Despite having heard nothing concerning the attack on Casterly Rock, it was soon apparent that there were rumours aplenty to go around. Rhaena heard everything from Robb's unparalleled victory to his utter annihilation. She heard that Casterly Rock had been burned to the ground and that it stood untouched despite the assault of all the young king's army laid against it. There were rumours that Robb had been killed in battle, rumours that he had gone into hiding, rumours that the Frey soldiers had turned on their king and killed him and the rest of the Stark army as well as contradicting rumours which suggested Robb had turned on the Freys first and killed them before they could betray him. There were so many whispers Rhaena's head soon began to spin as she listened, a queasy feeling rising in her stomach. What sickened her most, however, were the whispers which were not rumours. Lord Edmure Tully had been taken captive the morning after his wedding night and now Lord Walder was the Lord Paramount of the Riverlands whilst Lord Bolton was Lord Paramount of the North. In a single night they had gained everything and had willingly betrayed the sacred tradition of guest rights to do so. "My lady, do not listen to such nonsense. I am certain King Robb is alive and well." Ser Selwyn attempted to comfort her as Rhaena had turned a deathly shade of white, paler even than her own hair it seems.
"We should continue, Ser Selwyn." Hoarse from exhausted emotion, Rhaena urged her horse forwards and took to a steady canter away from the village they had passed through in order to continue their way for the River Road. They had ridden for several days now and Rhaena could barely tolerate the suspense. She had to know for herself. Part of her felt she would even be satisfied if Robb was dead because as of right now, she was so numb to grief that it would hardly have made a difference. At least then she would know. It was the uncertainty which was slowly killing her. They continued riding for more than an hour but upon Ser Selwyn's command they halted, his fist held aloft whilst listening to the wind as it blew upon them. Then Rhaena heard it too. Marching. An army was marching towards them.
"We must hide, my lady. Until we know their banners and allegiance. With any luck it will be King Robb." Ushering his horse around and forcing Rhaena's to turn her head, Ser Selwyn signalled for his men to close in around the two ladies and escort them further away from the road behind a cluster of rocks from the rising mountains behind them which sloped steadily upwards. Their horses took the climb as far as they were able before then being hidden from sight of the road, allowing each member of the party to dismount and lower themselves further into obscurity. They watched near breathlessly as the marching grew more urgent in their ears, a dark mass appearing far down the road as it steadily grew closer. Rhaena did not allow herself to hope. She would not have been able to bear it if the colours and crests upon the banners showed that of House Frey rather than that of House Stark. She closed her eyes and simply listened to the rhythmic march of soldiers whilst Ser Selwyn and their guard remained watching with their hands hovering over their swords. Finally they were within range of their sight to distinguish the banners, and one of the men, Jakoby, determined that they were the banners of King Robb. Rhaena finally released her breath in a soft whimper, opening her eyes and looking to Sansa who rested against Lady unblinkingly. She did not even stir. "Good lad Jakoby. We'll wait a little longer until they're close then get a proper look at them. Could still be Frey men carrying Stark banners to fool the River Lords." It was wise counsel so Rhaena quickly subdued her ray of hope and buried it, though now she too joined the watch. She stared at the head of the army until her eyes stung from the cold winds which snapped around them, trying to determine if it truly was Robb. The army came closer, closer…then Rhaena knew. She knew it the moment she saw him riding that great destrier of his, knew it by the tense lock of his jaw and even at this distance, the sorrowful rage in his eyes.
"It is him. It is the king." Breathless, Rhaena hurried to get Sansa back up into her saddle as their guards also mounted once again, gathering up their horses' heads in order to ride down from the slopes in order to press directly for the road. Seeing riders appearing from the hills caused the men to immediately close in around their king, but as the riders came closer one of them pushed their mount into a gallop, breaking free against the protesting cry of one of the men, a knight, and thundered across the open plain towards Robb. His eyes narrowed but then saw the light strike upon the flowing stream of snow-white hair and he too knew. Slamming his heels into his horse's flanks, the beast surged forwards with a squeal and rose up upon its hind legs from shock before sweeping forwards. Rhaena and Robb galloped at one another at full speed, crossing the wide plain as the rolling grass became a rush of dry green beneath them until finally they were upon one another. Their horses did not have time to stop so suddenly so instead they wheeled their heads around in order to circle one another, breaking down their gait until finally coming to a halt whereby Rhaena flung herself into Robb's arms as he opened them to welcome her. Tears appeared the moment she was in his grasp, a strained sob breaking free from his chest as he buried himself into her hair and breathed in her scent as she trembled frailly against him.
"I'm here, you're safe now Rhaena. I won't let anyone harm you." He vowed to her ardently, whispering into her ear as the other riders were still yet to reach them. "They'll never harm you again. I'll root them out and hang them all. I'll tear down that place stone by stone and bury them under it. I will make them suffer for everything, I give you my word." Their tears melded together as they pressed their cheeks together, taking in the presence of the other until Rhaena heard the hooves of horses slowing upon reaching them and it gave her enough sense to compose herself. Drawing in a deep breath she pulled away from Robb and settled herself back in her own saddle, moving her mare away from Robb's own horse who was attempting to nibble at her neck.
"Sansa is here too, my king." Turning her head, Robb turned and almost wept once more to see his sister alive though when she made no motion to signify that she had seen him, his expression of relief fell away once more. "She is…not well. She has not spoken or moved of her own volition since it happened. Be gentle with her, Robb. Right now she is very delicate." Not trusting his own voice, Robb merely nodded his head then moved his horse forwards in order to greet the captain who had provided escort to his sister and Rhaena.
"Ser Selwyn Goodwyn, Your Grace. Captain of the Guards in service to Lord Mallister of Seagard. I was charged by my lord to see Lady Sansa and Lady Rhaena safely into your keeping, and failing that, to protect them wherever they wished to go." Ser Selwyn reported as he bowed his head whilst remaining atop his horse.
"Ser Selwyn, I will not forget this good deed, nor the kindness of your lord." Robb vowed before turning to his sister once more. "Sansa?" He reached out to her and held his hand to her face but still she remained unmoving, empty eyes staring sightlessly into nothing. His heart wrenched in his chest and Robb swore once more to make Lord Frey and Lord Bolton pay for their treachery. Yet he held in his anger, reminding himself of Rhaena's warning of his sister's delicate condition. Instead he gently eased her into his own saddle and wrapped his cloak around her, stroking back her hair and placing her head to rest against the furs of his cloak where she would be warm and comfortable. "Will you join us, Ser Selwyn?" Nodding his head, the knight and his men followed Robb back to his company, which Rhaena noted was now a number far less than what he had left with before the wedding. Whatever had happened at Casterly Rock, it had cost him dearly. Not enough to meet the Lannisters in open battle, and not enough to reclaim the Riverlands and the North from Frey and Bolton. At least, not anytime soon. When Robb's hand reached across to touch hers, she lifted her gaze to meet his. They shared a moment of grief, of tortured agony which only they could truly understand, before then the moment passed and they were forced to straighten their backs and look ahead, to appear stoic and unchanged as they returned to the remains of Robb Stark's army and proceed with their march back into the North where decisions were to be made as to what actions to take next, for there were many to be made which would determine whether or not the North and the Riverlands remained under the control of traitors or were to be liberated at the cost of everything else.