Last week’s Game of Thrones episode, “Blood of My Blood,” re-introduced a few old faces that we haven’t seen in years — both in Westeros years and actual Earth years. One of the biggest distinguishing factors of this season of Game of Thrones has been how much the story (finally) feels like it’s tying things together. That means bringing together major and minor storylines, even though some of those minor ones can be difficult to keep track of if you haven’t read the books (or even if you have!)

Below I’ve outlined a few key things to know about the Blackfish, Edmure Tully, and the Freys' connection to the Riverrun and to the story at large before the next episode, "The Broken Man." This will follow what we’ve seen in the show and no book spoilers (there may be some vague allusions), so read along if you need a refresher!

House Frey and the Twins

In “Blood of My Blood,” we returned to the Twins, the ancestral home of House Frey, also known as the white trash of Westeros. You probably remember them best from the Red Wedding, where they brutally slaughtered Robb Stark, his mother Catelyn, and his wife Talisa (as well as their unborn child).

Like trolls, the Freys control the bridge crossing of the Trident river, as they have for centuries. Tolls exacted from it are what made them rich after spending so long in obscurity. Their patriarch, Walder Frey, is 90, and has essentially created his own army from his many, many children, using their marriages as ways to secure certain power alliances. The reason why the Red Wedding took place is because Robb Stark had promised to marry a Frey daughter in exchange for the Frey’s supporting his campaign against Joffrey and the Iron Throne (as part of the War of the Five Kings). When he reneged and married Talisa (and tried to substitute his uncle Edmure to the Freys in his stead), the Freys broke every rule of guest protocol (it's understood you don't kill people once you break bread with them), and exacted their revenge for "slighting" their family.

After Robb Stark was killed — something engineered in part by Roose Bolton — the Freys gained favor with the crown and were elevated to the Lords of Riverrun and became the major house of the Riverlands (rather than the Tullys, who had held the position previously). The Boltons were rewarded for getting rid of Robb Stark by being given Winterfell, which was allied with the Freys instead of having to contend with the Tullys. Essentially, these guys need to be put in their place, which leads us to …

Riverrun

The ancestral home of the Tullys, whose motto is “Family, Duty, Honor.” Notable Tullys include Catelyn Stark and Lysa Arryn, both now deceased. (Of note: they were also raised alongside their father’s ward, Petyr “Littlefinger” Baelish). Their brother Edmure, however, is alive though not well. House Tully was always the seat of power in the Riverlands, until their rebellion against the Iron Throne with Robb Stark’s forces in the War of the Five Kings led them to be exiled.

When Edmure Tully was married off to Walder Frey’s daughter at the Red Wedding, the Freys used that opportunity to take over Riverrun, and continue to hold Edmure captive. However, they recently lost control of it to Brynden “The Blackfish” Tully, who escaped the Red Wedding massacre. Like Winterfell and the Starks, Riverrun still commands loyalty and respect for the Tullys among former bannermen in the region.

The Blackfish

Brynden Tully is the uncle of Catelyn, Lysa, and Edmure, and brother to the former Lord of Riverrun, Hoster Tully. Known as a fierce fighter and surly character, the Freys were not as concerned about him escaping the Red Wedding as they should have been, and ignored Roose Bolton’s warnings about it. Sure enough, we learned in Season 6 that the Blackfish was able to bring together the remaining Tully forces and defeat the Freys at Riverrun, seizing back control of the castle.

In “The Door,” Littlefinger lets Sansa know that the Blackfish is back in control of Riverrun, should she and Jon be looking for allies (as her mother was a Tully). The last we heard, Sansa has sent Brienne as an envoy to see if her great uncle might be willing to support them against the Boltons to reclaim Winterfell.

Edmure Tully

Ah, poor Edmure Tully. The heir to Riverrun, he’s been in a world of pain for a long time now thanks to his choices and those of his kin. He’s painted as a bit of weak-willed sort whose a blunderer at war games, and is ultimately bullied (in Season 3) by his sister, uncle, and nephew into taking Robb’s place and marrying a Frey girl to help assuage that affront. His main insistence, though, was that he got to pick which Frey girl, which Catelyn thought was a shallow and useless concern.

Even though Roslin Frey, the chosen wife, was revealed to be beautiful, it appears Edmure actually spent his wedding night in a dungeon after the slaughter of his family at the Red Wedding. It’s worth noting that Edmure was the highest-born person to marry into the Frey family, but they had their designs on something greater.

For now, it seems the Edmure is at Walder Frey’s disposal, and the events of “Blood of My Blood” suggest he plans to use Edmure as a hostage in re-taking Riverrun.

All of this also plays into the question of what Littlefinger’s endgame is. Littlefinger was raised with the Tullys and in love with Catelyn, so did he know the Red Wedding would play out like it did? (With her death, instead of her being held hostage?) Also, was that a motivation for him to plot Joffrey’s death? And though Sansa rebuffs his help while at Castle Black, he seems to want to unite her with the Blackfish — is this to help or hurt the Tullys?

We’ll find out more in “The Broken Man,” and how this all plays in to the overall story, and perhaps a Stark resurgence? I’d certainly like to see the Freys and Boltons get their due. Perhaps Lady Stoneheart can assist …? (After the return of Benjen North of the Wall — Ned’s brother who we last saw in the first episodes of Season 1 — anything is possible!)