Their pace had fallen off when they managed to put some distance between themselves and the gate, but Robb's urgency increased when the sound of hounds barking and howling began to creep up on them. It was still early morning, yet Robb felt like he had been going for days without rest. The reality of the day's events had barely begun to seem real. Even with his own mind a jumble of thoughts, he spared a glance to his left at the blacksmith, and realized that Gendry had no idea that his own Father had been murdered just hours earlier. While he had promised Gendry an explanation, he did not look forward to it.
No matter how much faster they ran, the sound of the hounds behind them became louder. The shrill cry of the dogs was unbearable. Finally, Robb took a chance and looked back, only to grow disheartened at the sight of four great beasts gaining on them quickly. They would not be able to out run them. As if the gods could hear his thoughts, or perhaps something else, Grey Wind and Ghost appeared before them. The direwolves moved with terrifying speed, natural predators on the hunt. The hounds, realizing they were in danger, came to a skidding, sudden stop, but it was too late for them. The wolves crashed into them, ripping, biting and slashing at them.
Robb and Gendry continued running until the sight of a building became noticeable in the distance ahead. As they approached, they saw Jon, Theon, Loras and Margaery waiting anxiously next to an outfitted group of horses. Robb watched as Margaery's tense form immediately relaxed when she saw him. As he reached her, she held her arms out, embracing him as best she could around his armored torso.
"Thank the gods," she whispered upon releasing him. "We feared you would not make it out."
"It was a close call, but we made it," Robb stated. Looking back, he saw Gendry still breathing heavily, looking completely lost. "Everyone, this is Gendry. He is a friend."
"Lovely," Theon snarked, mounting one of the horses. "I'm glad you've obviously had the opportunity to be social, but from what this lot has said, we need to leave, and quickly. I have no intention of seeing my head on a pike in front of the Red Keep."
"He's right," Robb agreed. "We need to make it to Riverrun. My Grandfather will protect us, and I'll be able to send a raven to Winterfell from there."
"I'm sure the Lannisters have already sent their own versions of events around Westeros," Jon frowned.
"All the more reason to get moving."
"One problem," Theon remarked. "We are short a horse. I wasn't expecting so many of you. It was hard enough to get these, and that was through not so innocent means. Though, I suppose the girl can ride with me. We'll have to hold each other close though."
"I think she will be fine with me," Robb frowned as he untethered one of the remaining horses. He hoisted itself onto the back, and then reached down for Margaery who was waiting beside him. She climbed up clumsily behind him, doing her best to situate herself while wearing a dress. When she was finally seated, she reached her arms out and placed them along Robb's sides.
"We won't make it to Riverrun by nightfall, Robb," Jon noted, pulling up next him on his mount.
"No, and I would not risk riding without the light. There are too many dangers waiting for us." Robb could only imagine trying to navigate the forests with every manner of thief and sellsword lying in wait.
"Can we risk approaching a castle?" Loras asked.
"We have three choices. When we make the turn west towards Riverrun, we pass Darry, Harrenhall, and Raventree Hall. They are all my Grandfather's bannerman, but House Whent and House Darry were no friends of Robert Baratheon. I'm not sure how sympathetic they will be to us." Robb explained. In fact, they were likely feasting his demise. Their Targaryen loyalty still ran deeply.
"Father considers Lord Blackwood to be a good friend," Jon spoke. "They keep to the Old Gods as well."
Robb agreed this was their best option. "Raventree Hall is the farthest ride, but it is the safest. I will feel better being closer to Riverrun though. We need to ride now."
There was no more talk as the nine set off north on the Kingsroad. They passed numerous travelers along the way, and there was little doubt that their party drew unwanted attention as it galloped fast away from King's Landing. It was some hours into their journey when Robb finally saw Grey Wind and Ghost stalking them through the woods. The blood from their kills was still shining wet on their muzzles.
What quickly became evident was that the horses acquired by Theon were not of the strongest, or healthiest variety. Robb could already feel his mount laboring under their aggressive pace, which in truth was not so aggressive. Half of King's Landing had most likely emptied behind them, and they certainly were not riding on the backs of the same tired steeds as Robb and his companions. And that meant that every second their pursuers were gaining ground on them. The fact that his own horse was carrying twice the weight left he and Margaery trailing the rest of the group.
Margaery's hands were still clamped tightly around him, and he could feel her warm breath against his neck. "How are you faring back there," he asked her.
"Fine," she replied after a moment. "Honestly, I think I'm still in shock at what's transpired this morning."
Robb instantly felt guilt grip him at what he had dragged her into...away from her home and chased for treason. He loved her, yet he had put a price on her head. "I'm sorry, Margaery. I never intended to bring this all down upon you as well."
She gripped him tighter. "It was not your fault. It was my choice to come, and if my Father had his way, I would be nothing but a slave to Joffrey's whims for the rest of my life. I would rather die a thousand times, than be his false queen."
"Still...I have no idea what the coming days will hold for us. Though war seems inevitable."
"I do know one thing that will happen," Margaery asserted. "You told my Father you would marry me, so we can't have him calling you a liar."
"That is a promise I most certainly will keep."
"Do you think your family will truly approve?" Margaery inquired, worriedly. "It is not often that children come to their parents and dictate who they will marry."
Robb laughed, "You mean as you just did to your Father? You seemed to have little trouble. And for what it is worth, we northerners tend be a wee bit impetuous by nature."
They managed another hour of hard riding before they had no choice but to stop and water the horses. Robb led to the same place where the King's party had stopped on the way from Winterfell. It provided them cover and was a reasonable distance away from Harrenhall. Robb stood on the bank of the lake, looking out to where the Isle of Faces stood out a lonely figure in a surround of water. He wished he could walk on the Isle at that moment and kneel before the weirwoods. However, time and circumstances were not currently in his favor.
Only taking as long as they felt they could risk, their party was quickly off again north. The next stretch of the journey would take them off the Kingsroad and over the open plains between Darry and Harrenhall. They made the turn west, easing off their hastened pace. It would not do to lose the horses in the middle of nowhere, and away from water. They traveled easily for a while, and Robb became convinced that they would actually make it Raventree Hall without any further peril. His thoughts were premature.
"Robb!" Theon called from his lead position. "Riders in the distance to the west. They're moving fast to us."
Robb immediately looked left, while at the same time he felt Margaery's grip tighten considerably. Theon wasn't mistaken. A group of riders, considerable in number, were far off in the distance in the direction of Harrenhall, but they were making up the distance in a hurry. They would clearly be outnumbered if it came to fighting. And it did not help that Grey Wind had sped on ahead of them and were nowhere in sight.
"What do we do Robb, they are gaining on us?" Theon called again.
The truth was they likely had little choice. There was no way they would be able to outrun them. Things were only getting worse as the daylight was beginning to wane. Before he had an opportunity to respond to Theon, he watched as the three Tyrell men who had accompanied them brought their horses to a stop, and then drew their swords.
"Go, my lord and lady," one the soldiers said without hesitation, not even looking back at them. "We will slow them down as long as we can. Go now!"
"Your bravery will not be forgotten," Loras stated solemnly.
"Thank you," Margaery called as well to her loyal men.
"Let's go," Robb ordered, thankful as well for the soldiers' sacrifice. "Ride hard to Raventree and don't look back."
Robb spurred his horse and the, now smaller, group moved on. Robb could not say how long it was after that, but eventually the sounds of screams in the distance echoed behind them, sounds of death. He tried to ignore the reality of the slaughter that was taking place, but he could not do so. They rode and rode, the sky becoming darker and darker. Robb attempted to stop himself, but he could not help looking back. The sight was not encouraging. At least a dozen men were on them and approaching rapidly. Robb looked forward again and saw relief appear in front of them. The braziers along the walls of Raventree Hall were burning brightly in the distance. The others had obviously seen them too, because they all dug their heels into their mounts with staggering force.
The castle grew larger and larger the closer they got, but the sounds of hooves and armor rattling behind them grew louder and louder as well. Robb's heart was practically beating out his chest and he had to remind himself to breathe. Finally they were upon the castle walls and Robb instantly noticed that while the draw bridge over the moat was down, the gate had been closed. Theon, who was still leading the group, brought his horse to a halt at the drawbridge. Robb came to a stop behind the rest and immediately looked up. Along the walls and atop the two large towers surrounding the gate were archers and men with crossbows aimed down at them. Looking behind them he saw that their pursuers had finally caught up and formed a line behind them, closing them in. Some wore Lannister red, while others, likely sellswords, wore all manner of color and sigil.
"Who comes seeking entrance into my walls?" A voice boomed from the top of the left hand tower. Robb looked on at who was obviously Lord Tytos Blackwood. He was a tall, imposing figure, dressed darkly with a raven cloak. His dark hair and beard was streaked with grey, but the man looked like he was as vibrant as any man half his age. "I will not ask again," the Lord of the keep, growled at them.
Robb pushed his horse closer, until he was in front of their group. "Lord Blackwood, I am Robb Stark, son of Lord Eddard Stark of Winterfell. Loras and Margaery of House Tyrell accompany me. We come seeking the shelter and protection of your House."
Lord Blackwood countenance instantly turned from fierce to surprised. "And who are these men, armed and bearing steel behind you?"
Robb turned again as one of the Lannister men brought his horse in front of the others. "My Lord, I come at the behest of his Grace, King Joffrey Baratheon. This man, Robb Stark is guilty of conspiring to take crown from King Robert's son and heir. By now you should have received a raven detailing his crimes."
Lord Blackwood rubbed at his beard. "I may have received such a raven."
"Then you will assist us in returning these traitors to King's Landing so that they may receive the King's justice?" the Lannister man questioned, though it was more a statement laced with a threat.
"What do you say to these accusations, Stark?" Lord Blackwood asked.
"Lannister lies, Lord Blackwood," Robb replied strongly. "King Robert and Renly Baratheon were murdered by the Lannisters."
Lord Blackwood was silent before he turned and gave the man next to him on the tower a subtle nod. "The day I trust the words of a Lannister over those of the son of Eddard Stark, is a day that will never come."
The Lannister man frowned at the response. "When the King learns of your treason you will face his wrath."
Lord Blackwood smiled, yet there was no good will behind it. "Then it's best the King never learns of it. Archers!" Robb felt the arrows and bolts whip by him just beyond his head. He watched as dozens of them rained down into the line of Lannister soldiers, piercing through armor and flesh, dropping them one by one. None of them would be riding back to King's Landing with any message for the King. When the final arrow had landed, the gate blocking their path began to rise. Without looking back at the pile of bodies behind them, they made their way through the gate. For the first time in days, Robb felt some sense of relief as the large wooden keep of Raventree Hall stood before them.
Lord Blackwood's guards rushed passed them as they entered to make sure the Lannisters were well and taken care of. The first thing that Robb did when they entered the courtyard was slide off of his horse, enjoying the feeling of having his feet on the ground again. He turned and helped Margaery off the horse behind him. Now that they were finally out of danger, and his thoughts no longer preoccupied, the pain from the crossbow bolt he had taken came back in full force. He reached up and could still feel the wetness of fresh blood. His focus was taken away again when Lord Blackwood came to greet them.
"Welcome to Raventree Hall, Robb Stark."
"Thank you, Lord Blackwood," Robb bowed his head. "I'm sorry to put you in this position, but I knew that you could be trusted."
"The grandson of Hoster Tully and the son of Eddard Stark is always welcome here, Robb. Though, I would appreciate an explanation as to what is happening."
Before Robb had a chance to reply, Margaery saw fit to make her presence known. "Lord Blackwood, we would be more than willing to explain everything to you, but do you have someone who could attend to Robb's wound first? We've been riding all day and it has not been cleaned."
"Of course, my Lady. I'll have the maester see to it immediately, and have rooms prepared for the night."
The maester did a serviceable job on his wound, and provided Robb with a new, blood-free shirt. Finally being out of his armor was a welcome relief. Hot food had been prepared for them in the hall of the Keep, and they sat to eat alone with Lord Blackwood. Robb recounted every detail of the events that had occurred in King's Landing, Lord Tytos listening with rapt attention.
"This means Stannis is the rightful king," Lord Tytos stated, sipping from a cup of wine. "War is a foregone conclusion now, if Stannis truly knows of the Queen's infidelity as you say."
"I am certain he does," Robb asserted. "He would not have left the Capital so quickly for any other reason."
Lord Tytos frowned. "Stannis sees things as black and white. He will stop at nothing until he is King or he is dead. I've sent ravens off to Riverrun and Winterfell of your arrival."
"Thank you for that, my Lord. I'm uncertain of where my Father is at the moment. I know he has been gathering his strength in the north."
"I hope he knows that House Blackwood is ready to stand with him."
Robb nodded. "I will make sure he knows, and of what you have done for us tonight. Not all would have done so without reservation."
"You all should get some rest," Lord Tytos suggested. "I'm sure it has been a trying day. We will escort you to Riverrun and your family in the morning. You will be safe in these walls tonight, I promise."
A servant led them all to their rooms. They were small, but still comfortable. The sight of the bed to Robb was especially welcoming. As soon as he was enclosed inside the room, he fell backwards onto it with a contented sigh. He began to drift, but was jolted awake by the sound of his door opening. He wasn't all that surprised to see Margaery coming through. Someone had given her a gown to sleep in that was, while not of the fine quality she was used to, still attractive on her. Though he doubted anything could make her unattractive. She closed the door behind her and glided barefoot over to his bed. Without a hint of hesitation, she lowered herself next to him and molded herself into his side. The warmth of her body next to his was probably the most soothing thing that he had ever felt in his young life.
"I did not want to sleep alone," she whispered.
"I am not protesting," Robb smiled into her hair, kissing her head. "With hope it will be the first night of many."