb lightly kicked his spurs and galloped forward without looking back. Lord Walder's son and guards quickly followed.

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At the same time, on the eastern bank of the Green Fork at the Inn at the Crossroads, the Mountain was drinking Burning Blood with the Red Hand from the Mountains of the Moon, and a Clegane rider from Harrenhal was galloping quickly along the riverbank.

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ps: There will be another update tonight.