Robb

"Why didn't I know about this?" I ask, holding the letters of support for Cassana. "House Dondarrion, Connington, Selmy, Tarth-"

"For whatever reason, the queen has kept this hidden from you your grace," Bolton says. "It appears her treasonous nature doesn't just extend to her own blood but to her husband."

My blood boils but my heart is cold. Even with the kingslayer gone and these letters in my hands I still can't believe it. What I can't believe even more is that her and my mother seem to be in this together.

"Why would my mother assist her in treason? She can't stand Cassana."

"Taken as a hostage perhaps," Bolton suggests, but I shake my head.

"She wouldn't stoop as low as to take my own mother prisoner," I dismiss, sensing something else is afoot. "Leave me."

He nods and leaves to the chaos outside, Lord Karstark demanding the Kingslayers head which he claims my wife has robbed him of. She is rash and impulsive, but the one thing she isn't is a fool. She would never do something so reckless if she had another choice. But even then Tywins letter to her is clear in my mind, to kill her uncles and me to be put on the throne. Except if that was the case then she wouldn't have done it like this, she would have been more clever. 

Whatever treason my men claim she's done with no warning is too reckless for her to have done alone. There's only one reason my mother would have gone with her willingly, and that is a prisoner exchange. Just as the answer is on the tip of my tongue Talisa comes to me.

She stands there with her hands clasped, wide eyed and nervous.

"What is it?"

"These men are lying to you," she tells me, looking over her shoulder at them before saying quietly under her breath. "I watched them draw blades on your wife and put her in chains before throwing her in the stockade with Jaime Lannister."

I stand up, fury and confusion taking me at once, only one question leaving my mouth "Why?"

"Because she is a Lannister and they were out for blood," she says, clearly afraid to be telling me this. "The Kingslayer and her would have been dead before dawn if they hadn't escaped, I saw them."

Immediately I'm putting the letters down preparing to leave. "Which way did they go?"

"East," she answers. "Your mother and wife, along with Brienne of Tarth and Jaime Lannister."

"Thank you Talisa," I say, heading for my horse without further explanation to my men.

They put my wife in chains, it wasn't her who committed treason, it was them.

~

Cassana

What was a fleeting thought in a moment of madness has become treason, which may well end with my head beside Jaime's if we don't pull this off. We find shelter in the sept near the closest port. Brienne deals with Jaime, having permission to beat him if he chooses to use his tongue to aggravate, leaving Catelyn and I to talk strategy.'

"I called my banners and Ser Barristan is gathering them," I begin as we figure out our plan from the port. "We sail to Storms End where they will be preparing to lay siege." I move my finger across the map before us. "It's only a short sail from Kings Landing to there, we will take Storms End and have them bring Sansa to us."

Catelyn is cautious, the letter to be sent to Tyrion in her hand. "How do you know you'll be able to take the castle."

"I've learned a thing or two from your son," I tell her as I roll the map up. "And I know politics. The men holding that castle's loyalty is no doubt torn by this civil war, and they'd know by now Stannis is fighting a losing war whilst I am the Queen of the Stormlands and the North with two armies at my back."

"I just want my daughter back," she says hoarsely. "I want her back alive."

"And they want Jaime back alive," I remind her, looking over to where Brienne has him, gagged with a hood over his head. "I know my mother and Tyrion, they don't care about keeping Sansa prisoner, they don't care about strategy. They want him back and Tywin isn't there to stop them. Tyrion will come with her, I'm sure of it

"Robb's men may yet have our heads for this," she warns. "You know they'll call this treason."

"We'll face his men when the time comes," I reply as we leave the sept to board the ship that leaves within the hour for Storms End. "The Septa's will send the raven to Kings Landing, now I'll do the rest."

"Robb will be searching for us," she reminds me. "They'll be hunting us."

I'm counting on it. I'm counting on him to follow our trail to this port. For him to find us at Storms End where his men can't make their accusations against me. For us to return with my army and end this attempt to rid of me for good.

"Once he finds the letters saying my army is being gathered he'll know where we've gone," I tell her, sure of it. "He knows it isn't in my nature to do something as stupid as handing over his prisoner, at least not without a plan."

It's as we go to board the ship the sound of hooves catches my ear and I look back to see a lone rider charging towards us, but it's the moment I see his armour my heart stops.

What is a moment of fleeting joy turns to fear as I reach for my sword. I had not planned on him riding like a madman to stop me here, had not anticipated he'd arrive here before we were long gone.

He swings himself off his horse as he comes to a hard stop. "Don't do whatever it is your planning on doing."

I raise my sword to my husband. "If you want to stop me you'll have to kill me."

He merely steps forward and lowers my sword with his hand, unafraid of me. "He is my prisoner-"

"Was your prisoner," I reply, prepared for a fight. "He's mine and I am trading him for your sister."

"Tywin-"

"Fuck Tywin, he isn't the one who has her!" I snap, Brienne herding Jaime onboard. "Would you rather Karstark take his head and give Joffrey reason to kill Sansa." He clamps his mouth shut. "The raven's already been sent, Sansa will be delivered to Storms End."

"Stannis holds Storms End."

"Not for long." It's then he sees the marks on my wrist from the shackles and whatever fight he had in him disappears as he grabs my hand. "Did they put you in chains?"

I blink at him, confused. "What does that matter? I've just committed treason."

He takes my wrist, feeling the bruises, and I've never seen such a primal look in his eyes.

"I promised you that you would never be put in chains again," he says, voice rough. "I broke that promise."

No man has ever apologised for putting me in them, let alone a man who would cut off his own hand before shackling mine. "It was not your fault."

"But it is," he argues. "I never saw it, I never believed it would come to this." The desperation, the fear in his voice clamps my mouth shut. "I should have listened to you when you told me to be careful of my bannerman. I leave for one day and they imprison my wife for nothing."

"Not for nothing," I say, an edge to my voice. "I may be innocent of the crime that is my blood but not of my sins."

"And you know I love you despite all of them," he says, bringing my hands to his lips. "No matter what blood these hands shed I'll love them."

It's then I pull his lips to mine, and ask one thing of him. "I ask that you love me despite what I'm about to do." He holds my eye, and I know in this moment I have the upper hand. "I am not returning to that camp without your sister and an army. So you turn back now or come with me." He slowly begins to shake his head, to fight me on this and so I remind him. "I am not just your wife or your queen, I am the fucking queen and my army is waiting for me. So you either board this ship and take my commands or turn back."

A ghost of a smile comes to his face. "There you are." I can't help but be stunned as he holds my face level to his. "Now let's take back Storms End."

~

Catelyn oversees Jaime and Brienne as we depart, the captain is gracious enough to show Robb and I to a private room beneath deck where we sit across from one another, weight on our shoulders.

"When I saw the letters and was told the Kingslayer was gone I didn't know what to think," he confesses to me. "You were gone. I know better now but still..."

I merely raise an eyebrow at him. "Did you really think for even a moment I'd betray you?"

"Well, it was the only thought that made any sense."

He expects me to be angry, but how can I be?

"I've betrayed you before, it's only rational to assume I would again," I say, almost praising him. "But I made a promise to you. I'll admit, I've never been one to keep my word but I will keep mine to you."

"Aye, I trust you," he says, and those words are what I've been craving to hear. Not that he loves me, but that he trusts me. "Then there's the issue of my men."

"We'll deal with them when the time comes," I promise him. "I doubt any will dare open their mouths when I come North with my army."

"With your army," he repeats. "Stormlanders are the only soldiers in the Seven Kingdoms with a reputation as fearsome as Northerners."

"My father didn't win a rebellion with cowards for soldiers," I tell him proudly, knowing he and I have that advantage over Tywin. Experienced, battle hardened men. "When we arrive at Storms End and take it we need to send out ravens to the other kingdoms to try to find allies, we can't win this war alone."

He leans back with a cup of ale in hand. "What do you suggest?"

"Dorne," I tell him and his eyebrows raise in surprise. "Yes I know they hated my father but they hate the Lannisters more. They've remained neutral this far but if they believe in our cause, if they believe we can give them justice for the murder of Elia Martell and her children I believe they'll join us."

Robb looks confused at those names, at the implications I'm making. "Elia Martell, she was Rhaegar Targaryens wife... she died during the war."

I realise the gossip surrounding her death hasn't reached as far as the North. "Gregor Clegane murdered her infant children and raped her with their blood on his hands before cutting her down all because Rhaegar wanted to rape your aunt and abandon her." The colour drains from his face. "That is what awaits me if we lose this war. I've already tasted it, I don't plan to endure what she did."

I bear the scars forever to remind me of the cost of my birthright, Robb's own eyes are fixed on the scar at my neck as he agrees "We'll write to Dorne and offer an alliance."

"We'll still need to keep the Reach neutral or else we're fucked," I tell him and he nods in agreement. "We saw the size of their army, if they were to side with the Lannisters they'd outnumber us three to one easy."

"So, we add the Reach to the list," he says, this part of war being unfamiliar to him. "We can no longer count on the Iron Fleet, and my aunt in the Vale refuses to become involved, so that leaves-"

"Dorne and the Reach," I finish. "They're the only possible allies left."

"They'll want something in return no doubt, and we can hardly make any more marriage pacts," he tells me. "The last one I broke to marry you, and it's just us."

"But it won't be," I say and tread carefully. "I would never force anything on Sansa but-"

"I will not make her marry," he says firmly. "Not after her engagement to Joffrey."

"But," I continue. "Sansa will not be the same girl who left Winterfell, that I can assure you." It is not something he wants to hear but it's the truth. "My sister Myrcella may be engaged to Trystane Martell but that can easily be undone. I will not force Sansa into anything she doesn't agree to, but these options will be her's to consider. I believe once she is out of that city she will do whatever is in her power to help put Joffrey's head on a spike."

He's reluctant, but he trusts me enough not to fight. "And what of Loras, he still believes you killed Renly."

Ah yes, Loras, the knife in my back. Much like the one Stannis put in Renly's.

"Margaery will control him, I will summon her personally to speak on this and ask that they stay neutral if they will not side with us. She- I know how to deal with her.

"Margaery," he says, still finding it strange what occurred between us. "Your lover."

"Hardly," I assure him, even if that may not be the complete truth. "We used each other, I wouldn't call that love."

"Still," he says, no longer intimidated by it, but curious. "Two women in bed. I still don't see how that could work."

That's when a mischievous smirk spreads across my face as I tell him "Lie down." He's confused until I crawl towards him and put a hand on his chest. "Lie down."

He slides down onto the boards, grinning as he asks me slowly "What are you doing?"

"When you don't have a cock you learn to use your mouth," I tell him, him knowing well enough I know to use mine. "Even then, a man should know how to use his."

We're both smiling as I climb atop him, the two of us stronger now than we ever have been, stronger than treasonous men and their plots. Stronger than all that tries to tear us apart.

~

The sea is rough as we enter shipbreaker bay, Storms End in the distance. Below deck we listen to the storm raging in the same sea that killed my grandparents. Robb is above deck with the captain. All that can be heard is the sea until Catelyn speaks.

"What you said to the lords," she begins, uncomfortable at the roughness of the sea. "Is there any chance you could be with child? It's been long enough since you wed Robb."

"I- I can't be," I say and she only looks confused. "I haven't bled since they starved me to near death in the black cells. My body- it still hasn't recovered to what it was."

She nods in understanding. "It will return, you are getting stronger by the day."

It's then I confess to her "The thought of a child, mine and Robb's, it scares me sometimes." She tilts her head confused. "That child would be the true heir to the North and the Iron Throne. Such a thing is dangerous."

I've watched everyone I loved tear each other apart for that throne, only now as the reality of pregnancy becomes more real the thought of a child of my own being endangered by it strikes a motherly fear in me I did not know I possessed.

"It is dangerous," she says quietly. "I knew it when Robb returned with you, even if the two of you are only just realising it."

It's then Robb comes down with the captain, both drenched with seawater.

"Your grace we cannot find anchorage nor venture any further into the bay for the rocks," he tells us. "Once the storm lets up we can put you on a row boat to sail into the bay."

"Thank you captain," I say and he takes his leave, but I grab onto Robb's wrist to keep him here with me. "You're staying here, you won't be any help up there."

He doesn't like the thought of staying below deck, but I know too well the accidents that can occur at sea in weather such as this. "It's not looking good."

"Don't," I warn, my superstitions coming out. "The ghosts in this sea will hear and drag us down with them."

"Dying at sea isn't the worst way to go," Jaime pipes up, all three of us feeling our eyes roll into the back of our heads. "Although I had always planned to die in the arms of the woman I love."

"Your sister you mean," Robb remarks. 

"Aye well you wed the splitting image of her," he says and knows how to hit where it hurts. "Her hair might be black but that's where the difference ends. Give it enough time and she'll suck the life out of you until-"

Brienne strikes him and pulls the gag back up over his mouth. "That is enough."

Robb catches me as the ship violently jerks and my heart stops at the awful sound I've heard too often sailors speak of as the ship breaks against the rocks of the bay.

"No," I whisper as all hell breaks loose and water begins flooding the cabin. "Get up, now!"

Brienne pulls Catelyn to her feet as Robb grabs me to stop me from slamming into the wall of the cabin as the ships battered by the storm and without thinking, without an instinct other than to save his life I begin fumbling at his armour, peeling the heavy steel off of him to give him a chance against drowning in the waves.

"Go with the Storm instead of against it," I tell him, having been raised on the cliffs above this sea, having heard the stories of sailors and seen them die in this bay. "Can you swim?"

"What?" he gapes, as the reality of what is happening finally sinks in "Cassana-"

"I love you," I tell him, knowing well this is how my namesake died. "I'm sorry."

I let go of him to clamber up the stairs to the top deck, taking my odds with the storm rather than drowning in the hull, he follows me up and the pelting rain is utterly blinding. If it's true what they say, that the sea goddesses blood runs in the veins of the Durrandons and now the Baratheon then I pray for the first time in my life to be saved.

It's in that moment the ship splits in two as it's thrown into the rocks and my feet go from under me, blindly reaching for something, anything, my fingers wrap around some type of rope and I blindly cling on for dear life, screaming out with all the strength I have until it breaks and I fall into the watery abyss with my husband screaming my name.

~

"It's the queen!"

"Is she dead?"

Hands pull at me and turn me onto my side, choking my body until finally my body jerks, water spurting from my lungs into the sand and my eyes open to Storms End in the distance.

"Princess?" I hear a familiar voice yelling out and I'm pulled onto shaking legs by Ser Barristan. "Seven hells you're alive."

But as my mind begins to make sense of what's happening I half collapse, burning eyes taking in the wreckage, the bodies, all of it and I stumble forward in horror with only one name on my lips.

"Robb?"

My head spins and my body aches, but I've survived worse than this than to just fall to my knees.

"Princess, we need to get you to a maester-" I push away Ser Barristan's arm as he goes to help me and begin to hyperventilate as much as my drowned lungs will allow. "Your grace-"

"Robb?" I whisper fearfully, finding far more bodies washed ashore than men standing and scream "Robb!"

"Cassana!" I whip around to find Catelyn, drenched with Brienne at her arm and we share a look of horror and I hear a desperate mother screaming for her son "Robb!"

"Robb!" I below at the top of my lungs as soldiers run onto what can barely be called a beach, just enough flat soil between the cliff face and the sea. "Robb!"

"Your grace, they'll find him, you need a maester," Ser Barristan insists but I shake my head wildly, vehemently resisting any attempts to pull me from the wreckage. "Princess-"

I feel Catelyn grabbing onto my arm, screaming at me "What happened!"

Blindsided I stare at her in utter shock "I-"

"Where is my son!" she screams at me, shaking me in front of my men. "Did you see-"

"He was alive when I got pulled under!" I yell back, pushing her off me. "Brienne get her out of here!"

"Don't you dare pull a mother from her son!" Catelyn screams at me so ferally I'm staring into the eyes of a wolf. "You find my son before I drown you with him!"

I strike her across the face and watch as she clutches her cheek, gaping at me "Take Lady Stark into custody. Now!"

I'm not used to having men who listen to me first and her second, which is why as Baratheon soldiers take her away I can't help the shock that ripples through me and I feel Ser Barristan's hand on my arm. 

"Princess, the shipwreck is scattered miles along the shore. I will send out search parties but you must be treated." It's only then I touch my head to feel the blood at my temple, no doubt from the rocks, but I can't move, not when he's still out there.

"I am the queen, and he is my husband. I will not abandon him."

"You aren't queen in this land until you take the castle," he tells me and I look to it, Storms End. "Stannis prepares to attack Kings Landing, it is held by a skeleton crew. We have laid siege but they have refused to negotiate."

I look back out at the ocean, crippled by fear, but grief- grief will come tonight when the bodies stacked and identified. I have Sansa Stark due to arrive here and no prisoner to trade her for, nor a castle to hold him in.

"Find Jaime Lannister," I order Brienne, trying to keep my voice from trembling. "Everything depends on it."

She nods and finally I allow Ser Barristan to take me to the camp.

I'm dripping wet in torn clothes with blood dripping down my face as Ser Barristan leads me through. I am not here as princess or heir. These are my men and I cannot allow there to be question of who leads them.

And so shaking hands I step onto a platform and watch as my men gather, unable to even let myself think of the possibility of Robb being one of those bodies washed ashore.

"I am Cassana Baratheon." My voice is loud, rough from the sea having nearly taken it. "The only trueborn child of Robert Baratheon and your Queen." Last time I stood here Loras Tyrell turned his men against me, but there are no Reach men here now, only true Storm men. "Stannis murdered Renly in cold blood and is a traitor to his house and his kingdom. I am the Queen of the Seven Singdoms and the North King and hold Jaime Lannister as my prisoner." I don't dare let myself say the words in past tense. Don't dare let myself consider what must be done if there is no longer a king. "We hold the power and we will take the throne from the Lannister bastard!" I watch as my men raise their swords in a battle cry. "The throne belongs to us! To the Stormlands! To the Baratheons!" Their battle cries echo through the camp. "It was you, the men of the Stormlands with the men of the North who took the throne from the Mad King, and we will take it again as ours is the fury!"

Even if I may yet have a different king by my side when that day comes.

Tears burn in my eyes but the blood rushing through my veins keeps me standing as Ser Barristan extends to me a sword, and upon inspection I find it is my own, given to me by Jon so long ago, no doubt found in the wreckage. 

I pull my blade free and point it to the castle "Storms End is ours, and we shall take it!"

Ser Barristan begins commanding the men, preparing them to march upon Storms End and I look to the sea praying to the sea goddess that she spared him and he's still out there, but I've seen too many ships destroyed to know how this ends.

 Brienne comes to my side in the chaos "Your grace, Lady Stark is being kept under guard."

"If Robb is dead she'll go mad," I realise quietly. "She's lost too many children to lose another."

"He will be found," Brienne promises me. "The shipwreck was scattered for miles."

But I'm quiet, forcing myself to face the worst. "If he's dead there is no one to keep the Northmen on our side." I may yet get Sansa back, but she won't be enough. "When we take the castle I will be sending a raven to the wall."

"To the wall?" she asks in bewilderment. "What for?"

"To summon Robb's heir," I answer, sheathing my sword without further explanation. "Come, it's time I returned home."

~

We arrive at Storms End, another storm gathering overhead just as my hair begins to dry with help from the harsh wind. I approach the gate with my army behind me to find the castle being held by a man I don't recognise.

"Princess Cassana," he greets from atop the lower wall. "You are mistaken in coming here. Storms End belongs to the one true King Stannis Baratheon."

I turn my head to Ser Barristan "Who is this? He is no lord."

"Ser Gilbert Farring," he answers. "Second son of House Farring. Stannis's Castellan."

I look up at the knight, in no mood for games of courtesies. "Stannis is a traitor and a kinslayer who sails to attack kings landing with a skeleton army manning his fleet. He will die, surrender Storms End to me now and your life will be spared."

He just laughs. "March back to the North little girl and leave this war to the men, once Stannis takes Kings Landing your army will flock to him. You can lay siege, but we are prepared to last out the storm."

"You're right," I say, eyeing a soldier behind me with a bow. "You are, but I am not prepared to wait it out."

Without warning I take the drawn bow from him and raise it, releasing the arrow before the knight can even think to react and watch as it buries itself in his neck and his body tumbles from the wall above onto the ground before me. 

I watch the soldiers standing behind the gate staring in horror and order "Open the gates."

With their castellen dead and an army at their gates they panic until one yells "Open the bloody gates!"

With my husband possibly dead the sound of the gates opening is what I grasp onto to keep my head up and we walk through them across the bridge into the courtyard of the castle to find a small army within who quickly surrender at the sight of mine, thousands strong.

We reach the great hall, and as soon as the doors are open I see a young Lord Meadows bending the knee. "Your- your grace. I surrender the castle onto you."

"As you should," I reply, Ser Barristan at my side and don't waste time. "Ser Barristan have Stannis's soldiers taken to the camp, those who bend the knee will be shown mercy, those who don't will be sent to the wall."

"Yes, your grace," he says and lowers his voice "Now, will you please receive treatment for your head wound."

"I will, but first," I say as Maester Jurne enters the room. "Ser Barristan I name you hand of the queen."

For some reason this surprises him. "A high station for a kingsguard."

"You are the only man I trust," I tell him in full honesty, having learned the hard way how flimsy the loyalty of lords is. "Do you accept?"

He bends the knee, and I smile at the man who has protected me since I was a small child. "Of course, my queen."

Maester Jurne bows his head to me "Welcome home, my queen."

It's then Brienne enters the hall alone and my heart stops, her voice is low. "Neither the king or Ser Jaime have been found, alive or dead."

It's only then I realise how cold it is in this castle and Ser Barristan says "I will have a hundred men searching the shoreline and nearby surroundings."

"I have my uncle Tyrion bringing Sansa Stark to the castle to exchange her for Jaime," I tell Ser Barristan, eyeing Catelyn who the guards bring in. "If he has survived we cannot let him escape."

Catelyn is half mad as she yells "He has still not been found?"

"Brienne, ask the servants to see a room is arranged for Lady Catelyn and mind her."

Catelyn's glare could very well be a knife at my throat as Brienne escorts her away and the maester comes to me.

"Your grace, you will need to be treated-"

"Yes," I finally allow and tell Ser Barristan. "Tell the lords I will hold an audience here in the hall at sundown." It's only then I allow my voice to waver "Please, find my husband."

The Maester brings me to his quarters, sitting me down and immediately checking me over for further wounds, and it's then alone with a man who has known me and tutored me since childhood I finally break down. I have retaken my castle, but I may have gotten the man I love killed in doing so.

"You must remain strong your grace," Maester Jurne says. "I have heard the tales of your husbands strength, the young wolf, you must keep faith."

I find the skin of my hand torn from clinging to the ropes during the storm and he treats it with an ointment before wrapping it. "How many shipwrecks have you seen from this tower?"

He hesitates before answering "Too many."

"And of those how many onboard have survived?"

"Few," he answers truthfully but still tells me "Keep faith, the bodies all wash ashore eventually, and he will be found."

My jaw clenches and I push the thought from my mind, throwing myself into the one thing I know how to do. Rule.

"Send letters to every major hold across the Seven Kingdoms informing them I have come for my throne, and summon every lord in the Stormlands to the castle without hesitation." I need to make a show of power, Stannis is doomed to fail if not die in his attack, once he is gone it is only Joffrey who stands against me. "Once the Stormlands is mine in full without doubt they will have no choice but to take my claim seriously. One Baratheon queen instead of two brothers fighting like children. One is dead, the other will follow."

"Yes, it has been quite heartwrenching for this kingdom seeing your house at war," he admits. "Peace within is greatly desired by all of your people and will be of benefit to you in your war for the throne. Your claim as Lady paramount and queen of the Stormlands should now be uncontested as your lady mother had your fathers bastards massacred."

My stomach sinks at the one I met, one I did like, Gendry. But he was in Kings Landing and most certainly known, he would be dead now along with the others. Yet a paranoia in me that could only come from my mother nags at me.

"Are there any still alive in the Stormlands?"

He stills and I notice his hesitance. "Several girls, no boys."

"Good," I answer, and say as though it was not my own fear "Then there will be no further claims." These men may choose me over Stannis after Renly's murder, but a male son of my fathers such as Gendry could pose a challenge. But he would have to be dead, the living image of my father as a young man, my mother would not have allowed him to escape. "Once Stannis is dead it will be my duty to foster young Shireen."

"Yes, I saw her when she was inflicted with the greyscale, a sweet girl," he tells me. "They say her mother has gone mad, infected by this fire priestess and her faith, as many of Stannis's remaining men are, as few as they may be."

I see the option before me, to take Dragonstone would be an easy feat whilst Stannis is gone, it would defeat any doubts the lords may have of my capability. "When is Stannis due to attack?"

"They say in a weeks time he will land, your grace," he answers. "His men may be few but those who follow him are amongst our best, those who served under him during the Rebellion. He should not be underestimated as those who still serve him are loyal to a fault and are battle hardened warriors."

I nod, but do not fear Stannis. All his assault will do is weaken him, it will seal his fate.

"Thank you for your counsel," I say and stand to ready myself for my audience with the lords. "Please see to the wounded survivors of the shipwreck."

"At once your grace."

~

The sun sets as I ready myself in my chambers, every moment that passes the agony worsening. It's been hours and hours since they found us ashore, and yet there is no news of Robb or Jaime. It is the uncertainty that truly terrifies me but I cannot let any weakness show as I face the lords whose loyalty has been so torn. I will announce to them my plans to seize Dragonstone once I have solidified my hold over the Stormlands and gathered what little ships we have left. Before I can move on the city I need to eliminate Stannis as a contender, I cannot defeat one house whilst my own is still at war.

But gods I need Robb by my side to pose any chance at winning this war. I need his men to defeat the Lannister forces and more.

I need the man I love, the man I've spent so long building trust with, building something great. I can't lose him now. Not after all we've been through.

The Maester has no doubt by now sent ravens to Sunspear and Highgarden, with the Vale decidedly neutral they are the only kingdoms left whose men we can hope for. But there is one fear in the back of my mind, Margaery. Joffrey is an unwed king, and she will not settle for anything less than being queen, and I have no ones hand in marriage to offer her. Loras, perhaps I could arrange a marriage between him and Shireen, seal in blood an alliance between our houses but I cannot trust him to be wise. It is Margaery I need to negotiate with.

But there is one other person I need on my side in Robb's absence, and so I find myself entering Catelyns chambers.

Brienne bows her head to me as I enter but Catelyn does no such thing, she is understandably distraught as I tell her "There is still no word of Robb or Jaime."

"My daughter, she is meant to arrive here and what do you think they will do to her if Jaime Lannister is dead?"

"I have a hundred men scouring the coast for Robb and Jaime," I say stiffly. "I will not allow the prisoner exchange to go south."

"And my son," she says, voice thick with tears. "My last son may be dead."

She is in no position to support me by any means, I'd have better luck trying to gain Stannis's support than hers in this moment, but there is one thing I can hold over her. I am queen now, not just of the North but the Stormlands, queen in my own right, and the pathway forward to survive I must be ruthless. I must be ruthless to my enemies and allies to keep them from straying.

I'll need a husband with the right name and power, and as much as I care for Jon I know Robb's will will not be taken as he wants it to be. He may be dead, and he has intrusted in me his succession, but I will still need the support of the Riverlands in what's to come. To name a bastard over Hoster Tully's grandaughter could well begin a new war.

"After we learned the news of Bran and Rickon I witnessed Robb signing his will for his succession." She is utterly quiet as she looks at me. "Robb told me it was his wish if he were to fall in battle that I ensure Jon be legitimised and crowned king in the north."

I see the look of ultimate betrayal cross her face. "Over Sansa, over my daughter?"

"Yes," I answer, keeping the second part from her. That he would have me marry Jon for my own sake. "Stand with me in front of my lords to show the support of the Riverlands and the North and I will ensure Sansa is crowned Queen in the North."

Robb left me the power to ensure his succession, and she knows it. "You do not know if he is even dead."

"No, but we are at war and Robb's lords will turn if there is a moment of doubt as to who follows," I tell her, both of us having seen it. "If Robb is gone it is either Jon or Sansa, and for your house's support I will ensure it is Sansa who follows."

With those words I know I am betraying Robb's wishes, but it is war, and I cannot apologise for doing what I must to ensure our survival, and I have just made an offer she cannot refuse.

"Alright," she finally says and composes herself. "But only for Sansa."

~

My lords are gathered in the great hall to swear fealty as I enter through one of the side doors dressed in a gown of black and gold that once belonged to my namesake, a dress fit for a queen with a dagger at my hip as Ser Barristan announces me.

"You stand before Cassana of the House Baratheon, the Storm Queen, First of her name. The one true daughter of Robert Baratheon and chosen heir of Renly Baratheon. The Lady Paramount of the Stormlands and Storms End. The Queen in the North. The Queen of the Andals, the Rhoynar and the First Men, Lady of the Seven Kingdoms and Protector of the Realm."

For the first time I take my throne made of stone, and the lords kneel as Ser Barristan places upon my head the crown of the last Storm King. I look out at the room and feel it, the doubt, men who would so openly call me little girl. They are here for three reasons, one because I am Robert's little girl, two because I was Renly's named heir, or three, because they refuse to follow Stannis.

It is time they realise they stand here before their queen, not because a man chose me to be here or as a last resort. I remember the lessons my mother would try to give Joffrey of ruling, and I remember my grandfathers even better. Now is the time to use them.

"Stand." The lords and some ladies stand from where they kneeled and that deep rage that has been seeded within me with every betrayal burns. "On my fathers deathbed, I watched as he signed a declaration for his true heir to succeed him with Eddard Stark as regent. In the night Renly Baratheon fled court with some men who I recognise standing here today. Leaving me with my betrotheds father as my only supporter. It was Ser Barristan who saved me from Joffrey's swords as he seized the throne, a throne that would have been mine if my men had not fled as cowards." 

I feel the energy in the room shift, I see the lords and their sons and their knights look at one another, looking at those who fled with Renly in shame. 

"The throne would have been won with Renly as my hand if not for your cowardice. Instead I was consigned to the Black Cells, beaten and starved until I was but skin and bones. Did any of you march on Kings Landing? Did any of you go to Joffrey and demand my release? No. You happily played in Renly's tournaments as I faced the sword before the mobs of the city, abandoned by my men and my house, my life saved only by my fathers dear brother in all but name Ned Stark who fought for your king and beside so many of you in the rebellion, and you let him lose his head."

Catelyn stands there beside my throne, her face stone as these men are forced to look upon Ned's widow, a man who they too abandoned in Kings Landing.

"It was a Lannister of all people who freed me and abetted my escape from the city, not Renly who promised he would come for me. I would have been long dead before he ever set foot outside the Stormlands. That was his promise to you wasn't it? His grand rallying cry, to march upon the city and free Roberts little girl from the hands of the wicked Lannisters?" The lords struggle to meet my gaze as I survey the room. "You failed, he failed. Even as I came to the camp skin and bones and bloodied with the blood of the men my brother sent to rape and murder me, so many thought I was mad, unfit, even as I planned Renly's war from him whilst his lords and knights played in tournaments and revelled in fools glory."

Ser Barristan turns his head to me in concern, almost worried as to where I am taking this. But I am not about to let these men think I sit here by their will, they stand here by my mercy. In these times it is not my fathers example I follow, but my grandfathers.

"And when Stannis assassinated Renly in the night, how many of you raised your swords in my name as Loras Tyrell set his men upon me to murder me? Is that the loyalty of the feared Stormlords who brought the House Targaryen to its end? To let the Baratheon dynasty end after seventeen years because none of you dared to fight for its heir." I look to Catelyn who watches me with almost a sort of reverence. "It was the North who marched south for me whilst my own men played at war. It has been the North and the Riverlands who have been my most staunch and loyal allies. They had not forgotten me whilst my own men had. It was not until you men fled from Stannis and his mad fire priestess that you answered my calls from the battlefield where the real war is being fought." My voice is stronger than I am as I declare "Many of you I ought to have executed for treason for turning to Stannis following Renly's death, but you stand here in this hall by my mercy." I stand from my throne and say "If anyone in this room, dares question my rule speak it now."

I cannot help the slight smile that creeps onto my face seeing the sudden fear in these men's eyes, they expected Roberts little princess, they expected a woman through whom they could rule. Ser Barristan may have gathered them in my name but none of them expected to be standing before a queen to answer for their betrayals.

As expected the room is silent except for the Storm outside these walls. The soldiers in the field, I won them with a rallying cry, I have inspired their loyalty, their admiration, but it is the lords in this room that I must intimidate, and that I have done. 

"Stannis is expected to land at Kings Landing with a skeleton crew within the week and lay siege to the city, I expect defeat at the hands of the Lannister army led by Tywin Lannister. I expect every ship you have to be at mine and my husband's disposal as he is commander of our armies." I don't let myself consider the alternative. "We will take Dragonstone and return all Baratheon territory to House Baratheon, I expect Stannis will destroy our fleet in his attack and so we will focus our strategy on defeating Tywin Lannisters forces in the field and thus leaving the city undefended for attack. I have sent ravens to every major holdfast in the Seven Kingdoms, Dorne and the Reach have not sworn for House Lannister and I have summoned them to meet with me to discuss terms." I see the looks exchanged at the mention of allying with Dorne. "Dorne may have served House Targaryen and have been longstanding enemies of the Stormlands but I will remind you that it is Tywin Lannister who murdered their princess and her children, and they crave vengeance and I will give it to them." There is a reason Prince Oberyn was considered a potential match for so long. "At present we have the armies of the North, the Riverlands and the Stormlands under my command. Tywin's army stands strong and numbered however it is our men who won a rebellion against the Targaryens, not him. We have yet to face defeat at the Lannisters hands, but unlike Stannis I have no plans to send thousands of men to the slaughter for a pointless attack on the capital. We-"

The doors fly open and I'm frozen in place as my husband enters, drenched with rain but alive with a sword at Jaime's neck. 

My men gape at the scene before them as Robb gives me an exhausted grin as he throws Jaime to the floor. "Your prisoner."

"Robb," Catelyn gasps out and I grab the arm of my throne as relief wracks my body so violently I cannot see clearly.

 Brienne keeps her standing as Robb walks through the centre of the room and kneels before me, taking my hand and bringing it to his lips as tears slip down my cheeks. "My queen."

Whispers fill the room for the first time since I entered for the young wolf, the man who has Tywin Lannister running as I pull him to his feet and into my arms, whispering into his ear "I thought you were dead."

"It will take more than a storm to keep me from you," he replies and looks back at Jaime on the floor. "I would have been here sooner but I had my hands full."

"I love you," I tell him with my whole heart. "Gods I love you."

I let him go so Catelyn can see to her beloved son and I leave my throne to walk to my uncle, men whispering in absolute shock that Jaime Lannister, Tywin Lannisters son, is crumpled on the floor, my prisoner.

"Hello, uncle."

He looks up at me, bloodied and bruised but alive. "That crown is too big for your head."

"Brienne," I call out, suddenly filled with glee. "Please put him in a dark cell and ensure he is fully guarded at all times." I lean down to tell him "There's no escape for you now until we have Sansa Stark in hand."

Brienne hauls him up off the floor, too happy to do so and my lords all gawk as he's dragged away, Robb couldn't have come at a better moment.

"My lords, my husband Robb Stark, the young wolf, Lord of Winterfell and King in the North," I introduce proudly, my voice considerably more joyful than it was a moment ago. "This is the man who has Tywin Lannister running scared and who will be leading your men into battle, the man who has never lost a battle. Your king."

I can't help the smile that spreads across my face as my lords, too scared to consider doing otherwise, bend the knee to my husband. To their king.

I almost lost him, I almost lost everything I still love, and yet now I have everything in hand. For the first time I truly believe we will win this war.