Tywin and The Reach's re-established marriage alliance was undoubtedly the most sensational event during this period; the sensation wasn't due to the renewed alliance between the Westerlands and The Reach, but because Tywin would actually lower his proud head and agree to such humiliating terms.
This humiliation reminded many people of the time when the Old Lion Tytos Lannister married his daughter, Genna Lannister, to a Frey. At that time, all the nobles in the Westerlands mocked Tytos Lannister, and the Lannister's prestige plummeted until the Rains of Castamere, when the Lannister's prestige finally recovered.
Although everyone believed Tywin had bowed his head, no one dared to mock Tywin as they had mocked Tytos Lannister back then, because everyone could see that with Tywin's strength, no matter how much he bowed, he was still the Old Lion that most nobles and lords needed to look up to.
Moreover, with the alliance between Lannister and House Tyrell, Tywin's strength did not decrease but increased. The terrible situation caused by the change of hands at Harrenhal completely disappeared, and now the pressure shifted to Stannis Baratheon and Robb Stark.
In Riverrun, Robb Stark's face was incredibly grim as he looked at Duke Tywin's public letter. He hadn't expected the situation to turn around so quickly in less than ten days, so fast that he hadn't had time to react at all.
"What do we do now? Lord Brynden, do you have any good ideas?" Robb, with a hint of worry in his eyes, asked Blackfish Brynden.
Although outside rumors claimed the Young Wolf to be wise and mighty, and exceptionally intelligent, he was still just a teenager. His life experience was far from sufficient to handle any unexpected incidents.
In such circumstances, he could only seek help from others, and while those from the North were good at fighting, asking them for strategic advice would only make things worse.
And now, the only person in all of Riverrun who could offer him advice was the famous Blackfish Brynden Tully.
Brynden didn't speak, but just turned his head to look at Edmure Tully, who was also contemplating the current situation.
Robb also understood Brynden's thoughts and turned to look at Edmure.
Edmure, on the other hand, was completely unaware that he had become the focus of the two, still deep in thought, then, as if he had thought of a good idea, he said, "I have a solution, we can let... Why are you two looking at me like that?"
Edmure was about to say the solution he had just thought of for the current predicament, but he saw Robb and Brynden looking at him with strange expressions, not understanding what was going on, and was momentarily stunned.
However, he quickly understood what they meant, and his face suddenly turned pale, and he angrily said, "You want me to agree to the Weasel's terms and marry a Frey woman?"
"This is the best way to solve the current problem," Brynden said in a deep voice. "Although the alliance between the Westerlands and The Reach now looks very strong, it hasn't immediately solved Tywin's predicament. The Westerlands army is still divided into two parts, King's Landing is still under siege by Stannis, and because of the heavy rain, Tywin is currently trapped around Pinkmaiden and cannot retreat back to King's Landing. This is our chance. We just need to concentrate all our forces at Pinkmaiden and force Tywin to a decisive battle with us. As long as Tywin is dealt with, the Westerlands army will be like scattered sand, and even with the addition of The Reach's army, they won't be able to achieve anything significant."
Edmure said angrily, "If that's the case, isn't it enough to concentrate the army we have in Riverrun now? Why do I have to marry a Frey woman?"
"If Lady Daisy's and Lord Bolton's armies were here, perhaps it would be enough to contend with Tywin's Westerlands army, but the army in Riverrun is too small now," Robb said, looking at Edmure. "We need the Frey army."
Edmure yelled at Robb in extreme anger, "You don't want to marry a Frey woman, you broke your oath, and now you want me to marry one!"
Robb looked calmly at Edmure and said, "You don't have to. In that case, we'll go to a decisive battle with Tywin with our current forces and die on the battlefield. My mother, your sister, will be sent to Tywin as a gift by Frey. If she's lucky, she'll die peacefully. If not, she'll die after suffering greatly."
Edmure's face became incredibly grim, his expression constantly changing, and finally, he could only let out a suffocated sigh and said, "I agree."
Seeing Edmure agree to the marriage alliance with Frey, Robb and Brynden both breathed a sigh of relief, a slight smile appearing on their faces.
At the same time, in King's Landing, Stannis showed little emotion after seeing Tywin's public letter, as if it were a trivial matter. Only those familiar with him could tell from his slightly trembling fingers that his inner state was not as calm as his expression showed.
"Davos, are the preparations complete?" Stannis casually tossed the public letter aside, turned to Ser Davos Seaworth beside him, and asked.
"They are ready," Ser Davos Seaworth nodded, then hesitated and asked, "Your Majesty, do we really have to use Wildfire?"
As Ser Davos Seaworth spoke, his right hand involuntarily touched the bandage on his left hand. He had fallen into the Blackwater River and escaped death, but his hand was still burned by Wildfire. That evil flame that could burn in water remained his nightmare to this day.
"If they can use it, why can't I?" Stannis said calmly.
This batch of Wildfire had just been sent from Dragonstone a short while ago, purchased by Melisandre, the Red Priestess, at a high price from Pyromancers across the Narrow Sea.
After it arrived, they tested its power in a secret location. The power of this batch of Wildfire was much stronger than the Wildfire used in King's Landing; it could even melt steel.
However, it was not without its drawbacks. This type of Wildfire was extremely unstable and required extreme caution during transport. It was said that on the way from across the Narrow Sea, several ships carrying Wildfire exploded due to transport issues, and ultimately, only two ships of Wildfire made it to Dragonstone.
However, when Melisandre had the Wildfire sent over, she stated that she had appeased the power within the Wildfire, and as long as fire was not intentionally brought close to it, there would be no danger of explosion.
Stannis didn't know if what Melisandre said was true, but indeed, no accidents occurred during the transport of the Wildfire to this location and then its transfer to the target destination.
Stannis originally didn't want to use this thing, but the current situation forced him to resort to some extreme measures.
Stannis no longer paid attention to a worried Davos, turning to Ser Goode Morrigen of Crows Nest, and said, "Ser Goode, that matter is entrusted to you."
"Yes, Your Majesty," Ser Goode Morrigen nodded slightly in response, then asked, "If I lead the Stormlands army away, will you be too short-handed here?"
"No, it's enough!" Stannis said with extreme confidence.
His confidence was not unfounded, for he had already made arrangements within King's Landing before the war began. However, this arrangement could only be used once. Once used, if King's Landing could not be breached, he would have no choice but to resort to a direct assault, and in that case, even if King's Landing was breached, he would not be able to hold it.
So, from the start of the war until now, he had been patient, not using that arrangement, waiting for the most opportune moment. And now, although it was still not the most opportune moment, it had to be used, because if not used now, there might not be another chance.
------------------------
I've posted 70+ chapters in advance on Patreon.
Webnovel updates will still be daily, as usual.
It might not seem tempting right nobut who knows what the future holds?
[email protected]/TripleCrown
"And If you're enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!"