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#241 - Chapter 15: Red Wedding (Part 1)

Ruby Ford, once an unremarkable ferry crossing, gained notoriety because of the death of Rhaegar. Now, it was bustling with activity as a large number of fully armed soldiers busily prepared to cross the river.

On the shore, a striking, crimson-colored Flayed Man banner fluttered in the wind, as if proclaiming their unique identity and authority to the world. Standing before these soldiers was a tall man clad in gray heavy armor: Roose Bolton. His cold, deep eyes revealed a chilling indifference, leaving no doubt that he was the commander of this elite force.

At this moment, Roose Bolton quietly gazed at the turbulent river before him, his mind awash with surging thoughts. This expedition saw him leading two thousand infantrymen and five hundred cavalrymen, all elite troops directly under the Bolton family's command—virtually their entire strength. According to Robb's orders, he was to lead the army to garrison outside the Twins, creating enough pressure on House Frey.

However, deep within Roose Bolton's heart, a secret plan had long been brewing, one he had meticulously prepared. Yet, even now, facing such a crucial moment of decision, he remained hesitant, unable to make the final determination.

He slowly turned his head, his gaze sweeping over the well-prepared army behind him, and began to weigh the pros and cons. He was well aware that this action was fraught with endless risks, but if it could be carried out smoothly, the rewards would be immeasurable; the supreme power and illustrious prestige of the North would be his for the taking. However, doing so also meant betraying Robb, so every step had to be taken with extreme caution.

Just then, the sound of rapid hoofbeats approached from afar, and a scout galloped in like a gust of wind. His face was filled with panic, and after dismounting, he knelt on one knee, breathlessly reporting, "Lord… bad news! A mysterious army has appeared behind us! They are all elite cavalry, rushing towards us at lightning speed!" Hearing this news, a flash of resolution and determination instantly appeared in Roose Bolton's eyes. Without hesitation, he waved his arm and issued an order: "The troops that have not yet crossed the river, immediately turn around, quickly prepare for battle, and be ready to face the enemy at any time!"

However, the cavalry arrived too swiftly, as if descending from the sky. Before Roose Bolton's soldiers could form their ranks and prepare to meet the enemy, the earth-shattering sound of hoofbeats echoed through the clouds, and a magnificent and mighty cavalry force appeared before everyone's eyes. This cavalry was uniformly clad in deep blue armor, and even the warhorses wore azure-colored caparisons; the striking red banner with a black dragon fluttered in the wind, resembling the Targaryen family's iconic three-headed dragon banner from afar.

He recognized the flag. Roose Bolton immediately stopped his men from attacking, but some panicked archers fired without permission. These arrows scattered towards the enemy ranks, but failed to cause any damage.

Immediately after, a strong and tall steed slowly stepped out of the ranks, walking steadily to the front of the two armies. The man on horseback shouted loudly: "Hahahaha, Lord Bolton, it's been a long time! Is this how you welcome me?" As soon as he finished speaking, the young man standing beside Roose Bolton trembled violently, seemingly frightened by the words.

The young man exclaimed in astonishment, "Father, it's Ser Garron! Why is he here?"

This man was none other than Roose Bolton's eldest son, Domeric Bolton. Years ago, Domeric, who had studied in the Vale, was arrogant and conceited. After returning home, he became even more disdainful of others, seeking duels everywhere to prove his strength. Unfortunately, he first encountered Liu Yuan and was beaten miserably; then he was defeated by Robb; even Jon Snow defeated him; and even Theon could fight him to a standstill. These painful experiences dealt a heavy blow to Domeric, severely damaging his self-confidence and even causing psychological trauma.

At that moment, Roose Bolton noticed the Hound and Sansa standing beside him, and secretly speculated that the boy must be Rickon. Suddenly, Roose's gaze sharpened because he saw Brienne guarding Rickon. It was this woman who had escorted Jaime safely back to King's Landing. Undoubtedly, Roose had not truthfully reported the matter of privately releasing Jaime to Robb.

Roose Bolton: "So it's Ser Garron! A pleasure, I heard of your wonderful victory even in Harrenhal. May I ask, Lord Garron, why are you here?"

Liu Yuan: "Haha, that was just a small skirmish. I've come here for the same reason as you, to escort these two little ones to Robb's wedding. But… Lord Bolton, you've brought so many troops to the feast; could you have other intentions?" As he spoke, his gaze swept over the fully armed soldiers, secretly surmising that these people were all wearing Bolton family armor, and were clearly his direct elite forces.

Roose: "Oh, this is by order of His Majesty Robb. As for the reason, I'm afraid I can't reveal it. I hope you'll understand."

At this time, Sansa and Rickon stepped forward and bowed to Roose Bolton. Fifteen-year-old Sansa had grown even more charming, like a delicate flower. Seeing this, Domeric's eyes lit up, revealing a hint of greed, and his words were full of flattery, constantly winking at Lord Bolton.

Roose Bolton also seemed quite tempted, but when his gaze turned to Liu Yuan and the army he led, his face became serious. He thought to himself, "This man is highly skilled in martial arts, and his troops are strong; he is indeed a troublesome opponent. If the plan is to succeed, this problem must be solved…"

Seeing this scene, Liu Yuan took everything in, and he already understood. This old fox must have colluded with Tywin in secret, otherwise, how could House Frey's forces have easily annihilated the Northern army of comparable numbers? Even saying it was an attack after drinking was hardly convincing. There must be other help behind it. Roose Bolton led the army here, and it was his direct elite force, which made sense.

After the army crossed the river, the speed of the joint march was slightly slow, but fortunately, they arrived at the Twins before nightfall. For Liu Yuan, this was his first visit to this place. He deeply admired House Frey; they had accumulated such a vast industrial scale simply by collecting passage fees, especially since the Twins' bridge had been carefully repaired and maintained.