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How did Roose Bolton keep it all a secret? (spoiler)


omegaxx

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I'm loving the build-up to the Red Wedding in ASOS (and that really extends from as far back as AGOT, to be honest). Clever, clever Lord Bolton!

I am having a hard time understanding how he is able to keep his treachery so well hidden though, especially when it comes to his dealings with Jaime Lannister. Anything other than returning Jaime directly to Riverrun is pretty much tantamount to high treason to King Robb, so given this, one would expect Bolton to receive Jaime in Harrenhal with the utmost surreptitiousness. Instead, Jaime is pretty much paraded in:

<i>Vargo Hoat had sent two of his Dothraki ahead to inform Lord Bolton of their coming, so the outer ward was full of the curious. They gave way as Jaime staggered past, the rope around his waist jerking and pulling at him whenever he slowed. “I give you the Kingthlayer,” Vargo Hoat proclaimed in that thick slobbery voice of his.</i>

It would appear that everybody and their moms in Harrenhal are aware that Jaime has been captured. To be fair, only Lord Bolton and a few Freys (his co-conspirators) receive him officially. However, plenty of men faithful to King Robb, i.e. Wylie Manderly and the Locke, Norrey and Burley men, are still with Lord Bolton at this time, not to be dispersed until their ambush by Gregor Clegane later at Ruby Ford. So how is it that none of them caught wind of Bolton's release of Jaime, realized that it could signal nothing but treason, and rode off or sent a raven to warn King Robb?

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2 hours ago, omegaxx said:

I'm loving the build-up to the Red Wedding in ASOS (and that really extends from as far back as AGOT, to be honest). Clever, clever Lord Bolton!

I am having a hard time understanding how he is able to keep his treachery so well hidden though, especially when it comes to his dealings with Jaime Lannister. Anything other than returning Jaime directly to Riverrun is pretty much tantamount to high treason to King Robb, so given this, one would expect Bolton to receive Jaime in Harrenhal with the utmost surreptitiousness. Instead, Jaime is pretty much paraded in:

<i>Vargo Hoat had sent two of his Dothraki ahead to inform Lord Bolton of their coming, so the outer ward was full of the curious. They gave way as Jaime staggered past, the rope around his waist jerking and pulling at him whenever he slowed. “I give you the Kingthlayer,” Vargo Hoat proclaimed in that thick slobbery voice of his.</i>

It would appear that everybody and their moms in Harrenhal are aware that Jaime has been captured. To be fair, only Lord Bolton and a few Freys (his co-conspirators) receive him officially. However, plenty of men faithful to King Robb, i.e. Wylie Manderly and the Locke, Norrey and Burley men, are still with Lord Bolton at this time, not to be dispersed until their ambush by Gregor Clegane later at Ruby Ford. So how is it that none of them caught wind of Bolton's release of Jaime, realized that it could signal nothing but treason, and rode off or sent a raven to warn King Robb?

I would say pretty much just another plothole, these books are put under the microscope way to much :)

The only explanation that we can think off, is that people are scared of the Boltons. They have a flaying tradition, and probably nobody dared to question Roses logic on that one, probably thought he and king Robb had some secret plan.

 

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Roose is Robb's second in command and direct commander of army stationed at Harrenhal - he controls communication with the king, he gives orders in his name - so he could just say it was all ordered by King Robb and no one has right to question it.

However, it seems that after Jaime left Harrenhal, someone became suspicious and Roose had them killed or captured before they could meet Robb - when the army was returning, they were attacked by Ser Gregor at Ruby Ford. It seems that Roose planned this, as thanks to Mountain's actions Roose got rid of all witnesses who knew about Jaime:

Quote

Catelyn turned back to Roose Bolton. "Ser Wendel said something of Lannisters on the Trident?"

"He did, my lady. I blame myself. I delayed too long before leaving Harrenhal. Aenys Frey departed several days before me and crossed the Trident at the ruby ford, though not without difficulty. But by the time we came up the river was a torrent. I had no choice but to ferry my men across in small boats, of which we had too few. Two-thirds of my strength was on the north side when the Lannisters attacked those still waiting to cross. Norrey, Locke, and Burley men chiefly, with Ser Wylis Manderly and his White Harbor knights as rear guard. I was on the wrong side of the Trident, powerless to help them. Ser Wylis rallied our men as best he could, but Gregor Clegane attacked with heavy horse and drove them into the river. As many drowned as were cut down. More fled, and the rest were taken captive."

Here Roose gets rid of Wylis, Norreys, Lockes and Burleys - he uses his strategy of sparing his own men while weakening other houses.

Quote

Gregor Clegane was always ill news, Catelyn reflected. Would Robb need to march south again to deal with him? Or was the Mountain coming here? "Is Clegane across the river, then?"

"No." Bolton's voice was soft, but certain. "I left six hundred men at the ford. Spearmen from the rills, the mountains, and the White Knife, a hundred Hornwood longbows, some freeriders and hedge knights, and a strong force of Stout and Cerwyn men to stiffen them. Ronnel Stout and Ser Kyle Condon have the command. Ser Kyle was the late Lord Cerwyn's right hand, as I'm sure you know; my lady. Lions swim no better than wolves. So long as the river runs high, Ser Gregor will not cross."

"The last thing we need is the Mountain at our backs when we start up the causeway," said Robb. "You did well, my lord."

And here Ser Kyle and Hornwoods are neutralised - only Bolton and their allies come back to the Twins.

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Wylis was a prisoner for a long time at HH, before Bolton took HH. While it needs some hand waving, he would have been busy restoring his health. He also would not have been privy where Steelshank Whalton's escort was takig Jaime when they rode away from HH. Roose likely only informed Steelshank where he was to go with Jaime, and Roose could have lied that Jaime was being sent back to RR on the orders of Robb. Wylis couldn't check since they left HH for the Trident the same day, and then he got recaptured by Gregor again. Donnel Locke was at HH but killed at the RW and the Locke men at arms faced Gregor Clegane on their way to the Twins with many dead. We don't know much about the Norreys and Burleys other than that they got caught in the same fight with Gregor at the Trident.

It seems to me that George made sure that many didn't make it back to the Twins to inform Robb about Roose capturing Jaime. Meanwhile we're also shown that Roose Bolton has no issue with lying straight to Robb's face: he makes it look as if it was Glover's plan to attack Duskendale and Roose couldn't stop him. Doesn't sound like it might be a biggie at all for Roose to lie about where Jaime and Steelshank were going imo and who ordered it.

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Good points y'all, especially the fact that he didn't need to tell anyone but Steelshanks where he was sending Jaime. Possibly with their excursion back (to save Brienne) words of their direction (south rather than north) leaked, and some of the Northmen became suspicious.

Also, since our source is none but Roose's own words, he may well could've done the finishing of the Northmen himself and blamed Clegane for everything. That bastard.

20 hours ago, sweetsunray said:

It seems to me that George made sure that many didn't make it back to the Twins to inform Robb about Roose capturing Jaime. Meanwhile we're also shown that Roose Bolton has no issue with lying straight to Robb's face: he makes it look as if it was Glover's plan to attack Duskendale and Roose couldn't stop him. Doesn't sound like it might be a biggie at all for Roose to lie about where Jaime and Steelshank were going imo and who ordered it.

 

20 hours ago, Blue Tiger said:

However, it seems that after Jaime left Harrenhal, someone became suspicious and Roose had them killed or captured before they could meet Robb - when the army was returning, they were attacked by Ser Gregor at Ruby Ford. It seems that Roose planned this, as thanks to Mountain's actions Roose got rid of all witnesses who knew about Jaime:

Here Roose gets rid of Wylis, Norreys, Lockes and Burleys - he uses his strategy of sparing his own men while weakening other houses.

And here Ser Kyle and Hornwoods are neutralised - only Bolton and their allies come back to the Twins.

 

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