The bells had greeted them from a mile away. There was no cover surrounding Lannisport and Casterly Rock, not a tree line in sight. He had his army play music with them, the drums drowning out the tolling of the bells. Arrows rained down on them from the towering walls of the city as they approached and dozens of his men fell. But, they made it to the gates without too much bloodshed. The gates of Lannisport smashed open, splintering apart with the force of the ram swung by Lucas Blackwood, Smalljon Umber, and Ser Wendel Manderly. His men charged through and into the city. The City Watch of Lannisport, in red cloaks and black armor dusted in gold, were upon them instantly. There were four or five thousand members of the City Watch and they were well trained, as skilled as any man in his army. This would be no easy sack.
Robb stood flush against the stone of Casterly Rock, listening to the battle raging in the city a mile away. Sandor Clegane had been the unmistakably hulking figure leading his men. Grey Wind sprinted next to Clegane's black stallion at full speed, ripping a man's throat out without breaking stride. The Hound cut down a man who charged out of a nearby armory, pike in hand. He saw Sandor Clegane slice a man in half with his greatsword before taking another's head clear off a second later. He was fierce if anything, Robb had to give him that. Robb had ordered his men to fan out and close all of the gates as soon as they were in the city. The last thing he wanted was for the sailors from the ships to join the fight.
Roose Bolton stood by Robb's side, silent as usual. Robb would much rather have Clegane with him, now that his back was actually against the walls of Casterly Rock, now that the time had come to enter the castle. He hoped he could follow Clegane's instructions. Looking at the entrance, he wondered if Clegane would have fit anyway. It was the size of a child, truthfully. It was very narrow, no one in armor could slip through certainly. He felt naked in his boiled leathers but there was no other way into the Rock.
"What are we waiting for?" Roose Bolton hissed. He was staring at his king, waiting for his order. Robb was starting to wish he had brought someone else but his other commanders were waging a battle in Lannisport a mile away. It was too late to change his mind.
"You know what we wait for, Bolton. Remain quiet until it happens."
"And if it doesn't happen?"
"Quiet!" He ordered, straining to hear sounds from within the Rock.
It was only a few more minutes before the unmistakable noises of a massive gate opening came, the one guarding what Sandor Clegane had called the Lion's Mouth, signaling that someone was riding out to lift the siege of the city below. The troops galloped down the road, fifteen abreast, too many rows to count. Leading the group, in his Lannister red, black, and gold armor and lion's head helm, was Ser Jaime Lannister. There was no mistaking him. Robb had seen him himself at the Battle of the Whispering Wood. He had known that Ser Jaime couldn't resist a battle so close to home, not even after losing his sword hand. Lions were ever prideful, Ser Jaime was no exception.
"Apologies, my king. The lions have never had much in terms of brains." Roose Bolton acknowledged, watching Ser Jaime Lannister gallop down the road to Lannisport. Until that point, it had been solely the City Watch of Lannisport defending the city against the King in the North's army but, with the Lannister army barreling down on them, Robb watched his men disperse. As he had told them too. Many took to the walls to rain arrows upon the Lannister men.
Robb tore his eyes away from the city when Ser Jaime's army was upon it. "Quickly."
Roose Bolton slipped quietly, and with the agility of a dancer, through the crack in the rock. Robb followed, barely managing to squeeze through. They had entered a small cave, a bench seat carved from the stone walls. There was another small crack in the wall leading further into the Rock. Roose slipped through first followed closely by Robb. It led to a much larger cavern. To the west, they could hear the sea crashing against the rocks. They went east, hurrying as fast as they dared, their boots making little noise on the stone floors.
Robb's breath was failing him as he climbed step after step for a quarter of an hour. They finally reached the heart of the Rock. Past the caves, the dungeons, and stables, Robb found the only part of Casterly Rock he had liked thus far. The Stone Garden, Sandor Clegane called it. The weirwood was a beautiful sight, Robb would thank the gods on his way out of the castle if he was successful.
Reluctantly, Robb tore his eyes away from the tree and followed Roose further into the Rock. As they entered the keep, they were forced to slow. More people were in this part of the castle and they were forced to hide periodically.
"Your sister's rooms should be ahead, Your Grace." Roose Bolton said, pointing toward a large door at the end of the hall. Robb couldn't remember much about what Clegane had said of the keep. He could hear soldiers near so he knew they must be close. Once he had Sansa, she could protect him and Roose from the household guards and Ser Jaime Lannister.
"Guards! The Young Wolf is in the Lion's Den!" Footsteps clamored through the stone hallway but Robb couldn't focus on that. He was staring at Bolton, who had sounded the alarm.
"The King in the North can't tell who's loyal to him, such a shame, Robb Stark. You could have won the war, had your priorities been the right ones." Roose Bolton was chastising him as if he were a child. It was in that moment that Robb realized how foolish of an attempt this had been. His mind had been clouded by his love for Sansa. Now, he would rot in the dungeons while Sansa remained in Ser Jaime Lannister's bed and his own child was born in Riverrun without him.
Lannister men ran down the corridor, armor clanking as they did. Robb drew his dagger but before he could do anything, Roose plunged his own dagger into Robb's side. He fell to the ground, pressurizing the wound.
"He was to be unharmed, Bolton." One of the Lannister men said; some Crakehall probably.
"Get your maester then. He'll survive." Bolton said coldly, staring down at Robb. The Crakehall man glared at Roose Bolton before hurrying off to fetch Maester Creylen. A golden haired man in his 40s approached Robb, still writhing in pain on the ground.
"My name is Ser Damion Lannister. Rise, King in the North, your cell awaits." Ser Damion said, a sick smirk on his face. When Robb didn't stand, he turned to the other golden haired men. "Lucion, Daven, take the King in the North to the dungeons. Lord Jaime will deal with him when he returns from Lannisport."
"Yes, Father." The one called Ser Lucion said. He and Ser Daven grabbed Robb Stark by the arms while Roose Bolton removed any weapons Robb had on him. Robb spat in his face and, after wiping the spittle away, Roose punched him in his wound, causing Robb to double over in pain.
"Enough, Bolton, or I shall put you in a cell too." Ser Damion warned. Bolton glared at him but backed away and let Ser Lucion and Ser Daven take Robb away, his feet dragging uselessly behind him.