Walder Frey

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

Aliases
  • the Late Lord Frey
  • Old Frey
Title Lord of the Crossing
Allegiance House Frey
Born In 208 AC[1]
Spouses
Books

Played by David Bradley[2]
TV series Season 1 | Season 3

Walder Frey rules the Twins as the head of House Frey and is the Lord of the Crossing. Though past ninety years old and infirm, he still maintains an active hand in the running of his house.[3]

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.[2]

Appearance and Character

See also: Images of Walder Frey

Walder is brittle, suffers from gout and is confined to a chair, although he brags that he still can produce progeny.[4] Age has made him bald and toothless and his skin hangs loose. Walder has passed his weasely appearance and weak chin down to many of his descendants. He is a vain, prickly, ambitious, and untrustworthy man.[4]

History

As a toddler Walder was present at the marriage of his sister.[5] 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.[6]

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."[7][8][9]

Recent Events

A Game of Thrones

Walder Frey at The Twins - by Amok ©

During the War of the Five Kings, Walder again delays coming to House Tully's summons when Ser Edmure calls his banners in support of Robb Stark. Aside from skirmishing with Ser Addam Marbrand's outriders, the Freys mass their strength within the Twins.[10] 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 and Big Walder, are sent to Winterfell as wards and one of his sons, Olyvar, is made squire to Robb Stark.[11]

A Clash of Kings

Walder's son and heir, Ser Stevron Frey, dies while fighting bravely for King Robb Stark. Lord Roose Bolton marries one of Walder's granddaughters, Fat Walda Frey. Walder had promised Roose to pay his daughter's weight in silver for her dowry, so Roose chose the fattest one.[12]

A Storm of Swords

David Bradley as Lord Walder Frey (TV series)

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

Walder secretly colludes with Lords 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 Tully, many of their bannermen, and a significant portion of the northern army.[13] 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.[14]

According to one of his sons, Merrett, 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. Merrett and Petyr Frey are hanged by outlaws, the Brotherhood Without Banners, in the Riverlands.[15]

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 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?

While returning to the Twins from Riverrun, Walder's new heir, Ryman, is hanged, presumably by the Brotherhood Without Banners.[16]

A Dance with Dragons

Walder sends at least 1,400 Frey soldiers under the command of two sons, Ser Aenys and Ser Hosteen, with Lord Bolton when the new Warden of the North returns to the North.[17] Two of Walder's sons, Jared and Symond, as well as a grandson, Rhaegar, vanish after leaving White Harbor. Another grandson, Little Walder, is found slain in Winterfell.[18]

The Winds of Winter

Aenys Frey dies outside Winterfell by riding into a trap set by Mors Umber.[19]

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.[10]

- Walder, to Ryger Rivers


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.[10]

- Walder, 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. [10]

- 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.[10]

- 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.[4]

- 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.

[4]

- 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.[13]

- Walder Frey to Robb Stark


Quotes about Walder Frey

Her father had once said of Walder Frey that he was the only lord in the Seven Kingdoms who could field an army out of his breeches.[10]

- Catelyn Tully


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.[4]

- 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.[20]

- Tyrion Lannister

References and Notes