...And Justice for All

"I have some thoughts to offer on your recent discussion with Lord Blackwood. Are you in a state to consider them, or would it be better to give you a night to rest with your thoughts?"

He eased his dapple-grey stallion alongside the four riders and pulled it to a halt as well, looking calmly towards Edmure. He was the spitting image of his father's youth, in appearance and temperament both it would seem. There was a reason the Blackfish had wound up watching the Bloody Gate.

"Very well. Man to man then. I believe you judge Tytos too harshly. I will not dispute that the proper way to see the situation handled at the Twins would have been to hold them in captivity and await your justice, and maybe if I'd had my wits about me, I would have urged Tytos to wait. But still, there is no question what the judgement needed to be. These are the men who killed Robb, who killed your sister, Edmure! No man was put to the sword who did not have a direct hand in that farce."

Brynden could feel his temper steadily mounting, his voice getting louder as he shed the veneer of nonchalance he had born previously. He paused for a moment, allowing himself to settle down somewhat. Underneath him the horse was prancing somewhat nervously, the discontent of its rider causing it alarm. When he spoke again he was still fervent, but calmer.

"Old Walder Frey planned the whole thing. It was in his house, and his guestright that was broken. The other heads belong to men who's blades were personally blooded in the proceedings. I doubt yourself, or even our good King Stannis could protest their innocence. I know it isn't the proper way of things, but Tytos let The Greatjon swing the blade that severed those heads, granting him vengeance for the deaths of Young Robb and all those northmen. In the eyes of their old gods, and in my eyes too I must confess, it is they who were most wronged, and their justice to take."

He knew that he was largely restating things that Blackwood had already put forward, but he hoped that perhaps in a different voice they would ring truer in Edmure's ears.

"And as for the castle itself, Lord Tytos spoke true when he said it was not our men who emptied the coffers. We found them cleaned out when we entered the building, no doubt one of the few surviving Freys took their families bounty with them. Perhaps his quest to take Bracken land is mistaken, and if you tell him to stand down and return the men and he does not, then I will agree that he is open defiance. But you have put a warrant out for his arrest without hearing his side of the story, and having been with him this whole time, I certainly understand why he is not responding well."

"I understand your frustration nephew, but Tytos Blackwood is not the enemy that needs to be defeated right now. Many among the Riverlands like and trust him and his house. It would be seen as a display of mercy and understanding to grant him forgiveness in this. I can return to him and ask him to lay down his arms, and send the men back to your command, and leave him to go home in peace. He is a man of honor, and he did only what he thought right - much and worse was done during the course of the war - men did not know who to swear fealty to, men did not even know who still lived. Lord Blackwood did what he thought right then, and when faced with the reality of your survival he did not hesitate to join your side. He did what he thought right at the Twins too, though that was fueled by pain and anger. Your sister would have seen every single Frey hanged for the slaughter, that was her plan when we retook Riverrun, by that measure he was downright restrained."

Brynden looked intently at his nephew. He considered carefully for a few moments, before nodding to Edmure's last words.

It is true, you are young, and unproven as a lord, and many may see you as rash. But you could take action in this that could change that perception. Tytos only seeks to take Bracken lands because the Brackens in turn swore to the baseborn Lannister brat and attacked his lands first, after Robb's death. He remained devoted to the cause of the North after all others had abandoned it. If you wish to see this resolved, to see his claims against lands that you do not believe are his to take, grant him mercy. He can hardly then protest when you do not prosecute his case against Lord Bracken. In this way you avoid making an early martyr against your Lordship.

The Greatjon awoke from slumber, heaved himself upon a great sturdy steed and rode to meet with the Lord of the Riverlands.

The lord of Last Hearth started to become an imposing figure once more but terrible, sleepless nights hunted him. Enormous amounts of drink were needed to make him sleep but the same booze made him reminisce of that one time he drank too much to protect his lord. A painful thought especially so many years later, with time a plenty to think about his own shortcomings. As the greatjon entered Edmure's tent he smiled politely at the offer of drink, nodding instead of saying yes at the offer of drink

The Greatjob smiled as he was handed a cup and looked down at his hand. He felt on the remains of were once were fingers on his left hand, King Robb's direwolf had bitten them off not very long before the Red Wedding. The Greatjon had never wheeped for his fingers as the incident made way for the eternal respect of King Robb, the person the Greatjob would proclaim King in the North. The Greatjob took his glove and showed the remains of his fingers to Edmure. "I gave these fingers for King Robb as I didn't believe him capable, headstrong or just. As he rose to meet those accusations of mine his direwolf attacked me. No doubt for the magic that bound them together." The Greatjob said, as he sighed. "The Young Wolf was none of these things Lord Tully. Your Nephew was a chip of the old block, a man that would've let the North to greatness if he had not been betrayed by that scum that resided within your Lordship." The Greatjon said angered, the muscles in his face contracted and it showed greatly. "I rotted away for years before someone came for me. I killed the Frey scum and I would've killed them all if Blackwood hadn't stopped me." Lord Umber was angry, raised his voice and stood up, the towering giant. "I passed the sentence and I swang the sword, like King Robb would've and Lord Eddard. Be a man and kill me here if you blame Blackwood for anything." Greatjob said as he spread his arms, daring the boy to stab him.

Umber grinned, he knew Edmure wouldn't dare. He had not forgotten about him during his time in prison. "Very well lord Edmure, Stannis may rule but the north remembers." The Greatjon walked through the tent, eyeballing everyone in there. "The North remembers!" he roared. Heaving his glass and drinking it dry in one go. "Let us eat Lord Tully, let us eat." he said with enthusiasm.