Walder Frey

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House Frey.png
Walder Frey
House Frey.png
Old Walder Frey.jpg

Alias the Late Lord Frey
Titles
  • Lord of the Twins
  • Lord of the Crossing
  • Lord Paramount of the Trident
Allegiance House Frey
Born In 207 AC
Spouses
Books

Played by David Bradley
TV series Season 1 | Season 3

Walder Frey rules the Twins as the head of House Frey and Lord of the Crossing. Though past ninety years old and infirm, he still maintains an active hand in the running of his house.[1]

Walder has become famous for siring many children and surviving many wives. He is currently married to his eighth wife and has over a hundred descendants, base and trueborn. He has had twenty-two trueborn sons and seven trueborn daughters from his marriages, with an unknown number of bastard sons and daughters. He places a great emphasis on family loyalty, though his descendants jockey ruthlessly for his favor. Many Freys name their sons Walder and daughters Walda in hopes of honoring him. In the TV series, he is played by David Bradley.

Appearance and Character

Walder is brittle, suffers from gout and is confined to a chair, although he brags that he still can produce progeny.[2] Age has made him bald and toothless and his skin hangs loose. See also this collection of images. Walder has passed his weasely appearance and weak chin down to many of his descendants. He is a vain, prickly, ambitious, and untrustworthy man.[3]

History

As a toddler Walder was present at the marriage of his sister.[4]. It is said he caused the marriage when he discovered his sister having intimate relations with a servant. Dunk thought that he was an extremely annoying child, and was sorely tempted to throw him down a well.[5]

During Robert's Rebellion, Walder delayed arriving at the Battle of the Trident until the rebels had already won. For this his liege lord, Hoster Tully, called him "The Late Lord Frey."[6][7][8]

Recent Events

A Game of Thrones

During the War of the Five Kings, Walder again delays coming to House Tully's summons when Edmure calls his banners in support of Robb Stark. Because the use of the Twins becomes a strategic necessity for Robb's host, Walder is able to negotiate marriage contracts for his children to Robb and Arya Stark. In addition, two of his grandsons Little Walder Frey and Big Walder Frey are sent to Winterfell as wards and one of his sons Olyvar Frey is made squire to Robb Stark.[9]

David Bradley as Lord Walder Frey (TV series)

A Clash of Kings

Walder's son and heir Stevron Frey dies while fighting bravely for Robb Stark. Lord Roose Bolton marries one of Walder's granddaughters, Walda Frey.

A Storm of Swords

Word eventually reaches the Twins of Robb Stark's marriage to Jeyne Westerling instead of a Frey as promised. Ryman Frey, Lord Walder's new heir, withdraws House Frey's support from the King of the North in outrage.

Walder secretly colludes with Tywin Lannister and Roose Bolton to betray the Starks and Tullys. Through Lothar Frey, Walder lures Robb and many of his key bannermen back to the Twins under the guise of making amends and marrying Edmure Tully to his daughter Roslin. During the wedding feast, Walder's men ambush Robb and his entire host (despite the fact they were under the protection of guest right), slaughtering Robb, Catelyn Stark, many of their bannermen, and a significant portion of the northern army.[10] This betrayal becomes known as the Red Wedding. Walder then openly swears loyalty to House Lannister, his second son (Emmon Frey) receiving Riverrun and its lands as reward.[11]

According to Merrett Frey, Lord Walder is not long for the world and when he dies it will be every other Frey for himself. Walder Frey, though a tyrant, believes in taking care of his own, even the ones who disappoint him. When Stevron Frey was heir it was different, as he was raised by Walder Frey to believe that blood was blood, but his sons and grandsons (now the new heirs) do not feel the same way.

A Feast for Crows

The Elder Brother at the Quiet Isle says that Lord Frey is hunting outlaws from the Twins. Lord Frey sends a raven to King's Landing putting forth several claims to land. This is discussed in the small council until Qyburn points out many of the population of the city (and all of Westeros) feel the Red Wedding was a great crime by all the laws of gods and men. Qyburn then states that it would not be good if the crown is believed to share in Walder Frey's crime and it would be useful if someone is punished for the Red Wedding. Pycelle says Lord Walder will never kill his own but Cersei Lannister states that whoever inherits the Twins after Walder Frey will not be as squeamish, and what better way to rid himself of inconvenient relatives than by naming them the culprits and executing them?

A Dance with Dragons

Several dozen of Walder Frey's kin have been killed either by the Brotherhood Without Banners or by Northmen (such as Wyman Manderly or the "Ghost of Winterfell") in retaliation for the Red Wedding. Ironically, more Freys have died due to the repercussions of the Red Wedding than during the War of the Five Kings.

Quotes by Walder Frey

Now my bastards presume to teach me courtesy. I’ll speak any way I like, damn you. I’ve had three kings to guest in my life, and queens as well, do you think I require lessons from the likes of you, Ryger? Your mother was milking goats the first time I gave her my seed. [12]

- Walder Frey to Ryger Rivers


Walder Frey: You say you want to cross the river?

Catelyn: We do…

Walder Frey: Well, you can’t! [12]

- Walder Frey to Catelyn Tully


Catelyn: Where I might have expected to find you, my lord. You are still my father’s bannerman, are you not?

Walder Frey: Heh, I called my swords, yes I did, here they are, you saw them on the walls. It was my intent to march as soon as all my strength was assembled. Well, to send my sons. I am well past marching myself, Lady Catelyn. Tell her, Jared. Tell her that was my intent.

Jared Frey: It was, my lady, on my honor.

Walder Frey: Is it my fault that your fool brother lost his battle before we could march? I am told the Kingslayer went through him like an axe through ripe cheese. Why should my boys hurry south to die? All those who did go south are running north again.[12]

- Walder Frey to Catelyn Tully


Catelyn: If you were strong enough to climb your own battlements, Lord Frey, you would see that my son has twenty thousand men outside your walls. Walder Frey: They’ll be twenty thousand fresh corpses when Lord Tywin gets here, don’t you try and frighten me, my lady. Your husband’s in some traitor’s cell under the Red Keep, your father’s sick, might be dying, and Jaime Lannister’s got your brother in chains. What do you have that I should fear? That son of yours? I’ll match you son for son, and I’ll still have eighteen when yours are all dead. [12]

- Walder Frey to Catelyn Tully


Do you think I can’t tell Lord Stannis from Lord Tywin? They’re both bungholes who think they’re too noble to shit, but never mind about that, I know the difference.[12]

- Walder Frey to Catelyn Tully


You will forgive me if I do not kneel, I know. My legs no longer work as they did, though that which hangs between’em serves well enough, heh.[13]

- Walder Frey to Robb Stark


Walder Frey: Some would say it’s a poor king who crowns himself with bronze, Your Grace.

Robb Stark: Bronze and iron are stronger than gold and silver, the old Kings of Winter wore such a sword-crown.

Walder Frey: Small good it did them when the dragons came. Heh.

[13]

- Walder Frey to Robb Stark


Heh, the King in the North arises. Seems we killed some of your men, Your Grace. Oh, but I’ll make you an apology, that will mend them all again, heh.[14]

- Walder Frey to Robb Stark


Quotes about Walder Frey

Walder Frey that he is the only lord in the Seven Kingdoms who could field an army out of his breeches.[15]


A few barbed words and some unseemly gloating. From him that's courtesy. I expected the old weasel to piss in our wine and make us praise the vintage.[13]

- Edmure Tully


Walder Frey is a peevish old man who lives to fondle his young wife and brood over all the slights he's suffered.[16]

- Tyrion Lannister

References and Notes