Chapter 176: Walder Frey, Riverrun, Harrenhal

The Wolf King Eddard's southward procession traveled through the endless Neck.

Meanwhile, on the sea, the galleon "North Star" was just departing the Bite, setting sail toward King's Landing, fully laden with goods from the North such as tobacco, blueberry wine, vodka, maple syrup, and caviar. These gifts were all for Robert Baratheon.

Walking along the Kingsroad in the wetlands, one could look around and see nothing but wetlands, marshes, and reed beds; the croaking of frogs echoed, snakes slithered through the grass, and from time to time, one could glimpse lizards and ragged-clothed Crannogmen, whose garments were usually covered in a layer of moss.

Both sides of the causeway were filled with quicksand; once a traveler left the path, they were easily swallowed by the mire.

Invading the North required passing through the Neck, and countless southern invaders had met their end in the Neck's quicksand and the Crannogmen's poison arrows.

This was the miraculous swamp created by the Green Seers using magic back in the day; to stop Andal adventurers from invading the North and to protect the North, the last home of the Old Gods, the Green Seers chanted spells, the earth tore open, seawater flooded in, and countless Andal warriors were buried in the swamp.

In the thousands of years that followed, more southern invaders left their bleached bones in the Neck, and those who were lucky enough to pass through the Neck would find themselves battered and bloodied at Moat Cailin, the northern fortress of the North.

The Neck was a gift from the Old Gods to the North; like the Wall and Moat Cailin, it was a defensive barrier for the North, though Sansa clearly did not think so.

In the Neck, Sansa pinched her nose, "I don't like this place, it smells of mud everywhere."

Sansa wore a pale red velvet gown, spotless, and the little direwolf Lady followed by her side, her fur clean and tidy. On the journey south, Sansa bathed Lady every day with her companion Jeyne Poole, so the little wolf was always very clean.

In contrast, Arya and her wolf Nymeria were both filthy; Arya wore black breeches and a white wool tunic, her clothes stained with dried silt and grime, her brown hair a tangled mess, and the little wolf Nymeria's legs were covered in mud, as was her tail.

When they first left Winterfell, Catelyn and Septa Mordane would constantly urge Arya to maintain the manners of a lady and stay clean and hygienic, but Arya spent her days with the soldiers and squires; she was either practicing swordsmanship with Syrio Forel, learning archery with Fellan, or practicing riding with Domeric.

Arya was drenched in sweat almost every day, and Catelyn and Septa Mordane could not control her, so they had to seek help from Eddard.

Eddard said indifferently: "Arya's personality has always been like this; this is the blood of the winter wolf. She is wild and untamable, which may not be a bad thing. Not every woman is born to be a lady."

From then on, Catelyn and Septa Mordane stopped bothering to manage Arya.

After entering the Neck, Arya caught frogs barefoot in the mud every day and roasted them over a fire. At this moment, Arya was eating the roasted frog meat with a bamboo skewer and told Sansa beside her, "You should try the taste of the frogs; the frogs here are delicious."

Arya held the frog meat out to Sansa's mouth, and Sansa turned pale with fright, hurriedly waving the frog away with her hand.

"How can one eat frogs? It's disgusting."

Arya curled her lip, "Jojen and Meera love eating frogs, and snake meat too, but it's a pity that some snakes are poisonous and I can't tell them apart. If only Meera and Jojen were with us; they stayed at Winterfell, otherwise, the Reed siblings could have taught me how to catch snakes to eat."

Sansa glared at Arya in disgust, "You'll eat anything, and you're so filthy, you're just like a Crannogwoman. I'd rather eat lemon cakes."

Arya said disdainfully, "Lemon cakes can be eaten in the castle, but authentic Crannog frogs can only be eaten in the Neck! I have to ask the Crannogmen how to distinguish between poisonous and non-poisonous snakes so I can try some snake meat."

The Dornish woman Lareza walked over; she had skin like black jade, white teeth, and a yew bow slung across her shoulder.

"Arya, snake meat is a specialty of us Dornish people. I can help you catch snakes, come with me!"

Arya followed Lareza, with the little wolf Nymeria following behind.

The little wolf Nymeria suddenly stopped in her tracks and let out a series of roars at a dense thicket nearby; because these thickets were soaked in water year-round, they were covered in a layer of moss and fungal plants.

The thicket rustled, and Lareza and Arya stopped and looked toward the source of the sound. A Crannogman riding a lizard-lion emerged from the thicket, followed by more than twenty Crannogmen, most of them barefoot, with only a few wearing straw sandals.

Arya looked at the lizard-lion in surprise; it was a lizard that looked like a lion and could crawl rapidly through the swamp. Arya faced the Crannogman on the back of the lizard-lion.

"Who are you?"

The short Crannogman on the back of the lizard-lion wore green hunting clothes, held a trident, and had moss-colored eyes. He smiled and said, "I am a friend of Duke Eddard, Howland Reed, Lord of Greywater Watch."

In the camp, Howland Reed led the Crannogmen to present baskets of frogs, lizards, fish, leeches, and loaches. Eddard embraced Howland Reed, and Eddard smelled the scent of moss on Howland Reed.

Howland Reed was a life-and-death friend of Eddard. During the Battle of the Tower of Joy back then, if Howland Reed had not saved Eddard, Eddard would have died long ago under the sword of the "Sword of the Morning" Arthur Dayne. Howland Reed and Eddard were the only two people who knew the true parentage of Jon Snow.

The Crannogmen were considered one of the poorest groups in the North, almost as poor as the Wildlings beyond the Wall, the Rockborn on Skagos, and the Northern Mountain Clans. Due to the terrain, there was almost no agriculture here, and their food source was mainly frogs, fish, and other animals from the swamp. Many Crannogmen were sallow and emaciated, and due to long-term malnutrition, most Crannogmen were short in stature.

The Crannogmen liked a quiet life undisturbed by outsiders, so they were almost always absent from every harvest feast at Winterfell. Every time Winterfell summoned its vassals to war, they would not summon the Crannogmen, because the Crannogmen needed to defend the Neck, the southern gateway to the North.

Eddard ordered the Winter Wolves to bring out lemon cakes, blueberry wine, maple syrup, and beef as gifts for the Crannogmen, and Howland Reed accepted the gifts with gratitude.

In Eddard's tent, Howland Reed said, "Lord Eddard, I originally intended to invite you to my castle, Greywater Watch, but in the last few days, the floating islands have been moving more frequently, and many paths in the swamp often change. If you and your men from Winterfell go to Greywater Watch, many horses might be swallowed by the mud. Therefore, I had to give up the idea of inviting you and came here to meet you instead."

Eddard said, "If I have the chance, I will definitely visit Greywater Watch. Howland, your children Meera and Jojen have become friends with Bran, Robb, and Jon at Winterfell. Your children are my foster son and foster daughter; we are one family."

"I have already issued an order that the export of grain from the North is prohibited from now on. Every grain of corn and wheat grown in the North will remain in the North. The Crannogmen are loyal to Winterfell and must be rewarded; I want to improve the lives of the Crannogmen."

"My garrison at Moat Cailin has cleared many manors. I have already told the Acting Castellan Quent there that from now on, every month, vegetables, fruits, grain, and ale must be transported to the Neck to supply the Crannogmen. From now on, the children of the Crannogmen will never suffer from malnutrition again."

Howland Reed placed his hand over his heart, "The Crannogmen will forever remember the kindness of the Wolf King."

Eddard said, "Is it difficult to build dams and create artificial lakes in the Neck?"

Howland Reed pondered for a long while, "The land in the Neck is full of silt everywhere, and it is very easy to change the river channels to build dams. Where does Lord Eddard want to build the dam? Is it the Heatwave River?"

Eddard said, "No, it is the source of the Green Fork."

Eddard opened a map and found the location of the source of the Green Fork; it was situated exactly upstream of the Twins of House Frey.

"Howland, I think the fish in your Neck are truly delicious. Since that is the case, why not use a dam to block the water near the source of the Green Fork and create an artificial lake? We can raise fish in this lake, so that the plump fish can enrich the tables of the Crannogmen. I will pay for it."

Howland's eyes lit up, "Thank you for the kindness of Lord Eddard; this is truly a project that benefits the people and will benefit the Crannogmen!"

In fact, artificial fish farming was just a pretext. Eddard did not expect the dam and artificial lake to produce much food. The Northern fleet was growing, and in the future, the seafood caught by the Wolf Castle in the Salt Spear area alone, transported upstream along the Heatwave River, would be more than enough to share with the Crannogmen.

The reason Eddard wanted to build a dam at the source of the Green Fork was actually to deal with House Frey to the south.

As vassals to the Tully family, the Wardens of the Riverlands, House Frey had always been evasive and perfunctory regarding the orders of their liege lord, and Lord Walder Frey was a master of trimming his sails.

If war were to break out in the South in the future and House Frey wanted to be an enemy of the North, Eddard would have the Crannogmen dismantle the dam upstream to stage a "flooding of the Freys," and Walder Frey and his descendants would be wiped out along with the bridges they were so proud of.

The only concern was the progress of the project. Eddard originally planned to send some giants to the Neck to help the Crannogmen build the dam, but after careful thought, giants would easily get stuck in the swamp, so this task could only be left to the Crannogmen.

Some outsiders mistakenly believed that Crannogmen had webbed feet like frogs and that moss grew under their armpits, which was not true, but the Crannogmen could indeed move as fast as flying on the swampy ground and could even hold their breath under the mire for a long time.

Eddard bid farewell to Howland Reed and led his procession to continue south along the Kingsroad. A few days later, they exited the Neck and entered the Riverlands.

The Riverlands were crisscrossed with rivers, the land was fertile, the population was dense, river shipping was developed, the labor force was sufficient, and the geographical location was extremely important; it was the crossroads of Westeros and had been a place of strategic contention since ancient times.

After entering the Riverlands, Catelyn felt the warm sunshine and smelled the scent of wheat in the air, "The smell of home, so sweet. Eddard, we are going to Riverrun; it is closer to go through the Twins."

Eddard said, "We will split into two groups here. I will take one hundred guards to Riverrun. The main force moves slowly and can continue south along the Kingsroad, waiting for us at the town of Lord Harroway."

The Captain of the Guard, Jory Cassel, led nine hundred soldiers south along the Kingsroad, while Eddard and Catelyn, with Sansa and Arya, escorted by guards, headed west. A few days later, they arrived at the river crossing.

The Twins of House Frey was one of the most powerful vassal noble houses in the Riverlands. Eddard saw two identical castles situated on both banks of the Green Fork, connected by a stone arch bridge in the middle. The bridge was wide enough to accommodate four carriages driving side by side, and the River Gate Tower rose in the middle of the bridge. Both castles had moats and towering walls, with arrow towers like a forest.

From Winterfell to Riverrun, the shortest land route had to pass through the Twins, as this was the only crossing for hundreds of miles around. No enemy could capture this castle in a short time.

However, once Eddard's dam in the Neck was completed, the water flow could easily destroy the Twins. Eddard hoped that Lord Walder and his descendants were smart enough; if they were to become enemies of the Starks, they would be attacked by the surging river water from upstream.

Six hundred years ago, the founder of House Frey built a wooden bridge on the upper reaches of the Green Fork and made a fortune by collecting tolls from passing merchants. After several generations, the wooden bridge became a stone bridge, and the wooden castles on both sides of the river also became sturdy stone castles.

In the eyes of many ancient noble houses, the rapidly rising Frey House is nothing more than a nouveau riche family no different from merchants, yet no one can deny that the current Frey House of The Twins is one of the wealthiest and most powerful noble families in the Riverlands.

Catelyn rode on horseback, watching her daughters Sansa and Arya not far away with some worry, and she said to Eddard: "Lord Walder Frey has a mountain of descendants, and he loves to arrange marriages with noble and ancient houses. Years ago, he proposed to both me and Lysa for his sons, and he even sends men to Riverrun every year, hoping to marry a daughter to my brother Edmure."

"If Lord Walder sees Sansa and Arya, he will certainly propose a marriage; you must think of how to refuse."

Eddard stroked the fur of the direwolf Night. "Rest assured, it won't be so easy for Lord Walder to climb the social ladder by marrying into House Stark."

The Heir to The Twins, Ser Stevron Frey, came personally to welcome Eddard and Catelyn.

The moment the people of House Frey saw Eddard riding on the direwolf Night, they could not help but click their tongues in wonder; some of the Frey horses, upon smelling the scent of the direwolf, reared up in fright.

Ser Stevron said: "Lord Eddard, at The Twins, we have all heard that you rode a direwolf to slay enemies Beyond the Wall, crushed the Wildlings' army, and annexed the lands Beyond the Wall into the territory of the North; I did not expect it to be true. Will this direwolf of yours bite people indiscriminately?"

Eddard said: "The direwolf only bites enemies, not friends."

Catelyn spurred her horse forward. "Ser Stevron, is your father, Lord Walder, in good health?"

Ser Stevron said respectfully: "My father's health has always been good. The Twins welcomes Lord Eddard and Catelyn Stark."

Eddard said: "We are passing through here to visit Lord Hoster at Riverrun and will not be staying here for long."

Ser Stevron enthusiastically introduced Lord Walder's descendants to Eddard.

The people of House Frey almost all look like weasels, and Ser Stevron is no exception; he is already over sixty years old, and while most lords at this age are worrying about their heirs, Ser Stevron is still the Heir because Lord Walder Frey is too capable of living.

Following behind Ser Stevron is his son, the chubby Lyman Frey, who is Lord Walder's eldest grandson and the third in line to inherit The Twins.

Eddard noticed Aenys Frey, who is Lord Walder's third son; clad in chainmail, he remains imposing despite being over sixty, a battle-hardened Warrior.

Black Walder appeared in the group; he is a fierce Warrior in his twenties and the grandson of Ser Stevron. Rumor has it that Black Walder has illicit affairs with many of his own cousins, sisters-in-law, and brothers' wives, and has even slept with Lord Walder's seventh wife, Anara Farring, cuckolding his great-grandfather, Lord Walder.

Many lament that Lord Walder can still father children at over eighty years old; if the rumors are true, the children Lord Walder has had with his young wives in recent years may not be Lord Walder's own seed.

Eddard entered the castle and crossed the bridge to the castle on the opposite bank, where Lord Walder was waiting for him, seated on a black oak chair with a backrest carved in the shape of twin towers.

The ninety-year-old Lord Walder has lost all his teeth, his sagging skin is covered in age spots, and huddled in his chair with a velvet blanket over his knees, he looks just like a weasel.

Standing beside Lord Walder's seat is his eighth wife, Joyeuse Erenford, who is only eighteen years old.

Eddard and Catelyn sat on chairs opposite Lord Walder, with Sansa and Arya following behind.

Lord Walder smiled at Eddard. "Lord Eddard, welcome, welcome! You are a hero of the Seven Kingdoms! You conquered Beyond the Wall and captured over a hundred thousand Wildlings; I hear King Robert intends to name you the Wolf King. Why didn't you go to King's Landing, but came here instead?"

Eddard said: "I have come to pay a visit to Lord Walder."

Lord Walder's head retracted and extended like a turtle's. "Lord Eddard, you are truly kind, knowing how to coax this old man into happiness, but I don't believe it at all. You think that because I am old, my mind is not sharp? I understand; you are passing through The Twins with Catelyn Stark to visit Lord Hoster at Riverrun, aren't you? If it weren't for the bridge at The Twins, you wouldn't be walking this way."

"At first, when someone informed me that Lord Eddard had arrived at The Twins, my silly wife even said that Lord Eddard had come to visit me. I knew that was impossible; what kind of figure is Lord Eddard! Lord Eddard is a friend of King Robert and the Hand Jon Arryn, a person of noble status; how could he possibly deign to visit me?"

The Heir to The Twins, Ser Stevron, was somewhat angry. "Father, Lord Eddard and Catelyn Stark have come from afar to visit; how can you be so cynical and say such things?"

Lord Walder gave a light huff. "I am not dead yet, and at The Twins, what I say goes; it is not your place to criticize. Lord Eddard and Catelyn Stark are not angry, so what are you getting so worked up about?"

Ser Stevron retreated to the side, feeling aggrieved, while Lord Walder's gaze lingered on Sansa and Arya.

"Lord Eddard, your precious daughters are not betrothed yet, are they? I have a mountain of sons and grandsons waiting to take wives! Let us arrange a marriage!"

What was bound to come finally arrived. Walder Frey is clearly a master of political marriage; taking his own eight marriages as an example, Lord Walder's first wife came from the Royce House of Runestone in The Vale, his second wife from the Swann House of Stonehelm in the Marches, his third wife from the Crakehall family of the Westerlands, his fourth wife from the Blackwood House of Raventree Hall in the Riverlands, his fifth wife from the Whent family of Harrenhal in the Riverlands, and his sixth wife from the Rosby family of the Crownlands.

His seventh wife, who passed away a few years ago, came from the Farring family of the Crownlands, and the current eighteen-year-old Lady Walder comes from the knightly Erenford family of the Riverlands; she has only been married to Lord Frey for a short time and is already pregnant.

Except for his fifth wife from the Whent family, who left no heirs for Lord Walder, every wife left behind children, which means the relatives of House Frey are spread across The Vale, the Riverlands, the Westerlands, the Crownlands, and the Stormlands.

Today, the Whent family of Harrenhal is thin in numbers; the heirs of the Lady of Harrenhal either died in battle during the Usurper's War or died of illness, and now that the Lady of Harrenhal is advanced in age, the extinction of the Whent family is only a matter of time.

Harrenhal, this magnificent fortress, although cursed, is after all a piece of fat meat; it is foreseeable that many families are eyeing Harrenhal.

Catelyn's mother was Minisa Whent, and the current Lady of Harrenhal is Catelyn's aunt, so the children of House Stark are very high in the line of succession for Harrenhal.

Eddard was very glad that Lord Walder had no descendants with his wife from the Whent family; otherwise, the descendants of Lord Walder and this Whent wife would have a higher claim and would form a competition with House Stark.

One of Lord Walder's daughters-in-law, Wyna Whent, comes from the Whent family and is married to Lord Walder's eighth son, Danwell; Wyna has suffered many miscarriages and stillbirths and has not borne any children, and she is frail, but Eddard estimates that House Frey will use the name of this daughter-in-law to contend for the inheritance of Harrenhal.

In the hall of The Twins, facing Lord Walder's marriage proposal, Eddard said: "My daughters do not intend to marry far away."

Lord Walder was relentless. "What about your sons? I hear you have three sons, and I have many daughters and granddaughters waiting to be married. Let us betroth them!"

Catelyn said: "My sons are not yet of age, and there are no plans for betrothals for the time being."

Lord Walder let out a dry, donkey-like laugh. "Heh heh! The daughters won't marry far away, and when my granddaughters and daughters are willing to marry into House Stark, you push them away. What? Is my Frey House of The Twins not worthy of the direwolf?"

Eddard said: "I value the friendship of House Frey. Lord Walder, King Robert intends to name me the Wolf King, and I will serve as an advisor on the Small Council. If you are willing to send your sons to serve as my squires, I will take them to the court at King's Landing to attend the Wolf King's celebration."

Lord Walder's brows furrowed into a knot. "Just squires? I hear that at Winterfell, Lord Eddard has taken in a pile of wards, taking in everything from Rockborn to the children of Wildling leaders; why is it that when my descendants from The Twins come to your side, they are only squires? You are clearly looking down on us!"

Eddard and Catelyn had had enough of this eccentric old man. Eddard said: "Lord Walder, I am of course willing to take your children as wards." In any case, whether they are wards or squires, at the critical moment, they are hostages.

Lord Walder smiled. "I have plenty of children and grandchildren; Lord Eddard and Catelyn Stark may choose as they please."

The room was packed with Freys; Lord Walder has spent his whole life having children, and he may be the only person in the Seven Kingdoms who can produce an army.

The tradition of the nobles of Westeros is that children without an inheritance should leave the castle once they come of age; these people either join sworn organizations like the Church, the Citadel, or the Night's Watch, or go across the Narrow Sea to become Mercenaries. These people need to find their own way to survive.

Lord Walder has too many descendants; if he were to drive these descendants out of The Twins, he could undoubtedly save a lot of money. Whether they are descendants or bastards, he keeps them all at The Twins to provide for them. Although Lord Walder is greedy and ambitious, no one can deny that he is a man who values family.

Catelyn was inclined to choose Lord Walder's grandsons; she had her eye on Little Walder and the other, who were of an age with Bran; one is the son of Merry Frey, and the other is the son of Jammos Frey, both of whom are grandsons of Lord Walder.

However, Eddard ultimately chose Lord Walder's son Olyvar Frey and another son, Elmar Frey; Olyvar Frey is two years older than Robb, and Elmar Frey is of an age with Arya.

Lord Walder has truly too many descendants; Eddard preferred to choose sons rather than grandsons, as Lord Walder cannot even recognize his younger sons, and he remembers even fewer of his grandsons.

That evening, Eddard and Catelyn feasted with the people of House Frey in Lord Walder's hall. The next day, Eddard and Catelyn left The Twins with their entourage.

A few days later, Catelyn told Eddard that they had entered the lands of Seagard.

The Northern party was walking through a forest when suddenly a troop of cavalry approached; the opposing cavalry bore the banner of a winged silver eagle, which is the banner of House Mallister of Seagard. It turned out to be Lord Jason Mallister, the lord of Seagard, returning from a hunt with his party.

Lord Jason Mallister has grey-blue eyes and a few strands of silver in his brown hair; he is one of the most valiant Warriors in the Riverlands. Back at the Battle of the Trident, Lord Jason personally slew three of Rhaegar Targaryen's men. During the Greyjoy Rebellion, when the Ironborn attacked Seagard, Lord Jason slew Theon's brother Rodrik Greyjoy and repelled the Ironborn.

Lord Jason is exceptionally brave and is keen on participating in the Tourney; he is one of the famous Knights beloved by the crowds at the Tourney.

House Mallister is loyal to House Tully, and they also have a close relationship with House Stark. On the eve of the Usurper's War, Brandon took several friends to King's Landing to demand that Rhaegar Targaryen surrender Lyanna; among Brandon's companions was Lord Jason's brother Joffrey Mallister, who was ultimately executed by the Mad King.

The commander of the Shadow Tower on the Wall, Ser Denys Mallister, is Lord Jason's uncle. When Eddard married Catelyn, Lord Jason generously sent many gifts.

Lord Jason recognized Catelyn and Eddard at a glance, and upon hearing that the couple was going to Riverrun, Lord Jason Mallister insisted on inviting them to be guests at Seagard.

Unable to refuse Lord Jason's enthusiasm, Eddard had no choice but to take his party to Seagard.

Seagard is the front line of the Riverlands against the Ironborn, facing the Iron Islands across the sea; Eddard saw a massive bronze bell hanging in the tower above the town.

"This is the Bell Tower," Lord Jason introduced. "In ancient times, whenever Ironborn raiders appeared on the sea, the giant bell in the Bell Tower would ring, warning the people working in the fields to flee immediately."

In the hall, Eddard and Catelyn enjoyed delicacies such as roasted trout, onion venison, and creamed quail. Lord Jason said, "Lord Eddard, you led the Northern Army and the Night's Watch to wipe out the Wildlings Beyond the Wall. My uncle Denys is the commander of the Shadow Tower; is he well?"

Eddard said, "Ser Denys Mallister is in good health; he is a hero of the war of conquest Beyond the Wall." In reality, Ser Denys was of advanced age and had remained at the Shadow Tower throughout the war; the brother of the Night's Watch who truly shone at the Shadow Tower was Qhorin Halfhand.

Lord Jason said, "King Robert is holding the Wolf King Festival for Lord Eddard, and the tourney is an important part of it. I will certainly participate and try to win the championship for fun."

Afterward, Eddard spoke of the Sunset Sea route.

"Lord Jason, I have built Blacksmith City at Sea Dragon Point on the West Coast of the North, and there is Dawn Watch at Salt Spear. With Warhorse City, Stony City, and several other castles, the North Coast Fleet is growing stronger every day. In the future, Northern merchant ships will sail south directly from Salt Spear, and Seagard can serve as a transit station."

Lord Jason said wistfully, "The damned Ironborn will plunder merchant ships. Lord Eddard, the Iron Islands are a den of pirates. Many pirates are secretly supported by King Balon; King Balon shares in the spoils of pirate raids, which is an open secret. That old man Balon—Robert should have executed him back then."

Eddard said, "I will send Northern longships to escort them; the naval commander of Blacksmith City knows the Ironborn pirates very well."

Lord Jason's eyes lit up. "Really? Who is the commander?"

Eddard said, "Helen Pyke; she is of Ironborn pirate origin and knows how to deal with pirates."

Hope vanished from Lord Jason's eyes in an instant, and he said coldly, "Lord Eddard, how can you employ an Ironborn pirate? Judging by the name, this person is also a bastard from the Iron Islands. Ironborn are liars, and the bastards of the Ironborn are even greater liars."

Eddard laughed, "Helen has already proven her loyalty. Once the West Coast route is opened, grain from the Riverlands can be sold directly from Seagard to the North, and ships from The Reach will also resupply at Seagard. Northern timber and furs will be sold to the south, and Seagard has the potential to become the central port for north-south maritime trade."

The Riverlands is an important wheat-producing region of the Seven Kingdoms, with agricultural output second only to The Reach, and developed handicraft industries. With the cooperation of the Mallister family of Seagard, plus the escort of the North Coast Fleet, in the future, grain and textiles from the territories of The Twins, Riverrun, Seagard, House Vance, and House Piper in the Riverlands can be sold directly to the North via the Sunset Sea route, reducing transport costs.

This meant that tax revenue for Seagard would soar, and Lord Jason quickly agreed to cooperate with Eddard. That day, Eddard released a raven from Seagard to notify Helen Pyke in Blacksmith City to prepare for the escort cooperation with Seagard.

After leaving Seagard, Eddard led the Northern party through the Witch Swamp, and a few days later, they finally arrived at Riverrun.

Riverrun is located at the confluence of the Tumblestone River and the Red Fork, a triangular castle. Below the castle, the Red Fork and the Tumblestone River roll eastward; to the west is a moat. Once attacked by enemies, the guards of Riverrun would open the sluice gates to fill the moat, turning Riverrun into an isolated island in the river, making it very difficult for any enemy to breach the castle.

Because Lord Hoster was bedridden, Catelyn's brother Edmure Tully led people to welcome Eddard and Catelyn.

Edmure is the only surviving son of Lord Hoster and Minisa Whent, the Heir to Riverrun. He is of medium build, with red-brown hair and a thick beard, and he embraced Catelyn.

"How is Father's condition?" Catelyn asked.

"Getting worse. He keeps complaining of intestinal pain. Father wants to see you and Eddard, and now you have finally come."

So Eddard and Catelyn went directly to Lord Hoster's bedroom. Lord Hoster had been a vibrant man in his youth, tall and burly, but now he was skin and bones, the veins on his arms clearly visible, and he was extremely weak.

Seeing Catelyn, Lord Hoster summoned his strength. "Little Cat, you have finally come home. And you, Eddard, even here in Riverrun, the story of the Wolf King conquering Beyond the Wall still leaves me in awe."

Catelyn said, "Father, your health is getting worse; didn't Maester Vyman prescribe any medicine for you?"

Lord Hoster shook his head and sighed, "I am old; no medicine is of any use."

Eddard said, "You are only in your early sixties. When we passed through The Twins, Lord Walder was full of vigor; he is over ninety, and his young wife is pregnant again. Lord Hoster, you are many years younger than Lord Walder! I have brought Maester Norman, who is skilled in medicine; let him examine you."

Maester Norman, the "White-Haired Old Man," immediately arrived carrying his medicine chest. He inquired about Hoster's condition and exchanged notes with Maester Vyman, and Maester Norman reached a conclusion.

"I believe Lord Hoster has simply eaten too much river fish and has roundworms in his stomach; I will prescribe some herbs." The medicine prescribed by Maester Norman included betel nut, quisqualis, and dark plum.

After Maester Vyman and Maester Norman left, only Catelyn, Eddard, and Hoster remained in the room.

Hoster said, "I hope Maester Norman's medicine works, so that perhaps I can go to King's Landing to attend the Wolf King Festival."

Catelyn said softly, "Your body is too weak; do not go to King's Landing, stay in Riverrun. When I reach King's Landing, I will call for Lysa and we will come back to see you together."

Eddard had a sudden inspiration. "By the way, there is also Littlefinger. Littlefinger is Lord Hoster's foster son; surely he must be very concerned about his foster father's condition!"

Upon hearing the name Littlefinger, Hoster's expression darkened significantly. He leaned back against his pillows and said coldly, "Littlefinger is a high official of the Small Council; why bother him?"

Catelyn sensed the anger in her father's words and said, "Father, how did Littlefinger offend you?"

Eddard took the opportunity to say, "Surely Lord Hoster has heard some terrible rumors? There are some rumors outside saying that Lysa and Littlefinger are having an affair, and they even say that little Robert Arryn is Littlefinger's seed."

Catelyn looked at Eddard in horror, and Lord Hoster suddenly sat up straight, agitated. "Are there really such rumors?"

Eddard said, "The rumors say that Littlefinger relied on seducing Jon Arryn's wife, Lysa, to gain Jon's promotion and ascend to the ranks of the high officials. They also say little Robert is frail, thin, and delicate, very much like Littlefinger. I do not believe a word of such gossip."

Lord Hoster sighed and lowered his voice.

"It is no wonder there are such rumors; back then, when Lysa was defiled by that shameless scoundrel Littlefinger, I worried that this day would come."

Catelyn said in shock, "Father, Littlefinger defiled Lysa? When did this happen?"

Hoster said, "Just before Lysa married Jon. Lysa was pregnant at the time, carrying Littlefinger's bastard. I forced her to drink tansy and moon tea to abort the child, and Lysa hated me for it. I drove Littlefinger away at the time, thinking he would spend his life as a petty lord in his fief in The Vale; I never expected him to use Lysa to climb to such a high position."

"Is little Robert really Littlefinger's seed? If that is true, both Littlefinger and Lysa should go to hell; Jon Arryn was such a noble man!"

Eddard said, "It is only a rumor; I believe little Robert is Jon's child. However, Lysa has had many miscarriages since her marriage; whether Littlefinger's frail seed played a part in that, it is hard to say."

A dragon war seemed to erupt in Catelyn's mind. She had always looked upon Littlefinger as a younger brother, and now that she knew the ugly things Littlefinger had done, her favor for him dropped significantly.

Catelyn said painfully, "I never expected Littlefinger to be this kind of person. When I reach King's Landing, I must find Littlefinger and Lysa and ask them clearly."

Eddard placed his hand on Catelyn's shoulder. "Unless caught in the act, how could Littlefinger and Lysa ever admit to an affair scandal?"

Hoster said, "Indeed, let us not delve into this matter; I can only blame myself for failing to see the man for what he was. Back then, Littlefinger's father, Old Littlefinger, was a hired knight who formed a friendship with me during the War of the Ninepenny Kings, which is why I took Littlefinger in as a foster son. The boy is clever; he will do anything to climb higher."

Lord Hoster took Maester Norman's medicine and his health improved. A few days later, Eddard and Catelyn, with their retinue, left Riverrun.

On the road, when they were in a quiet and deserted place, Eddard told Catelyn, "We are going to Harrenhal to visit your aunt, Lady Whent."

Catelyn frowned. "Lady Whent is indeed my aunt, but my mother and my uncle, the old Lord Whent, have been dead for many years. During Robert's Rebellion, the Tully family fought for Robert's rebel army, while the Whent family were royalists. Lady Whent's sons all died under the True Dragon banner of the Targaryen family. After that war, the Tully family and the Whent family had a rift, and we have rarely kept in touch over the years."

Eddard said, "You forget, your mother was Minisa Whent. Because of your mother, you have a claim to Harrenhal. Lady Whent has no heirs; you have a chance to inherit Harrenhal."

Catelyn said disdainfully, "A cursed castle. When I was a child, my mother often told me that ghosts wander Harrenhal; who would covet that castle?"

Eddard said, "If not for yourself, you must consider the children. Robb will inherit Winterfell in the future, but what of Bran and Rickon? The new Wolf Castle we built in the North cannot compare to Harrenhal; this is a vast territory!"

Catelyn thought for a moment. "I remember my aunt loves to drink; let's prepare some vodka and Blue Noble to give to her."

Eddard's party met up with the main force led by Jory Cassel at the town of Lord Harroway. The Wolf King's party returned to a scale of one thousand men and arrived at Harrenhal in a grand procession.

The massive walls of Harrenhal rose up by the shores of the Gods Eye. It is the largest castle in all of Westeros, and everything can only be described as grotesquely huge; the thick and steep walls were like dangerous cliffs, wide enough for giants to sleep on.

Morna White Mask saw the castle and hurriedly took off her weirwood mask to pray silently. Bear King Byars and his bear were stunned. Giant Eagle Prince Michu flew onto the walls on his giant eagle; in front of the majestic walls, he seemed to turn into a sparrow in an instant.

Lady Shella Whent, upon hearing that Eddard and Catelyn were visiting, hurriedly brought her servants to welcome them. The group walked among the towers of Harrenhal like ants at the feet of giants.

The stables of Harrenhal could easily accommodate a thousand horses, the kitchens were larger than the hall of Winterfell, the godswood covered twenty acres, and any single room was large enough for a giant to sleep in; everything could only be described as gargantuan.

In the Hundred Hearth Hall, which was large enough to host a feast for an army, Lady Whent hosted a banquet for Catelyn and Eddard. Compared to the massive castle, the dishes at the banquet were meager, consisting only of mashed potatoes, river fish, and jam pies.

Countess Xila said apologetically, "If I had known you were coming, I certainly would have prepared a sumptuous banquet. It is just a pity that the maintenance of the castle is extremely expensive, and I do not have enough manpower. My castle kitchen is large enough for a hundred cooks to stir-fry at the same time, but unfortunately, I have no money to hire that many."

Eddard said, "We have fine wine and good food that we can share with you."

So Eddard ordered his attendants to bring out Black Truffle, Maple Syrup, and barrels of Vodka and Blue Noble. After they had eaten and drunk their fill, Eddard presented Incense Candle to replace the tallow candles in the hall. Countess Xila accepted the gifts with a look of gratitude.

Countess Xila was a kind-faced old woman, yet having lived as a widow in the halls of Harrenhal for many years, she could not avoid sorrow.

Under the candlelight, Countess Xila said, "Lord Eddard, I first met you during the Tourney at Harrenhal back then. You were so young at the time, as were your brother Brandon and your brother Benjen. Alas! It is a pity that your brother has been gone for many years, and my four sons and daughter were all buried in King Robert Baratheon's rebellion."

The "Year of the False Spring" Tourney at Harrenhal was a beautiful memory in the lives of many Westeros nobles. Back then, Eddard, Brandon, Benjen, and Lyanna Stark attended the grand event at Harrenhal, and the small Crannogman Howland Reed even shone brilliantly in the identity of the Laughing Tree Knight.

Countess Xila felt endless sadness when mentioning the Tourney at Harrenhal from those years.

"Back then, my husband, my four sons, and my daughter were the masters of Harrenhal. The Tourney attracted merchants and travelers, Hired Knights, wandering warriors, nobles from all over, and artisans; tens of thousands of people gathered at Harrenhal. At that time, House Whent displayed the wealth and power of the family to the nobles from all over the Seven Kingdoms."

"At that time, our family was simply at its zenith! We mocked the curse of Harrenhal, thinking that the descendants of Whent could multiply in Harrenhal for generations and change the bad luck of the previous lords of Harrenhal. We were the confidants of Prince Rhaegar Targaryen; as long as Prince Rhaegar ascended the throne and sat on the Iron Throne, House Whent could rise to even greater heights."

"It is just a pity that the situation changed suddenly. Robert Baratheon's warhammer killed Prince Rhaegar Targaryen at the Trident, the Targaryen Dynasty fell, and all four of my sons died fighting for the True Dragon, only to end up with the status of traitors. After kneeling and submitting, the territory was reduced, and the family declined rapidly. Now, only this old woman remains, lingering on in Harrenhal."

Eddard said, "Countess Xila, if you are willing to go to Winterfell, I can let you spend your remaining years in peace. I have many children in my home, hundreds of wards; your life will no longer be lonely."

Countess Xila smiled bitterly, "Many thanks for Lord Eddard's kindness, but my father and my children are all buried at Harrenhal; I cannot leave them behind. My maiden family is House Grafton of Gulltown. The current Lord of Gulltown, Gerold Grafton, is my nephew. He has been inviting me to live in the monastery at Gulltown, but I have refused."

"Last year, Lord Gerold even sent a son to Harrenhal to be a ward, but once that child arrived at Harrenhal, he was plagued by illness and cried all day, saying that Harrenhal had ghosts. Lord Gerold had no choice but to take the child back."

House Grafton of Gulltown was wealthy and powerful. It seems House Grafton also wanted to get a finger in the pie of Harrenhal through their kinship with Countess Xila; this was a potential competitor.

Countess Xila said, "Lord Eddard, when you go to King's Landing, do not forget to petition King Robert Baratheon on my behalf, requesting him to send troops to wipe out the bandits in the area around Harrenhal. I have no power to raise soldiers to suppress these bandits, and Harrenhal is severely short of manpower. I am worried that these bandits will attack the castle."

Eddard said, "How about this: I will leave three hundred men for you. These are soldiers of the Winter Wolves. They can help you with work at Harrenhal, repair the castle, and farm. If bandits come, the Winter Wolves will help you drive them away."

Countess Xila revealed a gratified smile, "I will keep Lord Eddard's kindness in mind."

The Winter Wolves were garrisoned at Harrenhal. Although there were only three hundred of them, at a critical moment, they were enough to control Harrenhal. Controlling Harrenhal meant gripping the heartland of the Seven Kingdoms.

That night, Eddard and Catelyn slept in the vast, empty guest room, and he entered a dream.

In the dream, Eddard was warging into the Direwolf, running in the Godswood of Harrenhal, where the Heart Tree was hideous, twisted, and full of pain.

The Godswood was full of ghosts. Eddard saw a king wearing a Driftwood Crown, soaked through, praying to the sea with his descendants, only to be swallowed by Dragonfire in an instant.

A wretched lord was castrated and left bleeding to death under the Heart Tree; a one-eyed prince held the pregnant belly of a black-haired woman, uttering a curse of kinslaying; a crazed woman, her shoulders covered in bats, tore open the body of an infant and sipped the blood.

The Weirwood Bracelet suddenly transmitted a whisper.

It was the voice of the Crow.

"Do not associate with ghosts! Remember to go to the Isle of Faces on the Gods Eye, visit the Wood Dancer, and remind her that the Great Other approaches, Winter is Coming!"

Thanks to Apologies and zhuhuabjss for the tips. Thanks to 20230419103819541, $Red Demon Wolf$, Carefree Hermit in the Human World, and 20221204002731333 for the monthly tickets. Thank you for your support!

(End of chapter)