When Catelyn Stark beheld her eldest daughter for the first time in almost two years, safe, alive and seemingly blooming, she had released a sound so heart wrenching that even the most battle hardened of men would have winced. Sansa wept as she ran to her mother from her uncle's side, crossing the hall with a flurry of her skirts as Robb simply stared in disbelief. He had scarce allowed himself to believe the news when the raven had arrived but now, he was seeing the truth with his own eyes. His sister. A terrible ache tore at his chest as mother and daughter embraced, wrapped up so tightly in one another that they near melted into one. Sansa's eyes opened, shimmering with her tears before she spoke his name. "Robb." He saw her pain, saw her suffering and heartache, the loneliness and grief she had shouldered all whilst trapped in the lion's den. His heart caved and he swept forwards in order to pull both his mother and his sister into his arms. He was head of the family now. It was his duty to protect them and so far, he had done a poor job of it. The reunion was as bitter as it was sweet, outpourings of emotion taking hold until even Robb could not hide the fact that his eyes were also damp with tears. Then suddenly, a thought occurred to him. Rhaena. It was because of her Sansa was free so he lifted his head in order to search for her.
When his eyes caught a glimpse of brilliant moonlight hair, his breath hitched in his throat. She was taller than he remembered her. Slowly she inched into view from where she had stood behind his Uncle Edmure, having hidden herself away in order to not intrude upon what was clearly meant to be private family business but Sansa had insisted she be there. Her soft and refined features had become more womanly, the infantile roundness having given way to a slender neck and jawline which were exposed by the gown of violet she favoured. Robb had forgotten the effect she had on boys and men alike. A creature seemingly made from ice and fire simultaneously. When her eyes met his, Robb found himself striding forwards before his mind could even awaken itself from the spell that had been cast upon him, even knowing that his wife was watching his every move. Seizing hold of Rhaena who gaped at him in surprise, Robb pulled her into his chest and folded his arms around her, hiding her head and face into the thick fur of his cloak as if to shield her from the world. "Thank you." It pained and infuriated him to hear his own voice tremble the way it did, but it was all he could manage in the wake of his bursting joy. "Thank you…thank you…thank you…"
"My king." Her honeyed voice had changed also. Deeper, richer and more melodic than he remembered, or perhaps it had always sounded like that and he had merely forgotten. She twisted in his grasp in order to smile at him. "You owe me no thanks."
"We owe you everything, my lady." Lady Catelyn corrected her as she continued to hoard her daughter against her breast whilst stroking her face and hair as if to rebrand the sculpture of Sansa's image into her memory. "Everything. I swear I shall not forget this. On my honour as a Tully and a Stark. I shall repay this debt to you someday." But Rhaena looked utterly perplexed and confused at Lady Catelyn's words, still nestled in Robb's arms as she selfishly breathed in everything about him. His scent. His presence. The feeling of how much stronger he had grown in these past two years. He was no lad any longer, but a man.
"My lady, it was you who first showed me kindness. You welcomed me into your home, gave me food, warmth and clothes to keep away the chill. Sansa has been my friend and like my sister ever since we departed from the North, and we have endured many sufferings and hardships together. She is to me like my own blood. There is nothing that you owe me. Not now, not ever." Speaking firmly and with utter devotion, Rhaena closed her eyes for a few moments as she rested her head once more upon Robb's shoulder which now, she could hardly reach. He was so tall compared to her. "It is more than enough to see her smiling to satisfy me." Together she and Sansa looked at one another, sharing their smiles which were bright and true, unguarded and completely genuine. They had no reason to hide here, to play games and decorate their words. Not when they were among friends and family. As Lady Catelyn continued to sob, she drew Sansa with her as she then opened her arms and her heart to Rhaena and drew her into her motherly embrace where Rhaena felt for the first time the love of a real mother. From that moment forth Rhaena was known to Catelyn as a daughter, loving her as if she had borne, carried, birthed and raised her herself. Rhaena learned the touch of a mother's hand, the grace of a mother's smile, the feel of a mother's love and she basked in it like it were warm sunshine and soft silken robes. No argument was heard. Rhaena became a sister to the Stark children and Robb, who recalled with some blushing embarrassment the clumsy kiss they had once shared, now kissed her upon her cheeks and called her his sister before all his gathered bannermen so that they would know her and treat her as she deserved.
Despite his anger towards his mother, Robb did not restrain her from being with Sansa as there were no doubt things his sister needed to tell and only a mother could heal her of her wounds. Rhaena went with them but not before he introduced his wife Talisa to the girls, presenting her with his hand at her back in a loving touch. Although cordial and sweet, Talisa glanced nervously at the Targaryen girl, taken in by her beauty and began to sow a seed of fear within her, for she had seen how her husband had held her, seen a look be shared between them and knew instantly through her womanly intuition that there was feeling between them. Affection. More than what lies between siblings. It nerved her because she felt inferior, but when Rhaena realised that the woman was Robb's wife, she had all but squealed like a little girl and clutched at Talisa's hands to offer her congratulations. Her hands had been warm and firm whilst her eyes shone brilliantly in such a dazzling manner that Talisa utterly forgot to feel threatened. Such was Rhaena's charm as Tyrion had once said. She could make anyone fall in love with her even with the simplest of smiles. There was so much to say, so much that needed to be expressed, but time did not permit an intimate gathering just yet for there was work to be done. First and foremost, the funeral of Lord Hoster Tully.
Rhaena had never attended a funeral before. Not even that of Robert Baratheon and there had been none for Lord Stark after he had been executed. It was something of a fascination, standing amongst the forlorn and grieving but unable to share in their sorrows in another more than empathy, for she had not known Lord Tully herself and so felt very little on the subject of his death. The aged lord was placed into a small boat and covered in a fine cloth before being pushed out, his sword laid against his breast. There it was then the duty of his son, Lord Edmure Tully, to light an arrow with fire and launch it onto the water to strike the bloat aflame, only…Lord Edmure proved a poor shot. The boat floated further and further away with each arrow missing its mark and even in the sombreness, some spectators began to snigger. With only two more arrows left, it was Ser Brynden Tully who pushed his nephew aside and seized the bow and one of the final arrows, lighting it on fire before then checking the wind's direction by viewing a flag as it flickered in the breeze. He measured the distance then drew back the bow which creaked and groaned from the strain until with a great twang it sang forth and arched high into the air. Before the arrow had even struck its mark, Ser Brynden thrust the bow back into his nephew's grasp as the younger man flushed with embarrassment. At least it was now over. For her first funeral, Rhaena found it to be a rather peaceful transition of giving over the dead to the earth through fire and water. She wondered if the old Lord Tully's spirit had lingered in order to watch his own funeral before moving on.
Deeply in thought Rhaena had not realised that Robb had come to her until he felt his gloved hands touch her by the arms which were folded underneath the cloak which had been loaned to her. She blinked and looked at him as if rising from a dream. "Are you alright?" Her lips tugged upwards as she tilted her head to the side and gave Robb such a humorous look that he almost laughed though he managed to catch himself in time and hide it, not wishing to appear frivolous in front of his bannermen.
"Surely I should be asking you if you are alright, my king. He was your grandfather, after all."
"You do not have to call me king, my lady. I am only King in the North and you are of the south." This was perhaps true, but Rhaena liked to call Robb a king. She had grown up being forced to call one unworthy man a king and then his vicious successor after him. To be able to choose to call someone her king felt like a liberty, a gift even, and she would enjoy every choice and decision she could make for it was now her will that guided her and no one else's. Holding his gaze, Rhaena purposefully stepped back in order to lower herself into a curtsey.
"A king is still a king, and I choose to recognise you as a sovereign ruler. Besides. How else am I to tease you?" Flashing him a grin, Rhaena glanced as the others began to leave and return to the castle gradually, though Sansa and Talisa remained behind with her mother who continued to gaze out over the lake. "Should we not go to her?" Lowering her voice as not to be overheard, Robb followed Rhaena's gaze. A spike of anger flared in his chest before it just as quickly settled as he looked at his mother though the flickering of his expressions were quickly identified by Rhaena who was yet to be made aware of the circumstances of their fractured tension. "Tell me, Robb. You can tell me. What is it?" When her hand found its way into his, Robb felt as if everything might come pouring out of him at once, the words pulling upon his tongue as if bidden by some unknown magic. He held them back. He could not appear weak. Not here. "Come. We will go for a walk." Seemingly understanding his predicament, Rhaena tightened her grasp upon his hand in order to pull him away and lead him into the woods so that they might talk in private. The moment they were far enough away from anyone whom Robb owed a duty to remain the strong and stoic leader and king, he near enough fell apart.
There were no tears, but the words just burst free from him as if they had suddenly appeared from some unknown part of his being he had hidden them within, even without realising. Robb spoke of his father's death, his sense of failure at being unable to save him and his sisters, how he was losing the momentum of his campaign and the support of his bannermen was beginning to wane. He told her how his mother had betrayed him by freeing Jaime Lannister and sent him back to King's Landing with a warrior in her service to exchange him for his sisters but now he discovered neither of them were now in the possession of the king and his mother. Arya was missing, Theon had also betrayed him but although Winterfell had been retaken by Roose Bolton's bastard, both Bran and Rickon had vanished, and no word had been heard from them since. Desperately he wanted to believe they were alive, but Robb feared the worst. Then he told Rhaena of how he had broken his promise to Walder Frey by marrying Talisa instead of one of his own daughters or granddaughters, which had lost him the support of the Frey soldiers. Lord Karstark was foaming at the mouth in desperation to avenge his son's deaths, one of them directly at the hand of Jaime Lannister, and now his uncle had also cost him the strategy he had devised in order to lure the Mountain into a trap which would have lost one of Tywin Lannister's most ferocious and loyal supporters. Everything was falling to pieces. All the while Rhaena had listened whilst Robb stormed back and forth in his ranting, releasing everything he had been withholding until all at once he bellowed into the sky so fiercely the birds took fright and the little creatures scattered.
Seething and heaving, Robb clenched his fists at his side. He wanted to shout again. To hit something. Break something. Take out his anger and frustrations upon something until his energy was spent as at present it was knotted and writhing within him like a serpent which would either cause him to burst open in its escape or cause him to vomit. Perhaps both. Sinking to his knees, Robb thought he might press his head into the earth and begin striking it repeatedly, but then Rhaena moved towards him, the sound of her dress brushing against the grass and damp leaves drawing his attention until she was stood beside him. She said nothing, was not even looking at him and with a start, Robb realised that it was to save his pride. Instead, she simply pulled his head towards her until it rested against her belly and began to run her fingers delicately through his hair. She was humming something, a melody of some kind Robb was unable to identify, but it was gentle and soothing to hear as it slowly quelled the fiery roar of his blood and hammering of his heart. Not having realising how much he had needed comforting; Robb knelt before her and allowed her tender ministrations to continue until he felt as tame and harmless as a pup. Once his angers and frustrations had all but melted away, Rhaena took his face in her hand by holding his chin and lifting it so that he would look upon her. "We will find the answers Robb. Perhaps we simply need to rethink the strategy and find a way to bolster the men. I am not saying we can solve every problem all at once, but we can start small and build ourselves up. Little by little. Clear your head then you shall be able to think and plan more efficiently."
"You make it sound so simple and easy, Rhae." Robb muttered woefully but cracked a smile when she laughed and grasped hold of his arms in order to haul him up onto his feet, though to see her try was even more amusing for she was still comparatively frail looking compared to him.
"It is not, thinking intelligently is a great deal of hard work, but it can be done." All the while she had tugged and struggled as Robb had purposefully dropped his weight, holding against her as she grunted strainingly until he finally took pity on her, giving a laugh as he climbed to his feet. Puffing her cheeks in annoyance she flashed him a bold glare before proudly lifting her chin at him. "Here I am trying to help you, my king, and you return my assistance with your teasing!"
"I have no idea what you're talking about, dear Rhae." Scowling at him, Rhaena turned on her heel and grumpily started to stalk away. "Wait! Come back I'm sorry. Rhae? Rhaena!" Reaching out in an attempt to catch hold of her arm, Rhaena suddenly darted aside and twisted out of his reach with a flash of a mischievous grin over her shoulder as she sent Robb a challenging look. Grasping hold of her skirts, she pelted away. "Rhaena! I will catch you!"
"See if you can, my king!" She sang back and fled in the direction of the castle, aiming to reach its gates before she could be captured and thus win the game. The excitement of running from Robb and prancing out of his reach every time he came too close sent thrills through her, shrieking with laughter as she allowed herself to simply be a child, running wild and playing as she goaded Robb to join in though he rolled his eyes and attempted to retain a sternly forlorn expression. He chased her until finally he managed to feint to one side, catching Rhaena in a trap whereby his shoulder dropped and suddenly she was hoisted over his shoulder where she gave a sharp cry of surprise before melting into pools of giggles. It brought Robb a serene sense of joy to see and hear Rhaena expressing herself so openly, for even back in Winterfell she had always retained a certain careful and quiet demeanour when playing with the children, but here she was only herself. Holding onto her tightly he began to spin in circles so that her hair flew like a river of white and she continued to yell and laugh until her small fist was pounding against his back with desperate shouts to be let down before she lost her breakfast.
Despite this when Robb set her down, she was still beaming from ear to ear. Breathless from running, Rhaena stepped back in order to take the air, inhaling deeply whilst closing her eyes and tilting her face upwards. It was not a particularly warm day and the sun did not shine brightly, but Rhaena loved each and every day no matter how bleak it appeared. Every moment, every breath made in freedom, she relished in it. "You are not the same girl I met in Winterfell." Suddenly making a peculiar statement, Rhaena's attention glanced to Robb in consideration before her shoulders lifted in a carefree shrug.
"No, I have changed more times over than I care to count since then. Hidden layers of myself in order to stay alive, neglected my own passions and desires in favour of staying out of notice…now I can be my true self, and I am still discovering exactly who that girl is. She is a stranger to me, but soon I shall know her well, and when you look upon me then you shall say again that I am changed even from this moment as you see me now." Taking back her hair Rhaena let it fall down her back, feeling the weight of it pull at her head as it had already almost doubled in length since abandoning King's Landing. "I look forward to becoming that person, and I pray she does not forget all those who helped her become who she is."
"I too look forward to meeting her." Robb said quietly, his eyes falling intensely upon Rhaena as old passions began to rekindle themselves even as he quenched them. "And I pity those who tried to bury that person deep within you." Agreeing with a soft hum of noise, Rhaena's faraway look gradually returned to the present as she looked to the grand castle as it lay before them, nestled within the banks of the water. "We should go back. A king cannot hide forever."
"He could." Rhaena responded tartly, turning in order to link her arm through Robb's. "But then he would not be a good king." Settling her piercing gaze upon Robb, her fingers clenched tightly upon his arm in order to drive in her point. "And you Robb, you are a great king."
