Riverrun

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Riverrun
Castle, former Regional Capital
Riverrun by Feliche.jpg
Riverrun by Feliche©
Location Westeros, Riverlands
Government House Frey of Riverrun
House Tully (exiled), Feudal Lord
Religion Faith of the Seven
The Riverlands and the location of Riverrun
The Riverlands and the location of Riverrun
Riverrun
The Riverlands and the location of Riverrun

Riverrun is the ancestral castle of House Tully, held by them for over a thousand years.[1] It is situated in the western Riverlands, at the point where the Tumblestone and Red Fork rivers meet.[2] Riverrun is north of Pinkmaiden and northwest of Acorn Hall. The castle sits along the river road, which links Lannisport and the crossroads.[3]

Layout

See also: Images of Riverrun

Riverrun is a strong three-sided castle, although not especially large. The castle is bordered on the north by the Tumblestone and on the south by the Red Fork, while on the west a third side faces a massive man-made ditch. In time of danger the sluice gates can be opened to fill a wide moat and leave the castle surrounded on all three sides by water, turning Riverrun into an island and leaving it practically unassailable. It commands a view of many leagues.[4]

The castle has sandstone walls which rise sheer from the water, its battlements are crenelated and have arrow loops, and its towers command the opposite shores.[4] Riverrun's keep is located inside.[5] Properly garrisoned, Riverrun can hold supplies for men and horses for as long as two years;[6] a garrison of two hundred men is larger than Riverrun requires in most circumstances.[7] Some guardsmen wear fish-crest helms.[5]

  • The keep is triangular, like Riverrun itself, and the lord's solar is triangular as well with a stone balcony jutting eastwards. The solar can be reached by a spiral stairway.[4]
  • The Great Hall is where large councils are held and the high seat of the Tullys sits.[4] There is a private audience chamber above the Great Hall with a high seat for the lord and a bell to ring for servants.[8]
  • The dungeons of Riverrun are windowless, their doors heavy and made of wood and iron.[4]
  • The Wheel Tower has a great waterwheel within it, which is turned by the Tumblestone whose waters go through it. It has ivy climbing alongside it, below it one makes a wide turn and ends up in churning waters. Eventually one can reach the Water Gate.[5]
  • The Water Gate has a wide arch and a heavy iron portcullis, red with rust in its lower half. It is named so for being half in the water. One must use a boat to go through it. Many boats are tied up within the Water Gate, secured to iron rings in the walls. The water stair leads from the lower bailey up to the castle.[4]
  • The godswood is a bright and airy garden, with redwoods, flowers, nesting birds, and streams. The godswood's heart tree is a slender carved weirwood.[5]
  • The sept at Riverrun is a seven-sided sandstone building. The sept was built by Hoster Tully and set amidst the gardens that his wife Minisa Whent cherished. Inside, the images of the Seven Holies are painted on marble.[8]

History

House Tully ruled Riverrun and its rich lands for a thousand years.[1]

Petyr Baelish spent part of his youth at Riverrun with the Tully siblings, Catelyn, Lysa, and Edmure.[9]

In Riverrun's sept during Robert's Rebellion, Eddard Stark and Jon Arryn married Catelyn and Lysa, respectively.[2] Ned and Cat's eldest child, Robb Stark, was born at Riverrun nine months later.[10]

Recent Events

Riverrun castle© Fantasy Flight Games©

A Game of Thrones

At the start of the War of the Five Kings, Ser Edmure Tully is defeated by Ser Jaime Lannister in the Battle of Riverrun. The castle is then besieged by a Lannister host commanded by Jaime. It is relieved in the Battle of the Camps by a Stark force commanded by Robb Stark. In the Great Hall of Riverrun Robb is elevated to King in the North by his northern bannerman as well as the river lords, who were never ruled by the old Kings of Winter.

A Clash of Kings

Following the Battle of the Blackwater, the Iron Throne names Petyr Baelish the Lord Paramount of the Trident, the new liege lord of the Riverlands, with the castle of Harrenhal as his seat.[11] However, the Tullys of Riverrun and their bannermen remain loyal to Robb Stark, the King of the Trident.[12]

A Storm of Swords

When Robb leaves to attend the wedding of Edmure at the Twins, he leaves Ser Brynden Tully at Riverrun as the Warden of the Southern Marches.[13]

Following the death of Robb at the Red Wedding, Lord Tywin Lannister strips House Tully of Riverrun and grants it to Emmon Frey, forming House Frey of Riverrun. However, Brynden continues to hold the castle against a Frey siege.[14]

A Feast for Crows

Jaime Lannister negotiates the end of the Siege of Riverrun and the surrender of the castle from House Tully to House Frey. Brynden escapes through the Water Gate, however, and presumably swims down the Red Fork. Lord Emmon has a large garrison of two hundred to defend his new castle, while the Blackfish's garrison is allowed to depart without arms and armor. When snow falls at Riverrun, its people engage in a snowball war along the battlements.[7]

Quotes

Riverrun is mine, and no man shall ever take it from me.[7]

- Emmon Frey to Genna Lannister

Chapters that take place at Riverrun

References and Notes