Winter's Fire → Game of Thrones

xxxvi. Red, Red, Red

There was something that just felt off about this wedding. I could tell that Alios felt the same way, as he was playing with his hands and his eyes were darting around the Great Hall of The Twins. Neither of us were bringing it up, however, because there was nothing in particular that should set us off.

Perhaps it was just a lot of little things. We were requested not to bring weapons to the wedding, yet I spotted one of Lord Walder Frey's eldest sons with a dagger. Roose Bolton and Lord Whitehill, who we left in charge of Harrenhal, were also here too. There also just seemed to be an odd mood coming from certain men.

The marriage of Edmure and his wife, Roslin, just completed. I noted how nervous my uncle clearly was waiting to see Roslin and wished he would learn to hide his worry. I am just hoping Lord Walder's old eyes made the look on Edmure's face harder to read.

I was surprised to see Lord Frey walking his daughter to the altar. He took an excruciatingly long time as he hobbled down the aisle. At the speed he was going I think he may have been leaning on Roslin for support, instead of the other way around.

At first her face was obscured by a veil. I believe that Lord Frey did it to increase Edmure's worry about ending up with an ugly wife. However, Roslin was so gentle and beautiful once the veil was removed. Lord Frey surely married Edmure to his most beautiful daughter to prove a point to Robb.

The ceremony was the traditional one for followers of the Faith of the Seven. Their hands are bound together with some rope or ribbon, they say some words about being wed in the light of the individual aspects of the same god, and then are married until one of them dies.

Once we moved to the tables I noticed something that felt... odd. The Frey men were mixed in with the Northerner tables. They had no reason to be. At most weddings, the different families sit in different areas. Especially if they are not from the same region of Westeros like the Northerners and the Freys.

Talisa, Robb, Mother, Alios and I are at one of the tables towards the front of the hall. Uncle Edmure was sitting at the high table with his wife, Lord Walder Frey, Lady Frey, and his eldest son and his wife. They all seemed to be enjoying themselves. Or, in the case of Lady Frey, pretending to be enjoying themselves.

Mother stood up to go see Uncle Brynden, and I decided to go speak to others too. Alios followed me, wanting to avoid interrupting Robb and Talisa. We headed in the direction of Roose Bolton as I knew he would also sense if something was wrong here. However, before we got to the table, Alios grabbed my hand to stop me.

"You know something is off too, do you not?" He checked.

I felt Lord Frey's eyes on us, so I just nodded and offered Alios a small smile. He knew that it meant we were being watched. He also knew I agreed with him. Something just felt off and the feeling had not gone away as I watched the wedding ceremony between Uncle Edmure and his new wife.

We reached Roose Bolton and I sat down next to him. Alios sat next to me, directly across from Mother. Uncle Brynden was between Roose and I, whilst still across from us. He smiled as Alios and I sat down, clearly to have more company. The alcohol may have been effecting him by now though.

Alios did not even need to discuss a plan with me. He immediately began talking to Mother and Uncle Brynden so that I could speak to Lord Bolton. I am forever grateful that I have a friend who knows me as well as Alios does. It makes coming up with a plan of action simple as nothing needs to be said.

"My Lord, does something seem wrong to you?" I asked. "It may be nothing, but still..."

"I am sure you are just re-adjusting to ceremonies back here in Westeros," Roose insisted, showing no change in demeanor.