Walder Frey, the old lord of the Crossing, was nearing ninety name days and had sired nearly as many children. A weasel-faced man who struggled with gout, he ruled his castle with an iron fist. House Frey was belittled by much of Westeros, but Walder Frey did not forget such slights. The old lord remembered each and every one, allowing them to fester in his mind. Such, the man had become a bitter and ill-tempered lord, cursing and mocking servants, soldiers, his children, and even his own guests. Truly, the man had no care for how he spoke to people. He was extremely wealthy and backed by a sizable army, and that gave him the confidence to speak how he liked.
Catelyn stood alone in the hall of the Crossing, a dark and desolate place. As a girl, she had heard her father and his bannermen speak about how the Crossing had changed under Walder Frey. She had heard stories of how the unique stronghold had been home to a noble house, allowing trade between the north and south, requiring only a fair fee from merchants and traders to use the bridge. Back in those days, the hall she now stood in was full of light and less Frey's.
Those days were long gone. Now, the hall was shuttered and closed, with only a few candles to dimly illuminate the hall. It was a depressing and oppressive place to be, made even more so by the old man hurling insults. In the corners of the room, the children of Walder Frey huddle together like rats on a ship, most bearing the same weasel-like face and pale eyes of their father. They watched silently as the Lady of Winterfell faced down the 'Late' Lord Frey.
"So, the Stark whelp sent his mother to speak for him, did he? How pathetic." Lord Frey sneered. "Is the son of the 'Honorable' Eddard Stark too good to speak with a fellow lord of the realm?"
"My son has other tasks to attend to," Catelyn replied crisply. "I have come to speak for him."
Walder raised an eyebrow. "Have you now? The boy sent his mother to do his talking for him. How….childish," he sneered. "And what does the boy want from me, hmm? Some sweets and a swaddle?"
Catelyn held back a sigh, praying to the seven for strength, though she doubted whether the Seven would ever be in a place like this. "I believe you know what my son requires. He has already sent a messenger to you. Although you have refused, I have come to change your mind."
Walder Frey chuckled darkly. "If you wanted to do that, you should've sent someone pretty. Maybe one of those Mormont wenches. I hear they have some nice curves."
Catelyn briefly imagined Maege Mormont bashing the old man in the head with her mace, taking slight pleasure in the image before she shook her head, clearing those thoughts away. "I am the only one my son sent, my lord," she said more firmly.
Walder waved aside Lady Stark's apology. "Fine," he grunted. "Say what you want then leave."
"My son needs your bridge." Lady Stark started.
"So does everyone." Walder snapped in annoyance. "What makes him so special?"
"My son has business in King's Landing…." Catelyn began before being cut off.
"Ah yes, the unfortunate imprisonment of your husband, Ned Stark." Frey drawled with mock sadness. "How terrible for him. Perhaps he should have learned from his brash brother and foolish father and stayed in the North."
"My lord husband did as his king commanded and took up the title as Hand of the King," Catelyn said, defending her husband. "His imprisonment was based on the false grounds of treason. My son's cause is noble and just."
Walder Frey simply shrugged. "Whatever," he growled. "Ned Stark was a fool and got himself arrested and his equally foolish son has marched south to free him. But now, thanks to his mother, has to deal with two Lannister armies. The boy is outmatched, and I will not risk the anger of Tywin Lannister."
Catelyn sighed inwardly. She knew that there was only one course of action she could take. "My son said that he is willing to pay whatever is required," she said through gritted teeth.
Walder leaned forward, an evil light appearing in his eyes. He licked his thin lips happily. "Is he now? Perhaps he is not as foolish as his father."
Catelyn frowned. "What is your price, Lord Frey?" She asked angrily, eager to be done with the old man. She had endured nothing but insults to her and her family and has had her fill of the Lord of the Crossing.
"Your son will take one of my daughters to wife." Walder snapped. "I'll be generous and allow him to choose which. I have many, no doubt one will catch his eye. They come in all sizes. Furthermore, I understand that one of your daughters is not currently betrothed. Something that should be rectified immediately. She shall marry one of my son's and become a proper lady."
Catelyn paled. "My lord, my daughters are prisoners of the Lannisters…." she argued, but Lord Frey would hear none of it.
"I am willing to wait until your son is successful." he sneered. "There is always time. Finally, two of my sons shall be sent to Winterfell as wards, another shall be taken by your son as a squire, and one of his northern bannermen shall also take a daughter to wife."
Catelyn shook her head, shocked by the old man's greediness. "You ask for my son and daughter, is that not good enough for you?"
Walder smiled evilly. "You said your son was willing to pay any price. Those are my demands."
"He will accept the wards and squire, but he will never force one of his lords to marry," Catelyn argued.
Walder grunted. "Fine." he snarled. "One of his bannerman shall take one of my son's to squire as well."
"Is there nothing else?" Catelyn asked, practically begging.
"Is he willing to give one of my son's land in the North?" Walder asked, raising an eyebrow.
"No," Catelyn answered immediately.
"And his bannermen shall not take one of my daughters to bride. A squire is that lowest I will accept, Lady Stark," Lord Frey finished. "Or, perhaps, you do not need my bridge after all."
Catelyn sighed mentally again, knowing full well that her son wasn't going to like the terms she had come to.
"One of his bannermen shall take a squire, my lord," she gritted out.
"I am being generous, Lady Stark. Do not forget that." Walder Frey wheezed. "You can leave. I've had my fill of Tully's for the day. Tell your son and his bannerman to arrive tomorrow morning to choose from amongst my family."
Catelyn curtsied and swiftly left the room, finding Ser Rodrick standing at attention outside the room. The old knight was standing across from a Frey guardsman, who looked quite the opposite of the northern knight. The spearman was nearly half the age of Cassel, but he slumped against his weapon, looking half asleep while Ser Rodrik was calm, but alert. A hand resting easily on the hilt of his sword.
"Come, Ser Rodrik," Catelyn ordered.
The pair made their way out of the keep, retrieved their horses, and began the short ride back towards Robb's war camp. When they were out of the gate, Rodrik waited a moment before speaking.
"Is everything alright, my lady?"
Catelyn nodded stiffly. "Yes, thank you, Ser Rodrik. Lord Frey will allow my son to use his bridge."
"And the cost?"
"Robb and Arya shall marry one of his children, while two shall be sent to Winterfell as wards and another two shall become squires for Robb and one of his bannermen," she explained.
Ser Rodrik raised an eyebrow. "Lady Arya is in King's Landing?"
Catelyn nodded. "A point I raised as well, but the man knows no bounds. He would accept nothing less," she said sadly. "May the Seven forgive me, but I will rejoice the day that man is gone."
"You may not be the only one, my lady." Ser Rodrik said gruffly. "The man's a plague upon Westeros and a black spot on your noble homeland."
"Thank you, Ser Rodrik, but he is a plague we must weather if we are to rescue my husband and daughters," she said.
"If it pleases you, I would be willing to take on a squire, should Lord Robb ask." he offered. It had been a while since the older man had taken on a squire, but he was a loyal vassal to House Stark and would do anything for them. It also helped that he was an actual knight, one of the few in the North.
Catelyn offered the old knight a grateful smile. "That is a very kind offer, ser. I am sure my son would be happy to accept. It would take a great burden off his shoulders."
"Lord Robb has done a fine job leading this army, my lady." Ser Rodrik praised. "Lord Stark would be proud."
Catelyn nodded, feeling a slight tickle as tears briefly entered her eyes. "He has good men beside him," she said.
And hopefully, they are enough to help him deal with Tywin Lannister. Catelyn had heard the stories about the Sack of King's Landing from Ned. She knew the atrocities the man ordered. Every night she prayed for her husband's safety, and as of late, she had also started praying for Robb's.
If he was going to face down the Lord of the Rock, he was gonna need every bit of luck he could get, no matter what god it came from.