Lord Walder Frey
From A Wiki of Ice and Fire
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| Alias | The Late Lord Frey |
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| Title | Lord of the Twins Lord of the Crossing |
| Allegiance | House Frey |
| Born | In 208AL, |
| Spouse | Perra Royce 1st Cyrenna Swann 2nd Amarei Crakehall 3rd Alyssa Blackwood 4th Sarya Whent 5th Bethany Rosby 6th Annara Farring 7th Joyeuse Erenford 8th |
| Book(s) | A Game of Thrones A Clash of Kings A Storm of Swords A Feast for Crows A Dance with Dragons |
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| Played by | David Bradley |
| TV series | Season 1 |
Walder Frey rules the Twins as the head of House Frey and Lord of the Crossing. Though past ninety years old and infirm, he still maintains an active hand in the running of his house.[1] He is a vain, prickly, ambitious, and untrustworthy man. He has become famous for siring many children and surviving many wives. He is currently married to his eighth wife and has over a hundred descendants, base and trueborn. He has had twenty-two trueborn sons and seven trueborn daughters from his marriages, with an unknown number of bastard sons and daughters. He places a great emphasis on family loyalty, though his descendants jockey ruthlessly for his favor. Many Freys name their sons Walder and daughters Walda in hopes of honoring him. In the TV series, he is played by David Bradley.
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Apperance
He is brittle, suffers from gout and is confined to a chair, although he brags that he still can produce progeny.[2] Age has made him bald and toothless and his skin hangs loose. Walder has passed his weasely appearance and weak chin down to many of his descendants.[3]
History
As a toddler Walder was present at the marriage of his sister.[4]. It is said he caused the marriage when he discovered his sister having intimate relations with a servant.[5]
During Robert's Rebellion, Walder delayed arriving at the Battle of the Trident until the rebels had already won. For this his liege lord, Hoster Tully, called him "The Late Lord Frey."[6][7][8]
Recent Events
A Game of Thrones
During the War of the Five Kings, Walder again delayed coming to House Tully's summons when Edmure called his banners in support of Robb Stark. Because the use of the Twins became a strategic necessity for Robb's host, Walder was able to negotiate marriage contracts for his children to Robb and Arya Stark. In addition, two of his grandsons Little Walder Frey and Big Walder Frey were sent to Winterfell as wards and one of his sons Olyvar Frey was made squire to Robb Stark.[9]
A Clash of Kings
His son and heir Stevron Frey dies while fighting bravely for Robb Stark. Word eventually reached the Twins of Robb Stark's marriage to Jeyne Westerling instead of a Frey as promised. Ryman Frey, Lord Walder's new heir, withdrew their support from the King of the North in outrage.
A Storm of Swords
Walder secretly colluded with Tywin Lannister and Roose Bolton to betray the Starks and Tullys. Through Lothar Frey, Walder lured Robb and many of his key bannermen back to the Twins under the guise of making amends and marrying Edmure Tully to his daughter Roslin. During the wedding feast, Walder's men ambushed Robb and his entire host (despite the fact they were under the protection of guest right), slaughtering Robb, Catelyn Stark, many of their bannermen, and a significant portion of the northern army.[10] This betrayal became known as the Red Wedding. Walder then openly swore loyalty to House Lannister, his second son (Emmon Frey) receiving Riverrun and its lands as reward.[11]
According to Merrett Frey, Lord Walder is not long for the world and when he dies it'll be every other Frey for himself. Walder Frey, though a tyrant, believes in taking care of his own, even the ones who disappoint him. When Stevron Frey was heir it was different, as he was raised by Walder Frey to believe that blood was blood, but his sons and grandsons (and now the new heirs) do not feel the same way.
A Feast for Crows
The Elder Brother at the Quiet Isle says that Lord Frey is hunting outlaws from the Twins. Lord Frey sent a raven to King's Landing putting forth several claims to land. This was discussed in the small council until Qyburn pointed out many of the population of the city (and all of Westeros) feel the Red Wedding was a great crime by all the laws of gods and men. Qyburn then stated that it would not be good if the crown was believed to share in Walder Frey's crime and it would be useful if someone was to be punished for the Red Wedding. Pycelle said Lord Walder would never kill his own but Cersei Lannister stated that whoever inherits the Twins after Walder Frey would not be as squeamish, and what better way to rid himself of inconvenient relatives then by naming them the culprits and executing them?
A Dance with Dragons
Several dozen of Walder Frey's kin have been killed either by the Brotherhood Without Banners or by Northmen (such as Wyman Manderly or the "Ghost of Winterfell") in retaliation for the Red Wedding. Ironically, more Freys have died due to the repercussions of the Red Wedding than during the War of the Five Kings.
References and Notes
- ↑ A Game of Thrones, Chapter 28, Catelyn
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 49, Catelyn
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 49, Catelyn
- ↑ His name is not mentioned in the The Mystery Knight but Martin indicated that the toddler is Walder
- ↑ The Mystery Knight
- ↑ A Game of Thrones, Chapter 28, page 253, Catelyn
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 35, Catelyn
- ↑ A Game of Thrones, Chapter 59, page 566, Catelyn
- ↑ A Game of Thrones, Chapter 59, page 568 / 569, Catelyn
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 51, Catelyn
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 72, Jaime
