Gulltown meeting - Lord Frey

[Marie]

"Oh really? I did not know. But you are still speaking frequently with Lannister, that much is obvious to me," she said. "He is the one who concerns me the most."

[The Smith]

"Of course I have been. He is a close friend." He winked at her, his meaning clear.

[Marie]

Rhaenys stared at Frey in worry. Surely he couldn't mean what she thought he meant?

"Lord Lannister has many...friends," she said. "Some of them have given him gifts as a token of their affection. Do you not feel jealous of those people, since you yourself cannot give him any such gift?"

[The Smith]

"There is no cause for jealous your grace. We have exchanged gifts many, many times. We have been friends for quite a while now." Frey laughed.

[Marie]

"i see. You are confident that you will never lose Lord Lannister's friendship then?"

[The Smith]

"I doubt we can remain friends forever, nor is his friendship of Particular import to me. He is cunning though so I would not want him as an enemy, unless my new friends were equally as powerful." Frey replied carefully.

[Marie]

"No-one can have power without friends," Rhaenys pointed out. "I am sure, were you to offer loyalty and support to someone you wished to befriend, that they would thank you for it later."

[The Smith]

"Lord Lannister is also very generous with his gifts as well. When you are his friend he tries to fulfill desires you do not even know you have." Frey replied calmly.

[Marie]

"What kind of gifts does he give you?" Rhaenys asked, wondering if it was anything she could match or even better.

[The Smith]

"He helped me negotiate with you for the Riverlands. He informed me when plans were made to assassinate me." Frey replied.

[Marie]

She looked at him in shock.

"A true friend, truly," Rhaenys commented. "And yet you would, ultimately, be better served if you could stand without Lannister's support."

[The Smith]

"Of course. A man likes to stand on his own two feet." He smiled knowingly. "Of course you never want to anger a friend when you stand on your own, just move aside to stand on your own."

[Marie]

"True," Rhaenys murmured.

She wondered what he was leading up to and decided to change tack.

"Tell me about your kin. Your daughter is not your only family, I am sure. I'll wager your other relatives are ambitious too?"

[The Smith]

"I have many relatives, far too many to worry about myself. Just my wife and daughter. The rest can look after themselves." Frey replied.

[Marie]

"That does rather cut off opportunities to show favour to House Frey," Rhaenys commented. "Although...would you care to have yoru daughter become a member of my personal household?"