[Riverrun - Great Hall]

King Robb Stark, Lady Catelyn Stark, Brynden "Blackfish" Tully, Lord Edmure Tully, "Black Walder" Rivers, and Lothar Frey sat around a large table.

"Thank you for riding here so quickly. I know travel isn't easy in these times." Robb acknowledged.

"The roads are crawling with cutthroats and bandits. But when the King of the North summons us, we come." Black Walder responded.

"Our father has instructed us to tell you that his alliance with the North can continue if his terms are met. Lord Frey requires a formal apology for your refusal to marry one of his daughters." Lothar continued.

"Of course. He deserves as much. I was in the wrong."

"As restitution for this betrayal, he demands Harrenhal and all its attendant lands." Black Walder told them.

"I don't think that's-" Edmure attempted to refuse.

"We are fighting for the North. Harrenhal is not in the North. It is his once the war is over and we have no further strategic need for it." Robb cut him off.

"And there's something else." Black Walder continued.

"We will do whatever we can to give Lord Frey what he needs."

"Not what, whom." Black Walder looked at Edmure.

"What?"

Brynden, Robb, and Lothar also stared at Edmure.

"No." Edmure chuckled, nervously.

"Our father requires Lord Edmure to wed one of his daughters- Roslin." Lothar clarified.

"How old is she?" Edmure asked.

"Nineteen."

"Could I see her first?"

"You want to count her teeth?" Black Walder Frey quipped. "We depart for the Twins in the morning. We need an answer before we leave and a wedding not more than a fortnight thereafter or this alliance is at an end."

"Your father does realize we're in the middle of a war?" Brynden asked, sternly.

"Father is old. It will put his heart at peace if he could see her wed to a good husband." Lothar regarded.

"And his recent experience has made him wary of long engagements." Black Walder added.

"He has every right to be." Robb agreed. "Please excuse us while we discuss it."

Lothar and Black Walder took their leave.

"Why should I let that old ferret choose my bride for me? At the very least, I should be offered the same choice you were. I'm his liege lord." Edmure rose to his feet.

"He's a proud man and we've wounded him."

"I didn't wound him. My answer is no."

Brynden stood and walked over to his nephew, Edmure. "Listen to me and listen very carefully. You-"

"The laws of gods and men are very clear. No man can compel another man to marry."

"The laws of my fist are about to compel your teeth."

"It's all right. You heard him. If you refuse, our alliance with the Freys is dead." Robb told his uncle.

Brynden sat.

"He's wanted me for one of his daughters since I was twelve. He's not gonna stop wanting it now. When I say no, he will come back and offer me a daughter of my choosing."

"You're willing to risk our freedom and our lives for a chance at a prettier wife?" His sister, Catelyn, asked.

"I have a war to fight. We can't win it without them. I have no time to haggle. You said you wanted to make amends for the Stone Mill." Robb said.

"You recall that heroic engagement?"

"I had something less permanent in mind." Edmure retorted.

"I've won every battle, but I'm losing this war. If we don't do this and do it now, we're lost."

"I'll marry her."

"You're paying for my sins, Uncle. It's not fair or right. I'll remember it."

[Riverrun, Robb's Chambers, Night]

A thunderstorm rolled on outside of Riverrun. Queen Morgana Stark dried her husband, King Robb Stark's hair with a towel. Lady Catelyn Stark and Lord Edmure Tully sat at the map table. Brynden "Blackfish" Tully entered, followed by Talisa, whom had quickly become of Morgana's good friends, especially with the temporary absence of her handmaiden, Sirena.

"That rain will cost us another day." Brynden told them.

"Frey will wait. He knows we're coming." Robb replied.

"Lord Walder is prickly by nature." His mother told him.

"Prickly? That what you call it? Might be the least pleasant man I've ever met." Brynden jested.

"Yes, and that is why-"

"I've seen wet shits I liked better than Walder Frey. Apologies, Your Grace, my lady. Spent too many years around lancers and pikemen."

"I've spent the last two yeas nursing wounded men, watching them bleed and die. I'm not afraid of wet shits." Talisa responded, causing Brynden and Morgana to laugh.

Brynden laughed.

"Lord Frey will take this delay as a slight." Catelyn said, suddenly.

"He can take it as he likes. He's getting the wedding he wanted."

"He's getting a wedding. It was a king he wanted." Catelyn corrected.

"Edmure is the best match a Frey has had in the history of their house. We should all get some sleep." Robb said.

Brynden, Catelyn, and Edmure leave. Robb and Morgana shared a kiss. Catelyn turned back momentarily to watch before she exited.

[Robb And Morgana's Chambers, Later]

Morgana and Robb were wrapped around one another, glowing with sweat, and kissing intimately, smiles on their faces. Robb stood and donned a robe. Morgana watched him, amorously.

"If you don't put some clothes on, I can't promise I won't attack you again."

"Attack. Attack." She teased.

Robb sat at the war table, while Morgana remained on their bed, pondering to herself.

She had been plagued by recurring dreams of her husband, Robb Stark, being betrayed by the Freys and Boltons. In each dream, she saw him falling into their trap, surrounded by their soldiers, his eyes filled with fear and despair. The dreams had become more frequent over the past few weejs, and Morgana couldn't shake off the feeling that they were trying to tell her something.

She had sent her trusted handmaiden, Sirena, to gather reinforcements to prevent the impending betrayal. But as the dais passed with no word from Sirena, Morgana couldn't help but worry. Had she been caught by the enemy? Was she still on her way back? Would she return in time to save Robb?

Morgana's mind raced with thoughts of the possible outcomes. She knew that time was running out, and she needed to make a decision soon. Should she send another messenger to find Sirena and bring her back as quickly as possible? Or should she wait for her to return on her own?

She hadn't even noticed when her husband left their chambers.

[Riverrun - Campsite]

On a large table laid a giant map of Westeros. There were several game pieces representing different House sigils located on different parts of the map. Robb and his mother stood in a tent, overlooking it.

"Are you sure about this?" Catelyn asked her son, when he brought up the idea of conquering the seat of House Lannister.

"No."

"It's dangerous."

Robb nodded in agreement. " If we take Tywin's castle from him, the lords of Westeros will realize he's not invincible. Take his home, take his gold, take his power."

"Why are you telling me?"

Robb paused then walked around his mother. "You begged me not to send Theon to negotiate with his father and I ignored your advice." Robb poured himself something to drink. "Now Winterfell is burned to the ground. The North is overrun with Ironborn and Bran and Rickon are gone." He paused. "So, Casterly Rock? I'm asking your advice."

Catelyn paused, staring at her son, before turning her attention back to the map. "We have enough men?"

She watched as her son picked up a token, which represented House Frey.

"If Walder Frey cooperates," she noted. "How does your wife feel about you attacking her mother's family seat?"

"She agreed. Her grandfather's pride is Casterly Rock. He's tried for yeas to get the Kingslayer to forsake his vows and assume his role as heir. The man's pride has pride. The Lannisters see themselves as above everyone else because of the gold. It's time to show Westeros no one is invincible, no matter how much gold they possess."

They concentrated on the sigils of House Stark, House Frey and House Lannister.

"If reinforcements arrive from King's Landing, before we take the castle, we'll be caught between Tywin's army and the sea."

Robb moved the House Frey piece to the House Stark side of the map. "We'll lose the war and die the way father died. Or worse."

A flash of anger spread across Catelyn's face. "Show them how it feels to lose what they love."'

The next day, Robb's direwolf, Grey Wind, led House Stark's army to the The Twins castle, the ancestral seat of House Frey.

Inside, a servant walked around with a tray of bread and salt, in observation of the Westerosi tradition of "Guest Right".

Robb, his wife Morgana, his uncle Edmure Tully, his great uncle Brynden "Blackfish" Tully, and his mother as well as the Stark army stood in the presence of Walder Frey and his family.

Robb accepted a piece of bread, dipping it into the salt, and eating it, while staring intently at Lord Walder.

"My honored guests, be welcome within my walls and at my table. I extend to you my hospitality and protection in the light of the Seven." Walder Frey greeted.

"We thank you for your hospitality, my lord." Robb responded.

The servant stopped in front of Lord Walder, presenting him with the same tray of salt and bread, which Walder ate.

"I have come to make my apologies, my lord, and to beg your forgiveness."

"Don't beg my forgiveness, your Grace. It wasn't me you spurned, it was my girls." Walder told him. He signalled for his female relatives to appear before Robb. "One of them was supposed to be queen, now none of them are."

As Walder called each relative by name, they briefly looked up at Robb.

"This is Arwyn, my daughter. My daughter Walda, my daughter Derwa, my daughter Waldra." Walder paused to chew. "My eldest granddaughters Ginia and Neila."

Edmure intently watched the Frey women.

"Serra and Sarra, granddaughters, twins. You could have had either. Could have had both for all I care."

Edmure closed his eyes after hearing Walder's comments about his granddaughters.

"My granddaughter Marianne. My granddaughter Freya. My granddaughter...W-W-Wertha? Waldra? Waldina?"

Walder was clearly guessing at his granddaughter's name, causing Edmure to raise his eyebrows.

"I'm Merry." The girl replied.

"Fine. And here's my youngest daughter Shirei, though she hasn't bled yet. Clearly you don't have the patience for all that."

Robb looked at the young girl, who had a solemn look on her face, before he turned to look address the Frey women.

"My ladies. All men should keep their word, kings most of all. Your father wished for me to marry one of you and I broke that vow. The fault is not with you. Any man would be lucky to have any one of you. I did what I did not to slight you, but because I loved another. I know these words cannot set right the wrong I have done to you and your house. I beg your forgiveness and pledge to do all I can to make amends so the Freys of the Crossing and the Starks of Winterfell may once again be friends."

Walder clapped to signal the dismissal of the Frey women. "Very good." Walder then focused on Morgana. "There she is. Come closer, let me have a look at you."

Morgana took a couple of steps towards Walder, who moved forward in his seat, squinting. "Still can't see you. Old eyes."

Morgana looked at Robb who nodded. Frey men looked on as she took a couple more steps towards Walder, bowing her head in greeting.

"Love. That's what the Starks of Winterfell call it, eh? Heh. Very honourable, I call it a pretty face. Mmmm, very pretty. Prettier than this lot, that's for sure. Very shapely as well. Oh, you try to hide her under that dress. I confess myself surprised he brought you here. " He turned to Robb. "If you wanted to hide her, you shouldn't have brought her here in the first place." Walder leaned forward with a grin, leering at the Northern Queen. "I can alwys see what's going on beneath a dress. Been at this a long time. I bet when you take that dress off, everything stays right where it is. Doesn't drop an inch." Walder grinned, while Robb grew visibly uncomfortable. "Your king says he betrayed me for love. I say he betrayed me for firm tits and a tight fit."

Robb started to step forward before his mother stopped him.

"And I can respect that. When I was your age, I'd have broken fifty oaths to get into that without a second thought. Well, I've enough room in the hall for you lot. We'll set up tents outside with food and ale for the rest of your men."

"Thank you, my lord." Robb responded, but he was very visibly angry.

Walder stood up and clapped. "Well, let's get ready. The wine will flow red and the music will play loud and we'll put this mess behind us."

Morgana knew he meant none of what he said. All she could do was hope Sirena was on her way. If not, she wasn't sure what she would do.