The Stark army marched in haste toward Casterly Rock. Robb pushed his men to their breaking point day in and day out, but none complained. They were to rescue his last living sibling, the only one they knew for sure was alive. The other three were in the wind or dead and Jon wasn't a full sibling so his men didn't think of him at all.

Their arrival at Riverrun couldn't have come sooner, his queen had fallen ill over their journey. Her belly grew and she was becoming more weary by the day. But they were getting so close to Lannisport and Casterly Rock that Robb could taste the Kingslayer's blood. He wouldn't slow for his wife.

The maester visited them in their chambers after supper and, as he examined the queen, Robb continued the argument they had been having for nearly a week, "You'll stay here."

"I will not." Talisa said defiantly.

"You will, I won't be worrying over your safety. You're with child, you need to start acting it."

"You need rest, my queen." The maester agreed.

"Listen to the man of learning." Robb said. It was more of a warning than a suggestion.

"Fine, but I won't be confined to this chamber."

"I wouldn't dare say that." Robb said, smiling at the bold woman from Volantis he had married. There was a knock on the door and Ser Brynden Tully entered. He was smiling and Robb thought how odd it looked on the old man's normally sullen face.

"My king, you have a visitor." The Blackfish said, beckoning his great-nephew to follow him. Robb gave Talisa a look before departing after the man. The Blackfish led him to the Great Hall when Robb was met with a peculiar sight.

Sandor Clegane was struggling against three of his men, who barely managed to hold the large man. He cursed and pulled against the arms of the men, his muscles bulging. Catelyn Stark stood off to the side, tears in her eyes as she looked at the young girl next to her. Robb had to do a double take but he was sure it was her. She was thinner than when he had last seen her and she had already been a pole then. Robb could see lithe muscles beneath her thin shirt. "Arya?"

"Robb!" His youngest sister ran to him, crossing the large room in six bounds, to be swept up in his arms. He held her tight against his chest and forced himself not to shed a tear, he didn't want his men to see him cry. Arya smelled of horse and filth but he didn't care, he held her for longer than he cared to admit.

When he finally released her, he said, "We thought you dead."

"I escaped King's Landing with the help of Yoren of the Night's Watch."

"Then what happened to you? How did you end up with the Hound?" Robb asked, eying the man suspiciously.

"Yoren was killed by Lannister men. We were taken prisoner to Harrenhal but I escaped with the help of a Braavosi man. My friends and I were captured by the Brotherhood Without Banners and just when they were about to let us go, they brought him in and he told them who I was." She said it all in a rush, wanting to tell him as fast as possible. She shot the Hound a nasty look. "They kept me in hopes of getting money from you for their cause but I escaped when they sent my…friend away. He took me prisoner and he had hoped to ransom me ever since."

Robb turned to her captor. "Is it ransom you seek?"

"Aye, it is." The Hound barked.

"Then it is ransom you will have." Robb said. He saw a grisly smile stretch across the scarred face. Robb walked toward him and to his bannermen said, "Release him."

"But…"

"No but. I said release him. Or do you dare disobey your king?" He challenged. The three men released the man and stepped away. Robb looked up at the Hound and said, "We march on the Rock. I hear you told the king to fuck off. Do you still hate the Lannisters?"

"Aye, I do. That doesn't mean I like you any better."

Robb actually smiled. "I didn't think you would. But I hear you protected my sister, Sansa, in King's Landing. Saved her from rapers once and the king more times than that. It is her we aim to take from the Lion's claws. Will you join us?"

Sandor Clegane didn't need long to think it over. He had nothing better to do and his little bird was in danger. "I will."

"Robb, you can't!" Arya screamed.

Her mother rounded on her. "Has he harmed you in any way, Arya? This man has done our family a kindness in returning you to us."
"A kindness, woman?" The Hound scoffed. "I did it for the gold."

"Gold or not, you have given me one sister. Now you will help me retrieve the other." Robb said. He turned to his mother and sister, "Leave us. We have matters to discuss."

"Robb…" Arya said, tears in her eyes.

"We'll speak later, little one. Now, go." Robb said, smiling at her. Their mother had to drag Arya from the hall. Robb looked to Roose Bolton, standing silently against the wall, and the Blackfish. He beckoned them and the Hound to the long table in the center of the room. "Sit."

They sat at one end, Robb at the head, Roose to his right, Ser Brynden to his left, and the Hound next to him. To Sandor Clegane, Robb asked, "Have you any knowledge of Casterly Rock?"

"Yes." He answered gruffly.

"And? What of it?" Ser Brynden asked, glaring at the man.

"I was practically raised there myself. Came into Tywin Lannister's service when I was 10 or 11 after my brother took control of our holdfast. I wished not for the man who had burned half of my face off in charge of my life. Tywin took me in as part of his household and allowed me to train with the master-at-arms. I think Lannister wished for me to become a mini-Gregor."

"As you did." Roose commented.

"I'll never be like my brother." The Hound said, eyebrows furrowed.

"Enough of it. What of the Rock? You know it well?" Robb asked.

"Better than King's Landing." The Hound nodded.

"Good." Robb said, smiling. "We can use that knowledge."

Robb gave Roose Bolton and Ser Brynden Tully a look and they knew he wished to be alone with the Hound. They both rose from their seats and left the hall.

"How'd you know where we were, if I may ask?" Robb asked.

"You may." The Hound said gruffly. "I met with Walder Frey. Right cunt he is. He told me you betrayed him to march on Casterly Rock. Said you broke another oath."

"Fuck Walder Frey." Robb snapped. The Hound seemed surprised by his outburst. Robb took over a minute to calm down. "And you knew the route we would take, Clegane?"

"Knew you would stop at Riverrun, that you would likely break from the road to avoid the Lannister army. They sit near the Golden Tooth, I hear."

"Aye, they do." Robb said, nodding. He beckoned one of his men to him and said, "Show the Hound to some chambers."

The soldier nodded and Sandor Clegane followed him without a word. Robb sat at the table for a few minutes alone, looking at the map. They would be at Casterly Rock within 10 days, they needed to be there faster.

Catelyn Stark sat with her youngest daughter near the hearth of the fireplace. Robb entered quietly and when Arya looked up, he didn't receive a smile this time. Her face was full of anger as she shot daggers at her approaching brother.

"How could you, Robb?" She asked, her voice full of rage.

"For some reason that monster of a man cares for Sansa and he will stop at nothing to take her from Jaime Lannister." Robb replied, sitting next to her on the floor.

Arya had tears in her eyes as she looked at him. "Won't Sansa be hurt in the attack? The Kingslayer won't give her up easy if he has a brain. What if he kills her?"

"He wouldn't dare." Catelyn said, trying to convince herself of it. "Sansa is worth more to him alive than dead."

Robb looked at Arya and said, "Sansa will not be harmed. Clegane and I will sneak into Casterly Rock while Roose Bolton leads our army into Lannisport for the sack. It will be quick, Arya.

"And if Sansa doesn't wish to leave Casterly Rock?" Arya asked, staring at Robb hard. He gave her a look as if to say, why would she do that? "Sansa always wanted to marry a valiant knight; you know it, Robb."

"She has a love for knightly valor, Robb." Catelyn agreed. "Despite all he has done, the Kingslayer is still a knight. Sansa might have forgiven him for all of his terrible deeds. She is dutiful and smart and will be devoted to Jaime Lannister as his wife."

"Sansa would be stupid to think the Kingslayer could love her!" Robb's voice was a snarl.

"Wits would tell her to not care if he loves her, but to care that he has kept her safe." Catelyn said. Robb gave her a look. "When I released the Kingslayer, I told him to return Sansa and Arya to us. Now he is her husband, he can do with her as he pleases."

"You think we should give up and leave Sansa to the Lions?" Robb growled.

"That is not what I said, Robb." Catelyn's eyes narrowed at her son. "Jaime Lannister may still give her to us yet."

"I wouldn't hold your breath, Mother."