Summary
In season 1 ofGame of Thrones, Joffrey Baratheon imprisons Ned Stark on false charges of treason. Queen Regent, Cersei Lannister asks Sansa to write a letter to her mother, Catelyn, and brother, Robb to keep them abreast of the latest developments at King’s Landing. “If you would help your father, urge your brother to keep the King’s peace. Tell him to come to King’s Landing and swear his fealty to Joffrey,” demand Cersei and her henchmen. While Sansa does what she’s told, Maester Luwin points out to Robb that the letter is penned by his sister in the Queen’s words. Robb agrees to obey the royal command but with a little twist. He decides to march to King’s Landing with Stark bannermen at his back.Game of Thronesseason 1 is home to the beginnings of the Northern rebellion against the Lannisters who have seized the Iron Throne through their puppet king, Joffrey.
Though Robb is a skillful military commander, the fact that he lacks political experience and finesse as a leader ultimately leads to his defeat. As for what happens to the losing side of the war, the word ‘defeat’ is a weak expression for the treatment meted out to the Starks and Tullys, and their soldiers at the Red Wedding. The first three seasons ofGame of Thronesare home to the Northern uprising which ultimately snowballs into a full-fledged independence movement. Robb is proclaimed King in the North by his men and the Northerners seek nothing but cessation from the realm. The enemy to the South is cunning Lord Tywin, his equally cunning children, and their allies. The nature of Robb’s enemies is compounded by the fact that he fails to keep his word and places his trust in men with fleeting loyalty. The tripartite alliance of Lannister-Frey-Bolton manages to crush his might inGame of Thronesseason 3, episode 9 “The Rains of Castamere.”
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King of the North Breaks Marriage Oath
The Red Wedding takes place during the War of the Five Kings, but it is unlike any other because of how morally depraved its orchestrator - Lord Walder Frey was. It all begins when inGame of Thronesseason 1, episode 9 “Baelor,” Robb and his men need Walder Frey’s permission to cross the Trident River and advance against the enemies -the cunning Lannisterswho have a grip on King’s Landing. “He’s grandfather’s bannerman, we can’t expect his support?” asks Robb. “Expect nothing of Walder Frey, and you’ll never be surprised,” GreatJon Umber informs the young Stark. While Theon Greyjoy suggests Robb take their stronghold - the Twins, Catelyn reminds his son that the Freys have held the crossing for six hundred years, and they have never failed to exact a toll. Finally, she decides to visit Lord Walder to secure their crossing.
Catelyn emphasizes she’s known Lord Walder since she was a little girl, and he would never harm her. GreatJon interjects her, saying, “Unless there’s a profit in it.” TheGame of Thronesepisode “Baelor” is home to the strong foreshadowing of the future that awaits Robb Stark and his host. Catelyn’s meeting with the arrogant and disrespectful Lord Walder reveals that he has been married multiple times and has countless children and grandchildren. Catelyn asks him to let Robb and his men cross the Trident, but he agrees only if Robb were to take his son Olyvar as a squire, marryArya Stark to his son, Waldron when they come of age, and after the fighting is over, Robb marry a Frey girl of his choice. Lord Walder keeps his end of the agreement, and Robb’s men are able to cross the Trident. However, it is Robb who breaks his betrothal and marries the woman of his choice, Talisa Maegyr.
The Red Wedding and the Rains of Castamere
At the beginning of theGame of Thronesepisode “The Rains of Castamere,” Robb and his mother contemplate going after the Lannister seat - the castle of Casterly Rock. Though they do not have the numbers, if Lord Walder were to cooperate, Tywin Lannister’s home could fall. And so, Robb, his Queen Talisa, along with Catelyn, her brother, Edmure, and uncle, the Blackfish/ Ser Brynden Tully present themselves before Lord Walder. The Stark army arrives at the Twins, and Lord Walder is livid that Robb broke his betrothal. In the end, he agrees to put the past behind them and start afresh. A marriage between Catelyn’s brother and Lord Walder’s daughter, Roslin is arranged so the Freys of the Crossing andStarks of Winterfellbecome friends once again.
Lord Walder shares bread and salt with his guests as a show of invoking the sacred tradition of the Guest Right. Once invoked, neither the host nor the guests can inflict harm upon each other for the length of the stay. “Well, I’ve enough room in the hall for you lot. We’ll set up tents outside with food and ale for the rest of your men,” Lord Walder informs his guests. Soon after, he gives away his daughter, Roslin to Edmure, and they are wed inthe Faith of the Sevenstyle ceremony. A grand gala reception follows, the guests wine and dine and the Blackfish excuses himself. Lord Walder has Roslin and Edmure carried out of the hall as part of the traditional bedding ceremony. Black Walder closes the doors to the banquet, and the band on the balcony starts playing the Lannister song, “The Rains of Castamere.”
“The Lannisters Send Their Regards”
Lord Walder, who still sits at the main table, silences the musicians. He makes a little speech about not showing his guests the kind of hospitality that they deserve. Catelyn who sits beside Roose Bolton begins to grow suspicious by the minute. She lifts his sleeve and her worst fears are confirmed. She sees Roose wearing a chainmail underneath his clothes and slaps him hard. She asks Robb to leave, but before the Young Wolf has a chance to react, Lothar Frey stabs a pregnant Talisa repeatedly in her abdomen. The archers rain arrows on Robb, Catelyn, and whoever is in their sight. The rest of the attendees are slashed and stabbed while Lord Walder sips his red wine. Arya Stark witnesses Frey’s men kill Robb’s direwolf, Grey Wind, and the massacre is carried out in the soldier camps as well. By the end ofGame of Thrones' “The Rains of Castamere” onslaught, Lord Walder shows no signs of mercy. Finally, Roose drives a dagger through Robb’s heart, saying, “The Lannisters send their regards.”
Robb falls while Catelyn slashes Lord Walder’s wife, Joyeuse across the throat. She herself is killed by Black Walder Frey. While “The Rains of Castamere” is the title of the harrowingGame of Thronesepisode that is home to the Red Wedding, it is also a song belonging to the Lannister family. Lord Walder signals for the band to play this song at the beginning of the massacre. The Red Wedding deals a blow to House Stark, but Arya avenges her family by destroying House Frey at the beginning ofGame of Thronesseason 7, episode 1, “Dragonstone.”
Cast
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