Free. Finally free.
The moment Rhaena and Sansa had arrived in Maidenpool, Rhaena had started to laugh and dance like a maniac at the wonderful sensation of liberty she now possessed. Sansa squeaked and scolded her with her false name, reprimanding her nervously as she glanced around but Rhaena was too thrilled to care what fishermen might think of her. To them she would be just a strange outsider who would pass through and never be seen again. "Leya, we did it. Can you believe it? We really made it here. With all our limbs still attached as well!" Seeing her usually morose and pensive friend so bright and joyful Sansa could not help but feel the emotion spread through her until she too was smiling. They clasped one another in a fierce embrace whilst exhaling in relief, now finally able to have a real hope that they might make it to Robb and Sansa's mother, Catelyn. "Horses. We need horses. Let's find some horses." Speaking cheerfully, Rhaena wove her fingers through Sansa's and practically skipped in the direction of the market. They took their time to enjoy the sights and sounds around them, though the smell was nothing to be desired it was still better than King's Landing. They admired seashells and little trinkets being sold by old fishermen's wives, watched as catches were hauled from boats and laid out to be gutted right on the wharf.
These such things caused Sansa's stomach to churn but Rhaena revelled in it all for it was all so new to her that she could not help but drink it all in. Having only ever lived in King's Landing other than to take the journey to Winterfell and back again, this was such a wonderful experience that Rhaena would happily just sit and admire everything around her all day. However Sansa was keen to leave, and so Rhaena reigned in her excitement and focused on what needed to be done. They bought some more provisions as they had eaten almost half of what Varys had initially provided them and they still had a long journey ahead of them. Sansa was not used to rationing her meals so Rhaena had needed to be strict about how much they could eat. Although Sansa complained a little, she understood that it was better to be a little hungry now than starving completely in the wild where they would not be able to provide their own food until they reached another village. So they stocked up on what they needed then found themselves a pair of horses to buy from the stablemaster. Without a great deal of choice and not having much of an idea on horses, Rhaena went to each one in turn and asked the stablemaster about them, wanting to know what their tempers were like, how fast they ran and how well they would fare with a long journey. The stablemaster was honest enough and asked a fair price for each one so the girls both chose a horse and hoped they weren't being swindled out of their coin.
Rhaena had the gold Tyrion had given her and it was more than enough to give the man a few of the coins to pay for the horses as well as their tack where he promptly bowed and offered to ready the horses himself. They left with their belongings now secured to the saddles, trotting out of Maidenpool before beginning their long journey following the water further inland to guide their way until they could find the River Road. "Do you know where Robb is right now?" Sansa questioned as the girls rode steadily side by side. It had taken Rhaena a little while to become used to handling the horse on her own as she had only ever ridden alongside someone else before but she remembered the basics well enough as Ser Barristan used to tell her the theory of riding horses, though putting it into practice was a little more difficult. Thankfully Sansa knew how to ride well, at least as far as trotting so she could advise Rhaena on what to do.
"The last I heard was of his position was when he won the Battle of Oxcross. He is most likely still in the Westerlands, however since it will be near impossible to chase after a constantly moving army, I thought it best to go directly to Riverrun to your mother's family. At least there, word can be sent to your mother and brother so that they know where to find you. We'll be safe at Riverrun, the Lannister forces were chased out long ago when they captured Jaime Lannister. So long as we keep moving and avoid any soldiers not carrying a banner allied to your brother, we shall be fine." Sansa envied Rhaena's confidence, glancing across at her to see her grinning from ear to ear as she bounced rather sloppily in her saddle as her horse trotted along, holding the reins a little too loosely but seeing how happy she looked, Sansa did not have the heart to correct her. Instead, her mind began to think of other things, weighing heavily on her mind as a complete contrast the merriment Rhaena was experiencing.
"What do you think happened to my sister?"
"Arya? Oh if she has not already found her way to your mother and brother then I expect she is living in the wild somewhere like a complete savage, and loving every moment of it." Rhaena breezed cheerfully but drew back on her reins to slow her horse to a walk, shortening them to make the task easier until the horse slowed down to an amble. She could see that Sansa was still unhappy and she could not blame her. They had lost Arya, Bran and Rickon were currently held captive at Winterfell and Robb was currently fighting a war against an army with greater wealth and numbers. "Arya is strong and tough, Sansa. She is alive somewhere. I feel it. Once you are safely returned to your family we can have Robb send some men to search for her. Varys assured me that she was nowhere in King's Landing which meant she had found a way out of the city. She would have headed North, so we will search every rock and glade from coast to coast until she is found." Taking a deep breath Sansa nodded her head and gave Rhaena a small yet tense smile.
"What about you?" Arching an eyebrow questioningly, Sansa elaborated. "I mean, after we reach Riverrun and back with my family, what will you do? Will you stay with me? I know Robb would be glad to see you and you can live with us from now on. If Robb defeats the Lannisters then there is no one who can take you away from us. You can change your name and keep dying your hair…no one will ever know who you really are. You could stay a secret." Gushing with words in her desperation to persuade Rheana to stay by her side, Sansa wanted nothing more than to have the comfort of Rhaena beside her. If she left, then she did not know how well she could cope being alone.
"Sansa…as wonderful as that sounds…I too have a sister out there somewhere. Far across the sea in a land with very few to support her." Reminding her gently of her own family, Rhaena tilted her face towards the sun. "I should like to at least meet her once in my life, gods be good. However, my mind is not yet decided as there are many things I wish for. I want to go North and see your brothers are safe, I want to find Arya, I want to enjoy my freedom and simply know what it is to be free. Of course, I should also like to stay by your side…we have gone through far too much together to simply part ways…but as I said. There are my own duties and desires I must decide upon." Tilting her head, Rhaena gave Sansa a look of devoted affection and sisterly love. "But for the time being, I am still entirely yours, my sweet Sansa." Although saddened by the prospect of one day losing Rhaena, Sansa was comforted by the fact that they would still have some time together until their parting. Since they were in the open air and could see the flatlands for miles and miles around them with no evidence of anyone anywhere to be seen, they relished in the simple peace they had not been able to feel for a long time. They talked, laughed and sang together without a care in the world, taught themselves to be better riders and quickly learned the better places to make camp to shelter from rain or wind when there was no village or town they could take rest in. As far as they cared, they simply were Leya and Numa, girls with little to their name and no prospects, but also no fears of being hunted down and dragged away to their deaths. Simple peace. It was perhaps some of the best days of their entire lives.