Highlights
- House Frey has controlled the Crossing and exacted tolls for six hundred years, making them a powerful and wealthy family.
- Lord Walder Frey, the head of House Frey, is described as discourteous, ill-mannered, and sharp-tongued.
- The Freys betrayed House Stark by orchestrating the Red Wedding, leading to their eventual downfall and ultimate revenge by Arya Stark.
In Game of Thrones season 1, episode 9 "Baelor," the Lords of the North, describe Lord Walder Frey of the Twins as an untrustworthy man. Since Lord Eddard Stark of Winterfell rots in a dungeon below the Red Keep, his heir, Robb Stark summons the Northern bannermen. He marches South with his host, and as they approach the Trident River, they realize they need House Frey's permission to cross the only viable bridge over the Green Fork. Catelyn Stark suspects the Freys of sending word of Robb's movement to the Lannisters, while Robb says since the Lord of the Crossing is his maternal grandfather, Lord Hoster Tully's bannerman, they should expect his support. Greatjon Umber reminds the Young Wolf:
Expect nothing of Walder Frey and you'll never be surprised.
As the party discusses how to get around Walder Frey, Catelyn speaks from wisdom and reminds them that House Frey has controlled the Crossing for six hundred years, and for six hundred years the Freys have never failed to exact toll. Finally, she decides to enter the Twins alone and Game of Thrones' "Baelor" shows Walder Frey just as discourteous, ill-mannered, and sharp-tongued as he is described in the lore.
Lord Of The Crossing
Catelyn thinks Walder Frey would never harm her as he has known her since she was a girl, but she couldn't be more wrong. As seen in Game of Thrones' "Baelor" Walder Frey, sires numerous children (both legitimate and otherwise) and has outlived seven wives. He's on his eighth wife, the fifteen-year-old Joyeuse Frey whom he mistreats in front of Catelyn. As the 90-year-old Lord of the Crossing has an abundance of sons and daughters. Since Lord Tully wouldn't marry any of his children into this dishonorable family, he strikes a deal with Catelyn. His true loyalties lie with his House, and he isn't shy to admit that the names Stark, Baratheon, Tully, or Lannister mean nothing to him. Finally, in exchange for granting Catelyn's son and his bannermen the crossing, Walder Frey asks her to betroth Robb to a Frey girl of his choosing. Additionally, Walder Frey asks his son, Olyvar, to be taken as Robb's personal squire and Arya to marry his son, Waldron when they both are of age.
The House That Profited Off A Bridge
House Frey was one of the noble Houses in the Riverlands and a vassal House to The Tullys. Their House words are "We Stand Together" while their sigil is two grey towers connected by a bridge. The seat, the Twins consists of two identical keeps on the opposite sides of the northern Green Fork of the Trident, connected by a bridge. Anyone traveling from the North on their way to the western Riverlands will have to use this crossing point, and the alternative routes are hazardous. Since Robb and his bannermen needed Walder Frey's permission in Game of Thrones, Catelyn is forced to broker a marriage alliance with House Frey.
The Crossing contributed to the rise of the Freys. The first Lord Frey was allotted lands and noble status, and he began the construction of a bridge over the Trident which took three generations. The third generation Lord Walder added wooden keeps on both sides and these were replaced by stone keeps. This explains the Freys' accumulation of wealth and rise in their status. Walder Frey's heir was his firstborn Ser Stevron Frey, and a few of his sons" as seen in Game of Thrones include Walder Rivers/ Black Walder and Lothar Frey who killed Robb's pregnant wife, Talisa. After Robb broke his promised betrothal, he entered the Twins to seek Walder Frey's forgiveness and sought to repair damage by offering Lord Edmure Tully's hand in marriage to a girl in Walder's brood.
Game of Thrones' Red Wedding is used to describe the wedding feast massacre that was orchestrated by Walder Frey with Roose Bolton at the Twins and commissioned by Tywin Lannister. The Northman, Roose had cemented his alliance with the Freys by marrying Walder Frey's granddaughter, Lady Walda. Lord Walder Frey was made Lord of the Riverlands and the Lannisters also promised to protect him should any Northerner seek vengeance.
Winter Comes For House Frey
Walder Frey's daughter, Roslin was wed to Catelyn's brother, Lord Edmure Tully. As they were carried out to consummate their marriage, Black Walder closed the door of the great hall. The Freys, positioned to attack the inebriated Starks and their bannermen, started shooting arrows and stabbing their guests. After Robb dropped dead, Catelyn slit Joyeuse's throat at the Redding Wedding, and she herself was slain by Walder Rivers. Not only were the Freys in violation of the Guest right but broke faith with their liege lords - the Tullys.
In Game of Thrones season 6, episode 10 "The Winds of Winter," Arya Stark served Lord Walder Frey a pie made out of Black Walder and Lothar and revealed her face and what she had done. She smiled down at him, and slit his throat in a smooth motion. As for the Frey brood, Arya gathered them at a feast and served them poisoned wine in Game of Thrones season 7, episode 1 "Dragonstone." In the cold opening of Game of Thrones' "Dragonstone," Arya (wearing Walder's face) avenged House Stark by killing the culpable male Freys and walked out of the hall, satisfied.