This is a listing of members of House Frey that appear in A Song of Ice and Fire.

For the main character index, see here

For the main Riverlands entry, see here

House Frey of the Crossing

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/9c1141dc7dcfbfd4d9aebeb445e4dbeb.jpg

Powerful bannermen of House Tully, and Lords of the Crossing. Their seat, the Twins, is the only way to cross a major river, which has made them very rich. The current head of the house is Walder Frey, with most of his progeny being just as weaselly and scheming just like him, holding intense grudges and high ambition. Although not a traditional "Great" house, they rise in power during the civil war, though they are always disliked amongst their current allies. Lord Walder Frey is over 90, currently on his 8th wife. With over 25 legitimate sons and countless daughters, bastards, and grandchildren, he brings new meaning to the Big, Screwed-Up Family trope. Their members tend to have a weaselly appearance and their sigil is two towers. Strangely for a house with such a major role in the plot, their words have not been revealed, even through Word of God, though it is implied in the HBO Series their words are "We Stand Together".

House Frey is a relatively young noble house (they rose to prominence around 600 years ago) who gained their status through collecting bridge fares via their strategic location at the Green Fork, growing wealthy in the process. They have a considerable rivalry with the Crannogmen and House Reed of the Neck, having tried to gnaw lands from them for centuries. Alongside the keeps of their vassals of Houses Erenford and Charlton, the Twins is the northernmost castle in the Riverlands.

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Tropes related to House Frey

Tropes related to House Frey applying to them in general or to individuals without their own sections.

A Lighter Shade of Black: As Theon notes, all of them combined aren't half as bad as Roose Bolton.
Animal Motif: Weasel (unofficially, of course). Many Freys are both thin and chinless, as well as often being described as ugly and weaselly; particularly the male Freys. Subverted by Roslin, one of the most attractive Frey girls.
- This comes up often with the conniving Lord Walder Frey, who schemes often and hardly has an ounce of integrity.
Arch-Enemy: To House Reed and the Crannogmen of the Neck. The Freys have been trying for centuries to nibble lands from the Crannogmen, only to be repelled by their guerrilla tactics. For the record, most of the bad PR that the Crannogmen get ultimately comes from the Freys.
Asshole Victim: In the aftermath of the Red Wedding, many people in universe do not care when people start killing the Freys left, right and centre.
The Big Guy: To the Riverlands, arguably. They provided more soldiers to Robb's Rebellion than any of his other vassals in the Riverlands and the North. Of course, this means that when they get "promoted" to potential Cannon Fodder in many generals' minds, they can actual be useful in the meatgrinder. Poor sods.
Big, Screwed-Up Family: And how! The Clan, Dysfunction Junction, It Runs in the Family, Tangled Family Tree, the works! They really spared no expense on the trimmings. Even if they were only out to troll everybody else, they'd still wind up contending with each other thanks to the numbers game meaning that they are practically bound to be directly related to somebody they're screwing over, whatever they do.
Blatant Lies: The Freys' excuse for the Red Wedding. They claim the Starks drew first blood, transformed into werewolves, and the massacre was just an act of self-defense. The Northmen and Rivermen don't buy it, but are powerless to do anything since their relatives are being held as hostages. One listener sarcastically notes that it sounds like the Freys decided that since nobody was ever going to believe that the massacre wasn't their fault, they might as well go all out and put some creative flair into the cover-story.
Lord Clement Piper: I'd sooner drink a pint of piss than take the word of any Frey.
Burning the Ships: House Frey since Walder has never been reliable and they are dodgy and non-committal. However, the Red Wedding decisively changed that. It was betrayal of such scale and infamous nature that no one in the Riverlands and the North will ever trust them (and their allies) again, putting the Freys permanently on the side of House Lannister-Baratheon of King's Landing.
Cannon Fodder: As it turns out, pissing off a lot of generals from barely-allied Great Houses is a bad idea when there a lot of well-equipped yous to throw at problems. Who'd've thunk it?
The Clan: Take them out of Westeros and stick them in the Appalachians in about the late C19th or early C20th... and, you wouldn't spot much of a difference beyond material wealth, fashion and technology.
Les Collaborateurs: How the Riverlands see them after the "Red Wedding". The fact that they are unable to negotiate surrender or build peace without Lannister soldiers and commanders proves how little their support in the region is among both nobles and smallfolk. The latter in turn, support the Brotherhood Without Banners, La Résistance, who are hunting them down with impunity.
- Indeed, the Lannisters are mulling over a You Have Outlived Your Usefulness somewhere down the line. As it stands, Petyr Baelish is Lord Paramount of the Trident much to the distaste of the Freys, who are given hold over the keep of Riverrun. Jaime has also taken custody of Edmure Tully and vows to protect him and preserve him even if the child is a boy (thereby making Edmure, last heir of the Tullys, expendable); thus potentially allowing for House Tully to continue, in case of future use. Qyburn even openly advocates the Small Council to make an example of a few Freys for the sake of pacifying the North and Riverlands, drawing attention away from the Lannisters' part in masterminding the massacre, and satisfy the more "fire and brimstone" preachers amongst the sparrows who are saying any who had a hand in the Red Wedding is damned in the eyes of the gods.
Didn't Think This Through: It's clear the Freys never considered how the Red Wedding could backfire on them in any major way. They went from merely being disliked to Hated by All, effectively voided themselves of Guest Right by violating said rules in a massive way, which also torpedoed any trust they receive from their new allies.
Dragon Ascendant: Averted, as neither the main branch of House Frey nor the new Riverrun branch headed by Lord Emmon is made Lord Paramount of the Riverlands — that honor had been already awarded to Petyr Baelish. Still, as Petyr is biding his time in the Vale, Lord Walder is practically de facto Lord Paramount at this point.
Dude, Where's My Respect?: Pervasive among most of them. Their rise to nobility through exploiting their land's advantage was perceived as opportunistic and they never really tried to clean up that image. Of course their antipathetic attitude, disloyalty and self-serving doesn't help them get respect at all. It's telling that the few Freys who with genuine niceness, honor and loyalty such as Stevron, Olyvar and Perwyn Frey are far more well-liked and respected than the rest of their family.
Establishing Character Moment: The first we see of the Freys is the twenty-or-so men at arms who refuse to help Catelyn Stark, apprehend Tyrion Lannister while all her father's other bannermen step up to help her.
Everyone Is Related: The Freys have married and had children with members of many, many other noble houses. When civil war broke out, many of those houses starting fighting each other. Lord Walder arranged a betrothal between Robb Stark and one of his female descendants to secure an alliance, but his second son Emmon was married to Genna Lannister, a close relative of Robb's main enemies. Emmon's son Cleos served as an go-between for the Stark-Tully forces and Lannisters before his death. Robb ultimately married Jeyne Westerling, but his maternal uncle Edmure Tully ends up marrying Roslin Frey. In addition, Roose Bolton married Fat Walda Frey and Lancel Lannister married Gatehouse Ami, making them Edmure's in-laws.
Evil Is Petty: Oh yes. The great majority of them can't stop themselves from acting dickish even at times when they are serious, when negotiating with Robb Stark they can't help but bring news of Winterfell's destruction, one of their conditions for the marriage between Edmure Tully and Roslyn Frey is that Robb comes to publicly apologize to Walder and his daughters, they serve disgusting dishes just before the Red Wedding, during which they sew Grey Wind's head on Robb's body and throw Catelyn's body in the river in a mockery of the Tullys' funeral ritual, and have the gall to say that Robb breaking his oath to them is an excuse for the atrocities they did.
Fair-Weather Friend: The family became this under Walder's leadership. Despite being vassals of House Tully they refuse to bother doing their duties, and will only choose a side during a war when one side is in a clear position of strength or if they get huge benefits of it, such as a strong marriage betrothal or a castle. And even they'll prefer to jump ship if they find themselves in the losing side, as shown after the Battle of the Blackwater with the Freys at Harrenhal clearly considering abandoning the Starks' side, even before learning about Robb's marriage to Jeyne Westerling. Even without that slight, they would have most surely turned on Robb anyway.
The Family That Slays Together: Every Frey has his or her own role in the Red Wedding. They even get the ones who might object to or otherwise bungle the plan out of the house so that it goes off without a hitch. Deconstructed in that this means their enemies will happily slay anyone bearing the name Frey; because so many took part in the Red Wedding, they can't be bothered to sort through who did and who didn't and just decided to kill them all.
Famous Ancestor: Ser Franklyn Frey, Lord Walder's uncle who was present at the Ashford Tourney, and later was present at the Tournament of Whitewalls.
The Friend Nobody Likes: They're necessary to the war effort due to their possession of the Twins, the only crossing point over the Green Fork of the Trident for hundreds of miles, but their Jerkass and selfish tendencies make them disliked by the Northmen and Rivermen alike. Heck, they're less popular than the allied House that regularly flays people alive and even the Blackwoods and Brackens, Feuding Families who can barely stand to be in the same room with each other, loathe the Freys more than they do each other. They retain this status once they join the Lannisters, with Jaime and Daven Lannister despising them and not even trying to hide it, and Cersei doesn't care about whatever happens to them, while Roose Bolton has no issues using them as a scapegoat for the Red Wedding and distract the northmen from any anger toward him and his house..
From Nobody to Nightmare: The Freys became a powerful House about 600 years ago, when a petty lord almost beggared himself in the short term to build a solid bridge. Now look at them.
Glory Seeker: House Frey and their forces might not be loyal, but they are very dutiful and they are excellent warriors for the most part if the gain is worth it. This stems from the fact that even when they are a noble house, they are still considered lowly in their social status and are trying to climb up. There was great pride from the Freys with the promise that they would become royalty with the King of the North and made everything possible for it to happen until Robb Stark married outside the betrothed.
Goldfish Poop Gang: After the Red Wedding, they become basically House Goldfish Poop. They meddle in everyone's affairs, but no one is afraid of them, their allies and lieges do not take them seriously, and their enemies invent new, cruel and unusual ways of Frey killing, but there's simple too many Freys for these ways to have any impact.
Gossip Evolution: The general levels of scorn House Frey holds against the Crannogmen of the Neck is of special note, as most of the bad things said about these elusive people come from the mouths of Freys. As Bran notes, the Crannogmen are nothing like Big and Little Walder tell him they are. It's probably down to decades of frustration: the Freys find it hard to either swindle or out-army people who live in a swamp and who don't need much from them.
Hated by All: Post-Red Wedding, everyone in Westeros hates the Freys for their betrayal of the beloved Starks and their breaking of Sacred Hospitality, a law no one dared violate on such a large scale until them. No one sheds a tear as they're getting picked off and hung by the Brotherhood Without Banners, and their "allies" the Lannisters and Boltons are happy to leave them to their fate.
Hate Sink: Both in-universe and out. For a series that's filled to the brim with truly horrible people who would backstab and start continental-wide civil wars without so much as blinking an eye, House Frey sits among there as some of the most unlikeable families in the series, quite possibly due to the fact that unlike the Boltons and Lannisters, they do not exude Evil Is Cool, just Evil Is Petty. Hell, their entire reason for being such a traitorous house is because nobody ever gives them the respect they feel they deserve.
Heel–Face Revolving Door: They have a reputation for this; a well-deserved one. The Red Wedding made sure that they would be stuck with the Lannisters, even as they are crumbling, and that they would be hated and reviled by all of Westeros.
Inferiority Superiority Complex: The entire family. If you don't want Smug Snake as their Family hat, this one will do as a close second. You can count the members without one on about three fingers.
In-Series Nickname: Although often a dig at the poor person who gets given one, this also serves the practical purpose of keeping track of which particular Walder or Walda is actually meant, both for readers and other characters in-universe.
- A confusion of Walders: Bastard Walder, Black Walder, Big Walder, Little Walder, Red Walder.
- A confusion of Waldas: Fair Walda, Fat Walda, White Walda.
- Confusing everybody: Tyr (because "Waltyr Frey" just doesn't roll off the tongue in the usual way).
- Assorted mean-spirited names: Petyr Pimple, Merrett Muttonhead, Gatehouse Ami (Amerei Frey), Jinglebell (Aegon Frey), Tyta the Maid.
- Walder Frey also suffers from this trope among the Tullys and other Riverlords. He arrived to the Battle of the Trident after the rebels had already won. His liege lord, Hoster Tully, nicknamed him the "Late Lord Frey".
- Collectively, a somewhat Ironic Nickname from some of their nominal allies is "our friends of Frey", even though some of these, like Jaime and Daven Lannister, despise them while Wyman Manderly is only waiting for his son to be delivered to him to kill the Frey emissaries to White Harbor as soon as they leave his seat.
Jerkass: The Freys, collectively and individually, have very bad reputations even before they join the war. They don't help themselves.
Jerkass Has a Point:
- They feel continuously slighted by the "older" Houses like Tully for their low-born roots, and almost no one treats with them if they don't "really" have to, such as Walder Frey not being able to get a marriage for a number of his, admittedly large, brood. That they prove themselves to be as vain, extortionist and sleazy as their neighbors and critics expect is almost a Self-Fulfilling Prophecy since they have to use any leverage they have to press advantage and advance their house... though if they acted worthy of respect they probably would be looked upon better^note.
- Robb Stark having been engaged to a Frey when he was a Lord likewise denies them his hand when he becomes a King. This is genuinely a grave slight. In Westerosi history, Lyonel Baratheon rebelled against Aegon V when Prince Duncan turned down a Baratheon wedding, and that was when the Iron Throne slighted him as opposed to Robb Stark who is "King in the North". However, Lyonel didn't turn to such honourable circumstances and accepted another marriage.
Kids Are Cruel: In A Dance with Dragons, Little Walder is well on his way to becoming a miniature Ramsay Bolton. In the latest Dunk & Egg story, it should come as no surprise that Walder Frey himself was a spoiled little shit as a four-year-old.
Kinslaying Is a Special Kind of Evil: Pretty much the one rule they'll actually stick to as part of Walder's emphasis on the importance of family sticking together. This doesn't apply to those who are relatives but who don't bear the name Frey, as Lucas Blackwood was direct kin to the Freys via Walder's marriage to his fourth wife but that doesn't keep him from getting murdered at the Red Wedding. However it's implied that not all of them are willing to abide by that rule as Edwyn openly suspects Black Walder of having murdered their father Ryman while Big Walder may be the one who killed his cousin Little Walder.
Knight in Shining Armor: The Freys have a lot of knights, although only some of them live up to the knightly ideal.
Laser-Guided Karma: Because they violated Sacred Hospitality and killed their guests, many people in the North have declared open season on House Frey and thrown guest right out the window. And Wyman Manderly makes a point of killing Jared, Symond and Rhaegar after they left his home, with gifts that formally symbolize their parting... and then turns around and breaks guest right in a far more subtle and gruesome way by serving them up to their relatives in three massive pork pies.
Men Are Generic, Women Are Special: Inverted entirely; virtually every Frey with any degree of characterization is male. The only women with any development are Ami (Ethical Slut), Tyta (Old Maid), Fat Walda (Fat), and Roslin (Token Good Teammate). The rest either boil down to getting an Arranged Marriage to some minor character, or Death by Childbirth. The same can apply to women who married into the family, as only Mariya Darry and Genna Lannister have any bearing on the plot; the rest either exist solely to give birth to their husband's children or sleep with Black Walder.
Named After Somebody Famous: Many current Freys are named after Lord Walder to curry his favor. It makes for a confusing family tree. They also sometimes name their children after members of other powerful families: two Roberts, a trio of siblings named Cersei, Tywin, and Jaime, plus a bunch of Targaryen names. There's one named Rhaegar who named his child Robert (and named two more Walda and Jonos, the latter perhaps after Lord Bracken).
"Near and Dear" Baby Naming: Invoked. Their preferred method of flattery is naming their children after the people whose favor they're trying to gain.
Never My Fault: Walder and most of his descendants never acknowledge that it's their own weasely, dishonorable and self-serving attitude that largely cause them to be disliked and disrespected by most other houses, and after the Red Wedding they refuse to acknowledge their atrocities, and put all the blame on Robb Stark for dishonoring them, even if the way they arranged the marriage pact with him wasn't honorable either and would most likely have betrayed him anyway if the war didn't go in his favor, and that it's a weak excuse for such an abominable action.
Nouveau Riche: They rose to power around six centuries ago and are loaded thanks to their building and management of a bridge of great strategic importance. Still considered "new" (and very definitely crass) by the bulk of the Seven Kingdoms' establishment, most of whom go back much further.
No Name Given: Walder has sired so many offspring, many of them are not named. There may well be unknown bastards dotted about, too.
Odd Name Out: There is a Waltyr Frey whose name causes some confusion for his relatives who are used to all the Walders.
Once Done, Never Forgotten: The Red Wedding. The decision to break the laws of Sacred Hospitality and side with Tywin Lannister has left them deeply loathed among all the major Northern and Riverlands houses except the Boltons. Even the Freys' new allies express disdain for them. The only reason they haven't been moved against is they still have hostages. "The North remembers."
One-Steve Limit: Averted, with all the Walders and Waldas in the family. Additionally, the extended family features a bunch of names you've already seen elsewhere (there's Cleos' son Tywin Frey, another Tywin Frey and his twin Jaime Frey, two Robert Freys, a Cersei Frey, a Sandor Frey, a Rhaegar Frey, and two Aegon Freys, one of which is known more popularly as "Jinglebell").
- Lord Walder's descendants keep naming their kids after him in an attempt to please him or win favor. He confesses to a guest early on that it actually just annoys him since at this point there are dozens of Walders and Waldas and he can't tell them apart.
Practically Different Generations: Walder Frey is a peevish old man, and continues to sire children well into old age which results in large age gaps between some half-siblings. Black Walder is suspected to have fathered children on his recent wives despite being the patriarch's great-grandson.
Promoted to Scapegoat: Though none of them seem aware of it, this is their "reward" for the Red Wedding. The Lannisters are happy to let them take all the blame for it, while the Boltons use them to draw all the anger and resentment their fellow northerners should have for them instead.
Pyrrhic Victory: The Freys are conspicuously devoid of spoils among the conspirators that committed the Red Wedding; save from some marriage pacts to Northern houses, some hostages and the ownership of Riverrun, they had assurances and protection from House Lannister, who is at the moment crumbling to pieces. The Lordship over the Riverlands went to Littlefinger instead, and the only thing that they have earned is the blame and the scorn from the Red Wedding. Now, they are even being hunted down by Lady Stoneheart.
Rags to Riches: Except they made their fortunes through legitimate means and they are looked down upon by the other Great Houses because these means weren't military-based.^note
Shadow Archetype: To House Tully. Freys also hold "family" above everything else, but they don't give a damn about duty or honor. On the other hand, many of the Freys don't trust each other and are quite uncaring when relatives die, being more interested in how this effects the line of succession.
Shout-Out:
- "Frey" is the name of the chief male Norse god of fertility. Yes, that kind of 'fertility'.
- There's a Waltyr Frey who goes by Tyr. Tyr Frey.
- Did you know that the English company, Fray Bentos, patented and trademarked the tinned pie in 1881? The brand is currently owned by Baxters. The original steak and kidney still sells well. Fun fact, no?
Sibling Rivalry: Several. Edwyn and Black Walder are the most prominent example.
Slimeball: Walder Frey and most of his descendants are this, being utterly self-centered and only doing things and siding with others to get if they benefit from it. They also seek to get closer to more powerful houses and to be respected but their jerkassery and their perfidious and self-serving attitude cause them to be disliked and looked down upon by everyone.
Social Climber: Seems to be the house's schtick. They side with whoever can give them the most societal benefits.
Smug Snake: Pretty much The Hat of the entire house. Ryman and Rhaegar are probably the biggest Smug Snakes of the lot.
The Starscream: To the Tullys.
Stealth Pun: Their keep, the Twins, is a set of double towers on opposite sides of the river Trident, and their official title is the Lords of the Crossing.
Teeth-Clenched Teamwork: With the Lannisters following the Red Wedding. The Lannisters don't trust them, and aren't particularly more respectful of them than the northmen and their fellow riverlanders were, with Jaime and Daven Lannister not even bothering to hide their disdain for their Frey allies at Riverrun save for, ironically, Perwyn who was one of the most sympathetic to the Starks in his family. The Freys also aren't pleased to learn that despite what they did for the Lannisters it's Littlefinger who was named Lord of the Trident in their stead by Tywin, to see Lancel Lannister forsake the marriage deal with Amerei Frey to join the Warrior's Sons, and are even more dismayed when Jaime orders them to turn over all of their hostages to the Iron Throne.
Thicker Than Water: Averted, unsurprisingly due to how numerous and screwed-up most of them them are as individuals. While some of them have shown sincere care for their family, most of them aren't saddened when they hear about the death of one of them and rather wonder how this will affect the succession line. Some Freys are even implied or at least suspected to be willing to kill their own such as Black Walder Frey, who Edwyn suspects of having killed their father, and is even suspected to have killed his grandfather Stevron, to become Lord of the Crossing and Big Walder, who may have killed his cousin Little Walder because of what he was turning into. Merret Frey lampshades this in his POV chapter, musing that only Stevron was groomed with the idea that "blood was blood", and that his sons and grandsons are different, and that only full-blooded siblings can be trusted at the Twins but only so far.
Token Good Team Mate: Perwyn, Olyvar — Robb's former squire — and Alesander Frey are pretty much the only adult male Freys who are not assholes. Which is why they were sent away before the Red Wedding. Walder Frey's eldest son Stevron Frey was apparently not a bad person either but he died after being wounded at Oxcross.
Troll Bridge: Of the metaphorical variety. The Twins sit astride the only safe crossing on the Green Fork of the Trident for miles around, and the Freys have frequently used their position as Lords of the Crossing to extort money and favors from those who would seek to cross.
The Ugly Guy's Hot Daughter: Alyx, Fair Walda and Roslin.
Ugly Guy, Hot Wife: Emmon Frey and Genna Lannister and probably Walder Frey and Bethany Rosby, considering how attractive Roslin is.
- The reverse may have applied to Lord Walder's parents. His father was described as "lean and elegant" in the latest Dunk & Egg story: Walder had to have gotten his looks from somewhere.
Weasel Words: "Mayhaps." They have an in-house childhood game specifically geared towards learning how to weasel.
We Have Reserves: This attitude springs up, unsurprisingly. Most Freys, thanks to the Family's Dysfunction Junction, don't always mourn the deaths of other Freys, even if they choose to use them to get even. Instead, they tot up where said death now puts them in the pecking order, snigger if the death was of somebody nobody much liked... or think something much like this. There are always more Freys to cover the resulting skill-gaps. Deconstructed Trope: because of the aforementioned A House Divided, few care tuppence about the bulk of their relatives, which in turn means most have yet to work out that they're being specifically targeted by multiple sides thanks to the Red Wedding. Granted, communication issues across distance are partly behind that: but, not caring enough to inquire into the sudden rash of deaths is, too. Even the Freys have limits: sooner or later, they're going to run out of not just their mook reserves, but their handful of able and/or hard-working keystones, as well. Keystones are damned hard to replace before everything collapses, especially when lost in bulk and at relatively short notice.
Who's Laughing Now?: They view the Red Wedding as this. The rest of the continent is less convinced.

Lord Walder Frey

The Late Lord Frey

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/walder_frey_ffg_6359.png

"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."

Current Lord of the Crossing, Walder Frey is a weaselly, ambitious man well into his nineties and on his eighth wife.

Annoying Younger Sibling: Mayhaps it's no surprise that Walder was a little shit even as a child. He tattled on his older sister when he caught her with a lowborn boyfriend, and their father forced her to marry Lord Butterwell as a result.
Bald of Evil: Being as old as he is, he said goodbye to his hairline a good 40 years ago. It's hard to say when, exactly, he said goodbye to morals.
Bratty Half-Pint: As a four-year-old he triggered his elder sister's marriage by catching her with a lowborn boyfriend and then finking her to his Lord Father who forced her to marry Lord Butterwell. Indeed, he was such an annoying little shit that Ser Duncan the Tall was tempted to throw him down a well.
Brutal Honesty: Lord Walder isn't a pleasant fellow even at the best of times, so this isn't a shocker. When his granddaughter Walda secures an important alliance for the family by marrying Roose Bolton, her father Merrett hopes to finally get some praise or recognition from Walder, his own father. Instead, Walder points out that Roose chose Walda because she was fatter than all her cousins and they'd promised him the weight of his chosen bride in silver as a dowry, complete with a barb about how they might have gotten the alliance for cheaper "if your little porkling put down her spoon from time to time."
Deadpan Snarker: Not so much deadpan (a touch too animated), but very snarky. Oh, he does love his Stealth Insults, his Damning With Faint Praise ... and his outright verbal, bald-faced Trolling.
Dirty Coward: Walder talks big but he has taken part in battle or done any bellicose action without being sure that he and his men would surely come on top and avoiding all fight where it isn't the case. He only took part at the Battle of the Trident and Robert's Rebellion after it was clear that the rebels were winning, and even for the Red Wedding he took many precautions to ensure his forces and the Bolton's would have the advantage on the trapped northerners, despite having the advantages of surprise, numbers and of the northerners being drunk.
Dirty Old Man: Constantly marrying much younger women, and according to the Character Sheet at the end of the fourth book, Walder's current wife is with child. This son will be younger than dozens of his own great-grandchildren.
Tyrion Lannister: Walder Frey is a peevish old man who lives to fondle his young wife and brood over all the slights he's suffered.
Disproportionate Retribution: ...Just a bit, yes. He'll happily burn someone's entire life and legacy to the ground if he thinks they've insulted him or his family and/or broken an agreement.
The Dreaded: In a way: nobody enjoys trying to bargain with Lord Walder, due to his extreme demands, unpleasant personality, general sliminess, and disproportionate reactions to any perceived insult to him or his house.
Dude, Where's My Respect?: Walder resents how the other Houses of Westeros look down on the Freys because they are a relatively new House that rose to wealth and power through cunning.
Entitled Bastard: He very strongly ressents the other houses for disrespecting him and his house, and complains about several "slights" such as Hoster Tully having not visited him for his latest namedays or never given the hand of one of his children to marry one of his own, nevermind that Hoster was under no obligation to do that. It also never occurs to him that his jerkassery, him constantly weaseling his way out of doing his duties as a vassal, only doing them when it suits him and having never accomplished something real as a lord aren't going to earn him respect from others anyday.
Even Evil Has Standards: The one value he has is that you look after your own family (no matter how much you belittle them). Unfortunately thanks to the dog-eat-dog environment of his Big, Screwed-Up Family, this value hasn't been passed down to the two major rivals to succeed him; on his death there's likely to be a purge of all those not useful to either side, not to mention a fratricidal war.
Evil Cripple: His gout is so bad he can't even walk by himself.
Evil Old Folks: Lord Walder is ninety-one, and about to kick the bucket. When he does, the inevitable Succession Crisis among his massive family will be the stuff of Westerosi legend.
Evil Is Petty: He'll get you back for any slight... however slight (and however long it takes, heh, Tullys?). With interest and much snark.
Grumpy Old Man: Has little positive to say about anybody or any topic. Even compliments come with backhanders.
Hypocrite: A lifelong fence-sitter who dishonorably extorts concessions that he should readily give to his Feudal Overlord takes it personally when his King breaks the same contract-extorted-under-circumstances, and then later uses it as justification to break the most sacred law of the Seven Kingdoms. The Freys claim they needed to restore their honor after Robb humiliated them, but due to their actions now have a reputation as the most dishonourable House in the Seven Kingdoms, and are certainly not looked upon as having the moral high ground.
Hypocritical Heartwarming: Walder Frey treats his family members pretty badly, but cannot stand anyone else looking down on them.
In-Universe Nickname: "The Late Lord Frey."
It's All About Me: Walder Frey holds loyalty to no one and nothing except himself and (to a lesser extent) his family, happily hedging his bets in a crisis and always siding with the winners when it becomes clear they will win. Nevertheless, despite having done nothing worthy of respect and a great deal worthy of contempt, he sulks about how poorly he and his family are treated and avenges any perceived slight with a vengeance, all the while feeling he is justified.
Jerkass: Now, why would this trope be here... (Hint: take a look at the rest of the tropes.)
Jerkass Has a Point: While it's clear he doesn't really give two shits about his oaths of fealty, he does have reasons:
- While he is sworn to House Tully, he is also sworn to the Crown and therefore is under no obligation to help House Tully rebel against the Crown and furthermore invite the wrath of the Crown.
- He does have a legitimate grudge against Robb. Robb used his bridge, his men and Walder's first son died fighting for him and then Robb went back on his word. He was cheated out of being royalty after decades of failing to negotiate good matches for his children, being cheated out of that glory and having to settle for Edmure Tully's hand (which Hoster had repeatedly rejected) would have been a huge comedown. Likewise the Freys had taken arms against Tywin Lannister, and if Tywin had to break taboos during the Sack of King's Landing and brutally killed the Targaryen Princes to show his belated loyalty to Robert, he would expect no less a display of a decisive break from the Starks and total dependance (if not loyalty) to Lannister hegemony. However, there is evidence the Freys were already trying to find a way out of their allegiance with Robb before they heard he broke the marriage pact, making it look more like the pretext than the reason. Also, Walder Frey had extorted the marriage pact from Robb under dishonorable circumstances, meaning he can hardly claim to be the most wronged party.
- Stevron was the only Frey who actually gave a damn about taking care of the family. He died fighting for Robb and the minute he did, House Frey's future was basically doomed. From Walder's perspective, it makes sense that he doesn't care about doing horrible things, when the future of his house is almost guaranteed ruin.
Kavorka Man: Weasel by nature; described as an ancient weasel by looks — ruts like one, too. Few Freys can deny his being their direct ancestor though.
Kingmaker Scenario: A Deconstruction. Walder is derived from Warwick the Kingmaker's more venal aspects (his backer Tywin represents Warwick's more competent aspects).
- Walder Frey fancies himself as being this for Robb Stark and lends material support to him, as well as men and people in exchange for being grandfather to the next King in the North. However, unlike Tywin who pulled this off in Robert's Rebellion, Walder is still an "overmighty vassal" who furthermore has a reputation for cowardice and venality; by betraying the Starks and the Tullys, the Freys have made enemies of their immediate neighbours with their only ally being a family from outside. This means that they cannot consolidate their usurpation without their regime looking like an occupation.
- Where Tywin pulled off an underhanded Batman Gambit during Robert's Rebellion and managed to make himself a strong power in Jon Arryn's postwar alliance, the Freys have become a hindrance to the Lannisters and Cersei's council even ponder disposing of them when they get the first chance they get. Tywin made himself indispensable to Robert and Jon Arryn, while Walder Frey made himself and his family a liability. Likewise, they did not get a great deal in return. Lord Baelish is Lord Paramount of the Trident, while Freys will only be Lords of Riverrun (and even then the family branch married to Genna Lannister), which is only marginally better than what they would have got had they remained loyal to the Starks, even under the counter-offer of Edmure's marriage offer after Robb broke the original contract.
Like Father, Like Son: His unnamed father also tried to support a rebellion against the Throne, only to implicitly turn traitor halfway through and help put it down (it's never stated, but the fact that he's completely unpunished points to him cooperating with Bloodraven one way or another).
Massive Numbered Siblings: Lord Walder has fathered twenty-nine legitimate children. Lord Walder is also proud of the fact that he is the only man in Westeros who can make a legitimately threatening army (by minor Lords' standards) just out of his relatives, let alone other retainers.
Meaningful Name: He has over twenty children and scores of grand- and great-grand-children. In Norse mythology, Frey is a god of fertility.
- It also happens to be a homonym of "fray", that is "unravel".
- Non-Indicative Name: The Frey of Norse mythology was extremely handsome. Lord Walder...isn't.
Morality Chain: His presence and authority as patriarch are the only things that keep his descendants' ambitions and greed in check and prevent them from tearing each other apart for the Twins inheritance, and even this might not be enough if the rumors about Black Walder having killed his grandfather Stevron are true. Once he'll be gone nothing will stop the Freys from going into a civil war.
Never My Fault: His attitude to how he's termed 'the Late Lord Frey' sums it all up. He's consistently acted his whole life as a weasel, lukewarm in his loyalty to his liege lord, and now needles the Tullys and the Starks relentlessly over how they treat him like the unreliable back stabber he is.
Old Man Marrying a Child: Lord Walder is in his nineties and his newest wife, Joyeuse Erenford, is sixteen.
Once Done, Never Forgotten: Hoster called him the "Late Lord Frey" after he only showed up to the Battle of the Trident when the rebels' forces were sure to win.
Opportunistic Bastard: Walder only reacts to the plans of others and only openly aligns with anyone when he believes it will serve his best interests. In the backstory, it's established he didn't join Robert's rebellion against the Targaryeans until it was all but confirmed Robert would be victorious, earning him the nickname "The Late Lord Frey."
Outliving One's Offspring: He has outlived his sons Stevron, Aenys, Jared, Symond, Merrett, Geremy, and Benfrey, grandsons Ryman, Aegon "Jingebell", Cleos, Tion, Rhaegar, Tytos, and Little Walder, granddaughter Maegelle, and great-grandson Petyr.
The Patriarch: Only he is allowed to insult his family members and get away with it! We really cannot stress the Red Wedding enough. He also keeps a firm lid on the feuding and jockeying within the Family: heaven help the Freys when he does eventually kick the bucket, because nobody else will. He always signs off on everything major his family does, so the buck always stops with him.
The Quisling: A self-appointed one for the Riverlands after the Red Wedding, with the official Lord Paramount not at all interested in the region. For the time being, the only people that are keeping him and the Freys afloat and relatively safe from the angry Riverlands nobles are Daven and Genna Lannister, though this support base is bound to disappear once Jaime Lannister arrives with orders from the crown to seize the hostages that are under House Frey's power.
Really Gets Around: He's had eight wives over his 90-plus years (Perra Royce, Cyrenna Swann, Amarei Crakehall, Alyssa Blackwood, Sarya Whent, Bethany Rosby, Annara Farring, and Joyeuse Erenford) and has had enough sex with other women to create an army of bastards. Among his illegitimate children are Walder, Melwys, Jeyne, Martyn, Ryger, Ronel, and Mellara Rivers and those are just the named ones. Not for nothing is it said that Walder Frey is the only lord who can field an army from his breeches.
Screw Politeness, I'm a Senior!: This combines horribly with Deadpan Snarker to create a Jerk with a Heart of Jerk, verbal (and physical)Troll.
Edmure Tully: A few barbed words and some unseemly gloating. From him, that's courtesy. I half-expected the old weasel to piss in our wine and make us praise the vintage.
Slimeball: It's quite OK to feel like taking a bath when you read any scene with him in it. It's not just you. Catelyn, for example, never said as much, but her behaviour around him can be easily interpreted as somebody desperately wishing for a washbasin and a bar of soap.
Small Role, Big Impact: It is said he caused the marriage of his sister when he discovered her having intimate relations with a servant. This in turn set in motion the chain of events that led to the Second Blackfyre Rebellion.
Thicker Than Water: Walder Frey may be callous to his many kids and grandkids, but he doesn't let anyone else give them shit. Robb learned that, fatally. Well, except for the poor half-witted grandson Jinglebell, anyway. Averted by most of the other Freys, when they hear of relatives dying, they're more concerned about what this means for the succession. Also doesn't apply to kin who don't bear the name Frey, as poor Lucas Blackwood found out at the Red Wedding.
Too Dumb to Live: It may have looked like a good idea at a time to betray the Starks and Tullys at the Red Wedding, but given the problems the Lannisters and Tyrells are having at the moment and the fact that his direct and very close neighbors in the Riverlands and the North hate his guts, it probably was a bad idea.
Troll: Takes a positively open delight in causing misery in those forced into dealing with him (especially if they are considered social betters). And, wonders why nobody respects him. Funny, that... The comparison holds up particularly well when you consider what his main occupation boils down to: troll bridge operator, Crooked Contractor and Obstructive Bureaucrat... in, at best, a middle-management role (lower-middle ranking Lord by birth). He's a traditional troll even down to his looks, so it's not surprising he's also an actual Troll, too. Expect some Insane Troll Logic in how he baits you from one direction, to hit you from another for the lulz.
Unwitting Instigator of Doom: A chain of events that began with him ratting his elder sister for having a lowborn boyfriend culminated in the fiasco of the Second Blackfyre Rebellion.
Verbal Tic: "Heh."

Lord Walder's sons

Ser Stevron Frey

"They are all waiting for me to die. Stevron's been waiting for forty years, but I keep disappointing him. Heh. Why should I die just so he can be a lord?"

—Lord Walder Frey

Firstborn son of Lord Walder Frey and his first wife Perra Royce and heir to the twins. He has been married three times (to Corenna Swann, Jeyne Lydden, and Marsella Waynwood) and has numerous children, three sons Ryman, Aegon, and Walton, born of his first, second, and third wives, respectively, and a daughter by his second wife, Maegelle, who was married to Ser Dafyn Vance, with three children Marianne, Walder, and Patrek Vance. He is the full brother of Emmon, Aenys, and Perriane, who is married to Ser Leslyn Haigh with three sons Harys (the father of Walder Haigh), Donnel, and Alyn.

Character Death: Gets injured at the Battle of Oxcross and later dies of his wound. There are fan theories one of his grandsons, "Black" Walder Frey, may have been responsible. And, forget just the fans: various characters discussing the scuttlebutt bouncing around the Twins are willing to credit the notion as possible — unproven, impossible to prove and unlikely to have any real mileage, but still possible.
Colonel Badass: Commands the Frey forces that go with Robb Stark's host.
Outliving One's Offspring: He outlives his daughter Maegelle, who died in childbed.
Thicker Than Water: Had this instilled into him by his father. Unfortunately, he was the only one of Lord Walder's numerous children and grandchildren who shared this trait, and with Stevron's death, they are likely to tear themselves fighting for the Twins once Lord Walder dies.
Token Good Teammate: One of the few relatively decent Freys, due to his father trying to make him an ideal heir. Robb even thinks that if Ser Stevron was still alive, he could have worked things out with the Freys after breaking the marriage pact.
Wins by Doing Absolutely Nothing: His strategy for the War of the Five Kings is to sit it out and let Renly and Stannis fight each other.

Ser Aenys Frey

Third son of Lord Walder Frey and his first wife Perra Royce. He is married to Tyana Wylde and has two sons: Aegon and Rhaegar Frey.

Aristocrats Are Evil: He is one of the more overtly evil Freys right from the start.
Bald of Evil: Totally bald and totally evil.
Beard of Evil: Has a thin beard shaped like a rats tail.
Brains and Brawn: Along with Hosteen. He's the Brains of the Frey host at Winterfell.
Family Theme Naming: His two sons are named Aegon and Rhaegar, goes along with him being called Aenys.
Neck Snap: It is reported to Stannis in The Winds of Winter that Aenys broke his neck when he led a force of Frey soldiers out of Winterfell to pursue Mors Umber but ended up falling into a pit trap that the Umber forces had dug.
Non-Action Guy: While a good strategist, he is said to be not that great of a swordsman and is somewhat reluctant to command soldiers from the front. Notably, the one time in the series he does lead his men from the front, he ends up dead from a pit trap.
Outliving One's Offspring: He outlives his son Rhaegar, one of the victims of Frey Pies.
The Strategist: Regarded as one of the Freys' best commanders, but he is not a warrior himself.

Ser Jared Frey

Fourth son of Lord Walder Frey and the first son of his second wife Cyrenna Swann. He is married to Alys Frey and has two children, Tytos, married to Zhoe Blantree, and Kyra, married to Ser Garse Goodbrook, and four grandchildren, Zia and Zachary from Tytos, and Walder and Jeyne Goodbrook from Kyra. He is full brother of Septon Luceon.

Accidental Truth: Claims Robb and the northmen are wargs that turned into wolves and slay the guests and the Red Wedding. These are vile lies only the fools believe, but unknowingly he gets straight that Robb is a warg, along with his siblings.
Aristocrats Are Evil: Shows off his more vile traits and smug Frey attitude in A Dance With Dragons while concoting a massive lie about the Red Wedding.
"Ass" in Ambassador: Seriously, dude, how arrogant and insensitive can a diplomat get without expecting something like Frey Pie to happen to them down the line? In Westeros?
Bald of Evil: Like many of the older Freys he has no hair and matches his father in temperament.
Blatant Lies: Claims Robb Stark and the Northmen turned into wolves at the Red Wedding and that Wendel died protecting Walder Frey from Robb.
Character Death: Murdered alongside Rhaegar and Symond Frey by Lord Wyman Manderly and turned into a pie.
Kissing Cousins: Was married to his cousin, Alys, who is now dead.
Lean and Mean: He is described as being tall and lean and has the typical smug and slimy Frey attitude.
Mouth of Sauron: To Lord Walder and the Iron Throne.
Outliving One's Offspring: His son Tytos was one of the Frey casualties of the Red Wedding.
Slouch of Villainy: He's described as "stooped".
Smug Smiler: Congrats: not a single Manderly was left without an urge to hit you in that smile of yours.
Smug Snake: He grins as he tells Davos Seaworth and Lord Manderly's court about how Robb Stark started the Red Wedding by turning into a wolf and started slaughtering Freys. Davos can scarcely believe his arrogance.
Would Hit a Girl: Suggests "a firm hand and a quiet word" to deal with Wylla.

Septon Luceon

See The Faith of the Seven character page.

Ser Hosteen Frey

Ser Stupid

Sixth son of Lord Walder Frey and first son born to his third wife Amarei Crakehall. Married to Bellena Hawick and has one son, Arwood. He is full brother to Lythene (married to Lucias Vypren), Symond, Danwell, Merrett, Geremy, and Raymund.

Aristocrats Are Evil: Has the typical vile aristocratic Frey attitude.
Badass in Distress: Captured by the Lannisters at the Battle of the Green Fork near the end of the first book and spends part of the second book as a POW before eventually getting ransomed.
Blood Knight: It is said once he becomes angered or gets to fighting, he is very difficult to stop.
Brains and Brawn: Along with Aenys. He's the Brawn of the Frey host at Winterfell.
The Brute: Regarded as the best warrior among the Freys, but also one of the stupidest.
Dumbass Has a Point: His actions regarding Wyman Manderly are extreme and threaten to get everybody at the castle killed, but he's totally correct regarding his suspicions of Wyman's murder of his three relatives.
Hosteen: Close enough to drive a lance through my back, aye. Where are my kin Manderly? tell me that.
Dumb Muscle: He has the large physical build of a Crakehall, but the wits of an average Frey.
Ear Ache: Loses an ear to frostbite while at Winterfell.
Hot-Blooded: The reason why everyone thinks of him as an idiot, he doesn't take precaution because he thinks the cold isn't a problem, he slashes the neck of a lord surrounded by his men over a jape and is easily angered.
Informed Attribute: Nothing he does is particularly stupid, at least compared to the rest of his family, apart from the aforementioned ear incident.
In-Series Nickname: Stannis refers to him as Ser Stupid.
Mama's Baby, Papa's Maybe: Walder voices his theory that neither he nor Danwell are children of his, although he's probably joking.
Properly Paranoid: He is dumb but even he knows Manderly is clearly responsible in killing his brothers and after one jape too much he slices Wyman's throat (though he survives.)
Tempting Fate: Talks about how he doesn't fear the cold, and then loses an ear to frostbite.
You Are in Command Now: After Aenys is killed by Mors Umber's pit trap Hosteen takes command of the Frey forces at Winterfell.

Symond Frey

Seventh son of Lord Walder Frey and second son born to his third wife Amarei Crakehall. Married to Bethario of Braavos with whom he has three children: Alesander, Alyx, and Bradamar.

Aristocrats Are Evil: Has the typical vile aristocratic Frey attitude.
Badass Bookworm: He's pretty much this for House Frey, aside from Lame Lothar. It is also possible, though unconfirmed, that he has the Crakehall robustness that his older brother Hosteen has. Which is likely the main reason why he's probably not being as sorely missed, yet, as he really should be being: Westerosi disdain for the relatively Non-Action Guy, Smart Guy springs into effect, again.
The Corrupter: He bribes several of Lord Wyman's servants and two knights to spy for him, and even one of his wife's handmaids finds her way into the bed of Lord Wyman's fool.
Character Death: Murdered alongside Rhaegar and Jared Frey by Lord Wyman Manderly after leaving White Harbor, then turned into a pie.
The Chessmaster: Well, he didn't see the pie coming and isn't exactly in Littlefinger's league when it comes to the big picture. But, otherwise, yes. Rather than just sit back and think of Evil Is Petty schemes, he actually finds use for things like spy-networks, forward planning and trying to be proactive. It's almost a pity we see him dead before we really get to know what he's capable of.
Like Father, Unlike Son: His son Alesander is one of the few Freys to object to the Red Wedding and thus gets sent away before it occurs. Symond has no such reservations.
Mouth of Sauron: To Lord Walder and the Iron Throne.
Odd Name Out: None of his kids seem to be named after anybody specific in a bid to fawn. Even to anybody outside the family. This is decidedly weird. And, could reflect the fact that he and his wife do not think in the usual Freyish boxes.
The Spymaster: A cut-price Varys for a cut-price Family.

Ser Danwell Frey

The eighth son of Walder and a failed tourney knight. He married to Wynafrei Whent with no children.

Bitch in Sheep's Clothing: He initially seems like one of the more dutiful and non-malicious Frey's and drinks with Marq Piper at Edmure's wedding. Then it turns out he did so to get Marq drunk to take hostage and he is seen actively participating in his house's rule over the Riverlands.
Fantastic Racism: Refers to the Reeds as "frog-eaters" and suspects them of harboring Beric with little to go on.
Outliving One's Offspring: Despite the legendary Frey fertility, he and his wife Wynafrei (the last of the Whents) have only had stillbirths and miscarriages.
Too Important to Walk: Like Whalen, he's sometimes on the receiving end of this; forced to carry around Walder.
Unskilled, but Strong: Implied. He's one of the famously brawny Crakehall-Freys but made a poor showing in the tourney of the hand, where he was unhorsed by a hedge knight.

Merrett Frey*

Merrett Frey

Merrett Muttonhead

Ninth son of Walder Frey and fourth son born to his third wife Amarei Crakehall. Married to Mariya Darry and has four children, Amerei, Fat Walda, Marissa, and Little Walder. Serves as a POV character for the epilogue of A Storm of Swords.

The Alcoholic: To the point where it is what makes him stand out at the Twins, with all its numerous Freys. His job at the Red Wedding was to drink the Greatjon under the table so he could be captured easily, but the Greatjon managed to outdrink him. Much of his drinking stems from the headaches he gets due to taking a mace to the head fighting against the Kingswood Brotherhood, which the drinking helps with.
Bring My Brown Pants: He wets himself as he's about to be hanged, being such a failure that he couldn't even Face Death with Dignity.
The Bully: He apparently bullied the other squires at Crakehall, until...
Bullying a Dragon: ...he tried to bully Jaime Lannister. We never find out exactly what Jaime did to him, but it was apparently such a humiliating beatdown for Merrett that it completely broke his hold over the other kids and turned him into a...
Butt-Monkey: He ended up as this to just about everyone and was this to the Frey House before getting hanged by Lady Stoneheart. Part of his descent into monkeyness involved getting a fawn branded onto one of his buttocks by a Wenda the White Fawn, a female member of the Kingswood Brotherhood, so there was an actual BUTT involved.
Career-Ending Injury: Took a blow to the head that made him suffer immense pain whenever hit on the head and left him prone to chronic headaches. Thus he was unable to keep fighting, losing his chance of becoming a knight.
Character Death: Captured by the Brotherhood Without Banners, dragged before Lady Stoneheart, and hanged after she confirms he was present at the Red Wedding.
Damned by Faint Praise: After his death, the only positive thing Jaime can find to say about him was that he was very strong.
Dirty Coward: His very last act is selling out his family members and telling the Brotherhood exactly who did what at the Red Wedding in a vain attempt to save himself from being hanged.
Merrett: You can't prove anything against me. The Red Wedding was my father's work, and Ryman's and Lord Bolton's. Lothar rigged the tents to collapse and put the crossbowmen in the gallery with the musicians, Bastard Walder led the attack on the camps...they're the ones you want, not me, I only drank some wine...you have no witness...
Dream-Crushing Handicap: As a squire, he received a head injury in a fight that would give him frequent and constant headaches for the rest of his life, putting an end to his dream of becoming a knight.
Drowning My Sorrows: He drinks constantly to ease his headaches and forget how miserable his life is.
Drinking Contest: Engages in one with Greatjon Umber prior to the Red Wedding in order to get him too drunk to fight. He passes out.
Dumb Muscle: How Jaime remembers him: slow, clumsy, stupid, but incredibly strong. He cemented his entry into the Westerosi Darwin Awards early, just to underline his lack of thought. You have to be a special form of stupid to deliberately go after the heir of Casterly Rock, when everybody in the Seven Kingdoms knows how Tywin "Lord Disproportionate Retribution" Lannister usually responds to outsiders who belittle or make fun of the Lannister family. Forget Jaime already being fairly nifty with a sword (and a bit of a Troll) even at that age...
Fat Idiot: In adulthood. In his own words, he's not clever enough to be a maester.
Formerly Fit: He has gone fat since his fighting days, and his alcoholism probably didn't help in that department.
Hanging Around: He's hanged by Lady Stoneheart and the Brotherhood Without Banners for participating in the Red Wedding.
Henpecked Husband: It's hard to blame her.
Hope Spot: Briefly took his daughter marrying Roose Bolton as a sign that his luck was changing. Lord Walder was quick to tell him that Bolton only married Walda because she was fat, and that the marriage cost a substantial dowry on the Freys' part.
Walder Frey: [addressing Merrett] You think Bolton gave a mummer's fart that she was your whelp? Think he sat about thinking, 'Heh, Merrett Muttonhead, that's the very man I need for a good-father'? Your Walda's a sow in silk, that's why he picked her, and I'm not like to thank you for it. We'd have had the same alliance at half the price if your little porkling put down her spoon from time to time.
Humiliation Conga: His entire life — caught the pox from a Camp Follower, captured and branded on the ass by a woman, suffered a head injury that prevents him from being a knight, married a supporter of King Aerys just before he was deposed, while one of his daughters is a glutton and the other is a notorious slut.
I Have a Family: He tries pleading that he has children when the Brotherhood is about to hang him. Their only response is, “That Young Wolf never will.”
In-Series Nickname: "Merrett Muttonhead."
Laser-Guided Karma: Merrett used to bully the other squires at Crakehall. After he was captured and humiliated by the outlaw known as the White Fawn, the other squires were extremely quick to gang up on Merrett and make fun of him for it.
Mighty Glacier: Jaime describes him as slow, clumsy, and stupid, but strong.
The Millstone: His internal monologues make it very plain that he knows what a load he is around other people's necks.
Noodle Incident: Whatever it was he tried to do to Jaime. And, what Jaime did in return to elicit such humiliation and dread. You will waste time imagining: it's almost a given.
Oh, Crap!: His horrified reaction to seeing the new leader of the Brotherhood without Banners is a vengeful, undead Catelyn Stark.
Outliving One's Offspring: One of his daughters was stillborn and another died as a baby.
The Squire: In his youth, he squired for Lord Sumner Crakehall, but after his encounter with Jaime, embarrassment at the hands of the Kingswood Brotherhood, and injures fighting against them resulted in him never being knighted.
Ugly Guy, Hot Wife: His wife is attractive, though he considers her a shrew.
Undignified Death: The Brotherhood Without Banners string him up from a tree as punishment for the Red Wedding. He dies wetting himself and begging for mercy.
Yank the Dog's Chain: He thought his branch of House Frey would finally gain some respect after his daughter Walda married Roose Bolton and helped secure the Bolton-Frey alliance. His father set him straight by pointing out that they'd offered the weight of Roose's chosen bride in silver as a dowry, and Roose chose Walda because she was the fattest of the Frey girls.

Ser Geremy Frey

The tenth son of Lord Walder Frey, he is the fifth son born Lord Walder Frey's marriage to Amarei Crakehall. He married Carolei Waynwood and had two children, Sandor and Cynthea Frey.

Ambiguous Situation: It's unclear if he died in the opening battles of the War of the Five Kings or some time beforehand.
Kill It with Water: He drowned to death.
My Nayme Is: Geremy, not Jeremy.
Posthumous Character: Died between 289 and 299 AC.

Ser Raymund Frey

The eleventh son of Lord Walder Frey. He is the sixth son born of Lord Walder Frey's marriage to Amarei Crakehall. He is married to Beony Beesbury.

Massive Numbered Siblings: He's the father of Robert, Malwyn, Sarra, Serra, Cersei, Tywin and Jaime Frey.
Small Role, Big Impact: He only appears briefly twice, but kills Catelyn Stark at the Red Wedding.
Theme Naming: Sarra and Serra, and Cersei, Tywin, and Jaime.
Would Hit a Girl: He's the one who slits Catelyn's throat.

Lothar Frey

Lame Lothar

Twelfth son of Walder Frey and the first son of his fourth wife Alyssa Blackwood. He is married to Leonella Lefford and has four children, Tysane, Walda, Emberlei, and Leana. He is full brother to Jammos, Whalen, Morya (married to Flement Brax), and Tyta. He serves as the steward for the Twins.

Aristocrats Are Evil: He hides it better than most of his relatives, but he is still an evil jerk.
Beard of Evil: Goes for a goatee style.
Bitch in Sheep's Clothing: Who would think the poor, unlucky cripple is a right SOB?
The Chessmaster: He is the one who planned the details of the Red Wedding massacre and assigned each member of his family a role during it that best fitted their skills.
Co-Dragons: With Bastard Walder Rivers, handling the logistical side of House Frey's plans.
Evil Cripple: He has a limp from a birth defect and plans orchestrated mass murder — even down to the fiddlers and place-settings. Yup, he counts.
Fat Bastard: He is described as being portly.
Faux Affably Evil: He acts extremely friendly and courteous but helped Roose Bolton plan the logistics of the Red Wedding.
- It should be noted he is the only villain in the entire series thus far to be confronted with an Evil-Detecting Dog the Starks have with them, and remain undetected.
In-Series Nickname: "Lame" Lothar due to a twisted leg he suffered at birth.
Number Two: As Steward of the Twins.
Secretary of Evil: Lothar Frey works as the steward for his father and manages the family castles. When Lord Frey decided to betray the Starks, Lothar infamously handled the planning of the massacre.

Ser Whalen Frey

The fourteenth son of Lord Walder. He married to Sylwa Paege, with children Hoster and Merianne "Merry".

Can't Hold His Liquor: He passes out while drinking with Greatjon (admittedly a pretty heavy drinker), but somehow recovers in time to take an active role in the Red wedding a few minutes later.
Kick the Dog: Literally, he leads the forces which kill Grey Wind.
Too Important to Walk: On the receiving end of this; he has to help carry his father around in the first book.

Ser Perwyn Frey

The fifteenth son of Lord Walder Frey and the first son born in the marriage between Walder and Bethany Rosby. He is full brother to Benfrey, Willamen, Olyvar, and Roslin.

Bodyguarding a Badass: Becomes a member of Robb's personal guard while the Stark-Frey alliance lasts.
Nice Guy: A rarity in his House. Which is why they tend to usher him away from nefarious deeds before he can rumble them rather quickly.
Put on a Bus: He's sent away from the Twins before the Red Wedding because he's judged as being too sympathetic to his former comrades.
Token Good Teammate: One of the few decent Freys in the series. Even Ser Daven Lannister likes him, and he wants to slaughter the Freys under his command.

Ser Benfrey Frey

The sixteenth son of Lord Walder and second son born of his marriage to Bethany Rosby.

Even Evil Has Loved Ones: Has a wife and two children, Della and Osmund.
Killed Offscreen: He's last mentioned in the Red Wedding having gotten injured, but it's not until the appendix of A Feast for Crows we find out he died.
Kissing Cousins: Married his cousin Jyanna.
Improvised Weapon: Dacey Mormont takes him out with a flagon of wine to the face.
The Quiet One: He has no dialogue.
Repetitive Name: Benfrey Frey.
Standard Female Grab Area: Tries this on Dacey Mormont; he gets a flagon of wine in the face for his trouble.
Token Evil Teammate: The only child of Bethany Rosby who takes part in the Red Wedding.
We Hardly Knew Ye: Is one of the few Frey casualties from the Red Wedding; he gets a flagon of wine smashed into his face by Dacey Mormont and presumably dies from the wound inflicted.

Olyvar Frey

The eighteenth son of Lord Walder Frey, the fourth with his sixth wife Bethany Rosby.

Older Sidekick: He's two years older than Robb.
Put on a Bus: He's sent away from the Twins "on duty" for the Red Wedding because he's judged as being too loyal to Robb.
The Squire: Becomes one to Robb while the Stark-Frey alliance lasts.
Token Good Teammate: Alongside his full brother Perwyn, he is one of the few decent Freys.
Undying Loyalty: To Robb. He wants to remain at his side even after Robb breaks his marriage pact to House Frey, but his kin force him to leave.
What Happened to the Mouse?: His reaction to the Red Wedding remains to be seen.

Elmar Frey

Twenty-second and youngest son of Walder Frey, the fourth with his seventh wife, Anarra Farring...maybe. He is full brother to Arwyn, Wendel, Colmar, Waltyr, and Shirei.

Arranged Marriage: Had one of these with Arya Stark as part of Robb Stark's negotiations with Lord Walder Frey. Though the arrangement fell through before Elmar had so much as set eyes on his princess - or so he thinks.
Mama's Baby, Papa's Maybe: There's a rumor in the Twins that Anarra Farring was in fact sleeping with Black Walder Frey, and Elmar could possibly be his son.
Right in Front of Me: Runs into Arya while she's posing as a serving girl at Harrenhal, and boasts to her about how he's going to marry a princess.
Arya: I hope your princess dies.

Lord Walder's bastard sons

Ser Walder Rivers

Bastard Walder

"That one is more dangerous than any of his trueborn brothers."

—Jaime Lannister

Eldest bastard of Lord Walder Frey. He is a noted warrior and often given command of any military operations House Frey conducts. His personal sigil is a silver-grey castle on blue beneath a red bend sinister. Married to a woman of House Charleton and has two children, Walda and Aemon Rivers, and a granddaughter from Aemon, also named Walda.

Bastard Bastard: Unlike most of his siblings and cousins, who at least try to pretend to be polite in public, he lets his disdain for others shine openly. However, his behaviour is otherwise very difficult to describe as more despicable than the Family baseline: they've raised despicably atrocious behaviour to such an art from as a group, that it makes judging sufficiently aberrant behaviour by any by-blows... a little hard.
Daven Lannister: Hates that he's a bastard, and hates everyone who isn't.
Blood Knight: To a lesser extent than some of his relatives like Black Walder.
Co-Dragons: With Lame Lothar.
Deadpan Snarker: He has a bitingly sarcastic wit, although he usually uses it to insult people. He asked Edmure Tully whether he wanted to count Roslin's teeth before marrying her in place of Robb, and when insisting that the wedding had to take place immediately observed "my grandfather has come to mislike lengthy betrothals. I cannot imagine why."
In-Series Nickname: Called "Bastard Walder" due to being 1) a bastard in both meanings of the word and 2) named Walder.
Jerkass: Infamous in-universe as being this: hence, his name.
Jerkass Has a Point: He's correct in pointing out that Edwyn has no proof of Black Walder's involvement in their father's deaths, and it does turn out that Black Walder is innocent.
Pet the Dog: While it's hardly a kind act, he shows mercy to Chett; he merely exiles him to the Wall instead of having him executed. He also proposes to be Edwyn's champion when his grand-nephew gets challenged to a duel, not much but still notable for someone who doesn't care about most of his family.
Smug Snake: When you have inherited the main-line Jerkassery so obviously, you, too might get a bit big and self-important for your bastard britches.

Martyn Rivers

Another bastard son of Lord Walder Frey.

Ambiguous Innocence: He has yet to be mentioned among the Frey's who took part in the Red Wedding and are assisting the Lannister's and Bolton's, but that may simply be because his house's allies see him as Beneath Notice.
The Captain: He commands the outriders in the riverlands during the War of the Five Kings.
Early-Bird Cameo: He appears at the Hand's Tourney in the first book.
Mr. Exposition: He informs Catelyn of the Battle of Oxcross and of Tywin Lannister's movements towards Riverrun.
Screw This, I'm Out of Here!: He and several other Freys are seen leaving Riverrun following the news of Robb's wedding to Jeyne Westerling.

Ryger Rivers

A younger bastard of Lord Walder Frey. His mother was a peasant who milked goats.

Alliterative Name: Ryger Rivers.
Bit Character: He basically appears once. Beyond that, he's a name on a family tree.
Calling the Old Man Out: Ryger attempts to chastise Lord Walder for his discourtesy when Catelyn Tully comes to the Twins to discuss terms for the crossing of the Northern army in A Game of Thrones.
Shut Up, Kirk!: He ends up being rudely told off by Lord Walder for rebuking him.

Lord Walder's grandsons

Ser Ryman Frey

"A sot, a fool, and a craven. Lord Walder had best outlive this one, or the Freys are done."

—Jaime Lannister

Eldest son of Stevron Frey and his first wife Corenna Swann and new heir to the Twins after his father died, until his own death. He is married and has three sons, Edwyn, "Black" Walder, and Petyr.

The Alcoholic: He is drunk pretty much 24/7, much to the annoyance of everyone around him.
Amazingly Embarrassing Parents: To Edwyn, Black Walder, and Petyr. Particularly during the siege of Riverrun. Ryman's main contributions to said siege are threatening to hang Edmure, regularly passing out drunk, whoring, and annoying his allies and family.
Asshole Victim: Gets hanged by the Brotherhood Without Banners in A Feast for Crows. Edwyn suspects that Black Walder might have arranged it to increase his chance of becoming the Lord of the Crossing, though it's more likely the ambush was set up by Tom of Sevenstreams. No one particularly mourns him, even his own children; Jaime's only thought about his death is that the Brotherhood are getting bolder if they are willing to murder Lord Walder's heir a day's ride from the Twins.
Brutish Character, Brutish Weapon: Wields a longaxe in combat, notably during the Red Wedding when he kills Dacey Mormont with one and he's a brutish asshole, Hidden Depths non-withstanding.
Fat Bastard: Described as portly and mentioned to have a bad belly.
Fat Idiot: Robb regards him as dull-witted. Jaime later backs this assessment up.
General Failure: Utterly fails to accomplish anything during the siege of Riverrun.
Jaime Lannister: Edwyn, I am giving you your father's command. Try not to be so stupid as your sire.
Edwyn Frey: That ought not pose much difficulty, my lord.
Hanging Around: He's hanged by Lady Stoneheart and the Brotherhood Without Banners for participating in the Red Wedding.
Hidden Depths: Although he fails at pretty much everything else he does, according to Merrett Frey, he had a large part in planning the Red Wedding. However, given the longer term consequences of that "success", even that is arguably not a great thing — just not entirely his fault, this time.
The Millstone: Little he's involved with goes entirely all that well. Something family members have picked up on.
Outliving One's Offspring: He outlives his son Petyr, hung by the Brotherhood without Banners.
Overly-Nervous Flop Sweat: Catelyn notices at Edmure and Roslin's wedding that Ryman is sweating excessively. It is due to nerves over the upcoming slaughter.
Too Dumb to Live: Fails to carry out his threat to hang Edmure, tries to parley with the Blackfish while drunk only to fall off his horse when shot at, and puts Robb Stark's crown on a Camp Follower dubbing her the "queen of whores" — an act of lèse-majesté in the middle of a rebellion that could have cost him his head if Queen Cersei had heard of it, not to mention any Stark supporters; Lady Stoneheart is later seen holding the crown after his death, so her likely reaction upon hearing of his carelessness on top of his Red Wedding involvement is fairly clear.

Aegon "Jinglebell" Frey

Aegon Frey

Jinglebell

"Forgive my Aegon the noise. He has less wits than a crannogman."

—Lord Walder Frey

Second son of Stevron Frey and first child of his second wife Jeyne Lynden. He is full brother to Maegelle. He is a half-wit who is used as the jester of the Twins.

Butt-Monkey: The straightest, woobiest Frey you'll read of. The poor man is too simple to manage most of the standard Frey jerkassery, so gets to be the butt of it while in the most humiliating position possible. Having to put up with what he has for all his decades? Your heart just bleeds.
In-Series Nickname: "Jinglebell".
Ironic Name: A half-wit named after a great military leader and ruler.
Slashed Throat: How Catelyn Stark kills him during the Red Wedding. None of the Freys care.

Aegon "Bloodborn" Frey

Aegon Frey

Aegon Bloodborn

First son of Aenys Frey and Tyana Wilde. He's an outlaw.

The Ghost: He has yet to appear in the series.
In-Series Nickname: Aegon Bloodborn.
Outlaw: It's pretty much all we know of him. Well, at least he's official about it...

Rhaegar Frey

Second son of Ser Aenys Frey and Tyana Wylde. Married to Jeyne Beesbury and has three children: Robert, "White" Walda, and Jonos.

Aristocrats Are Evil: Like so many Freys.
Beard of Evil: Has a silky beard.
Character Death: Murdered alongside Jared and Symond Frey by Lord Wyman Manderly and turned into a pie.
Domestic Abuse: This guy suggests that "a firm hand and a quiet word" will soften an unruly wife.
Failed a Spot Check: Davos notes that when Rhaegar starts disparaging Robb Stark in the Merman's Court, he fails to notice the glacially cold atmosphere that sweeps over the room, and also fails to see Wyman Manderly hinting at his true feelings about the Freys for an instant by glaring at Rhaegar like a cockroach in need of being stamped on.
Family Theme Naming: Son of Aenys, brother to Aegon.
Fat Bastard: Described as round-shouldered and kettle-bellied.
Ironic Name: He is a slimy and totally mediocre man named after a Pretty Boy Knight in Shining Armor who was both a sensitive intellectual and very charismatic and popular.
Wyman Manderly: [discussing Rhaegar] That smirking worm who wears a dragon's name.
Jerkass Has a Point: As much of a dick as he was about it, he wasn't wrong that Robb shouldn't have broken his marriage pact with the Freys to marry Jeyne Westerling.
Mouth of Sauron: To Lord Walder and the Iron Throne.
Smug Snake: Even smugger than many of the other Freys, which says a lot.
Speak Ill of the Dead: Openly speaks ill of Robb Stark in the Merman's Court, accusing him of betraying the riverlords and saying he was "a vile dog and died like one." Since Wyman Manderly's secretly (and silently) plotting to bring back the Starks, Rhaegar gets himself baked into a pie for this insult.

Ser Arwood Frey

The only son of Ser Hosteen Frey and Bellena Royce. Married to Ryella Royce, and has four children: Ryella, Androw, Alyn, and Hostella.

Bit Character: Only appears in one scene to tell Jaime about the raid on Saltpans.
Everyone Has Standards: Is horrified at what the "Hound" did at Saltpans.
"Near and Dear" Baby Naming: He names his fourth child after his father, albeit the feminine form, and his first daughter is named after his wife.
Token Good Teammate: We see no evidence that he took part in the Red Wedding, and he's utterly disgusted by the raid on Saltpans. He even seems somewhat understanding of Quincy Cox's actions, while others are quick to dismiss him as a Dirty Coward.
Villain Respect: He points out to the Strongboar that Beric Dondarrion has changed after his death and shouldn't be underestimated.

"Little" Walder Frey

Walder Frey

Little Walder Frey

"The big one they call little, it comes to me he's well named. Big outside, little inside, and mean down to the bones."

—Osha

The only son of Merrett Frey and Mariya Darry, brother to Amerei, "Fat" Walda, and Marissa Frey. His personal coat of arms is the twin towers of House Frey quartered with the brindled boar of House Crakehall and the plowman of House Darry. He is tall and stout, with a red face and big round belly.

Asshole Victim: No one besides the Freys is that sorry he's dead.
Avenging the Villain: Ramsay threatens to make a cloak from the flayed skin of whoever killed Walder.
Bastard Understudy: Literally and figuratively, as after being taken under Ramsay's "wing", he embraces his mentor's behavior and starts becoming a miniature version of him.
Bling of War: He has fine silver plate with enameled blue chasings.
The Bully: Starts out as this and proceeds to become much worse.
Death of a Child: He's killed during the Bolton occupation of Winterfell by an unidentified party.
Fat Bastard: Very fat and very cruel.
A Fate Worse Than Death: Lord Wyman Manderly invokes this trope when claiming that his death was a blessing that prevented him from growing up a Frey.
Ironic Nickname: "Little" Walder, despite being bigger than his cousin "Big" Walder; the name is due to being 52 days younger than he is. Osha notes that the nickname is actually appropriate because it describes Walder's petty and mean personality.
Jerkass: Jerkass enough to admire Ramsay.
Kids Are Cruel: Goes overboard when he becomes The Squire to Ramsay Bolton, joining him in some of his "games".
- He already started showing signs of this in mocking Hodor.
"Near and Dear" Baby Naming: Like his cousin Big Walder, he is one of many Frey children named after the family's patriarch in an attempt to gain his favor.
The Sociopath: Shows a lot of signs of being one, which become more pronounced when Ramsay becomes his mentor.
The Squire: Becomes one for Ramsay Bolton.
Too Dumb to Live: Bran considers Walder this for thinking he could take on a direwolf.

"Big" Walder Frey

Walder Frey

Big Walder Frey

The eldest son of Jammos Frey, himself thirteenth son of Walder and second son of his marriage to Alyssa Blackwood, and Sallei Paege. He is brother to Dickon and Mathis. His personal coat of arms quarters the tree and ravens of House Blackwood with the twinning snakes of House Paege and the twin towers of House Frey. He is described as small and fox-faced.

Animal Motifs: Theon sees him as a Fox. He could qualify as Cunning Like a Fox, seeing as his potential murder of Little Walder was done in such a way to place all the suspicion on Wyman Manderly, who was already suspected of murdering three other Freys.
Bling of War: He has fine silver plate with enameled blue chasings.
The Bully: He and Little Walder displayed this when living at Winterfell, targeting Hodor. Though, Little Walder was undeniably worse.
Even Evil Has Standards: Big Walder finds his limits when made a squire for Ramsay Bolton, and he becomes disturbed by Little Walder's behavior.
The Evil Prince: Downplayed and framed in a sympathetic light, but in most of the scenes in which he appears, he laments his unenviable place in the order of succession, but makes it clear he intends to one day become Lord of the Crossing. While it also is tied to his having standards, he is pleased when unpleasant family members closer in the line of succession bite it. He's also one of the prime suspects in Little Walder's murder.
Face Realization: Although he starts out as a bully like Little Walder, he breaks from his cousin when Little Walder starts aping Ramsay Bolton's behaviour. There are also signs of this much earlier in the story, when he looks genuinely sincere in his apology to Hodor, and doesn't take part in his cousins' Fantastic Racism or help Theon hunt down Bran and Rickon.
Goal in Life: Gotta hand it to Big Walder, cause he dreams big. He dreams of one day being the Lord of the Twins, even though he's close to the bottom of the barrel in terms of the Frey's inheritance hierarchy.
Guile Hero: He could be shaping up to become either one of these. If he did plan and orchestrate Little Walder's murder, he did it in a way his distant relative, Brynden "Bloodraven" Rivers, would no doubt appreciate and grade fairly well. And, if he didn't, well; not getting himself killed by playing star witness well enough is still quite the achievement.
Ironic Nickname: "Big" Walder, despite being smaller than his cousin "Little" Walder, so named because he's 52 days younger than he is.
Jerk with a Heart of Gold: He might be a bit of a bully and may have killed Little Walder, but he's one of the few people to actually treat Theon like a human being. Also, consider that Little Walder was well on his way to becoming a queasy, if dumber, cross between Ramsay and Black Walder. Which could easily have turned into ill-considered kinslaying for the giggles, so who could blame him if he did choose to put the growing liability down at the first available, and very golden, opportunity?
"Near and Dear" Baby Naming: Like his cousin Little Walder, he is one of many Frey children named after the family's patriarch in an attempt to gain his favor.
The Squire: Becomes one for Ramsay Bolton.
Token Good Teammate: Unlike Little Walder, Big Walder is disturbed serving Ramsay and doesn't take part in his cousin's games and cruelties. Earlier on when Maester Luwin told the two Walders off for mocking Hodor, Big Walder at least apologized, while Little Walder didn't. He also speaks to Theon more pleasantly than Ramsay, and is the first of the few people in ADWD who show Theon kindness.

Sandor Frey

The son of the late Geremy Frey, and a squire in The Vale.

Ambiguous Situation: Given his age, and how even during the main story Sandor isn't that big of a name, it's unclear if he was intentionally named after The Hound or their shared name is a coincidence.
The Ghost: He has yet to appear outside of the appendixes.
The Squire: For Donnel Waynwood, who has encountered Sansa in the Vale, although Sandor himself hasn't yet.

Alesander Frey

The oldest son of Symond Frey and a singer.

Token Good Teammate: One of the Frey's sympathetic to the North, who was judged as unlikely to participate in the Red Wedding and sent away beforehand.

Bradamar Frey

The second son of Symond Frey, and the ward of a merchant in Braavos.

The Ghost: Has only been mentioned in appendiexes so far.
Token Good Teammate: While his actual personality is so far unknown, he did not participate in the Red Wedding and wasn't even on the same continent when it happened.

Lord Walder's great-grandsons

Edwyn Frey

Eldest son of Ser Ryman Frey, Ser Stevron's grandson and Lord Walder's great-grandson. Married to Janyce Hunter and has only one daughter: Walda. He is the new heir to the Twins after his father's death.

A Lighter Shade of Black: He's an utter arsehole who supported his family's inexcusable violation of guest right, he's generally just a dick to everyone he comes across, and most likely will earn zero sympathy from the reader... and yet, he still seems like a preferable heir to Black Walder.
All Girls Want Bad Boys: Inverted; his Bitch in Sheep's Clothing Nice Guy persona gets him some attention from Dacey Mormont, yet while in normal Jerkass mode, his wife is cheating on him.
Bitch in Sheep's Clothing: Unlike Black Walder, he's introduced as being fairly courteous by welcoming Robb and his men into the Twins, and then showing concern for Roslin. Turns out he has full knowledge of the massacre that's about to take place, and probably would have partaken... if he hadn't been so incompetent as to get caught within five minutes and decked.
Cain and Abel: The Abel to his brother "Black" Walder Frey's Cain.
Combat Pragmatist: His strategy to capture Riverrun is to fake an offensive in order to draw out the Blackfish, then have archers riddle him with poisoned arrows. It gets shut down because it's just too low for the other houses who are already serving the assholes that killed their family at a wedding.
The Ghost: Not Edwyn himself, but his wife and child have yet to appear.
Jerkass: Even among the Freys, he stands out as an unpleasant asshole, which Ser Daven Lannister notes.
Daven: Not as thick as his father, but as full of hate as a boil's full of pus.
Kick the Dog: Cruelly dismisses Dacey Mormont after she asks him to dance. Even worse, she dies mere minutes later, something he full well knew, making it her last conversation — ever. And in case you forget, he's back in the sequel demanding Clement Piper's head be cut off for insulting him.
Non-Action Guy: He has no fighting skills. In fact, he's so incompetent in a fight that the one combat related task he's involved in — The Red Wedding — he manages to instantly draw unwanted attention to himself before his body armour is discovered by Catelyn.
Number Two: To his father Lord Ryman during the Siege of Riverrun. In effect he is in the commander, as his father's too busy getting drunk.
Oh, Crap!: Has a moment of this in Feast when Jaime tells him that all of the prisoners from the Red Wedding are to be transferred to King's Landing immediately. Because those prisoners have been pretty much the only thing keeping the Riverlands houses from kicking the Freys collective asses. He's about the only Frey to see the enormity of their predicament.
- There is another earlier in the book when after making one too many threats to Lord Clement Piper's son, Marq, a captive at the Twins, Piper angrily takes exception to the last one and surges to his feet, telling Edwyn to stand up and say the same words with a sword in his hand. Given he's a Non-Action Guy, Edwyn essentially shits himself at the challenge.
Only Sane Man: Seems to be the only Frey during the Siege of Riverrun who has any idea what he's doing, and actually offers a few decent ideas on how to deal with Brynden Tully; oddly for most instances of this trope, he's not sympathetic in the slightest.
Pet the Dog: Granted, it was probably just him trying to gain a potential ally against his brother, but he does warn Daven Lannister to be careful about Black Walder banging his potential bride-to-be.
Shut Up, Hannibal!: Is on the receiving end of two of these in rapid succession, when both Lord Clement Piper and Jaime Lannister get tired of him shooting his mouth off at a war council:
Norbert Vance: I have known Brynden Tully since we were squire together, in service to Lord Darry. If it please my lords, let me go and speak with him and try to make him understand the hopelessness of his position.
Clement Piper: He understands that well enough. The man's not bloody stupid, Norbert. He has eyes...and too much sense to yield to such as these. [makes a rude gesture in the direction of the present Freys]
Edwyn Frey: [insulted] If my lord of Piper means to imply—
Clement Piper: [enraged] I don't imply, Frey. I say what I mean straight out, like an honest man. But what would you know of the ways of honest men? You're a lying, treacherous weasel like all your kin. I'd sooner drink a pint of piss than take the word of any Frey.
Norbert Vance: Lord Piper spoke from grief. Marq is his firstborn son. Those knights who accompanied him to the Twins were nephews and cousins all.
Edwyn Frey: Traitors and rebels all, you mean.
Jaime Lannister: The Twins took up the Young Wolf's cause as well. Then you betrayed him. That makes you twice as treacherous as Piper.
[Edwyn's smile curdles up and dies.]
Sibling Rivalry: With Black Walder — most Freys who care to place bets aren't putting their money on Edwyn, though; even if most are reluctant to openly pick sides.
Sibling Yin-Yang: Edwyn is the elder, non-action guy who, although with much cunning, has all the charm of an anvil to the head and with an overall quite passive attitude. His brother is martially astute, power-hungry, a charmer (when he bothers) with a string of sexual conquests behind him, generally active, and very dangerous. Both, however, are similar enough in that they are intelligent jerks — just different takes on the theme.
Villainous Rescue: Rushes to stop Jaime when he seems prepared to execute Edmure. Purely because losing such a valuable hostage would severely weaken the Freys' position; further tainting the act is that the Freys had been threatening to kill Edmure for weeks and Jaime was merely (seemingly) just following through.
Would Hit a Girl: Pushes Catelyn Stark over, which is what triggers the start of the Red Wedding.

"Black" Walder Frey

Walder Frey

Black Walder

Second son of Ser Ryman Frey, Ser Stevron's grandson and Lord Walder's great-grandson. Not married to anyone.

All Girls Want Bad Boys: Regarded as perhaps the most unpleasant Frey, and he's apparently drowning in it. If the rumors are true, he's had both of his brother's wives, two of his cousins, and his own great grandfather's seventh wife.
Aristocrats Are Evil: Perhaps one of the most evil Freys in the series, hence his nickname.
Beard of Evil: Has a black beard.
The Brute: His reputation and skill in combat make him the Freys' go-to commander to inspire terror and crush opposition.
Cain and Abel: Has a terrible relationship with his older brother Edwyn.
The Casanova: Within the Twins.
Colonel Badass: Commands the forces that capture Seagard after the Red Wedding.
Enhanced Interrogation Techniques: How he gets information out of the Smallfolk he comes across when stalking the Brotherhood.
The Evil Prince: Certainly evil and it is suspected he wants to move up in the line of succession. When their father dies Edwyn suspects Black Walder to be behind it, as that means he is the only thing standing between Black Walder inheriting the Twins. The fact Edwyn has a daughter implies Black Walder may go to further lengths to become Lord of the Crossing. There is even a fan theory Black Walder may have murdered his grandfather Stevron, Walder Frey's heir.
A Family Affair: Believed to have a thing for cuckolding his other relatives, and even his patriarch's younger wives, complicating the lineage of the younger Freys.
Hair-Trigger Temper: The source of his nickname.
Informed Ability:
- While he's certainly unpleasant, the worst thing we actually see him do is kill a nameless Vance at the Red Wedding, which is no worse than the rest of his family. Off-screen, it's mentioned that he tortured some smallfolk... and that's it. His Evil Prince attributes are mentioned only by his hated brother Edwyn, and he turned out be wrong anyway. Of course, he's only in a few short scenes, since he spends A Feast For Crows at Seaguard while Edwyn and Daven talk about how much they hate him. The real difference is that unlike most of his families he doesn't even try hiding how much of an asshole he is, telling Robb right away to kill his wife.
- His status as The Casanova is also never actually shown on-screen; in fact, only one of his many lovers actually turns up in the flesh, and she has a reputation for having it off with just about anybody. Just about every person we actually see talking about him — man or woman — regards him as a violent asshole they want nothing to do with.
In-Universe Nickname: "Black Walder" on account on his irascible temper and stern attitude.
Jerkass: After Robb breaks his marriage pact to the Freys by marrying Jeyne Westerling, Black Walder cements his status as one of the more vile Freys by telling Robb that he is sure one of his relatives would not mind marrying a widower. Robb nearly executes him for this, but Jeyne manages to convince him not to. He's also one of the more militarily capable captains, fancies himself as a ladies man with numerous bastards and an all-round bully.
Kissing Cousins: With Fair Walda and Gatehouse Ami.
Not Me This Time: He's a ruthless bastard, but it appears that despite Edwyn's claims, he nothing to do with the death of his father.
Really Gets Around: He's rumored to have been involved with the wives of his brothers Edwyn and Petyr (Janyce Hunter and Mylenda Caron), with his half-first cousin "Fair" Walda, and his half-first cousin once removed Ami. He's even rumored to have maintained a relationship with Lord Walder's seventh wife Lady Annara Farring. All of this casts doubt on the parentage of Edwyn's daughter Walda, Petyr's daughter Perra, and the six children of Lord Walder and Lady Annara. In fact, there is a strong chance any unmarried Frey girl who is available has been with Black Walder.
Ser Daven Lannister: From what Edwyn tells me, though, I'd best pick on who hasn't flowered yet, or I'm like to find that Black Walder has been there first.
Serial Homewrecker: Of the A Family Affair variety. He's known for sleeping with his brothers' wives and is rumored to have slept with his great-grandfather's seventh wife.
Serial Rapist: Implied; Merrett Frey mentions that he "takes what he wants" in reference to his brothers' wives.
Sibling Rivalry: With Edwyn.
Would Hit a Girl: Makes a passive-aggressive threat about killing Jeyne Westerling.

Petyr Frey

Petyr Pimple

Third son of Ser Ryman Frey, Ser Stevron's grandson and Lord Walder's great-grandson. Married to Mylenda Caron, who is three times his own age. They have one daughter: Perra Frey, though maybe she is actually Black Walder's daughter.

Butt-Monkey: Unattractive, covered in warts, married to a woman thrice his age who is quite likely cheating on him with his own brother, his first scene involves him falling off his horse, and then he gets kidnapped and hanged.
Drinking Contest: Engages in one with Greatjon Umber prior to the Red Wedding in order to get him too drunk to fight. He passes out.
Embarrassing Nickname: Petyr Pimple.
Hanging Around: He's hanged by Lady Stoneheart and the Brotherhood Without Banners for participating in the Red Wedding.
I Have Your Wife: He's the proverbial wife, having been kidnapped by the Brotherhood Without Banners while wandering around with some camp followers after the Red Wedding.
My Nayme Is: Petyr instead of Peter.
Old Man Marrying a Child: Sort of. When he was ten he was married to Mylenda Caron, who is three times his age.
You Said You Would Let Them Go: Instead of ransoming him back to Merrett Frey, the Brotherhood hangs him before Merrett arrives with the promised gold.

Lord Walder's daughters

Tyta Frey

Tyta the Maid

The fourth daughter of Lord Walder and the second one born to Alyssa Blackwood. She remains a maid — supposedly — at 29 years.

In-Series Nickname: "Tyta the Maid".
Old Maid: Unwed at 29 in a world where girls of noble families are usually married off as soon as they menstruate, and their matches are made even before that.

Lady Roslin Frey

See the House Tully page.

Lord Walder's granddaughters

Lady Amerei Frey

Amerei Frey

Gatehouse Ami

The eldest daughter of Merrett Frey and Mariya Darry. She's known for her promiscuity. She was married to Ser Pate of the Blue Fork. As part of the Frey-Lannister alliance, she's married to Lancel Lannister and becomes Lady of Darry due to her mother's claim.

Arranged Marriage: To Ser Pate of the Blue Fork. Since Pate got himself killed fighting Gregor Clegane, she's made to marry Ser Lancel Lannister.
Babies Make Everything Better: Nope, no babies here. Nor has she ever been part of The Baby Trap. Given what her favourite pastime is, combined with other relatives' ease of getting pregnant, she's either a strong believer in her daily moon tea, her closest relatives are regularly dosing their reputational liability to minimise the fallout... or she's actually, by some freakishly low chance, sterile.
Butterface: Although she has an attractive body, her face displays the typical "Frey look".
Daddy's Girl: She seems to have been fond of her father, recalling how he used to tell her stories as a girl, and is very sad that he was executed by the Brotherhood Without Banners.
Dead Guy Junior: Presumably named after her grandmother, Amarei Crakehall.
The Ditz: She doesn't appear to be the smartest of girls when Jaime stays at Castle Darry, causing her mother to have to correct her grammar and getting the Smiling Knight's title wrong while she's attempting to seduce Jaime.
Guilt by Association: Ami is an example of what the Freys that were tangentially related to the Red Wedding are experiencing as a result. Her dad just attended the wedding and drank wine, wasn't involved in the planning, and argues that he was just there for the party. His assassination greatly upsets Ami, whose cries for justice warrant the new garrison at Darry to swear to her that they will find the responsible party and rid the Darry lands from outlaws. That being said, she seems to forget that by violating Guest Right via the Red Wedding, her family has effectively ensured that no one will ever want to trust them again. Additionally, her father appears to have been a willing participant in the Red Wedding, having been tasked with making the Greatjon too drunk to fight, making her claims moot.
In-Series Nickname: Gatehouse Ami, because she will "raise her portcullis for anyone".
In the Blood: Her promiscuity makes sense when you consider her paternal grandmother was a Crakehall. Lord Walder comments that all Crakehall women are sluts.
- Of course, even more tellingly, she's descended from Lord Walder himself. Girl was doomed at birth.
- However, no babies: compare with Fat Walda (probably just as enthusiastic, if bright enough to be exclusive) and Roslin. Both pregnant after about a week of marriage, if that.
Moral Myopia: Her cries for justice for her father's death ring hollow when one takes into account just how many fathers her family slaughtered at the Red Wedding.
Really Gets Around: She was once found having sex with three grooms at the same time in the stables. And, has the reputation of having some difficulty understanding the concepts "celibacy" and "exclusivity".
The Ugly Guy's Hot Daughter: Kind of. Despite her being chinless as most Freys, she's somewhat attractive and noted for having full breasts and long legs.
Unwanted Spouse: To Lancel Lannister. Not because she's a slut, but because he has become The Fundamentalist. He quickly abandons her and their lands to join the Warrior's Sons.

Lady Walda Frey

Walda Frey

Fat Walda

See the House Bolton page.

Lord Walder's great-granddaughters

"Fair" Walda Frey

Walda Frey

Fair Walda

The only daughter of Walton Frey, himself third son of Stevron Frey and only child by his third wife Marsella Waynwood, and Deana Hardyng. She is sister to Steffon and Bryan.

Bit Character: Her only actual appearance is being a guest a the Red Wedding.
In-Series Nickname: "Fair Walda."
Kissing Cousins: With Black Walder.
The Ugly Guy's Hot Daughter: Great-granddaughter, at any rate, but her nickname being Fair Walda suggests she's easier on the eyes than her ugly great-grandfather Walder, and a good deal of her weasel-faced relatives, to boot.

Cadet Branches

House Frey of Riverrun

A cadet branch of House Frey established in Riverrun during the War of the Five Kings. From the start of the war, this cadet branch fought for House Lannister and was awarded with Riverrun following the Red Wedding.

Lord Emmon Frey

Second son of Lord Walder Frey and his first wife, Lady Perra Royce. He's married to Genna Lannister and has four sons (Cleos, Lyonel (who is married to Melesa Crakehall), Tion, and "Red" Walder) who are allegedly his. He is now head of House Frey of Riverrun and Lord of Riverrun.

Arranged Marriage: He and Genna were married when he was fourteen and she was seven. The marriage created an uproar in the Westerlands, since Emmon was a second son of a second-tier house from another region.
Authority in Name Only: He is the Lord of Riverrun and he fully expected that the Lord Paramount of the Trident title would come to him, only that it was already promised to Littlefinger; worse even is the fact that his wife is the one who will be the authority in all but name because she is a Lannister.
Butt-Monkey: Everybody is contemptuous of him, including his wife, and disregards all his opinions. It's also implied that Tywin Lannister, who never hid his disapproval of Emmon's marriage to his sister, made every day of his life hell from the moment he wed Genna. His own nephew essentially Facepalms when he has to explain to Emmon he's only the Lord of Riverrun.
Collective Groan: The poster boy:
- His betrothed to Genna Lannister was one of the most publicly decried mistakes of her father Tytos, adding to the pile of perceived offenses that caused House Reyne to rebel against their liege lords. Roger Reyne even left the audience in fury during the announcement.
- His adventures with the Riverlander Lords and his insistence in claiming Riverrun as his by rights didn't help much to lifting the siege to the castle. He is a champion in causing everyone around him to roll their eyes and ignore him. The only things that is keeping him safe from their wrath are, his wife Genna (a Lannister), Daven Lannister (who is commanding the siege, but is leaving to become the Lord Paramount of the West) and the fact that the Freys have various members of their families as prisoners... who Jaime Lannister is taking with him to King's Landing. He should be keeping his mouth shut if he wants to survive...
The Dilbert Principle: An embodiment of the trope. None of his promotions have had anything to do with his competence, just the well-connected powerhouse he's married to.
Dude, Where's My Respect?: Particularly after learning that despite becoming Lord of Riverrun he won't become Lord Paramount of the Riverlands.
Henpecked Husband: His wife controls everything he does.
Idiot Ball: This is his wife's constant complaint about him — to the point it comes across as possibly being hyperbole. He then goes quite some way to prove her right at the Siege of Riverrun in his spectacularly ineffectual fashion. So far, he has been saved from being Too Dumb to Live thanks to having her and his son to try keeping his idiocy in check.
Insistent Terminology: During the Siege of Riverrun he constantly reminds the rest of the commanders that he's the new Lord of Riverrun. Given that the Blackfish is in physical possession of Riverrun, everyone mocks or ignores him.
Jerkass Has a Point: He does rightfully point out that he would make a better Lord Paramount of the Riverlands than Petyr Baelish, if only because Littlefinger couldn't even be bothered going to the Riverlands in the first place. That said, he's pretty far down on the list of competent rulers.
Mama's Baby, Papa's Maybe: Not him. But, perhaps some of his children — the only relatively safe bet for him is Cleos who has the Freys' traditional weasel look. That is, if both Tyrion's and Jaime's musings about his wife are correct. Then again, given Jaime is still contemplating Cersei's own infidelity, it's possible he's just projecting.
The Millstone: He's a key power within the Frey alliance simply because of his marriage to Genna. Yet, he's also one of their biggest weak links because his bungles drain their logistical, political and social capital thanks to his near-crippling ineptitude in the posts he gets given. Being the man supposedly in the job means he can, officially, override and/or ignore his wife while she's trying to actually do it.
Outliving One's Offspring: He outlives his sons Cleos and Tion.
Pet the Dog: He announces his intent to rule the Riverlands fairly... well, he does until Jaime tells him he won't be ruling them at all. He also speaks rather respectfully of Cleos once Jaime tells him how he died.
Spanner in the Works:
- His marriage to Genna Lannister was one of the biggest affronts to the plans of House Reyne to finally attain a familial link to House Lannister that would justify their presence at Casterly Rock after the many, many attempts by Ellyn Reyne. It caused Lord Roger Reyne to leave the room in ire when Lord Tytos made the announcement to the audience, as he deemed it not only as a personal attack to his noble house, but also as a tremendously detrimental move against the Westerlands' reputation as a whole. Think about how bad it was, that even the Reynes thought that the Lannisters had stooped down that low by making the betrothed. This is one of the reasons the Reynes rebelled against House Lannister, resulting in their downfall and total extermination.
- The Riverlander lords are already fed up with having to bow to the Freys, but Emmon is the particular Frey that seems to be making everything worse for everyone because he just won't shut up. If something were to happen in the Riverlands, it would be certainly partly his fault.
Teeth-Clenched Teamwork: During the Siege of Riverrun with the Riverlords that bent the knee to the Iron Throne following the Red Wedding.
Tiny Guy, Huge Girl: He's a typical Frey weasel. She's an imposing Lannister lioness in both looks and personality. It must look a bit ridiculous when they stand next to each other.
Ugly Guy, Hot Wife: Well, Genna used to be quite attractive — now she's Large and in Charge.

Lady Genna Lannister

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/genna2_lady_rae.jpg

"Men are such thundering great fools. Even the sort who come along once in a thousand years."

Third child and only daughter of Tytos Lannister and Jeyne Marbrand. Married to Emmon Frey, with whom she has four sons (Cleos, Lyonel, Tion, and "Red" Walder). Genna had a close relationship with each of her brothers, and has a personality to match each of them. She was betrothed and wed to Emmon Frey by her father when she was only seven-years-old, a match ten-year-old Tywin objected to. Nevertheless, she has grown into a strong representative of House Lannister whose counsel many respect.

For the House Lannister entry, see here.

Amazonian Beauty: In her younger days. She is now more heavy-set. Still, her strong presence has not diminished.
Battle of Wits: Her husband is not even in the contest, by contrast. However, she's single-handedly keeping her corner of House Freys' heads above water level on behalf of the Lannisters with every manipulative and verbal tool she's got, despite some losses, his bungling and Team Lannister imploding around her ears.
Big Beautiful Woman: And proud of it. When we first meet her in A Feast for Crows she refers to herself as Jaime's "fat aunt".
Big Brother Worship: Despite their falling out later in life, she still has fond memories of ten-year-old Tywin publicly speaking out against her Arranged Marriage. "Every girl needs a big brother to protect her. Tywin was big even when he was little."
Brutal Honesty: Whether it's toward the husband she insults, the nephew she adores, or even the big brother she looks up to, Genna always speaks harsh truths.
Cool Aunt: Both Tyrion and Jaime think so, at least. Cersei's opinion is unknown, though judging by some of her flashbacks, she may have been closer to her aunt as a child.
Deadpan Snarker: You'd feel particularly sorry for her husband. If he didn't go out of his way to prove her points about him quite so much.
The Greatest Story Never Told: Lord Roger Reyne of Castamere wasn't very happy at Genna's betrothal to Emmon Frey. Since some years later Tywin utterly destroyed the Reynes, there is no way to know what drove the Red Lion away.
- By his reaction, he was possibly expecting to further expand family ties with the Lannisters and the betrothal spoiled his plans.
Happily Arranged Marriage: Subverted, her father weakly submitted her hand to Walder Frey's son Emmon despite the fact that he was not a worthy match for her. She always loved her brother Tywin for Calling the Old Man Out for this. The marriage still happened, and she still didn't end up happy, although they seem to tolerate each other.
Henpecked Husband: Her stupid, egotistical, old fool of a husband Emmon Frey, who she lords over and rules through to hilarious effect.
Iron Lady: Annoying her is not recommended. Even her brothers worked that one out, and none of them were ever the shrinking types.
Mama's Baby, Papa's Maybe: She may have done this to her husband, if both Tyrion and Jaime are right in their suspicions.
Mr. Exposition: A female variant. She does this about the Faith Militant's history to Jaime, expounding on her personal view that Cersei is an idiot for allowing the Faith to be rearmed when even the Targaryens trod carefully around the Faith Militant, requiring almost a decade of war and a grudging peace treaty to deal with the Faith Militant the last time they were powerful.
Genna: Seven save us all. And speaking of the Seven, why would Cersei allow the Faith to rearm?
Jaime: I am certain she had reasons.
Genna: They had best be good reasons. The Swords and Stars troubled even the Targaryens. The Conqueror himself trod carefully with the Faith, so they would not oppose him. And when Aegon died and the lords rose up against his sons, both orders were in the thick of that rebellion. The more pious lords supported them, and many of the smallfolk. Maegor the Cruel finally had to put a bounty on them. He paid a gold dragon for the head of any unrepentant Warrior's Son and a silver stag for the scalp of a Poor Fellow, if I recall my history. Thousands were slain but nigh as many still roamed the realm, defiant, until the Iron Throne slew Maegor and King Jaehaerys agreed to pardon all those who would set aside their swords.
Never Say That Again: She once told Tywin that Tyrion is a lot like him, far more so than Jaime. Tywin refused to speak to her for six months.
No Indoor Voice: Tends to speak in a voice described as "booming".
Not So Above It All: Even though she's more grounded than Tywin (which is stating the obvious), she is still very much a Lannister and is as stuffy and proud as her name warrants.
Only Sane Man: Is more grounded in reality than even Lord Tywin (the byword for Pragmatic Villainy) when she notes the potential of Tyrion when he constantly refuses to.
Parental Substitute: She just might have been a mother to Jaime and Tyrion when their mother died (not quite so to Cersei, since it's not mentioned). She loves her nephews and actually took interest in their well-being and intelligence, even arguing to Tywin that Tyrion was the son that took after him the most. Tywin being Tywin, he didn't like this in the least and spent half a year ignoring Genna for the "slight".
Outliving One's Offspring: She outlives her sons Cleos and Tion.

Ser Cleos Frey

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/cleos_frey_ffg_9960.jpg

"Ser Cleos looked like a weasel, fought like a goose, and had the courage of an especially brave ewe."

—Jaime Lannister

The eldest of Emmon Frey and Genna Lannister's four sons. Married to Jeyne Darry, sister of Mariya, his half-uncle Merrett's wife, with whom he has two sons, Tywin and Willem. He's fighting for House Lannister at the start of the War of the Five Kings. His personal coat-of-arms is the twin towers of House Frey and the golden lion of House Lannister, quartered.

Butt-Monkey: He is captured early in the war, and used as a go-between for the Starks and Lannisters to negotiate, even though neither side ever expects the other to accept the offer they give, essentially making him walk back-and-forth across Westeros for nothing. Then he gets tossed in Riverrun's prison due to a plot he never knew about, and is forced to go along with Brienne and Jaime when they sneak out of Riverrun. He is killed shortly after the journey begins in a very painful manner, his corpse is looted by the Brave Companions, and is left to rot in the middle of the woods unburied. To top it all off, his cousin Jaime isn't very bothered by his death, and neither are his parents.
Family-Unfriendly Death: Shot with arrows, then his horse spooks and drags him across the ground, killing him.
The Heart: Very much. He's able to hold his own enough to avoid being The Load and isn't as hatefully egocentric as most members of his family, so can have a stab at this trope. He does try being this openly with Jaime and Brienne. It... goes iffily. Not for lack of trying, though.
Lovable Coward: Surprisingly, for a Frey. He's actually quite affable, in a bumbling sort of way. Still would rather waffle his way out of a problem than actually fight. Or just not be there, by preference.
Mama's Baby, Papa's Maybe: It's possible. He may still technically be a Frey, though maybe not from the one he thinks he's from. Genna is not dumb enough to make the mistake of letting a first pregnancy through if there was too much of a chance of the baby not looking about right.
Non-Action Guy: A big part of his image problem. In Westeros, a guy who's a lot better with words than he is with swords isn't seen in a positive light. Yet, he was used as a go-between precisely because of his being a supremely unthreatening guy. How he became a knight is anybody's guess, as he really doesn't exhibit any of the martial skills of one, beyond riding a horse really well and being OK-ish with a bow or crossbow.
Shed the Family Name: Invoked. He is not very proud of being a Frey, and if it weren't for the rules of paternal naming, he would be a Lannister without a second thought. He even considers himself a Lannister and doesn't want anything to do with his father's family.
Smarter Than You Look: He's very much a watered-down Lannister to look at, suffering from some of the Frey weak points, but comes out quite a bit sharper than the average Frey as a result. And, look down on his cowardice and lack of graceful social arts all you like: he makes some good points about why the whole venture of stealing Jaime away to King's Landing the way they were doing was a great mistake. Also note a small tendency: he tries to talk himself out of problems as a first resort. He just has none of the Lannister prestige or gold to back his words up with.
Thicker Than Water: Toyed with. Despite being a Frey, he fights on the side of the Lannisters because his mother is a Lannister.
Token Good Teammate: Say what you want about him being a cowardly weasel, but he doesn't seem to be that bad a guy for a Frey. He may complain about his journey with Brienne and Jaime, but never abandonds them even if it would be safer to do so. He also dislikes when Jaime insults Brienne and asks him to stop; which is especially notable because the amount of people in Westeros who show poor Brienne any kind of respect is very low.

Tion Frey

Third son of Emmon Frey and Genna Lannister. Like his older brother Cleos, he's fighting for House Lannister at the start of the War of the Five Kings. He's part of the host commanded by Jaime Lannister.

Character Death: Victim of a Revenge by Proxy by the hands of Rickard Karstark.
Child Soldier: And, not a bad one, judging from his actions. Just a totally surprised, outnumbered and overpowered one.
Defiant to the End: Tion fought for his life when the Karstarks came to kill him.
I Have Your Wife: He is captured in the Whispering Wood and taken hostage to Riverrun along with his cousin Willem Lannister.
Mama's Baby, Papa's Maybe: Like his brother, for the same reasons. It's only a possibility, though.
Named After Somebody Famous: Possibly after his great-uncle, Tion Lannister.
Revenge by Proxy: Rickard Karstark kills him and his cousin Willem Lannister in their prison cell after Catelyn releases the Kingslayer for being the only Lannisters nearby.
The Squire: Yup. For all the good it does him.

Tywin Frey

Ty

First son of Cleos Frey and Jeyne Darry, now heir to Riverrun.

Affectionate Nickname: Genna calls him Ty.
Arranged Marriage: Jaime and Genna plan one between him and Edmure's hypothetical female child.
The Ghost: Never seen, only discussed.
Like Father, Unlike Son: Genna believes he'll make a much better ruler than his grandfather, at least if he takes after her.
"Near and Dear" Baby Naming: Named after Lord Tywin Lannister, of course, who was his great-uncle.
Passed-Over Inheritance: Even though his mother was a Darry, Castle Darry goes to Lancel Lannister.

Historical Freys

Lord Forrest Frey

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/6c07e704e902a7391a7046c606e76cd1.png

Fool Frey

Lord of the Crossing during the Dance of the Dragons. He fought valiantly for the Blacks until he was killed at the Fishfeed.

Alliterative Name: F's.
All Love Is Unrequited: History mentions a younger son of House Frey who was mocked as "Fool Frey" for asking for the hand Princess Rhaenyra. While Forrest is not specifically mentioned, he was the only noticeable Frey from that time period and he was noted as one of Rhaenyra's suitors.
Famous Ancestor: To House Frey of course.
In-Series Nickname: He got dubbed "Fool Frey" for boldly asking openly for Princess Rhaenyra's hand when she visited the riverlands.
Mirror Character: Of his descendant, Lord Walder Frey, who's everything he was not and vice versa: Where Forrest was a gallant, loyal, and physically powerful Lord, Walder is infamous for being an infirm, treacherous, flip flopping backslider.
Took a Level in Badass: Fool Frey grew into a most puissant knight.
Undying Loyalty: He was once a suitor of Princess Rhaenyra, and remained loyal to her even though he did not win her hand.
Unrequited Love Lasts Forever: Possibly. He eventually did get married later in life after failing to receive Rhaenyra's hand, but he remained loyal enough to her that he backed her claim to the throne and died fighting in her name.

Characters / A Song of Ice and Fire - House Frey

Edit Locked

This is a listing of members of House Frey that appear in A Song of Ice and Fire.

For the main character index, see here

For the main Riverlands entry, see here

House Frey of the Crossing

Lord Walder Frey

The Late Lord Frey

Lord Walder's sons

Ser Stevron Frey

Ser Aenys Frey

Ser Jared Frey

Septon Luceon

Ser Hosteen Frey

Ser Stupid

Symond Frey

Ser Danwell Frey

Merrett Frey

Merrett Muttonhead

Ser Geremy Frey

Ser Raymund Frey

Lothar Frey

Lame Lothar

Ser Whalen Frey

Ser Perwyn Frey

Ser Benfrey Frey

Olyvar Frey

Elmar Frey

Lord Walder's bastard sons

Ser Walder Rivers

Bastard Walder

Martyn Rivers

Ryger Rivers

Lord Walder's grandsons

Ser Ryman Frey

Aegon Frey

Jinglebell

Aegon Frey

Aegon Bloodborn

Rhaegar Frey

Ser Arwood Frey

Walder Frey

Little Walder Frey

Walder Frey

Big Walder Frey

Sandor Frey

Alesander Frey

Bradamar Frey

Lord Walder's great-grandsons

Edwyn Frey

Walder Frey

Black Walder

Petyr Frey

Petyr Pimple

Lord Walder's daughters

Tyta Frey

Tyta the Maid

Lord Walder's granddaughters

Amerei Frey

Gatehouse Ami

Walda Frey

Fat Walda

Lord Walder's great-granddaughters

Walda Frey

Fair Walda

Cadet Branches

House Frey of Riverrun

Lord Emmon Frey

Lady Genna Lannister

Ser Cleos Frey

Tion Frey

Tywin Frey

Ty

Historical Freys

Lord Forrest Frey

Fool Frey

Alternative Title(s): A Song Of Ice And Fire House Frey Of Riverrun

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