News of the mutiny at Harrenhal didn't just reach Riverrun; it spread like wildfire across the entire Riverlands.
In the Twins, Jon Snow was being hailed as the wildest, most audacious bastard in history.
"I still say Daemon Blackfyre was the wildest. Think about how many times they went to war against the Targaryens!"
"What are you talking about? Blackfyre was only wild because Aegon IV gave him the ancestral sword, Blackfyre, and legitimized him. Jon? He started with absolutely nothing, okay? And he was a deserter! A deserter who leads a mutiny—tell me, who's wilder?"
"Exactly. Plus, he actually took King's Landing and executed Joffrey. That's terrifying!"
Naturally, the Twins had also received Jon's proclamation, and the story of the battle for King's Landing was spreading everywhere.
Jon had become the hottest topic of conversation these days.
Whenever Roslin Frey heard people talking about him, she would stop and listen.
Lately, she had been leaving her window cracked open at night, terrified that Jon's raven might come and find no way in.
Ever since the news of his mutiny broke, not a day went by that she didn't pray for him. Roslin knew Jon was in the eye of a dangerous storm, and whether they would ever see each other again was a massive unknown.
And now, hearing that Jon had captured King's Landing—it felt like a dream.
Accompanied by her handmaid, Roslin wandered the grounds for a while before returning to her room. But just as she stepped inside, she spun around, blocking the doorway.
Her handmaid, who was following close behind, nearly bumped right into her.
"My lady?"
"Annie, I'd like to be alone for a while. Go take a break."
The maid named Annie nodded. She figured Roslin was safe enough in her own room, so she turned and left happily.
Once she was sure the maid was gone, Roslin clenched her small fists and tiptoed toward the raven perched inside.
She could practically hear her own heartbeat.
Roslin reached out gently, removed the message tube from the bird's leg, and grabbed some pastries from the table for it. Then, she eagerly began to read.
---
Lady Roslin,
Are you well?
I was in King's Landing for a while, and honestly, things were a bit too chaotic to write back sooner.
Just reading the opening lines, Roslin felt her emotions welling up. "A bit too chaotic"—anyone could guess that Jon must have narrowly escaped death a dozen times to get where he was today.
She read on:
Fortunately, I have finally avenged my father and rescued my sister Sansa. It was all worth it. I am safe for now, managing the city. Once I hand it over to King Stannis, I will come to find you.
However, before that, I have a favor to ask of you...
---
As she read the rest of the letter, Roslin's expression grew serious. Jon wanted her to go to Old Walder Frey and convince him to pledge loyalty to Stannis.
Roslin was smart. She knew the alliance between House Frey and Winterfell was broken, and that Jon was publicly opposing Robb's claim to kingship by supporting Stannis.
This request was essentially asking for a brother to turn against a brother.
Such a betrayal clashed heavily with Westerosi morals.
But at the same time, Roslin understood Jon's predicament. Putting herself in his shoes, she saw how difficult his position was.
Supporting Stannis was his father's dying wish, but doing so meant defying his own brother. Still, Roslin decided she would help Jon. She would go to her father.
---
"How have you been communicating?"
That was the first question Old Walder asked after reading Roslin's letter. His eyes burned with intensity, as if trying to see right through his daughter.
Roslin looked around at her numerous elderly brothers, the room filled with the scent of old men. She blushed crimson with shame.
"Jon... Jon has a very clever raven. It can find my... my room..."
Her voice got smaller and smaller, but Old Walder and her brothers heard her clearly enough.
"Didn't think the boy had it in him. Even his raven has a few tricks," Old Walder said with a teasing tone, drawing a round of laughter from his sons and grandsons.
"However!" Old Walder's tone shifted sharply. Everyone went quiet. Roslin stiffened in fear, waiting for judgment.
"Roslin, you are my daughter. Is it appropriate for you to be doing these things with a bastard?" Old Walder asked, his voice dark.
Roslin immediately dropped to her knees.
"Father, it's all my fault. I should have told you the first time he sent a letter."
Slender Roslin knelt on the floor, curling into herself, looking like a little rabbit thrown into a kennel.
But Old Walder felt no particular pity for this daughter. She was just prettier than the others; otherwise, she was no different.
"Do you want to marry him?"
"Father?"
Roslin looked up, her brown eyes wide—nine parts fear, one part hope.
"Get out. Looking at you annoys me," Old Walder grumbled. Roslin scrambled up, nearly tripping on her numb knees, and turned to leave.
She was halfway to the door when Old Walder spoke again. "Don't go far. Wait outside."
"Yes, Father."
Once Roslin had left the room, Old Walder addressed the group. "Well, speak up. If I were to marry Roslin to Jon, what do you think?"
His sons and grandsons were silent for a moment. Then Stevron Frey, who had recently left Robb's camp, spoke up. "Father, Jon may be a bastard, but he won the Iron Throne for Stannis. He supports him openly. Even a regular earldom might not be enough to reward such a feat. Marrying Roslin to him... wouldn't be a bad deal for us."
"Yes, Father, I agree," said Ryman Frey, who had gone to Riverrun with Jon that day.
Because Jon had refused to support Robb, Ryman hadn't fulfilled the agreement to have his son, Robert Frey, squired by Jon. But the situation had changed so drastically it felt like a dream.
The "old brothers" all voiced their opinions, agreeing that Jon was now worthy of a marriage alliance with House Frey.
And a proper, sincere marriage at that—not the tentative, insulting matches Old Walder usually proposed.
"That boy Robb calls himself King in the North and King of the Trident, but here we sit at the Twins, cutting through his so-called 'kingdom' like a knife. The Iron Throne will want to court us. Marrying Roslin to Jon is basically showing our goodwill to the Iron Throne. Grandfather, I think we should do it!"
The speaker was Black Walder, who had marched with Robb in the Westerlands.
He had angrily brought the Frey troops back to the Twins after Robb broke his vow by marrying Jeyne Westerling.
Jon, on the other hand, had launched his mutiny early and taken the Frey soldiers from the eastern army with him.
Originally, the Freys had been furious about that. Now, they were celebrating it.
Those soldiers were essentially an investment in Stannis, proof of their "loyalty."
If Jon were standing in front of them right now, they wouldn't be blaming him—they'd be shaking his hand and thanking him.
Seeing his sons and grandsons all agree to ally with Stannis and marry into Jon's rising star, Old Walder made his decision. He called Roslin back in.
Standing before her father and brothers again, Roslin kept her head down, afraid to look up.
"Lift your head!" Old Walder snapped impatiently. "Don't shame House Frey."
Roslin slowly raised her head, her eyes rimmed with red.
"Roslin, I want you to write a letter to Jon yourself. I'll send someone to deliver it to King's Landing," Old Walder said, softening his tone as a thought crossed his mind.
"Please tell me what to write, Father. I'll do it right now. Just... please don't blame Jon. I was at fault too." Roslin pleaded again.
Watching his daughter, who was already siding with an outsider, Old Walder let out a cold laugh.