After the coup in King's Landing, Janos Sterling, a butcher by trade, was given the title of Duke and Harrenhal by Queen Mother Cersei in the blink of an eye.
It can be seen that in the era of five kings, high-level noble titles are no longer a rarity.
Arthur had to lament that ginger is still hotter when old.
What Duke Hoster and his son offered were similar, but the terms offered by Housemaster Tully sounded much more attractive.
"No problem at all, I will let the Western Army in Golden Teeth City receive greetings from my sledgehammer."
After confirming what Duke Tully ordered, Arthur left the main castle and headed to the hall.
In addition to the two thousand Frey soldiers and more than seven hundred Stark soldiers, there are also more than a thousand second- and third-line family soldiers from Severn, Amber, and more than a dozen
Northern family.
Many of these small family leaders despised and even hated the Frey family, such as Rona Stau, who led the Severn soldiers.
He had to smooth out the hair on these rebellious Yankees so that both sides could cooperate wholeheartedly and fight the enemy together.
…
The evening of the second day, the Temple of Riverrun.
In the river, the nobles from the north were lined up on both sides, waiting for the bride to come in and swear an oath to the groom.
Since the marriage was promised by Lady Stark, and because he had always despised the Frey family, Duke Hoster did not attend the wedding oath ceremony on the grounds of being seriously ill.
Edmure's injury did not improve and he could only lie on a stretcher and was carried by four male servants for the wedding ceremony.
This made the people of the North even more contemptuous of the Frey family.
The bald Aenys Frey slowly led the bride in.
Old Walder did not come, nor did Duke Hoster, so he had to be the younger one to send the bride to the groom.
In the queue of riverside nobles on the left.
"It seems that Lord Edmure is not satisfied with this marriage."
The Earl of Haijiang City beside Arthur said.
Indeed, anyone can see that this Tully has a sad look on his face.
"But he can also recognize it by holding his nose." Arthur said.
If Edmure's marriage partner is still Roslin Frey, then he will still make a profit.
It's just that the Frey family has done a really good job of keeping things secret.
Marrying on the Tully family's property, the landowners didn't even guess who the bride was, let alone their guests.
The two walked to the steps, and Innis, representing Old Ward, took off the bride's hijab.
Even though the injury was still serious, Edmure, who was lying down, still stretched his neck and looked at the bride.
The nobles didn't know what this Frey looked like, but based on Edmure's wide eyes and slightly smiling expression, they speculated that his new wife must be beautiful enough.
Then they went according to the procedure. The bride was short so that Edmure, who was lying on the stretcher, could put a cloak on her body.
This symbolizes the husband's protection of his wife.
Then, the monk wrapped a white ribbon around Edmure's left hand and the bride's right hand.
Finally, the two of them swore to the seven-pointed star behind the monk:
"Father, Holy Mother, Warrior..."
During this process, everyone finally saw clearly what the bride looked like.
She has extremely delicate and graceful facial features, a petite chin, a delicate nose, a pair of big brown eyes, and long dark chestnut hair that is tied into loose curls and hangs down to her waist.
It's Roslin!
In terms of beauty, she can be regarded as one of the top beauties in the Hejian Land.
"I didn't know there was such a beautiful person in the Twins City." Jason Mallister looked very regretful, "Otherwise, I would have proposed marriage to my son. He likes beautiful girls best."
Arthur was also amazed by Edmure's new wife. During the oath taking, he stared at Roslin's beautiful profile for a long time.
Realizing that someone was looking at him, he turned to the right and saw Sansa standing among the northern nobles with an angry look on her face.
But after he turned around, Miss Stark immediately changed her expression to a solemn and arrogant one.
Arthur was also so disturbed by this incident that he no longer had the heart to appreciate other people's wives.
So they waited patiently for the wedding banquet to be held after the oaths were taken.
In the past few days, whether I was on the road or in Harrenhal where food was scarce, I didn't even have a decent meal.
The wedding of Tully's eldest son was obviously a big event, so the nearby villages that had not been damaged by the war sent a large number of live sheep, geese and other livestock, pickled meat, potatoes, pumpkins and other vegetables newly dug this autumn. Naturally, the nobles could eat them.
With the best ingredients, even the nearby soldiers can have a meaty dinner.
The oath was quickly ended, and everyone gathered around the newlyweds to attend the wedding banquet in the hall.
Arthur was about to move closer to Sansa, but he felt someone tugging on his sleeve.
He looked down and saw that it was the lame Luo Suo.
The man asked in a low voice: "I heard that you have a dragon, a real dragon?"
Alduin was still a young dragon, and it was extremely dangerous to fight in the western realm among the mountains, so Arthur asked Gendry and the young dragon to stay in Harrenhal and grow up for a period of time.
Anyway, the system has forced Alduin to recognize him as his master, so it doesn't matter if he is separated temporarily.
"Yes."
Arthur readily admitted.
After two hundred and eighty-three years of Targaryen rule, dragons and their family have a special meaning to the nobility of Westeros.
Even after the Usurper's War was won, the four alliances still wanted to establish Robert, who had the blood of the Dragon family, as king, which showed the legitimacy of the Dragon family.
Rosso's little eyes suddenly widened, "I have long heard that you are an undefeated warrior, and now you have the help of a giant dragon..."
The man began to flatter Arthur and kept saying all kinds of disgusting things.
The "manager" was very embarrassed by him, so after a few random promises, he quickly cut through the mess and said: "Tell me, what is your purpose?"
There is no unprovoked closeness, the cripple Rosso must have a purpose.
Most of the noble knights have gone to the hall to attend the wedding banquet, and there are not many people left in the temple.
Rosso motioned to Arthur to lower his head and listen, "If you can marry a Frey, we will support you in retaking the Iron Throne. This support includes an army of more than 4,000 people and countless amounts of money and food."
Arthur turned his head and glanced at this person, and said with some humor: "You are really unyielding. When we were outside King's Landing, your third brother and sixth brother had already done the same thing."
"The situation at that time was different from the situation now." Rosso said flatteringly, "They just wanted to marry an ordinary Frey. What I can give is the support of the entire Hedu territory."
Arthur knew a little about this man's position in Old Walder's heart, but he didn't expect that he would dare to make such a promise.
After finishing taking the oath, the monk and others also left.
So only Arthur and Rosso were left here.
"I have plans for my marriage, so I won't worry about it for you." Arthur simply refused, then turned around and wanted to have a big meal at the wedding banquet, and at the same time, develop his relationship with Sansa.
Rosso still held Arthur's sleeve firmly, "Wait a minute."
He jumped up to Arthur and whispered: "You can make whatever conditions you want, even if you want my sister and nieces to be your mistresses, as long as you are like Aegon IV in the future, you will give Frey the money you want."
We can all accept the legalization of illegitimate children."
The Targaryen family has done the most to legalize illegitimate children.
The most famous one is Aegon IV, whom Rosso refers to. He legalized many of his illegitimate children, and then produced a bunch of noble bastards, including Daemon Blackfire, Cold Iron, Bloodraven and others.
"Why are you so annoying!" Arthur glanced at Rosso with some disgust, and also whispered: "If I ask Roslin to be my mistress, will you agree?"
He just wanted to get rid of the lame man's entanglement and then go to the hall to cook, so he said such an absurd statement and prepared to block the man's mouth.
These words are just words, not what he really thinks in his heart.
Rosso was silenced by this sentence.
There are actually people who want to use other people's wives as mistresses.
What kind of hobby is this?
Arthur took the opportunity to take off his sleeves and hurried to the hall.
The lame man couldn't catch up, so he had to look at his back and think silently.
"Aegon IV... gets married..., that's right." Rosso punched his left palm with his right hand.
He remembered a certain rumor about "Mean King" Aegon.
A certain cousin of Aegon IV, Elana Targaryen, once married an old Lord Plumen, but the groom died mysteriously on the wedding night.
Although Elana later claimed that the groom had consummated their marriage with her and that the child was Lord Plumen's son, rumors claimed that it was Aegon IV who climbed into the marriage bed.
Rosso thought to himself, he is worthy of being a person with the blood of the Long family, he even has the same hobbies.
Although it is impossible to let Arthur climb into the marriage bed - after all, this is Riverrun, the home base of the Tully family - it is still possible to let Roslin be Arthur's mistress.
"Long is naturally lustful. If we meet his request, maybe..."
Rosseau decided to make this bet.
After all, she's just a woman.
Roslin's marriage value has come to an end. If she can still be used to connect with the new Dragon King...
The worst thing is that Tully's eldest son wears a hat, and the Frey family really doesn't lose much.
The lame Rosso no longer went to the hall to attend the wedding banquet, and limped to the tower where the Freys lived, preparing to plan some small things to revitalize the family.
…
Arthur walked into the great hall of Riverrun and saw an empty seat next to Sansa. He knew that it was reserved for him, so he hurried over.
"Why did you go?"
Seeing Arthur coming over, Sansa wiped her mouth gracefully and asked casually.
"Someone from the Frey family stopped me and told me that he wanted to marry a Frey to me."
Old Walder has many daughters and granddaughters who cannot get married, so this is not surprising.
On the empty table next to Sansa, there were two large plates of charcoal-grilled tender lamb chops, which were much larger than the others.
At first glance, it was a special request.
Arthur sat down, nodded to Sansa and thanked her, and then began to feast.
"What's the point of being polite between you and me?" After Miss Stark responded, she began to ask Frey about his marriage proposal.
"How did you refuse?"
After Arthur swallowed a mouthful of hot mutton, he was about to tell the story of the situation, but suddenly realized that there was a trap in it.
What Sansa asked was not how Arthur said it, but how he refused it.
In other words, she has already acquiesced that Arthur will not marry other families.
After an emergency turn in his mind, Arthur replied:
"I just said that I already have someone I like, and when the war eases, I will come to them to sign a marriage contract, so that they will give up their intention of marrying me off."
Sansa was quite satisfied with this answer, so she asked insinuatingly: "Lord Arthur, where is the person you like now?"
Women in love are strange animals, and their need for sweet words is much higher than normal people.
Even if something is obvious, it still needs to be confirmed verbally over and over again.
"Next to me, a young lady from the North named Sansa."
After Arthur swallowed what was in his mouth, he answered the question clearly.
Miss Stark was very satisfied with the reply and stopped worrying about it, letting Arthur go about his business of eating.
Since there were many people from the North participating in the wedding banquet, the atmosphere was extremely lively. Great Jon, Robert and others began to fight for wine. After more people were full of wine and food, they began to take wine glasses and pour them on the table to serve themselves.
Those who are optimistic cry out.
Frey and others were surrounded by the Oath Knights of Riverrun headed by Desmond. With them entertaining them, Aenys, Hosteen, Simon and others were all happy.
Barrels after barrels of fine wine were continuously delivered into the hall, and flexible servants shuttled among the crowd, clearing away useless plates and delivering new food and wine bottles.
After Arthur finished another plate of foie gras, someone finally remembered him.
The Great Jon, whose eyes were focused together, staggered to Arthur's side, put his arm around Arthur's shoulders and said: "Brother, among the people of the river, I recognize you as a real man. Come, have a drink with me."
.”
Sansa saw that the scene was getting chaotic, so she waved her hand to signal Arthur not to drink too much, and then left.
Her uncle and new aunt are more suitable for treating her like a lady.
The Great Jon didn't care that Arthur didn't have a wine glass in his hand, he just took his own wine glass and poured it into Arthur's mouth.
"Drink...drink to your heart's content..."
Arthur quickly blocked the Great Jon's wine glass, then found his own and touched it with the man.
Since the atmosphere group in the North had been transferred, several Northerners immediately surrounded Arthur.
These northerners looked down upon the Frey family, so they did not follow them to the bridal chamber and only drank together in the hall.
Unable to refuse, Arthur also drank cup after cup.
Men's friendships are often established over wine glasses.
After drinking countless glasses of ale, the northerners around him began to call Arthur a brother.
You know, before that they mostly called Arthur Lord Bracken.
Rona Stowe didn't know when he came over and stammered: "For your sake, I will not vent my anger on the Frey family from now on."
After saying this, the man suddenly fell to the ground.
Because of his strong body, Arthur's drinking capacity is quite large.
After shaking his head to wake himself up, Arthur found that everyone drinking in the hall had fallen down.
He was the only one left standing.
The newlywed couple has disappeared, and they must have entered the wedding room.
It's just that Edmure is not yet able to take care of himself, so the two of them probably haven't consummated their marriage.
Most of this group of drunken nobles were military leaders, and some who had lived here originally were carried to their rooms by servants who came in one after another.
Those who live in military camps outside the city should be uniformly arranged to sleep in a large room in a big room.
Arthur's room was in a tower next to the godswood. Since he arrived very late and the main castle was full, he could only be placed in a more remote place.
It is said to be a sacred forest, but in fact there is only one weirwood tree, and the rest are miscellaneous trees.
There are not many people in the Riverlands who believe in the old gods, so there are very few servants living nearby.
Arthur rinsed his mouth with wine again, then left the hall and staggered to his residence.
It's late at night.
Except for a dozen servants arranging drunkards near the hall, the entire castle fell silent.
Dark clouds covered the stars and the bright moon, and only the torches inserted on the walls in the castle emitted faint light to dispel the darkness that seemed to last forever.
But the sun will eventually rise, and light will follow, and darkness will only show off its glory for a moment.
After walking into the tower and holding on to the wall for one more floor, Arthur entered his room.
But what was surprising was that the candles had already been lit in the room, and a figure was sitting at the wooden table.
"Why do you smell so drunk? Didn't I tell you to drink less?"
It's Sansa's voice.
Arthur squinted his eyes for a while and finally saw the figure matching the image of Sansa in his memory.
"You also know how you northerners behave when you drink. If I don't clink glasses with them, they will think I look down on them and start making trouble."
Arthur staggered towards the bed. Sansa saw this and stood up to help him.
"I can still walk." Bracken smiled at Miss Stark, then took her little hand and rubbed it.
After helping Arthur to the bed, Sansa asked him to lie down, "Have a good sleep, and you won't feel uncomfortable when you wake up."
She withdrew her little hand and prepared to blow out the candle and leave.
But Arthur sat up again, "Kiss me before leaving?"
There was still a smile on his face.
Sansa looked at him looking like a gangster, loving and hating him at the same time.
Although the smell of wine was overwhelming, she still leaned forward, took a sip of water, and whispered in a low voice: "Stop making trouble, go to bed early."
Arthur held her for a long time, and then let go after Sansa became a little angry.
Then lie down and sleep.
Sansa has always been conservative in certain matters due to the influence of Mrs. Stark's certain ideas.
This made Arthur always feel regretful.
After Miss Stark confirmed that her sweetheart had begun to sleep, she blew out the two candles in the room and left quietly.
Originally a servant could do this, but Sansa wanted to do it herself.
After she left the tower, a figure flashed out from a completely dark corner and silently went upstairs.
This man limped into Arthur's room, walked to the bed, and called in a low voice: "Master Arthur, we have made arrangements for you."
After three or four calls in succession, Arthur finally responded.
"Sansa, didn't you leave? Why did you come back? Do you want to be with me..."
Rosso leaned into Arthur's ear and said, "It's me, Rosso. The Roslin you requested is ready."
These words made Bracken sober up a little.
"I don't believe it..." He mumbled, and the sleepiness all over the sky made his head unclear again.
"It's in the sacred forest. If you come with me, you can talk to Roslin..."
The flames stirred by Sansa began to burn wildly. Arthur followed Rosso downstairs in confusion, and under his guidance, entered the woods on the side.
Somewhere in the darkness, a girl is waiting for Arthur's arrival.
