The three companions traveled through the forests of the Riverlands, avoiding the main roads for fear they were being patrolled by Bolton and Frey men looking for Robb and any other Northern stragglers. This would have slowed Robb's pace considerably, due to his lack of wayfinding ability especially present in foreign territory like the Riverlands, had it not been for his guide, Richard Bracken who navigated the countryside like his own backyard which Robb supposed it was.
After all, the forest was all Richard had known for a while judging by the faded shield in his cottage. Robb pondered, "Why had a man as esteemed as a captain of the household guard for a major lord in Westeros forsaken his position to live an ascetic's life in the woods, it baffled him to no end" They traveled through seemingly endless forest, jumping over logs and bushes, foraging for berries and nuts as they went and wading through cool streams teeming with aquatic life.
They traveled up one particular hill that sapped Robb of nearly all of his energy, exhausting him to the point where he had to lean on Grey Wind for the last leg of the journey upwards, Richard seemed concerned about Robb's exhaustion and motioned for him to stop when they reached the top, saying, " Alright, we'll stop here for the night to rest and in the morning, we'll get going through Hag's Mire which is bound to be the worst part of our trip, too many bogs and smells awful in there." Robb nodded, grateful for the chance to rest. He collapsed onto the ground, breathing heavily, and Grey Wind lay down beside him, his warm fur providing comfort to Robb's aching body. Richard busied himself with starting a small fire and preparing some food for the three of them.
They could see the port of Seagard shining from their venture points, cogs and warships making their way to and from the massive port. The sea twinkled as it reflected the vivid orange colors of the sunset and, for a moment, everything seemed to be in place. However, as they ate, Robb couldn't help but feel a sense of unease settling over him. He had left behind everything he knew to wage a war that seemed to have no end, and he wasn't even sure if he was doing the right thing anymore. He had lost so much, and yet he had to keep going. He had to keep fighting.
Richard noticed Robb's solemn expression and asked, "Is everything alright, lad?"
Robb hesitated before responding, "I don't know, Richard. I don't know if I'm doing the right thing. I don't know if all of this is worth it."
Richard looked at him with a sympathetic expression and said, "I know it's hard, your grace. But you have to remember why you started this war in the first place. The Starks have always been defenders of the North, and you're doing what you must to protect your people by freeing them from the tyranny of the iron throne. It's not an easy burden to bear, but it's a necessary one and many people rely on you to do the right thing." Robb nodded, grateful for Richard's words of encouragement and purpose.
As they settled in for the night, Robb couldn't help but think about what the future held. Would he ever see his family again? Would he ever be able to return to Winterfell? The uncertainty weighed heavily on his mind, but he knew that he couldn't give up. He had to keep going, for the North and for his family.
Robb was awoken by the cacophony of drums and horns, causing him to scramble up and assess the situation. Richard was already standing, gazing at the port of Seagard in the distance. Robb joined him, Grey Wind beside him, and looked in the same direction. He saw fire and the glint of steel reflecting off armor, as marching columns with Frey and Bolton banners approached the port. Catapults hurled fiery balls into the port, and the sounds of yells and screams rang out, chilling Robb's bones as he watched the dire situation unfold.
Robb turned to Richard and declared, "I need to get down there. The people in that port are my subjects, and I will not allow those Frey whoresons to kill them unabated."
Richard countered, "There is little we can do, my lord. Even if we could somehow miraculously bypass the siege perimeter, what good would two more men be in this siege? We can only hope that the defenders of Seagard prevail and that we will reach Riverrun in time to rally a force to come to Seagard's defense. Besides, I have faith in the ability of these defenders to protect Seagard. I knew the captain of the port guard; I trained him myself. He keeps a well-manned and disciplined garrison that is not likely to lose to Frey and Bolton conscripts."
Robb surveyed the defense being mounted by the Seagard garrison, noticing that everything Richard had predicted had come to fruition. The ladders and rams the attackers brought forth were getting nowhere close before being destroyed or burned along with the men who carried them. The archers in the garrison were deadly, striking down besiegers with precision before they could organize. Already, the attackers were incurring heavy casualties. Eventually, Robb heard the distant horn of retreat as Frey and Bolton scurried back to their siege camp, tails between their legs.
Robb turned to Richard and said, "It does seem that they have this siege under control for now thanks to your man in the guard. We'll leave for Riverrun in the morning at double time. I intend to gather an army and drive every one of these Frey bastards into the sea once we return. Perhaps they'll finally find a use as food for fish."
The night was long and restless for Robb and his companions as they anxiously awaited the dawn. As soon as the first rays of sunlight broke through the horizon, they hastily packed up camp and set off towards Riverrun at a breakneck pace. Robb was determined to raise an army large enough to crush the Freys and Boltons once and for all. The next morning, they set out through Hag's Mire, and Richard's words proved true.
The boggy terrain made progress slow and difficult, and the stench was almost unbearable. But they pressed on, with Richard leading the way and Grey Wind always by Robb's side. Despite the hardships, Robb felt a sense of determination growing within him. He was going to win this war, no matter the cost for his family and his subjects. Robb slogged through the swamps, mosquitos biting into him on all sides, his feet sinking into the ground with each stepRobb trudged on, his eyes scanning the murky waters for any signs of danger. The twisted trees and vines made it difficult to see more than a few feet ahead, but Grey Wind's keen senses kept them on the right path. Richard pointed out areas where the mud was less likely to swallow them up, and they took care to avoid any patches where the water was too deep to wade through. Despite their precautions, they encountered a few close calls along the way.
At one point, Robb stepped into a hidden hole and almost went under, but Grey Wind caught him by the sleeve of his tunic and pulled him to safety. Another time, a group of leeches attached themselves to Richard's leg, causing him to stumble and nearly fall. But they persevered, driven by their mission to reach Riverrun as quickly as possible. As they moved deeper into the swamp, the surroundings grew even more treacherous. The ground became more unstable, with pockets of quicksand and rotting logs that threatened to give way at any moment. The thick foliage made it difficult to see, and the oppressive heat and humidity made it hard to breathe. But Robb pushed through the discomfort, focusing on his duty to protect his people. He thought of the faces of the men, women, and children who depended on him, and it gave him strength. He knew that every step he took brought him closer to victory, and he was determined not to let anything stand in his way.
After what felt like an eternity, they finally emerged from the swamp, their clothes caked in mud and their bodies covered in insect bites. They had made it through the worst of it, and Robb felt a sense of relief wash over him. They still had a long way to go, but he was confident that they could overcome any obstacle that lay ahead. As they trudged through the forests, Robb and Richard stumbled upon a small clearing where they found the gruesome aftermath of a Frey patrol massacre. The bodies of an innocent family, a husband, wife, and their two young children, lay scattered around their humble hut, their blood soaking into the mud beneath them. Robb and Richard stood frozen in horror, their faces twisted in disgust and rage. Grey Wind sniffed around the bodies, his ears flattened against his skull as he growled at the scent of the Freys. Robb knelt beside the youngest child, a girl no more than six years old, and gently closed her lifeless eyes.
Tears stung at his eyes as he looked upon the senseless slaughter before him. "This is why we fight," he said, his voice shaking with anger. "This is what those Frey bastards are capable of."
Richard placed a hand on Robb's shoulder, his own expression grim. "We can't let this go unpunished," he said. "We'll make them pay for what they've done here."
Robb stood up, his jaw clenched tight as he surveyed the devastation around them. He knew that he couldn't let this tragedy go unanswered. He would hunt down the Frey patrol responsible for this massacre, and he would make them pay for their crimes, no matter the cost. They began tracking the patrol, Grey Wind in the lead following the scent of the horses the patrol rode. Afternoon passed into evening and still Robb went on, determined to make those men suffer for the transgressions they had committed. Eventually, they saw fires in the distance next to the road, Robb pointed the fires out to Richard and they dropped down into a crouch stalking up to the campsite. As they crept closer, Robb and Richard could hear the sound of men laughing and boasting about their recent attack. Their blood boiled with anger, but they knew they had to remain calm and focused. Grey Wind growled low in his throat, his eyes trained on the unsuspecting Freys.
Robb signaled to Richard with a quick hand gesture, and they silently split up, each taking a side of the camp. They moved with grace and stealth, inching closer and closer to the unsuspecting Freys. Robb's heart was pounding in his chest as he drew his sword from its sheath. He could hear his own breath in his ears as he advanced upon the campsite. The Freys were still laughing and drinking, unaware of the danger that lurked just beyond the darkness. Suddenly, Grey Wind let out a fierce snarl, chagrin forth and ripping one Frey apartand the Freys sprang up in alarm, grabbing for their weapons. Robb charged forward, his sword glinting in the firelight. He felt the rush of adrenaline as he engaged the first Frey, their swords clashing with a deafening ring. Richard was not far behind him, his own sword flashing in the firelight. The Freys were taken aback by the sudden attack, and Robb and Richard fought with the fury of men seeking justice for the innocent lives that had been taken. Blood sprayed in the air, and the scent of death filled their nostrils. The sounds of clashing swords and dying men echoed through the night, until finally, it was over.
The last Frey lay at Robb's feet, his lifeless eyes staring up at the sky. Robb and Richard stood panting, their swords dripping with blood. The silence was only broken by the crackling of the dying fires and the soft whimpers of Grey Wind as he licked the wounds on his paws. Robb surveyed the carnage before him, feeling a strange mixture of satisfaction and disgust. This was what it had come to - killing men in the dead of night, seeking vengeance for the innocent. He knew that there would be more bloodshed before the end, but for now, he felt a sense of closure.
He turned to Richard and nodded, and they began the long trek back to their own camp, the bodies of the Freys left to rot in the swamps. The memory of the innocent family's deaths weighed heavy on their hearts, but they knew that they had done what they had to do. For them, there could be no turning back - only the promise of more bloodshed, and the hope that one day, they would see justice served just like today but for everything and everyone who had harmed those he loved. Their task completed, they set off once again for Rivverun, making camp for the night a few leagues away from where they had enacted their vengeful slaughter. In the morning, they got up and set a mad pace for Oldstones hoping to reach there by evening to keep pace and get to Riverrun the following day.
Thankfully, there were no distractions to the travelers and by early evening, the ruins of House Mudd loomed on the horizon, looking as gloomy as the last time Robb had laid his eyes upon it. Robb and Richard pressed hard towards Oldstones, a place where many travelers feared to tread. They had no time to waste and needed to reach Riverrun as soon as possible. The weight of the carnage they had seen hung heavily upon them, but they could not allow themselves to dwell on it for long. They had an objective to complete and knew that there were more battles to come.
As they approached Oldstones, Robb could feel the hairs on the back of his neck rise. The ancient castle ruin seemed ominous in the fading light of the day, and the mist that hung over the surrounding swamplands only stood to add more to the eerie atmosphere. But Robb was not one to be easily frightened, and he continued forward, determined to reach Riverrun by the next day. As they passed through the ruins, Robb's mind wandered back to the innocent family that had been slaughtered by the Frey patrol, to Seagard and its besieged people, to the army at the Twins whose fate he still did not know .
He felt a sense of guilt and shame for not having prevented these events like a real king would have, but he also knew that justice had to be served regardless of his previous failures and dwelling on them would only hinder his chances of enacting such justice. The patrol had paid for their crimes with their lives, and he was determined to see to it that the others who had wronged those he was sworn to protect followed the fate of the patrol.
The night was long and restless as they camped in the ruins of Oldstones. The howling of wolves echoed in the distance much to the interest of Grey Wind, and the cold wind that swept through the ruins chilled them to the bone, whistling like trapped spirits. Robb knew not to let his guard down and they took turns keeping watch throughout the night, Robb with Grey Wind first and then Richard as the moon reached its zenith. As dawn broke, Robb was groggily awoken by Richard and after a quick meal of hard jerky and dried berries, they packed up their camp and continued their journey towards Riverrun. They were nearly there at this point, Robb expecting to reach the castle by dusk with any luck.
Robb turned to Richard, "We should reach Raventree Hall by midday, any memories of the place."
Richard replied, "None, my Lord, the Blackwood's aren't too fond of Bracken's like me and for my kin, the feeling is mutual."
"Tis a great shame, I knew one Blackwood very well, Lucas, I'm sure you and him would have gotten along very well together."
"Would have"
"He was killed at the Twins during the feast. He couldn't even stand before being stabbed to death by that gaggle of cowards."
As they continued on their journey, Robb and Richard soon came upon the sight of Raventree Hall in the distance. It was a grand old castle, with sturdy walls covered in lichen and a moat filled with water. But as they drew closer, they saw smoke and fire on the horizon and heard distant yells. Robb's heart sank as he saw the smoke rising from the castle's towers, and the sound of battle echoed across the landscape. Robb looked at the soldiers and their banners, noticingRaventree hall was under siege, not by Boltons, not Frey's, but by Brackens. Robb turned to Richard, "Seems your houses have stepped up their rivalry in my absence"
Richard replied, "This is shameful, I knew my brother was power hungry but I had no idea it had gotten this bad"
Robb said, "Just like Seagard, there's nothing we can do here except return with a force capable of driving the Bracken's off. Let's go"
Robb continued on the road determined to get to Rivverun by dark with Grey Wind closely following, Richard however lingered, looking shamefully at the Bracken siege camp, "Oh how far we've fallen, I will restore the honor of our house brother, no matter how much you emaciate it."
After a tense few hours, the travelers spotted the walls of Riverrun on the horizon, seemingly glowing in the light of the sunset. Robb was finally safe after nearly a month and he looked forward to a hot bath and a soft bed after catching up with his uncle, the Blackfish, about the state of his soldiers and campaign. Robb pressed towards Riverrun with a mixture of relief and anxiety. He was relieved to finally reach the safety of his family's stronghold but he was also anxious about what he might find there. As Robb got closer, he noticed something strange about the banners flying over Riverrun. At first, he had thought his eyes were playing tricks on him but as he got closer, he looked closer, squinting and froze. His worst fears had been manifested, the sigil of the Twins flew over Riverrun, Robb was too late.