Tower of the Hand

Robb's host moves south. He is heading for the Twins, where Lord Walder Frey has amassed a force of 4,000 men. Every day, Robb meets with a different lord and listens to his or her input. Catelyn discusses Lord Walder with Robb as he meets with Robett and tells him that she fears he will be unfaithful to his oaths. Ser Brynden is commanding the outriders. Theon rides up to report that Brynden has crossed swords with Ser Addam's outriders and killed a dozen. He promises the Lannisters will not know when the army splits. He has surrounded the Twins with bowmen to bring down any ravens. Lord Walder has killed some Lannister scouts that wandered onto his land, but he is holding back his main strength. There is no other place to cross north of Lord Tywin but the Twins, and Robb must have them. The next day, Ser Brynden personally reports on the battle at Riverrun.¹ Robb is angry at Lord Walder and does not know what to do; Catelyn tells him he must negotiate.

Robb arrives at the Twins with his army flanked by Galbart, the Greatjon, Lord Rickard, Lord Roose, Ser Helman, Ser Wendel, and Ser Wylis. The gates are barred. Robb's bannermen concur that neither assault nor siege will break the fortress. Four of Walder's sons led by Ser Stevron come out to greet them. Ser Stevron reports that Lord Walder wants to speak with Robb inside. The northern lords are outraged and make their displeasure known. Catelyn seizes the moment and says she will go. Ser Perwyn Frey remains behind as a hostage while Stevron and the others take Catelyn inside. She is greeted by Lord Walder, surrounded by his entire family (minus Ser Perwyn of course), bastards and all.² Two of his sons, Danwell and Whalen help him to his chair and his new wife of sixteen, Joyeuse, stands by his side.

Lord Walder is rude to Catelyn, much to the chagrin of both Ser Stevron and Walder's bastard son Ryger, and insults her father and brother too, but she endures his insults. Walder is bitter with Lord Tywin for not asking for his help, Lord Hoster for not coming to his last two weddings and not having Edmure marry one of his daughters, and Jon Arryn for not taking any of his grandsons to foster and sending Robert to foster with Stannis instead of him. Catelyn is surprised by this, as she thought he was going to be fostered with Lord Tywin, but Walder assures her it was Stannis.³ They finally get down to business and work out an agreement, which Catelyn brings back to Robb, escorted by Ser Jared, Ser Hosteen, Ser Danwell, and Ronel Rivers. By the terms, Robb may cross and Walder's men will join him, less four hundred that will stay to hold the Twins. In return, Catelyn will foster two of his grandsons, Walder and Walder, Robb will take Olyvar Frey as his squire, Elmar Frey is to wed Arya if she is alive, and Robb is to marry one of Walder's daughters after the fighting. Robb decides to leave Ser Helman at the Twins with four hundred men to insure Walder's loyalty. That evening, Robb crosses with the majority of his horse while Lord Roose stays on the other bank and marches south to confront Tywin.