Robb

Side by side we walk into the tent where Renly is holding his war council, and the tension is unmistakable.

Renly left her to die, and whatever happened between her and his wife is something I'm too afraid to ask. The hate Cassana bears her is truly personal, but she still seems to respect her.

"Here's the handsome couple," Renly comments, looking me up and down. "Take a seat, we have much to discuss."

I pull out a chair for Cassana and we take our seats.

"You look happy," Margaery says to us, and Cassana does not smile as she continues "I pray the Seven bestow many blessings upon your marriage."

"Thank you," I say politely but Cassana simply tilts her head at Margaery.

"You know I don't believe in the Seven."

Margaery inhales deeply. "I still pray for your happiness Cassana, perhaps we may speak in private after this meeting."

"Perhaps," Cassana dismisses and Renly clears his throat to break the tension between the girls and I still find it so strange that they were lovers, that they were sexual together, more specifically how it would work. At first mention I may have been intimidated by the idea, but sitting here now between them I know it is Margaery who is intimidated by her.

"Now, we need to sort out this alliance," Renly says, looking at us, Cassana and I, and then his own party with Loras and Margaery. "Robb, you seem like a good man, very much your fathers son. We both want Joffrey off the throne, we have every reason to be allies except there is one issue, you call yourself king."

"I have no desire to sit on the Iron Throne," I reply in full honestly but then he points to Cassana who sits there proudly beside me. "You may not but she does."

"Renly," she says condescendingly. "Haven't we already discussed this? House Baratheon is one united front."

"Except for Stannis."

"Yes except for Stannis," she sighs in frustration. "We will negotiate with him, surely as a commander he must see that his pride will get him killed, except I fear he knows this fact and does not care. The other fact being we cannot fight amongst ourselves if we wish to win this war."

She's right. They can't fight amongst themselves if they want to win this war, which is why I suspect is the only reason Cassana is sitting at this table with Renly if he betrayed her. She's put her emotion aside for the greater picture, something not even the most experienced commanders can do.

"But we aren't here to only discuss Stannis," she says looking at me. "The North's demands must be met by everyone at this table for their men to fight alongside the Reach."

We had loosely discussed our terms walking into this, but she has taken the ruthless approach knowing we are the ones holding the best cards. She commands the Stormlands, so she knows Renly's stance doesn't matter, but the Reach is a different beast.

"You mean the North becoming it's own kingdom?" Loras scoffs. "We all know that won't happen."

Cassana looks to Margaery. "Your grace, I expect you will honour this?"

A statement, not a question.

"I will speak to my grandmother and make my support known," Margaery carefully replies.

That satisfies her enough as she looks back to Renly and Loras. "Now, I demand everyone at this table recognise Robb as a King before negotiations go any further."

She spent a year acting as king, and now it is certainly showing, I wouldn't have taken this approach but I surely won't argue with her when she is fighting for the Norths independence.. 

"Fine, King Robb," Loras says sarcastically. "We'll see how long it lasts."

I look at Renly who sighs "Alright, King Robb, any other conditions?"

"The safety of my sisters is paramount," I tell him and Cassana nods for me to continue. "You will prioritise their freedom in any negotiations with the crown and respect the Norths independence and will honour it when we win this war." I look at Cassana beside me and add "And you will respect my queens birthright should she wish to pursue it."

Cassana looks at me and blinks, stunned, neither of us having discussed the matter yet, neither privately between us or politically. A few months ago I may have thought she was mad for pursuing it, now I see who will take the throne if she does not.

Renly grows more tense under my gaze. "Cassana is my heir and hand, therefore I am respecting her birthright."

"Then why isn't she your queen?" I counter and dare to say "She was the one who stayed and fought while you ran, she may be your niece but she is a queen, regardless of whether you bend the knee to her or not."

Cassana, for the first time since I've known her, is truly speechless as she looks at me with a proud half smile and covers my hand with her own for them to see.

"Queen Cassana," Margaery is the first to say, and at her insitence Loras and Renly follow.

"Queen Cassana."

And from the look in her eye, I know it is the first time anyone has called her so.

She takes a moment to compose herself and smiles for me before looking back at the others. "Now for Stannis, we will meet with him, and we will fight with him."

"He will demand we bend the knee, all of us," Renly says. "Your husband and me both."

"And we will let him think so," she says and her voice is cold as she decides. "We will bend the knee until we take the capital, then we overthrow Stannis."

The table falls silent at the suggestion, and I wonder if this is how they felt when she decided to do the same to Joffrey.

"Cassana-" Renly begins.

"I will not make the same mistake twice," she says harshly, and she is king as she tells him "I will do this with or without you. You will either obey Renly or I will lock you in the dungeons of Storms End while I take my army to Stannis."

"You can't do that!" Loras exclaims in horror and she merely raises an eyebrow.

"I will do the same to you if required," she warns him and looks to Margaery. "Your sister has the mind for strategy, Margaery, do you agree bending the knee then overthrowing Stannis is the best course of action?"

She swallows hard, anxious, but answers "Yes."

"It is settled then," Cassana says, moving her hair back to expose her cut through. "Now, you men can choose to support this or go to the dungeons. After my imprisonment I assure you I will send you both there with no hesitation."

Loras challenges "We could have the same done to you."

"And lose this war," she counters while I warn.

"Lay a hand on my wife and I will take my army south with no mercy."

"Enough!" Renly says and reluctantly agrees "We will do what we must, we will negotiate with Stannis."

"Very good," Cassana says and stands. "Now, tomorrow we will ride to meet him and we will return with ships."

I follow her as she leaves, stunned by her ruthlessness as a negotiator, stunned and in awe with a new admiration for her.

Wrapping my arm around her waist I tell her "Now I can see why they call you the Storm Queen."

She looks at me and smiles "And you the King in the North."

I kiss her and rest my forehead against her's, wanting to have her alone, right now and wordlessly guide her back to our tent, my lips on hers as we enter and I set her on the table, standing between her legs and wrap a gentle hand around her neck, making her look at me.

"You are the best leader in this camp, in this kingdom," I tell her, with no doubts in my mind after seeing her just now. "And the best possible person that could sit on that throne."

She let's out a shallow breath of surprise and pulls my lips to hers, pulling me flush against her as I hike her dress up, needing to have her now and sure enough within moments she's guided me inside of her, both of us gasping out at the sudden sensation.

"Oh Robb," she gasps out as I hit something deep inside of her and grasps my face between her hands, her breath as ragged as mine as something primal in both of us comes out with the knowing anyone could walk in on us at this time, knowing that neither of us care. "I love you," she cries out as I ache to fill he as completely as I can. "I love you Robb."

I can't help the sound that comes form the back of my throat as I finish in her, and a single tear falls down her cheek as she finds her own, her fingers wrapped tight in my hair as I murmur her name, kissing her shoulder. "Cass."

My love, my wife.

~

Cassana

I look over the accounts while Robb goes to find a stag for Greywind, and I'm unsurprised when she finally enters.

"Margaery."

"Cassana," she returns. "I thought I best wait for your husband to leave."

Robb, my husband. My love.

"What is it?"

"I want to apologise," she tells me and kneels down before me. "I made a mistake choosing Renly, I know you are the only one who can unite us to win this war."

Even if I still respect her, I cannot trust her. Not after the dark thoughts that have crept into my mind.

"If Renly dies who would you wed?" I ask her, knowing that she serves her house as i once believed I did. "Joffrey?"

I watch her reaction closely, and know the thought has crossed her mind, even if she denies it. "Never, I would likely turn to Dorne."

I laugh bitterly, knowing her options are exhausted now I am wed and Myrcella engaged to Trystane.

"You cannot," I remind her and finally dare to ask "Did you seduce me on the orders of your grandmother?"

I always believed she did it on her own initiative for Loras, now I know she is yet another pawn for our houses.

"Yes," she confesses and takes my hand in hers. "But that does not mean I did not feel anything."

I remove my hand from hers, my voice shaken. "I will not blame you for following the orders you are given to support your house Margaery, but I beg of you please, do not betray me if this war gets Renly killed."

And for the first time, she chooses to be completely honest with me. "For the love I bear you Cassana, I cannot promise that."

I look away, knowing that is all that needs to be said. "Thank you for your honesty."

She nods and stands, before she leaves she tells me "I am glad one of us will be able to find love in our marriages."

She leaves and I release a shaken breath, but at least now I know the truth.

I lean back in my chair to compose myself before Robb comes and hear the curtain of my tent shift.

"Did you find anything for Greywind?" I ask but it is not Robb's voice who answers me.

"I am afraid not, princess."

At the sound of his voice I have a knife in my hand, my body shaking with anger.

"Now, now, your grace, there is no need for violence."

He isn't as brave when I have the knife to his throat and him pinned between a wooden post and my blade.

I am utterly cold as I stare Littlefinger in the eye.

"You treasonous cunt."

"Your Grace this is a misunderstanding," he squirms, knowing that I have full intentions of using my blade.

"Misunderstanding?" I laugh madly and scream between gritted teeth "You betrayed me! You put me in those fucking cells!"

As I dig the blade into his throat both Robb and Brienne run in and stare at us in a state of pure shock.

"Cassana," Robb breathes heavily. "Who is this?"

"The man who held a knife to your fathers throat and betrayed him."

Robb moves me aside only to grab Littlefinger by the throat and drag him outside, slamming him down onto the ground with a knee on his chest to keep him pinned down.

"You must be Robb," Littlefinger says and seems amused. "Like father like son."

"Give me one reason why I shouldn't kill you," Robb growls.

"I've loved your mother since I was a boy-"

I gasp as Robb's fist comes down onto his face, only to be forcibly removed by Brienne at Renly's order.

"Enough!" Renly yells out. "What is this?"

"Justice," I grit out, the blade still in my hand but Littlefinger has no intentions of dying today. 

"Don't you want to see your sisters?" he asks Robb. "Sansa, more beautiful than ever? And Arya, just as wild as ever?

"Arya has been missing since Ned's arrest, he's lying," I spit out. "Kill him Robb or I'll do it myself!"

Littlefinger throws his hands up when Robb reaches for his sword. "Wait, wait! I've brought you a gift."

"I don't want your gifts."

"A token of Tyrion Lannister's goodwill," he says and wide eyed I look to Robb to still, to here what word he has rought us. "He wants you to understand that this exchange of prisoners is offered in good faith."

Meaning Jaime.

Servants enter placing a chest down on the ground "For you, Your Grace."

I nod to Robb to open it and the moment he does the stench of death, even after all these months, gives it away. Robb freezes, staring at his fathers body utterly pale, and the last time I ever saw him in this state was with Bran.

"Your father was an honorable man," Lord Baelish says. "He should rest beside his family in the crypts beneath Winterfell. You may not believe-"

"Leave," I say, as Robb has no words. "Now!"

Everyone leaves us and I kneel down beside Robb, looking at his fathers head, at his bones and wrap my arms around him as I close the chest, protecting him from the sight. He doesn't fight my embrace, utterly frozen, shaking.

"You can bring him home now," I say softly, gently raking my fingers through his hair in an attempt to soothe him, but nothing can soothe such a sight. Even if the first of his demands has now been met, it is a hollow victory. I look to his Kingsguard standing nearby and say "However many it takes, please leave for Winterfell tonight to ensure these are taken there without the risk of any conflict intervening."

They nod and Robb is still speechless as they take the chest away from his view, and I hold him there in silence until he can bear to breathe, to speak. 

"We will get justice."

"We will," I promise him. "But first we bring him home."

~

Later that evening we are seated, Robb and I on one side of the table and Renly and Littlefinger on the other.

"We want justice for his betrayal," I demand, which makes Renly uneasy.

"This is a misunderstanding," Littlefinger tries to say and i just scoff at him.

"You held a knife to Ned's throat, how the hell is that a misunderstanding?" I ask and do not allow him to answer. "I want justice."

"We will have a trial," Renly mediates."And as king I will oversee the trial the princess is bringing forward."

"The queen," Robb corrects much to Littlefingers surprise. "The Queen in the North, and therefore this falls under my jurisdiction."

"Indeed it does," I agree and Littlefinger pipes up.

"Congratulations on your marriage."

"Oh fuck off," I spit, having no patience for pleasentries. "You orchestrated Ned's arrest while claiming to help him, and you orchestrated my arrest while you were bound by oath to serve the Kings representative."

"You were no longer the kings representative when Joffrey took the throne."

"No, but you still conspired against myself and the hand while my father was still king, which is treason, for which the punishment for treason is death," I look to Robb. "The honour is yours my love."

His men force Lord Baelish to his knees who protests "Wait, wait! I can help Sansa!"

Robb stills and I warn "Do not trust a word that comes out of his mouth."

"Tyrion cannot save her, and he will not," he claims and pleads "I will help Sansa, I will protect her and orchestrate her escape. I just need time."

Robb looks to me "Do you believe him."

"I believe that he is in love with your mother, and would settle for her daughter."

Robb grabs him by the throat and slams him against the wall, his voice more animal like than I've ever heard it. "You touch me sister, and I won't need my sword to kill you. You will bring her to the North, or next time I will let my wife put a knife in you."

Robb let's him drop to the ground and I wear a proud look as he returns to my side, and we watch as Littlefinger rises.

"Any other requests your grace?"

"Tell my mother, that I have heeded her many lessons," I tell him, knowing that she shall know exactly which lessons. "And I intend to follow her example as queen."

I turn my back on him and leave the great hall, if he has any wits left he will be gone by dawn.

~

I lie with Robb, my naked body tangled with his.

"Do you think we can trust him?"

"Absolutely not," I answer and sigh "But he has a strange affection for your sister."

 "What do you mean?"

"That he would marry her if given the chance," I tell him and he tenses. "But he isn't foolish enough to even tread there until Joffrey's eye has turned to someone else and she's well of age. He wants your mother, and the older she grows the more he will want Sansa."

"Then perhaps I will get to kill him."

"If you don't I will," I answer. "My mother once told me to rip out weeds like Littlefinger root and stem before they strange us in our sleeps."

He looks at me in contemplation "I never thought I'd hear you praising your mother."

"Neither would I," I admit, a thousand memories rush through my mind, then finally the last and most haunting, seeing her collapse as Tyrion dragged me away. "Regardless if I hate her, she is my mother. She protected me, prepared me to survive the role I was born into. I learned a great deal from her and I will not apologise for it. I will not apologise for wanting to protect my family."

He looks at the necklace around my neck, the Lannister lion my mother gave me, knowing what it means. 

"I can't condemn you for loving your family," he says softly. "But please, don't forget what they've done."

"I wish I could, but I never will, not while their actions haunt me," I say and tell him. "I will apologise for the lies and the wrongs I have done by you but I will never apologise for who I am nor will I hide it from you. I will never apologise for what I have done to survive. Politics is a game, it is a battle. If you do not fight you die, just as you do on a battlefield. My weapon is my intellect, and my bane is my rage, both of which I inherited from my mother."

Slowly he begins to understand. I have to remind myself that he is a Northern man, he understands the game even less than Ned did, but he is a tactician, he understands war, and so i take this chance to counsel him.

"I fought and I lost and I suffered for it. I have blood on my hands, perhaps just as much as you do. You have fought in battles and killed men, just as I have. I have plotted and schemed, because when you are born with a crown on your head it is the only way to survive. You are a king now Robb and if you want to survive this war, if you want your family to survive, if you want to live past the age of twenty, you must understand what ruling is. It isn't honour, it is fear and blood. Something my grandfather taught me."

"That isn't the kind of king I want to be," he says quietly and I wonder if my father had said the same all those years ago.

"I'm afraid that you won't have a choice, my love" I tell him sadly, knowing that love, loyalty and honour alone will never be enough as much as I wish it was. He looks away and I have to force my next words out "You know secrets and who I am, who I have become. You asked me to be your wife not for love, but for counsel, and this is it. When you play the game of thrones you win or you die. There is no middle ground, and I very much intend for us both to survive."

He holds me face and his eyes are on mine, vulnerable,

"Then I suppose we have to win."

We.

Our lips meet, and he's trembling. 

"What is it you fear my love?"

"All of this," he admits to me and kisses my forehead. "I am afraid of this game, but I'd be more afraid to be your enemy." I smile a little and he kisses my lips. "I need you as more than a lover, more than a wife. I need you as my queen and my ally."

And those words mean more to me than 'I love you' ever could.

"And I need you as my king and ally," I reply in full honesty. "There is no man that I would rather fight this war with."

 "With your mind for politics and my skill in battle we can win this war," he says with a newfound confience. "Everything you've done has brought you to where you are now, has kept you alive. Neither of us are the people we were the last time we said goodbye but I know that I am in love with the woman right in front of me."

I take his hand in mine and I can feel the strength coursing through his veins and through mine. I have always been stronger with him by my side. Both of us are powerful on our own but together we are a storm to be reckoned with.

"And I you," I say, yet while my words are not as certain as his, I know they will be.

He is everything a king should be; honourable and just, and I have the stomach to do what needs to be done, to get my hands bloody. He is a commander, a tactician and I'm a politician, a ruler. Together we may just be the greatest king and queen this realm has ever known. 

However before we can even dream of sitting on that throne we have a long and bloody war to fight and he is only just beginning to understand the truth of being a king. He was not born into it as I was, so I must show him.

"To win this war we will have to lie, we will have to shed blood and war is not just fought on the battlefield," I remind him. "While you fight on the battlefield I fight another battle, I will do things you will not approve of, that are not honourable, but that is the reality of this game we are playing Robb. I will do whatever I must to protect those I love, to protect you. I need you to promise me that you will not judge me for the things I must do, that as my husband you will stand by my side, now and always."

He looks me in the eye, truly seeing me for all I am, all I was and will be.

"Now and always," he vows "I promise."

Finally the last wall I had comes crashing down and my lips collide with his, every touch burning through my skin as if he could touch my heart itself.

A Stark and a Lannister in love.

It could either be the greatest ballad ever written, or the greatest tragedy.

A/N: So, I'm going to start writing a story whose oc is Joffrey's twin, very much the opposite of Cassana, a sweet and shy thing who is a lesbian and will end up having a romance with Daenerys, possibly one with Sansa before then. She will develop into a player during the story under Joffrey's torment, as opposed to Cassana who was one at the start, polar opposites which I am excited to write. My cast for her is Lucrezia Borgia in the Borgia's. Joffrey's age in season one is canonically about sixteen which seems a bit old for his character which was about twelve in the books so I'll probably make them a little younger in the very beginning, probably going on fifteen. First few seasons will only be a few chapters as a set up, and then will really begin in season 4. It will be one of the youngest oc's I've written, therefore the content will be non explicit until she is far older.