Jon

The Lannister watches me while Benjen goes to collect the new recruits.

"Do I make you uncomfortable, bastard?"

"Why are you watching me, dwarf?"

He closes his book. "Do you really need to ask why? I'm trying to understand what would cause my niece to abandon her duty and sensew."

I remain silent, but he isn't finished.

"Do you love her?"

I look up at him, giving a rough one worded answer. "Yes."

"And she loves you," he tells me, and the words almost make me flinch. "I could see it. I don't know how many times I warned her to stay away, but alas, as my brother Jaime would say, we don't get to choose whom we love."

"She's a princess, I'm a bastard, and that's the end of it," I say roughly and he can't argue with that.

"She is a headstrong girl but even she knows you are the one thing she can't have," he tells me. "If I was a betting man I would put my money on her marrying a Martell."

That catches me off guard. "Martell?"

"She's as smart as she is headstrong, or at least I hope for her sake she is. While she sits on the council she'll no doubt orchestrate a great match for herself now she won't dare marry Robb," he tells me. "My father only entertained Roberts proposal between your houses to keep him happy but Robert doesn't care about much these days, a few delays here and there and next thing Cassana will marry someone who is not a Stark. The only houses my father would approve of are Tyrell and Martell. However I know very well she doesn't have much love for Loras as he is bedding her uncle Renly." I blink at him but he doesn't elaborate.. "And the Martells harbour a great hatred for my family, she could easily win the councils support by claiming a marriage would bring peace, when in reality she would weaponise their hatred against my own family."

Now I'm even more confused. "Why would she?"

"She is her fathers daughter, she has rebellion in her veins, ever since she was but a child. Yet I also see much of my fathers ambition in her, just as it is in Cersei, however Cassana is the one who has the guts to take it."

"She told me that when she sits on the council, if she can make this world better for everyone, princess or bastard then her job will have been done well."

He laughs. "Oh her heart may be in the right place with her intolerance for injustice but this is about far more than making the world a better place. She is out for blood and I dare say she will have quite a bit on her hands when this is all over."

"All over?"

He looks at me, and for the first time i see worry in his eyes.

"She has hate in her heart, she will never stand by and watch Joffrey become king. She will either end up on that throne or die trying which is why I suspect she turned her eye from Robb, to protect him as well as herself."

I dare to ask "And me? Was that just to get over Robb."

Tyrion shakes his head slowly. "I wish it was, but her affair with you may just be the first time she's listened to her heart over her head. I fear it won't be the last."

Cassana

We are stopped along the Kings Road while my Father is off hunting and everyone takes a break from the long journey. I'm glad to be out of the carriage, the numbness and the claustrophobia was driving me mad. There is nothing more awful than being left to your own thoughts.

I sit with my handmaiden Bree, a red haired girl of my age, the daughter of a Northern nobleman who happened to be in Winterfell for the kings visit and offered her service.

"What is the city like Your Grace?" she asks. It's clear she's never left the North but she isn't a naive girl. I've found her company rather pleasant.

"A stinking snake pit," I answer honestly, I've always hated the smell of the city. "The North is a much lovelier place."

"So you like the North?"

What I like most about her is that she treats me as a regular lady as she was never trained properly to be a handmaiden.

"Very much," I answer honestly despite the memories that accompany it. "It's a lovely country, it reminds me of the Stormlands a little actually."

The sound of my brothers voice interrupts us and I look to see him speaking to Sansa, the poor girl looks terrified, then I realise she must have met the Hound.

"What is it sweet lady, does the Hound frighten you?" Joffrey asks mockingly while I watch carefully. "Away with you dog, you're scaring my lady."

The Hound walks away but the Hound isn't my concern, my concern is Sansa.

"I don't like to see you upset," Joffrey tells her and for a moment I wonder if he actually has some warmth in his heart or if my mother put him up to this. Likely the latter "The sun is finally out, come walk with me."

I watch them disappear into the distance and I take a long drink from my flask as I try to drown my worries, but eventually they get the better of me.

I turn to Bree and quietly tell her "I'm going to chaperone my brother and Sansa, I'll be back soon."

She nods her head and I follow after where Joffrey and Sansa went. I can't find them until I hear a voice I recognise as Arya's yell out in the distance. I curse under my breath as I hurry up to them.

By the time I find them Joffrey is holding his sword to a boys cheek and drawing blood.

"Joffrey!" I scold as I march over towards him but he takes no notice "What the hell are you doing, put that down!"

Before I can stop him Arya hits him over his back with a long wooden stick and does more damage than I would have expected.

"Filthy little bitch!" Joffrey spits as he swings his sword at her and I start running.

"Joffrey!" I yell as Sansa cries out for them both to stop "Joffrey you little bastard, stop it!"

She falls and lands on her back and a horrified gasp escapes me as his sword is at her throat "I'll gut you, you little cunt!"

"Joffrey!" I yell as I reach for him but before I can grab him Arya's direwolf launches at him. We all stand there shocked as Joffrey screams out in horror "Get it off of him!"

Arya wrangles her wolf but what I don't expect is for her to then stand over him with the same sword in hand. He lies on the ground clutching his arm in pain and terror, as much pleasure as it gives me to see him finally being shamed like this I know of my mothers wrath. As much as he deserves this he is my own blood.

"Arya, put down the sword," I say gently as he pleads with her not to harm him, instead she goes and throws it in the river "Arya, wait!"

But she's already gone, her and the direwolf running off into the trees. Perhaps it's for the best. I know well enough what will happen to that wolf if they catch it.

My attention turns to Joffrey on the ground and I know the poor girl will not be let off lightly for this.

Sansa kneels down by his side "My prince, my poor prince, look what they did to you," she says and I close my eyes as I realise just how naive she is. "Stay here, I'll go back to the inn and bring help."

She reaches out to touch him but he snaps at her. "Then go!" she pauses in shock and looks near tears as he further pushes her away "Don't touch me!"

I take her arm and pull her to her feet "Sansa, go to your Father and tell him what happened, do not go to the Queen."

"What- why can't I-"

"Sansa," I repeat. "Only tell your father of this, now go."

She nods, still distraught, and hurriedly runs off back to the Inn to get help. I kneel down by my brothers side feeling very little sympathy for him as he whines "That bitch and her hound attacked me!"

"You attacked an unarmed boy you sadistic cunt," I scold knowing I am the only one who'll do it. "I would have done worse than hit you with a stick if I was the one who got to her first. You could have killed her swinging your sword like that, and how dare you curse at the woman you may marry."

His mouth gapes open in shock, he's never truly been scolded like this before "I am the prince!"

"You are a cruel coward," I correct as finally I see the truth I've always known, it's far too late for him to be saved from whatever sickness he has. He cut the butchers boy because it gave him pleasure to and he nearly cut Arya in half "I must just ring your throat now for what you've done. Your arm will heal but remember why this happened to you. Never do what you did ever again."

"You can't speak to me like that!" he screams in my face. "I will be king some day!"

If he is king then the realm will most certainly fall. The legacy of house Baratheon will be a ruin.

"No," I decide "No you won't."

Silently I stand and turn my back on him, walking away as he hurls curses and abuse at me.

He will not be king.

~

Late in the evening I comfort Sansa in private while they look for her sister.

"Why would the prince do such a thing?" she asks tearfully. "To use such language."

"Sansa dear, Joffrey is not like the princes from stories, my brother is not who you think he is."

"What do you mean?" she asks choking on a sob.

"I promised your brothers that I'd look after you and Arya," I tell her. "Do you trust me?"

She nods her head and I know I'm about to break the poor girls heart but what she feels for Joffrey is nothing more than fancy. Soon she will realise that.

"Joffrey is cruel," I begin carefully knowing that it will be hard for her to hear, let alone accept, but she must hear it. "He has never been loving or just or anything you would associate with a prince or even a decent man."

"No, no, no," she denies. "That's not true, the prince is kind and-"

"Sansa," I interrupt softly. "We will be sisters. I intend to treat you as such which means that I need to protect you."

"Then why are you telling me this?" she asks tearfully "Why would you say these things?"

"Because Kings Landing is no place for fantasies, you won't be wed to Joffrey until you come of age," I tell her before hesitantly asking. "Have you bled yet?"

She shakes her head sadly but she has no idea how relieved she should be.

"That is good," I say. "When you do bleed, because it will be soon, I want you to come to me, you must hide it."

"But why?"

"I need you to trust me," I say knowing that she isn't able to truly grasp the situation she's in, she's far too young to but eventually she will. "Joffrey will not be a kind husband to you, it would be best if they decided to marry him to someone else."

"But I wouldn't be queen," she whimpers, and I realise that her head is full of all these stories and fairytales. As much as I may try to warn her she won't realise until she sees Kings Landing and Joffrey for what they truly are.

"It is not what you would dream it to be," I say knowing the bitter truth of it. She would be a queen unloved by her king, Joffrey would likely discard of her entirely once she bears him children unless he decides to make her his to torment. "When they find Arya they are going to ask you what happened, do not speak, I will do it for you."

She nods her head weakly and I escort her to the hall where we can hear Ned. We stand on the outskirts out of sight as we take in the scene before us.

"What is the meaning of this?" he asks as Arya clutches onto him "Why was my daughter not brought to me at once!"

"How dare you speak to your King in that manner," my mother scolds and I already know that she won't show mercy.

"Also," I whisper quietly in Sansa's ear "Do not trust the queen." 

She's trembling as I pull her into my embrace while we wait for her to be called on.

"Quiet, woman," my father dismisses "Sorry Ned, I never meant to frighten the girl but we need to get this business done quickly."

At least my father doesn't seem as wound up as my mother. He may not care much for the tedious parts of ruling but he is just. He will do what is right.

"Your girl and that butcher's boy attacked my son," she growls. "That animal of hers nearly tore his arm off."

"That's not true!" Arya yells. "She just bit him a little. He was hurting Mycah."

"Joffrey told us what happened, you and that boy beat him with clubs while you set your wolf on him."

"Oh bloody hell", I mutter unable to handle this ridiculousness for a moment longer. "Sansa stay here."

I enter the hall as Arya protests "That's not what happened!"

"Arya come here," I say softly as I take her from Ned who's struggling to handle the situation.

"Yes it is!" Joffrey yells as I see his patience snap, that short little fuse which will end many lives if he ever comes to sit on the throne "They all attacked me and she threw my sword in the river."

"Liar!"

"Shut up!"

Before I can speak the truth my father explodes "Enough! He tells me one thing, she tells me another. Seven hells, what am I to make of this?" he looks around and asks "Where's your other daughter, Ned?"

"In bed asleep," Ned immediately answers.

"She's not," my mother smugly reveals "Sansa, come here, darling."

"Don't make the poor girl speak against her betrothed," I interrupt and look to Sansa and motion for her to stay where she is. "I don't know if my mother told you but I saw what happened."

"Very well," he permits trusting me. "Tell us all what really happened."

My mother gives me a warning look but I'm not afraid of her, yet I must still be careful with my words. I can't show bias.

"Arya was playing with the butchers boy, it was harmless. Just children playing. Then Joffrey intervened seeing it as his duty but he hurt the butchers boy. Him and Arya fought over it, he was swinging his sword and the poor girl was almost hurt quite badly so her direwolf tried to defend her and it accidentally bit Joffrey," I tell the room. "It was nothing serious, just children having a fight."

Arya stays quiet and Joffrey swallows his words as his eyes burn with fury. I've told nothing but the truth, he should be glad I've downplayed it. He could have cut the girls stomach right open.

"She's as wild as that animal of hers," my mother insists. "I want her punished."

"What would you have me do, whip her through the streets?" my father mutters. "Damn it, children fight. It's over."

"Joffrey will bear these scars for the rest of his life," she protests and I know she won't back down easily.

"You let that little girl disarm you?" my father mocks and Joffrey looks down in shame. "See to it that your daughter is disciplined. I'll do the same with my son."

"Gladly, your Grace," Ned says giving me a thankful look.

"And what of the direwolf?" my mother asks and I swallow hard remembering Asena. "What of the beast that savaged your son?"

"I'd forgot the damned wolf," my father grumbles.

"We found no trace of the direwolf, your Grace."

"So be it."

I'm about to take Arya out when my mother stands and says "We have another wolf."

"As you will," my father grumbles as he does when he can't be bothered fighting any longer.

"You can't mean it," Ned gapes as the girls begin to panic.

"A direwolf's no pet," he says. "Get her a dog. She'll be happier for it."

"Wait," I interrupt as the girls begin to become hysterical. "A direwolf is too rare to be put down like a common hound, have it sent back North to be with the others. Don't allow it to be slaughtered like my own hound was for defending me."

The room goes quiet. Beside my mother I am the only person who would dare to challenge the king.

Guilt fills his eyes and he gives in "Ned, get your men to take it North."

"Thank you your grace," Ned exhales in relief as Sansa and Arya run out to farewell the direwolf. I promised Robb and Jon that I would protect them and I'm sure this won't be the last time.

Once we reach the city gods know what will happen.

~

Robb

My mother has hardly left Bran's side, so when she calls us to the godswood all of us are taken by surprise. However, since the attempt on Bran's life all of us have been left with a sick feeling in our stomachs and our own suspicions. When I see the look in my mothers eyes I know that she certainly has hers.

"What I am about to tell you must remain between us," she begins as she looks to Maester Luwin, Ser Rodrik, Theon and I. "I don't think Bran fell from that tower, I think he was thrown."

I go utterly cold as I remember her last words to me.

"Our love ended with your brothers fall, there was no spite involved."

I stared at her in bewilderment. "What does Bran have to do with this?"

"I pray for your brother Robb," she said, almost like she could have loved me. "I pray he fell from that tower."

I could feel myself grow paler. "What are you saying?"

"That regretfully I am a Lannister," she said quietly. "And soon, our houses may yet meet on the battlefield if what I believe is true."

"Cassana," I grit out. "If what is true?"

She raised her hand to my bearded cheek and pat it softly. "You'll know if it is."

"The boy was always sure-footed before," Maester Luwin comments while I nod my head in agreement. Bran has climbed that tower a thousand times in wind and rain and he never once put a foot wrong.

"Someone tried to kill him twice, why? Why murder an innocent child?" she asks us. "Unless he saw something he wasn't meant to see."

"Saw what my lady?" Theon asks.

"Our love ended with your brothers fall."

"I don't know, but I would stake my life the Lannister's are involved," she accuses and my stomach twists at the name Lannister, as her face comes to my mind. I've hardly been able to sleep since she left and despite it all, I wish she was here. "We already have reason to suspect their loyalty to the crown."

She was trying to warn me before she left, warn me about Bran.

A dark thought fills my head as a certain memory comes back to me. As I remember her stone cold eyes the morning she left when she spoke with Tyrion, how he hushed her when he saw me walk over, how light her voice had been but her eyes certainly held a different tone, he seemed almost as shaken as she was. I hadn't thought much of it then, I'd just assumed she was upset with him but what other Lannister would she go to if she had suspicions?

And she did. 

Whatever happened to Bran, she knew.

"Did you notice the dagger the killer used?" Ser Rodrick points out. "It's too fine a weapon for such a man. The blade is Valyrian steel, the handle dragonbone. Someone gave it to him."

I want to believe she had no part in it, especially not this, but how can I trust her?

"She knew," I say and they all look at me.

"What?" Mother asks. "Who knew?"

"Cassana," I answer. "The morning I left I saw her, she'd been distant up until then saying the wedding wouldn't go ahead. I thought it was because of-" Of Jon. "It doesn't matter now. But she warned me. I didn't know what she meant, I didn't want to. But she told me that she prays Bran fell, because our houses might soon be at war."

"And you didn't think to say anything!" Mother snaps at me and I look away. "Seven hells Robb, she might as well have told you they did it."

"This was before an assassin tried to kill him," I remind her. "She didn't even seem like she believed what she was saying, I just thought she was trying to distract me."

She shakes her head at me. "Distract you from what?"

Knowing she will never see him again I answer "Her affair with Jon."

Her eyes widen as she gapes at me, much like the rest of the men gathered here.

"I knew it," Theon says but shuts up when he catches my glare, meanwhile mother is fuming.

"You mean to tell me that girl came into my home expecting to wed my son and bed a bastard!"

"I-" it's then I fall quiet. "I don't know if they did."

"It doesn't matter know," Maester Luwin interrupts. "If the Princess has warned him then Lord Stark must me told of this." 

"I don't trust a raven to carry these words"

"I'll ride to King's Landing," I immediately decide. "If she knows anything I'll get it out of her. She's many things, but knows the Lannister's better than any of us and she isn't loyal to them."

Or at least things I hope. However the more memories that come to mind the more blind I realise I was. I know that they say love is blinding but I had no idea how true it could be. I just pray that if I see her she will be honest. I know that there had to have been love there at some point, I just hope that will be enough.

"No," she dismisses and before I can protest she reminds me. "There must always be a Stark in Winterfell, I will go myself."

"Mother, you can't," I argue. "Cassana-"

"I must," she decides resolutely. "I know you love her Robb despite how she has disgraced you and this house, but your place is in Winterfell. If the Lannister's are involved then they will be wanting to keep Cassana from you, chances are this is part of the reason they took her south. We can't raise any suspicion, do your duty and stay in Winterfell, they can't know I'm coming. Do not write to her because whatever is sent will be intercepted by the Lannister's. We cannot raise any flags."

They debate who will be going with her and I can just feel the mess that's about to be made. Yet in all of this it's the fear of what Cassana knows that stays with me. As I'm forced to consider just how much she may have hidden from me.