Inside the great hall, Galon stood amid the wreckage, watching Lady Mormont, Greatjon, and the others as they sat in chairs having their wounds bandaged.
His expression was filled with concern.
During the fierce fighting moments earlier, Galon had relied on the terrain and his own ferocity to hold the enemy back.
Even so, the force he had brought into the castle had suffered losses. More than a dozen men had been killed, and over twenty wounded.
Fortunately, most of the wounded had only minor injuries.
The most seriously hurt was Lady Mormont, who had taken a heavy slash across her right arm.
She would be unable to lift a weapon for some time, but her life was not in danger.
She now sat quietly in her chair, comforting her daughter, who had just arrived.
Galon did not disturb the reunion between mother and daughter.
After checking on the rest of the wounded, his gaze shifted toward old Walder Frey...
...And the dozens of sons and grandsons gathered beside him.
Noticing Galon's eyes upon him, Walder quickly forced a flattering smile, preparing to speak.
Before he could utter a word, however, the rain-soaked Rickard hurried into the hall.
"My lord," Rickard said at once, concern plain on his face. "Are you hurt?"
"No," Galon replied, shaking his head. "How is the situation in the castle?"
Only after confirming Galon was unharmed did Rickard finally relax.
Ever since Galon had allowed him to avenge his son by executing Kevan and the other prisoners, Rickard's loyalty had shifted completely.
From that day on, he had obeyed every one of Galon's orders without hesitation.
"My lord, aside from those who surrendered at the entrance, the western castle has been almost completely secured.
Lord Tallhart and Lord Bracken are still sweeping the rear of the castle. They should be finished soon.
Ser Wylis is guarding the main gate."
Rickard then carefully outlined every detail of his deployment.
"Excellent."
Galon nodded with satisfaction before issuing his next order.
"My command is this. From this moment onward, unnecessary killing is to cease.
Any Frey soldier who lays down his weapon and surrenders will be spared and taken into custody.
But anyone who continues to resist... Kill them where they stand."
The order immediately filled the assembled Freys with overwhelming relief.
None of them had expected that, after such a bloody betrayal, Lord Glover would still show such restraint and mercy.
Even old Walder's clouded eyes lit with renewed hope. He believed he might actually survive.
Galon saw through every one of their thoughts and laughed inwardly.
That's right.
I won't kill you.
But if Edmure decides to execute you afterward... That has nothing to do with me.
Thinking of Edmure, Galon turned back to Rickard.
"Where is Lord Edmure?"
Before Rickard could answer, one of Walder's grandsons hurried forward eagerly.
"He's in the guest chambers with Roslin! Lord Glover, I know exactly where they are. Allow me to take you there!"
The other Freys immediately cursed themselves for not speaking first.
Galon rolled his eyes thoughtfully but did not answer immediately.
Just then, footsteps echoed outside the hall, followed by booming laughter.
"Hahaha! Lord Glover!
That traitor Roose Bolton has been slain by our own hands! His corpse is lying outside!"
Lord Tallhart, soaked to the skin, strode into the hall with excitement written all over his face.
The instant he entered, he eagerly announced the news.
The hall erupted.
Northern lords burst into thunderous cheers.
"The flayed bastard is finally dead!"
"King Robb! Do you hear us? The Protector has avenged you!"
"Damn it, that bastard died too easily."
"Far too easily."
"It's not enough!"
"When we return to the North, we'll take the Dreadfort itself!"
"He still has that bastard son. Hang him too! Let him answer for the dead!"
The hall became deafening.
Galon watched the celebration with a smile, making no attempt to stop it.
He allowed the northern lords to vent every ounce of hatred they had long held toward the Dreadfort.
As for himself...
He had already decided the fate of House Bolton.
'I'll erase House Bolton from the Dreadfort completely. I'll appoint a new lord there, one loyal only to me.'
'As for Ramsay...He can join his father.'
A cold light flashed across Galon's crimson eyes. Ramsay's fate had already been sealed.
Once the cheers subsided somewhat, Tallhart continued.
"And Lord Edmure has been found.
Lady Roslin Frey told us he drank a sleeping draught before nightfall and has been unconscious in the guest chambers.
Lord Bracken and the Riverlords are protecting him now."
Relief spread across Galon's face.
"Good. Excellent. That removes our last concern."
The two most important objectives of the operation had now been accomplished.
Roose Bolton was dead. Edmure Tully had been rescued.
Only the final step remained.
"Lord Karstark."
Galon turned to Rickard.
"You'll remain here to secure the western castle.
Suppress any remaining resistance. Detain every member of House Frey.
When Lord Edmure awakens tomorrow, we'll hand them over to him for judgment."
Rickard bowed solemnly.
"Yes, my lord."
Galon then looked toward Lady Mormont and the others. "Remain here and rest. We'll handle everything else."
Greatjon rose to his feet, waving his arm.
"Protector, I can still fight. Let me come with you."
Galon chuckled. "Lord Umber, what's left are only trivial matters. I won't trouble you with them."
"Recover your strength. We still have a final war to fight against the Lannisters."
Greatjon paused before nodding.
"You've got a point. I'll do as you say."
After reassuring Greatjon, Galon nodded to Lady Mormont, Lord Cerwyn, and the others before turning toward Tallhart.
"Lord Tallhart. Bring your men.
We're taking the bridge towers. Tonight, we'll secure the entire Twins."
Tallhart accepted eagerly.
Galon strode out of the great hall.
While Tallhart gathered the troops, Galon paused beside Roose's corpse, which had been dragged outside into the rain.
His face remained expressionless.
'What heavy rain... When it clears, this battle will leave barely a trace. The same will be true of your house.'
'I'll gladly accept the Dreadfort.'
He looked up into the endless curtain of rain and spoke quietly.
At that moment, Tallhart returned.
"My lord."
"The troops are assembled."
Galon withdrew his gaze from the sky and looked toward the stone bridge disappearing into the darkness.
"Bring several Freys with us."
"We move."
At his command, three thousand soldiers advanced through the rain like a massive serpent.
Within fifteen minutes, Galon's army crossed the blood-soaked courtyards and reached the stone bridge connecting the two castles.
The instant Galon stepped onto the bridge, Patrek spotted him from the bridge tower.
"Hurry! Open the iron gate!"
"Let Lord Glover through!"
Before Patrek even finished speaking, the northern soldiers stationed below had already begun turning the great winch.
Slowly, the western iron gate rose.
By the time Galon and his men reached the bridge tower, the gate had fully opened.
Patrek was already waiting.
As Galon entered the tower with his guards and Lord Tallhart, Patrek hurried forward.
"My lord."
"I have fulfilled my mission."
He respectfully reported everything that had happened.
"The bridge tower is completely under our control.
Earlier, Frey and Bolton troops attempted to reinforce the western castle.
I drove them back with arrows.
They've withdrawn to the far end of the bridge and appear to be waiting for another opportunity."
Galon nodded approvingly.
"You've done well, Ser Patrek."
His crimson eyes shone with unmistakable approval.
"From today onward... You are the hero of the Twins.
As for the promise I made... Tomorrow morning, I'll personally speak with Lord Edmure and see it fulfilled."
Patrek's entire body trembled with excitement.
He instinctively bent one knee, intending to kneel in gratitude.
Galon immediately caught him by the arm.
"No need. I've said it before. I never mistreat those who work for me."
"No matter who they are."
His words were not meant for Patrek alone. Everyone in the tower heard them.
Even those Freys who had reluctantly surrendered found themselves wavering.
Galon knew the moment was right.
He looked toward the eastern castle. Beyond the darkness, rain still poured relentlessly.
Even straining his eyes, he could make out only the faint glow of distant torches.
After a moment's thought, he turned back to Patrek.
"Send several men to the eastern castle.
Tell them this.
Roose Bolton and Walder Frey conspired with the Lannisters and betrayed both the North and the Riverlands.
Roose Bolton has been executed. Walder Frey has surrendered.
If they lay down their weapons now...
I swear upon the honor of the Protector that neither the Boltons nor the Freys will suffer further slaughter.
But if they continue resisting..."
He paused briefly before finishing in a voice as cold as ice. "The swords of the North will show no mercy."
Patrek immediately nodded.
He ordered the eastern iron gate opened.
Three nervous Freys, accompanied by five northern soldiers, crossed toward the eastern castle.
Only minutes later, loud shouting suddenly erupted from the far side of the bridge.
Moments afterward came the unmistakable sounds of steel clashing.
Galon frowned.
Infighting had broken out.
He acted immediately. "Lord Tallhart. I'll lead five hundred shieldmen across first. You support us from behind."
Tallhart nodded. "Understood."
"Forward!"
Five hundred shieldmen advanced in perfect formation, shields raised as they marched through the rain toward the eastern castle.
Their approach was quickly noticed.
"Stop fighting! Our people are here!"
"Surrender now, or none of us will survive!"
The Freys sent to negotiate shouted desperately.
A Bolton officer loyal to Roose roared back, "Don't listen to them! Lord Bolton is dead!"
"Glover will never spare us!"
"Fight!"
He tried to rally more men to continue resisting.
The Bolton bannermen, however, were no fools.
With Glover clearly in control, none wished to throw away their lives for House Bolton.
One after another, they ordered their own troops to stand down, waiting to hear Galon's terms.
Taking advantage of the moment, Galon led the shield wall to the eastern gate.
Stopping before the closed entrance, he drew a deep breath. His voice rang across the castle like thunder.
"Roose Bolton is dead.
The Freys have surrendered.
I now offer you one final choice: Open the gates. Lay down your weapons.
I swear in the names of the Old Gods and the First Men. Only the chief conspirators will be punished.
Those forced to follow them will not.
If you persist..."
His voice became colder still. "My army will storm this castle. And every man who resists... Will die."
"Do not forget. Your lord remains in my custody."
The mixture of mercy and overwhelming force shattered the defenders' final resolve.
"We..."
"We surrender!"
Someone threw down a spear.
Then another.
Then another.
Like falling dominoes, surrender spread through the ranks.
"Open the gates!"
"Everyone fall back!vAssemble in the castle yard. No one is to carry a weapon."
Galon immediately pressed the advantage.
Before anyone else could react, however, the Bolton officer suddenly swung his sword at a Frey soldier who had already chosen to surrender.
"Move!"
"We break out now! As long as we escape the castle... We live!"
A group of Bolton loyalists rushed toward a side gate.
"They're trying to run."
A cold light flashed through Galon's eyes.
He was about to order the gate broken down when fresh fighting erupted inside the castle.
The Frey soldiers who had already decided to surrender suddenly turned their blades against the diehard Bolton guards.
The chaos did not last long.
Facing overwhelming numbers, the few hundred Bolton loyalists were quickly overwhelmed.
In the end, only the captain and a handful of men escaped through a small rear gate before leaping into the raging waters of the Green Fork.
Every other Bolton loyalist was cut down.
The gates of the eastern castle slowly opened.
Galon marched inside with his army and immediately began taking control.
When he reached the castle yard and looked upon the soaked Freys and Bolton bannermen gathered before him, excitement surged within him.
It's over.
The victory is complete.
Suppressing his emotions, Galon calmly issued order after order.
"Lord Tallhart. You'll assume command of the eastern castle's defenses.
Ser Patrek. See to the surrendered Frey soldiers.
Ron. Separate the Bolton bannermen and their troops."
The work of securing and reorganizing the castle continued throughout the entire night.
Bodies were carried from every corner of the fortress and laid out in the courtyards to await burial after sunrise.
Blood mixed with rainwater and flowed into the Green Fork, staining its rushing current a faint crimson.
At dawn the following morning, as the eastern sky slowly brightened, the storm that had raged all night finally came to an end.
A single ray of golden sunlight pierced the heavy clouds, bathing the castle that had just endured fire and blood.
It illuminated the crimson banners bearing the silver mailed fist flying above the walls.
Standing atop the bridge tower, Galon looked down upon the mighty fortress that had been completely conquered.
"The Twins..."
"Are mine."
__________
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