Cassana

I'm feeling rather confident when Renly enters my office.

"I can't lie, it is strange being summoned by my own niece," he comments.

"I've solidified our alliance with the Tyrells."

"How?" he scoffs.

"Margaery and I have reached a mutually beneficial agreement to be legally solidified at a later date," I say not revealing much more. "And at our next small council meeting I will be expressing my desire to marry a Dornish prince."

He actually laughs. "Where in the seven hells has this come from?"

I lean back in my seat. "How would you feel about becoming Hand of the King?"

His humour quickly fades. "You'd ask your father to replace Ned with me?"

I raise an eyebrow. "Perhaps, although I was envisioning you becoming my hand."

He realises how deep I've fallen into this scheme. "Cassana, Joffrey-"

"Is a bastard," I declare, and realise the thought indeed has crossed his mind. "Stannis knows this as well doesn't he?"

"He had his suspicions before he was driven back to Dragonstone," he reveals to me. "About your mother and Jaime but I never knew what to believe."

"Believe it," I say, knowing it in my gut. "I just need proof and I have heard Ned is looking into my fathers bastards. I suspect he is following the same trail as Jon Arryn."

He inhales deeply. "This is dangerous."

"It is," I agree calmly. "Which is why we need to build our case before presenting it to my father, before my mother or Tywin discovers it. I need to ensure Tommen and Myrcella's safety from my father, I'll try to convince my father to send them to Casterly Rock to please my grandfather."

"You'd send them to Tywin while making him your enemy."

I nod, this part the trickiest of all. "They will be safe from my fathers rage with him."

"And what of Tywins rage?" he asks me. "Even if it is true, you know he will go to war for his houses honour."

"I suspect they'll be going to war soon regardless," I tell him. "I know they had something to do with Brandon Stark's fall, and the Stark's blame them for Jon Arryn's death. One more mistep and it will be war."

He seems shaken. "This is getting too dangeous Cassie, even for us."

I tilt my head at him, knowing his stomach is weaker than mine. "Then let me handle it and do what I instruct you, and I will make you my hand and heir. You will marry Margaery Tyrell for politics sake and continue your affair with Renly without disruption."

His eyes widen. "Does Margaery-"

"Yes, and she's agreed to it," I inform him. "I have this handled Renly, I just need you to lay quiet and keep this all to yourself until the right moment. Until I can get Ned onside with this, his and my fathers rift will only last so long and then we have a chance to save this realm from another tyranny."

~

I'm lying beside Margaery, silk bedsheets covering our naked bodies.

"So Renly took it well?"

"He was surprised, afraid of the consequences, but the offer is to great for him to resist," I tell her. "I'm afraid he doesn't have the stomach for this."

"He isn't the one who needs it, you are," she reminds me. "And you indeed have it."

I reach out to touch her brown curls on the pillow. "Have you written to your grandmother yet about it all?"

"I have," she promises me. "She'll take this is a risk but with the evidence we have I suspect she'll take it."

"Thank you Margaery," I say, genuinely grateful. "Now to confer with Lord Stark once he and my father both calm down and talk to the council about my own marriage."

"Ah yes, a Dornish prince," she says, playing with my hair. "They are known to me some of the best lovers in Westeros."

"Meaning they've fucked half of Westeros," I correct, knowing the Red Vipers reputation. "Oberyn Martell has a mighty fearful reputation, I'm afraid I cannot even stomach that but Trystane should be easier."

"And what of me?" she teases, kissing me. "Does this make me your mistress?"

"Perhaps," I tease, kissing her back, about to pull her back between my legs when shouting fills the halls. "What's going on?"

I slide out of bed, pulling a robe on and hear the door to my office open. I stick my head out and see Ser Barristan. "Princess."

"What in the Seven Hells is going on out there?"

"Catelyn Stark is what," he answers and my stomach sinks. "Dress yourself, you'll be needed by your father."

He heads back out and I curse as I return to my bedroom to Margaery who's dressing.

"What is it?"

"Catelyn Stark," I answer, reaching for my simplest dress to put on in my haste. "Gods know what she's done."

She quickly helps me dress and we duck out into the hallway, no shortage of Stark guards and goldcloaks rushing about. We walk hastily through the halls looking for someone to tell us what's going on when I hear someone call out my name.

"Cassie?" Myrcella calls out as she runs over to me and into my arms "Is it true? Did Lady Stark kidnap uncle Tyrion, is he alright?"

I'm shocked into silence, my mind at a loss for how that could have happened, and for a moment I wonder where my mother is and why Myrcella is on her own but she likely took off to find Jaime. 

"I don't know," I answer as I hold her tightly. "But I'm going to find out, have you seen mother or even uncle Jaime?"

"Uncle Jaime rode off not long ago with guards," she tells me shakily and my blood runs cold.

Oh gods.

"Come with me, I need to find Sansa and Arya." I look back at Margaery. "Find Renly."

Taking Myrcella's hand in my own I quickly run off towards Sansa and Arya's rooms and find them with their Septa.

"What's going on?" Sansa asks me "Why can't we leave our rooms?"

The Septa looks at me and I ask "May I have a moment alone with them?"

She nods and leaves Myrcella and I to be alone with them. It's a conversation she shouldn't witness but it's better she's here with me than listening to the gossip in the hallways.

"Is it true?" Arya asks. "About the Imp?"

"There are rumours," I begin knowing that it is far too late to shelter them "That your mother captured my uncle."

"She wouldn't," Sansa insists, however Arya is the one who asks the real question.

"Why would she?"

Catelyn knows the truth or at least part of it. There is no other explanation. I can't deny the truth any longer. Bran was pushed and I know by whom and I know why. 

And what I know for certain is that Tyrion had no part in it.

"I don't know," I lie. "But regardless of what happens I will look after you here. You must understand that your mother may face consequences for this but I will speak with my mother and father, I am sure this is just a misunderstanding."

I had prayed that the truth wouldn't surface, at least not yet, but now it has it cannot be undone.

It is time to stop playing the fool.

~

We stand beside Ned's bed waiting for him to wake. With my mothers spite and my fathers fury I knew that I'd be the only one to keep the peace, even if it will not last. 

I need Ned on my side.

Ned wakes looks at each of us in confusion. "Pardon your Grace, I would rise but-"

"Do you know what your wife has done?" my mother asks him and I watch carefully to see the alarm that crosses his eyes.

"She did nothing I did not command."

A lie. He knew nothing of it but he is loyal to her, he loves her. Of course he would defend her.

"Who'd have thought she had it in her?" my father comments but my mother is livid.

"By what right dare you lay hands on my blood!" she growls and I could almost laugh at the hypocrisy if my uncle wasn't a prisoner.

"I am the King's Hand-"

"You were the King's Hand!"

"Enough!" I interrupt as I look at my mother "Stop acting like a hypocrite, Catelyn hasn't butchered Tyrion like Jaime butchered Lord Starks men. This is all a misunderstanding so will you stop arguing like a child and sort it out."

When she shuts her mouth Father gives me a thankful look "Catelyn will release Tyrion and you'll make your peace with Jaime."

"Did you not hear what your own daughter just said?" Ned asks my father. "He butchered my men!"

"Lord Stark was returning drunk from a brothel when his men attacked Jaime," my mother lies but no one believes it.

"Quiet woman."

"Jaime has fled the city. Give me leave to bring him back to justice," Ned asks and I look to my father.

Now it the time to be the peacemaker.

"It is the right thing to do, Tyrion has not been harmed but look at Ned. They shoved a spear through your closest friends leg and killed his men," I say to father, knowing the best way to talk sense into him. "You know I love Tyrion but I also owe loyalty to Ned. Catelyn needs to release Tyrion and Jaime has to be held accountable for this as it is only justice. This does not need to escalate."

He nods his head knowing I'm right but my mother just scoffs at him. "I took you for a king."

"Hold your tongue," my father warns and I don't think much of it until my mother continues.

"He's attacked my brother and abducted the other. I should wear the armor and you the gown."

A sharp gasp escapes me as he strikes my mother across the cheek and my shaking hand covers my mouth to stifle my shallow breaths.

She looks up at him touching her already bruising cheek, keeping her head held high she says "I shall wear this like a badge of honor."

"Wear it in silence or I'll honour you again," Father threatens and I hang my head in silence as I wonder has he done this before? 

My mother leaves slamming the door behind her and there is an uneasy silence until my father says to Ned "See what she does to me, my loving wife," he comments jokingly then he sees the look Ned and I share. "I should not have hit her, that was not kingly."

Neither Ned or I speak, he looks to me and quietly adds "Especially not in front of you, you should not have seen that. Never let a man lay a hand on you."

"Then perhaps you should set a better example for your sons," I return, a new type of anger surfacing. "As Joffrey is the only man who has ever harmed me."

He brushes it off. "Children fight."

"Joffrey is not a child anymore and neither am I," I remind him. "Joffrey is a sadist who takes joy in harming people, myself included. Perhaps you should pay less attention to your women and more to your son."

He looks at me slowly. "Careful now, you're speaking to your king."

"Sorry, but I do find it amusing that Joffrey is yet to have a woman since he is your son after all," I laugh ironically. "He pays more attention to butchering animals and beating servents than fucking women."

He's that confused he forgets about the other matter at hand. "Where are you going with this?"

"Just commenting upon how little like his father he is," I retort and look at Ned. "Wouldn't you agree Lord Stark, not a spec of black hair on that blond little head. Not one bit of Baratheon in him."

"Aye," he says, him and I immediately reaching an understanding. "Tis strange."

"What do you think Joffrey would do in this situation?" I ask my father, as if out of mere curiosity. "It's hard to know since he takes no interest in these things but I say he'd send crown troops into the Riverlands, burn and pillage with no regard for your best friends wife and her safety. Just as Tywin is no doubt considering at this very moment."

From his silence I know I've put the thoughts in his head, the doubts. War is the one thing my father sees clearly, and he can see my brother is in no way fit to lead one. 

"Tell your wife to return Tyrion to King's Landing," he quietly says to Ned. "She's had her fun, now put an end to it you hear me? Send a raven and put an end to it."

"And what about Jaime Lannister?" Ned asks. "What about Jaime?"

"I'm half a kingdom in debt to his bloody father," he mutters, to which I have a solution I will raise with him once he has some drink in his belly and his head clear. "I don't know what happened between you and those yellow haired shits. I don't want to know. This is what matters, I can't rule the kingdoms if the Starks and the Lannisters are at each other's throats, so enough."

"As you command your Grace," Ned obediently agrees. "With your leave, I will return to Winterfell and set matters straight, I'll bring my daughters with me."

"Piss on that send a raven, I want you to stay. I'm the king, I get what I want," he says before confessing. "I never loved my brothers, a sad thing for a man to admit, but it's true. You were the brother I chose. We'll talk and finally make this bloody wedding happen when I return from the hunt."
He throws the Hands badge onto the bed where Ned lays and I let out a silent breath of relief.

"The hunt?"

"Killing things clears my head," he says and I wish it was only that simple to clear my head. "You two are in charge. Cassana you control your mother and sit on that bloody throne while I'm away. You'll hate it more than I do."

"The Targaryen girl-" Ned begins but my mind is already planning what I'll be able to accomplish while on that throne. 

"Seven hells, don't start with her again!" he grumbles. "The girl will die and I'll hear no more of it. Put on the badge and if you ever take it off again I swear to the Mother I'll pin the damn thing on Jaime Lannister."

My father leaves and it's just Ned and I inhale deeply in relief and shock of everything, trying to get my mind to settle.

"Has he done that before?" Ned asks and I know he's referring to my mother.

"Not that I know of," I answer but it doesn't make it any better. "Jaime would have killed him for it, clearly it doesn't take much to drive him to doing it. He's killed one king, what's another."
"What for?"

"Do you know why my wife has done what she's done?" he asks me. "She told me a little while ago that Robb said you might know more than you're letting on."

I remember my last words to him those months ago, the warning I gave him while consumed by my guilt. Oh Robb, what he must think of all this.

"Your son's fall," I answer feeling sick. "I'm afraid that you have the wrong Lannister, Tyrion is innocent."

"The dagger belonged to him," he says and I blink at him in confusion.

"What dagger?" I ask suddenly thrown off guard. "He was pushed, there was no dagger."

His eyes widen as do my own "So he was pushed."

"By Jaime," I tell him, trusting my gut. "Tyrion had no part in it."

He tilts his head at me. "How long have you known?"

"I knew my mother didn't want him to wake back in Winterfell, but I didn't know why," I reveal and confess. "I couldn't look Robb in the eye, it was then I realised there wouldn't be hope for us. It hasn't been until the past months I've learned for certain what happened."

"Why would Jaime push Bran from that tower?" he asks me, wanting to hear me say it. "What did he see?"

"He saw my mother and Jaime together," I say unevenly. "Ever since they were younger than I am it's been going on. I've only been able to admit it to myself since I returned to the city."

"What of the knife?" he asks me. "Someone tried to assassinate Bran after he woke."

"Tyrion is innocent," I insist. "He would never order such a thing to be done. Bran is a crippled child and my uncle has a soft spot in his heart for people like your son."

"We took the knife to Lord Baelish and he said it belonged to Tyrion," he tells me. "Well he said the knife had belonged to himself and he lost it to Tyrion when they bet on Ser Loras and Jaime in a joust."

Littlefinger, of course. Curiously I ask "And who did Littlefinger bet on?"

"Jaime," he answers and I could almost laugh. Oh Littlefinger "What's so funny?"

"Why would Tyrion ever bet against Jaime? He has never in his life even once bet against his brother," I tell him and slowly he realises. "Littlefinger lied to you."

"But why?" he asks, although he may be honourable, believing that everyone else is as honourable as him makes him a fool. "Why would he say the blade was his own and that he lost it?"

"To benefit himself," I answer knowing what Littlefingers endgame always is. "He's an opportunist, perhaps it is his own and he did lose it but it wasn't to my uncle. The better question is why has he framed Tyrion?"

"I don't care about his motives," he mutters not realising how important they could be. "I want to know who tried to murder my son and why."

"I believe that Jaime pushed him," I confess. "As for the other attempt on his life I don't know, and I apologise for not coming forth sooner but I stayed quiet to prevent this, to prevent war."

"We need to stop it," he says hoarsely. "I didn't know Catelyn would do this."

"Then Tyrion must be released otherwise my grandfather will not hesitate to take him back by force."

A war. My grandfather may despise Tyrion but he is still a Lannister. This will be war.

"What about the Queen?" he asks carefully, knowing that despite this she is still my mother.

"We gather proof," I answer. "Then we go to my father and pray he is still the man we both hope he is. But we must also prepare for war."

"War," he breathes and looks at me. "Either way, it's coming isn't it?"

I nod. "Us against the Lannisters. We need to prepare Ned. We need proof that Joffrey and the others are Jaime's bastards."

He looks at a book beside him, history of the houses of Westeros. "I think I may have it."

~

Veiled I come with Ned into fleebottom, and find myself out of my element. A reminder of what I sought to change so early on in my life, what I'd forgotten about.

He brings us to a forge, and I remain quiet behind him as he speaks to the owner.

"I would like to speak to the boy."

"Again?" the owner exclaims. "That desperate for soldiers?"

"Something like that."

"Alright, well go ahead," he says and we enter the forge, I keep my head low until the sound of a hammer catches my attention and I look up to see a black haired boy my age, covered in sweat and grime, and immediately I know why Ned brought me here.

"Gendry," Ned calls out and the boy immediately greets him.

"Lord Hand," he says somewhat awkwardly. "Can I help you?"

"Aye, you can," Ned says. "It's time for us to have a talk."

I'm silent as we walk through the forge to the living space out the back, not much but a table and a fire pit. 

"I'm confused, is there something I did?" Gendry asks. "Why are all you highborn folk taking such an interest in me?"

Ned looks to me and nods, and I remove my veil and look upon my brother, the resemblence truly startling me. His eyes widen and he stutters "You- you're the princess."

"And you are the bastard son of Robert Baratheon," I reply, truly shaken. 

He inhales sharply and then tries to laugh it off. "Come on, me? You've got the wrong bloke."

Ned shakes his head. "No, we don't. Why else would Jon Arryn come looking for you?"

He swallows hard, in a state of disbelief. "If I'm a bastard then why are you here?"

I pull out my coinpurse and place it on the table between us. "As the Kings representative it is my responsibility to ensure all his children are provided for. A kings son should not be working himself to death in Fleebottom."

"I can't accept this," he immediately says. "It may be fleebottom, but it's my life. What does  some man who slept with my mother seventeen years ago owe me?"

Immediately I have respect for him, something I can't say for Joffrey. "Whether or not you accept the coin is your choice, but I would very much like for you to meet our father."

I wish I could be saying it solely out of the good in my heart, but if we are to convince my father Joffrey is a bastard, putting Gendry beside him is our best chance. Gendry, who is my fathers ideal son.

"Why?" he asks defensively. "Why would a king want anything to do with me?"

"Because his daughter wishes it," I answer, trying to use my charms to ease his defensiveness. "Gendry, I know this must be a great shock to you and understand your hesitance. I do not ask you to make this decision now, but as your sister I see it would be my pleasure to know my brother. To hear what he thinks of the crown and this city." Finally I find myself telling the truth. "I could greatly use your advice and want to give you a voice, as is your birthright."

He does not trust me, I know that, nor should he have to. But he nods stiffly and agrees, even just to end this conversation. "Alright, I'll think about it."

"Thank you Gendry," I say, leaving the coinpurse on the table, and following Ned back outside of the forge where we stand, in mutual awe of the resemblance.

"This feels wrong," I tell Ned. "Using him as evidence."

"Aye," he agrees. "But he's our best hope." He takes note of my silence and says "Who knows, if you want to better know the boy that is your choice. He may be your half brother but just look at my boys."

I could almost laugh at the irony. "Until I came along."

"A brothers bond is stronger than a woman," he assures me. "They'll be fine and laugh about it in twenty years time."

It doesn't make the guilt any less, and so I focus on the Stark that still trusts me. "Sansa, she can't marry Joffrey."

"I know," he says heavily. "But you try convincing her of that."

"I'm in discussions with the Tyrells," I inform Ned. "Margaery and Renly will marry, and I am sure they would be pleased if Loras could have Sansa's hand."

He looks to me in surprise. "When were you going to run this by me?"

"Loras is many things, but he will be a kind husband to her," I promise Ned. "She will be happy in Highgarden, safe. Once all this mess is over and my father returns form his hunt it will be among the many things to be discussed."

He nods, his mind elsewhere. "And Robb, once this is over would you marry him?"

I remember the same question which Margaery posed to me, him instead of Trystane.

"What I've done is beyond his forgiveness, and he deserves a better wife than I could be," I say quietly. "Months have passed but it doesn't make my affair any less wrong. The truth is that Robb deserves more than I could ever give him."

He nods. "Catelyn to this day has never forgiven me. I love her, I truly do, and she loves me, but I see it in her eyes whenenver Jon is near." I listen quietly. "I could never blame her for it, and I accepted it, and lived with it. I've never asked for her forgiveness nor expected it, but still, we've had five children and a happy life together. One nail in the coffin isn't the end."

I'm surprised that he would want me to still marry Robb. "Even so, could you imagine him in the south? He would hate it, hate the throne. What I did hurt him greatly, but in the end it is what's best for us. And if he never sees me again, he would be glad for it."

Yet something in my gut tells me our story is not over yet.