After the situation stabilized, the Attendants immediately carried Lord Hoster, who was on a low bed, across the drawbridge from the ruins of the Lannister western camp.
The reinforcements had already unceremoniously taken over the warm red tents of the Lannister, as it would have been a waste otherwise.
Those prisoners could now enjoy the same treatment as Ser Edmure and others; the tables had turned.
Although Gendry strictly forbade the torture of prisoners, a prisoner was still a prisoner, and their treatment plummeted.
Gendry, Anguy, Ser Barristan, Ser Edmure, Bronze Yohn, Count Tytos, Lord Jason of Seagard, Count Jack Cleber, Ser Boros, and others followed closely behind Lord Hoster.
They, along with some Attendants, entered Riverrun.
Riverrun Castle had sandstone walls rising from the water, with battlements featuring merlons and arrow slits, and tower firepower that could cover the opposite bank.
The soldiers and civilians in the city lined the sandstone walls, shouting their names, and yelling, "long live the storm!" and "long live the liberator!"
On every bastion of Riverrun, the banner of House Tully flew: a leaping silver trout on a wavy red and blue background.
Gendry held his twin-pronged greathelm, savoring this exhilarating moment.
"Normally, Riverrun's supplies can sustain men and horses for up to two years.
More than two hundred men guarding Riverrun fortress is redundant," Count Tytos said to Gendry as they crossed the drawbridge.
Gendry nodded.
Although Riverrun's status as the guardian of the Riverlands didn't quite match, appearing somewhat petty compared to architectural wonders like The Eyrie, Casterly Rock, and Storms End, and even inferior to Harrenhal within the Riverlands, its grandeur and majesty weren't enough to awe the Lords.
However, it was at least a small but strong fortress.
The towering sandstone walls loomed overhead as everyone passed through the lower courtyard, where Petyr and Brandon Stark had once dueled for Catelyn.
Ser Edmure pushed open a door guarded by two guards wearing fish-emblazoned helmets, and they arrived at the main keep.
The main keep, like Riverrun itself, was triangular in shape.
The Attendants carefully supported the aged Lord Hoster, and everyone ascended the spiral staircase together.
Lord Hoster was carried by the crowd to his study, which was also triangular, with a protruding stone balcony on the east side, like the prow of a giant sandstone ship.
From there, the Lord could take in his walls, bastions, and the confluence of the rivers opposite.
Lord Hoster's bed had been moved to this balcony; he enjoyed sunbathing and watching the river scenery.
The study was now filled with the prominent figures of Riverrun, ensuring absolute secrecy for the meeting.
Lord Hoster and his son, Gendry, Ser Barristan, Count Tytos, Lord Jason of Seagard, Bronze Yohn of the Vale, Count Jason of Claw Peninsula, and Ser Boros were all present.
"Please forgive me, my age is truly catching up to me," Lord Hoster said.
"And I must trouble all of you to endure this with an Old Man like me."
"I will call for the maester for you, Father," Ser Edmure cried out, wailing.
A sharp pain struck, and Hoster's face grew even paler, as if the crab had returned, its pincers gripping every part of his body.
"No hurry, no hurry.
Master Wymann used to give me dreamwine, and milk of the poppy... so I slept a lot... but now, I must stay awake and see clearly."
"Come to my side, Child, I need to write some letters," Lord Hoster said.
Ser Edmure looked at his determined father and reluctantly followed.
The white-bearded Lord Hoster shakily picked up a pen, and the letters on the paper were a bit distorted, but the content was clear.
There were three envelopes, and although the content was simple, its weight was immense.
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